Sheeba sat up and glared at Dragaunus from her position
on the corner of the bed.
“Kinda’ came as a shock, huh, the actual event,
compared to the discussions we used
to have back in Limbo late at night about how if our lives
were perfect. . .” Her voice
trailed off and she was obviously either too tired or depressed
to continue. “And how
our idea of perfect meant being together for all eternity,
and ruling over Puck World.”
He finished, as she walked over to him and nearly collapsed
onto him. “Hey, even a
tyrant can’t be a tyrant all the time.” She sighed,
resting her head on his shoulder and
brushing the side of her face against his neck. “True,
Sheeba. Very, very true.” He
replied, running his claws though her soft black hair. Now
balanced against the wall for
support, she purred softly, waiting in anticipation of his
next move. “Just because you
loved me enough to be there for me in Limbo, and because
you loved me enough to
free me from Limbo and give me an actually chance at a real
life, I swear I’ll always be
there to return the favor.” She whispered slowly. She
backed away so she could look
him in the eye, and sighed, continuing. “No matter what
you do, who you kill, or what
ever planet you conquer. Nothing. I’ll never see you
as a tyrant. Never.”
He sighed and stared at her almost in disbelief. If it
weren’t Sheeba, the very female
he’d known his entire life, his mate telling him, he
wouldn’t believe it. “Sheeba, I. . .”
“Not one word.” She interrupted. “Tonight
I’ll be yours. Your female, to do as you
please with. Just because we are mates.” The white female
curled up in their bed,
sending him a seductive, yet still sadistic stare. He followed,
keeping his eyes on her the
whole time. “The night may hold many surprises, male.
I thought you may want to
privately celebrate the creation of out future child before
the whole Empire does.” She
sighed, invoking many ideas of the pleasure the night did
hold.
* * *
“Sheeeeba, get up!!” Fayette screamed and leaped
onto the sleeping female Saurian.
“Come on Sheebie, it’s lunch time and you’re
still in bed! Get up!” “Get off me Fay!”
Sheeba snapped back and shoved the young Saurian away. “Sheeeeeebs!!!!”
She
whined, and pounced again. “Fine, fine, I’m up!”
Sheeba snapped and sat up.
Innocent eyes, a charming smile and a sweet disposition
met her with a hug, and she
smiled back to Fay despite being woke up only moments ago.
“Good morning
Fayette.” She replied. “Is it true what Nafaud
told me, am I going to be an aunt,
Sheebie? Are you really gonna’ have a baby?” Sheeba
smiled and nodded. “Oh
Sheebie!” Fayette squealed and hugged Sheeba again.
“Le’me go, kid.” Sheeba
growled, getting no response from Fay. “Fay, get off
me!” Sheeba snapped, poking
Fayette in the side. “Sheebie, no!” She laughed,
squirming to get away. “I warned you
Fayette, now I’m going to have to sit on you and tickle
you.” She replied with an evil
grin. “No , no Noooooooooooo!!!” Fay screamed and
ran for the doorway.
Several moments later she peeked back in. “Truce?”
She asked. “Sure.” Sheeba
replied, snuggling back down under the covers, still in a
daze.
Nafaud faded into the room in a sitting position on the
side of the bed. “Not feeling
well, m’Lady?” He asked, leaning over her. “I’m
fine Nafaud.” She replied, smiling up
at him. “Good. You know what today is. . .” “Yeah,
yeah, you’ve told me a hundred
times. The first of three celebrations held in honor of Dragaunus
and I’s future child.
Sometimes I regret going public with my pregnancy.”
“Don’t say things like that
Sheeba. You should be proud of being able to carry on Taraq’s
blood lines and
receiving all the gifts that you deserve.” Nafaud snapped
at her, handing her a small
package.
She looked up at him and rolled her eyes slightly. “Go
on an open it Sheebs!” Fayette
squealed and crawled up beside Sheeba. Glaring at Fayette,
she ripped open the small
box, which housed a pendant on a delicate silver chain. “To
protect you any your
child.” Nafaud said with a smile and a nod, and placed
it around her neck. “Well, uhh,
thanks, I think.” She managed, taken in by the cluster
of tiny black gems. “No need to
thank me, it’s nothing, really.” He replied, and
bowing, cast a cloaking spell over
himself as Chameleon walked in.
