My eyes slowly flicker open.
Peaceful bliss envelopes me. Warmth, heat, humidity, and love. All in abundance. Umbra is holding me to her stomach, laying on her back as we float along in the dark hot springs. I can hear her heart beating. Her soft skin is a bedding unlike any other. Her hold on me is firm but gentle, rising and falling as she breathes.
Hells. What a pleasure to come back to life like this.
I think she might be asleep too. But when I stir, she does as well. I kiss her skin and slither higher up her body, curling up on her chest and murmuring pitiful sounds intended to indicate that I need more of her love. Purring a low sound of amusement and affection, she kisses my head and toys with my wet hair, taking a deep breath and exhaling a long sigh.
"Ahh… Crimsy. My beloved rose. Ever so luscious and comforting… Relaxing with you is forever restful. How effortlessly your mere nearness draws me into such sweet slumber… How embarrassing. I seem to have dozed off."
"I love the way you speak to me…" Yawning, I stretch out my legs, tail, and wings, then go limp atop her. "Good. I'm glad you rested too. We've been through… quite a lot."
"Yes. We have. Quite a lot. And yet I was so very intent on keeping vigil while you recovered. Such that you might be welcomed back to life in perfect safety and truest comfort."
"Both of which I revived to in abundance." After stretching out again, I sit up and perch at the top of her chest with my legs in the water on either side of her neck, looking down at utter perfection. "Mm. You're as beautiful as always. I missed you, Umbsy. Dearly. After all that time apart, we were occupied with the invasion, and only now… Only now are we together again. Like this. The way it should be."
"It was entirely too long." Her huge hands massage my tail, running it through her fingers. "Entirely. And I missed you just as fiercely, my love. May we never be apart again."
"Never." With my eyes closed, I indulge in the feeling. Hells, I love when she toys with my tail. Ah, the simple things. On that note. "You know… My neck feels awfully light."
"Ah. Yes. Of course. I've a new collar for you. An even better one. You'll have it once we finish here." The backs of her claws glide over my stomach and chest to brush up my neck, making me shiver. With a curl of her lips, she hums in content. "I'm certain you have questions for me. We can speak now, of course. Unless you'd prefer to rest some more. There is no hurry."
"Yes, but I'm ever so curious." After enjoying her touch for another moment, I ask about the first thing on my mind. "You made me divine? Why?"
"Yes. I did. My reasons were thricefold. First, to ensure that my beloved Crimsy would forever have the power to defend herself from harm, should the worst come. Second, when we moved forward with our assault on the Heavens, I knew that power would greatly serve our purposes. Third, because I thought you might enjoy it. And we could then be divine together, you and I."
"Hm. Those are good reasons. I do enjoy it." Drumming my claws on her collarbones, I hum in thought. "Why didn't you tell me?"
"My intention was to preserve your peace of mind. I was concerned it might be too much at once, particularly given the tumultuous context in which I made you Wretched. This is also why I sealed the power within a state of dormancy. To be awakened only when you yourself were ready for it to do so. Please, I pray you don't feel as though I've deceived you…"
"Lift your head."
"Hm?"
I lean forward and kiss her. "That definitely would have been too much at once. I'm grateful you considered my wellbeing. And I'm grateful you did it in the first place. Thank you, Umbsy. It's a gift I'm happy to have."
"Excellent. That's quite the relief. May our divine rule never end." She kisses me some before she lays back in the water with a deep sigh. "What else would you like to know?"
"What happened after I died? With Aurora?"
"Not very much. With the source of her power disrupted, I sealed her away, and then we retreated from the higher Heavens. I've yet to face or confront her. I was waiting for you to wake up. I admit I'm a touch… nervous. Too nervous to do it alone. And so…"
"I'm with you. Always."
"Thank you. Aside from that, I reformed one half of the Solaris to remain in the skies for mortalkind, and reformed the other half for utility here in the Hells. For the first time… ever. The Hells have light. And our people are beyond grateful to have it."
"That's beautiful of you." I smile down at her, tail swaying. And she claims to be evil. With her hands now massaging my stiff wings, I timidly ask, "And… Our losses? How many Wretches died for this?"
"Far too many. But even one dead Wretch is dismal as it is. Current estimates are between two and three hundred thousand. Perhaps more. Including three of my best generals and closest friends…" There's a touch of bitterness on her black forked tongue. "Bastards. They're irreplaceable. And yet they practically threw their lives away. I know they had their reasons. And I respect them. But it makes me angry all the same. How dare they die on me? Before they could even see our new world, which they spent so long fighting for."
