Just Checking Up! Part Fifty-Four: The Yearning for a Day Off!

Rip:

Glaring at the files on my kitchen counter, the workload had somehow tripled. Shit, I needed a day off! A low growl rumbled in my throat, my fingers tapping the kitchen counter. Fussing with my simple black t-shirt, my black jeans felt heavy today. Silks spun in with a big smile, her black and burgundy plaid kimono hugged her stunning body. Wiggling an ancient map around, excitement illuminated her eyes more than anything had as of late.

“Hear me out. The kiddos are at the grandparents, you know, because it is weekly grandparent day. Do you want to find this elemental library with me?” She begged while clasping her palms together, her genuine smile threatening to wake up my heart. “Please, I need to get away from the heavy security system smothering me. Kaw did get me these.” Presenting a pair of silver scale dragon gloves and a matching face mask, a soft smile found its place on my features. Way to answer your promise, my dear friend.

“Kaw pulled through like a true brother, didn’t he?” I pondered out loud, an abrupt yup slipping off of her tongue. “Sure, why not!” Who was I to squash another rare moment of pure joy? Tucking the gloves and mask into a hidden pocket, her hand reached for mine. Curling my fingers around hers, a flaming fireball necklace crackled to life around my neck.

“Keep that on you to prevent yourself from disintegrating. This queen requires her king to thrive for her heart is his and his alone.” She laughed freely, hesitant hope showing in her features. Tapping her worn boots a couple of times, orange fire lily petals whisked us into a strange field of rainbow flowers. A summer breeze brushed my skin, the odd looking blossoms dancing away. Digging through her leather bag, a black iron bomb rolled into her palm. Presenting it to me with pride, that deviant grin frightened the hell out of me.

“So, remember how severely dragon magic nearly ended me not once but twice.” She bragged excitedly, the heavy weapon weighing my palm down. “Well, I combined some crystals I found and some dragon magic. This should knock him the fuck out. What do you think?” Horrified by how effective this could be, the double edged side of this sword could cut deep into her. Shooting her my deeply concerned look, my lips parted several times before I reached a proper set of words.

“Right, but I would like to point out how deadly this thing is to you.” I uttered cautiously, her head nodding vigorously as she flipped over the mask to reveal a hardened layer of her magic. “What is that supposed to do?” Putting her finger in the air, her other hand clenched a few times. Letting her cook would be the best, her tenacity actually resulting in a decent reward ninety percent of the time.

“The Sins and Kaw are working on special armor for me when that final battle comes. Hopefully no dragon magic radiates through.” She confessed nervously, her cute grin causing my cheeks to flush a faint ruby. “Being on the front lines is important to me and we both know you can’t stop me.” Releasing a long sigh, my queen wasn’t wrong. There was no way she wouldn’t sit idly by, guilt eating at her every day for our fallen comrades.

“Try not to die on me, ‘kay. Lord knows the way the world would end if he killed you.” I confessed honestly, her genuine smile brightening her features further. “My heart is yours and yours alone.” Meaning every word, that smile dropped into her usual smirk. Call it an unhealthy attachment, both of us had gone through Hell together. Tucking the bomb back into her bag, the map bounced off of her palm. Unfurling it, she pressed it against the closest tree. Cutting her fingertip on the sharpest piece of bark, orange flames crackled to life. Pressing her fingertip to the corner of her map, a path seared to life. Staring numbly out at the vast landscape, a long breath drew from her lips.

“Don’t you dare die on me. You do have to deliver the final blow in the end.” She returned in a restrained but playful tone, her lips pursing together as she tried to figure out where to go. “One would think that Flamios would have given me better freaking directions. Then again he did say to go here if he passed away. Why would anything be fucking easy!” Cocking her head to the left, her brief rant ended with her sprinting deeper into the tallest grass. Chasing after her, a rough halt had us in front of three jet black waterfalls. Tracing the map lightly, her eyes flitted between the map and me. Kicking up three rocks, a flick in each one revealed nothing but three equal splashes. Cursing under her breath, her foot tapped incessantly. Hitting it with my dragon flames, all but the center one had steam curling into the air. A warm gust of air smacked us in the face, her map decaying up to that point. Leaping onto my back, her playfulness almost woke up my heart once more. Kissing the nape of my neck affectionately, her arms draped over my shoulders. What a sweet feeling to treasure!

“Onward we go, my king!” She chanted boldly, sorrow biting her tone. “The next challenge is in your wheelhouse. Who else would I do this with?” Touched by her words, a glance back at her had her lips hovering over mine. Our breaths became one, that broken smile making its usual appearance. Pressing her lips against mine tenderly, time stopped for a moment. Screeches in the distance destroyed the moment, dread bubbling in my gut. Sliding off of my back, her dual scythes roared to life. Flipping them over her fingers, the training with our fathers had been paying off. The flames moved like liquid while looking solid at the same time, my own movements feeling clumsier compared to her. Crossing onto the other side, silver vines glowed to life. A loud fuck burst from her lips, three silver vine snakes burst from the walls. Shoving me into a random chamber, her body dropped onto mine. Pushing off of me with scarlet cheeks, her sharp eyes soaked in the wiggling silver vines claiming a jet black marble wall. Sniffing the air, fear drained any color from her cheeks.

