Daggers in the Dark

The rhythmic crack of iron boots against black granite provided a metallic counter beat to the tic-tic-ticcing snap of Queen Chrysalis’ heels. The Queen of the Black Empire, Weaver of Lies, Conqueror of the Badlands and the Southern Wastes. Mistress of the Bitter Sea. She marched with purpose toward a repast long due, so that even her honor guard, loyal soldiers trained from birth in service to her throne, had trouble keeping up with her long, purposeful stride.

They maintained a feverish pace, neither side deigning to speak to the other, one out of decorum and the other of disdain. They walked in clattering silence until coming upon the great Oaken doors that heralded their arrival at the queen’s chambers.

Bowing, two of the guards pushed through the double doors, spears at the ready, as the other pair took flanking positions alongside their mistress. The former returned after a moment, delivering another bow.

“It is empty, my Queen.”

Chrysalis nodded, finding their work deserving of neither criticism nor praise. She swept into the room, dismissing her escort with a wave as the blackened wood was pulled shut behind her. She paused for a moment, studying her chambers with an arch look before nodding her satisfaction. The maid would live another day. Finally, she allowed herself to relax, satisfied that she would not be disturbed for anything less than a national emergency.

“Incompetents,” she scoffed. Worthless, every one of them. Some days she wondered why she even had generals. In her mind she imagined her army as a rushing horde, an endless black tide of tireless soldiers. But no, it was all about formations and supply lines and politics.

She scowled.

A clap of her hands set the room’s torches aflame, casting a sputtering emerald light across the vast chambers, bathing the rich furnishings and gothic arches in viridian shadows. She stretched, groaning as a series of pops danced the length of her spine. That was better. Sitting around all day, delegating and passing judgement from her obsidian throne, it was all just so exhausting. She should have people to do that for her, intelligent people, not these mindless drones she called her subjects.

“Bah. Enough complaining,” she scolded herself as she slipped out of her sandals. Her bare feet whispered across the flagstones accompanied by the swirl of airy chiffon skirts. A silver tray had been laid out by her lounger, bearing an elegant goblet and an ancient bottle of black wine. The sight of the bottle made her shiver with the nostalgia of conquests past. This particular sample she had rescued personally from a well regarded winery to the south, shortly before her soldiers put the chateau and its people to the flame and ensured the bottle’s place as a one of a kind addition to her collection. Hers would be the last lips to ever partake of this particular vintage.

She popped the quark, smiling slightly as she inhaled the delicate bouquet. Blackberry and currant, with a subtle undertow of… something else. Plum, perhaps? She’d never know. For a moment, she almost regretted killing its makers. Almost.

The goblet filled with a gentle swish, and she found herself staring down into its depths as she twisted it between her fingers. Taking another sip, she stood, and strode to her balcony, pulling back the heavy curtains with a wave of her hand. Her city spread out before her in the night, an orderly web of dark stone and gothic lines. Every street in its place, the people scurrying along like insects to fulfill her mandates. It was beautiful. Truly a wonder, the jewel of the modern world. She sighed in contentment, turning her attention upward. Silvery stars twinkled in a crystalline sky, undefiled by either cloud or sun. They bathed her kingdom in their light, a thousand eyes gazing upon her greatness.

She took a sip of her wine, letting its sweet, ticklish tang dance across her tongue. She hummed pleasantly as the fruity flavors filled her mouth, revealing a surprising, subtly nutty undercurrent, like almond or chestnut, which neatly balanced the bitterness of the alcohol. No wonder its producer had been so highly regarded. Ah well. C’est la vie.

Chuckling softly, she turned back to her suite, downing the last of her drink as the curtains swept closed behind her. While delightful, the alcohol wasn’t strong, merely enough to provide a pleasant buzz after a long day. For a moment, only a moment, she contemplated another glass. But no, not tonight. She didn’t need to waste such a precious vintage on vice. Instead, she turned toward her wardrobe-

And froze, as the tip of a dagger pricked her back.

“Don’t move,” a gritty voice whispered into her ear as a slender, leather clad arm coiled around her neck.

“Ah,” Chrysalis said easily, carefully sliding the goblet onto a nearby vanity.

