The dusk was slowly settling in and the building noises outside of Na'taya's sleeping chamber slowly diminished. The purple lamia slithered across the decorated room towards the wide window to take a look at a small group of geomancers fixing holes in the sandstone foundation of the castle. She chuckled after watching their rhythmic performance for a while, which was not unlike a synchronized dance. Three months after the bulldozer that was Etherium's army rolled over Nemthi overnight and brought harm to lizardkin the people finally made leaps of progress in rebuilding the city of Leaston. Na'taya let out a silent sigh thinking back on what that caused to her family. With the death of most of the triumvirate but her father, he grew grim trying to glue together the cracks of fear caused by Marshal Fide's blitzkrieg on Nemthi's people. A single tear ran slowly across the scaled face of the snake.
Father changed so much in the past months. He distanced himself further from us...I didn't think that was even possible...and all those shady individuals that arrived lately to speak to Dad. I hope he doesn't do something he later regrets.
Na'taya slid over to the dresser to prepare herself to sleep. With her sharp pointy fingers, she reached behind her back to unlock the belts holding her corset. A satisfying click later and the cloth fell to the ground.
Finally some freedom!
The lamia stretched her body and massaged her hips with the backside of her hands. Her metal-like phalanxes briefly jingled in a high pitched tone when meeting each other. A few more exercises later and Na'aya felt relaxed enough to go to sleep. She reached down to the dresser to search for one of her cute-looking night-garbs but just when she was about to open the drawer noises emerged in the hallways of the castle. The noises were definitely heading to her chamber and it sounded like multiple people. The lamia quickly grabbed a random cloth out of the drawer, a decorative mantle and was barely able to provisionally cover her front as the door suddenly got slammed open by one of her families Automaton bodyguards:
"I hope you aren't asleep yet, daughter!", the massive pure silver head of her father appeared in the doorframe. Na'taya was sure he noticed that the time couldn't be more wrong but he seemingly didn't care,, "So you are still awake? Wonderful. I have to tell you something marvellous!"
"Sheesh, dad! Can it wait a few more minutes? I am changing."
But the Silver King didn't care about Na'taya's words and continued with the announcement, now slithered completely into her chamber. The impressive-looking play of muscles and scales, that was his body got complimented by the dim light of the sun reflecting itself in the perfectly silver scales. Two Automatons placed themselves at his sides awaiting their boss' commands:
"You certainly noticed the recent influx of emissaries in the castle. Turned out there was a change in power and the scales are about to be rearranged for the better. Nemthi has a chance to reconnect into the power game of the nations and you might be a determining factor in our future, my dearest youngest daughter."
Na'taya groaned audibly and focussed her opposites with a testing stare.
If it is again regarding a potential political marriage then he can move his shiny ass out of my room in an instance. Enough that my two elder brothers and sister already had to throw their future away for 'the benefit of Nemthi'. I want to choose my future myself!
The faces of the Automatons however caught her off-guard. Behind the motionless silver masks, she could make out strange emotions in their spectral eyes. A mixture of regret, defeat but unwavering loyalty. There was more behind this sudden meeting than she initially thought. Why did her dad need two Pneumatics to talk to her? Arcadians with unrivalled strength and mentally linked to her dad of all people. So'teyo usually only had his goons at his side if things could get messy or heavy lifting would be necessary.
Na'taya gulped down the frog developing in her throat and pressed the cape closer at her scaled chest. A hint of fear resonated within her answer rendering the King to show his teeth in a crooked smile:
"I-I might be of use for Nemthi's future? This seems important, but cant we talk about it in the morning while breakfasting? I am dead-tired, dad."
The automaton on her dads right had left her position and closed the window's heavy curtain while the other wasn't visible anymore. Na'taya got even more nervous.
Why would they need darkness now? Or is something about to happen that should stay in privacy? And where is the other goon?
Na'taya squealed up in surprise as the strong pinching hands of the vanished Pneumatic dug into her right arm forcing her on the ground before her dad, the blanket slipping away. The other Automaton immediately snared Na'taya's still unbound arm, cementing her in place. She tried to free herself from the situation swinging her tail ferociously around, but even all her efforts didn't phase her captors. They were enduring the mental agony of their former protegé's fruitless struggles valiantly, their eyes darkened in deep regret visibly troubled in a conflict attempting to question their loyalty. But the mental link was simply too strong and oppressing. Completely defenceless and fully exposed, Na'taya looked up to her dad fear and anger running across her face:
"What the hell are you doing, Dad? Order them to release me in an instant!", Now he went nuts for real, "W-what have you intended for me that requires such drastic measures?"
A brief movement of her dad's hand later and the grip of the Automatons loosened up slightly. She was now barely able to look into her father's smiling face. A hint of joy went past his eyes and then darkness took over. The bladed phalanx of his right pointer shot forwards towards Na'taya's throat and forced her to keep her eyes up. The silver being looked down at his prey:
"There was a shift of power within my long time allies. The underground has now a new god-king, one that challenged a goddess of the council and beheaded her. And on top of that escaped the wrath of the immortal goddess alive. He would for certain be a valuable ally for Nemthi to reclaim the land stolen from my kin by the Eternal Counsel. And you will help me with cementing that partnership!"
