House of The Dragon-A God Amongst Men-Chapter 168: Infernis: Prologue

(Drakken's POV)

I walked inside Daranne's chambers, "You wanted to see me, Daranne?" I asked, "I am quite busy."

She was sitting on her bed, combing her hair as she wore her nightgown, "I am sorry, My Lord." She said with a smile, "But I wished to have your comfort tonight."

I approached her bed, "Hm." I said, "Well....I suppose that could happen. I was working on my next project, but it could wait. Where is Sylas?"

"He is put to bed already." She said with a smile, "I heard what happened. He and Riktor fought and you handled it?"

I nodded, "Childish squabbles." I said with a frown, "There is no reason my sons should fight over a wooden construct like that."

"Ah, but they are children." She said, "Even Riktor. Come and lie beside me, My Lord. I wish to feel your warmth."

She set the comb on the cupboard next to the bed and scooted to the side, patting the spot next to her.

"Hm." I said as I got into bed with her, "You are quite needy."

"You know why." She said with a chuckle

I laid next to her, "What is it now, Daranne?" I asked, "Are you envious of Maegelle?"

"Yes. But not in a bad way." She said, "She needed to bed you after all this time. I encourage her, after all."

"I see." I said as I wrapped my arm around her waist and pulled her into me, "What is it now?"

"Nothing." She said, "I just wanted to be with you tonight. You don't have to bed me, as long as you are by my side, I don't care."

"Hm." I said, "Fine."

She laid her head on my chest, "You know." She said, "I know you don't like hearing it.....but my feelings are similar to Maegelle's....."

I sighed, "If you say so."

"I wonder....." She said

"What?" I asked

"Should Sylas grow up strong...." She asked, "Will you prefer Riktor over him?"

"Huh?" I asked, "Why ask me a question like that? They're my sons. I don't prefer either over the other."

"I mean...." She said, "Lady Mya comes from a line of Blackwood Knights, even if she is a bastard....it is in their blood to be fighters, look at her. She is strong.....but me? I am a Lannister, through and through."

"I am sure there are warriors here and there." I said with a chuckle, "Your Father's house may not have the best swordsman in the Realm currently, but I am sure that in a couple generations or more, a Golden Lion will appear and he will put everyone to shame....everyone but my sons."

"Is Sylas that Lion?" she asked, "You told me....that your son will be a Demi-God Lion who will devour the world....."

"That was an exaggeration, Daranne." I said, "But who knows, it could be true. I cannot see the future."

"I see...." She said, "I am just curious about my son's future."

"Our son is a Drakkengard." I said seriously, "He and Riktor will lead my armies in the Great War. They are brothers, bound by my blood. Nothing can change that, Daranne, nothing. I will grant them unimaginable power, and they will destroy everything and everyone who dares oppose me. I have great hopes for my sons; no matter what path they take, I do not care. They are my sons, I will not reject any of them."

"Oh." She said, "Interesting."

"What is?" I looked at her

"For being the way you are, you are quite the Father." She said softly

I frowned, "What does that mean?"

She chuckled, "Nothing." She said, "Fufu~"

"Hm." I said, "Go to sleep."

"I change my mind." She said as she rubbed my chest, "I would like to feel your warmth."

I rolled my eyes, "Whatever." I said,

"Take off your clothes."

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[Infernis, Drakken's Original World, A Long Time Ago...]

(Third Person POV)

Drakken walked down the path inside the woods, feeling the sunlight shine through the branches and onto his face.

"Tch...." He said as he scowled, "Fucking sunlight....always getting in the way....."

He clenched his fists and kept walking, making his way towards the end of the woods.

"Hey, don't complain!" a voice said, "Some people can't be in the sunlight! They'll burn up and blow up!!"

Behind him, his close friend and sworn brother, Riktor, walked while holding what looked like a leather canteen. He wore no shirt but had leather pants and wore worn leather boots as he walked behind Drakken.

"Shut the fuck up, Riktor." Drakken said, "I don't care about Vampires."

"That's rude." Riktor said with a frown, "You know I am a Vampire, Viktor to-"

"Yes, I know you are a Vampire, Riktor, for crying out loud!" Drakken rolled his eyes, "Viktor too, I am aware! But I am talking about the Vampires that cannot walk in the sunlight, unlike your stupid fucking ass. I don't care about them!"

"Viktor isn't a daywalker, just saying." Riktor said with a slight smirk, "I'm going to tell him that."

"Oh, shut up!" Drakken snapped

"What's your deal, Drakken?" He asked, "Why so grouchy all of the sudden?"

"Tch...." Drakken scowled

"Is it because of what happened in the last city? Those Holy Knights?" He asked, "Or is it because I keep fucking stupid girls and promising vampirism?"

"Both." Drakken muttered

"Ah, let a guy have some fun!" Riktor said as he run up next to Drakken, "You can be such a killjoy, Drakken!"

"Oh yea?" Drakken said, "Your definition of fun happens to be being a fucking pain in my ass, Riktor. You're constantly provoking assholes that I have to fight, how about you just kill them yourself and leave me out of it!"

Riktor rolled his eyes, "Oh boy." He said, "Look, buddy, it ain't my fault that the Snow Princess does not want to take that Dragon Dick, okay? Take that frustration out on someone else, not this guy, this guy gets girls to take the Vampire Di-"

"Shut up." Drakken walked past him, "You're annoying me. Let's get the Bloodstone and get this over with. I am going to tell Viktor to lock you in a casket for a few weeks so I can do my job in peace."

"Man, that girl really left you in pieces, huh?" Riktor said, "Man, fuck all of that. What you need is for you to get together with one of the Vampire Lord Sonya's underlings....her name is....what was her name? Lydia....I think.....well man, she's got a thing for dudes with black hair and red eyes and a really shitty personality, so you will make her soaked in an instant. Also, let her bite you, I hear she modified her bite to have aphrodisiac effects."

"You fucking idiot, that shit will try to kill me." Drakken scowled, "You know Calamities reject Vampire Bites extremely violent, right?"

"So what? You'll live." Riktor shrugged, "Oh, wait....Drakken, stop fucking walking."

Riktor's expression hardened, almost immediately and his eyes went stone-cold, glancing from side to side.

Drakken realized that this was serious and that Riktor picked something he didn't, not right away.

He stopped and looked around, sniffing the air and trying to see what was wrong.

"Hm...." Riktor said, "You smell that? The stench of undead....?"

"What, Vampires? Ghouls?" Drakken said, "Or.....thralls....?"

"Whatever they are....they are good at hiding...." Riktor said, "But not good enough...."

"Right." Drakken said as he sprouted black wing-arms and his eyes began to glow brightly, his dragon-slits becoming more prominent, "Well....seems we're about to get a fight...."

"Just what I wanted..."