Escape 3-2

Dagon didn't expect a thing as he was forced to take a sudden departure from the castle. He would easily be gone for a few days, if not weeks. Asura had fished out one of the snake's pets and killed it. The clear encroachment of territory was not to be taken lightly, and definitely not to be ignored.

It was the perfect opportunity to escape, assuming her work up until now had been fruitful.

Did she turn the odds in her favor? She sure prayed she did. She didn't even know to who she prayed anymore. She knew no one was listening. She supposed it then became to be to whoever was there to hear it.

She really should just stop bothering. If anyone heard her prayers they weren't acting on them. She was doing it all herself. She could only rely on herself. If anything she made herself look weak by asking something more powerful for help, rather than making them by force or making them want to help her.

She could never lose control of the situation. It would kill her.

A few hours after Dagon was well out the door, Cecaelya wandered into the throne room. She was clearly bored, looking like a lost puppy as she dropped herself onto the pile of pillows pretending to be a throne.

Étaoin always hated that thing, and she was basically forced to look at it every day. It didn't look like a throne. It barely had a shred of a regal presentation to it, was anything but traditional and had no real flair. Sure, the snake might be a serpent, but there would be ways for him to still use a throne and fit comfortably.

Étaoin for her part didn't pay Cecaelya much mind, instead writing in her dairies again. She wasn't sure why, but a few of her entries had been addressed to Basil. It probably helped keep her sane to pretend that there was someone who knew and cared about her that she could vent to about how shitty this all is, and how she's making progress in her escape. Whether or not Basil had genuinely cared or just wanted to get laid wasn't important, at least that's what she told herself.

Cecaelya sighed loudly. The kind of sigh that's obviously trying to get your attention. When the sprite relented and looked to the monstrous mermaid, she rolled over to lay on her back. “I can't believe that jerk abandoned me again, and so soon after I got back from that stupid diplomatic trip. I haven't even gotten the chance to tell him I'm expecting!” Cecaelya whined.

Resisting the urge to roll her eyes, Étaoin turned to the queen with an innocent look. “Congratulations, my queen! I'm sure he'll be delighted to hear that you're with child again."

“Thanks Bug, at least someone knows how to be excited.” The mermaid seemed to genuinely appreciate the pretended excitement.

Humming in fake excitement, Étaoin shoved one of her books under her desk. It was time. “It is my pleasure. I can only pray the revelation will stop him from giving his affection to others so freely.”

“I could beg for him to stop flaunting his time to other people and he wouldn't stop. It's just how he is, as much as I despise it,” Cecaelya responded with another exaggerated sigh.

Briefly turning her head away as part of retrieving something from a cabinet, it really didn't matter what, the sprite took the time to roll her eyes and let out a soft sigh of her own. What a sea cow, she truly was blind as soon as it came to Dagon. Of course she wouldn't pick up subtle hints. The serpent had her wrapped around his finger.

“I simply wish he would stop flaunting his loyalty as easily,” Étaoin intoned with emphasised lament.

The sea witch rolled over and sat up with squinted eyes. “What do you mean by that?”

The sprite walked over to the swing on the top floor of her glass house and took a seat. “When you were away, he had a very peculiar guest over to visit. I'm not sure I should tell you… you might not believe me…”

Cecaelya was starting to turn red with restrained anger, entirely tensed up as her face was barely an inch away from the glass. “You've already come this far! Just tell me already!”

Étaoin pretended to shrink under the glare. She spoke up in a small voice. “The whore queen was here for a few days…”

The silence was so thick it could sink to the bottom of the room and cover the floor like a delicate carpet.

Cecaelya was steaming. Her fist hit the desk and made the entire doll house shake. “That… you! That… that snake! That slithering piece of shit!” she screamed. Just as quickly she'd moved to the pillows she was previously resting on, throwing them around and cutting them to ribbons like a feral animal.

“One time..! He said he'd done it just one time! And that he regretted it and would never do it again!”

“It seemed like this wasn't the first time they'd met like this…” Étaoin piped up quietly.

The response was nothing but a furious cry.

Eventually Cecaelya spoke up again. “I’m going to kill that man. Slowly.”

The sprite hummed softly. “Is that truly the way you want him to feel?”

