Flesh of The Innocent - WoF AU

== Flesh of The Innocent ==
==== Prologue; The Beginning ====
The soft hum of ballroom music drifted from across the corridor, making its way over to Marmorate.
She let out a grunt as she picked at something on the polished wooden floor. Her patience slowly drained as the bit of dirt didn’t come off. It was annoying how everyone had to waltz in here, expecting her to clean things up. Well, she was to clean things up, but the least they could do was keep themselves clean.
She finally got the speck of dirt off of the floor. Making sure she didn’t scratch anything up, Marmorate grabbed a nearby wet-towel and wiped the surface off. She paused for a second, watching the wet, shiny wood below her reflect her own face. 
She put a paw over the water, frowning. She didn’t have the time to look at herself when Lady Mantid’s guests would arrive. They were going to celebrate her wedding, another one. Marmorate could barely remember how many times the noble has been married, countless partners. Countless mysterious deaths going unsolved. Marmorate shook her head, she didn’t have the time to procrastinate over theories and opinions.
She finished her cleaning, standing up and retrieving a bucket full of water. Which she threw the wet cloth in. Reaching for the bucket, Marmorate paused as she heard a knock at the door, waiting a few seconds as its sound echoed through the seemingly empty space.
Marmorate hurriedly rushed over to the door, cracking it open slightly before peeking out. Her paws were curled around the doorknob as she awaited a response from a scrappy looking Hivewing. He smiled, and waved a talon before handing her a paper, “ Daily scroll? “
Marmorate nodded quickly, reaching out a speckled paw and snatching the paper out of the dragon’s dirty talons. She brushed dirt off of its crisp surface. “ Yes, thank you. “ she replied, closing the door. After his job had been done, the stranger nodded, and turned around.
After the door was closed, Marmorate let out a sigh, and slid on a small lock. Opening the paper in her paws and putting it down on a nearby table.
==== Chapter One; A Bustling Crowd ====
Marmorate’s eyes fluttered open slowly. She let out a groan as she managed to pull herself out of bed. Her eyes still felt heavy and dry from staying up so late the other night. Making sure that Mantid’s guests were at least entertained, it was a tedious task.
Thankfully the party, or ball only lasted a few hours after midnight. And the guests were busy chatting with the newly wedded couple about whatever happened during the short wedding, every wedding was short. At least the ones that Marmorate remembered. 
Speaking of the new couple, Mantid’s new victim was a green hivewing named Aphid- now Lord Aphid. He seemed rather dull and unhappy, but he treated Marmorate and the other caretakers in the mansion with some respect, he seemed tolerable in her eyes.
Finally getting up and out of her bed, Marmorate walked over to a small bucket full of water, which she cupped her paws together to scoop out a handful of the cool, refreshing liquid. Marmorate brought it to her face, trying to scrub off the feeling of sleep on her eyes, it was partly successful. Giving her a small burst of energy, and a feeling of cleanliness.
After cleaning her face, Marmorate shook her wings and put on a small necklace. Finally walking out of the room to check on Lady Mantid.
The mansion was empty today, a sort of cold aura wandering about the long, winding hallways. Light filtered slowly through the delicately carved windows, and birds began to sing. Marmorate wandered through the halls for a bit, trying her best to let Lady Mantid and Lord Aphid rest. 
After a few hours of quietly wandering through the twisting hallways, Marmorate finally made her way into the hall that led to Mantids’ room, a door slowly showing its carvings of multiple bugs to Marmorate’s eyes. As she neared, she put a paw on the doorknob and turned it quietly. Pushing the slab of wood forward, Marmorate squinted her eyes as a cascade of light and warm air hit her face. After a moment of adjusting to the brightness of the room, the speckled hivewing stepped in, walking over to a large bed.
Mantid let out a snort, recognising the presence of someone in the room. She let her eyes flutter open slowly, pulling herself up and turning over to Marmorate. 
