The Summer Elegance Palace
The Empress Dowager's palace was quiet as night fell and most the servants were sent away . The guard had been doubled, but it hardly mattered since most her guards were always on alert any way . She had specifically chosen members of the old guard who had been quite loyal to her before the Emperor Prior had fallen ill and passed . Most of them had stuck with her through all of it, even the Concubine wars as the servants called it . It was a dark time of hatred and pandering for attention . Very few had stayed when the Emperor had passed . There was no reason to, and if it wasn't for her grandchildren, the Empress Dowager, Vivian would have left a long time ago .
AdvertisementBeside her, the Tigress called Grace laid quietly at her side . The sunlight shimmering off her silvering coat . Her black stripes were slowly turning grey at the edges despite her amazing care here . Every muscle was toned and capable, but there was only so much that could be done against time . She reached down gently dragging her fingers through her soft fur .
"You seem so sad, My Dear Grace . " She whispered, speaking softly to her dear friend . The Tigress looked up at her, pale blue eyes sad as she tried to find a way to respond to her . A far away look deep in her eyes saddened the Empress Dowager .
"Its nothing Miss, you should rest soon . " Akira replied with a soft purr, bumping her furr into her mistress's hand . The Empress smiled softly at her, well aware that it was not nothing . It never was . Things seemed to be changing, and the empress wasn't sure how she felt about it .
"Alright . I will have my servant fix us tea . Then we will both get some rest . " The Empress Dowager replied starting to stand but wincing slightly . Akira sat up, concern and alarm in her eyes as she gently pushed her back into the chair .
"You rest here . I will go get the tea made . For now, please don't move . " The tigress begged softly, concern lacing every word . The Empress Dowager nodded slowly .
"Go then, love . " She replied knowing there was no use arguing with a tiger that could just pin her to the chair without a second thought . There would be no way she could remove her, even as old as the tigress was .
"As you wish . " Akira agreed stepping off of her with a soft swishing sound of fur on stone floors . She started her way back toward the small private kitchen in the Summer Elegance Palace . She looked about, ensuring no humans were near, Akira allowed herself to blur and morph into her human form in the kitchen . Taking a sheet off the clothesline she artfully swirled it around herself, creating a make shift dress . Once it was tied into place, she nodded and put water on to boil .
"Akira . " A voice spoke from not far away . At first she thought she was hearing things, how long had it been since that voice spoke without cursing her name? It had to be her imagination . . But then wouldn't it be calling her mother? "Akira, don't ignore me . " Kyera demanded from the doorway .
Sure enough, as Akira turned, she saw her daughter dressed in the shadows veil, standing in the doorway to the kitchens . There was no anger or murderous intent wafting around her, but there was s sense of nervousness crackling in the air . For a moment Akira just let this feeling wash over her, feeling out her daughter's intentions .
"You are uncertain… and you seek me out . What has the Forest Princess so… nervous?" Akira asked her voice gentle and questioning . Kyera walked forward so that her back was no longer unprotected, and pressed to the doorway . The Shadows draped over her body swished lightly around her legs .
"I need your help, Akira . " Kyera replied calmly . Inside she was fighting the torrent of emotions that hated herself for this . She hated being vulnerable and now to face her mother and need her help, it was almost more than she could bear . That's if she helped . There was nothing to force her hand, nothing Kyera could really offer to make her want to do so . Even if the chance was slim, Mally's life depended on it .
Chapter end
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