Drasna took in the sight of Isobella blushing, she was as red as an apple, she could practically see the steam coming out of her ears. The perfectly fitting belly dancing outfit had done its job better than she could’ve hoped. There was a small part of her that enjoyed watching the warlock fidget, which prompted her elect to leave her arms bound for the dance. After slowly climbing off the noble she helped her sit up and gently hand her checks in her hands.
“I said, do you like what you see?”
“I…I…you look beautiful! Have you been planning this since Vulcarose?”
Drasna smirked, “That’s right, but I didn’t just get the outfit.”
The blond stood up and moved over to one of her personal drawers in the dresser. Then she opened the drawer slowly to further tease Isobella, before pulling out a record. With a slight strut, she moved towards the record player and set it up to play.
“Tristan, Selene, Nicola, Ruby, and Olivia all chipped in to have a bard make this for you. Nicola almost spoiled the surprise earlier, but I’m glad you didn’t seem to notice.”
Isobella giggled, “You’re becoming far too cunning and sneaky for my liking, perhaps we spend too much time together…”
Drasna snorted and ignored the jab. Despite practicing for weeks, Drasna felt butterflies in her stomach. She knew Isobella would appreciate her dance regardless, but she still wanted it to be perfect. The monk took a moment to slap her face and hype herself before dropping the needle on the record player. A mix of soft drums, strings, and lightly clanging metal echoed and filled the room.
Drasna spun around the long sheer of her costume flowing like water and the metal bits jiggling. Once she was in perfect view of her beloved noble, her dance started. She began with a quick side to side thrust of her hips followed by another spin, each movement timed to the music. Isobella was completely enthralled already which allowed the blond to relax. She sucked air through her teeth, and after focusing her ki expelled light smoke from the corners of her mouth. As the smoke permeated and thinned, Drasna was performing the iconic belly roll.
The music started to quicken to a more excited tone, queuing a unique part of the dance. The monk leaned her head back and spewed a few orange cinders which slowly rained down, fading before landing on anything flammable. While the embers were still in the air, Drasna performed a flip and landed on her hands. She proceeded to continue the belly roll while upside down, her balance immaculate. Leaping off her hands she returned to her feet, causing the costume to shimmer in the dull glow of the embers. With a sultry wink, Drasna spun around again, expelling more smoke to prepare for the finale.
Completely enshrouded with smoke, Drasna cast the light spell Isobella had taught her. The emerald glow created a silhouette in the smoke for the noble to see. As the music picked up once again, Drasna performed a series of drills and shadow boxing. Swift punches, spins, and high kicks all leading up to a tuck and roll, which placed Drasna in the perfect spot to plant a kiss of Isobella's lips, just as the music stopped.
Slightly out of breath, Drasna opened the windows in the room to let the smoke out, before finally untying Isobella. The noble squealed with pure happiness and clapped, it had been the best thing she’d ever seen.
“Drasna! That was absolutely incredible!...I…I don’t know what to say!”
Isobella threw her arms around Drasna and pulled her onto the bed. The cool silk sheets felt heavenly on the blonds warm and sweaty skin.
“Thanks, I’m glad you enjoyed, I worked really hard on it for you.”
“I can tell, and I have no idea where you found the time to do so! I can’t believe you would do this all for me.”
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Drasna frowned, “Is it still really that hard for you? I love you to bits, there isn’t anything I wouldn’t do for you, and no amount of money would ever change that.”
“This…this is the best birthday I’ve ever had.”
“Good!”
“Drasna…, are you going to keep that on for the rest of the night?”
Drasna chuckled, “I’ll wear it all week if you want, it's pretty comfy.”
Isobella pouted, “No, that won’t do, I don’t want anyone else to see you in it.”
Drasna laughed, “What a greedy noble, I’ve fallen in love with.”
Isobella was asleep as the little spoon to her beloved Drasna, who was still dressed in the belly dancing costume. She’d fallen asleep with a smile on her face, she was the happiest she’d ever been. Wrapped in her silky sheets with Drasna beside her made her feel untouchable, or perhaps, almost. A sudden voice woke the noble from her bliss.
“Isobella, be a good girl and come see me.”
Isobella groaned with annoyance, the hour was late, she was perfectly nuzzled, and had been having a wonderful dream. Yet Calathiel saw fit to summon her. Isobella begrudgingly shuffled out of Drasna’s grasp, an act made simple with the silky dress she’d fallen asleep in. Taking extra care and caution, the noble snuck to the secret room where Calathiel was awaiting her.
The pale fairy smiled, “Ah there you are, such a good girl.”
Isobella nodded, still groggy, “What do you need of me, lady Calathiel?”
Calathiel giggled and pinched Isobella’s cheek, “Oh my, seems I caught you napping, I’ll keep this short then, wouldn’t want you to get grumpy now. The recent shifting of the ground near your lovely chateau has opened up a path to something I want.”
“The earthquake changed many things on the mountain, could you specify?”
“There is a cave of crystals with a lovely black rose inside, I mean to have it, fetch it for me.”
Isobella was silent, she felt every heart beat pound in her chest. She knew exactly the rose Calathiel spoke of. She knew nothing good could come of interacting with it, the ominous magic could be disastrous if tampered with. Worse still, that disaster could affect the monastery, where her and Drasna’s friends lived. Isobella clenched her fist and worked up her courage.
Isobella took a deep breath before firmly stating, “No”
“I beg your pardon? You must truly be tired and out of sorts.”
“I said no! I won’t entertain messing with that rose, the risk is-”
“Silence! You’re forgetting yourself, and you’re beginning to upset me as well. If you want any truffles or dresses again in the future, you’ll do as I say.”
Isobella stood firm and looked Calathiel in the eyes, “I won’t!”
Calathiel firmly grabbed Isobella’s chin and scowled, “You’re being a bad girl! Has that monk been putting bad ideas in your head? Perhaps I’ll have to pay her a visit, she’s clearly done something to you.”
Isobella swatted Calathiel’s hand off her chin, “Such a thing is beneath you. Even if you did decide to dirty your hands, I will stop you, because my love for her is stronger than my fear of you!”
“You’ll do no such thing, I’ll just take your powers away from you, in fact I’m considering it now.”
Isobella’s mouth formed a smirk that gave Calathiel pause, “You can’t take my powers away, they aren’t part of our pact. You think because I was so young I don’t know the finer details? My powers are the result of a ritual which traded the souls of my parents. I can almost guarantee you don’t have them anymore, so you cannot take my warlock powers away.”
Calathiel’s face contorted in frustration, before returning to normal, “Well look at you, all grown up.”
“Indeed, now if that’s all, I have somewhere to be.”
Calathiel pouted and turned to walk back through the mirror she came from, “This isn’t over.”
Isobella waited until Calathiel was fully gone to exit the hidden room, as soon as she did, she felt a grin on her face. She giggled, high on a feeling of liberation, she’d wanted to outwit her patron for years, but never had the courage to upset Calathiel’s affection. Isobella quietly returned to her room where Drasna was still fast asleep. The noble walked over to her night stand and retrieved a wooden box, inside sat a single truffle. Isobella picked it up and gave it a look, before scoffing and crushing it in her fist.
