Ninjago Echo - Blog Posts

My movie au when they became friends

// kai was in an orphanage, Leave him with little savings //

It’s been a while since I’ve had time to even think about writing and art Hopefully, I get some more time this week!

If hellspawn ever met Echo, how would they get along?

Echo would be really confused on how her existence is possible and Zane would explain that it's similar to how their father made them.

But yeah, they'd get along.

She'd sit there curiously watching Nya, Jay and Zane repair Echo after being caught spying on them and they'd all talk until Lloyd finally finds her and puts her down for a nap.

She made a get-well-soon card for him after Nya told her he was 'sick' and that's why they were fixing him. Echo's kept it with him ever since.

After finding out that he and Zane are brothers because Dr Julien created him too, she ran to Lloyd asking for a sibling. Lloyd immediately told her NO.

(Idk. This was the first thing I thought when I saw the prompt.) This is for day seventeen (dragon) of ninjinktober! It’s if Echo ever had a dragon... Idk

The Flame and the Dragon Chapter 36

Chapter 36: Let Him Go

The next morning, Kai wasn't sure whether to be relieved or disappointed that Cole was still holding him. The chill of his nightmares was still in his system and as long as they were with nothing to confirm or disprove them, any emotion other than worry made Kai sick with guilt. Carefully he unwound himself from Cole's arms and tail and sat with his feet dangling over the side of the bed. The bedsheet wrapped around his shivering frame.

"Are you still thinking about those nightmares?" A voice suddenly asked and Kai jumped and whirled around. Cole hadn't moved from the spot he was lying in but met the teen with an expression that read Kai's thoughts like they were the opened pages of a picture book.

"When did you wake up?"

"The second you started moving," He answered and positioned himself so he was next to his consort. "You're still thinking about those nightmares aren't you?" He asked, but in his mouth, it was a statement not a question and Kai knew it. Kai confirmed his suspicions with a nod.

"I just wish I knew how they were doing; I know they'd both love it here, just like I do." He smiled warmly as he thought about his family living here with him and Cole. Lloyd would be ecstatic to have a whole castle to explore. Kai knew Nya would love the architecture. Kai chuckled at the thought then sighed. "But I have no idea what's happening to them if I could make sure they were alright." He sighed as his voice trailed off. He turned baffled when he felt Cole take his hand.

Cole's eyes suddenly lit up with pride like a child who couldn't wait to share their accomplishment with their parents.

"I know how to do that." He smiled before he hopped off the bed and scooped up a handful of clothes. Harumi must have placed there while they were asleep. "Get dressed." He ordered and Kai obeyed. Once they had donned Griffin's latest creations, which were surprisingly simple compared to the other clothing he had created for them not a few nights ago, Cole took Kai's hand and brought him towards the far side of the room. The magic mirror Cole sometimes used sat peacefully on its pedestal glittering in the morning sun seeping through the cracks in the curtains.

Cole cupped it in his hands, his face beaming, looking like a child with a secret. He then picked up the mirror and placed it in Kai's hands.

"If you ask this mirror anything that you'd like it will show you anything, anything you wish to see; I can't leave this castle so this is my only window out."

"It does that? How?" He asked as his eyes widened.

"I'm not sure how, but my mother always said it was special."

"And how do you know it works?" Kai asked the dragon hybrid, his voice skeptical. A flash of guilt lit across Cole's eyes for a moment. He cleared his throat and muster as much dignity as he could.

"I used it to check up on you during your first month here." He admitted and Kai felt his veins bulge at that information.

"You used it to spy on me?"

"Only temporarily!" Cole protested, defensively and quickly changed the subject to avoid another spat. "Do you want to use it or not?" He asked and Kai stared at the object skeptically. It wasn't like he had anything to lose.

"I'd like to see my siblings, Nya and Lloyd." He told the mirror. He watched as his reflection was swallowed by a sapphire mist that made him feel light and safe. Suddenly the mist in the mirror's glass changed from light blue to dark red. Lights in the red smoke spun in a hazy, milky spiral. Kai's eyes widened as shapes and shadows started to form. He felt Cole at his side, no doubt feeling that Kai would need support after witnessing this. Colors and images began to become clear.

Kai recognized the interior of his home and the figures that began to form until Kai recognized the figure of Nya.

Except it wasn't the Nya he knew. This Nya was wild with distress, her hair and clothing haggard like she hadn't slept. Her once beautiful eyes were filled with anger and fear, red-rimmed from tears, and clouded by heavy black bags of insomnia. The image suddenly changed and he watched as Nya and Lloyd crawled their way out of a small cave. Lloyd was coughing and wheezing and holding his mouth to keep himself silent. Horror and fear froze Kai in place as he watched Nya struggle on weak arms to pull him up, only to stumble, and both roll to the ground.

Sickness running deep into their bodies rendered them unable to properly move.

Lloyd suddenly collapsed to the ground, coughing loudly and rasping. It didn't even sound like coughing. It sounded like Lloyd was choking on air. He squeezed his chest like doing so would loosen the constriction of his throat and help him breathe. Nya try to help, but she was too weak to do anything. Tears of anguish streamed down their faces. Lloyd's eyes were wet with the pain of his illness and the terror of his situation. It took Kai all but a few moments to register what they were doing and why, and he brought his voice horrifyingly back to life with a scream.

Cole remained frozen while Kai screamed.

"This is all my fault!" The brunette shrieked, forcing Cole back to reality.

"What?" He gasped in horror, hearing his consort take the blame for what he knew was the hybrid's mistake.

"You don't understand!" Kai turned to him with a face full of terror and eyes bright and wild from dread, the mirror clutched in his shaking hands. "Lloyd's sick! He can't get sick in the winter! He can't handle it with his chest!" He sobbed as a lone tear fell from each eye and began pooling at his chin. "This is all my fault! I promised when my parents died that I'd take care of them! I'm here living a fairytale while Lloyd's dying and it's all my fault!"

Cole just watched Kai have a fit of his own.

He threw his hands over his head and screamed while he shook it back and forth with such force it was a miracle he didn't break his neck. A new dread froze Cole's being to the core. His eyes fell to the candle at the other side of the room. Its light dimmed as it counted down to the end of the month. The candle was now under ten centimeters in length and the flame was extremely dull. It was unlikely to continue burning in the next few days and once the purple flame went out, his fate would be sealed.

Now, for the first time in his life, Cole had a choice.

He was well aware of his feelings and Kai's. All he needed was time, and he did not doubt between now and then that Kai would eventually say those words that would once again make him human. His staff would be free, and Kai could stay with him, rule by his side, and together they could return his castle to all its magnificent glory. The only price would be the removal of the only two people Kai could love more than him. Or he could set him free, send Kai back to his old life with his family who loved him, safe and free.

Let his siblings be saved and return their lost brother to them, and let them return to their peaceful lives before he meddled in it with his selfish desires and wishes.

He knew the chances of Kai returning before the needed time were slim. The chances of him saying what needed to be said were even slimmer. Both choices brought life and death, brought hope and despair, but only one truly promised Kai's happiness. The choice was clear.

"Then what are you waiting for? Get Flame and go after them." He ordered and Kai's entire world shifted at Cole's words.

"What?" He asked in a whisper and Cole offered a sad smile, his eyes shadowed by rave bangs. "Your brother and sister need you, Kai, you have to be there for them now; I can't leave the castle grounds but you can," he explained and the truth in Cole's words crashed against the realization that he had the option, rendered Kai incapable of speech.

"But what about our deal?" Kai choked, barely whispering that last part. His face fell to the ground unable to meet Cole's face. The Dragon Lord didn't give him the luxury and knelt on one knee so he was looking up at him.

"I told you, you aren't a prisoner anymore, I've never thought of you as one, and if memory serves, I freed you less than a week ago; so you're free to come and go as you like." He chuckled lightly and tears poured from Kai's cheeks. Before Cole could wipe them away, Kai threw himself into his arms and wrapped them tightly around Cole's neck and shoulders, and buried his tearful face into his chest.

"Thank you, Cole." Kai sobbed as he poured all of his happiness, love, and gratitude into those three words. He was thankful to Cole for loving him enough to let him go. Cole returned the gesture, holding Kai tight like the brunette would vanish if he didn't. He barely felt it when Kai pulled away from him and rubbed his eyes with his sleeve.

"I'll come back; once Lloyd and Nya are better, all three of us will come," Kai promised with hopeful eyes, so much so that Cole wisely kept quiet.

"I know you will," He nodded. Kai rushed to leave then stopped when he realized the mirror was still in his hand. Quickly, he turned around, motioning to return it, but Cole only smiled and curled Kai's fingers over the box. "I want you to keep it."

"I can't keep this!" Kai immediately protested.

"I'm giving it to you so that way you'll always have these to remember me by." He smiled as his claw tapped the heart-shaped ruby jewel of the chocker still clasped around Kai's throat. He had forgotten he was wearing it and dared not take it off. Kai nodded graciously. Words could not express his gratitude.

"I will come back," He promised again before he turned and gave Cole one final smile before bursting from the room and down the hallway. Only when he was alone, did Cole finally collapse against the table with such force that the glass screamed its protest against his weight. A clawed hand gripped his dark locks. The silent tears pricking his eyes were all he could do to keep from completely breaking down. Part of him still screamed to run down the hallway take Kai in his arms and beg him not to go.

He steadied himself to do just that.

But his mind burst with the memory of the sick little boy Kai loved so much crying out for him. A lone tear streaked down Cole's scaled cheek. At that moment, Ronin entered the room. He had passed Kai running down the half, but he just assumed that the brunette didn't want to be caught sleeping in the same bed as Cole again. If that did happen, Kai would probably be teased by some of the least mature staff members. Ronin wasn't ashamed to admit that he might be in that group.

When he entered the bedroom, however, he was a little confused to see the sorrowful Cole and to feel the depressing tension in the room.

But the troll decided to shrug it off. He thought they might have just crashed from the excitement from last night.

"Well, well, your highness, I must say everything is going just right! I knew you had it in you!" He cackled loudly, but Cole didn't even glance at him.

"I told him to go home." He said with little to no emotion in his voice. Ronin stopped in mid-sentence as he realized what the dragon hybrid just said.

"You WHAT?! How could you do that?!"

"I had to."

"Yes-yes-yes, but why?!"

"Kai's little brother is ill and he and his sister are lost in the blizzard, and they need his help, so I let him go because I love him." Cole declared and Ronin stared at the calm, expressionless, yet teary-eyed face of the Dragon Lord. He stared for a few moments before he ran off to tell the others that they could kiss any hope of being human goodbye. Almost all the staff were finishing cleaning up and preparing breakfast. The darkening clouds outside alerted the entire staff of the approaching blizzard that was practically at their door.

Jay was peeking through the curtains.

At the table, Tox was quick at work, gathering whatever Shade was cooking onto a tray for Kai and Cole. No one had disturbed the pair because the not so innocent minded members of staff thought it would be best to leave them alone. They couldn't stay in bed forever, though. Echo made to go upstairs, only for the door to slam into his face when someone opened it from the other side. All eyes rose and blinked when they spied Kai standing there panting and flushed like he had been running.

His eyes clouded with panic and rimmed with red like he had been crying for hours.

"What the hell happened to you?" Shade gaped, lowering the flames of the hearth. He hadn't failed to take in Kai's haggard appearance and immediately his thoughts became dark. "Where is Cole?" he demanded darkly. The phrase sent a silent child of dread through the staff, horrified at the thought of their Master being the cause of the boy's distress.

"He's upstairs," Kai spoke quickly. He rushed to sprint to his room before anyone could stop him. Before anyone could say anything, Ronin suddenly ran into the room and gave his friends a devastating look. Regretfully, he told them what Cole had said to Kai and their reactions were what was expected.

"He did what?!" They all screamed in horror and despair. Ronin slumped back while the others crowded around him. Judging from the sorrow in Kai's apologetic eyes and his limbs twitching with hastiness, they knew there was more to it than that, and that nothing was fine. They could already hear the thunder of Kai's steps as he finished gathering his things before running to the stables to get Flame. Harumi couldn't believe that this was happening.

Ultra Violet collapsed in a chair gazing at the ground as if she were a frozen doll.

They didn't want to let Kai leave. He didn't know about the deadline. They wanted to tell him but they knew they couldn't. Pixal reminded them that Kai had to figure it out himself. The banter continued, screaming and curses, ideas and arguments and protests and no one said anything that hadn't already been said. No one noticed the youngest and smallest of their group slip away unknown amongst the chaos.

"I'm afraid it's true." The troll sighed sadly.

"Kai's going away?" Echo whimpered as tears welled up in his eyes.

"But they were so close!" Harumi shrieked and everyone couldn't help but agree. After all this time, Cole had finally learned to love and their curse was so close to being broken. Now all that hope and hard work were down the drain. Jay suddenly gasped when he came up with a last-minute idea.

"That's it, then! That should break the spell!" He grinned like a madman, but no one was convinced.

"But it's not enough, Kai has to love him in return," Zane told his friend.

"But he does! Everyone can see that!" Ultra Violet exclaimed and Zane gave her a cold look.

"Do you though? Has Kai ever actually said that he loves Cole?" He asked them and they all thought about it, but none of them could recall a time Kai ever told Cole that he loved the Dragon Lord. "No, he didn't, and now it's too late," Zane explained and everyone slumped in grief and despair. Back upstairs, Cole watched as Kai left on his horse from above on his bedroom balcony. He roared in sorrow and anger but his anguished roars were lost in the sound of the violent, icy winds...

The Flame and the Dragon Chapter 33

Chapter 33: The Dragon's Dance

Cole sighed as he stood in the center of the ballroom, watching as all but Harumi and Griffin rushed about the ballroom, seeing to the last minute preparations. Echo polished glass, Neuro rearranged the spread for the fifth time, and Pixal arranged the flower vases and spreading blooms decoratively along with the table. It left Cole torn between putting his foot down and telling them enough was enough, or laughing in amusement. Fortunately, Ultra Violet beat him to the punch when she burst into the room and groaned loudly at the chaos.

"Will you all knock it off! He's coming!" She barked at them. Her words made everyone jump then finish what they were doing before taking their positions. It would be rude to start without the guest of honor. "You don't get any nasty ideas." She winked playfully at the dragon prince before dashing off, cackling all the way. Cole blinked she walked off, and turned around, following her with his eyes. Before he could ponder the matter he heard a loud angry cry of pain beyond the closed doors of the ballroom.

"Ugh! I hate these shoes!" Kai's angry voice echoed from behind the door.

"Hey! What did I say, about that, Kai?" Jay scolded.

"But that's the third time I've tripped in these things! They're a death trap!"

"Oh shut up, do you have any idea how long it took Griffin to make those!" Tox giggled loudly.

"Shut up you two! We're here!" Jay exclaimed and the doors swung open, revealing Tox and Jay to the whole ballroom. The two of them waited for their guest of honor but when all they heard was a string of curses, Jay rushed back out.

"Come on!" He cried out loudly.

"Don't push, you'll make me fall!" Kai complained, stumbling over his shoes, but Tox was quick to catch him and elegantly yanked him into the ballroom. The second Kai entered the room, time froze. Without realizing it, the brunette was commanding the attention of the entire room. He was truly the belle of the ball. Flowers slipped from Nelson's fingers, while Pixal's arms fell at her side. Neuro didn't notice the wine he was pouring was completely missing Harumi's cup.

Griffin beamed at everyone's stunned faces and Echo and Ronin's eyes widened with mystification.

