Ogres and Ogresses Ch. 34

——————

Scallen walked down the hall, making soldiers around him bow in respect all around. She looked at the immense building unsure how to take in all this space. Her entire village could fit in one hall. It was so...much.

Scallen had so much. And now...

He glanced back at her and frowned. "Why do you look at me like that?"

Zyra blinked back her emotions. "Nothing. I was thinking about a friend."

He laughed. "A friend. Met a piteoussss end no doubt. To leave you in my clutchesss."

She said nothing.

The fierce king threw open the large wooden doors of his domain and Zyra froze at the entry way.

The sound of steel on steel, of blade on flesh. Ripping, tearing, cries of pain and anguish.

There were bodies everywhere, blood in rainbow colors, purple, black, red, and more, staining the earth. The grass was matted down with blood, with bodies, and the smell. Of dead flesh.

Her stomach shook, her lips quivering in horror. But Scallen was looking at her, and she didn't want to give him the satisfaction of watching her fall apart.

Never before had she seen such carnage. He glanced over at her, his expression devoid of...everything.

The doors closed behind her and she turned her face from a man being clawed across the throat. She'd killed, she'd slaughtered animals. But nothing could compare to this.

"Why did you bring me here?"

"Did you really think I would not punissssh you?"

"This is not punishment! This is..."

She watched as his forces pursed the stragglers.

"This isn't even fair."

"Fair?"

He looked disgusted. "You have never ssseen war. You are a pretender..." He bared his fangs. "If you wisssh to live, Green Eyesss, lift your sssword."

With that he walked out towards the field. His enemies saw him immediately. The closest scuttled away with loud cries, but one was brave enough to lunge for him. Scallen's claws flashed and the man fell to the side, jugular spurting dark purple blood, his body jerking like a fish.

Tears streamed out of her eyes and she scrubbed at them, afraid to look away.

"Dear Maker. Dear Maker..."

Her words caught the attention of a man on the field. He had been sliced across the face, and held in his hand a sword that was covered tip to hilt in blood.

"Basilisk whore!" he screamed.

It was then that Zyra realized. She was wearing green.

She unsheathed her sword and knocked frantically on the door but it would not budge.

"Let me in!"

"Die!"

The man charged towards her.

"Open it!" she shrieked. "Please!"

"If you wisssh to live, lift your sssword!"

Crying, Zyra turned and met the man, blocking with her blade. Two more came running towards her, the intent to kill stinking in their aura.

She kicked him in the chest and swung her sword back, slicing him.

He fell and she parried with the other. She kicked back at the other, slicing her sword back and ducking from the one who had recovered.

She tried to summon a shield but she'd exhausted her power. She had nothing but her luck, and how long before that ran out?

As she ducked and pushed, she knew the men would not stop. They would not stop unless she stopped them. She could see it in their eyes. They had nothing to lose, and neither did Scallen. But she? She had everything.

"I'm..."

She hissed when a fist landed in her spine and she fought back the urge to crumble.

"Sorry!"

Gurgle.

A quick choke. That was the only indication of what she'd done, but in an instant she was elbow deep in another man's blood, and her sword felt the pump of a heart around it for the first time.

She pulled the sword out and with wide eyes he fell to the ground, motionless. His companions screamed and she sliced their necks. She had no time to grieve when she saw two more coming. She stepped over their bodies and fought.

...

She didn't know how long it had been, how many bodies she had dropped, how many children she had orphaned, when suddenly she slipped.

Hard.

She lay on her back, staring up at the gray sky, and felt like she would never get up again. She heard a cry and knew that the person was coming for her. She saw a sword above her, and suddenly its bearer fell to the ground, his arm on her chest.

Zyra was jerked up by her cape and saw the cold eyes of Scallen. In his other hand was a head. She pushed his hand away.

"Are you finished?"

He smiled. "Yes." Holding her arm, his claws inched from severing it, he escorted her back towards the castle. After quite a distance, they were at the gates and the guards opened them immediately. He released her.

"Sspear."

The soldier handed him one and he went to his wall. Zyra looked away. When he returned the spear and head were gone.

Scallen peeled off his weapons and handed them to the guard. "Clean thessse..."

