crying out into the dark night

Mid day in the palace and all was silent, a slight draft could be felt in the main chamber but Venom was tucked away and warm in her private chambers. She was able to move around more, but she was most comfortable sleeping here. The young Empress was in a deep sleep, though nothing would easily wake her this was when the caves were quiet. Faint calls of doves and tropical birds whispered through the halls and the sun filtered in from the smoke release at the peak of the cavern.

However still and silent the cave, Venom’s mind was filled with the opposite. Flames, smoke, and lava filled her mind as she was transported to the volcano. She wasn’t present the day of her father’s death. She had still been a very young girl at that point, but she’d seen him in his afterlife and her mother’s description of that day would never leave her. She hadn’t had a nightmare about the volcano in a long time, but as it went on her sleeping body became more restless.

Her mind was deep asleep as she moved lightly against the furs of her bed, a soft whine left her lips but from her dream or the pain caused by jostling her leg couldn’t be clear. These subtle movements and noises would continue sporadically along with her eyelids, ears, and toes. Though not very intense the body of the dreaming Empress would make one final heave, her nightmare came to a conclusion. Venom’s lungs would suck in a deep breath and release a soft helpless sound, ”’Tori..”