Winterfall

“Did you kill her?” Crimson asked as I stepped into my bedroom. The bedroom was pretty simple. Wooden floors that often creaked with each step that you take. Dimly lit lights that get fueled by magic. An oversized king bed that had a white canopy that draped from the wooden posts. With the room I was granted to stay in there was no paint on the dark oak walls only one portrait and that was a daily reminder of the family that I have ruined. There was some minor furniture within the room, a magical wardrobe that had endless space, a floor length mirror, two oak nightstands that matched the bed frame, and a large desk with a chair that sat against the left wall.

Her piercing orange eyes glistened with a strike of hope. Hell, if I followed her orders everyone we came into contact would be dead by now.

“No, I can not kill her just yet.” I told her as I walked over to the tub that was in an off room that was behind an arched entrance that was connected to my room. I began to run some steamy hot water and began to wash Maria’s blood off my blade. Before I submerged my blade in the magical running water - which was a bit strange for me, I tasted the fresh crimson on my blade. Sweet and pure, not innocent, but that didn’t matter for my needs.

As I tasted more of her blood, there was something off with the way it tasted. Strong magic coursed through that girl's veins. Magic that I saw emerged in the heat of the battle. Magic that I want to develop stronger. However, mixed with her own magic, there is something unique that pulses through her veins - something pure and bliss, something draconic.

Interesting twist of fate. I knew the girl was special when I laid eyes on her. Now I know I was right.

“Crimson, dear you said you sensed a dragon here a couple years ago?” I asked her as I stopped consuming Maria’s blood and began to wash the remainder off.

“Yes. It was a disgusting bloody silver. Those are some of the most annoying types of dragons to deal with” There was hate laced in her words as Crimson herself, was a red dragon it was known that red’s and silver’s despised each other. As one was destined for great evil and one was destined for lawful greatness. “Why do you ask, Marcel?”

“Just confirming my thoughts.” I remained silent as I watched the blood mix with water. Maria is a pure elf that I know, as her parents were pure elven. Perhaps it’s that fucking guard of hers. He watches her like a bloody hawk.

“Did you figure out who it is by chance dear?” Maybe she knows and just didn’t tell me. Though, I have no idea what she would gain from withholding that information. I will be taking the souls not her.

“Not exactly. I have a rough idea but I need to follow them to make sure.”

I heard her steps fall in behind me and stop. I glanced up at her with a grin on my face, “yes dear?”

She leaned up against the door frame with a look of amusement and disappointment in her eyes. “Why didn’t you kill her? You had the perfect opportunity!”

“It’s not that simple, Crimson.” I simply put it. There were things I couldn't explain to her right away. The girl, Maria, is a lovely girl. Her ethereal voice would drive any guy insane. To top it off, her pure beauty made her irresistible. She may be shrouded in a bit of mystery to me but there was something I could not shake.

Perhaps, that is why I lashed out. Jealousy can make even a devil do some crazy shit. Though, maybe I targeted the wrong person. I should have targeted her stupid guard. He is the one she has been sleeping with, according to Crimson.

“What do you mean it is not that simple? Please tell me you are not falling in love with the girl!” Crimson shouted baring her sharp pearly teeth.

I turned away from her and focused on cleaning the blade. “If I did so what?”

“You’re kidding me! All that girl can give you is a strong soul. Focus on that and not the arousal you get!” She spat as she slapped the back of my head. I didn’t know if that slap was out of jealousy or angry as we have our own past and present. All I knew is that slap fucking hurt.

I grunted at the pain that throbed in my head. I didn’t understand why Crimson was upset about this. This was my plan not hers. However, without her initial intel I wouldn’t have known about Maria’s existence nor her potential.

“Crimson, please. Let’s not get into this now. What is done is done.” I turned off the water as it ran clear after a few minutes of washing.

“Just stay focused on the task at hand. I will scope the area in secret to find the silver dragon.”

I got up and placed my weapon back in its hilt and looked at her. “Sounds like a plan. Just leave Maria to me Crimson.”

I walked past her and grabbed a fresh pair of pants and got undressed.

“Whatever Marcel.” Crimson hissed, “just don’t sleep with her.”

“Please, like I would want to.” I growled as I got changed. “Now, do you have anything else to discuss?”

“No.”

“Good. Now return to Summer Crest and do your duties there before anyone gets suspicious.” I ordered her. As I was playing house in Winterfall, I turned some of my duties I gained when I took over Summer Crest to Crimson as it had proved to be difficult to be in two places at once. “I trust you are running the kingdom well?”

“By well, you mean following orders, yes.” She said with a sigh, “what about some of the plans you had for here?”

“Fiends should start arriving any day now. I have to do it in small doses. That guard of hers seems to have a strong nose for trouble. Once they arrive I’ll begin to collect souls through various means.”

“Great, the more souls we collect the stronger we will become.” Crimson responded.

“We? You mean the stronger I become?” I corrected her. Crimson had her own sources of power. The souls were for me to feed off of. The souls that I consumed I was able to harness some of the abilities of the past life for my own personal gain. Each soul essentially made me stronger.

She rolled her eyes, “Whatever. I am going to go back to Summer Crest. I have a meeting in an hour to attend.”

In a flash, Crimson used the spell teleportation and sent herself back to Summer Crest. Leaving me alone in my room in the castle.

I sat on the edge of the bed and thought back on the fight. I could feel Maria’s body give underneath my blade. However, it seemed to grow stronger as her guard appeared. There was something strange with them and I needed to figure this out. I hoped I didn’t regret sparing her life. It felt right like there was something unique and different about her. Something that would make her soul delightful.