"It's been three days. Why isn't she up yet?" Melanie asked, pacing the library floor as Brandi typed upon a large type writer.

The large metal contraption was the combination of an automatic and a manual type writer. Powered by two small rounded gems that allowed the ink to reset itself hands-free and the keys of the board required little pressure to type with. Brandi paused to consider her next words as she continued typing. She too had thought of Kelly.

Their friend had been asleep for three days and two nights. While Melanie had slept after being bitten by Lucian for two days and two nights, they had been allowed to pop in on her and see. Maalceus though had locked Kelly away. He too was locked in the room with her though. A fact that Melanie did not fully enjoy either.

"If the King says she will be alright, I believe him." Brandi replied. "Come sit sugar. You'll burn a hole in the floor before long if you keep pacing."

Melanie's shoulders dropped and she sagged into the chair. Over the last couple days her own transition was becoming more and more apparent. The silvery white hairs had started spreading, taking over nearly half her head. The dark Atlantic blue of her eyes had completely shifted to a bright sapphire blue color with hints of amethyst.

Melanie's tan skin had started to grow pale as though all the color in her pigments were being leached out. Brandi glanced at the Queen of Vervania and offered a small smile.

"Want to check out my ad?"

Melanie got up from the chair and inspected the two pages of her advertisement. The front page was the hand drawn picture of a bar, and draped across it was a voluptuous woman. Hanging from the walls in the background were toys and tools for sexual pleasure. At the top of the front page in big bold lettering was the name of the establishment.

'Vervania Kinkster community.'

Melanie looked at the second page which was a description and what the 'business to be', required.

'The VKC is a bar and communal gathering. There will be hand mixed and poured alcohol for all customers on the entry level. The second floor will be where all the fun happens. Kinky beings of all races, genders, ages and orientations are invited to gather and enjoy themselves in a fun and safe environment.

The VKC is in need of one additional investor, three bar tenders, three guards and all the kink minded people that are interested. Please come to the palace for inquiries.'

Melanie handed the papers back to Brandi with a smile.

"I hope you are ready for what you are about to unleash upon this kingdom."

"The best bar and club that this kingdom has ever seen? Yeah. I'm ready." Brandi smirked.

"C'mon. I'll walk with you to the city advertisement board."

Brandi grabbed the two sets of papers and left the library with Melanie. Nearly ten days of constant study and research had brought Brandi to the cusp of her own business. One that had no competitors and had the full backing of the King. Brandi felt the excitement boil inside of her as they left the palace to head into the city.

*****

Maalceus sat beside Kelly. Her soft tan skin had started crusting over with dried flakes. A shift that he had not encountered before. Usually the transition was a gentle and slow process. The hair and eyes changed over time. The skin and body sometimes altered too.

However, this seemed like an expedited transition. In only a few days her hair had changed from blonde to brown and then to black. Only a few streaks of light blonde remained though they too would change soon as well. Her tan skin had darkened rather than lightened. As though she had been spending every waking minute in the unclouded sunlight.

Maalceus had taken several weeks to completely transition during his years of growth. However, unlike his full blooded brother. Maalceus was only a half blooded dragon. While the essence of a dragon was powerful and dangerous, it was not what had the judicial leader's concern.

It was Maalceus' other half. The other essence that pumped through his veins. An essence that might be just as likely to kill Kelly as it was to change her. He could only hope that her will power was strong enough. Combing his fingers through her hair he gently stroked her arm. 'Please be okay. All you have to do is pull through this.' He thought to her, hoping that his thoughts might penetrate the barrier between his consciousness and hers.

*****

She looked around the dark chasm that held her fast. Her vision was obstructed by absolute darkness that seemed to stretch on for an eternity. Her long blonde hair spilled over her breasts and down to her pelvis.

"Hello?" Kelly called out to the empty void.

Struggling to move she looked at her arms and found them strapped to the sides of a stone chair. The kinky woman would've found it arousing as all hell if it were not for the feeling of dread that haunted her. Something was wrong and she knew it. She just didn't understand why or how she knew it.

