This is the first Shalafae story I wrote, back in 2000 or 2001. A
long time ago. Rather than re-write it, I have chosen to leave it as is.
Some of the details have evolved over the years, so things may seem a
little different. I know my writing has improved over this time. I only
took a few really badly written or unnecessary things out, and adjusted
just a few words. Otherwise, this is how it was originally posted.
Nostalgia, right?
***
Morrigana
looked silently at the lay of the land. The wind tore jealously at her
long black hair, and gravity tried to claim her back to its bosom. With
another heavy stroke of her broad wings, the hybrid warrior would have
none of it. She continued to take stock of the lands her father had
built for her.
Below her was the sprawling dojo and stables, all
for her training. He had spared no expense. He'd even imported the
peculiar black obsidian from her home world, so she would be reminded of
the race that had betrayed her. There were sprawling gardens, a pond
that was more like a lake, tall trees, and some of the native rocks. At
the tall fence, the desert sands lapped, relentless in their attempt to
destroy the oasis Lord Shalafae had built for her. Catching sight of her
weapons master, Morrigana folded her wings, and came in for a landing.
The
weapons master was much smaller than her, with dark skin, long dark
hair, and enchanting eyes. She respected him a lot. Even when her father
put in his rare visits, and her weapons master was forced into whatever
punishment was decreed, she always saw the deepest of admiration in his
eyes. He was adept in many of the martial skills, and she'd yet to best
him in a fight. The young woman promised herself she would, and soon.
"He's
coming, isn't he?" Her voice was husky, just rougher than sultry. She
glanced at the roiling storm clouds pouring in from the north, feeling
the frolicking elementals within them. Storm elementals always followed
her father.
"Yes," her weapons master said simply. He touched her
arm with the faintest of touches. "He says he has a gift for you, and
would like you to be in your armor in the dojo." And then her little
friend turned away.
Morrigana stared after him for a heartbeat,
then glared at the storm clouds. She reached out with her mind to pull
one of the smaller elementals to herself, feeding upon it, and then
releasing it. She felt her nerves tingle, and her senses expand. She had
the sudden desire to fly up into the clouds, to rend and tear, and to
take joy in the freedom of movement. Morrigana focused the energy,
reshaping it into something less chaotic. She had to deal with her
father.
The young hybrid stalked to her room, and donned her
armor. It had been another one of her father's gifts; it fit like a
glove, and revealed entirely too much flesh to be practical. But,
Shalafae wanted her to look beautiful in everything she wore, so he'd
had the armorsmith spend weeks crafting protection spells into it, so no
weapon would bite her precious flesh. Sighing, she caught a glimpse of
herself in the mirror. Her tail lashed agitatedly behind her, but she
did admit she made a very striking image. He may not have lavished gifts
on her, but Shalafae did bring her good gifts. She left her room.
It
was the hardest thing Morrigana had done in a while. She paced the
hardwood dojo floor, boots making small slapping noises. She kept
fluttering her wings, and lashing her tail. She picked up one of her
practice blades, and smoothly moved through katas that were now
ingrained in her very muscles.
Why is he coming now? she thought. She sliced at the air, dropping to her knees and spinning to face her unseen opponent. Does he know? How could he possibly know? It's just one of his random visits. The bastard!
Morrigana
stopped, and faced her weapons master. She remembered last night, their
only night together. She remembered the feel of his skin, his kisses,
his teeth and nails. He was different in so many ways from the one who'd
first trained her in carnal ways. Morrigana lowered her eyes. Her
father was a jealous man, and would kill this person for her choice.
A
clap of thunder and gust of wind announced Shalafae's entrance to the
dojo. Morrigana rose, years of arrogance and breeding filling her. She
pressed her shoulders back, and tipped up her chin, gazing imperiously
at the man before her.
He was as attractive as always. He was
tall, thin, almost sickly looking in this chosen shape. He had pointed
ears, a pointed chin, and long white hair. His eyes were bright red, and
up-tilted. His mouth was extremely sensuous, and his fine boned fingers
clasped the cloth-wrapped shape in front of him. Morrigana felt her
soul lurch at the sight of him.
Shalafae'd lain with her, raped
and pillaged her, and had trained her to be the sensual woman she was.
She'd chosen the darkness he offered her when her own clan had turned
against her. She'd felt pleasure at his touch, and the closest thing to
love she was ever going to feel. And with the man who'd given her soul
life!!! She mentally shook her head. It was a mystery for another time.
As he approached her, Morrigana continued to glare. She hated him so
deeply sometimes.
He smiled, and gazed up at her. Shalafae was
tall himself, but still not as tall as her hybrid form. She refused to
bow to him anymore. "My beautiful child, how are you this day?" Thunder
crashed to accent his words.
"You interrupt my training. The
training you value so damn much. What do you want?" She was always curt
with him these days. When first they'd met, she'd cowered and sobbed at
his feet, begging for mercy. She refused to ever allow him those kind of
pleasures again.
Shalafae smiled, eyes as glassy as a reptile's.
"Your training is done, my child. I have come to give you your
warrior's weapons." With a flourish, he pulled the black silk off what
he held. Morrigana was struck dumb by the sight of two inky black
swords. She could feel the magic and power radiating from them.