He gestured to the battlefield. "And that too."

"And her sssire?"

Scallen looked at Zyra, soaked in the blood of his enemies, gripping her sword, but unable to hide the fact that she was shaking.

Without a word he picked her up and carried her away. He took her to his bedroom and went to a side room she hadn't seen. She could hear water running. He peeled off his armor and his clothes, until he stood before her naked, looking just like her Scallen. But he wasn't her Scallen. He was a monster.

"Undresss..."

"No."

She flinched when he placed a hand on her sword and took it from her.

"You will feel better if you do."

Zyra stared at the ground as he came around to her and unbuckled her cape. He lifted her tunic over her head and shortly after her pants dropped to the floor. He reached for her breast binding and she caught his hand.

"Why have you done this to me?"

He stepped into her, his voice low and gravelly. "You would be treated asss my equal. You needed to me...And you have...to my ssurprissse..."

"I could have died!"

"And yet here you are. Ssstronger...Better...A real warrior."

"None of this is real!"

"Isssn't it?"

She wasn't sure. The smell of the carnage, it had been so real. Everything she felt right now, the shame, the horror, the...what was that emotion even? Something that said she had fought and won, been willing to kill to survive, that she was...was proud that she had bested her would-be murderers. What could that even be?

"I saw...I can never unsee those things, Scallen." Her eyes teared up and her restraint wither. "You've ruined me!" She fell to her knees sobbing. "I'm a murderer! You've ruined me! I hate you! I hate you!"

She screamed when he ripped her breast binding from her and her underwear and roughly scooped her up and tossed her into the bath. She fought as he entered, punching and kicking as he forced her arms and legs to remain under the water. He pulled her against him and forcibly washed her hair and every inch of her and she cried until her energy left her.

He sat her between his legs, docile and cooed how proud he was of her, and how she would never have to fight for her freedom again. He promised she would never see a slaver again, and never bow to another man because she was his. How proud of her he was.

"What iss your name?"

She looked at the red bath water. They were bathing in blood. What if this was real? What if she'd been transported to the past? What if the things she did now had an impact? She looked at her hand and willed it to cease shaking.

"Does it matter?"

"Hm. How about...what wassss it you sssaid...Zatannya?"

"Don't call me that."

"Still full of fight? You truly are like me."

"You and I are nothing alike."

"Perhapsss no," he whispered. His tongue unraveled and he licked the side of her face, his finger tips tapping out a rhythm down her arm. "But with time, perhapss...yes."

"Ah!"

His fangs entered her neck and immediately she felt warm, her body swimming with sensation.

"That isss freshly produced venom...I expelled much during the battle...I wanted an extra ssspecial venom for you...sssomething that'll make you...understand..."

Zyra slipped out of the bath and tried to run but could only manage to crawl, as her skin burned with pure heat.

He chuckled, crawling after her.

"Stop...please..."

I made you a promise to make you feel better..."

He crawled until he was over her, and responded with a smile.

"Do not ssstruggle, Zatannya...look at me...sssubmit to me..."

His tongue circled her nipple and she arched, held in place by his strength. How could he be so strong? Was Scallen playing with her all along? Making their battles seem evenly matched when she had no chance.

"This isn't you. This isn't who you are, Scallen! Not anymore."

"That, I find hard to believe," he hissed. "No matter what age I become, no matter what versssion of me you think exissstss, I would always want to devour you."

He kissed her, and her mind drew blank. He kissed down to between her legs, and as soon as his tongue touched her, she knew she could be trapped as the toy of this pervert for all eternity.

"I'm going to fuck you," he growled. "I'm going to make you beg."

Zara's eyes glazed over and she pulled his fingers to her breasts. He dug his tongue into her, lapping until her arousal dripped down her thighs. She screamed in ecstasy, and barely registered when the past Scallen turned her over. He thrust his fingers into her, dipping his face deeper and when her orgasm hit her, the venom amplified every sensation. Screaming, Zyra begged for unconsciousness to take her, and her wish was granted.

——

"Sssso...you've awakened?"

Zyra's eyes snapped open and she reached for her sword. It was not there. Nor was she in her hut. A dressed Scallen stood at the foot of the bed and the memories came back to her. It was young Scallen, and she was still inside the remembral.