Cole couldn't take his eyes off of him. Across the room, Kai didn't notice their stares. All he saw was the Dragon Lord standing in the middle of the room, looking every inch like a fairy tale prince. When Kai met his eyes he found Cole sported a blank expression, and stunning mystification caused his eyes to bulge, and his trembling lips refused to speak. Kai blushed, suddenly taking in everyone's equally stunned expressions.

"Is something wrong?" He asked sheepishly. Cole almost didn't hear him, too lost in the magnificent vision that was Kai Smith. He had wondered what Griffin could possibly create to make the brunette look more beautiful than he already was and never in his life had Cole been so happy to be proven wrong. The outfit Kai wore hugged his figure in all the right places. But all Cole could focus on was the choker around Kai's neck. Pride surged through him, as well as delight.

Unable to resist any longer, Cole approached him and pulled the teen into an embrace that made him stumble over the heels of his boots.

"You'll have to forgive them, my flame, they've just never seen anyone so beautiful before, if I didn't know them better; I'd almost think they were jealous you're with me." Cole purred as he embraced him. Kai blushed as red as the ruby around his neck, while Cole addressed Griffin and Harumi.

"Thank you both, you have truly outdone yourselves." He praised, before turning to the staff. "I'd like to thank you all for joining us this evening! Tonight, we are all friends, and my only request is that you all enjoy the night to your heart's content... and Neuro, keep Jay and Nelson away from the food!" He joked and everyone burst out laughing, except Jay and Nelson, who blushed as bad as Kai. With that, the party began, and Kai fully took in the grand ballroom.

Across the room against the walls, Neuro had set up an enormous spread across long tables covered with gold cloth and dotted with bouquets of beautiful flowers in marble vases.

The glass floor beneath him had been smoothed and polished revealing the pale gold tiles. The windows and walls were free of dust and the stained glass shimmered in the thousands of candles that lined the walls and flooded the enormous chandeliers overhead like thousands of stars. Above him was the stained glass image of an army of enormous dragons flying and roaring against a sunset background. Around him, music started to play, though Kai wasn't sure where it was coming from.

At the table, Ultra Violet and Griffin were devouring the food, while Neuro poured Pixal a glass of wine.

Jay and Echo were dancing in the corner while Tox mingled with everyone else. Zane had struck up a conversation with Ronin. Harumi was showing off her new dress and Nelson was devouring what looked like candy. Kai couldn't believe that this was really the ballroom he had seen when he first arrived. Before it was caked in dust and dead looking. Now it was the most beautiful and perfect room Kai had ever seen, not that he had much experience in ballrooms.

"I take it you're impressed?" Cole asked with a smirk, pouring the two of them a glass of wine.

"This is amazing, did everyone do all this?" Kai asked with a smile, taking the glass.

"They were ecstatic to have a new project, Echo was quite adamant that this place be perfect for the evening." Cole nodded.

"It is," Kai said as he sipped the wine. "Thank you, so much, I didn't think anyone would do all this for me." He blushed lightly.

"I'd do anything for you, and so would everyone else," Cole smirked and kissed his forehead. Kai smiled at that. Cole grinned, examining Kai from head to toe. When he saw Cole's roaming eyes, Kai grew more flustered and Cole's grin widened...

****************

The party continued throughout the night. Though the staff was not large, they had taken Cole's words to heart and mixed and mingled with both their master and their guest that whole evening. They drank the wine and devoured food and deserts. By the time the food was gone, even Neuro and Zane had found themselves smiling and laughing. Music started playing though Kai couldn't pinpoint where it was coming from. Cole took Kai's hands and met his eyes, gesturing towards the dance floor.

Kai gave him a nervous glance, but Cole was quick to crush it and swooped the boy towards the center of the room.

Kai had never been good at ballroom dancing. Cole just whispered to him to keep his eyes on him, and suddenly he found himself dancing to a familiar tune. Shortly after, Echo took Jay's hand and dragged him towards the dance floor. Jay, however, gulped nervously and exchange glances with Zane. When he caught the icy eyes he smiled, but his eyes were adamant. Though his expression did not change, Zane nodded and watched them. Ultra Violet bowed towards Harumi, which she humored.

Eventually, everyone joined, and before long the whole room was dancing.

Quickly, as the music picked up, the ballroom dance shifted with the change in the music taking a quicker and more upbeat pace. Once that had everyone tapping their feet against the glassy floor and dancing in circles. Soon everyone exchange partners, dancing faster and faster as the music picked up. They clapped hands and spun in circles, filling the room with the sound of tap dancing among the antiphony of music, and the clapping of hands in time.

Finally, both Kai and Cole spun until everyone once again traded partners.

They found themselves, face to face, hand in hand with one another panting heavily from the dancing. Around them, everyone clapped and cheered, until the softer melody returned. Kai positioned himself to dance again but Cole surprised him by pulling him against his chest and flapping his wings into the air. Kai gasped at first but Cole calmed him down and stopped when they were positioned directly beneath the stained glass dragon. Around them, the chandeliers blazed brightly.

Cole held his wings steady, allowing him to remain airborne. When Kai felt Cole's grip loosen he immediately, held onto him tighter.

"Don't be afraid," Cole reassured him as he gently eased Kai's hands off him. Kai gasped when his feet suddenly felt solid like he was on solid ground. He gasped in shock and Cole winked, childishly, and offered his hand to Kai. The young man smirked and accepted it and before long they were once again dancing on air. Cole suddenly let Kai go to spin him then pulled him close again Then it was Kai's turn to lead. Neither of them needed words, speaking with their eyes.

Their bodies moved in tune with one another in a breathtaking aerial dance while below the staff members danced with their lovers.

They danced across the ceiling until Cole unexpectedly picked Kai up and let himself float towards a set of doors open to a large balcony.

"Come with me, I want to show you something." He said, setting Kai down, and held his hand. He led Kai outside towards the balcony. Kai shivered slightly when the late winter air hit him. Despite the full moon hanging in the sky, night had veiled the castle ground in darkness. Still, Kai waited for Cole to speak. Instead, Cole closed his eyes and focused on the orange sparks flickering from his fingers until they took the form of a sphere. Kai's eyes widened and he resisted the urge to touch it.

When Cole opened his eyes again he lifted his chin and Kai gasped as the sphere floated from his hands and floated towards the sky like a shooting star.

Suddenly it burst, raining stardust across the night sky. Kai was in awe as he braced the railing with exuberant hands, his eyes lit with childish wonder and amazement.

"How did you do that?"

"Lots and lots of practice, I thought you'd enjoy it." Cole boasted, proudly.

"I love it! Thank you! This was the best night of my life!" Kai said happily and hugged Cole tightly.

"I'm glad because I want to ask you something." Cole smiled, feeling his heart swell at Kai's sudden embrace.

"Anything," Kai replied as he let go and listened intently, but his smile fell when Cole frowned and turned around to look at the sky.

"You've been here for almost five months now Kai, and despite the ups and downs, they were some of the happiest times of my life," Cole spoke, kindly, but there was somberness in his words that made Kai's sense feel unstable. "I still can't believe all this is happening, that I'm really this happy, and I can only hope I've made you half as happy as you've made me," He said as he looked down, hunching himself over like he was ashamed of what he was about to say next. "But the truth is Kai, you're still a prisoner; MY prisoner."

Kai immediately opened his mouth to protest, but Cole covered his lips with his claws, making him freeze.

"Let me finish, even though I haven't thought of you in such a way for a long time, and I know no one else does, it doesn't change the fact that you are one, and you can't change that; I, however, can." He told the brunette and Kai's heart dropped into his stomach, fear, and dread suddenly overcoming him when he realized what it was Cole was implying. He wanted to speak, to protest no words come to him. Only strangled gasps of air escaped his throat.

"I'm not a prisoner." He managed to choke. Sensing his distress, Cole placed a hand on his shoulder and bent down to Kai's eye level.

"Whether anyone thinks so or not doesn't change that fact, you deserve better than that." He smiled but his eyes were sad. "You deserve your freedom, freedom I took away from you; I truly regret that, but had I not done so I might have never met you so it is not a bad regret." He shrugged lightly, trying to lighten the mood, but he failed. Kai tried to look away again, but Cole wouldn't let him. "I'm bound to this place, but you are not, and I won't keep you here against your will any longer."

Kai felt hot tears peek the corner of his eye.

His chest suddenly felt heavy and hard like something was digging into it with sharp claws.

"What... What are you saying, Cole?" He whimpered fearfully. Cole sighed hesitantly then turned to Kai with a neutral smile.

"I'm releasing you, Kai; you're no longer my prisoner."...

The Flame and the Dragon Chapter 32

Chapter 32: The Art Of The Dress

Kai gulped under her stare as Harumi grabbed his wrist, and yanked him forward. They had to get Kai ready for the ball tonight. She took in the teen's messy hair, mud and slush caked riding boots and dirt-splattered riding clothes. He had just taken Flame for a quick walk around the castle grounds with Ronin when Harumi suddenly dragged him away and Ronin took Flame back to the stables. Kai was seriously confused. The ball was not until tonight, so he didn't know why he needed to get ready so early.

Harumi insisted that her absolute mess and they had less than six hours to get him ready.

With a struggle, Harumi managed to drag the stubborn teen inside. Kai looked over his shoulder at the troll for help, but Ronin just threw his hands up in defense and chuckled nervously. He couldn't save the brunette from his fate. Harumi scared Ronin more than Kai did. The harpy ordered him upstairs. Echo had put in too much work into this for Kai to show up looking horrible. Kai tried desperately to pry Harumi's hand on his wrist, fearful of his destination, but she shoved him into his room and shut the door.

Kai stumbled in his haste but regained his footing as he blinked at the chaos circling around him.

Pixal and Tox were both giggling with mischievous smiles while they set up the changing wall, Pixal holding a plethora of bathing supplies in her arms. Tox was in the joint bathroom preparing a large tub with dozens of bubbles gurgling over the rims like a cauldron. Griffin tapped his foot impatiently, holding a pile of clothing covered in red silk Kai assumed was his clothing. Jay, Echo, and Nelson set up a changing wall and Neuro sighed in the corner with his hand buried in his greying hair.

When they heard Kai stumble into the room their eyes turned to him.

Jay, Echo, and Nelson immediately sat on the bed. Jay and Neuro had sympathetic smiles on their faces while Nelson was trying hard to laugh. Echo crossed his arms over his chest with a wide grin on his face. Griffin's face twisted to a wicked smirk. The combination of looks sent a shiver down Kai's spine and he took a wary step back only to bump into Harumi, who was perched at the door with her arms poised to catch him. Her grin made Kai gulp and he turned around only to come face to face with Tox and Pixal.

The normally sweet girls both sported, devilish smiles, like giddy school girls with a new doll.

That realization made Kai wish he could sink into the floor.

"Why are you all looking at me like that?" He gulped, unsure if he truly wanted an answer to that question. He tried to take a hesitant step to the left, but Tox slithered to stop him. He faked right and waited for Tox to move, then went left. Too late he realized his mistake. Kai screeched when Harumi pounced from behind him and Kai was pinned by her strong grip before he could blink.

"What?! Put me down!" Kai demanded thrashing his arms and legs, stunned that Harumi managed to keep such a firm grip on his upper body.

"Oh no you don't," She taunted. "You're not going anywhere, we're going to scrub you from head to toe." She laughed as she dragged Kai towards the bath, but the brunette dugs his heels into the floor and tried to grab anything within reach to slow down his inevitable fate. He managed to free one of his arms from Harumi's grip, but Pixal grabbed his legs and Tox grabbed his wrists. The three women laughed and dragged him towards the washroom, ignoring Kai's rants and protests.

Kai flashed a pleading look over his shoulder, but the boys gave him the same fearful but sympathetic smile Ronin did.

"Sorry firecracker, we're sitting this one out," Jay smirked as he threw his hands up.

"W-W-W-Wait!" Kai pleaded, gripping onto the rim of the bathroom door with his free fingers, holding on firmly as the girls tried to pull him off. His nails scratched off chunks of wood when they finally ripped him off. Harumi shut the door and stripped him of his coat. A wicked gleam covered the three girl's faces.

"Don't worry, Kai, when we're done with you Cole won't be able to keep his hands off you!" Tox grinned wickedly. Kai gulped and backed into a corner before the three giggling ladies descended upon him. The girls had stripped Kai of his clothing faster than he could blink and shoved him backward into the tub of water sending a flood over the rim. Before he could protest, Harumi uplifted a basin of water over his head, drenching him. She then began attacking his hair with soap and her long nails.

"GET YOUR DAMN CLAWS OFF ME, YOU SHARP TALONED HARPY! I CAN SCRUB MYSELF!" Kai screamed a retort and shot to his feet, furious. He and Harumi exchanged glares but the older woman was adamant.

"THAT'S ENOUGH OUT OF YOU!" She scolded, harshly, and forced Kai back down by pushing his shoulders, surprising Kai with her strength. She shoved him under the water then hoisted him back up by his shoulders. Kai coughed and wheezed at soapy water filled his mouth, and released an animalistic growl but Harumi held him firmly by his shoulders while he lashed in the tub. Tox and Pixal then attacked every inch of his body with soap, scrub brushes, and a loofah sponge.

They battled the flailing limbs and the bathwater spraying all over them and the chamber floor.

"Hold still!" Harumi thundered, tightening her grip on one hand as she used the other to scrub Kai's back and shoulders

"Ow, stop that, Harumi, you're choking me!" Kai screeched, furiously. He tried to spray her with water to get her to let go, but missed and hit Pixal instead. Pixal shrieked as she was sprayed when she tried to scrub his hair.

"I've only got your shoulders, now stop that!" Harumi snapped. Tox shrieked rinsing her scrub brush in one of the basins then drowned it in more soap.

"My God, Kai, did you bathe at all this week? You're covered in grime!"

"No, I'm not!" Kai howled, insulted.

"The hell you aren't, I could grow Shade hundreds of ingredients in the muck I scrubbed off you!" Tox protested, returning to her crusade to rid the teen skin of any dirt. Kai wanted to insult them back, but he screamed in pain as a wave of soap fell into his face and stung his eyes.

"Ow! Pixal! Get that out of my face, you're getting soap in my eyes!"

"I wouldn't if you'd hold still!" She snapped, furiously attacking the floppy mane of brown hair. "My God you have so much hair! Tox, get me another basin! I'll need to wash this twice."

"The hell you are!" Kai protested angrily but Harumi dunked him under the warm, sudsy water and hauled him up for Pixal to scrub at his hair again. Kai thrashed furiously like a caged wild animal.

"This is worse than drowning in a frozen lake!" He cried as he thrashed his limbs, causing Harumi's grip to falter, but she quickly recovered.

"Harumi, don't let him go or he'll cause havoc!" Tox shrieked, concerned, grabbing another basin of water and dumped it over Kai's head riding his hair and upper body of soap, but it only worsened his already foul mood.

"Just wait until I get out of this you bitch!" Kai warned as Tox drained the bath and Pixal kept dumping water over him to remove the soap and shut him up...

****************

Cole heaved himself out of his private bathtub the second he heard the door to his room slam open. Water pooled at his feet and his heavy wings shook violently hoping to free the waterlogged limbs from the heavy water weighing them down. He ran a hand through his damp hair spreading raindrops everywhere before grabbing a towel and proceeded to dry himself as best he could. Once dry, he let his damp wings hang loose and wrapped the towel around his waist.

When he entered his joint bedroom, he found Ronin sitting on his bed about to fall over in his half-conscious state.

The boy jumped back to life when Griffin entered, dragging Jay, Echo, and Nelson behind him.

"You're not dressed yet?" Griffin shrieked. "What is wrong with you people? How am I supposed to make alterations if none of you try your clothes on?"

