Offspring;

[Nayl]

I am not afraid... I was born to do this.

”I know enough,” she quips with her fiery eyes holding steadily onto his own, unwavering, unabashed. She doesn’t indulge him, however, or enlist the information that she has tucked away into the secured crevices of her mind. Some may be rumors, others actual truths that she has obtained, some even mere opinions. Although she constantly thirsts for information, Nayl doesn’t grope for more about him. There is not much else that could entice her about him except why he left Beqanna only to return for a crown.



He craves power, like her.



She is comfortable with the ensuing silence, breathing quietly in its midst before looking beyond him into the mouth of Tephra where the volcano towers. High above, there is smoke, and deep in its bosom there is molten lava. What no one – not even infamous Offspring – can see is how her mind longs to thread fingers through Tephra. She could so easily bring them destruction, perhaps even Hyaline now since her grip has receded on the lost boy. It holds her interest for a long while, her gaze contemplative, her heart pounding in her chest with lust and temptation. Could she create a titan from these things much like she had from the sand in Nerine? Could she bring life into something so powerful and destructive? Beneath her groping fingertips the lava stirs within the volcano, clawing the walls of its cage.



But Offspring – damn him – sinks his nails into her and she blinks slowly before looking at him again. ”Don’t flatter yourself, Offy,” she chides, but even with the truthfulness of it, there is a sudden spark of humor. It’s a dull flame in her voice. The corner of her mouth quirks. It brightens her face for a single heartbeat before she shakes her head as their conversation swerves into a territory she had eluded. Although listening, Nayl almost appears disinterested. What dribbles from his lips – nails on a chalkboard - is all known information. He is picking at a wound that has already scabbed over and begun to heal. It doesn’t hurt her as much as she anticipated, but maybe that’s because she isn’t the monster Beqanna has made her to be.



”Tell me something I don’t know,” there is a reciprocated touch of venom when she answers him, hating how comfortable and happy he is to present the news. Nayl turns so that she is perpendicular to him, not having forgotten the hot breath he fanned across her neck moments prior. She is exposed to him, unafraid, as she peers toward the horizon, then to the volcano (still how it tempts her), then to Offpsring back over her shoulder. ”I’m happy you think Nerine is weak because you couldn’t be more wrong,” a coy smile crawls across her velvet lips, ”but also, I’m not as hungry as you may think, Offy.” Again, she uses an almost-derogatory form of his name, luring him, toying him. ”I easily take what I want, if I want it. That’s how I stole Nerine for myself, but I realize nothing lasts forever,” except my lifespan she doesn’t add.



She pivots now, drawing toward him with the agile ease of a jungle cat the sisterhood once lived among. Their eyes meet, their breaths synchronize. ”You have a son you could not control – but you lead a kingdom, so go figure – and he brought destruction to Hyaline. I was there and helped restore some life to the land because I cared. Sylva? I’ve told Djinni to come home to Nerine because she was exhausted of ruling. Amet found his big boy pants so I let him and Hyaline go.” An airy chuckle, one that almost doesn’t seem to fit in the conversation, churns in her throat. ”If I wanted to keep Hyaline, you should know that I would, and very well could.” There is a gleam in her autumn eyes. ”And you coming near my home? When I see you, I also see your reckless son, and the last thing I want to see is destruction finding my home and my family – all of them.” There is almost no space between them and yet she still inches forward, lifting her head toward his. ”So, excuse the fuck out of me if I actually give a shit.”

She moves to the side again, letting her mind reel.

queen of nerine
daughter of covet & myrina