|
Warning: Characters in this den in particular are likely to contain tragic, even horrifying aspects to their lore. Read at own risk.
CW: Blood, maiming, manipulation, imprisonment.
Queen C̶͍̎͜͝ā̵̞͜s̸̗̈́̓s̸̝͒͆͜i̶̲̘͝ó̶̡̹̑p̶̥̕e̶̱̦͑̐į̸̔ạ̴̔̀. stared down at the mewling scrap of fur, nuzzling into her prince. He was staring down at it with the same love and affection, utter joy that should have only been reserved for her. She was so distracted by the icy stabs of fury pricking her like splinters of icicles that she didn't realize she was asked something until she felt a gentle lick on her ear. Flicking it, she turned to be met with a look of concern.
"My love? Are you alright?"
She sighed, closing her eyes and swallowing down bitter anger before turning to look back at him. "I'm wonderful, dear," she brushed her cheek on his, noticing with satisfaction how he reciprocated the gesture with a content look to match hers.
"If you're sure...But have you thought of any names for her?" His attention drifted away from her (!) and back to the whiny little scrap, wriggling into the curve of her belly.
"I was thinking perhaps...Apollonia? I've always thought it was a lovely name," he said wistfully, watching the scrap adoringly.
She shrugged, flopping her head onto her paws. As much as she wanted to be angry, she was quite tired from the whole ordeal. "Sure, my love," she muttered. Why he insisted on naming it, she did not understand, but to each their own, she supposed.
But right as she was about to finally rest, her eyes already stuttering shut, she heard four lovingly whispered words that rocked her to her very core, haunting and mocking her;
"Apollonia, my little princess."
-
The Warden snarled, the chains hanging off her loosely and rattled with the movements of her graceful steps. The angered sound-paired with the tightening of the jaws clenched around its scruff-caused the mewling scrap's pathetic sniveling to quiet down. Good. She could hardly hear herself think over its incessant whining. She flicked her ear as a droplet of water dripped down-ah well, maintaining a prison was hard work and a queen certainly couldn't keep every little drop of water from creeping in. She almost smirked as the water-smoothed, narrow slope evened out into a wider, yet still dank and gloomy cave.
Stalactites and stalagmites alike hung down like glistening fangs poised for the kill, and chained in the maw of such a convenient set-it was almost unnatural, the daggers creating the perfect cage-was an unmoving form, their fur patterned with similar markings to that of the scrap hanging by the scruff from her jaws. She set the shivering, whimpering thing on a mostly smooth, if angled somewhat, rock near the maw and raised one white, sleek paw, striking her claws harshly on the ground before her. The imprisoned traitor barely moved, only stopping to lift his head, those brilliant blue eyes she so loved giving her only a weak glare. Hmph. Had she really gone too far? Of course not, he was the one who had betrayed her. Lying to her, he'd never really loved her! His eye was always wandering, he would always talk so nicely to other lionesses, he even gave all of the attention he once gave to her to the daughter she gave him. The ultimate slap in the face.
"What do you want?" he croaked, shifting around slightly as if to get comfortable. She couldn't imagine it was very comfortable to be constantly chained to the wall by the neck. Good. It couldn't ever come close to the pain of her heart shattering, realizing she'd been played for a fool. Ah, but at least he wasn't asking about the thing beside her anymore. Funny though, since she'd finally brought the subject of his inquiries.
"Oh my, so impatient!" she crooned. "Have a little look-see, my love," she purred, turning to snag the little bundle of fur off where she'd dropped it. Her hold tightened as her prisoner let out a weak gasp, his chains rattling as he struggled, dull blue eyes widened with desperation.
"Don't you dare hurt her!" he snarled, eyes now glaring, stronger. She sent him a much more piercing one, harsh enough to stop grown lions in their tracks and plummeting the cave into an even icier chill that lasted for only a moment before the glower slid from her face.
"Oh, my prince, so stubborn. Have you learned nothing? I'm doing this for us, my prince." As hurt and angered as she was by his betrayal, she was determined to bring the two of them back together, just like it had been before.
"There is no us! " he spat, panting as he sagged against the wall to allow the chains to slacken. Tsk, tsk, her prince was always so weak. And he was always wrong, too. She just loved all his little quirks, she couldn't possibly let him leave her ever again. Good, because he clearly needed some more time in his cage. These were the comforting thoughts that prevented her from lashing out again.
She let out a small hum but otherwise wordlessly turned to lower the slightly damp cub back down. Keeping a careful eye on her prince, the Warden of the Prison sauntered over to one of the many stalagmites scattered about. Turning her nose up in cold, calculated movements that easily sent utter dread coursing through the poor prince, with a solid knock part of the old, dark rock easily crumbled, leaving her a nice choice of shards to choose from. Plucking up a rather sharp dagger, she headed back to where the now quiet lump lay, hearing the struggling behind her start up again.
"Damnit, C̶͍̎͜͝ā̵̞͜s̸̗̈́̓s̸̝͒͆͜i̶̲̘͝ó̶̡̹̑p̶̥̕e̶̱̦͑̐į̸̔ạ̴̔̀.! Get away from her," her prince snarled, his the rattle of his chains easily masking the scrabble of his paws on the stone.
She ignored him in favor of turning so that she was now facing the cage whilst still looming above the raggedy scrap before her, her shadow overwhelming it.
"I said get away from her!" He roared, such fury in his voice that she might've startled had she not been so resolved, so steeled by the frost of anger that had been a constant companion for so long.
The striking sound of rock on rock, a high-pitched wail and a horrified scream, clinking chains, and a spurt of blood later, and the Warden turned to face her prince. The white fur on her front limbs and chest easily contrasted with the blood, and her expression was blank, emotionless even as the now tailless cub continued to wail in pain, even as her prince sobbed wordlessly, his struggling subdued.
He'd learn soon enough.
|