"Calm down, Griffin, there's still plenty of time," Cole snapped, drying his hair, while Ronin helped him dry off his heavy wings. Once that was done, Ronin threw the towels over the chairs and handed him the neat pile of clothing Griffin had laid out for him. Cole grabbed the breeches off the top and disappeared behind the wall while Ronin turned to his companions.

"Why are you three here again?" He blinked. "I thought you were supposed to be helping Kai and fixing up the ballroom?"

"The Ballroom's done," Echo boasted, thrusting his chest forward proudly. "Shade is just setting up the food right now, and I personally made sure everything is perfect!" The boy flashed a triumphant smile.

"You didn't go overboard did you?" Cole asked, coming out from behind the wall, and look at the rest of the clothes. "Could you help me out here, Ronin? You need three people to put this thing on." He asked and Ronin nodded. He helped his lord to the ties and buttons on the difficult outfit Griffin had concocted.

"No, I didn't," Echo answered with a proud glint in his eyes. "This is my far my grandest work!"

"I helped!" Jay smiled, wrapping his arms around Echo's waist, while Nelson laughed at his enthusiasm. Griffin scowled at their distraction as he thrust three sets of clothes into their arms and forcibly propelled them all into the bathroom. "It's time to get dressed!" He exclaimed as he shut the door and left the boys to change before turning to Ronin and the prince. "Are you two finished yet? Ronin needs to get dressed too!"

"I'm going as fast as I can! This thing has knots that have knots!" Ronin complained standing on his toes to meet Cole's taller height and snap the chains on the front in place.

"It isn't that bad," Griffin protested, sitting cross-legged on the bed, waiting impatiently for them to finish.

"This thing has at least six pieces!" Cole snapped.

"So what? It looks brilliant, doesn't it? Besides Kai's is worse."

"I believe it, but he's right you look brilliant! Kai's going to be speechless." Ronin sighed when he finished buttoning Cole's top. Cole smiled and spun around in front of the full-body mirror to test his new clothes from all angles. His ballroom outfit, which consisted of a golden vest over a white dress shirt with a white kerchief, black dress pants trimmed with gold, and a stunning black ballroom tailcoat trimmed with gold. Cole had also tied his shaggy black hair into a ponytail adorned with a silky black ribbon.

"I'll admit it, I didn't think it was possible, but Griffin's outdone himself." He beamed with pride. "Hopefully, it'll be enough to convince my flame," Cole mumbled to himself.

"Tonight he'll be yours." Ronin corrected earning him a confused look from the prince. "We all know what you're thinking, Cole, we wouldn't be a good staff if we didn't know what our prince was thinking! You have nothing to worry about." He added with a smile.

"I hope you're right, I know Kai's answer, but there's still a nagging disbelief that's there." Cole smiled, mentally scolding himself for doubting his staff's loyalty. His sharp claws ran through his bangs.

"Don't be nervous, Kai feels the same way about you, even if he's not ready to admit it out loud just yet, and everyone knows how you feel about him." Ronin reassured him and that made Cole smile.

"Alright, you, time to get you changed." The tailor insisted as he dragged the troll away. Before Ronin could blink, he had been thrown into the same room as his friends, stripped and redressed in a new outfit. Ronin groaned as he looked over his outfit. He knew it was rude to complain and he should be grateful but Griffin had decked him out in formfitting black pants with a pair of spiked-heeled ankle boots, and a shirt made of a smooth black material that was open in the back, but the bottom billowed over his hips.

There were no sleeves, instead, the top material was held with a double ring that hung loosely about his neck.

Long fingerless black gloves with rubies over the back of the hands climbed up his arms, held to the collar of the shirt by gold chains. It was a comfortable outfit, but Ronin had grown so used to lose clothing that covered everything but his hands and head that wearing form-fitting clothing that showed even bits and pieces of his skin made him feel exposed. Echo thought he looked like a girl as he took in his own outfit. They consisted of light brown, form-fitting pants and a white long tunic that was also turtle necked but pillowed almost like a dress near the bottom.

Long black gloves with wide ends that curved to points formed sleeves over his shoulders and a large gold bow half his size, tied in the back.

Jay thought his boyfriend looked spectacular as he tied the bow. His own outfit consisted of a navy blue militaristic style outfit with silver accents, black gloves, and knee-high black boots. Nelson sat on the bed watching them. He eased his boredom by picking at a loose thread on his white, knee-length pants that billowed from the calf down. His outfit was similar to Ronin's but the shirt was a sleeveless turtleneck and was dark purple, and his sleeves were fabric bunched up from the wrists to the upper arms.

Silver leggings peeked above his knee-high black and silver boots.

These were normally not his style, but he didn't mind.

"What did I tell you, Cole," Griffin boasted, loudly, clapping his hands together. "My best work!"

"I believe so," Cole nodded, brushing his black locks to perfection. "Now I'm curious to see what you conjured for Kai."

"I swear if he's not ready by the time I get there, heads will roll!" Griffin exclaimed loudly as he bolted for the door. Cole and his staff laughed hearing Griffin's rant echoing off the hallways.

"I believe that is our cue," Cole announced. The servants quickly proceeded to take their positions in the ballroom, Ronin was the last to leave but Cole stopped him.

"Before you go, will do me a grand favor, Ronin?"

"Of course, name it?" Ronin replied. Cole swooped over to a corner of the room and pulled out two strange silver boxes. He opened one and pulled out the most beautiful piece of jewelry Ronin had ever seen.

"Will you give this to Kai? Tell him if he still wishes to be mine tonight, he'll wear it, but if not I'll understand." He requested. Ronin nodded and bolted towards the East Wing as fast as his legs could carry him. Cole smiled before opening the second box and pulled out an identical chocker, only this one was silver with an emerald heart, and snapped it around his neck then descended down the Western entrance to the ballroom. He couldn't wait to see what Griffin planned for Kai...

****************

Kai growled as he sat on a stool in front of the vanity, his chin resting irritated in his hand while Harumi, Tox, and Pixal dried, brushed, and tried in vain to do something with his untamable hair. After two hours of vicious bathing, he had been dragged out of the tub, dried, dressed in a thin, silk bathrobe for the next phase of his torture. The light material felt wonderful against his tender skin, raw from having half his skin scrubbed off, at least that was what he felt like.

"My God, you have so much, hair! Someone get me another brush!" Harumi hollered over her shoulder. Neuro rushed in, now sporting his new clothing as opposed to his normal uniform. A long velvet grey frock coat, folded over and buttoned down the left side of the chest to hip in a militaristic fashion, and matching pants, white gloves, and black boots with gold buckles. It took all of Kai's willpower not to bury his head in his folded arm, but he knew the girls would shriek if he did.

He bit back and growl every time they came across a particularly stubborn tangle.

"I don't think we'll be able to do anything with his hair, Harumi," Pixal said letting the silk strands bounce back to their natural shape.

"I could've told you that," Kai snapped.

"Oh, be nice," Tox scolded playfully and Harumi pondered for a bit.

"I suppose we'll just have to touch it up with jewelry then." She beamed as she clapped her hands together. "Your ears are pierced, right Kai?"

"Yes," Kai replied looking over his shoulder.

"I'll be right back then! Thank God Griffin decided to go with the gold!" Harumi cheered as she vanished and emerged a moment later with a small wooden jewelry box and began digging through the pieces. Finally, she gave a triumphant cheer and gently titled Kai's head so it was facing her. "Hold still." She warned as she gently pierced his ears with dangling, gold, and ruby earrings shaped like a flying phoenix. She then placed a crown-like headdress shaped like phoenix wings curled around a large ruby on his head, allowing his spikey bangs to spill over it.

"There! You look wonderful!" The girls cheered, while Kai examined their work in the mirror. He had never been fond of gold accessories before but found himself liking them as he admired his reflection.

"Now all we need to do is get you dressed," Tox decided.

"Hurry up, Harumi!" Griffin suddenly thundered as he hammered loudly on the door. "There's less than three hours until the ball starts and I need to see if Kai's clothes need any alterations!"

"We're coming!" Harumi shouted as she threw the door open and the girls led Kai behind the changing wall to help him into the difficult outfit. After a few minutes, Kai was glad he had the girls' help getting ready. The outfit Griffin had created for the evening had more ribbons and ties on it than he cared to count. It would have been a bear to get the thing on properly by himself.

"Wow, you've outdone yourself, Griffin," Tox complimented over the wall. "He looks ravishing!"

"I told you he'd look splendid in gold," Pixal added and Harumi smiled as she laced up the back of Kai's clothing. Kai skimmed over what it was exactly he was wearing and blushed, taking in just how splendid the outfit actually was. Kai wasn't a huge fan of dresses, but he thought this was absolutely gorgeous. The bright, crimson red dress left the top of his shoulders uncovered, but did cover the sides and flowed down into a fancy heart-shaped neckline.

It was a loose fit which made the dress both enjoyable to wear and look at.

His had been left uncovered and in a way, help put focus on his soft tanned skin. The dress's waist was narrow, but it was a loose fit. A gold bow had been wrapped around his waist and positioned slightly to one side. Below the waist, the dress widened had glittering gold ends. The dress reached just above his ankles and was the same length all around. He was given a pair of shining, golden, high-heeled shoes, gorgeous on their own, an ideal match in combination with the dress.

To top it all off he was wearing a pair of simple, but stylish, red elbow-length gloves.

"Are you all sure about this? It is splendid, but I'll probably make it look ridiculous." He pouted as he gazed at his reflection. Before anyone could protest Griffin thundered over.

"I don't ever want to hear that come out of your mouth again!" He scolded swatting Kai's head with two fingers making him wince. "First of all, nothing I make looks ridiculous!" He spoke in a harsh tone, but it softened as he continued but did not lose an ounce of its authority. "Second, that's nonsense and you know it! You're just nervous; I could strip you naked and send you to that ballroom in nothing but a smock and you'd still look fantastic, and don't you ever let yourself forget it."

Kai blinked at the tailor's earnestness then smiled, suddenly feeling very silly.

"We're all done," Harumi announced.

"Good," Griffin smiled as he grabbed Kai's clothed wrists and pulled him back into his room. "Now then, you're done; just give me a few minutes to get everyone else dressed and we'll escort you to the ballroom, got to do this traditionally after all," Griffin winked, ushering everyone out of the room, leaving Kai alone. Alone, at last, he looked at his reflection and smirked proudly at the stunning being staring back at him.

"I do look good." He said out loud when a knock disturbed his play. "Come in!" He called out, wondering who it was. Ronin entered the room holding a box in his hand which almost slipped when he took in Kai's new appearance.

"Can I help you with anything?" Kai smirked, proudly. Ronin looked confused then blushed and straightened himself.

"Cole asked me to bring this to you, he said if you still want to be his for the evening he'd like you to wear it, but he said he would understand if you didn't."

"Thanks a lot, Ronin, I'll see you downstairs." Kai smiled. Ronin bowed and left. Kai sat on the bed and carefully opened the box gasping at the choker inside. It had a golden dragon curled up around a ruby love heart. His fingers gingerly traced over the elegant carvings and circled the beautifully cut ruby shaped exactly like a love heart. Carefully, he removed it from the box and clasped it around his own neck...

The Flame and the Dragon Chapter 31

Chapter 31: Human Again

Echo barked orders as the staff while digging a mountain of dust out of the candle holders and polishing them until the iron shined. Cole had only given them a day to get this ballroom perfect, so they had no chance to slack off. Not if they wanted this curse broken. Jay pushed a rag as big as him across the window clearing away trails of dust and leaving the clean stain glass glittering in his wake. Pixal sighed as she whipped her forehead from exhaustion.

She had been helping Ultra Violet and Harumi clean the stained glass ceiling, and her wings ached from their constant fluttering.

Harumi unhooked the tapestries and drapes and gathered them into a pile that Nelson gathered for washing. Down below Neuro and Tox swept away a century of dirt and dust from the frosty glass floor and out over the balcony. Unfortunately, once the chandeliers, ceilings, and windows were done, more dust caked the floor in dark clumps. Echo gazed over their progress from the chandeliers and groaned. After hours of cleaning the ballroom still needed a lot of work, but he was determined.

The first layer of dust and the cobwebs had been cleared from the windows and chandeliers, they just had to clean the rest of the place.

But with some of the staff still doing the regular chores and Shade still deciding what to make and gathering ingredients, they had little help. There was no point in asking Griffin. The second Echo told him about the ball, he had locked himself in his studio. It was only a matter of time before Harumi joined him. Sensing the poor team morale, Echo cleared his throat loudly, catching everyone's attention.

"Right then! You all know why we're here! We have exactly twelve hours, thirty-six minutes, and fifteen seconds to create the most magical, spontaneous, romantic atmosphere known to man or beast." He chuckled weakly at his little joke, but no one else did, so he got more serious. "Right then, I'm sure that I don't need to remind you all that if the flame goes out of the candle, the spell will never be broken!"

"Lighten up Echo and let nature take its course!" Ronin called out and the others all made sounds of agreement.

"It's obvious there's a spark between them." Nelson giggled.

"Yeah but there's no harm in fanning the flames a little; if we pull this off, and Kai is the key, we could all finally be human again!" Tox cheered with starry eyes.

"Let's not get too ahead of ourselves, Tox," Neuro chided gently.

"I don't think she's that far off," Harumi answered. "I mean it's obvious there's something going on between those two, and, think about it; have any of you actually thought of what it would be like to be human again? Finally human after all this time?" She asked and everyone in the room suddenly paused. They had thought of that. They still remembered the earlier days of their cursed existences when they could only take the form of the monsters they were cursed too.

How difficult it had been to change between their physical and spectral forms.

How tricky it had been to muster enough energy to maintain a physical body in their human appearances, but even then they only lasted a short time. Shade couldn't even leave the kitchen without the risk of fading away forever. He may not say it, but everyone knew it hurt the chef more than anyone. Over the last one hundred years, they had feared, hated, despised, and relished in their new existences. They eventually started doing what they had always done and lived their lives to the fullest and trying to make each day a little better than the last.

Even with the dark curse looming over their heads, they had had time to prepare for it.

To accept it. To come to terms with it whether the curse was broken or not. But when Cole had fallen into despair and nothing the staff could do could change his moods or bring him out of the dark, lonely existence he had accepted for himself, they too seemed chained to their fate by despair. But the past four to five months had changed all that. Kai's presence in the castle had given them a spark of hope and they were no longer afraid to continue to live their lives again.

This time they prepared for two outcomes.

Their end which if that was the case they would go to with no regrets knowing they were loyal to Cole to the end and knowing they lived their lives to the best of their ability. The other one was where the spell is broken and they become human and their lives began all over again. Even though all of them were hoping for the latter, it was still terrifying regardless. The thought of being human again. Of the possibility of a new life and the chance to either remain in the castle that had always been their home or to start over in a new one.

Either one promised its own laughs and tears, its own joys and heartaches, but wasn't that what freedom was?

Wasn't that what being human truly meant?

"I'm not sure what I'd do if I were human again," Tox pondered to herself."I don't really think I'd leave here, I mean, as much as I love to leave the castle for once and see the kingdom again and what's changed in the last century, I don't really think I'd have any other place to go, this is my home after all; I guess, I'd just live like I have been, doing what I love until the day I die, and to be honest, I am getting sick of constantly being so young." She smiled and looked at her hands with a chuckle.

"Oh, I can't wait to start aging again!" Nelson added, immediately.

"I am so sick of looking like a teen! I swear I don't care if I grow old and die, if this is what being young forever is like, then all those children's tales can keep their immortality and eternal youth nonsense," Echo chided, sweeping up a cloud of dust in his anger until a laughing Jay stopped him.

