The Noble Queen-A Shadow Slave Fanfic

Noble had been ecstatic to hear Endo's voice and the news that the three males were safe.

She was exhausted beyond measure.

But her plan to pull on her tether and head home was cut short by the technician's frantic cry.

Scanning above her, Noble realized why. She had managed to collapse the column of skinwalkers, but one had somehow made the impossible leap to catch the metal ring attached to the airship.

Now the vessel was on the chains and climbing toward the ship's deck.

Noble thought quickly. Was there anyone up there who could stop the creature?

No. The soldiers were not strong enough to enter the dome, and Noble was pretty sure the Skinwalker would have no qualms with downing the airship and killing everyone on board.

Noble had lifted Teran, Lonzo, and Fir away from harm, but the danger had followed them to new heights.

'I'm coming!' Noble used bursts of speed to push through the clouds. Now that she did not have to contend with other people or falling Monsters, her body became little more than a blur as it shot like a comet across the sky.

The Skinwalker was already reaching the platform by the time Noble flew through the ring and out of the barrier.

This vessel was a giant among men even when he was living. He was an Awakened before his life was snuffed out and the Skinwalker had only enhanced his powerful body.

Seeing Noble coming, he dodged the Zenith. 

So Noble used her body as a weapon instead. The two crashed with enough energy to level a building, but instead of obliterating the airship, the monster flew high in the air before landing fully on the deck.

"Oh no you don't!"

Noble used her Ability to lift the Skinwalker.

"Ah!" She shuddered. Her soul felt like it might collapse with the effort.

Noble's essence was gone.

'How am I still floating?'

Something strange was going on inside of her, but Noble didn't have time to study it. The two dozen people on the airship couldn't wait for her to puzzle out the mystery.

In a flash, the Skinwalker was heading for the controls in the center of the platform. It would destroy the base and the people imprisoning it.

Noble considered dismissing her Zenith and using the bit or gained essence to eject the Skinwalker. But with her luck it still wouldn't be enough and then she wouldn't have a weapon.

So she surged forward, allowing her feet to press against the metal floor to give her more purchase.

The vessel hissed.

'I'm very tired of that sound!'

Did the monster know that? Was it messing with her head?!

Noble dug her Zenith deep into the monster. The blade pushed the man backward, then sliced upward before coming out of the man's shoulder, the two sides split momentarily, the weaker side wilting like a flower, making the deck slick with blood.

Noble pushed the giant away from the controls, careful to avoid the scrambling people. The mundane soldiers pelted the corpse with bullets.

But it was no use. Before Noble could finish the job, the giant brought his body back together like a grotesque zipper.

'That's messed up.' Endo's voice entered Noble's head.

The Skinwalker smiled, his teeth glistening in the summer sun like pearls on a beach.

It was beyond unnerving. Noble suppressed a shiver.

"Seriously, what is wrong with you?"

The giant tilted his head at an unnatural angle, his smile widening.

"Everything…And…Nothing."

The words chilled Noble to the bone.

However, she wasn't engaging the Skinwalker simply to have a nice chat. The momentary diversion was exactly what she needed.

A drop of essence filtered into her body.

It wasn't much, but it would have to be enough.

This time when Noble charged, the Skinwalker was ready.

The giant ran straight at her, ready to rip her body apart. Dodgeing her initial attack, the vessel tried to grab her injured leg. 

The Skinwalker had gone for the same spot twice before.

Noble had noticed it preyed on weakness. Lindy had been very young and both Harlow and Ginnar were older than average. Yosh, while a Master, had not been a very notable one. In the desert where only Saints and Masters had fled, he would have been the weakest link.

So when the vessel went for her leg, she let him—invited him in.

Then, just as her leg looked like it would be the Skinwalker's next victim, Noble tuned her hip. The broken limb shifted.

Noble took the small bit of essence and pressed against the vessel's hate with a burst of positive emotions.

Stunned, the Skinwalker recoiled—right into Noble's waiting blade.

The Zenith dug deep, severing the vessel's spine. Swinging the Xiphos like a club, Noble flung the creature over the side.

'Get ready!'

The Master watched with her second sight as the creature fell toward the hole in the dome.

If she had had more essence, she would have poisoned the Zenith when she stabbed, but it was not meant to be.

Without the delay, the giant's spine healed within a second of him falling. His arms regained their motion. A twisted smile graced his face as grabbed the ring below the airship.

He hung inside the portal and prepared to climb a second time.

'Endo! Now!'

Noble's eyes opened as she looked at the technician. Immediately, he flipped the switch and pulsed the dome's protection.

The protective barrier wavered, and the space in the center of the portal solidified for the blink of an eye.

A blink was all it took.

The Skinwalker could overcome many things, but gravity was not one of them. The searing heat of the barrier separated the giant from his grip. When the portal opened again, Noble could see the creature falling as it became enveloped by clouds.

Well, most of him…

Noble sighed.

"Let me give you a hand…"

Floating down the length of one chain, the duelist pried free the fingers still gripping the ring. She let them fall after their master before brushing off her palms.

'All clear!'

The airship whirred as all four engines put extra effort into their ascent.

Noble rose to the deck, quickly assessing if anyone had been taken while she wasn't watching.

"Everyone is safe…" she muttered as much to herself as the crew.

Breaking free of his father, Teran rushed toward the Master and wrapped his arms around her waist.

"Master Noble! You did it!"

Feeling a small amount of warmth enter her chest, Noble hugged the child back.

Now she knew where her extra strength had come from when her essence had gone dry. By caring about the people on the airship, the Kingdom Keeper attribute had provided her with the means to keep them safe.

Or maybe their caring for her had triggered the magical reaction.

What mattered was that it had worked!

The airship began to change directions, shifting suddenly away from the barrier that now reminded Noble of the most dangerous snow globe ever invented.

Teran moved with the ship and Noble, who still held the boy in her embrace, moved as well.

Noble lowered her feet to steady herself and immediately regretted it.

It was almost time to go home. But first…she needed medical attention.