Archive of Our Own ^beta

“Experiment 001 - our crowning success and still our only survivor. It tried to escape again and I have locked it back in solitary until our next ritual. We are almost there - the perfect weapon of Tiamut will soon be complete.” Drake grimaces as he reads the abandoned journal, “I don’t know what kind of experiment they’re talking about, but we should be careful.”

“We already knew this would be dangerous, luckily none of the cultists we’ve come across so far have posed too much of a problem, but we shouldn’t let our guard down.” Sirus watches the doors, holding his bow at the ready, spaded tail flicking anxiously.

“Let’s take the books and continue emptying the place, I don’t want anyone escaping.” Allura starts putting books in her bag of holding, “We can go through these later and report back to the temple for you, Ghenn.”

“Good idea.” Dohla pushes off of the table she was leaning on, “The less time I have to spend in this place the better.”

“Thanks again for coming with me, I’ve never had Bahamut feel so insistent before.” Ghenn takes a deep breath and focuses on their connection to their patron, “There’s still something important here.”

“Alright, everyone ready?” Dohla waits until everyone nods and then leads further down into the ruins. It’s eerily quiet after the previous battles they faced when they first arrived. Allura keeps her dancing lights around them as they descend into the darkness.

“What do you think they were hiding down here?” Sirus asks.

“Who knows - maybe the experiments they wrote about in the journals?” Drake shrugs, “There might be traps so everyone keep their eyes peeled.”

Before anyone can answer a sharp cry echoes through the hallway and they freeze. The silence stretches before another cry comes from deeper below. The group shares a look and carefully moves down the halls. The deeper they go, the louder the cries.

Ghenn is able to make out words in draconic, “Please! I’ll be good! Please let me out! I hate the dark…”
 

“I think there’s a prisoner here.”

“You sure? Could it be a trap?”

Ghenn’s holy symbol heats up under their hand, “Could be, but I think they’re what Bahamut has been looking for.”

“We have your back, Ghenn.”

They reach the end of the winding tunnel and see a large stone door with arcane runes carved along the frame. Drake and Allura hold out hands to stop the rest of the party.

"Let us check what these runes do before we open it."

At the sound of their voices the cries behind the the door fall silent for a moment, "Hello? Please let me out…I won't try to run again-I'll be good."

Ghenn hates the fear in that voice. They step closer to the door and responds in draconic, "We're going to get you out. You just need to wait a moment." The others glance at them questionly, but the two wizards continue examining the magic around the door. Ghenn looks at Sirus, "They sound scared, they keep asking to be let out, that they'll be good."

Sirus clenches his jaw, tail flicking irritability as he remembers the times his father locked him in the cellar, "Can we open the door yet?"

"Just a minute." Allura focuses on reading the arcane magic, "If I'm correct all the magic is focused on making the inside a nightmare for whoever is sealed in…this is disgusting magic."

Drake wipes his brow, "You're right, no magic against opening the door from this side."

That's all Sirus needs to move forward, pulling out his lockpicks and starting to work on unlocking the door. It doesn't take long and there's a click.

Dohla stands at attention, "This could still be a trap, let's be ready just in case."

Ghenn has this feeling of protection from their connection to Bahamut. They know that whoever is beyond the door is the one they were sent to find. As the others ready their weapons Ghenn snakes forward and opens the door. "You are safe, I promise. We're not the ones who hurt you."

"Everyone hurts me." The voice says. Small tentative footsteps move towards the open door. A face pokes out, bronze skin covered in swirls of silver scales. Thin silver horns protruding from her temples and framing her face alongside messy copper-red curls. Large golden eyes with slit pupils look up at Ghenn, "Are you my new master?"

"No. We killed your master and are here to bring you somewhere to help. Bahamut sent me." Ghenn hold out their holy symbol, hoping for recognition.

"Papa!" They squeal, moving around the door and holding the holy symbol gently in clawed fingers. A tail swished behind them and silver-scaled wings flutter. The dirty robes don't do much to hide the feminine figure underneath.

"What is she?" Dohla asks, jerking backwards.

"The experiment they were working on, I assume." Drake tilts his head like he's looking at a puzzle.

The creature jolts and hides behind Ghenn, shaking in fear, "Sorry. Will be good. Promise."

Ghenn glares at their companions, "You're scaring them! That's enough!" They turn and face the new addition, "Ignore them. My name is Ghenn, do you have a name?"

They're quiet for a long moment, "Kima."

"Kima, beautiful name. These are my friends; Sirus, Allura, Dohla, and Drake." Ghenn points to each person and keeps their voice soft and soothing.

Allura steps forward, "Ghenn, what is she saying?"

"Mostly apologizing and saying she'll be good. Also her name is Kima."

"Friends no like?" Kima looks up at Ghenn, "If bad friends can punish."

"No, no. No one is going to punish you," Ghenn assures, switching to common, "Do you understand common?" Kima tilts her head confused and Ghenn sighs, "I'll take that as a no."

"She seems so timid." Sirus comes forward, "I promise we won't hurt you."

Kima looks at him, eyes glowing in the dim light, "Has tail too."

Ghenn laughs, "Yes, Sirus has a tail too. He's a teifling. Will you come with us? We'll get you somewhere safe far away from here."

Sirus leans against Ghenn, "What is she saying? I knew I should have learned draconic when we started dating."

Kima jolts, but doesn't move away, "Leader no let leave. I tried."

"The leader can't stop you anymore, we took care of them." Ghenn glances at Sirus, "She pointed out you have a tail too."

Sirus grins and waves at Kima with his tail, "Hello, Kima."

Kima watches him and copies the motion, "Hey-o Si-ris."

Sirus laughs, "I love her. I would kill for her."

"We did kill for her." Dohla points out, "And we should leave before reinforcements come."

Allura is flipping through her spellbook, "Drake, are you able to make us a mansion when we get out?"

"Sure, Lass. You out of spells?"

"I will be." Allura casts tongues and turns to Kima, "Hello, Kima. My name is Allura, it's lovely to meet you."

Kima looks at Allura and blushes, "H-Hello Allie-ura."

Sirus watches the exchange and whispers to Ghenn, "I ship them."

Allura blushes and glares at him, "Shut up!"

Kima glances at Sirus, "Don't upset the pretty lady."

Sirus can’t understand the words, but picks up on her tone, grinning, "I'm sorry. Now let's get out of here."

Kima looks back at Allura, "We can really leave?"

"Yes, we won't leave you here. You can come with us if you want."

Kima beams and Allura blushes under that bright gaze.