Soulless (AU)

This is an AU that I- Cactus- created. Do not take credit for characters, plot ideas, or the story in general!!!
=== Things: ===
-This is intended to be a horror story. I’m not sure how good my writing is at this genre, but it may contain blood, gore, and some horribly insane dragons (along with the twisted things they do). Read at your own risk!
-I am currently working on multiple other fan fictions as well as dealing with this thing called Life, so chapters may be slow to come out. Which is to say; this is a WiP! Friendly comments are welcome, but please no hate.
-Thank you for reading this fanfic! It makes me happy to see others enjoying my work.
=== Introduction ===
Long ago, there were seven tribes, seven kingdoms, and seven queens.
Then there was a war, a monster, an earthquake, and lastly, when dragons thought all trouble had gone away, a single animus. 
She was powerful, and figured out a way for her kind to keep their souls. A chain link, and another, and another… a horrible way to become immortal. She was finally defeated, but her legacy lived on. Her original name is lost, but her kin now call her by a different title: the Animus Queen. 
Her descendants and followers live in an impenetrable mansion. It is rumored to have once been a queen’s own palace. They carry on the tradition of stealing souls. The one who do not inherit the gene are considered lower than their animus kin, and work as servants or blacksmiths. They are rumored to be some of the best metalworkers in Pyrrhia. 
Even lower than these kin of the animi, though, are the dragons who are lucky enough to not be related to the monsters at all. 
Yes, dear reader, you and, (sadly) not me, are in some of the most danger of any dragon on the continent. (Including you, your family, friends, and probably everyone else you know.) Any dragon stupid enough to approach the Animus Mansion will pay the ultimate sacrifice: their very soul. 
-(Is this the time for an evil cackle? Please? No, ok fine.)-
Thank you, dear reader, for looking at this scroll. It pleases me to know that my work is being appreciated and heeded. 
-(Cough, ahem, cough)-
Do not approach the Animus Mansion! It is not a good place for dragonets! Or dragons of any age! It doesn’t matter that animi are literally the monsters of the horror stories. It doesn’t matter that an animus slayer would get unimaginable fame, glory, and riches. Do not go!
Good bye, reader. See you in the next scroll!
(Or perhaps, at the Animus Mansion itself… Mwahahaha!)
== Into the Lair ==
=== Chapter One ===
“I dare you,” Frost said, the fire illuminating his face hauntingly, “to go up the the Animus Mansion, knock on the door three times, and wait to see what happens.”
“Don’t be silly,” Dusty scoffed. “That’s a suicide mission. You know that the animi are insane creatures.”
Copper gazed at the IceWing/SkyWing hybrid in shock, his mouth agape. “The- the- but-” he stammered. 
“We said no dangerous dares!” Copper’s little sister, Bloom, lectured sternly. She marched right up to Frost with a self righteous expression on her snout. “That is very VERY dangerous! They’ll eat him!”
“Pfft,” Frost snorted. “No, they won’t. They’re just normal dragons, if not a little magical. Animus dragons probably don’t even exist.”
“Yes, they do,” Dusty said. Was it just the lighting, or did she look paler than usual? “They feed off trespassers’ souls. They wear a chain link for every soul they’ve stolen.
“It’s true,” she insisted. “An animus is hatched normal, but with unnatural powers. The magic eats up their own being, until they are nothing but a husk, a physical presence in our world that shouldn’t exist.” 
Copper felt Bloom shiver underneath his wings. Her tiny pinkish head poked out from where she had hidden herself. “Don’t give me nightmares,” the dragonet ordered.
“So the animi turn to other sources of life,” Dusty continued, ignoring her sister. “They can’t survive without a soul to feed the magic. Legend says that it is one of the four things that an animus cannot do: resurrect the dead, give or take away magic from another, enchant a dragon, or give the gift of immortality. 
“They can live forever, though. As long as they have a dragon’s soul to feed off of, they will survive without ailment. They keep the soul in the chains that they wear; metal is the only thing that will hold the spirit. 
“Once you go into their lair, you’ll never see the light of day again,” Dusty finished, shooting a meaningful glance at Copper. “So I’m sorry, but I won’t let you go there.”
“But he doesn’t have to go inside,” Frost protested. “Besides, I flew through the waterfall like he dared me last week, and that was pretty dangerous.”
“Rocky Falls is NOT the same as the Animus Mansion!” Dusty shouted.
“He owes me!” Frost yelled back.
“Guys, please stop fighting,” Bloom squeaked, shivering. 
“Maybe you want him to get hurt!”
“Maybe I want him to have some fun! It’s just a dare!”
“Guys…”
“STOP!”
Three dragon heads swiveled to look at Copper in shock. The crackling of the nighttime fire was the only noise for a few moments. 
“I will accept the dare,” he said shakily. “But I will do it tomorrow.”
Frost grinned. “Great! Now, Copper, it’s your turn-”
“Wait wait wait,” Dusty interrupted. “You can’t make him do this. It is unethical.”
Copper frowned at her. “It’s my choice,” he said, letting a hint of annoyance slip into his words. “No one’s making me do anything.”
“Fine,” Dusty agreed finally. “But I’m coming with you.”
“Me too,” Bloom said clambering up onto a log Copper had pulled near to the fire. “I won’t let you go alone,” she insisted, when Dusty gave her a doubtful glance. 
Copper looked at Frost questioningly. 
“It’s all right,” he said coolly.
So the four continued their game, laughing as Bloom completed a little jig, as Dusty guiltily confessed to the strange deeds she had done as a small dragonet. They were having fun with their game of Truth or Dare, and Copper couldn’t help but think that his mission tomorrow was nothing but that; a silly little quest for young dragons to make up in the late, dark hours of the night. 
He didn’t notice his friend’s tiny smile, or how he toyed with his necklace. The bonfire flickered and spat flames and embers at the dragons like furious orange and gold spirits. The dragonets split up long before dawn, winging their way through the smoke to their homes. 
Copper did not know what lay within the stone walls of the Animus Mansion, but he would soon enough.
=== Chapter Two ===
shh… you’ll have to wait…
Category:Fanfictions
Category:Work in Progress
Category:Genre (Horror)
Category:Genre (Tragedy)
Category:Alternate Universes