“Hey, how’s my favorite shape shifter?”
Fayette asked, grabbing him around the neck
and hugging him tightly. “Fine, I guess.” He replied,
squirming to get away from her.
“Sheesh, you’d never be able to tell who her brother
is.” He growled, making his way
over to Sheeba. “How’s my favorite little personal
advisor?” Sheeba asked in a
mocking tone. “Great, ever since Draggy promoted me
from a henchman to your
advisor. .” His voice trailed off as he handed her large
green box which was making a
muffled whimpering noise. “What’s in it?”
Sheeba asked cautiously, as she pulled away
the ribbon holding the lid on. A small, brown fire lizard,
no bigger than her hand jumped
out of the box and onto her lap, making A noise which sounded
both like the meow of
a cat and the scream of an eagle.
She’s so. . so little. .” Fayette managed as
Sheeba picked the tiny lizard up. “She won’t
get much bigger than a house cat, and I’ve heard they’re
excellent companions for kids.
. .” Chameleon began. “She’s amazing . . .thanks
Chamely, now can you all please
leave, I’m not feeling so well.” Sheeba replied,
sinking down onto her pillow and
allowing the female lizard to cuddle up close by. “Ahh,
morning sickness. . .”
Chameleon chuckled, creeping out the doorway, followed by
Fayette. “I think I’ll take
my chances and stay.” Nafaud echoed, taking shape beside
her in the bed. “Oh
Nafaud . . .how can I possibly, possibly go through with
this? I never wanted this to
happen.
I feel like I’m having my brother’s child or something
. . .” She said with a single tear
sliding down her cheek. “It was meant to happen Sheeba,
if not, the Fate wouldn’t
have allowed it.” Was his reply. “Where were the
Fates when my parents were killed?
When Magnus was murdered?” She hissed, glaring at him.
“Oh they were at work
then, doing their job as they were supposed to. Everything
happens the way it does for
a reason, the Fates know what they’re doing, trust me
Sheeba.” “I guess. . .” She
replied. “Sheeba, my precious little baby. I’ve
watched you and Dragaunus from the
time you were first born until now, and your parents, and
grand parents. I’ve come to
accept things, things change, things stay the same, and all
things happen for a reason.
There is a reason you and Dragaunus are mates now, which
I cant’s exactly say at this
moment. . .you’ll find out though, when your son turns
seventeen.” “Son? It’s male?”
She gasp, setting straight up. The fire lizard was rolled
from its position beside her,
close to Nafaud, and the Ancient Hybrid smiled. “Yes,
a male. The Saurian Empire’s
new destiny. That’s all I’m allowed to say, for
now.” He answered, fading away.
Satisfied momentarily, Sheeba picked up the young fire
lizard and made her way to the
balcony doorway. Leaning in the doorway, she rested her back
against the door frame
and looked out across the broad horizon, stroking the forehead
of the little female lizard
which had been left in her care. “I like the name Dhaka,
how about you?” She asked,
lifting the lizard up to her face. She looked mostly like
a miniature dragon more than the
idealistic lizard, and her colors were a muted tawny brown,
common to the females of
her species. “Dhaka suits you just fine.” She laughed
as the small creatures legs and tail
flailed around in the air helplessly. Setting the fire lizard
in the palm of her hand, she
made her way to the balcony railing and looked down into
the Reptilian City. Far
below, peddlers and merchants crowded the make shift streets
and alleyways,
numerous as they were.
Still not content with where she was, Sheeba made her
way back into the chambers
she and Dragaunus shared. Ironic as the situation was, she
was almost contented to see
Phil and eyeing her from the far wall of the room. “What
do you two want? You’re
supposed to be causing problems in the new Resistance, if
it even exists.” She asked,
walking towards them. “Ehh, I know. We heard you were
pregnant, and it was
tradition to get the Lady something, so we got you a gift.”
Phil answered, handing her
an unwrapped box. “It was my idea.” Romero interjected
as she opened it. A large
white diamond was staring her back from inside the dark box.
“Thanks guys.” She said
with a smile. “No prob.” Phil replied with a cheesy
wink. “Yea, now lets get back ‘fore
Dragaunus rips you an’ me both apart.” Romero growled,
grabbing Phil and fading out
of the room. “Heh, where’s your other stooge?”