"I second that." Ronin raised his hand. "Honestly, though, I think I'd like to find something else to do, I mean I can't exactly be Cole's servant forever."

"I wouldn't mind," Jay added, pulling himself onto the windowsill to sit. His eyes wandered to Echo who continued to battle the dust in the window. "Though there is one thing I'd like to do if I were human again."

"What's that?" Echo asked curiously since he was the only one close enough to hear the mumble. Jay just smiled.

"I'll tell you later."

"Would you miss your spirit form, Jay? You know like being able to fly and control lightning and stuff?" Tox asked.

"Probably," He laughed. "But it was fun while it lasted, and you can only fly and be covered in fuzz for so long before it gets boring."

"Would you miss flying, Pixal?" Neuro asked nervously. "I know you can in your pixie form."

"Well, I think of it as a new experience, like when you jump in a lake for the first time; at the time the experience is amazing and it's a wonderful and fond memory, but if you do it too often, you get bored of it so, I think I will miss flying, but it's not like I won't be able to take the experience with me." She giggled.

"That's a good point!" Nelson added.

"I don't think I'll miss my spirit form," Ronin laughed, leaning against the wall. "My human body is certainly not as short that's for sure, I wonder how Shade will handle not being trapped in the kitchens?"

"I doubt that being bound to the kitchen is much much fun," Harumi replied and turned to Neuro. "What about you?" She asked and he blinked at her response. "It seems we've neglected your opinions on the matter?"

"Well, I think I'd like to be human again."

"Why's that?" Tox asked curiously.

"I know I'm alive and not knowing when I'll die instead of having a clock ticking over my head," He said with a small leer. With that said, they all returned to their respective tasks. If they had any hope of becoming human again, this night needed to get off without a problem. As they all worked and gossiped amongst themselves, Echo was surprised when Jay suddenly dragged him away from his work so they could talk privately. He almost stumbled over his own foot in his attempts to keep up with the faster male.

Again he cursed his youthful form.

He hated that his body had to freeze in time just as he was finally beginning to mature physically.

"Jay! We're almost by the dining hall!" The boy cried as he dug the heels of his boots into the stone of the floor, kicking up the rug as he did so, forcing Jay to stop and turn around, but he didn't release his hold on Echo's hand.

"You said you wanted to tell me something? Well out with it? I don't want to be away from the ballroom for too long."

"We won't be that long," Jay smirked.

"Don't even think about it." Echo growled and blushed.

"Actually, I wasn't, I just want to ask you something very important." Jay laughed. Echo crossed his arms and straightened himself.

"Well?" He asked impatiently. Jay took a breath and stiffened his back.

"Will you do me the honors of being my date for the ball? Not as a friend or as a companion but as mine and no one else's?" He asked with a sweet smile. Echo swore he felt his footing slip like the ground was about to give way beneath him.

"P-P-Pardon?"

"I want us to go to the ball together, where everyone will know we're together if they don't already," Jay replied as his serious eyes betrayed his normally perky expression, but it told Echo he had never been more certain of anything before.

"You really want to take me?" He asked, his voice was shaking, but from what he wasn't sure.

"Of course, I do, I love you, and let's face it we can't hide this forever, and I honestly don't want to." Jay smiled. Before Jay could say anything else, a force like a wrecking ball plowed into his chest with such vigor it knocked the wind from his chest and sent him reeling to the floor.

"Do you even have to ask me?" Echo giggled as he hugged him so tightly, Jay swore he felt one of his ribs crack, but the younger boy didn't notice it in his enthusiasm. Tears of bliss welled in Echo's eyes. "Of course I will Jay!" He exclaimed as he jumped off Jay and grabbed his hand. Jay stumbled forward as his little lover now dragged him back through the castle, impossibly fast for the boy's short stature.

"Now I have to make sure the ballroom is spectacular! I'm going to make this a night no one forgets!" Echo sang the entire trip back to the ballroom, Jay stumbling and laughing behind him...

The Flame and the Dragon Chapter 30

Chapter 30: The Greenhouse

Kai gazed at the card in his hands, before shifting his neutral eyes back towards his opponents. His four competitors all held their cards close to their faces, leaving only their deceiving eyes visible. Though there was no pot between them, they played with the skill and secrecy as if they were competing for a fortune. Finally, in turns starting with the one to the left of the dealer. Echo, who had never played the game until Kai started teaching him earlier that week.

They threw down their hands.

Jay slammed the cards down, revealing three jacks. Ronin smirked and revealed three queens. Tox threw down five low, mismatched cards, all in diamonds. Kai flashed a bright smirk and elegantly laid out three Kings and two fives. His grin doubled in size as his competitors growled, and he crossed his hands proudly over his chest.

"What have you got, Echo?" Kai asked, triumphantly. The boy fidgeted a bit, nervously looking at his own hand, then everyone else's.

"Well, I think I got two pairs," He said uncertainly and began placing down cards. "One pair and another pair." He told them and just like that, it was like someone flipped a switch. Tox and the three boys gasped, screamed, and dropped their jaws when Echo color-coordinated his cards. He placed the ace of spades next to the ace of clubs in one pile and the aces of hearts and diamonds in a second.

"Awe man!" Ronin threw down his cards and leaned back on his hands. "Echo always wins!"

"Are you sure you've never played poker before?" Kai asked with suspicious eyes and Echo blushed. "Beginner's luck? Or maybe I just had a good teacher?" He guessed as he flashed a guilty smile. Kai melted under the boy's eyes, flashing the same pleading look Lloyd used to get out of trouble. At first glance, it looked purely innocent. However, he had grown up with Lloyd and he knew full well Echo was far more mature than he let others believe.

"Don't try and butter me up, I'm immune to that," Kai smirked as he ruffled Echo's hair.

"Honestly though, I really think it's just luck." Echo laughed

"Let's try a different game," Ronin suggested as he gathered up the cards and started shuffling the cards, performing an impressive bridge.

"No thanks, we've been playing cards all morning." Kai sighed, leaned back against his pillows, and unfurled his crossed legs from their uncomfortable position. As much as Kai loved spending time with his friends, his confinement to this room, even for the sake of his health was driving him to madness. At least when Cole locked him in this room a few months back he could actually walk around and go out on the balcony.

"We could do something else?" Jay suggested sympathetically and Kai gave him a small smile. He knew Jay took his job as the castle entertainer seriously, but at this point, there was little he could do.

"Honestly, Jay, I just can't wait to get the hell out of this bedroom, I feel like I've been stuck in here forever," Kai complained, loudly. As if on cue, the door to Kai's room opened followed by the sound of large, leathery wings.

"Perhaps I can change that?" Cole said as he swaggered inside, slightly irritated Kai wasn't alone but ignored it when he saw the surprise on Kai's face. The young man was propped broadly against his backrest donning only a pair of red pajamas and a thick, fuzzy robe and it was mid-afternoon.

"Are you here to make sure I stay in bed like a good little boy?" Kai teased, sarcastically. Cole snorted and called his bluff.

"Actually, I was going to say that you've been given a clean bill of health and if you wanted to get dressed, but if you insist." He smirked as he turned to leave but Kai was faster and jumped off the bed and grabbed the clothes out of Cole's arms in less than a second, not even acknowledging the flowers.

"Thank you!" Kai said sweetly before disappearing into the bathroom to change.

"He's happy," Ronin laughed and swung his legs over the side of the bed.

"I'll bet, he's been stuck in here for almost two weeks and Winter's almost over." Tox hummed as she slithered off the bed and opened the curtains letting sunlight spill into the room.

"Speaking of that, I want your attention," Cole announced earning all of his servant's attention. "Echo, I've already given Zane an outline, but I'm planning a ball in a few weeks, and I need someone in charge of cleaning up the ballroom and making it spectacular, you up for it?" He smirked with a wink as he put the roses in a nearby vase. Echo looked flabbergasted then ecstatic.

"I'd love to!" He exclaimed, practically bursting from his seat, and grabbed Jay and Tox's hands. "I'll start right away! I make it look prettier than it did on your coronation!" He cheered and jumped with glee, dragging his two helpless captives behind him, his cheers echoing around the hallway. Ronin turned to his master with bewildered eyes.

"Aren't you going to join them? The ball is for the whole castle and it's going to take a lot of preparations." Cole chuckled. Ronin's eyes doubled in size before a wide grin of delight split his face and he bolted off after his friends, laughing giddily.

"Where did everyone go?" A familiar brunette suddenly asked. Cole turned around at the sound of Kai's voice and lost his breath. Griffin's latest outfit for Kai consisted of a long-sleeved shirt and matching pants made of dark crimson satin. Smooth, shiny cloth tightly hugged his arms, legs, and torso but flared at his wrists and ankles. Black lace adored the collar like black wings. The red of his sleeves stuck out at his wrists giving his outfit a flame-like appearance.

"You look ravishing," Cole purred as he licked his lips making Kai blush and grunt in annoyance.

"What's with all the lace?" He asked a bit put off by the feminine decoration. Cole shrugged, though his own clothing consisted of a simple green shirt and pants that bunched at the knees where his scales formed spikes and a simple black frock coat. Cole quickly leaned over, placed an arm behind Kai's shoulders and hooked his other arm under Kai's knees, and yanked him into a bridal carry.

"Cole! What are you doing?" Kai yelped and threw his arms around Cole's neck for support.

"What?" Cole asked in mock innocence. Kai growled and fidgeted fiercely in Cole's grip.

"I hate being carried, you know that! Besides, Echo and Neuro said I was fine, so let me walk on my own!"

"Correction, they said you were allowed to leave so long as you did not over-exert yourself, and you remained indoors."

"But I can still walk!" He complained, punching Cole's chest but became annoyed when Cole didn't even flinch.

"Now, come on, I have something very special I want to share with you." He grinned. Kai said nothing, preferring to crossing his arms and pout, but ceased his fighting.

"Alright, I suppose I can forgive you then, as long as I'm out of my room for the rest of the day."

"I guarantee it," Cole smirked. He held onto Kai when they came to the hallway and leaped onto the banister. Kai clung to him when they suddenly took to the air and screeched when Cole dropped. Cole glided on his wings until he landed on the main level, falling to one knee. Cole's breath suddenly caught in his chest and a pounding pain erupted right where Kai's elbow collided with his ribs. Cole growled at him then smirked wickedly. Before Kai could counter he was suddenly flung into the air and found his chest and chin whacking against Cole's hard, scaled spine, the tail of his coat flopped over his head.

A shiver raked his spine when he felt sharp, cold claws stroke his hips where the hems of his shirt exposed his skin.

"You never learn do you, Kai?" He said and Kai could just picture the smirk on Cole's face. Immediately realizing his position, Kai turned as red as his clothing, and his defenses erupted in a fit of anger and embarrassment.

"COLE!" Kai screamed and thrashed, flailing his limbs and pounding his fists as hard as he could against Cole's back, and pushed himself up so his body was somewhat straight. "Let go! I can tolerate your bridal carry obsession but I'll be damned if I'm carried like this!" He shouted and shrieked as Cole grabbed one of his ankles to keep the thrashing limb from striking him. He couldn't contain himself and burst out laughing at Kai's temper tantrum.

Finally, Cole took pity on him and wrapped his tail around Kai's waist then released his hold.

Kai released a combination of a yelp of surprise and a screech of fear when he was suddenly flipped over and found himself on his feet, Cole's tail securely wrapped around his waist. Cole hadn't stopped laughing.

"Don't get sick again, Kai, you're too amusing," Cole said as he choked out words between laughs. Kai growled like a caged animal. His balled fists, furious eyes, and twisted jaw were marred by his strawberry red face. He wanted to speak but his words turned to embarrassing snarls.

"Now don't be like that, I'm only teasing." Cole smiled and wrapped a wing about Kai's back in apology.

"At least I'm walking now." Kai snorted as he gave a small smile and let Cole led him down a familiar corridor. For a second Kai thought Cole was taking him back to the library. They stopped by the recognizable curved doors, however, he found Cole's attention on another part of the hallway. It was adjacent to the library entrance and opposite the enormous windows lining the hallway. At first glance, it looked like the rest of the wall. Kai could see the faint outline of ivory vines and stone flowers growing from the ground into a curved arch shape.

Cole shoved the doors open with a hard shove.

Light burst from inside and Kai could see that the ceiling was curved like a half-cylinder. It was made entirely of glass, flooding the room with sunlight. He covered his eyes with his arm and let Cole guide him inside. When he looked up, he found himself in the center of another world. His breath caught in this throat when he realized the world was actually a giant greenhouse. He quickly realized that the greenhouse was more than just an inside garden.

A field of grass was contoured by a sundry of hedges and bushes.

A fountain stood in the back right of the greenhouse, always tinkling with the sound of water. The flowers and plants were forming a miniature world of their own, full of mysteries and wonder. They were a delight for butterflies. There were some bird feeders scattered around and the sounds of many different birds echoed around. The hedges and bushes had recently been trimmed. A path of stepping stones curves around each bend in the garden, beckoning people to explore the garden and showing them the best sights at the same time.

Roots slightly disrupted the pristine look as they hungrily search for even more pieces of land to expand to.

The fountain eternally beckoned all visitors, drawing all attention toward it. The flowers and plants were surely a sight to behold, and the hedges and bushes looked fantastic. The focus was just simply on the fountain.

"This is the Queen's Greenhouse, a sacred place only those allowed by the Queen or someone invited by one whom she has personally granted permission may enter; even the staff isn't allowed inside," Cole explained and that hasn't surprised Kai. He could tell the room has been well cared for. None of the plants had lost their brilliance, the flowers hadn't lost their reality, and the little birds hadn't lost their beauty.

"I'm honored that you'd share this with me," Kai spoke graciously. Though the room was only the size of a tall living room, the walls and plants made it seem much smaller and worldly bigger all at once. Its oval shape blended everything without the disruption of corners. Kai was lost in the world the queen created until he felt firm hands grip his shoulders to steady him. In the corner of the room, he found a small stool in front of a shed and a stack of gardening supplies, jars of paint, and bowls of tools.

Next to the shed was a large statue of the couple he recognized from the portrait in Cole's room, lavished in beautiful wedding garbs.

The man held his bride in his arms. The bride held a beautiful bouquet of roses. Kai flinched when he felt Cole's wing wrap around his form. Kai turned to stare at him but Cole's gaze was in an unknown universe, a worldly smile set upon his face.

"I was a child when she first brought me here, I asked her if Dad ever saw it, and she laughed and said the first time she brought him here was to show him the statue she had made, the one of their wedding day." He smiled and Kai's eyes returned to the portrait. Just imagining the sheer joy the king must have felt when his wife showed him the statue their love inspired. "Then she finally told him the real reason why she'd brought him there, she'd wanted to tell him she was pregnant."

Kai's eyes widened, but Cole just smiled in an almost childlike way.

Cole wrapped his arms around the boy's shoulder, and met Kai's eyes with his own, glowing with something that made Kai's heart skip a beat. Kai tried to find his voice but found he could barely breathe. So much had happened, so much had yet to happen but somehow it all seemed less complex when he looked into Cole's eyes. Rationality and emotion warred against one another in a way that made Kai want to scream. For a brief moment, he despaired as to how such a glorious creature could find one such as him so special.

But just as quickly, he crushed those thoughts and relaxed his mind.

The hammering of his heart suddenly sounded quiet and the sudden wash of emotion made his eyes droop and his lips part. It took all of Cole's willpower not to simply kiss his captive senselessly and pin him against the floor. He knew Kai wouldn't stop him if he did, but the last nagging sliver of control had ruthlessly crushed those desires. It was getting harder and harder to control himself around him, but Cole promised himself he would wait.