"I think… Maybe. They knew we would win." Moving further down her chest, I lay both hands over her soft skin to cover her heavy heart. "And I'm certain they knew exactly what they died fighting for. They believed in you, just like I do. Which means they believed in the world they knew you would make. Even after they were gone…"
Umbra remains quiet for a moment. "It will take time. As all things do. All of that said, there will be a memorial for the fallen. As soon as the smoke clears and our people settle in."
"That's a great idea." I lay back down on my stomach, ankles up as I rest my head on her chest, now listening to her steady heartbeat. "I'm sorry. I feel the same… Well, similarly. I don't know what to do with the way I feel about their deaths. Do we just suffer through this until it's gone?"
"That's what has worked for me. Suffer through it. Face it all. Ignore none of it. Feel your pain. And then release it. Eventually."
"I don't want to."
"I don't either."
"Does it work?"
"Sometimes."
"I love you."
"I love you." Her arms close around my waist. The wet red scales are slick on my body. With another deep sigh, she whispers, "What else, my little rose?"
My next question is suddenly pressing. "What happened to Hilde?"
"Safe. Unscathed. Temporarily incarcerated, but being seen to with all proper care and luxury by familiar faces. Penelope and Zip agreed to take her in, though there are additional security personnel manning the library cottage. Just in case."
"I want to see her."
"Whenever you like."
"Good. Um. Raiden, Kayus, Lucien?"
"Imprisoned. Permanently. Awaiting further penance and your final judgment of what to do with them. You may see to them whenever you choose as well."
"The fact they're still breathing is too good for them. Damn it. I'll deal with them later. Leave them waiting. Wondering."
"How delightfully malevolent of you, my love."
"Be grateful it isn't you facing my wrath."
"I would surrender to you immediately."
"You'd better." I manage a weak laugh, kicking my feet and fluttering my wings as she splashes hot water over me. "Is Bast okay?"
"Yes. Though she's wrangling with the same grief we are. I'm certain you'll see her soon, if not at the memorial."
"Right. Okay. Graves? And the others?"
"Unscathed, as always. Now keeping quite busy watching the reconstruction proceedings from the shadows. This is sure to be a tumultuous time for your kind. We must be wary of any revolts, changes of heart, betrayals, or upstarters seeking to capitalize on the Heavens' power vacuum. The Blackthorns are keeping order, alongside the royal guard."
"Thirteen of them, hm?"
"Yes. Thirteen Blackthorns total. All of them female dracofae, born of the same singular egg clutch. Graves, Echo, Ashes, Remnant, Revenant, Crypt, Nightshade, Venom, Silence, Ghost, Skully, Lace, and Hemlock. In that order."
"And they call you Mother?"
"I rescued them when they were mere hatchlings, abandoned by parents who were ashamed and disgusted of their drakeblood traits. Each of them imprinted upon me in a matriarchal fashion, and I see them as my young, yes. I'm a very proud mother indeed."
"Then are they… my…"
"No. Graves is very much drawn to you. Let's not make it any stranger than it needs to be, hm?"
"Isn't that a problem? I belong to you…"
"As does Graves. Playdates are permitted."
"What? In what sense? Like how I can kiss Penny and Zip?"
"I may be so inclined as to allow others a taste of what's mine, so long as you know who you belong to. If that thought suits you, I would permit Graves and Zip to have at you, however they like. Whether that means dates, romance, or just sex, it would please me to know that my favorite little prize is so damn irresistible. And if I'm ever busy, I can take solace in knowing your desperate needy little body will be taken care of in my absence."
Well, I'm turned on. "O–Okay… That… Yes, please…"
"So fucking sweet when you're flustered," she grins, sharp teeth glinting in the gemstones' light from above. "That's enough talk for the moment. I sense that your needs have just now arisen. Allow me to see to them with haste and aggression."
"Pl–Please…"
A minute later, we're together in our bed and she's crushing me beneath her weight and pressure. With her tongue deep in my throat, a claw hooked into my new collar, and her other hand pinning me down over my torso, she purrs with amused pleasure as I gasp and squirm.
"W–Wait. Wait. Umbsy."
She stops immediately. "Yes, Crimsy?"
"We're confronting your sister after this."
"Damn it. I was hoping to procrastinate."
"No. We have to. I demand to know why she did all of this to you. I won't accept any answer besides the truth. That's final."
"Yes, my queen…"
"Good. Continue, knave. I love you."
"I love you. So fucking much. Shhh."
She silences me with another kiss.
It's no surprise she's still so pent up.
Some things never change, I suppose.