“ Hello Lady Mantid. “ Marmorate lowered her head, her wings shuffling around nervously. 
“ Ah, Marmorate. "A sly smile flashed for a second on the Lady’s lips. She slowly nodded her head before getting out of bed. “ Thank you for waking me up. “ Mantid cleared her throat, “ I have to get up early today to get something from the Glitterbazaar. “ Marmorate quietly nodded, imagining the brightly colored market, a crowd of dragons pressing to purchase the items that the store managers kept. Honey drops, garments, flamesilk..The list practically went on. 
Done standing around, she fetched some furs to give the Lady. Marmorate always saw Mantid’s sense of fashion odd, but she didn’t protest or suggest, after all, Mantid was paying her to stay silent and clean.
The pink hued dragon rubbed her eyes, and got up to dress herself. She quickly turned to the large mirror positioned from across her bed and fluttered her eyelashes, making sure she looked approachable. 
“ Are you ready to go out, Lady Mantid? “ Marmorate said the other dragons’ name firmly, a hint of annoyance in her voice. She tapped a claw on her forepaws scales. Trying to find something to entertain herself while she awaited an answer from the Lady.
“ Yes, Marmorate. “ Lady Mantid let out a snarl, her frills made a shuffling noise, it annoyed Marmorate. Who lowered her head and nodded.
The pink dragon let out a chuckle, waving a paw and walking out of the room. Marmorate followed behind her quickly, feeling her face grow hot with embarrassment and shame.
After a bit of walking through twisting, long hallways, Marmorate and Lady Mantid arrived at the large doors of the mansion. The Lady pointed at the doorknobs, raising a brow. Which marmorate answered by rushing over to haul the door open.
She waited for Mantid to walk out. After a bit of silence, Marmorate turned to close the door behind her, and she was greeted by a bright light. And the sounds of birds, and dragons walking about. She watched Lady Mantid take to the sky, the pink form growing more distant, breaking into a run, Marmorate sprinted after, extending her wings and flapping. She closed her eyes as she became airborne, the wind whipping at her face. It made her feel cold, her scales seemed to tighten.
After what seemed like centuries, Marmorate recognized the familiar glitter of the Jewel Hive’s Glitterbazaar. It already seemed to be teeming with visitors from other hives, looking for something to purchase. She let out a huff as the Lady landed, following behind slowly.
As soon as Marmorate touched down onto the platform, she felt dragons on each side of her, pressing, squeezing the air out of her. Marmorate shuddered and took a deep breath, feeling like it would be one of her last.
She shut her eyes, and took another deep breath, she slipped through the pulsing crowd and moved out into a more open space. 
Marmorate spotted Lady Mantid already purchasing something, she let out a sigh of relief. Only to just notice she was practically holding her breath the entire time. The spotted hivewing felt her chest heave in and out. As she collected the fragments of air she could get from the crowd, Marmorate took her place by Lady Mantid. The hybrid put a paw on her and held her closer, claws digging into Marmorate’s scales.
She let out a wince, but kept her head low. She could feel Mantid’s gaze burning through her soft exterior, making a hole into her scales.
==== Chapter Two; Unhappy ====
All Marmorate could hear was yelling, hissing. Snarling.
She quietly crept through the halls, her paws padding on the floor silently and effortlessly. Her heart thumped in her chest loudly, trying to escape as the commotion grew more and more clear.
“ APHID. "The screech was loud, and bone-shaking. Marmorate shuddered as she imagined the poor green hivewing, being towered over by his “wife”. 
Marmorate began to sweat, the hallways seemed to lengthen, the dark corners growing bigger..The spotted hivewing continued to run down the halls, finally making her way over to Aphid’s room. She could hear what they were saying.
“ Aphid.. “ the sweet and sickening voice of Mantid floated from under the door, “ I have certain RULES in this household.. “ Marmorate leaned closer. “ And if you don’t follow them, I am going to TEAR you apart, bit by bit. Feed on you like a vampire. “ Marmorate could feel bile rising up her throat, she took a step back.