Stepping to the right, Bladdadon rode in on one of the snakes. Cocking her head to the left, a slice and pirouette cut down his ride. Hoisting myself to my feet, a spell could be had. Vibrations rejected any dragon magic, horror rounding my eyes. Everything made sense, an elemental space wouldn’t permit such magic. Alas, demon magic would do the trick. Sinking to my knees, three circles hummed to life without me cutting my palms. Curiosity would have to wait, my fingers drawing the symbols in the sand. Slamming my eager palm onto the closest symbol, hisses and groans announced the circles spinning rapidly. Unsure of what to say, the image of a forest pierced my initial thoughts. Marble creaked in protest, tall cedar trees groaning into place. Leaping onto branches, the two of them became balls of stormy energy and orange flames. Lightning nearly struck me, a scurry bringing me behind the thickest tree trunk. An argument ensued between them, fire lilies blossoming around me proved his losing battle. Silks rolled inches from me, fresh cuts and burns covering her body. Donning her new gloves, the burns reeked of the electrical type. Cracking her neck on the way up to her feet, a devilish grin danced across her lips. The remaining snakes were slithering towards him, his eyes lingering on her.

“Have a nice bite!” She shouted brightly with a touch of sarcasm, a wink from her throwing him off. “We need to move onto the next stage once he destroys those damn snakes.” She informed me with a tired smirk, her breathing coming at a labored cost. Seeking the exit, a glimmer of hope shimmered in her eyes. Watching him get swallowed whole terrified me to the core, a steel trapdoor popping up underneath our feet. Dropping into a chilly space, a bear hug prevented her from taking the brunt of the fall.

“What the fuck!” I cussed bitterly, an invisible layer of energy preventing Blabbadon from entering the space! Giving up in a huff, an eerie silence washed over everything. More of her map burned up, the last symbol resembling the library. Mumbling into my chest, dull aches throbbed through my muscles. Squirming out of my arms, her boots hit the snow. A gust of snow knocked her back, a long sigh skipping off of her tongue.

“Talk about cooling down!” She joked irritably, her fingers running through her hair. “Why would things go according to plan! Not that they ever do!” Laying her arms on the closest snowbank, relief melted the stress off of her features. Steam curled into the air, snow crunching as I popped to my feet. Approaching her cautiously, her emotions were proving difficult to read at the moment.

“Are we sinking?” She squeaked out in disbelief, snow beginning to swallow our legs. “Why not get fucking worse!” Hitting the snow with a flurry of fire lily petals, a river of water boiled to life. Snatching me by my shoulder, a leap into the air permitted a pathway of ice to form. Landing clumsily, her arms held me up. Skating towards a silhouette of a building, her fingers intertwined with mine. Freedom stole her mental strife away, pure bliss showing in her big goofy grin. Spinning me into a waltz position, scarlet painted the tip of my ears. Humming our songs, every twirl slowed down time. Shards of ice shot into the air, time catching up. Stumbling into a dark wooden mansion, her body flew onto mine. Fluffy burgundy carpet caught us, a bit of laughter slipping out of her lips. Cupping my cheek, her lips brushed against mine tenderly. My breath hitched, time stopping. Releasing me from her spell, her loving gaze lingered on mine.

“I don’t know if I say this enough but I love you, Rip.” She whispered huskily, my heart threatening to wake up for the millionth time today. “Thank you for being the best husband a queen can ask for. Not to mention a wonderful father. Sorry for keeping you up at night and all that bullshit. Grief is hard for me. Oftentimes, life is throwing crap in my path to the point of me not getting a chance to feel, well, anything. When I was on bed rest, the mental agony was practically torture. All those negative voices wouldn’t leave me the fuck alone. Yet, having family and friends around prevented me from losing it completely. When I am with you by myself, I feel much safer to open up. Forgive me for being so finicky.” Clutching her close to my chest, the dam burst open. Soaking my shirt, a much needed release broke the hurricane raging inside of her brain. Rubbing her back in an attempt to comfort her, the close of my eyes revealed a contorted tree screaming out to be healed. Rolling off of me, a jump to her feet had her kicking a series of large roots. Curling around her ankle, a yank back had her disappearing through a pair of thick black wooden doors. Allowing a root to steal me through the door, burgundy wallpaper whistled by my face. Tossing me into the corner, a branch dangled Silks like a damn rag doll.

“Would it help to mention that Flamios sent me here?” She barked hotly, her scythes bouncing off of each other. “You know, the one who probably inhabited these halls for a hot minute. By the way, he passed. Thought that you should know!” Throwing her onto a pile of dusty books, shimmering sap splattered inches from her feet. Shaking off the dust on her shoulder, any anger dissolved from her aura. Approaching the trunk with her hands up, a wave of her hands decayed her weapons to piles of ash. Way to decompress the situation, my dear queen. Admiring her, the nice moment was short-lived.