The pointy finger of the lamia dug itself slightly into Na'taya's jaw. Not enough to penetrate the scales but enough to cause a stinging pain. She saw herself unable to answer her oppressor, but the fear in her eyes was reaction enough for the King:
"He is calling himself 'Showrunner'. A quite interesting name for a leader of an organisation centred around slavery and forbidden pleasures. The underground has the means to help me reclaim my lost pride and you, dear daughter, has the means to assure a healthy partnership. You see, I plan on giving my leader a trinket of loyalty, something that is invaluable to me. . . you are invaluable to me."
What the heck is he talking about? Na'taya started sweating uncontrollably. Fear was seething out of every pore of her body, her heart skipped a beat. You don't mean it! No...you do, you sick bastard.
"My youngest daughter will finally make herself useful. I am such a proud papa.", the finger retreated allowing Na'taya to breathe again, "My own flesh and blood in possession of the challenger of gods. You will make a perfect slave for The Showrunner. You will be the sacrifice we will build the fresh foundation of the country on. A martyr!
"But nobody will know of your noble task. You will go down in the books as a disgraceful runaway from my castle. I will make sure that everyone will know just how irredeemable you are. Nobody will even attempt to search for you. Your first life ends tonight. Tomorrow a fresh restart in the lap of your new master will begin. Na'taya van Almmond will disappear to be reborn as Na'taya, the god-king's personal slave."
Suddenly Na'taya felt a shift in the hurtful grip of the Automatons, as they spread her hands straight, locking their grip around all her second phalanxes. Her razor-sharp fingertips were however still oddly exposed and movable she noticed. With panic in Na'taya's tearing eyes, she saw the silver snake unsheathing a razor-sharp ceremonial blade immediately licking the backside with his split tongue throwing a mad look at his prey. Her eyes opened wide in fear she was completely unprepared for the sudden flash of his light magic blinding her instantaneously. She screamed up in surprise but shut down after hearing the King laughing maniacally:
"We don't want you risking his excellence's health in any way. Do you want to know what they do to lamia slaves down in the underground? Oh, better I demonstrate it for you. As in my role of your dear papa, I will make it quick and painless. Hold still, Na'taya"
Unable to fight back Na'taya braced herself for whatever might happen to her next.
Please let it be something painless, pl-
The sound of flesh and bones being cut overpowered her every thought. She heard her own screams as her flesh and bone were severed, the waves of pain consuming her every thought as the monster, she identified as her own father, mutilated each finger with surgical, unfeeling precision. Suddenly the final phalanx of her fingers was as short as a Kobold's stubby fingertip; the metal piercing claws of her kin were gone. She screamed and screamed until her mutilator forcefully closed her mouth:
"No worries. We will make sure that you survive. But I don't wanna risk you piercing the metal skull of the showrunner with your natural weapons. You understand my deep concern, do you? You could risk repercussions for your actions. So I hindered you from causing any. Good night, slave!"
Whimpering and cramping through waves of unbearable pain the sweet numbing release of the monster's massive tail crushing down her skull felt more like an act of mercy than pain. Before completely losing her consciousness one last thought ran through Na'taya's head.
You monster are my father no more!
- The following day in one of the many dining rooms of the castle two of the three members of the Triumvirate had dinner together. -
"- I can't believe my daughter decided to run away from her destiny. I am deeply saddened that she abandoned Nemthi and our course of returning to power."
The freshly nominated Bronze Queen let out a surprised burp realizing the consequences. The frilled lizard demonstratively put down the cut of imported Aris venison, that was already halfway to her maw:
"Wasn't she already promised to the crown prince of Northwatch? Tough times await us when we have to break our promise to the human kingdom. Their naval force could have helped us in our dire issue with Scorzosa and now we have to search for alternatives."
From across the dining room young Evamal, a lime-green butler kobold of the Bronze Queen's staff overheard parts of the ongoing conversation waddling away with a way too huge trash bag of inferior spoils of food. Her throat dried up hearing them talking about who was obviously Na'taya. Her best friend, Na'taya, a runaway? Impossible! Evamal knew the purple lamia's compassion for her kin and her wanting to use her influence for good. Being a runaway would be highly unlike of her. But then again, they often talked about her dreams of starting a family with one, who she loves and not some upstart rich kid.
Muttering theories about her friend's decisions Evamal hurled the trash bag over into the backyard. Throwing it over another bag placed there, accidentally spilling its content across the floor, she immediately let out a high screech instantly sealing up her maw in disgust. Nobody heard her, right? What were these...things, what just fell out of the trash bag? These oddly familiar-looking pieces of...scales and bone!? Eyes wide open she approached these blade-like bones she expected nowhere else than proudly towering at the fingertips of her friend. Pure horror in her eyes Evamal quickly resealed the bag containing all eight of Na'taya's precious phalanxes.
What?! What happened to you, friend? Why are your fingers here and where are you!? A runaway...right...much more sinister things happened here. I warned you from your father, but what have you...I hope you are still alive...I don't want to lose you. But I can't do anything....nothing. I pray for you, Na'taya, I pray for us to see once more...I was ready to talk about my feelings and now you...you...
After binding the bag together with powerless motions the Kobold collapsed in a silent whimpering and whined a whole minute before having to seal away her grief for later and returning to the table of those two devils dining continuing to serve the rotten core of this once proud nation.