There was a small huff as Cecaelya rose and crossed her arms. “I want him to suffer, I want to take something from him so he knows what it feels like to be betrayed. Then I want him to beg for my forgiveness, knowing that everything that's happened is his own fault.”

“Then maybe murdering him might not be the most effective option.”

“I guess not, Bug.”

“I do hope I can stay clear of the inevitable temper of Master Dagon,” Étaoin mused. Having to call that snake her master drove her up the wall, not that anyone could tell. “Despite his fondness for me, he tends to lash out at me when he's frustrated.”

Was she being too subtle? She really hoped not. The sea cow was really oblivious when emotional, though, so it wouldn't surprise her if she needed to spell it out more. If she could convince Cecaelya to make the offer she might have more leeway.

The sprite sighed. “If only he didn't treasure me so much, then he wouldn't have put my house right in his throne room and I'd have an easier time avoiding his temper.”

The silent beat that passed was almost too much for Étaoin to bear.

Then Cecaelya was staring at her so closely her face was almost squashed against the glass. A hand did rest against the glasses clawed fingers strumming against it. The entire house was shaking under the force of the taps. “How good of a swimmer are you, Bug?”

The sprite almost rolled her eyes. “I would have lived within more than these glass walls if I could leave them,” she explained, her expression instead deadpan.

Cracks could be heard forming where the nails collided with the glass.

Étaoin spoke up again immediately. “Do you really want to tell him you killed me? I believe such a thing might not get the response you want.”

Cecaelya frowned, claws sliding off the glass.

Étaoin continued as if musing. It was time to bring up her own tricks as a fae. “Depending on his mood, I would imagine it would be much easier if one could deny they had anything to do with an unfortunate disappearance. Should he ask if you killed me, there'd be nothing more convincing than a technical truth.”

Ultimately, to Dagon, whether she escaped to disappear forever, or died, would likely not matter. She was gone either way. However, if Cecaelya was involved in either, one would likely not be as harshly punished. Truly, Étaoin was convinced Dagon would rather have her dead in the long run, even if in the moment having to reconcile her being gone forever would be way worse. If she were in Dagon's position she'd rather have her precious pet dead and gone from this world than simply gone from her life to still be a part of the lives of others. Hopefully she could make the sea witch focus enough on the present to not come to the same conclusion.

“Besides, that kind of blow-up could ruin your connection forever, or at least for a very long time. That's not the kind of hostile atmosphere you wish to bring an infant into, is-”

“You've made your point,” Cecaelya interrupted, “What do you get out of this?”

Étaoin hesitated. Should she drop the mask? There was no way the witch would believe her if she said it was from the goodness of her heart or even if she said she saw it as an injustice that deserved to be made right. She couldn't be fully honest either, though. Absolutely not. Insulting the snake would only antagonize her. Only Cecaelya was allowed to berate him and it was everyone else's place to agree with her. Those two despicable morons truly did deserve each other.

Eventually there was a sigh. “I live in a glass cage with basically three people who have permission to interact with me. From the other side of a wall. Even though Dagon treats me well, he doesn't realize that I'm unhappy. I think he doesn't want to see that.”

A clawed hand found its way to resting on Cecaelya's chin. It was obvious she was concocting some kind of plan, and Étaoin did not like it one bit. The small smile that formed on the toothy maw made her even more cautious.

“Here's the deal, Bug. I'll get you out of there. I'll even give you the ability to breathe in my precious sea so you can go on your merry way. However it comes with a curse… the moment that you breathe in air, you will never be able to live in the water again.”

Seemed straightforward enough. Of course the sea witch would want to get rid of her forever even if she wasn't going to die. It seemed almost too easy. Then again, maybe it was what it seemed on the surface. She'd left Cecaelya in as much of perceived control as possible.

Either way, she was in no place to refuse. If Cecaelya had anything more planned for her, Étaoin would have no choice but to weather through it. This was it, though. Her way out.

Finally!

“Very well, I accept your conditions,” Étaoin voiced plainly.

“I'll be here with the portable air jar at midnight. This place is sensitive to magic so I can't cast my spell without rousing suspicion, paired with your disappearance.”

“I'll be ready.”