Hot breath tickled the back of her neck as her attacker leaned in. “You’ve gotten soft.”

The voice was low. Rough. But distinctly feminine. Chrysalis smirked. “I’m sure I have.” She flicked her wrist, tweaking the tip of her stiletto toward her attacker’s ribcage.

The woman gasped as its wickedly sharp point nicked her skin. “Ah… you bitch.”

“Mm, perhaps it’s you who’ve gotten soft, love,” Chrysalis returned smugly.

The assassin growled, releasing her grip. They stepped apart, Chrysalis twisting on her feet to meet her attacker face to face. A slight girl, short, her long purple hair pulled back into twin pigtails streaked with green. She scowled as she met Chrysalis’ eyes. “How long?”

Chrysalis returned her glare with an incendiary smile. “As delightful as it would be to crush your pride, I can’t claim to have noticed your entrance. The simple truth is I’ve been expecting you for quite some time. Tell me, Aria dear, is this a social visit, or are you here on business?”

The assassin frowned, crossing her arms in front of her chest, her short dagger still clutched in her right hand. “Business. King Sombra sends his regards.”

“Does he now,” Chrysalis tutted. “So, you’ve thrown your lot in with that tyrant.”

Aria shrugged. “Can’t help it. Dagi’s orders.”

“Ah, yes. The older sister.” Chrysalis shook her head sadly. “You always were one to follow orders.”

“That’s none of your business,” Aria spat.

“No?” Chrysalis chuckled drily. “The witch stole you away to the north, and now sends you back to kill me, and it’s none of my business?”

“Shut up!” Aria snapped back, raising her dagger.

“Strike a nerve, did I?” Chrysalis motioned with her stiletto. “I do hope you didn’t kill too many of my guards on the way in.”

Aria scoffed. “Like it’d matter. You’d have had them all executed for incompetence by morning.”

“Perhaps,” Chrysalis smirked, “but it does help to have an example to set for their successors.”

Aria chuckled weakly, shaking her head. “Same old Chryssie.”

Chrysalis sniffed. “That’s Queen Chrysalis to you, or perhaps Your Highness.”

Aria sighed, sheathing her dagger. “You know I could never call you that. Not seriously”

“Perhaps not,” Chrysalis hummed, returning her own twisted blade to the depths of her gown. “Well, I suppose this is it then. They wouldn’t send someone like you unless they knew she’d get the job done.”

Aria nodded, not quite meeting her eyes. “Yeah, this is it.”

“I wonder,” Chrysalis mused, “Was it your skill with your blades, or were they counting on our history to get the job done?”

“Adagio thought you wouldn’t be prepared to defend yourself against a former lover,” Aria answered with a hint of amusement.

Chrysalis laughed, flicking her weapon back into her hand. “Well then, they don’t know me at all, do they?”

“No,” Aria agreed, shaking her head sadly. She redrew her own dagger. “I guess not.”

“I loved you, you know,” Chrysalis said softly, even as she warily circled her assassin. Aria glanced away, a pained look on her face even as she kept pace with Chrysalis’ movements. The queen sighed. “Losing you was the same as losing one of my own children.”

Aria laughed bitterly, her feet drifting across the stone. “I wished I could stay. I still do. But I can’t abandon my sisters. They’re all I have in this world.”

“You had me,” Chrysalis answered hoarsely.

Aria shot her a pained look. “I wouldn’t have, though. Not forever. Eventually, you would’ve died, and I would’ve really been alone.”

Chrysalis snorted. “So the solution is to kill me now and save yourself the pain later.”

“I was already killing you,” Aria bit back, gesturing to the sickly green light of the torches. “The more your magic grew, the more I took. The more it took!”

Chrysalis raised her hand, stirring up the air with a casual wave. “I notice you left it behind tonight.”

Aria’s fingers grazed her neck, stroking her naked throat. “It… didn’t feel right. Killing you, while wearing it. I couldn’t handle what it would do to your soul.”

Chrysalis scoffed. “My ‘soul’ is already condemned. I’ll likely meet the fires of judgment the moment I draw my final breath. Compared to that, an eternity with you would have been a mercy.”