He wouldn't take that step until they were both certain, but it didn't stop him from wanting to pull the smaller man into his arms.

Kai's half-lidded eyes and the slight parting of his lips made Cole lick his fangs. Fire and desire burned in his veins, sending his every nerve ending ablaze. His claws carefully danced up Kai's clothed arms before firmly taking hold of his tanned shoulders. The young man didn't flinch. Without warning, Cole broke his control and crashed their lips together in a rich, passionate kiss. Kai immediately parted his lips and gripped the collar of Cole's coat and shirt tightly.

He pulled the Dragon Lord closer against him, deepening the desire between them.

A fire burst between them, their limbs and lips moved and explored new territories, claiming whatever they could touch. The scorching touch between them made them both burn for more and more. They mutually broke away, their eyes never leaving the others. Cole's grip on Kai's shoulders tightened and he roughly pulled the teen forward until their foreheads touched.

"You make it so difficult to keep control, my flame." Cole panted each word.

"Then why not break your control?" Kai smirked as his eyes lit up at the challenge. Uncertainty flashed in Cole's eyes.

"You have no idea what you're asking." He warned as one of his hands reached for one of the objects near the gardening supplies. He held a thick metal container clearly in line with Kai's vision. With a simple clench of his wrists, his claws sliced it to ribbons of metal, his muscles crushing them together before Cole dropped to the ground. Kai rolled his eyes.

"That isn't what I meant, and you know it."

"Perhaps not, but the fact remains, I'm still a dragon, Kai." Cole frowned. "I have teeth and claws, scales and a tail and brute strength, if I'm not careful, I could kill you with my brutality."

"No, you wouldn't," Kai said confidently.

"How do you know?" Cole challenged, unconvinced.

"Because I know you," He said firmly, his gentle hands moving to cradle the dragon's face in his hands. "I know for a fact you would never hurt me, you might roar at me, but you've had to dodge a few of my punches too so I guess that makes us even." He winked playfully. Despite himself, Cole couldn't help but laugh.

"Are you sure? I'm not blind, Kai, I see the fear in your eyes." He smiled with a raised eyebrow.

"Well, you're right, I am scared, but not of you; I have taken your true form into consideration, and you can't fault me for finding the idea of losing my virginity to a dragon a bit intimidating, that and I'm not rushing into anything," Kai sighed as he flicked Cole's nose, but his stance assured him he was serious, despite the playful banter. "I mean it, I mean, technically, we haven't even been on a proper date yet." He winked.

"Then perhaps you'd like to?" Cole smirked. Kai blinked, making Cole grin wider. "I was thinking of hosting a ball soon since that ballroom hasn't been used in years and the staff has been dying to use it, so perhaps, having an event where the whole castle may enjoy the evening is the best idea."

"Really?" Kai blinked in surprise. He didn't think Cole was the party type and his only experience was the boring affairs Morro hosted. Then again, if Echo was designing the evening and Jay and Ronin were in charge under Zane's supervision, he had no doubt it would be an enjoyable night. Cole nodded with a smile as he leaned forward, wrapping his free arm possessively around Kai's waist.

"You would do me a grand honor by being my date for the evening?"

"I'd love to!" Kai burst, enthusiastically. Cole was taken aback by the suddenness but laughed at Kai's spryness.

"Are you sure, Kai?" Cole teased, releasing him slightly. "You wouldn't mind attending a romantic affair with someone old enough to be your ancestor? I am, after all, 121 years?"

"Nope, not unless you mind going out in public with an immature teenager who's not yet twenty, would you?" Kai countered, his eyes lighting up at the game.

"Not in the slightest," Cole responded. Neither of them broke eye contact until finally they couldn't contain themselves any longer and they broke into a fit of amusement. Their pearls of laughter could be heard all the way from the ballroom...

The Flame and the Dragon Chapter 29

Chapter 29: Brotherly Advice

Cole had to face it, making out with someone was not the worst thing the staff had caught him doing, but that didn't make him or Kai feel any better. Harumi had already left with little Nelson, trying to salvage the boy's remaining innocence while they still could. Shade groaned, crossing his arms with mock annoyance, completely unaffected by Cole's incensed glare. After he had heard Neuro screaming, he took a risk and abandoned his post in the kitchen.

He was shocked to find Neuro and their friends screaming along with Kai and Cole who were both in an awkward position on the bed.

It didn't take him long to figure out what had happened. Neuro just slouched in his seat and pressed his fingers to his lower temple. Across from them, Cole was growling like a caged beast. Jay, Echo, Tox, and Ronin all looked at the floor or off into space, unable to look anyone in the face without blushing. Kai buried his mortified face in his hands, refusing to even meet the perverse chef's smirk. After the incident, Kai had practically kicked everyone out of his room, grabbed the clothes they had bought him, and locked himself in the bathroom.

Though he could still feel the chill of his recent illness, Kai felt an instant relief being fully clothed.

If he simply been naked when everyone arrived he wouldn't have worried. He would have changed into the clothes just as calmly as he had since the day he arrived. However, being caught with his captor, the very Master of the Castle no less, in such a compromising position that shattered the youth's entire demeanor. Though he might be naïve in matters of seduction, he didn't deny that he had enjoyed his time with Cole before they had been interrupted.

Now Kai just wanted to curl up and hide until he forgot this was over.

Despite the thick sweater, warm overcoat, pants, gloves, and socks, Kai felt naked and exposed in front of everyone's awkward eyes. Unable to take anymore, he stood on wobbly legs and headed back to bed. He almost groaned when he saw everyone was still here. He might hide in the library until everyone forgot about this. He wouldn't delude himself into thinking there was any chance Shade wouldn't tell the whole castle about this if they didn't already know.

Shade interrupted, scooping up the abandoned teapot, poured the dark green liquid into a cup, and shoved it into Kai's hands.

"I fixed this for you and you better drink the whole pot while it's still hot 'cause I'm not bringing you another one." He warned and Kai opened his mouth to protest but after a hard look from Cole and Shade and looks of concern from the boys, he sipped the hot tea. Heat immediately filled his being but he grimaced and stiffened at the strange combination of bitter, mint, and sweetness crafting an unpleasant blend. He gasped after swallowing a large gulp and shuddered.

"What's in this?" He asked, pleadingly. The chef plopped onto the edge of Kai's bed, ignoring the teen's disgruntled scowl.

"Just something that should knock that chill right out of your system, and you better drink all of it, or you'll just break my heart." He shrugged as he refilled Kai's cup with a wink. Kai sank into the pillows and downed the cup quickly. His mouth and throat burned from the hot liquid and he felt heat suddenly flood into his system but the bland taste in his mouth made him feel sick.

"Ugh, this tastes awful."

"Most things that are good for you are awful, like staying in bed and getting plenty of sleep." Cole teased lightly. Kai glared and opened his mouth to protest but was instantly silenced when Cole tilted his chin and kissed his cheek. Kai forgot to breathe. For a moment, he forgot everyone else was there. Cole stepped away and fished the comforter off the floor and draped it over Kai's body that was now propped against the pillows. He then took a thicker fur blanket Harumi had left out from the previous night and added that as well until his flame was safely tucked beneath the warmth.

"I'll be checking on you every so often, so don't even think of getting up." He warned, kissing Kai's forehead and ushered his staff out the door. Neuro smirked and dragged Shade behind him back to the kitchen before he faded. Jay, Tox, Ronin, and Echo were not far behind him. Once gone, Cole handed Kai a second teacup. "Make sure you drink that as well, I don't want you dehydrating either; I'll ask Neuro to fix you something but I have no doubt the whole house will know you're awake by the time I get downstairs." He chuckled.

Monetarily breaking his trance, Kai shook his head and pulled on the neck of his thick sweater suddenly feeling very hot.

"Can I at least open the curtain? Get some light in here? It's too stuffy," He complained; the thick air felt hot and bothersome. Cole pondered for a moment before shaking his head.

"I'll put the fire out, but that's all; your immune system is still too weak, and the last thing I want is you catching pneumonia, too." He said as he got up and opened the fireplace across from Kai's bed. With a flap of his wings, the air blew out the flames. The resulting back wave sent a refreshing wind across Kai's front.

"Thank you." He said but glared at the teacup.

"Glaring at it won't make it go away you know," He chuckled and Kai growled in response.

"I really think this is all too much," He sighed as h looked away with a turn of his nose and set the tea on the nightstand.

"Maybe, but I don't like taking chance with someone I care about." He smiled warmly as he removed himself from the fireplace and swept to his flame's side and kissed his forehead. Before Kai could answer, the prince pulled away and left the room, a small smile on his face and he closed the door. Kai touched the cheek Cole had kissed and hissed at how cold his fingertips felt. A sudden lump in his throat made him cough violently until he grabbed the tea and downed as much of it as he could without coughing.

Maybe the tea wasn't such a bad idea.

Kai grimaced and set the empty cup next to the still steaming teapot. Kai pulled off the thick sweater, leaving himself in just his shirt, and gently tossed it to the end of the bed. Then he settled down beneath the thick covers and lied on his flat stomach. He rubbed his shoulders more out of confusion than cold. That had been the first time Cole had shown him any open displays of affection, let alone in front of his staff. Before, anything they had done together had been in the shelter of the library or Cole's room.

The most open they had gone was probably the dining room or outside, but even then it was only when Cole was positive they were alone.

Kai assumed that was for the sake of the servants. It must have been uncomfortable seeing their Lord partake in such open displays of affection, let alone with another person, no matter how much they encouraged it. A flush of heat darkened Kai's face when memories of that morning flashed before his mind. Embarrassment flooded his being at the memory of being caught. What they were about to do suddenly hit him with the blunt force of a sledgehammer.

He buried his face in his pillow dug one hand beneath the pillows, and another through his sweaty bangs.

Shade's bitter tea was working after all, and the crimson blush of the morning's events only made his body heat up unnaturally fast. He didn't know what he was going to do. The brunette released a muffled moan and collapsed as if sleep would erase all his confusion...

****************

True to his word, Kai had obeyed Cole's orders and reluctantly remained on bed rest until Neuro and Echo firmly agreed that he was fully recovered, but by the end of the week, the lack of movement and being trapped in his room had driven Kai to the last of his nerves. He would have left the room if he didn't fear the wrath of the gossiping staff. That and he was worried Cole would get upset if he disobeyed him again. Fortunately, despite Cole's insistence that Kai needed as much rest as possible, Kai had had lots of company since the entire castle had been more than ecstatic when Shade flooded the staff with news of his awakening.

That and the buzzing with gossip about what had occurred in his room after Cole had forbidden the chef from speaking a word.

Ultra Violet and Harumi had come to check up on him occasionally while Neuro and Shade would bring him food. Echo would check his health and on more than one occasion Nelson would be with him, making sure Kai ate or drank all of his medicine he had been given, though most of the time he would just talk to him. Kai had been extremely grateful for the conversations since on more than one occasion he swore he would go insane from lying in bed all day.

Thankfully the boy didn't seem to affect by seeing Cole and Kai making out.

When the brunette thought about it, with what that child and everyone also had been through, seeing two people kissing would be the least of their trauma. Nelson was not much older than Lloyd and Kai could cry at the thought of his little brother and sister going through anything like that. Then again, he could cry just thinking about them at all. He hoped that they were settling into their new normal, without him. Perhaps if things keeping going well for him and Cole, Kai might be able to convince the prince to let him visit them from time to time.

But with what happened the last time Cole thought he would leave, Kai didn't think it would be wise to ask.

That didn't mean he didn't miss them every minute of every day since he was imprisoned in this castle. He also missed the boys always barging into his room asking to play games. He didn't blame them for keeping their distances at first, knowing full well he wouldn't be able to look either one of them in the eyes without blushing. Fortunately, however, on an occasion when the staff was currently occupied, they had been charged with keeping Kai entertained as it was Jay's profession.

That didn't mean it was uncomfortable at first.

After a few awkward stares and embarrassing questions, they confirmed that he was fine. The four servants were happy to finally see with their own eyes that Kai was alright. They were so happy that they all sprang onto his bed and hugged him tightly. Kai thought he would burst, but he just laughed and didn't complain. For the rest of the afternoon, they had done nothing but play games. Since then the quartet made it their personal job to see that Kai was kept happy and entertained while he recovered.

During their time together, Kai admitted that he had been scared about doing the deed with Cole.

He did care about Cole, more than he had anyone other than his siblings, but he wasn't ready for that stage of a relationship. Maybe when he was a little older and dated Cole a little longer he would be ready. They would have to see how things played out between them. However, it didn't solve one problem that had been on Kai's mind for well over a week. Cole hadn't come to see him since the morning he had awakened...

****************

Cole sighed happily as he walked down a familiar hallway, a large bouquet of bright, crimson red roses and Griffin's newest lace creation tucked securely under his arm. His razor-sharp claws were extremely careful not to damage the delicate red petals. Once he concluded that the lace was simply for decorative persons and that the tailor was not attempting anything, he had gladly agreed to bring it to Kai. He had felt insanely giddy when Echo had come back from his daily check-up on Kai.

He confirmed that Kai was finally healthy enough to be up and about but that it was still best he remain indoors and continue to dress appropriately for the Winter to be safe.

Griffin, in his excitement, presented Cole with a new outfit he and the girls had been stitching in their spare time while the others kept Kai company. But at the same time, part of him felt extremely nervous. An emotion previously deemed unthinkable for the Dragon Lord. Yet for all his confidence and arrogance, Cole honestly felt like he had rather face an army than carry on down the hallway to his captive's bedroom. But still, he pressed on.

After all, it would be the first time he had seen him since the morning he and Kai almost slept together.

At least he believed that was the modern term for what it was. The memory made him growl in anger and shame at his own stupidity. How could he allow himself to lose control so easily? In this form with its superior strength, sharp claws, rough scales, and powerful muscle structure he could have easily damaged or severely hurt Kai with his brutality. Never mind the fact that Kai had just woken up from a coma and was recovering from freezing death.

Both of which Cole had caused thanks to his own paranoia.

Cole paused for a bit to cover his face, but his sharp claws gently poked his skin causing him to pull back. He glared at it with a mixture of hatred and disgust. He didn't have fingers, just curved claws that furled and unfurled according to his whim. His palms and hand was nothing more than a paw coated in rough scales and soft underpads. His scaled tail twitched almost arrogantly at his side. His disappointed wings hung limply about his back and he exhaled an exasperated sigh.

He had been very grateful Jay and the others had taken the liberty to keep him informed on Kai's reaction and feelings about what happened between them.

He knew he shouldn't have been surprised by them though. Kai was roughly the same age he was when he had first become interested in physical intimacy. Over the years, curiosity and loneliness had compelled the young king to seek relationships that branched beyond emotional commitments. It didn't surprise him Kai had the same urges. But Cole had to keep reminding himself that Kai was still young, compared to him. He was young enough to be his grandson, even if Cole's personality hadn't evolved much beyond his twenty-one years.

It didn't surprise him that giving himself to someone probably still scared Kai.

Again, he was grateful the others had taken upon themselves to keep Kai company and trusted him with the information they had received. Cole wasn't naïve. He knew even without his dragon form he was an intimidating figure. With it, it only made things more difficult. He knew even if his and Kai's relationship had been healthy and prosperous, and built on their mutual affection and trust in one another rather than the lust for physical contact, the desire was still there.

The emotional attachment only made the need much stronger, and that much more terrifying.

But it didn't change the fact that Kai was still human and he was a dragon and the physical difference created another problem. Cole wasn't about to deny that he wanted Kai, but he had known for a while it was much deeper than lust. He wanted Kai in a way he had never wanted anyone or anything else. Want couldn't even begin to describe what he had felt. Need didn't sound right either. He wanted Kai in mind, body, and soul, but at the same time, he had also wanted Kai to want him in the same way.

