Tusks and Dagger Part Fifty: Pride Finds a Home

A portal swirled to life in front of me, shadow hands yanked me in. Tommy latched onto my leg at the last minute, his claws sinking into my leg. Somata leapt through at the last minute, his body shielding me from the fall. Gritty sand crunched underneath our boots as we struggled to our feet. Dusting off the ivory blouse I had borrowed from Boran, Somata tossed me my scythe. A sea of cacti spread out like the sea, the needles shining in the desert sun. 

“Where are we?” I groaned, tugging at the hem of my shirt. “At least you are dressed.” Glancing at his current outfit of a simple blouse and wool pants, he shrugged his shoulders. Yanking me behind a rock, a bandit of masked cowboys whooped by us with a cage trailing behind their wagon. Fantastic, I realized that I had landed myself into a western movie. Rubbing my forehead, this couldn’t get any worse. A seven foot demon sat hunched over, his chocolate brown curls bounced with every jolt. Dirt and sand blew off of his thick robe, his ruby eyes falling on me. Flashing him an apologetic smile, he pointed to a giant golden blade with an owl hilt. The curve of the blade glinted in the blazing sun. The spotted horses neighed, the wagon groaned to a halt. Somata spun his blade in his palm, an eager urge to kill something burned in his eyes. What the hell was up with him? Intense energy swirled around him, an irritated expression haunting his eyes. Pondering what was eating at him tore into my mind, the fact that he wasn’t one hundred percent didn’t bode well. 

“I know that this isn’t the time but are you okay?” I queried, his anger filled eyes meeting mine. Sucking in a deep breath, his expression had softened. He acted as if he made a mistake, my head shaking. The point of this conversation wasn’t to upset him.

“I want to marry her.” He uttered in a point blank tone, a pleasant smile illuminating my features. “I don’t know how to ask her. We should probably get focused.” Well that wasn’t like him at all. Turning our attention back to the situation, the colorfully dressed cowboys scanned the area. Mouthing a silent spell, Somata snapped his fingers. Harsh winds howled to life, the gusts whipping my hair around. Tommy released his poisonous gas, the fire in his eyes burning with a fiery passion. His tail wagged happily, his ears pinning back. Tearing off the hem of his shirt, Somata tied it around my nose and mouth. My ears pinned back, scarlet painted my cheeks. The cowboys dropped to the ground, Somata guided me through the cloud. Childlike wonder brightened my eyes at the way he could withstand the poison, my adoration for him swelled a bit. He reminded me of a big brother, my lips pressing into a thin line due to concern. Skidding to a stop in front of the cage, my dragon fingers curled around the thick bar. Heating up the bar to a hot red, the lord couldn’t look me in the eyes. Kicking the bars, it shattered to pieces. Climbing in, he was unaffected as well. Grabbing his chains, the metal burned a bright red. His shameful eyes met mine, the metal snapping in half. Growing a silver rose in my clammy palms, his quaking fingers snatched it up hungrily. Swallowing it whole, a silver rose tattoo snaked up his left arm. Jumping out of the cage, the lord placed me on his shoulders. Tommy leapt onto my shoulders, his purrs echoing in my ear. Stepping over the mess, Somata wasn’t far behind. 

“I am Lord Prowce, the lord of pride.” He introduced himself serenely, a frown turning the corner of his lips down. “Come my blade.” His blade whistled into his hands, ribbons of sand danced around his arm. Walking through the desert, we came upon a couple of rows of worn houses lining the dusty road. Setting me down, a ribbon of sand whipped a couple of grains into my eyes. Rubbing my eyes, families of lizards walked around. Their iridescent scales shimmered in the sun. Golden eyes darted in our direction, looks of fright twisted their features. Reading the worn wooden signs, children smiled warmly in my direction. Only the innocent eyes of a child wouldn’t see me as frightening, a small wave satisfying them. Glancing up at the water tower, it was their only source of water. Life must be pretty tough around here, my lips pressing into a thin line. Perhaps a permanent rain cloud would ease that problem.

“They planned on robbing this tiny town.” Prowce whispered in my ear, Somata pacing back and forth behind us. He wasn’t helping our case, the distrust was growing evident in the adults’ eyes. They must not get that many visitors, guilt gnawing at me. Grabbing Somata by the shoulders, an uneasy gaze met mine. Was this a blast from the past or was it how he wanted to ask Avy to marry him? Clearing my throat, the townspeople ran into their homes. Well, that didn’t go as I planned. Dread bubbled in my gut, the sound of horses galloping towards couldn’t be a wonderful gift. Spinning on my heel, a bullet whistled into my shoulders. My eyebrows twitched in response, a snarl curling devilishly on my lips. The bandits had made their way here, my face paling. Clammy sweat drenched my skin, my heart seeming seconds from pumping out of my chest. Digging into the bullet hole, my trembling fingers gripped the bullet. Ripping it out, the wound sealed shut. Stretching my shoulder, the horses stomped to a stop. The leader pointed to Prowce, a snarl twitching on his lips.