Her heart dropped to her feet when she heard a loud creak come from the floorboard beneath her foot. And she froze in place, she could hear shuffling as the door slowly creaked open. And a scratched and bruised green face poked out.
Marmorate was horrified to see the state of Aphid’s body…HIs face. It looked practically mauled, no doubt the work of Mantid.
Speaking of Mantid, her snout poked out of the doorway as well. A long, eerie smile tore its way onto her face, it sucked the breath out of Marmorate’s lungs. She tried to take another step back, but her leg was almost glued to the floor. She panicked, and Mantid shoved Aphid aside, slowly taking step after step towards Marmorate. Her grin curling and ripping its way onto her face. Her pink pupils narrowed into small dots, fixating on their prey. 
Marmorate fell back, beginning to back up, crawling on all fours now. Her scales felt tight on her body, and she felt small bits of dust and grit slide between them. Tears began to gather on the corners of her eyes as Mantid now bent down, following her slowly. Her jaws opened to say something.
“ Marmorate. “
“ Marmorate. You are not to speak of this “ 
Marmorate nodded, halting. She pulled up a forearm to wipe away her tear-drenched face. Mantid began to extend a claw, it drifted down over to Marmorate’s other paw, which was lying o n the ground. She let out a yelp as Mantid dug her talons into her scales.
She pushed deeper into Marmorate’s soft scales. “ You’re going to be quiet, right? “
Marmorate was gasping in pain, her eyes wide as they met Mantid’s. 
“ Yes, yes, yes.. yes! “ She repeated over and over, each “yes” becoming more and more hurried, muffled in pain. She began to cry more.
Mantid snarled, “ stop it. " The remark was quick and sharp. Marmorate held her cries in, her chest heaving in and out in irregular patterns, she nodded quickly.
Mantid pulled her claws out of Marmorate’s scales, shaking her paw off in disgust. The pink dragon only walked off to her room, with her battered husband crawling into his own. Marmorate sat there, clutching her arm. She pulled herself up, and slowly walked to her sleeping quarters. A trail of tears and blood followed behind her.
She arrived at the small space, stumbling over to her box full of items. Which she tore through, blood began to splat onto the floor beside her as she searched for bandages, or anything to just stop the flow. She felt weaker with every giant breath she took.
Marmorate finally found the small roll of bandages she had. She quickly grabbed it, and began to wrap it around her arm in a messy manner. She missed some parts of her wound, but it still was covered up nonetheless.  No more bleeding everywhere.
She let out a sigh and kicked all of the items back into the box, stumbling over to her bed, Marmorate flopped on the soft surface. Letting herself go limp, she let out a few hesitant sobs before closing her eyes and succumbing to the darkness of sleep.
Marmorate woke up a few hours later, the sun greeted her with a scorching sensation on her face. She let out a groan and rubbed her hot scales, heated up by the sun. Pulling her injured arm up to her face, Marmorate let out a huff and got up. She rubbed the sore spot.
She realized what Mantid had done. Oh how she knew now.
Marmorate finally realized, sitting in the small, sunlit room. That what Lady Mantid was doing was wrong.
Extremely wrong.
She knew what she needed to do, the plan slowly unfolded in her head, opening up like a blooming flower. 
She had to expose Mantid, she had to show everyone what she was doing to her. And Aphid..And the others.
Then the realization hit her like a tidal wave. Marmorate remembered the others. Countless partners of Mantid, all dying off. Mentions of gruesome scenes, moons above. She remembered it all.
She needed to tell everyone, someone. She needed to shed light on this situation. Marmorate realized she could stop being hurt, she could stop being hit. She could be at peace. 
She had to get information, she needed to dive deeper to expose Mantid.
Category:Alternate Universes
Category:Characters
Category:Fanfictions
Category:Fanfictions (Incomplete)