Scene from the fairytale, where the princess has been kidnapped by the dragon. The princess is planning an escape, the dragon a wedding.
Princess:
Tears are always the hardest. To summon them, you have to dig into the deepest corners of yourself. Like the time my sister was six and pretended to faint, claiming I’d kicked her right where she’d had her shot. The little brat pulled it off brilliantly. She lay sprawled on the grass, mouth slightly open, completely still. Only when my father scooped her up in panic did she wink at me. That was the beginning. That was the first time she betrayed me. Until then I thought she was my best friend. If she still were, I’d know she was coming for me now. But the tears don’t come. I sit hunched at the edge of the bed, arms dangling between my knees, head hanging forward. I feel as lonely as a lone wolf.
“Don’t look so frightened, girl.” The raspy voice scratches at my eardrum.
I don’t answer. The dragon snickers awkwardly. Inside, disgust ripples through me, but on the outside I remain still.
“Just…” I whisper.
“Juuust?” he drawls.
I hear the grin in his voice.
“I’m so afraid of what will happen if my fiancé discovers I’ve been defiled…” My voice cracks.
He doesn’t answer. He grunts, shuffles from foot to foot. He doesn’t know what to do. Good. That’s very good.
“He’s such an idiot,” I sigh. My shoulders collapse even more, though my body stays rigid.
The bed creaks loudly as he flops down beside me.
“You’ve got a fiancé?” he croaks in confusion.
“I didn’t choose him,” I whimper at last.
“Shall I kill him?”
I freeze. I hadn’t expected that. My mind fogs over. I stare helplessly at the tips of my shoes. Then, from deep within, a faint thought pushes its way up. Why not?
I think of my sister, who’s betrayed me so many times since. I cling to her mocking smile, to that wicked wink. Raising tearful eyes, I plead with the dragon.
“Would you?” I squeak.
“I’ll set off this instant,” he declares, springing up. “Who’s the bastard?”
“His name is Justin Case,” I murmur. “The hidden son of the King of the Sugarcane Fields.”
“They want to marry you to a bastard?” the dragon exclaims, aghast.
I’ve blown it. My heart thunders in my ears. I’m an idiot. I straighten up, digging my fingers into the edge of the bed, pressing my arms hard against my sides.
“As punishment,” I gasp desperately. “Save me, I beg you!”
My wide eyes are honest—at a cellular level, I’m terrified—but my voice rings false.
“All right, calm down. That scum won’t ever lay a finger on you again, I guarantee it!”
He puffs out his chest proudly, baring his teeth smugly at the ceiling.
My gaze flickers to the open window, then I catch myself and quickly close my eyes. I press my hand to my heart.
“I knew I could count on you,” I murmur timidly.
I glance at him carefully, though I’d rather not.
He plants his claws on his hips and grins with superiority.
“By the time you’re ready for the wedding feast, I’ll be back,” he rumbles, then stomps out.
When the door slams shut, I still need time before I dare to move again. This must be how prey feels, feigning death while the predator sniffs around.
The window remains open.
Dragon:
She perches on the edge of the bed like a little bird. My innocent little bird. She still feels a trace of freedom before I lock her away in my strong, ever-ready cage. My cage. She has no idea how good life will be at my side. Beneath me, on me, in front of me… bent low or kneeling obediently. I’m already tingling, but I have to restrain myself. Why does she sit there as if awaiting execution?
“Don’t look so frightened, girl,” I purr in my gentlest tone.
Yet as I picture her riding me wildly, her breasts bouncing with abandon, a laugh slips through, sharp with desire.
“Just…” she breathes.
“Juuust?” I tease, hoping to cheer her up at last.
My tongue tastes the heady flavor of lust.
“I’m so afraid of what will happen if my fiancé discovers I’ve been defiled…” she whimpers.
Her invitingly spread legs vanish from my mind’s eye in an instant. What? A fiancé? That wasn’t part of the deal! Her sister swore she was a virgin, free prey, waiting only for me to claim her.
“He’s such an idiot,” I hear faintly.
The bed groans under my weight as I collapse beside her, still unable to believe I’ve been tricked.
“You’ve got a fiancé?” I squeak, pathetic even to my own ears.
“I didn’t choose him,” her voice trembles, full of tears.
“Shall I kill him?”
One word from her, and I’ll shred that bastard to pieces. I’ll scatter what’s left across her sister’s bed as a warning: don’t mess with me. The thought steadies me.
“Would you?” she begs, voice trembling with a desperation that excites me even more.
“I’ll set off this instant,” I roar, leaping up. “Who’s the wretch?”
“His name is Justin Case,” she whispers. “The hidden son of the King of the Sugarcane Fields.”
What?! Fury surges through me. What sort of creature is she, if the best they offer her is a bastard?
“They want to marry you to a bastard?”
I snarl, every muscle in my body coiled with rage.
“As punishment,” she whines pitifully. “Save me, I beg you!”
She gazes at me like I’m a god. I like that. I don’t care who she is—all I want is to plunge into her depths until she quivers around me.
“All right, calm down. That scum won’t ever lay a finger on you again, I guarantee it!”
What a wedding this will be! My whole body pulses with the hunger for battle and for lust. For blood and for screams of ecstasy.
She presses a hand to her chest. The first movement she’s made since I entered. Surely her heart is pounding so hard she had to grab hold of that round, heaving breast. Ah, but I’ll show her who the real man is!
“I knew I could count on you,” she sighs, her voice dripping with need.
If not for the call of blood and vengeance, I’d throw myself between her legs right now. But the promise of slaughter drives me more.
“By the time you’re ready for the wedding feast, I’ll be back,” I tell her, convincing both her and myself.
I waste no more time. I’m coming for you, Justin Case, I’m coming! What a ridiculous name. And it rings oddly familiar…