“If it means anything, my heart aches for him as well. All of me feels as if it is my damn fault.” She attempted to comfort it, the root releasing me. “There we go. I may not be him but I can stop by at least twice a mon-” Glowing nuts bounced off of her head, her unimpressed expression not hiding her displeasure.

“Once a week?” She queried irately through gritted teeth, another round of nuts thumping off of her body. “Twice a week and that is my final offer!” Waiting with bated breath for another attack, nothing happened. Relaxing visibly, her slender fingers plucked a couple of nuts off the carved wooden floor. Rolling them over her fingers, curiosity twinkled in her eyes. Gathering herself, she spun over to me. Offering me her free hand, our fingers intertwined. A fiery warmth spun around my soul, our bond strengthening. Yanking me to my feet, her arms snaked around my waist. Clutching me like her life depended on it, true fear swirled in her aura. Hiding it with a big grin, the left corner of her lips twitched. Crushing the nuts in frustration, a huge portrait of Flamios hung behind me. Pushing me away, her footfalls clacked away. Disappearing into a row of shelves, uncontrollable sobs from her shattered my soul. Crashing past the tree, a maze of bookshelves paralyzed me. Fighting the swelling wave of fear in me, a nut whacked the back of my head.

“Son of a bitch!” I yelled in pure annoyance, a branch pointing to a trail of nuts. “Sorry for cursing in your space.” Tracking his path, a broken Silks lay curled in a ball at the base of another portrait depicting the one and only Flamios. Wondering if the tree was being cruel or gentle, there had to be a purpose. Wailing into her knees, a frustrated scream exploded from her lips. Rushing to her side, her wet eyes met my broken smirk.

“Grieve away. Life tends to block you. Trust me, our parents won’t mind a few more moments with the grandchildren.” I assured her affectionately, Flamios’ gentleness radiated from his proud stance. “His lack of a presence destroys me from the inside. Alas, he wasn’t a piece of my soul.” Crawling over to me, sorrow stained her cheeks. Snuggling into my chest, her fingers clung to my shirt. Burying her in a sweet embrace, her lips brushed against my arm. Goosebumps dotted my skin, a hunger raging within me. Why were we both feeling this? Belay that, sometimes it was time to sink into our internal instincts. Succumbing to our desires, a couple of hours passed. Sighing with euphoria as I adjusted my hair and shirt, Silks tied up her kimono. Chewing on her bottom lip, half of the stress had dissolved from her features. Sucking in a deep breath, a grunt escaped her lips as she hopped to her feet. Scanning the shelves, my dumb ass eyes couldn’t read the elemental language.

“Hey, Silks. Are you faring a bit better?” I asked softly, her head shaking honestly as her hand dropped to her side limply. “How can I help my dear queen out?” Glancing over at me, grief cascaded from the corner of her eyes. Shrugging her shoulders, this was the most honest she had been in a bit.

“Answers don’t present themselves, do they?” She laughed dejectedly, her boot tapping to the rhythm of anxiety. “He told me to come here and yet nothing is slapping in the face. Well, his face is. I can’t tell if it is some sick prank, a new weight collapsing on my shoulders. A tree now depends upon me, what a delight. Sure, I don’t mind the extra time researching. Do I even have the time for that? What is the Queen of Hell to do besides march forward?” Sinking to her knees, her fingers drummed away. Groaning to my feet, our journey today hadn’t been the easiest on my body. Plopping down next to her, her bum hit my lap. Curling my arms around her waist, Flamios brought her here for some reason. The guy wasn’t a blithering nitwit in my opinion. Her lips parted to speak, a root pushing a book in her direction. Beat up leather glinted in the light, wonder softening the blow of pure depression. Flipping through the pages, a devilish grin spread across her lips.

“So he does have dark secrets.” She mumbled under her breath, her hands beginning to tremble. “Shadows can’t hide everything, can they?” Snapping her fingers, the words shifted into the English language for my eyes. Soaking in the information, a similar devilish grin curled ear to ear on my lips.

“The prophecy of a fire queen and her dragon is what is shaking him up.” I mused gleefully, my chin resting on the top of her head. “Funny how life works. Are you ready to take on his darkness?” An eerie silence stole her joy, her smile dropping into a crestfallen expression.

“If I must.” She shot back numbly, her fingers massaging her thighs. “Musette couldn’t shut down the darkness that devoured her. Meanwhile, my dumb ass cleansed the space. Not that it didn’t come at a cost. Surely, wrangling this monster can be easier than that. Then again maybe not. Only time will tell. One thing for certain, taking it on will occur to save everyone I cherish. Count on me for that one.” Saying nothing, comfort and love was all she needed at the moment. Praying to the big man upstairs, grant her the strength to cage the biggest monster of them all.