"How long have I been asleep?"

"Eleven hourssss...though I figured you must have been exhaussssted with the day you had..."

Those memories too came flooding back. Feeling sick, swung herself to the side of the bed to stand, only to see her nakedness. She glared up at him.

"Did you take advantage of me?"

He smirked. "In what way?"

"Did you fuck me?"

"I did not finissssh if that isss what you are asssking..."

"You drugged me."

Scallen rolled his eyes, rounding a bedpost. "You needed a sssedative to relax you my brave warrioresss...or did you forget how relaxsssed you were?"

Zyra clenched her fist, remembering how crazed she'd been, how desperate.

"It makes sense that you could only seduce a woman against her will," she snapped. "You've no charm to speak of. No woman in her right mind would ever be with you free of your manipulation and deceit!"

"Who do you think you are talking to?"

"No one special!"

Instantly she was on her back, the angry basilisk hissing above her. She kneed him in the stomach and he ripped her hair back, exposing her throat.

" I'm going to make you eat thosssee wordss..."

He bit into her again and she growled, pulling his fangs out of her and socking him. He looked up at her in shock and fell to the ground, his jaw aching from where her punch connected. The woman's foot pressed on the side of his head threateningly, and he felt his members stir. He preferred a woman eager to take it, but there was certainly something stirring about a woman who would step on you to prove a point. In one smooth move she had her knees in his chest, his arms twisted back, and a hand on his throat.

"You will give the order to release me, or I will snap your neck."

He hardened more. "If you want your freedom, I am sssure you can earn it...Ugh!"

She pressed harder.

"Call Skein. Tell him to escort me out...and give me back my clothes!"

"I had them burned. Ugh! I never want to ssssee an article of clothing on you again."

"Will you or will you not rise to the occasion?"

"I guarantee I have already risssen to the occassssion..."

He bucked at her and she snapped his neck back with a brutal jab.

"Ouch! Have you gotten sssstronger?"

Zyra responded by throwing him across the room like a doll. He hit his head on the wall and slid down unconscious.

Peace and quiet. Her heart raced as the first effects of the venom ran through her, but she clenched her fist. She'd held back yesterday, afraid that this was more than an illusion, but she was sure now. She was far too angry for this to be anything else. She had a feeling the real Scallen would also feel some of her wrath.

On principle.

Rifling through the lizard's things, she found black pants and a wrap like tunic similar to what he wore. She tied it to her best ability, then searched for her sword. Unable to find it, she strapped on the king's curved sword and slipped out of the room. Perhaps it was better for her to let go of some memories while she was here. Medean could always forge her a new sword. Then again, she didn't like the idea of this fuckta taking her property. The hallway went on forever, and she was surprised there were no guards.

"Hey! Sslave girl! Stop!"

She'd spoken too soon. Running for her life, she burst through what appeared to be the dining area and past a gaggle of green basilisk women with white hair who shrieked at her presence. She ignored them, running into a cooking area. A guard slipped in front of her and she drew her sword.

"Stand aside."

He was surprised, and she used his hesitation to hit him with her hilt, knocking him out. Zyra lunged for the next door, seeing the field of grass when she was upended. Her temporary sword was taken and she was immediately bound with her arms behind her back. It took four guards to restrain her. She bit and clawed, angrily and was brought back to Scallen's room. He stood with Skein fussing over him. She rolled her eyes as his advisor yelled for her to taken away.

"Take that beassst away from his Majesssty! Ssshe is a monssster! Sssell her! Keep her for yourssself, I do not care!"

The guards eyes her and she snarled, spittle launching from her mouth. One came forward with golden cuffs and a chain.

"Touch me and I'll pluck your eyes out."

"Leave her."

Everyone including Zyra stared at the king.

"B-but your Majesssty..."

"How far did ssshee get?"

The guard who apprehended her stepped forward meekly. "The kitchensss, you're grassscce..."

"You continue to...impresss me ssZatannya..."

Zyra raised an eyebrow.

"I can handle it from here. Go."

"Sssire—"

"I will not ask again..."

The room emptied and Zyra was left sitting bound on the floor, with young Scallen observing her, his expression blank.