Just being near Kai was enough to heighten all of Cole's senses.

Kai's smiles and laughs and clever wit were enough to make him smile, even laugh for the first time in decades. Kai's fiery spirit and temper both challenged and delighted him at every turn, but Kai's kindness and gentle, fun-loving nature never ceased to amaze him, and though his hot-headedness and obstinacy annoyed him to the bitter end, there was simply nothing to dislike about his flame. The fact that Kai was by far the most beautiful person he had ever met.

He possessed gorgeous amber eyes that left him breathless with every gaze was only a bonus.

His flawlessly tanned skin looked like it had been carved by the very sun and glowed in the right light. Kai truly was a gem, and in the past, Cole's arrogant self would have said such a gem should only be his, but now he wondered if he even deserved the right to call Kai his. Not when he had taken so much from him. Not when there was so much he couldn't give him, even if Kai willingly gave him everything. Kai deserved so much more than what Cole could give him.

He deserved everything.

He deserved to live his life as free as a bird. He should be surrounded by everyone that cared about him. To be loved by someone who could love him more than anything else until the end of time. Not a prisoner to the man who tore him away from everything in hopes of using him to break the curse still looming over his head. Even if Kai did return Cole's feelings it wouldn't change anything. Cole swore that come spring the cruel mistress known as fate would return to reap his soul.

Kai deserved better than that.

"Are those for Kai?" A familiar voice suddenly asked and Cole was immediately taken out of his depressing thoughts by the innocent question, but the tone held ulterior motives. Cole stopped and followed the voice of his Steward. Zane leaned against a pillar with his arms crossed over his chest. Instead of his stoic expression, he sported a sharp, proud smile and confidence, almost arrogant eyes. Cole matched the steward's smirk with one of his own.

"As a matter of fact, yes they are, I thought he'd enjoy them, and Griffin was just begging me to let him try them on," Cole said with a confident flare and continued his quest. Zane didn't answer. Instead, he waited. When Cole walked past him he finally replied.

"He's pretty spoiled for a prisoner." He said, causing Cole to stop in his tracks, and whirled around.

"I beg your pardon," He spoke dangerously low. Zane's expression faded in an instant. His neutral mask returned.

"I'm only stating a fact."

"You dare jest about this?!" Cole accused, exasperated.

"I never jest." Zane cut him off and turned around to meet Cole's dangerous eyes with his own grave icy ones. "Think about it Cole, even though no one would dare even think of him as such, and he possesses an extraordinary amount of freedom, he is technically still your prisoner." He explained. Cole wanted to scream, protest, yell, and scold and dismiss his steward in a way that would ensure he never dared to disrespect him again.

Instead, he was silenced by his own anger.

Not at his steward, but at himself. There was no denying the truth in the man's words. He had just confirmed it not moments before. But hearing it from someone else, having that fact that the boy he dared call his own was, in reality, his captive, sent him into such a state of anger and remorse he couldn't speak. His body could only shake in fury. Zane said nothing to that but waited patiently for his Master to regain control of the emotion raging within him.

He watched Cole's trembling paw move to cover his face and run a hand grip his raven locks.

He watched Cole exhale and his posture become that of a man graciously accepting defeat.

"What would you have me do then, Zane? Though I am bitter to admit it, you're correct, Kai is still my prisoner, so how do you suppose I go about fixing it?" He asked.

"I thought that would be obvious; how else? Set him free." Zane chuckled. The words hit Cole like a hurricane knocking him off his feet. Each word dropped like a stone in a well. He had to set Kai free? Send him back to where he came from, away from his side, possibly forever? The thought clutched at his heart like a deathly cold hand squeezing the breath from his body, filling him with a viperous terror he couldn't see.

"How can you even suggest that? You were the one who suggested he might be my key and now you're telling me to send him away" Cole asked, his words were all breath. Zane raised an eyebrow, unaffected by the prince's outburst.

"You misunderstand, I said you should set him free not send him away."

"There's a difference?" Cole hissed.

"Let me finish; first, you should set him free, assure him that he is no longer a prisoner, then ask him to stay with you." He asked but Cole was dumbfounded. "Ask him to stay, not as a prisoner, or captive, or hostage or guest or even as the key; simply because you want him to stay with you, not out of any obligation, but out of his own free will," Zane answered his master's unasked question, his confident smirk more evident.

"You think I should ask him to remain with me, purely because I don't ever want to be parted from him?" Cole asked, bewildered.

"Don't you?"

"More than anything."

"I'm glad." Zane smiled as he removed himself from the pillar and leaned forward against the banister of the hallway. "Everyone in this castle cares for you Cole, we more than just respect you as our Master, we all want you to be happy and Kai makes you happy, and I have little doubt that he's the one for you; all you have to do is accept it and we'll accept you," Zane spoke with the purest of loyalty. Cole nodded, grateful for his Steward's words.

"And what of you, Zane?" He asked, his turn to flash the smirk of a cat with all the cream. Zane's eyes narrowed.

"I don't know what you're talking about," He replied, but in his voice, it was a lie.

"Come now, Zane, I know you're not naïve, nor are you oblivious, I severely doubt you haven't noticed your own brother's intrigue?" He smirked but Zane said nothing, choosing to close his eyes. His face was a cross between a pout of annoyance and a scowl of defeat. "How long have you known?" Cole asked, crossing his arms.

"I've known before he did." He answered, knowing it didn't exactly answer the question. A chuckle escaped him. "Back when they were too young to know what it was they were feeling; ironic how romantic feelings are obvious to everyone but those experiencing them."

"Perhaps, but perhaps that's the nature of love, it doesn't see with the eyes," Cole smirked as he leaned against the banister, next to Zane.

"That's true." Zane agreed though he sounded reluctant. Cole gave him a sympathetic smile.

"You do know no one can love him more than Jay does, I think that is more than clear."

"He's the one for Echo," Zane admitted, grudgingly. "I've known that for a while, too."

"You know he's not the child he used to be, Echo, I mean, I remember when he used to be a timid little boy who would follow you everywhere but was always exceedingly shy around you; I always thought that was because you acted more of a father to him than a brother, but not everyone has chosen to remain stoic this last century as I have, some of us have used this time to mature, evolve, and become stronger," Cole explained.

"Yes, Echo doesn't need a father anymore, he needs a brother and not one to take care of him, he has Jay for that, and he's mature enough now to know exactly what that means and what it entitles and to be completely honest," Zane spoke like he was irritated but there was legitimate respect and pride in his voice. "I truly do believe Jay is the one for him, and that just annoys me even more!" He growled as he gripped the banister. Cole couldn't help but laugh.

"Oh come now, Zane, you knew Echo would grow up eventually? That's no reason to treat Jay like he's trying to take Echo away from you."

"He is!" Zane snapped, before regaining his composure. "In a matter of speaking." He sighed and Cole laughed again.

"It's no wonder they've found it impossible to tell you?" He asked with another light laugh and Zane snorted.

"I really do hate being right sometimes." He huffed as he regained his composure and lifted himself to meet the prince. "So, will you be taking my advice then?" He asked and Cole remained still. His face neutral and his eyes betraying no emotion.

"I'm not sure." He replied and it was Zane's turn to smile.

"Do you doubt he will say yes?" He asked, catching Cole off guard. He pondered them for a moment, then turned on his heels and continued towards Kai's room.

"I appreciate your assistance, Zane." He called over his shoulder.

"That is my profession." The Steward nodded as he watched Cole disappear down the hall. A moment later, Cole found himself strolling down a familiar hallway. Zane's words continued to run around in his head. He smiled when he found himself outside Kai and room and shifted his clothed burden to open the door. He already knew Kai's answer...

The Flame and the Dragon Chapter 27

Chapter 27: The Awakening

Cole woke up groggily, unsure if he had even slept at all. The previous night had been rougher than he thought. He froze when he felt an abrupt shift from the body next to him. The brush of bare skin made him groan until he shifted his position to get a good look at the condition of his sleeping partner. Kai was still unconscious, but his eyes weren't shut as tightly. His breathing wasn't as raspy and heavy as it had been the previous night. A small smile graced his lips in between breathing, but the flush of fever still danced across his face.

Carefully, Cole leaned over and pressed his lips to Kai's forehead while the back of his claws ran down the boy's chest and stomach.

He frowned slightly at the warmth of his forehead but smiled when the frosty touch of the boy's skin had faded back to its core temperature. Cole expelled a breath of relief and fished around for a robe or something to quickly throw on. He refused to embarrass his staff when Neuro or someone else returned to check on Kai's health. He found a large, black robe with two slits in the back sitting on the dresser with a note from Harumi. He donned it, making a mental note to thank the seamstress later, and lied down on the bed pulling Kai's shivering form closer to him.

He didn't have long to wait before Neuro and a satyr named Bolobo arrived.

Without a word, Cole let his precious flame go and let them work.

"His core temperature is back up, but it's too early to relax just yet," Bolobo explained feeling Kai's forehead, his chest, and torso and moving outwards his arms and legs. "My prime concern is that fever." He added as her hard brown eyes fell on the heavy red staining Kai's face when he rolled the boy onto his back.

"Is there anything you can give him?" Cole asked the satyr, crossing his arms tightly, his wings twitched with nervous impatience. Neuro looked from Kai to his basket and bit his lip.

"It's too dangerous to give him something while he's unconscious, but I might be able to make something external to reduce the fever." He replied as he dug through his basket and pulled out a corked bottle of pale pinkish-yellow fluid. He carefully uncorked the bottle, filling the room with a thick, woody odor. He set the basket on the floor, poured a few drops on his palm and fingers. He pulled the blankets down with his free hand flinching when Kai started to shiver again and gently rubbed the oil over Kai's chest in smooth circles.

The teen started to inhale deeply then started to calm down.

Neuro repeated the process once more when Kai's skin absorbed the oil, then wiped his hand on a washcloth and recorked the bottle.

"Any more is too risky," He answered before Cole could ask. "Bolobo and Shade will brew up a tonic for when he wakes up, but for now I think it's best to keep him warm and keep getting his body temperature up, he still has the chill in him."

"How long?" Cole asked with grave eyes. Bolobo and Neuro exchanged soulful glances then sighed.

"I'd give him another day or two, but if the hypothermia isn't out of him by then, then there isn't much else we can do," Bolobo replied. Cole nodded and bowed his head back to his slumbering captive. The two left without another word, leaving the two men alone. Kai's breathing was still a bit heavy and his face still flushed but the chill of hypothermia made itself clear each time he shivered. Worry clouded his eyes. Kai had been fine before so why was he shivering now?

Obviousness smacked him in the head like a blunt object.

Kai had his warmth then, being away from it for so long had caused him to relapse. Cole growled and without a second thought began removing his robe. He slid back under the thick blankets and began piling them over Kai's bare arms and shoulders. His wings wrapped around the teen and he pulled Kai closer. He gently rubbed his back in hopes of soothing him. The paste Neuro had used left a sharp, pungent stench in Cole's nostrils, but the aroma seemed to calm Kai a little.

A deeper sigh left Cole when Kai's shivering started to lessen and finally stop.

He smiled graciously when he felt Kai snuggle deeper into his warmth and felt him smile against his skin. He placed a gentle kiss on his forehead. Still too warm, but at least his body wasn't as cold. Shifting closer to the body, he gently stroked Kai's cheek taking in the sweet smile and the faint rosy color in his cheeks. His claws tenderly brushed over the soft, warm lips and traced the sloping curves of Kai's cheekbone. He jumped suddenly when he felt Kai burrow deeper into his warmth.

He couldn't help but chuckle.

Kai was the last person he would expect to be a cuddly person, but Cole wasn't one to complain. He gently brushed the spikey brown hair with his claws, smiling as the silk strands wove around his claws. His tail carefully moved under the blankets and coiled over Kai's hip and side like a snake. Anything to draw life back into Kai's body. For the first time in his life, he was grateful for this dragon body. The cursed form he had always hated was now the prime thing keeping Kai alive.

Even now he could feel his body heating up to combat the cold it felt when Kai pressed against it, and he held him tighter to force the warmth back to its source.

Never before did Cole not feel like a monster. Despite his staff's encouragement and Kai all but forcing him to see the truth, a small sliver of doubt kept a leech-like grip on his heart. The reminder that no matter how much Kai cared for him, Cole could never have such a precious gem in his arms as his own. The fact that he was, physically, still a monster was more than enough to shatter the fragile hope he had been building. Never did he consider himself more than what he was.

A man imprisoned in the form of a dragon.

Neither one nor the other but something dismal in between. He never dared to see the beauty of his form. He never thought to experience the gift of flying blessed upon a winged creature. Or realize the effortlessness it took to save another's life or the possibility that his form could do more than hurt, let alone give life. Yet somehow, Kai did. He never looked at Cole with fear or disgust. It was strange, to say the least. Even stranger to daring to hope that the emotions stirring within him were more than simple care.

That maybe, just maybe, the walls be built around himself had faded without his knowledge and that he had begun to do the one thing he knew was impossible, fall in love.

How or why or even when it happened no longer mattered. Cole had found the one person in the world who could understand him. He was sure of that now. However, the danger still remained. Even now, in Cole's arms, Kai was far from safe. Even if his flame woke up, did he admit his feelings? What if these emotions were simply concern or gratification? Would they vanish once Kai regained his health? No, he couldn't take such a risk. Not unless he was positive of himself as well as his heart.

Kai deserved that, at least.

That way, even if Kai didn't feel the same, Cole could die knowing he had found the one thing he desired most. Again, he kissed Kai's forehead and settled back into the comforting embrace of his presence, memorizing as much of the peaceful moment as he could, and believing, for once, that it would last...

****************

Kai hummed as he dreamed of his sanctuary. He found himself lying in a field of sparkling roses, glowing like jewels against the thick, lush, comfy grass. Above him, he could make out the castle. It shimmered against the clear sky as the stained glass windows sparkled like jewels. In the field, he could see Jay chasing Echo across the field with Nelson not too far behind, under the watchful eye of Zane. Ronin and Tox leaned against Bolobo under the shade of a tree.

Shade and Neuro sat on a picnic blanket making daisy chains.

On another blanket, Harumi laid with her head on her wife's lap while Ultra Violet twirled her bangs around her fingers, and Griffin laughed. Kai watched from the hillside, where he lied back against the roses. Except that he wasn't alone this time. Kai wove his fingers with his dream lover's claws, feeling a cool tingle running through them. For a moment they just lied there among the roses, their hands intertwined. Their heads turned and bright amber eyes met brilliant green.

Kai didn't need to see to know who his savior was.

His dream lover. His Dragon Lord. How could he have missed it before? It all made such perfect sense in retrospect. But none of that mattered. All that mattered was what was happening now.

"Come to me, my Flame..." He purred and Kai's eyes widened when his lover began to sing the words of his mother's lullaby in a deep soothing chime. Kai had almost forgotten about it. Even though he had sung the words himself for Lloyd and sometimes Nya when she got too stressed, they sounded so familiar, yet so different. Kai rolled onto his side met his lover's warm eyes with a smile and answered.

"I'm already here, exactly where I want to be." He smiled as he leaned closer so he and his Dragon Lord were only a few inches apart. He hummed when the Dragon Lord began stroking his hair. His eyes fluttered closed, soothed by the tender touch and the crystal chimes in the air. Words filled his mind as the music hummed in his ears.

"Come to me, my Flame..." The dragon repeated. Kai chuckled to himself and leaned a bit closer into his lover's embrace so his head was resting on his folded hands. He heard a low rush of wind then felt cool shade wrap over him.