Kelly pulled and tugged at the bindings but they would not budge. Her ankles were bound just as tightly as was her neck. Though she could've sworn that it wasn't only a moment before.

"Hello? Is anyone out here?" Her voice was lost to the emptiness. It didn't echo back and nothing answered her cries.

"What the fuck is happening?" She screamed.

Just then she heard a noise. A sound like something hard being scraped against stone and rock. It was a brief and distant sound. But nonetheless, there was something beyond the void.

"H-hello? I can hear you." She shouted. "I...think." she whispered to herself.

She listened intently to for the noise again and this time it rang more clearly. Each time she heard the noise it sounded clearer and much closer. Kelly suddenly wasn't sure if she wanted to find out what was out in the darkness with her.

*****

Lucian sat in the war chamber with his two generals. Wyatt on his right and Lin on his left. Lynx sat across from the King taking down diligent notes through the meeting.

"The bodies are being swept away. Though I think it is important to note that there are tracks leading away from the deceased forces." General Wyatt said, stroking his long brown beard.

"How many?" Lucian asked.

"Half a dozen perhaps. Nothing to be terribly concerned-"

"Nothing to be concerned about?" Lin interjected coldly.

Her deep feminine voice rang with an icy cold tone.

"It is not the quantity that got away but rather the intent of them." General Lin snapped at her fellow General.

"I am aware of the implications Lin." Wyatt growled. "However, the Vikara are not a courageous nor an overly intelligent group."

"I concede that point." Lin replied. "I still think we should send scouts out to track these few down."

Wyatt looked to their king who nodded, his thoughts tracing the line of thought to possible conclusions. He knew, just as well as they did that the Vikara were not their only enemies. If the Vikara had indeed joined forces with other unfriendly races beyond the kingdom, it could easily spell disaster.

"Send out a team of scouts. But I want someone going with them. We have lost too many in the scout regiment already." Lucian added.

"Who do you wish to go with them? We could just as easily send a small force of-"

"No. The more numbers to the track team the easier they are to be spotted. Three scouts and one extra." Lucian replied with a tone of finality.

Both Generals bowed their heads in reply and shared an expression that Lucian would have missed had he not been looking at them directly.

"What is it?" He asked.

Wyatt looked to Lin who rolled her eyes and turned back to their lord.

"We have concerns about your brother." Lin spoke flatly.

"What of him?"

"He has claimed one of the new comers from Terra? Or so I have heard."

"This is true but what concerns you so?" Lucian leaned into the table. His garnet eyes meeting General Lin's icy cold gaze.

Lucian felt responsible for his half brother. More often than not he stuck up for his sibling, both in his presence and out of it. It was Wyatt who spoke up, his deep burly voice was soft as he spoke. Knowing that talking about Maalceus was like trying to walk on glass without cracking it.

"My lord, we mean no attack upon him but due to his...heritage. we have to be certain his essence won't rouse attention."

Lucian was completely aware of his half brother's lineage and what blood flowed through his veins. He would've lied if he hadn't found himself concerned about what Kelly might surface from her transition as.

"Be at ease Generals. Kelly is showing no signs thus far about turning into anything other than the draconic essence would allow." Lucian lied. "If there is any developments I will let you know. Until such a time, please keep me informed on the border happenings."

Both Generals stood up, bowed at the waist and left the room. Lynx listened intently as their footsteps walked down the hall. Only after his extremely keen ears could no longer count their footfalls did he speak.

"Do you really think she will accept the essence?" Lynx asked.

"Accept it or not. I won't throw her or him from these walls." Lucian replied, resolve thick in his voice.

"But my lord. What if the d-"

"Let them come. My father sent them running once before. I will send them away just the same."

Lynx's stiff white whiskers flexed in irritation. His lord was strong willed, sometimes to the point of being overly stubborn but he couldn't admonish his sincere care for his half brother. Despite the threat of his essence.

"Just keep in mind how much that war costed your father, and this kingdom." Lynx stood up and bowed before leaving.

Lucian sank into his chair and thought hard about the decisions he might have to make and just what consequences they would lead to.