"...are you hungry?"

"...are you insane?"

Scallen walked over to her, ignoring her immediate retreat and with a dagger she had not seen produced, cut her bindings.

" There..."

His voice made her breath hitch. The venom, her adrenaline had burned nearly all of it, but she could feel it still lingering with her.

"What do you want with me?"

Scallen braced on the wall behind him. "Asss you may have noti...sssced...I have a bit of a temper problem."

"Oh really?"

"And you are the firsst...perssson...living persssson, and first woman, to not fear it. Why is that?"

Zyra stood, rubbing her wrists. "There are things far more scary than a grown man throwing a tantrum."

" I am the General and King of an army that isss more powerful than any in the land, sssecond only to the High Coun...sscil. I could kill you with a gesssture, or do so mysssself in more waysss than there are daysss in your life."

"Go ahead then."

He grinned, and suddenly Zyra wasn't sure if he was the old Scallen or the current one.

"Killing you isss the lassst thing on my mind...would you like to know the firssst?"

"No."

"You tasssste human...by the way. Like earth and power...I want more of you. Ssshall we strike a bargain?"

Zyra crossed her arms. "I don't bargain unarmed."

Scallen chuckled, and reached under his bed. When he returned, he had her sword. He handed it to her, his eyes boring into her.

"Ogre craftsmanssship yes?"

"Yes."

"What isss a human doing with an ogre sssword? Ssshouldn't you be in some devi...sssce, ignorant of magic, flying off in your contraptionsss and growing fat?"

Zyra's eyes widened. "Wow. This is before the Great Purge." She had the strong urge to run back to her village to see what the world was like before, but had to remind herself that none of this was real. It let a nasty taste in her mouth. It tasted like disappointment.

"I told you. I am a keromedio from the future. And your future self is my dearest friend."

He laughed. " Sssay I believe you...let me asssk you this...isss my future ssself a good lover?"

Zyra frowned. "I would not know."

"Then you are lying. You want me to believe we have never touched?"

Zyra felt her face burn and the basilisk snickered. "We have...what have we done?"

"Become great friends," Zyra said stiffly. "And if I am to protect our friendship, I must rescue you from your illusion, which is no doubt as disturbing as mine."

"Back to the bargain then..." he said stepping forward. She could see in his tented pants that he was still aroused from before. "I will releasse you jusssst as you desssire, on one condition..." He waited for her to ask, but she waited patiently and he smirked wide enough to split his face. "Fuck me firssst."

"No."

"Why not?" he whined.

"You're a bloodthirsty lecher and I've no way to guarantee you will keep your word."

"If I write it down and sssign it with my sigil, will you agree?"

"No."

"What if I make it a royal decree in front of the entire court?"

"Hell no."

"What can I do to prove myssself?"

"Let me go attend to my friend, and afterwards I will return."

"You mussst not lie often my ssssweet...you are terrible at it."

Zyra gasped when he was suddenly against her, pressing her into the wall. Before she could attack he dropped to his knees, holding her waist.

"Make no mistake...I could just take you..." he hissed. "I can take you hard and wet, sssooo well you will not hate me for long. But...I do not want to take you. I want you to give yourssself to me..."

"Why?"

"Becaussseee ssZatannya—"

"Don't call me that!"

"I don't jussst...want your pussssy..." She jerked when he stood suddenly, his face a inch from hers. "I want your will."

"I won't let you break me. No matter how many wars you drag me into. No matter how many times you bite me. I am not yours."

"Ssso whossse are you?"

"No ones."

He kissed her lips softly and it was over too quickly for her to react.

"Everyone belongssss to sssomeone..."

He stepped back, gave her one of Scallen's trademark smiles, and left the room.

———

It had been 30 days since her arrival to the remembral. She had tried to chart time by the change over to night and day, but it was always perpetual night. She should have guessed it would be dark in the Darklands. So, against her better judgement, she'd had to request time from the young Scallen, whom in order to keep herself from mixing emotions, she'd started calling Scall. He'd given Skein permission to tell her the date and gave her a book where she could scratch the days passed. In exchange she'd sat in his lap while he read her something from those thing ssScallen told her about. Books.