Whispers of A Dead Empire

Chapter 121

Nyx:

I waited to hear the door closing before I opened my eyes and sat up. The surrounding sheets were a ruffled mess, and mother's scent was heavy on the air. I covered my mouth as a yawn escaped from my lips.

But just as the strength to do anything came, it melted away, and I flung myself back onto the bed. I was far too aware of the grin that had taken residence on my face as I stretched out as much as possible and claimed the bed for my own. Yes, this was all mine now. I rolled around for some time, basking in the sheer size of the bed. Big was good.

After a while, I grew bored with claiming the bed as my own and sat up once more. My mind wandered back to the scene that I saw between mother and Alessia. The way they interacted with each other was different, but it made sense. I've seen the gazes that Ms. Alessia would give her, and at first I thought it was weird. But my mother said little about it.

I crossed my arms and thought about it, but the right word didn't come. I needed more information on the matter. Perhaps Mr. Kharon would know more. Yes, he would; why wouldn't he? I would need to find him immediately. With my mind made up, I jumped off the bed and quickly smoothed out my dress. Otherwise, mother would throw a fit.

I skipped to the door and pushed it open, revealing a dark hallway. Motes of dusk caught the faint rays of light that radiated from the guest room and danced ever so softly on the nonexistent wind. The walls, though I've seen them dozens of times, I could pick out each slight cut and every tiny ridge. I sniffed a few times to lock onto mothers scent to see what direction she went. It differed from anyone else here. It was lively, with just a hint of flowers. Much like the place that we went to earlier in the day.

Once I was happy, I looked around, and my eyes fell on the two guards that stood by the door. The ones that stood as still as statues and didn't really react too much. But they were an obstacle to cross. Mother said I had to beat them to prove that I could take care of myself, and I would no matter what it took. I told her I would beat death one day, and I meant it.
"I'm going to go find Mr. Kharon. I require his assistance on some matters." Without looking at the two, I walked down the hallway, trying to discern the scent of my teacher.

It wasn't easy; with the hundreds of unique smells that filled the air, picking out one was difficult. But I kept walking, following just behind my mother's trail. Until finally, I picked it up. It was faint and smelled like dried bone, with a touch of cloth, but what really set it apart was the small splash of stagnant water that seemed to permeate it.

I skipped down the hall, humming a tune. I didn't quite know what it meant, but mother seemed to hum it often enough, which meant that it was good enough for me. Now, where is Mr. Kharon at? I paused at an intersection and gave another tentative sniff, trying to discern his scent once more. Here, it seemed a little more pungent.

My head whipped to the left as I locked onto the scent, and I followed down the hall. A few of mother's soldiers were here and were gazing at each other, no doubt locked in conversation. For the most part, I was left in the dark on what they were saying, but Kharon taught me a few key things when it came to what the undead was saying. For example, a quick chatter of the jaw in roughy quarter-second intervals conveyed slight annoyance. But a chitter at half-second intervals was amusing. It was complicated, but I forced myself to learn it. I enjoyed the experience of learning; it made me feel strong. I wanted to be the strongest dragon there ever was, and I won't let anyone stand in the way.

I skipped further down the hall until I came to the path that led to the classroom. Mother's scent here was faint, which told me she hadn't been down there in a little while. Perhaps she and Miss Alessia went outside. Good, maybe I could get back to the guest room before she returned. I shrugged, knowing that if Mother caught me out, she might be angry, but I had questions I needed answered before I saw her again.