The Muted Mafia’s cavern was filled with treasure, gems, and rare items from all over Sornieth. It had mostly been pushed into the corners of the room and behind the large polished stone desk near the very back of the large subterranean space. The orbs of arcane and alchemic energy that gave all of Wraith’s Edge its light shone its splendor on the hoard, giving it a tempting glimmer.
The Skydancer Arabella was currently sitting at the desk, carefully counting a pile of coins in her graceful talons. She recorded her numbers in a scroll as she worked, carefully placing each coin down into a new, semi-neat pile as they were counted. Her lineage as an ice dragon lent itself to her role as accountant in the mafia; she was a master organizer, and cool under pressure. Had she seen her life taking her into organized crime? Not really…but she didn’t dislike having a purpose. And not having to be friendly to every dragon she came across in order to survive.
As Arabella counted in her head, she glanced up just briefly to see her boss Spectral make her way into the room. The Coatl’s face was scrunched up in what looked to be annoyance.
“Everything alright, boss?” Arabella asked in her understated, somewhat deep voice.
“Eh?” Spectral blinked, looking up at her. It didn’t appear that she had known the other dragon had been there. “Oh…yeah. Yeah everything’s…fine. I was just thinkin’.”
“Ah.” Arabella looked over her numbers before rolling up the scroll. “Well I have good news and bad news, boss. Which should I tell you first?”
“…what’s the good news?” Spectral wandered over to the desk, sitting and picking a few coins from the top of the uncounted pile. Spectral knew Arabella’s methods and knew which piles to not disturb.
“The good news is that we are currently 17% beyond last month’s treasure and gem count.”
“Oh? That’s great!” Spectral smirked as she snaked the coins through her claws. The smile faded a bit as she looked back at Arabella in anticipation. “…so what’s the bad news?”
Arabella pulled out a case from under the desk. Inside was their collection of runes, which was finally complete since yesterday. The Skydancer took the light rune out of the case, then ran a claw over the sigil’s glowing surface. Golden light rubbed off onto her finger. “It’s fake.”
“…that awful little…where’s Sirius?!” Spectral hissed indignantly, bearing her sharp teeth. “That sneaky little Spiral…I’m gonna wring his long throat!”
“He is currently out of the lair, boss.” Arabella stated, “he won’t be back for a few days from the sound of it. Selling more phony runes, if I had to guess.”
“…should have known that dragon would try to trick me…he’ll regret that.” Spectral muttered. Sirius was constantly trying to pull fast ones…but she would make sure he regretted crossing her. No one crossed her. Never. Not without consequences. Spectral felt her blood boil as her mind conjured up visions of that smug serpent’s face smirking in glee at his deception. She snarled, throwing the coins across the room. They clinked, bounced, and rolled on the stone floor before finally careening into another pile along the wall. “Arabella.”
“Yes, boss?” Arabella made a small face at the heap, seeming to try to locate the thrown coins in the sea of gold.
“Go find Krighton.”
“Yes, boss.” Arabella got up, now with a new mission to carry out. “Right away.”
Spectral went to sit at the head of the desk as Arabella hurried off to find their muscle. *When I get my claws on that slick wyrm I’m going to tie him into knots…* she thought to herself angrily. *He thinks he can get one over on ME? Head of the Muted Mafia? Ha! He won’t be so bold when we next see each other…*
“This a bad time?”
Spectral was broken out of her murderous rage by a familiar, musical voice. It was Eden.
“Not at all. I’m just plotting murder.” Spectral smirked coolly as the male Coatl came into the room, the many golden accessories he wore making him seem right at home in her personal hoard.
“Murder? That seems a bit aggressive.” he chuckled, “What happened?”
“Sirius.” Spectral snarled.
“Ah. Him.” Eden nodded knowingly, “That…makes sense, honestly. He’s often getting himself in trouble with his trickster ways.”
“He sold me a fake light rune.”
Eden shook his head. “Yes…that sounds like him, alright. Why do you buy from him? You know he’s a scammer.”
“Yeah…but his prices are hard to beat. Plus he usually knows better than to scam me.”
“Hm…” Eden considered for a moment before giving a small shrug. “I guess he thought he could get lucky.”
“He’ll be lucky if he can fly straight after I have Krighton break his wings.” She muttered.
“Ah you…always with the violence!” Eden chuckled.
“Yeah well…I’m a mafia boss!” Spectral countered sharply, “It’s not like I can get respect by preaching to people!”
“That’s likely why I’m not a mafia boss.” Eden sighed playfully, “I don’t think I could do it.”
“Takes a strong backbone, yeah.”
“Indeed. A very wrathful one at that.” he teased.
“…” Spectral grunted, then gave a small snort. “It’s true, Eden. I’m but a sinful beast. Maybe…” she leaned a bit closer to him, “I need to be saved by a divine dragon.”
Eden purred. “I’d be happy to save you from damnation, my dear~”
Spectral nudged her snout against his lightly, returning the affectionate throat rumble. “You always know what to say to make me smile, you silver tongued devil.”
“Devil?” Eden licked her nose with his forked tongue, “Such unwise words to call a demi-god.”
“Why don’t you smite me, then?” she teased.
“Maybe I will~” he cooed back.
Spectral nuzzled Eden’s fluffy cheek, feeling her worries melt away as he returned the gesture. “…how long do we have to keep us a secret, Eden?”
“My darling,” he crooned, “You know I can’t be seen as sympathetic to your sinful ways…”
“…I know…I just…”
“And what would you underlings think if they saw you on the wing of a goodie-two-shoes such as myself?”
“…likely they would have trouble taking me seriously…” she growled, “…though…if they knew just how devious you truly were, perhaps they wouldn’t have an issue.”
“Yes…but you know I need to keep up appearances. Just as you do.” Eden placed a claw under her chin, lifting her head to meet his eyes, “If dragons saw you as weak, your empire would crumble, and mine would if I was seen as a monster.” he bumped noses with her again, “It’s hard…but we have to hide our true colors.”
“…I know I know…” she sighed, then moved away from his touch, looking down at her own gray feathers. “Color…heh.”
“Now now, Spectral. Self-pity doesn’t suit you.” Eden purred.
“It’s not self-pity! It’s…it’s just…”
“I know, my sweet, I know. To be a coatl with colors such as ours…it’s difficult.”
“At least your wings are brightly colored…” Spectral muttered.
“Still a bit too pale for some.” He gave a small shrug, “But it hardly matters. I know that my true colors are so much more brilliant than those of my feathers.” He drew Spectral into his torso, burying her in his chest feathers as he purred, “Just as yours are. Such vibrant colors in you…when I look at you…those inner colors are all I can see.”
“…” Spectral nuzzled deeper into Eden’s soft chest, considering what he said. “…thank you, Eden…you always know what to say…”