"I told you, I'm already here." He sighed and his Dragon Lord chuckled, lightly.

"That wasn't what I meant." He spoke in a rich voice with a sultry rasp. Then he began to sing again. Kai could hear him move, and when he opened his eyes, he found his Dragon Lord leaning over him. Kai blinked in surprise and couldn't help but flush at the fact he was sprawled out beneath the Dragon Lord, but his savior just gave him a small smile and whispered.

"Will you be my key, Kai? Will you set me free?" he asked softly. At first, he couldn't answer. The concept sounded foreign but familiar all at once. When he did remember he mentally slapped himself for forgetting. The key to breaking the Dragon Lord's curse. The key to freeing his lover and all the people been nothing but kind to him. Kai smiled at the prince, no doubt or hesitation cloud his voice.

"Yes, Cole, I want to be your key." He promised as he leaned up to meet his lover's lips. Outside his dream world, Kai smiled in his sleep. But his lover didn't kiss him back. Instead, he turned his head, as if startled by a strange noise. Kai blinked and looked at his companion bewildered, even more so when his companion stood up hastily. His eyes focused on something foreign in the distance. Before Kai could ask what was wrong his savior broke into a run.

"Wait! Come back!" Kai called and chased after him, determined not to lose him. The hillside vanished and before he knew it he was chasing the Dragon Lord through a field covered in long grass and speckled in flowers that curled and blackened as they died. He wasn't sure how long they continued to run, but Kai refused to let the distance between them increase. Finally, his Dragon Lord leaped off the hill and vanished behind it. Kai could see his wings and head peeking over the greenery.

The Dragon Lord had stopped in a small clearing, his back still towards Kai, but his wings had fallen limp behind him.

Kai felt a surge of relief when he made it to the hillside and made to call to Cole, but the words were quickly replaced by a scream. At the base of the small hill lied the corpses of all the members of the castle. Red splotched their bodies and their glassy eyes were all frozen open. Thorny rose vines with withered, blackened blooms contorted around their spread arms and bodies. The corpses of roses and vines littered the area like thorny green skeletons speckled with blood shining like scattered rubies against the black ground.

In the center, where the ring of thorns and dead roses died was a circle of scorched earth, vacant of vegetation.

It was as if life knew better than to dare accumulate in that circle. That was where he found his Dragon Lord shaking and collapsed to his knees as if every movement hurt him. His beautiful wings, reduced to tattered strips of bleached leather, his clothes ripped to shreds and blood speckling the visible skin and scales. He turned to Kai with sad, pleading eyes, as if begging him for help. He was either forbidden to speak or didn't have the strength to.

It was then he heard a laugh like ice cracking on a frozen lake.

Kai's blood froze in his veins. He knew that laugh he followed the crackling sound to the man standing in front of his weakened lover.

"Get away from him!" Kai yelled, entering the clearing. There, he saw the same wine and amethyst-colored clothing and soulless eyes of the man who tried to kill him. Rage boiled in his blood as he suddenly recognized who he was. "You're behind all this!" Kai screamed in fury. The man said nothing. He just smiled a curled, mocking smile that set Kai's blood ablaze. His natural protective instincts and anger took over. Sparks crackled to life in his hands forming flames around his fists.

"Ah, so you've discovered your power, too bad it won't do you any good," He mocked the teenager and Kai saw red.

"I said get away from him!" He screamed throwing his hands forward, palms open and bright hot flames burst from his hands, roaring at their victim. But the man didn't flinch. His smile never faltered. Then he threw back his cape and raised a hand, sending a blast of purple fire back at Kai. The flames collided and he blocked the attack with ease. Kai's eyes bulged out of his skull and the man just laughed. When he brought his hand down again the flames and sparks retracted, forming a giant spell that bounced back towards its source.

Kai barely had time to scream before he was thrown backward with such force he skidded against the ground.

He coughed and groaned, aching from the force of his own attack.

"You can't save them!" The man's voice echoed dramatically around from everywhere. Kai shot up and turned to the closest corpse. Echo was lying only a few inches from Jay with their fingers just shy of touching. He got to his feet and crawled over to the boy's body and gently reached to touch it. He retracted his hand when Cole screamed, falling over and clawing at the ground until his wails transformed into a dragon's cry of agony. Lights clustered together above the victims spiraling into single orbs then blazed through the air all spiraling towards a single center.

Above the screaming and writhing Dragon Lord.

His limbs and back contorted. His spine cracked and the scales of his arms, legs, and back began to spread until they covered his entire form. He was no longer a man, but a dragon. Kai rushed to him, but streaming lights stopped him. The Sorcerer crackled like a madman, his laughter increased in volume as all of the lights came together in his hand. Around him Kai could see the ghost of each victim kneeling over their own corpses, weeping bitterly.

Some of them shrieked from despair, others just looked at him with dead, glassy eyes vacant of all emotion.

"I told you, boy, you can't save them," The Sorcerer chided, mockingly. When the lights died away it revealed the object in his hand. A crimson red wax candle with a bright, flickering purple flame. Kai's heart stopped in his chest when he saw it. His eyes fell on the dragon, writing on the ground. He groaned as he moved until their eyes met. The Dragon Lord's eyes were the only thing that was still human. They pleaded for him to run and save himself.

"He'll never be yours, you know." The Sorcerer said as he walked towards him. Kai took a shaky step away from him suddenly overcome by a nameless fear. The Sorcerer's smirk widened as he stepped closer, his intent naked in his eyes. Kai took another step back and stumbled over his own feet and landed on his butt but he continued to back away from the man. The Sorcerer laughed at his efforts and leaned closer so his eyes burned straight into Kai's.

"Even if you give him your mind and body and soul, he can give you his heart, he can give you his body." He smirked as he gestured with his arm to the ring of corpses, his grip on the candle dangerously tight. "But his soul and theirs belong to me!" He roared and suddenly crushed the candle in his hand...

****************

Electric fear shocked his heart and mind to life and Kai shot up panting. Only when he confirmed he was back in his room, and that the contents of his subconscious experience hadn't actually happened did he calm down. He concluded that it was a dream, running a nervous hand through his damp bangs. Or was it a disturbing premonition? He prayed it was the former and not the latter. Just the thought of it coming true sent a shiver of horror through his spine.

However, when he shivered again, he realized it was from cold.

His hands immediately flew to his shoulders and began rubbing his chest, hoping to bring warmth back to his form. He felt nothing between himself and the blankets confirming his suspicions that he was naked. A jolt of alert brought his senses into focus when he felt something wrapped around his torso and a leathery texture pressed against his back and sides. He had never been modest, but the sudden lover-like embrace sent a blush of embarrassment and fear surging through him.

He couldn't remember how he had to be gotten there.

He knew he had been sick, he still felt the weakness in his limbs and his weary body was abnormally pale. Unfortunately, his last clear memory was falling through the ice when he had been skating with the others, the rest were hazy recollections. He heard a light purring next to him, reminding him that he wasn't alone in the bed. Fear of what he might have done compelled him to simply slip away, but the desire to know compelled him to accept his actions.

Slowly, unwillingly, he turned around and looked down and found himself wrapped in the arms and wings of the slumbering Dragon Lord.

Unable to contain himself any longer, a loud, mortified shriek tore itself from his lungs. The sudden scream zapped Cole to life. He tried to take a battle stance but found the bed he was in too small for his massive form and instead he stumbled and collapsed in a mass on the floor. He swore as he got up, forgetting his lack of dress. He yelped and leaped into the air when his upper back and head were attacked. He whirled around and braced himself for a fight only to discover his assailant was a pillow.

Confused, he followed the source and resisted the urge to laugh when he found Kai bunched up, back pressed against the headboard on the other side of the bed.

He clutched the remaining comforter in his fist and held it to his chest like he was trying to merge the cloth with his skin. His free hand clutched braced himself against the mattress, clutching the sheets so tightly they started to rip. His eyes were narrow in embarrassed rage, his jaw twisted to grit and his face was bright scarlet from shame.

"What the hell are you doing here!" He demanded turning redder when the comforter shifted, revealing some of his skin. He used his free hand to cover it up, still blushing glaring. "Why am I naked? Or a better question is why are you naked? And in my room? In my bed!" Kai shrieked, positive he had a permanent blush on his face by now. Cole didn't answer. He had a blank look on his face, like was he momentarily stunned.

"What?" He questioned then looked down at himself. He grimaced at his own stupidity, scooped his robe off the floor, slid his wings through the slits, and clumsily tied it closed as he walked. It did little to cover him. Kai's heart rate doubled in speed watching the near-naked dragon came closer. Questions that needed answers swam in his mind like fish trapped in a net and Cole's silence only increased his panic. Instinctively, he inched away as the Dragon Lord came closer.

Finally, he backed up too far and he fell straight off his bed and landed on his back, only adding to his humiliation.

Cole paused, waiting for him to get up. When he saw this, Kai scampered to his feet as he took the comforter with him and backed away. He cursed when his back hit the wall. He stuttered an order and pointed at his assailant.

"What are you doing?" He demanded but Cole still didn't answer. His face was still vacant of emotion except for shock. He leaned closer and gently grabbed one of Kai's arms and held him steady despite Kai's yelps and stammering protests. "W-W-Wait! Stop!" He cried as he closed his eyes tightly, and struggled in the prince's grip until he felt the gentle touch of lips against his forehead. His eyes flew open and a small blush dusted his cheeks, but for a different reason.

Before he could question the action, Cole removed his lips and replaced them with the back of his hand.

"Your fever's gone." Cole breathed, still in shock. He double-checked, taking into consideration the temperature differences between them. "You're still a bit warm, but it's definitely gone." He added as the realization suddenly brought another concern to light. "You're awake!" Cole exclaimed as he jumped for joy. Kai's eye twitched in frustration.

"Of course, I'm awake! Why wouldn't I be? Now for the last time, Cole what the hell is going on?!" He growled but once again he never got an answer. Cole suddenly grasped his shoulders and pulling him into a tight, loving embrace like Kai would disappear if Cole loosened his grip. Kai was even more confused now. Cole released him and smiled at the confused boy. "What's going on?" Kai asked again, bewilderment all over his face. Cole stared at him like he was insane.

"You... you don't remember?" He frowned, then he pinched the top of his nose. "Of course, Kai, what's the last thing you remember?" He asked but Kai struggled to remember.

"I was skating with the boys and the ice broke, I think I fell in and, then it was all a blur; I remember a shadow, a light, music, and something... a voice calling out to me, but... I don't know if that was real or if I was dreaming... what does this have to do with anything?"

"Kai, you had hypothermia, you've been asleep for three days." Cole sighed with a grave look. Kai was glad Cole was holding him since if he hadn't been Kai was sure he would have collapsed from shock. "You were unconscious and freezing; everyone was worried sick, but thankfully, my body heat managed to get your core temperature back up." He smiled weakly but one look from Kai cut him off.

"Cole, what happened?" He asked. The sharpness in the boy's eyes and the gravity in his voice demanded the truth. Cole frowned but didn't look away. His face was conflicted. As if it was torn between two decisions that both promised a negative end.

"I dove in to save you, but I thought you were trying to leave so I threw you in the dungeon." He admitted in shame and Kai's eyes widened. "But after reading your gift, I realized how stupid I was and freed you but..."

"But what?" Kai asked, but Cole was hesitant.

"Nothing." He muttered, but Kai wasn't stupid.

"Cole, you saw him, didn't you? The man with the red cloak?" He asked, but it was clearly a statement.

"How do- How do you know?" He stuttered in disbelief.

"The night I... ran away, he... well, he made it obvious what he wanted, when I escaped him he sent that beast on me, didn't he? That's why you came to save me, wasn't it? You knew it was him? He did something again, didn't he? With that monster in the lake?" He explained with a frown like he had been keeping a terrible secret and had no choice but to reveal it to prevent devastation. Cole's hands fell limp at his sides and stumbled backward until he was sitting on the mattress.

He opened his mouth to speak but no sound would come out.

The words died in his throat. Kai's expression hadn't changed. Instead, he leaned over and put a hand on Cole's knee so they were face to face.

"Cole, I need to ask you something, and I need you to tell me the truth alright?" He said as the gravity in his voice was rivaled only his. Cole nodded. He said nothing but his eyes promised Kai the world. "That night, you and I saved each other, tell me... did I kill that monster with fire magic?"

"Yes, you did," Cole answered, sensing the desperation in his plea. Kai didn't look surprised. Instead, he fell to his knees, his arms at his sides, allowing the comforter to pull around his hips. His hair shadowed his eyes, but Cole caught the smile on his face. Cole knelt down in front of him, his wings braced to comfort him, but Kai just chuckled darkly. "So it did happen, that explains it."

"Explains what?" Cole asked confused, gently tilting Kai's chin so their eyes were even. He gasped in surprise when he saw the tears glistening at the base of Kai's lashes, but his twisted smile hadn't faltered.

"Everything," He retorted but regretted it when he saw the worry on the prince's eyes. Kai pulled away from him and pulled himself back so he was leaning against the wall. Feeling cold returning, he pulled the comforter up and wrapped it around his shoulders.

"It was you, Cole, I'd been dreaming about you." He growled as his hands started shaking and he looked at the floor, unable to look Cole in the eye. "After I arrived here, they started becoming clearer and clearer; now... now, I'm convinced somehow they're real, my dreams, my magic," He muttered as he looked at his shaking hands, remembering how it felt when sparks flew between them. "Now, I'm convinced something terrible will happen, and the worst part is that I don't think I can stop it."

Cole couldn't take anymore and rushed to the teen's side.

He gently ceased Kai's shoulders and pulled him closer. He hadn't failed to notice the tears abandoning his face.

"Kai, shush, don't worry about that, they're just dreams." He soothed, stroking Kai's bangs away from his face and gently running the smooth backs of his claws over his cheek to brush away the tears. Kai shook his head and whipped his eyes with his arms, angry at himself for his lack of control, but the tears of fear and sheer helplessness refused to stop.

"They're not dreams, Cole! I was naïve to think they were!" He shouted. The volume and intensity, caused Cole to fall back from shock. Kai's fist shook in rage next to him and his wild eyes were bright with unrivaled certainty. "I know about the curse, Cole," He whispered, trying to look away, but found he couldn't. "I pretended not to because no one likes to talk about it, but I know, and I know him... that man, sorcerer, whoever he is he's behind it, isn't he? If you don't break the curse by spring he's going to take your soul, right!? Tell me!"

Cole said nothing, but his neutral mask spoke more than a thousand words.

"I know no one can reveal the details of the curse or how to break it, even you, but that doesn't matter, I'll find a way." He promised as he shifted his position so he and Cole were face to face. Tears glittered on Kai's eyelashes, but he was smiling, happily, making Cole more confused. "Cole, I don't regret coming here, or choosing to stay; being here with you, the boys, everyone... I've never been happier than I am when I'm here, everyone here is so wonderful; no one's treated me like an outcast."

He paused for a moment, but no doubt or hesitation clouded his voice when he spoke next.

"Whenever I'm with you, I can't explain it but... I'm happier than I've ever been in my entire life." Kai smiled brightly, gently whipping aside a joyful tear. Reading the bewildered and almost blank look on Cole's face the entire time he spoke, Kai didn't know how Cole would react to his declaration. The moment Kai finished his sentence Cole pulled him into his arms and rested his chin on Kai's shoulder. At first, the sudden embrace surprised him, but Kai could feel the warmth and the passion behind it radiating against their bare skin.

"Cole?" Kai questioned, but it was more a statement of happiness than a voice of concern.

