Phaedra relaxed in the ice cold water. She wondered how long until Yroth would come to see her.

  Her stomach was tied in knots. It wasn’t that she had tried to hide the true nature of what she was from her, it was just there hadn’t really been a good time to discuss it. Phaedra assumed she’d tell her after she had finally convinced the dragon she was who she said she was. Or at least, by then, she’d have been able to come up with another excuse to not. If only she hadn’t been poisoned, she wouldn’t have had to take her true form like that.

  But maybe she was worrying too much. Maybe it would be fine. Maybe it wasn’t a big deal at all and she could just--

  Phaedra yelped when she heard the grinding sound of claws against stone. She shrunk down in her pool, nervously peering over the edge of the tub towards the door. Maybe it wasn’t her. Maybe it was just another demon coming to challenge her.

  The grinding sound came closer and closer and she couldn’t help it. She gave a soft whimper.

  Finally, it stopped, right outside her door. Then the door opened so hard it banged against the wall. Yroth stood in it, her eyes narrowed on her. “You lied to me,” Yroth said.

  “… Are, ummm, the kobolds okay?” Phaedra asked sheepishly.

  “You said you were a sheep,” Yroth said, her eyes narrowed on her. She slammed the door shut behind herself before advancing on her. “You were supposed to be a sheep. A mere, pathetic sheep.”

  “I-I am,” Phaedra said, unable to stop from cowering in the tub. “I just--”

  “Stop that!” Yroth roared, pointing a finger at her. “Stop acting like that! Stop acting so pathetic! I saw everything.”

  “I-I didn’t m-mean to hide it, I--” Phaedra let out a startled bleat when Yroth’s tail lashed out and curled around her. She gripped it with her hands when she was lifted out of the water, flailing her hooves around.

  “Not just any wolf,” Yroth said. “The Black Wolf.”

  “Y-yes,” Phaedra said, squeezing the tail a little. “D-do you mind? This is… very uncomfortable.” At least the wool around her throat meant she could breathe. “T-the symbol of death, I know. K-kind of funny, that. B-back in my world it was a black dog, but since this world doesn’t have dogs I guess it-- eep!” She was dropped into the water, splashing with a squeak.

  Yroth narrowed her eyes, growling at her. “You make jokes about this?”

  “I-I’m sorry!” Phaedra said sheepishly, pulling back. “I-I just--”

  “The Black Wolf is the herald of death,” Yroth said.

  “I’m not the Black Wolf, though!” Phaedra said quickly. “I-I’m just like, half it. It’s probably from daddy!”

  Yroth stared at her before, very slowly, the anger seemed to fade. “You… really… don’t understand, do you?”

  “I-I do,” Phaedra said. “There’s a lot of superstitions about--”

  “No,” Yroth said. “What this means. Death itself walks in your steps.”

  Phaedra whimpered. “Are you threatening me? Again?”

  “Not me,” Yroth said. “Death. If you are the Black Wolf, then Death follows you.”

  Phaedra stared at her. “Uhhhhh… you’re not… talking about… the notion of death, are you? Like… we all die sometime?”

  Yroth stared at her for a few moments before speaking again. “No. I mean Death. The titled Death.”

  “There’s a person named Death?” Phaedra asked.

  Yroth just gave a slow, long suffering sigh. “You’re… an idiot.”

  Phaedra sighed and lowered her eyes. “S-sorry.”

  “How have they not told you of Death?” Yroth asked.

  “I mean… maybe they did,” Phaedra said. “But things don’t always translate right. So, ummm. What is Death like?”

  “… Intimidating,” Yroth said. “I have only met them once. Even Fenrir wouldn’t dare to fight them. They are another pillar of this world, perhaps one of the most dangerous.”

  “You’ve met them?” Phaedra asked. “You don’t think… they’ll… really come because of me, do you?”

  Yroth stared at her before shaking her head. “Perhaps not. But I am still furious with you. The Black Wolf.”

  “So, ummmm, is the Black Wolf another name?” Phaedra asked.

  Yroth gave another sigh. “No. The Black Wolf and Death are titles. One does not say their actual names, for it invites them to you. One calls to Death, the other IS Death.”

  “So uhhhh… there’s someone with that name then, right?” Phaedra asked. “The Black Wolf’s name?”

  “…”

  “Riiiiight?”

  “Likely,” Yroth said, though she sounded annoyed. “Possibly. I have never seen a wolf with a coat of black like yours, nor one with red eyes of such. You may not be a full wolf, but you are a fitting omen of one.”

  This text was taken from Royal Road. Help the author by reading the original version there.

  “Yay?” Phaedra said. “I’m sorry…” She lowered herself deeper into the water, so all but her eyes were covered. She then blew little bubbles out of it.

  Yroth stared at her for a few moments before sighing. “Is there anything else you’re hiding from me?”

  Phaedra slowly rose up a bit. “I ummm. I’m also a quarter succubus. Dad’s side.”

  “I mean, that much is obvious, considering your uncle,” Yroth said before rolling her eyes.

  “Not to me, I don’t actually seem to have any of the parts of it,” Phaedra said. “I can’t turn into a bat or grow wings. I don’t have the angel wings like some of my cousins. Ummmm… I think that’s it. There might be other stuff, but yeah. Oh, I can do magic. Which I guess you already knew. But I’m really good at it, a lot better than I am with any weapons.”