Aria winced. “Chryssie-”

“Enough,” Chrysalis growled, “If you’re here to kill me, you’d better do it. Enough of this inane chatter!” She lunged, plunging her twisted blade toward her lover’s heart.

Aria was faster. She ducked out of the way, grabbing Chrysalis’ wrist and sweeping her leg up behind the taller woman’s knees. Chrysalis grunted as she was driven to the ground, the stiletto clattering across the floor as Aria’s knees settled onto her back. Aria gripped her hair, pressing her face into the stonework, And Chrysalis winced as the tip of her dagger once again dug into the small of her back.

“Well?” Chrysalis demanded, as the blade trembled against her flesh. “Finish it! Or do you mean to humiliate me first?”

Aria clenched her teeth, her knuckles white on her dagger’s hilt. “I-” she growled, twisting the blade. Her arm shook with effort, her jaw clenched and strained, but the knife didn’t break skin. “I can’t,” she sighed, removing the dagger and sliding it into its sheath.

“I see,” Chrysalis said. She raised her hand and a wave of force blasted Aria’s chest, sending her rolling across the floor. Chrysalis pushed herself to her feet, stomping on Aria’s wrist as she tried to grab for her weapon. She glared down at the assassin, eyes burning with fury as she pinned the smaller woman’s arm. It would be so simple to break her wrist, crush her throat, call the guards. So, so simple to end the woman who broke her heart.

She hadn’t aged a day.

Chrysalis’ face softened, and she felt a shudder run through her body as Aria glared up at her, a mixture of anger and resignation in her amethyst eyes. Maybe it would be easier if she was human, if she aged the same way Chrysalis had. But it was impossible. The face that stared up at her was the same face she had loved all those years ago.

“Do you remember our first time?” Chrysalis asked, turning away from her fallen enemy.

Aria laughed, making no effort to stand. “The day you killed your mother, Queen Tyranid.”

Chrysalis nodded. “We made love on her bed. The comforter wasn’t even cool yet.” She sighed, shaking her head. “You taught me everything I asked, gave me the courage to plunge my blade into her empty heart.” A scoff. “When did we get so soft?”

Aria shrugged, again making no effort to get off the floor. “I guess we got older.”

Chrysalis laughed, a dry, contemptuous huff of air. “Please, you look the same as the day we met.”

“Wiser, then,” Aria retorted, finally pushing herself to her elbows. “I used to think nothing really mattered and I could run around doing whatever I want to this world. But, well… you taught me that I could care about things. However temporarily.”

Chrysalis hummed, half tipping her head in acknowledgment. “As fit a theory as any, I suppose…” She sighed, turning to sit on the edge of her bed. “I have my kingdom, everything I could ever want in life, and yet I’m never satisfied. I always want more. It’s like… a craving. A hunger, never satiated.”

“Like an empty pit,” Aria nodded. “You can throw more and more into it. Sex, power, magic. But you’re never full.”

“But…” Chrysalis broke off… “There was once a time when I was almost full.”

Aria met her eyes. “Yeah… once.”

Chrysalis smirked. Not the smirk of a tyrant, surveying her domain. Not the smirk of a spider, leering over some hapless insect. It was the smirk of a younger woman, daring and nubile, inviting a potential suitor to bed. She rolled her shoulders, letting the loose sleeves of her gown slide down her arms. “Why don’t you put those knives away, and come join me?”

Aria bit her lip, glancing between Chrysalis and the window. She hesitated, desire and duty warring behind her eyes, until she made up her mind. Pushing herself to her feet, she unfastened her belt, dropping her weapons to the floor. She strode forward confidently, unstrapping her armor as she went, until she met Chrysalis’ lips with her own.

“I think I can do that,” she said, breaking the kiss as Chrysalis helped her out of her greaves, “for one more night.”

“Come, my bloody little sparrow,” Chrysalis purred, pulling her once-former lover into a deeper embrace.

“Yes, my tyrant queen,” Aria whispered huskily as she let herself be pulled down into the sheets.

==O==

The pleasant warmth of the morning sun slipping between her curtains drew Chrysalis slowly from her slumber. She hummed pleasantly, parting the curtains with a wave of her hand to allow the crisp sunlight to bathe her charcoal skin and Aria’s naked form. The would-be assassin was stretched out atop the sheets, her limbs splayed chaotically across the bedspread.