“You took our weapon.” He hissed venomously, a snake tongue flicking out of his inky lips. Stepping in front of Prowce, his protests fell on deaf ears. Somata seemed preoccupied, a secret lay in his wet eyes. Aiming his gun towards the water tower, a soft pop shattered the hot stale air. Water poured onto the street, the growing pool threatened to flood every home. Raising my scythe in the attack position, these people needed protection. Prowce created a wall of sand, my eyes narrowing in his direction. 

“You need to fight smarter.” Prowce growled through gritted teeth, his eyes falling on my bump. Shooting him a death glare, I was pregnant not broken. Low growls rumbled in my throat, a quiet fury burned in my eyes. The water touched my feet, time stopping. This was new, I thought oddly to myself. A scene played out in front of me, my heart sinking. 

The three of us stood across from the bandits, a war seconds from starting. Somata’s movements lagged greatly, a bullet striking his forehead. A tortured wail burst from my lips, silent tears staining my cheeks as he splashed into the water. Inky blood muddied the water, the strife seeming far from over. Another bullet hit Prowce in the forehead, a wave of water splashing onto me the moment he collapsed forward. More blood dyed the water, my eyes rounding out in horror. Trembling in my spot, my heart stopped beating for a few seconds. The last bullet struck that version of me’s heart, my death playing out in front of me. Watching myself die hit me hard, desperate sobs wracked my body. Hearing the cries of Hudson begging for me to wake up bounced around my head, everything going wrong. Cupping the sides of my head, I sank to my knees. This couldn’t be happening. A colorful feather drifted in front of me, a loud clap snapping me back to reality. 

We had seconds to change the future, his wall had crumbled. Yanking them behind a home, our deaths had been avoided. Turning back towards the boys, our weapons wouldn’t work against guns. The rotten bastards would shoot us down before we got close to them, my trembling hands tying my scythe to my back. Prowce realized the same thing, tucking his blade into his robe. Tommy leapt onto my shoulders, his tail tickling my face. Where the hell did he go? Dropping three rifles into our palms, bullets clattered to our feet. Rubbing the top of his head, his purrs sounded like music in my ear. Loading up our guns, the extra bullets had to go somewhere. Summoning a bag to carry the extra bullets, Somata dropped them numbly into the soft velvet. Wanting to address the issue, we didn’t have time. Tugging my hair into a ponytail, it was time to show the world the shooting abilities Viktor had taught me. Poking our heads around, a bullet cut my cheek. Ruby dripped down my cheek, attacking them head on would be foolish. Motioning to the roof, the building groaned as we climbed up. Pulling ourselves up, nervous grins twitched on our lips. A numb Somata sat with his gun on his knees. That wasn’t great, I mumbled to. Ignoring him, I would deal with that after. Aiming the gun towards one of his fellow bandits, a small bit of my power built around the muzzle. Clicking off the safety, the trigger groaned underneath my finger. Pulling on the trigger, a white bullet struck my target. An empty shell rolled to my feet, the kickback bruising my shoulder a bit. The body splashed into the rising water level, venom swirling into the water. Everything would have to be purified after this, a long sigh pouring from my lips. Loading up my gun, Prowce was shooting them down faster than I could. Raw anger burned in his eyes, his revenge was getting served. The two of us shot down everyone but the leader, the damn monster was nowhere to be seen. Scanning the area, our desperate eyes searched for fruitless results. A thud stole our attention, the leader had a gun pointed to Somata’s head. Why wasn’t he fighting? This wasn’t like him at all. 

“Put the guns down or my old friend gets it.” He demanded hotly, my lips moving a mile a minute. Not shocked by the new fact presented to me, silver vines snaked up Somata. No one was going to hurt my big brother! Dragging him over to me, the leader was too stunned to speak. A sandy bullet smashed into his forehead before he could speak, Prowce huffed next to me. Decaying to ash, Somata wouldn’t cheer up at our victory. Leaping off the building, venomous water splashed onto my leg. Pressing my palm to the road, we had to fix the monster's mistakes. The water floated into the air, a bright light blinding me. The light died down, a repaired town greeted me. The homes looked better than before, the people coming out of their homes. Their eyes fell on the rain cloud over their brand new water tower, scarlet coloring my cheeks. The parents began to cheer, the little children running up to me. Hugging them, their questions didn’t seem to end. Taking off my mask, they adored my smile. Somata and Prowce landed next to me, a warmth coming over me. Thank goodness we didn’t die. Rising to my feet, Somata bowed at my feet.

“I am sor-” He began, the shock of me helping him up gave him pause. Yanking him into a warm embrace, his emotions soaked my shoulders. A flurry of colorful feathers drifted like snow, Avy stepping into view. Somata shoved me off of him, his back straightening. Wiping away his tears, a crimson colored his cheeks. Getting on her knees, she offered him her hand. The sun bathed her beauty, my breath hitching at the moment. 