Something about the auras struck her as familiar, but she didn't let it
bother her. Instead, her hand began reaching for the topmost of the
blades.
It was light for its size, and was longer than her leg.
It had a slightly curved blade, single-edged with sharp serrations on
the upper edge. The hilt was curved slightly, the pommel shaped like a
dragon's head, and the crossbar two sharpened dragon wings. Her eyes
were locked on the blade as the sword's energies coursed up her arm. She
began experimenting with some swings, enjoying the feel of the new
weapon.
"Do you like it, Morrigana?" Shalafae whispered, drawling
her name. She could feel his hungry gaze on her as he hefted the other
sword. She glanced at it, felt the same draw of energy from it. It was
of the same mystery metal, but it's shape was different. It was the same
length, but double-edged, with two diamond flanges near the crossbar.
The crossbar was wider than a normal longsword's, and intricately
carved. Morrigana let it remain in her father's hands, entranced with
the sword in her own hand.
"I do like it...it's so...." Morrigana's voice trailed off as she continued to watch her sword.
"Show
me how you use it." Shalafae's seductive voice pierced her veil of
entrancement. She heard her weapons master draw a real sword, and she
turned to face off against him.
Morrigana moved through the fight
without thinking. In her gut, she felt something akin to fear. She saw
fear in her instructors eyes. They both knew how this was going to end.
And all because of her father's jealous pride. But Morrigana was a
trained fighter; her body knew what to do, even though her mind
protested.
I can't believe I'm doing this. Why should I do anything he wishes? But this sword...
Morrigana lost herself in the fight, no longer caring. The sword drove
her on, and the glory of moving with all the grace available to her was
superb.
At some point in the fight, Morrigana had changed to her
full human form. She was only a few inches taller than her weapons
master, though her sword still had the reach over his. Even though it
was now quite large compared to her, she wielded it perfectly. She was
in love with the fight, and clamped her teeth down on her lip, feeling
herself become aroused.
Morrigana felt her father's eyes on her,
and began to lead her weapons master. She'd never been able to best him,
but this time was different. She was fighting for a reason.
In a
sudden parry, Morrigana batted aside his guard, and stepped into him,
sheathing her blade in his heart. She felt something surge through her
body, and held onto his shoulder. As she watched the light fade from his
eyes, she felt two tears slide down her cheeks. I'm sorry, she mouthed. His eyes slid closed, and Morrigana knelt to the floor with him.
The
young hybrid bowed over him for a time, then rose, pulling her sword
from the dead body. She turned to her father, rage in her eyes. She
stalked across the floor to him, blood dripping from the sword to the
floor. Shalafae did not flinch as she approached; instead, he made
himself ready to fight, claiming a spare sword from the rack on the
wall. As she came within range of him, she shifted into her hybrid form,
and lunged into an attack.
The battle was joined. It was fast
and furious, Shalafae being more than a match for her. Morrigana had
felt tired at the end of the last fight, but now she just felt
invigorated. She growled as she fought, sharp teeth digging into her
lip. The swords screamed with primal rage as they clashed, Stygian
sparks flying. Shalafae forced the woman farther and farther back,
trying to keep the advantage.
Morrigana took wing, and dove and
struck at her father. She was blind to anything but him, and all senses
were attuned to the attack. She drew blood a handful of times, as
Shalafae did on her. Growls continued to tear from her throat as she
fought.
Stepping back, Shalafae reached out with the power at his
command, and snared the hybrid. She screamed as he used magic to slam
her down onto the floor, breaking her left wing. Morrigana screamed
again, and rolled off the injured wing, trying to retain her grip on her
sword. Pain blinded her for the briefest of seconds, but it was enough
for Shalafae to make his move.
Morrigana arched in pain as her
father drove the sword into her left thigh, right against the bone. She
felt the metal grind on bone, and shuddered. One hot tear slid from her
eye. Shivering in pain, Morrigana gazed up at her father.
"Do you submit to me, Daughter?" He moved close to her broken wing. Hot pain throbbed through the joint.
"Die
in a fire, you bastard!" she hissed. Shalafae stepped on one of the
wing fingers, crushing it beneath his bootheel. Morrigana bit hard into
her lip, refusing to scream again, refusing to cry.
"Not an
acceptable answer. Do you submit?" This time he twisted the sword,
separating muscles in her thigh. Again, she tensed, but did not scream.
"I
have given you all the submission you will ever see from me. I asked
you to teach me your darkness. I asked you to help me get back at my
people. I will not submit to you." Her voice was torn and shaky, but it
was fierce.
Shalafae removed the sword from her thigh, and
crouched down next to her, grinding the wounded wing again. He reached
out and touched her face. Morrigana bit him, drawing blood. "So fierce,
my little girl. So proud and beautiful. I think you are ready." He
stood, and walked several steps away.
Morrigana rose, blood
running from wounds that were already closing, wing dangling limply
behind her. She kept hold of her sword, and drug her steps towards him.
Shalafae reached out a hand, and she took it. After all these years, she
was very used to his bizarre moods.
"Come, my daughter, my sword. Come, let us rule this world." He led her from the dojo, and into a different light.