Smiling, Chrysalis brushed her fingers through the girl’s hair, gently pulling hehr bangs away from her eyes. She looked so innocent as she slept. Peaceful. Such a far cry from her waking demeanor. Carefully, Chrysalis levered herself out of bed, taking care not to wake her bedfellow. She stretched, and found her dressing gown, dressing her body in the luxurious black silks. She tied the sash deftly, and flicked her fingers.

Elsewhere in the palace a small bell rang.

Nodding, Chrysalis grabbed her comb, passing it through her turquoise tresses a few times to restore the kinks and tangles left by a night of debauchery. That done, she returned to the bed, leaning over Aria’s sleeping form to wake her with a gentle kiss to the forehead.

“Nmuh?” Aria grunted blearily. Her eyes fluttered open, and she smiled when they found Chrysalis’ face. “Mornin’ Chryssie,” she rasped.

“Good morning, my love,” Chrysalis answered sweetly.

Aria grinned as she sat up, arching her back in a shameless stretch, mindless of her nudity. “You know, you’re still pretty good, even after all these years.”

Chrysalis huffed indignantly. “Is that any way to thank your queen?”

Aria smirked, shooting Chrysalis a wink that bordered on treasonous. “Thanks, your highness. You know… if you keep that up, I just might stick around. To hell with my sisters!”

It was Chrysalis’ turn to return the smirk. “Oh, yes. I do believe you’ll be sticking around for some time. In fact-”

A sharp crack filled the room as the doors slammed open.

“-I rather doubt you’ll be leaving.”

Aria’s eyes widened as the guards stormed in, leveling their spears at the bed. She rolled off the mattress, desperately searching for armor and weapons that had been cast aside in the throes of passion. Chrysalis gave her no time to look, delivering a sharp blow to the stomach before grabbing her arm and twisting it behind her back, shoving her head into the mattress.

“You whore!” She twisted and spat as Chrysalis held her down. “You betrayed me!”

Chrysalis’ face morphed into a snarl. “You did that when you broke my heart,” she hissed, as two of her guards rounded the bed and grabbed Aria by the arms. The dragged her roughly to the floor, before securing her wrists with heavy iron manacles. “And now you come back. Armed, uninvited, and unannounced.” She reared back, delivering a sharp kick to Aria’s temple. “Treason,” she spat.

“You… bitch…” Aria groaned as the guards hauled her to her feet. They surrounded her, half grabbing her while the others kept their spear tips trained on her chest and back. She snarled, her lip cracked and starting to swell. “I think I remember why I left now.”

Chrysalis scoffed, waving her hand dismissively. “Have her gibbeted on the north wall. Let the city see her shame.”

“Empress,” the guards nodded. The highest ranking bowed. “My queen, the penalty for treason is-”

“Yes, yes, I know,” Chrysalis waved him off, “I wrote the law, I think I have a decent idea of what it says.”

Aria glared at her as the guards ushered her away. “Your days are numbered, Chryssie. You’ll never- agh!” her threat was cut off as one of the guards cuffed her with his gauntlet. The doors slammed shut, sealing away any further threats.

Chrysalis chuckled, falling back onto her couch as she grabbed the forgotten bottle of wine. She filled her goblet, downing a deep, celebratory draught. Vengeance and fine wine. What better cure for a broken heart?

“Five? No, ten days in the cages, that ought to soften her up. Then a public apology. She can lick my boot. Ha! But she’d never do it. She’ll die first. So, quartering? Burning? Drowning? So many choices. Oh, why did I ever execute my royal executioner?”

She giggled airily. That was… good wine! Stronger than she thought. Maybe because she hadn’t had breakfast yet. Ah well, what would it hurt? She was celebrating! The kingdom would hold for a day!

She reached for the bottle to pour herself another glass. Yes, it-

The bottle slipped from her fingers, shattering against the stone. “Wha-? Oh, godss dahmit…” she slurred, reaching for the shattered shards. She winced as one opened a long, red gash in her palm. She brought it to her face, staring at her trembling hand as the redness began to spread, seeping out of the wound.