Sheeba thought to herself, her
question being answered when Chameleon teleported into the
room.
“Just checkin’ in on everyone’s favorite
Saurian war lady.” He offered, smiling to her
warmly. “You’re so repulsive and sickening you’re
almost cute.” She replied,
purposely tripping him, then catching him before he hit the
ground and lifting him up in
her arms. “Hi again Sheebs.” He laughed and put
his arms around her neck. “Hiya
Chamely.” She replied, setting him back down. “What’s
with da’ diamond?” He asked,
taking it from her and examining it thoroughly. “Just
another gift, as if I don’t already
have plenty of gigantic rare jewels.” She replied with
a quirky smile and limped out
onto the balcony. “W. . what’s wrong, Sheeba?”
He asked cautiously, following her.
“Wild night with Dragaunus.” She smirked, turning
to glare at him. The shape shifter
shuddered and backed away “That’s more than I need
to know, Sheebs.” He yelped in
a repulsed tone.
“So anyway, how’s Vitani? I hear you’re
going to ask her to become your mate?”
Sheeba asked, quickly changing the topic to something the
Chameleon may actually
respond to. “Yeah, well. . I uhm. .” He choked
over his words. “Not the answer I was
looking for. .” The white female began. “She’s
just so wonderfully sweet, unlike the
females that’d mate with any male in this Empire, she’s
amazing, Sheeba, and I don’t
know how to ask her.” He sank back against the wall
and sighed. “You’re hopeless.
Just go tell her what you just told me and you’ll do
just fine.” She replied, not
particularly caring about his troubles and trying to get
Dhaka to balance on her
shoulder. “Thanks Sheeba, you’re great!” He
exclaimed, fading away. “And you’re a
few Balerium crystals shy of having a full set, too.”
She growled, glancing over at the
dust-covered box on the table which she hadn’t touched
since the night Dragaunus had
asked her to become his mate.
“A musical instrument, why in the Triple Dimensions
would he get me a musical
instrument?” She asked aloud, stroking the small face
and head of Dhaka. “Because it
was my idea.” Fayette giggled from the other side of
the room. “Fay, I told you to get
out!” She snarled, starting towards where the child
was most likely to be. “How long
have you been in here?” “Long enough to have over
heard your conversation with
Nafaud.” She replied, de activating the cloaking device
she’d swiped from somewhere.
“Where’d you get that?” Sheeba demanded, grabbing
it away from her. “Uhm. . . I
found it?” She replied with a mischievous grin. “Princess
La’Fayette, don’t make me
tell your brother about the time you set that cat on fire.”
Sheeba threatened. “Okay,
okay. I stole it from one of the generals.” She admitted,
cringing at hearing her full
name. “Hmm. . I won’t tell Dragaunus simply because
it was the act of sneaking around
and being able to steal it without getting caught, and the
mischief of sneaking up on me
that I like. Well done, Fay.” Sheeba replied, taking
it from her, and setting it down near
the long, dust-covered box on the table.
“Hey Sheebie, it really was my suggestion for my
brother to offer this to you. . .”
Fayette began, opening the case to once again reveal the
gold and silver flute. “I
appreciate it more than I would a piece of jewelry or the
like, but what am I supposed
to do with a musical instrument. The whole irony of giving
a musical instrument as a gift.
. .” She clamped the case closed and took it away from
the young Saurian standing
before her. “So does that mean you don’t like it?
If so, does that mean you don’t love
my brother?” Fayette asked, looking as if she was going
to burst into tears. “No, that’s
not what I’m trying to say. I just didn’t expect
this. . .and I don’t really want to ruin it. .
.I guess I could find a glass case for it and display it.
. .” “Oh. . .”
“Sheeba, c’n I ask you a question?” Fayette
asked, suddenly perking up. “Sure squirt,
as long as it isn’t anything about humans.” Sheeba
replied with a shiver and sat Dhaka
down on the floor. “Uhm. . well. . I keep hearing so
much about how you’re going to
have a baby, or pregnant, I guess is the right word. . .and
anyway. . .I was wondering.
. where exactly do babies come from?” She sputtered
out, staring up at Sheeba with
bright young eyes. Sheeba smiled sweetly and ruffled Fayette’s
hair. “Go ask your
brother, hon.” She replied mischievously, and grinned
as the young Saurian scrambled
out of the room.