The return of the Queen
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Based on a little used pairing of mine where the Queen (a snake lady) meets a small shrew who is looking for work in the palace. She takes a liking to them (and, darkly, the fact they have nothing and no one and are easily manipulated). This is set after the story i'd like to write about them someday…. where the shrew realizes they have worth and the Queen learns empathy (But also is still a scary snake lady)
The Queen has been away almost a week, and the shrew, working as her servant, was tasked to tidy her quarters, wash themselves, bring her diner, and have not a thing out of place when she arrived back.
The queen is…. less that thrilled with how they did.
“oh dear… you've done so well. I should be so proud of you. But at the moment, all I am is angry"
“M…. Mistress?”
“I am angry, toy,” She hissed, her yellow eyes glinting, “because what I would really like right now, is to tear you apart for failing something.. I have spent the whole evening looking for some little flaw so I can throw you down and sink my fangs into your pelt." A plate shattered against the wall and the shrew fought the massive spasm of fear that rocketed through them at the noise, “Yet nothing is worthy of punishment!” Her tail rattled and the shrew shifted their weight from foot to foot as their Queen's tail slithered about behind them, ”So instead of coming back to a ruined chamber where I can pin your pathetic body down and take what I will, I find a spotless room and a servant looking demure and small and not at all trying my patience!" Her form loomed over them, the chill making their fur stand on end.
“Do you…” They swallowed and tried with all their might to not let their ears twitch to follow the tail coiling about them, “Want me to…. be worse? Mistress?”
The snake hissed and lunged at them and the shrew broke for the first time in months. Those sharp fangs and blazing eyes striking towards them. They had forgotten just how far her mouth opened. Just how long and sharp her teeth were. White draggers glinting against soft pink in the light of the candles that dotted the room. The small prey coded part of the shrew's mind snapped and they jumped, attempting to flee the clutches of the predator who they had let wrap so close. How had they ever thought they were safe? Good enough?
Coils suddenly moved much faster and the pathetic leap the shrew made only served to leave them without even the floor to ground them as they were wrapped in their Queen's strength and cruelty. They let out a miserable squeak as her jaws snapped shut inches from their whiskers and the shrew snapped their eyes shut in terror of the death that almost claimed them.
For a moment, all they could hear was the rapid screaming of their own heartbeat and all they could feel was the strain in their muscles as they tried to press back against the punishing grip of the Queen's coils.
She huffed above them, and a deceptively soft hand tipped with a claw like nail traced from their ear to their chin.
“Ah, you weren't to move, toy. You know this,” Her tail rattled again somewhere behind them, “And you weren't to close your eyes in my presence either,” The shrew sagged in relief as her voice, while still holding the hard edge of the Queen's legendary anger, took on a high and excited note, “That's two. And you were doing so well," Her hand suddenly gripped their jaw and the other yanked their head back until their eyes flew open in shock.
“Now look at me and take what I will give you.”