  Yroth stared at her for a few moments before sighing yet again. “… Pathetic sheep.”

  “Sorry,” Phaedra said.

  Yroth shook her head. “One of them died. The others survived, thanks to you.”

  “I’m sorry,” Phaedra said softly. “If I’d gotten there sooner, they’d… probably be okay.”

  “You’re doing it again,” Yroth said. “Morgana.”

  “Huh?” Phaedra asked. “Doing what?”

  “That,” Yroth said before motioning towards her. “Blaming yourself. It’s… oddly worse to see when you’re a sheep than a human. You manage to look even more pitiful.”

  “If I hadn’t been selfish and asked you to take me on a date, then--”

  “How many kobolds do you think have died so far?” Yroth asked.

  “Uhhhh… here?” Phaedra asked. “At least one?”

  “How many do you think will die before this is over? How many demons do you think will die?” Yroth asked. “Your demons and my people will not mix. Like it or not, we’re currently… under your command.”

  “My… command?” Phaedra asked softly.

  “If not for you, Fenrir would come,” Yroth said softly. “And while I could likely handle any demon in your forces, or at least fight them to a standstill, I’m not prideful enough to believe even I can stand against him.”

  Phaedra stared down at the water. “O-oh.”

  “Morgana?” Yroth asked.

  Phaedra just kept staring down. She was so stupid. She didn’t know anything about organizing a bunch of demons and kobolds. She’d felt so smart, so cocky. So arrogant. She thought she could control them. Just delegate it all to other people, trust them to get it done.

  But now those kobolds were hurt, at least one dead. It was her fault. She could have stopped this. Instead, she focused on having fun, going on a date. How was she supposed to lead? She didn’t know how to lead! She couldn’t lead a classroom, let alone a territory filled with who knew how many demons and kobolds and whatever else had been under Yroth’s control.

  A sharp strike against her cheek made her yelp and look up. Yroth stared down at her, her tail out and ready to slap again. “Morgana?”

  “I can’t do this,” Phaedra said softly.

  “Do what?” Yroth asked. “One death is… many more deaths will happen, Morgana. I understand you are afraid, but--”

  “No,” Phaedra said. “I’m not… this isn’t what I’m good at. This isn’t the kind of thing I can handle.”

  “You’ll learn,” Yroth said.

  “And, what, I’m supposed to just let who knows how many people die because I don’t know what I’m doing?” Phaedra asked. “What did he even want? Some dragon’s treasure? What does that even mean? He was in a LITERAL cave of jewels!”

  “He got it in his mind that I had some grand hoard of treasures, that my kobolds knew where it was,” Yroth said.

  “What, the one you used to sleep on?” Phaedra asked.

  Yroth stared at her. “How do you… know about that?”

  “You literally told me about it,” Phaedra said, her tone flat. “Well, bragged about it. Your great horde filled with countless treasures, ancient swords from before end of humans, jewels that shimmered with an internal light like small stars, cloaks of--”

  “You remembered that?” Yroth asked before sighing. “Right, of course. You would.”

  “My point is I can’t do this,” Phaedra said. “I’m too…”

  “Soft? Delicate? Obedient? Gullible?” Yroth asked.

  “Yes, and more,” Phaedra said. “But I don’t know how. I… I need you.”

  “Need me?” Yroth asked. “You have me. I am giving directions to--”

  “No,” Phaedra said. “I need you. Yroth. I need the Ascended Dragon. This may be my territory, but I can’t control it. I don’t know how. The demons barely listen to me. But they all fear the Ascended Dragon. Well… most do.”

  “What are you talking about?” Yroth asked.

  “Your collar needs to go,” Phaedra said softly. “You… you need to come back.”

  “What?” Yroth asked. “Your father--”

  “I’ll deal with my father,” Phaedra said.

  “How?” Yroth asked.

  “I don’t know!” Phaedra yelled. “But I’d rather deal with him than get more people killed!”

  “And if he kills you?” Yroth asked.

  “Then maybe I deserve it!” Phaedra yelled.

  Yroth stared at her, her mouth falling open.

  “I… don’t mean that,” Phaedra said before looking away. “I just don’t want to get anyone else hurt. I don’t… I won’t be responsible for any deaths if I can prevent them. I’ll deal with my father. It’s… my territory. I’ll just… say I made a deal or… or something.”

  “Morgana,” Yroth said softly. “This isn’t your fault.”

  “But it’s not not my fault, either,” Phaedra said. “… This isn’t up for debate anymore. I might not know how to manage all of this, but you’ve been doing it for centuries. Things will be kept in line.”

  “You truly think it’ll be better if they see me free?” Yroth asked.

  “Maybe,” Phaedra said softly. “Once the move is done… once… I can think clearly. But maybe.”

  Yroth gave another sigh and shook her head before crossing her arms over her chest. “We shall see. You are searching for an easy, painless solution. When there may not be one. Sometimes the best one can do is take the least destructive option.”

  “I know,” Phaedra said softly. “But… but it’s better this way. I think, at least. Besides, it’ll still be a few days until we move, right? At least? So… so it’ll give me time to think about it.”

  “Indeed,” Yroth said, though that pitying look never left her face.

  “I’m sorry,” Phaedra said sheepishly.

  “I know.”

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