She giggled. She didn’t feel a thing. Her fingers tingled, strangely numb, as she flexed her hand, causing more of the life giving fluid to seep free.

She gasped, taking short, shallow breaths through a tightening trachea. No. No! That bitch! That traitor! Was that it? Had it all been a farce? One last ploy to toy with her heart, to steal her last ounce of pride before she finished the job?

She pushed herself to her feet, or tried to, but her arms couldn't muster the strength. She raised her hand, waving it limply, desperately summoning her magic, but none came. Her head pounded, shattering her concentration, and she slumped in the couch.

“Aria…” she gasped, “little sparrow...should have known you weren’t that stupid.”

A final betrayal, in a life riddled with them. It was… no less than she deserved.

Her consciousness faded, pulsing in time with her fading heartbeat. Her only consolation was that Aria would share in her fate.

“Burn with me, Aria. Burn… my little blazing star.”

With a final wish, she breathed her last.

Author's Note:

Had this idea in my head for a while, mostly as a blatant reference to the song, but once I thought of it I couldn't get rid of it. It took me a long time to finally make it reality, and it probably wouldn't have happened at all if it weren't for last month's prompt in the Uncommon Dazzling Ships group. And then I went and finished it 3 weeks late Tooootally not my fault, I had my wrist in a brace for a couple weeks.

This is something like my third time writing Chrysalis now, so I guess I can't say I'm not used to writing her anymore, but even still it always surprises me just how much fun I have with her. Aria is harder to write, she is my favorite Dazzling to read about, and probably one of the characters I resonate with most closely, but she is SO hard to get right. Especially when the story's not from her perspective.

Anyway, I hope you enjoyed this odd little tragedy born from a semi-clever pun.

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NaiadSagaIotaOar

NaiadSagaIotaOar #1 · Apr 20th, 2019 · · ·

This was a nice read! I definitely think it got better from the first version you showed me. I like how the characters' dialogue and narration suggested a world and history we weren't shown too much of but could still make some good sense of.

That being said, I do have to wonder a little what exactly Aria's plan was, given that Chrysalis has the kind of magic she does--when she turns the tables fairly effortlessly given a moment's hesitation to work with, I'm honestly not sure what Aria was expecting would happen when she opens with a one-liner instead of a stab.

Unless maybe the thought was that she'd guessed Chrysalis wouldn't kill her right away, so she poisoned the wine and gambled that she'd be able to get one last roll in the sheets out of Chryssie?

Tethered-Angel

Tethered-Angel #2 · Apr 20th, 2019 · · ·

9577375
I'm not sure she knew. I kind of left it intentionally vague, there's a few ways it may have gone down depending on how you interpret the scene I think. I've got a few theories, but I can't say I have one specific canon theories and yours might be as good as mine haha.

As for the stabbing, I think she just found that it wasn't that easy. She had the upper hand twice, and neither time managed to take the plunge.

Hopeful_Ink_Hoof

Hopeful_Ink_Hoof #3 · Apr 20th, 2019 · · ·

Now the only question remains: does Aria have an escape plan?

forbloodysummer

forbloodysummer #4 · Apr 20th, 2019 · · ·

Lots of great world-building here, and I liked the veiled hints of their history together without getting into too much detail.

I'm not quite sure why you made them human, though? And I do kind of wish you'd gone for a different title

I presume blue and gold vengeance will descend on the city no matter what, the only question is whether they can get there soon enough to rescue, or have to settle for mere punishment.

Tethered-Angel

Tethered-Angel #5 · Apr 21st, 2019 · · ·

9578098
Thanks, it was fun to do.

Human world is because I like human sirens better, giant dragin things make poor assassins, and it's meant to be set in historical EQG world with the human version of Chrysalis.

And the title was the impetous for the entire thing, so I didn't care to change it.

Tethered-Angel

Tethered-Angel #6 · Apr 21st, 2019 · · ·

9577644
Haha, she made it to the movies so we can only assume!

Undome Tinwe

Undome Tinwe #7 · May 28th, 2019 · 1 · ·

I do so love a good back-and-forth between villains, and you delivered perfectly. The tone and atmosphere were built up well, and foreshadowing of the ending was good too. A wonderful read.

Tethered-Angel