“Will you marry me, Somata?” She queried with the brightest smile, Prowce and me high fiving each other. “ Will you be the wind underneath my wings?” Nodding his head, he was too stunned to speak. Spinning her around, his lips kissed hers feverishly. Clutching her close to his chest, he grinned ear to ear. Kissing the top of her head, I hid my hand behind my back. Mouthing a silent spell, two bands formed in my palms. 

Dancing up to them, Avy embraced me warmly. Lifting up my chin with her finger, her wet eyes met mine. Struggling to find the words, her lips parted to speak but stopped. Clearing her throat, she kissed my forehead. A tender blush rose to my cheeks, a sly grin dancing across her lips. 

“Thank you for receiving my message. You saved us all from tremendous loss.” She choked out oddly, an idea coming to mind. How could I approach this? Letting me go, she spun over to Somata. Clapping my hands, I presented the bands.

“May I marry you guys now? We can do a ceremony when we get back.” I offered cautiously, their faces lighting up. “Somata, you have been like a brother to me the moment we met and I want to give you the gift of a happy marriage.” Avy bounced up to me, her waves falling off her shoulders as she leaned forward.  

“We would love to have that honor. Does anyone have anything we can wear?” She chirped cheerfully, the women ushering her away. “You are coming too. You can’t wear that, my dear Lottie.” Dragging me away, the women fussed over us. Pointing a white ball gown, they took her to another room. A little girl tugged on the hem of my shirt, her finger pointing to an emerald jacket and skirt combo. Her violet scales made her so beautiful, her tongue flicking out. 

“Please wear that for my mother. She made it the moment she saw you.” She pleaded adorably, pressing her hands together. Agreeing with a polite smile, her mother took me to another room. Getting me dressed, the soft silk felt soft against my skin. The skirt floated over my bump, the golden buttons on the jacket closed with ease. Fixing my bell sleeves, the lizard woman fixed my hair into a detailed bun. Placing a matching hat on top of my head, a golden feather fluttered in the black band. Stepping out, all of the air in me left at a well dressed Somata. The white tuxedo hugged his body perfectly, the bands resting in his palm. Walking up to him, he pulled me into a brotherly embrace. Letting me go, his palms pressed together. 

“Thank you so much. You are the best little sister a man could ask for.” He blurted out, his real smile never leaving his face. “You look lovely. We should definitely bring that back for you to wear. I have a surprise to thank you.” Following him, Darwin smashed into my legs, a well dressed Boran waved at me with a cooing Mishal in his arms. The matching black tuxedos were adorable on all three of my boys, emerald roses rested in their pockets. Mouthing a thank you to Somata, he bowed in my direction. Avy stepped out, Somata’s jaw dropping. Ivory silk hung off of her hips, the corset top sparkled in the early evening rays. Darwin took the rings, his brilliant grin making me happier than I could ever be. Taking my place underneath the water tower, Somata stood in front of me. Crossing his hands, a soft march sang its notes. Boran marched down with Mishal in his arms, the twins not far behind him with his brother in tow. Their white robes had an extra sparkle, their bumps showing slightly. Lastly, a gleeful Darwin spun down the aisle with the rings hanging off of his neck. Everyone stood up, Avy walking down the aisle. Tears welled up in Somata’s eyes, my heart melting for them. Stopping across from him, he took her hands. 

“I am not sure how to do this but I am going to make their marriage official.” I joked lightly, our friends laughing. The lizard people worked in the background, cooking a feast for me. Waving at me, I knew that I had their blessing as well. Clearing my throat, I began again. Telling them to say their vows, their words were as sweet as honey. Finishing up they turned towards me, an eager Darwin stepped forward. 

“Slide on your bands.” I chirped cheerfully, Somata sliding on her golden feather wedding band as she slid on his silver wedding band. “You may now kiss the bride.” Swinging her underneath him, his lips pressed against hers hungrily. Claps erupted behind us, the bright mood was a pleasant change. Running down the aisle, the smell of food made our stomachs rumble. Sitting down to a feast, the lizard people waited in the shadows. Rising to my feet, my genuine smile illuminated my features. 

“Why don’t you guys join us? You did all the hard work.” I offered sincerely, their eyes falling on Avy and Somata. Giving them a thumbs up, they took their seats. Laughter twinkled in the air, a starry night falling upon us. The town came to life, everyone mingling. Darwin danced with Luna while Tommy rested on his shoulders, a cocky Boran sauntered up to me. Mishal cooed in his sling, his tiny laughs making me smile brighter than before.

“Your smile could light up the whole world.” He flirted shamelessly, cupping my face. “Only you could pull something like this off. I love you, Daggers.” Kissing my lips sensually, my body arched towards him. Letting me go from his spell, scarlet colored my cheeks. Holding my bump, he rubbed the smooth surface. Tears of joy flooded from my eyes, this is how I wanted my kingdom to be. Bowing to me, he offered me his hand. 

“Would you like to dance with me, my majesty.” He asked with a playful twinkle in his eyes. Taking his hand, he took me to the party. Dancing to the music, this moment gave me hope. Life could be this happy, this energy was my new goal.