"I don't care about that stupid curse," He whispered against Kai's skin. He blinked and gently pulled away, confused. Cole just smiled at him and wrapped his arm around Kai's still covered waist and stroked his cheek. "I mean it, even if I lose my soul; even if I spend the rest of eternity in hell, I don't care! That bastard can do whatever he wants to me, it won't change anything, and do you know why?" He asked, but Kai didn't and Cole smiled again.

"Because I'll always be able to take this with me." He declared and Kai's widened at what the man was implying and a slight pink color rose in his cheeks. Cole chuckled and hugged him tighter. "You've made me happier too, Kai, happier than I'd ever thought possible, I'd given up hope that I'd ever been happy again." He said as he pulled away to look Kai in the eye and pressed their foreheads together. "I'm not going to lose that or throw it away for anything so I promise you, no matter what gets thrown in my way or who stands in front of me, I promise I'll protect you with every fiber of my being, nothing is going to take you away from me, my flame."

Kai didn't know whether to laugh or cry. Tears burst from his eyes and laughter exploded from his mouth.

He threw his arms around Cole's neck and hugged him with such force he was taken off guard and his scaled spine and wings crashed against the bed frame. They both laughed at the action, but when their eyes opened and locked once more, they wasted no time and closed the distance between them. Lips molded perfectly over the other, Kai's arms wrapped tightly around Cole's neck and shoulders. Cole's wrapped around Kai's waist pressing the blanket still wrapped around Kai's hips and torso, closer to his flesh.

One hand stroked up Kai's upper back as his tail twitched at his side.

The kiss slowly turned deeper. His body moving on its own, Cole kept one arm around Kai's waist and the other clutched the bed and hoisted himself up. His arm repositioned Kai so he was holding him bridal style with one arm. Kai's arms tightened their hold on Cole, not wanting to break away just yet. They finally paused to breathe when they fell back against the mattress. Cole took notice at how lovely Kai looked sprawled out beneath him on the bed.

Face flush, one arm level with his head the other at his side, eyes half-lidded with passion, his chest rising and falling with each deep breath.

Seeing that the dragon hybrid above him wasn't moving, Kai leaned forward and kissed Cole passionately. He pulled him closer against him, urging him to move, and Cole obeyed. His body was now flush against Kai's as their arms wrapped around the other. The loose knot of his robe had come undone long ago. The comforter, the only thing separating them, slipped further down Kai's waist until it finally settled just above his hips.

"Rise and Shine you too! Shade made tea!" Neuro suddenly shouted as he burst through the door, balancing a tray with a large steaming teapot and several teacups in one hand and used the other to pry Echo, Nelson, and Jay off his waist. Harumi suddenly shoved the articles she had been holding into Ronin's arms and tried to help pry the servants off Neuro. The sudden commotion brought the two men back to reality. Their eyes flew to the spectacle, which froze the instant it turned its attention to the two on the bed.

All of their eyes flew open at the sight of their Master, robe opened and sprawled on top of their guest, who was in nothing but a bedsheet.

Amber and emerald eyes widened in horror. The servants just stared, too shocked to do anything else. Suddenly, the entire East Wing erupted in eight different, horrifying screams. No one noticed the red eyes peeking through the crack in the curtains...

The Flame and the Dragon Chapter 26

Chapter 26: Cold Concern

Cole's eyes widened as his mind trying to wrap around what he was just told. After he had taken a shivering Kai back to his room, Neuro had examined the brunette, but the news had been grim, to say the least. His skin is still freezing, and his fever wouldn't go down and they couldn't give him anything because he was unconscious and it was too dangerous. Even if they did give him something to bring down the fever, it would only make the hypothermia worse.

It was very dangerous to treat hypothermia using medication.

Too much heat was just a dangerous as too much cold when it came to treating hypothermia. They needed to get the brunette's core temperature back up to a safe level. Unfortunately, that was impossible at this point because they couldn't do it anymore. It required something none of them were able to properly do long enough to bring up his core temperature. They needed body heat. Jay and the others tried to help, but Neuro dismissed them.

Their spirit forms didn't give off any body heat and their creature forms didn't provide enough.

That was when Cole said he would do it. He was the only one of them that was purely physical, and he was a dragon. His body's naturally warmer than a human's. Neuro advised against this, however, saying that Kai's cold body could have serious consequences against the prince's own body heat. Cole ran his claws through his hair, barely nicking his fin-like ears until he heard another haggard cough. His eyes shot to Kai, who was coughing again, barely able to move.

The boys held him down trying to keep him steady.

Cole made up his mind. He walked past Neuro, removed his clothes, and worked off his boots.

"Neuro, take the boys outside and tell everyone what's going on and check on Kai's vitals every so often until he wakes up; take shifts if you must."

"What? No!" Neuro cried. "I mean, it's possible, but what if it doesn't work? Cole's heat might get Kai's core temperature back up, but if he doesn't cool down in time, he could-"

"Would it give Kai a chance?" Cole asked, sitting on the edge of the bed, and gently scooped the protesting fox, bear cub, troll, and naga into his arms. Neuron's jaw dropped.

"Well, yes, but-"

"That's all I need to know," Cole decided, placing Jay and Nelson in Neuro's arms and Ronin and Tox in Echo's.

"This isn't fair, Master! Let us stay too!" Nelson pleaded, squirming to escape his prison.

"No!" Echo chided, gently. "Listen you four, I know you want to help, but the best thing we can do right now is waiting, trust your master." He told them and all four of them opened their mouth to protest, but Echo's smile silences them.

"You better know what you're doing, Cole!" Jay glared, but his worry was visible in his eyes.

"I do, leave us." He told them, undoing his belt. Neuro's eyes narrowed, but he obeyed and followed Echo outside.

"Don't bother with his arms or legs, that'll only work the cold back towards his heart and lungs, focus on his head, his torso, and his groin, and if he doesn't warm up by morning come find us immediately." He warned just before closing the door behind him. When the door shut, Cole stripped the rest of his clothes and slid under the thick cocoon of blankets. He carefully pulled Kai into his warm chest and pressed their torsos together. He hissed when Kai's icy skin touched his.

He bit his lip and pressed Kai's forehead against his collar.

He wrapped a wing around Kai's head and hair, the other around his back and hips. He tucked the covers into every crevice around him, making sure no cold seeped through.

"Kai, I'm sorry." He whispered, hoping his flame could still hear him. He rubbed the young man's back when he started shivering again. He hugged Kai closer. "I'm so sorry I didn't protect you, I never thought... I didn't think that bastard would go this far! I know I should've seen it, but..." His voice broke on the last part, and he had to stop to keep himself from breaking down. He lay his precious flame down again, smiling when Kai stopped shivering, but his skin was still cold, and his fever still high.

He gently kissed the boy's forehead and pulled him closer, wrapping him in his warmth and letting the coolness of Kai's flesh wash over him.

He hadn't realized just how hot he'd been until now. Already he could feel drowsiness overcome him.

"I promise," Cole whispered in Kai's ear. "I promise when you wake up, I'll protect you and I don't care what he throws at me; I'll never let that...that... monster anywhere near you, again! I won't!" Cole hissed as he clenched the blankets at his side, before settling down against the mattress, then the warmth of the cocoon the staff created for Kai and the soothing coolness of Kai's skin, lulling the Dragon Lord to sleep.

"Please... come back to me, Kai." He whimpered as a small tear rolled down his cheek, gently damping the teen's forehead. "I can't lose you too, Kai, I can't..." He said at last before the stress, anxiety, and terror finally took their toll on him and he collapsed into darkness. "I'm not strong enough too."...

****************

Zane sighed as he slid his back against the door to the room his younger brother shared with the three other servants. After a flurry of questions and concerns, panic attacks, and hours of reassurance from Neuro, he had finally got the three boys to settle into an uneasy sleep. He had been annoyed when Echo clamped onto Jay the entire time before finally falling asleep in the fox's arms. But he didn't have the heart to comment on it. There was too much unrest already.

"How are they?" Someone suddenly asked and Zane looked up to see Ronin standing in the hallway.

"They'll be fine, they're just worried like we all are," Zane explained and slouched against the door, anxiety taking its toll on him as well.

"I'm not surprised, who knows what those kids saw," Ronin sighed as he took off his hat and ran a hand through his dark hair, and closed his eyes. Just then Griffin sped in, having listening into their conversation, but Zane and Ronin didn't seem to care.

"Speaking of that, what exactly happened today?" He asked gravely.

"This was more than just a simple ice break wasn't it?" Zane also asked the troll. Ronin's eyes scanned the hallway, double-checking to make sure no one was there and gestured Griffin and Zane to come closer.

"I didn't want to say anything in front of everyone but something doesn't add up," He whispered. "I checked that ice meself and I swear on my life it was at least six inches thick and I think we can all agree there's no way Kai's heavy enough to crack it, let alone fall through, and something else was there, in the lake."

"What?"

"There was this little creepy-looking bird there, it let out this sound that scared Kai's horse and made it break the ice." He explained and Griffin's eyes widened in horror. He turned to the Stewart whose eyes were hard and unreadable.

"Zane?" He gulped but Zane said nothing. Then he closed his eyes and sighed.

"Double the guard, no one is to leave the castle without an escort and at least one of the guards, myself, you two, or the Master." He ordered, his tone leaving no room for argument. "Until winter is over, everyone is confined to the immediate grounds until further notice; if our fears are correct, then we're not taking any chances."...

The Flame and the Dragon Chapter 24

Chapter 24: A Cut Above The Rest

In the dungeon Kai leaning against the wall as he scanned his prison. It was smaller than his bedroom, surprisingly enough, with large stones making up the walls and chains like the ones currently shackled to his wrists hung from the ceiling. There were no windows and the door had a little opening at the bottom where the prisoners were served their food. Kai slowly let out his breath. It didn't puff out in front of him, which was good. It meant that it wasn't overly cold in here.

It was still pretty cold, though.

Goosebumps were prickling along Kai's skin as cold seeped through the thin, damp clothes he was wearing. With a tired grunt, Kai managed to cross his arms over his chest and pulled his legs close. Kai was at Cole's mercy, and knowing him it'd probably be forever before the prince freed him. Much to Kai's shock, however, a part of him still loved Cole, despite what had happened now and before with his siblings. Kai scowled, hugging himself tighter as he shivered.

The dungeon shouldn't be cold enough to be any sort of danger.

Cole wouldn't have locked him in here if it was, but that didn't mean that it wasn't uncomfortable. Kai started to fantasize about different ways of getting Cole back if he was let out as he waited, and waited, and waited. So far, his favorite idea was to dump bright pink glitter on Cole while he was sleeping. Kai's teeth started to chatter loudly. It startled him, and he clenched his jaw to stop it, which just made him all the more aware of how severely the rest of Kai was shaking.

Kai curled in tighter on himself, trying to keep what heat he had left.

It wasn't until Kai's face had gone numb that he reluctantly extracted his hands from where he'd been pressing them against his legs. He winced as the cold started to numb his fingertips. Kai tried to rub some warmth into his legs, but he couldn't feel his hands anymore. Even if he could, they were shaking too much for him to concentrate. He tucked them under his arms, not that it helped much at this point. The cold stone of the wall was leeching heat away from where his back was pressed against it, so Kai scooted farther into the dungeon as far as his chains would allow, still shivering.

He swore under his breath, hugging his legs to his chest and pressing his face into his knees.

He really hoped Cole came to his senses soon and let him out, or at the very least someone would just come and check on him. Then they might see his shivering and possibly give him a blanket of some kind. Kai kept coming up with ways to get Cole back, drawing inspiration from the pranks that Lloyd had played when he was younger. After a long time, Kai blinked, dimly realizing that he had zoned out. He tried to remember what he'd been thinking about before, but his mind was too fuzzy.

He had stopped shivering, but couldn't remember if that was a good thing or a bad thing.

Kai breathed out, letting himself relax a little bit. His muscles ached, not wanting to move. He was really, really tired. He should take a nap. That would be nice. There were sounds, though. They sounded like words, but they were far away. Then all of the sudden they were louder, closer, and Kai could hear them well. Not that he remembered what they meant. As his mind started drifting again, something or someone suddenly released his wrists from the shackles and caught him in their arms.

"Kai?" A timid voice whispered and Kai slowly opened his amber eyes, seeing the worried teary eyes of his friends. He struggled to look up and saw Zane was holding against his chest so he was in a seating position. Harumi suddenly burst into the cell from the open door, carrying a large duvet cover from the nearest bedroom.

"Here you go, darling." She smiled sadly as she wrapped Kai up like a newborn baby. The brunette offered her a grateful smile in return, a little disappointed that it wasn't Cole who saved him from possibly freezing to death in his prison cell. He curled up a little as he soaked up the warmth from the blanket and Zane's body heat. When his body finally regained most of its heat and he had stopped shivering, Kai sat up slightly and turned to his friends.

"Guys, I'm sorry." He said weakly. "Nothing's changed."

"I warned you nothing would change." Shade suddenly said, and everyone but Kai glared at him. "I warned you all that the master would not allow this, I warned you this was all a hopeless folly!" He shouted and Kai winced, looking down in shame at giving them all false hope. "But...I was wrong." He added, surprising everyone. "If we felt lost and lonely, with not a dream in our heads, your words lifted our spirits high."

"Yeah Kai, remember what you said?" Nelson asked with a heartwarming smile, but Kai shrugged, not sure what the boy wanted him to say. "That hope is the greatest of the gifts we'll receive, as long as our shining star shines above." He said and Kai's eyes widened for a second, remembering what he kept telling them and what he had even put in the story for Cole. Kai smiled and pulled the boy into a hug.

"You know what, Kai? I don't need to be human to be happy." Jay said and they all nodded in agreement. True, they missed being human, but as long as they had each other then perhaps everything would be alright.

"I suppose I can do without mistletoe." Shade sighed before suddenly pulling Neuro into a rough, passionate kiss.

"Well, I don't need tinsel." Neuro spat in embarrassment. He might love the cook, but he hated it when Shade got too physical when they were in public.

"Oh, I don't need holly." Shade counted.

"I don't need a wreath." Neuro huffed and his lover snarled. Kai turned to the others, but they didn't look fazed by the row. This sort of thing happened all the time.

"I don't need ornaments."

"I don't need turkey!"

"I don't need stuffing."

"I don't need pudding!" Neuro exclaimed and Shade looked ready to tear his hair out.

"To each his own my love, you know how to get me stressed, but if it comes to making things special I'm a cut above the rest!"

"If you could see facts clearly, you would say that I've been blessed!"

"You can't hold a candle to my timing!" Shade laughed bitterly as he flicked Neuro right between the eyes. Kai saw this as the right time to step in and, with shaking legs, stood up and approached them, still clutching the blanket around him. The couple stopped their fighting and helped to teen stay upright, worry clear on everyone's faces.

"You belong side by side, you should never be apart because if you're both together, you're really twice as smart." He told them both calmly, and the couple all shared a look before a smile appeared on their faces.

"Twice as smart? He does have a point." Shade smirked.

"Yes, well, two heads are better than one I suppose." Neuro agreed and everyone else visibly relaxed that a proper fight hadn't broken out between them. At that moment, however, a large frame suddenly appeared in the still opened door frame, blocking out the light from the hall, and they all turned to see Cole standing there. They all froze in fear when they saw him. None of them were supposed to be in here and Kai was supposed to be shackled up.

Instead of anger, however, the only expression the prince had was one of sadness and regret.

Without even acknowledging the servants, Cole walked to Kai, who was glaring at him and gently took his hands into his scaly ones. Kai made no move to pull away and when he saw the regret in Cole's green orbs his anger melted into pity.

"Can you forgive me?" He pleaded, looking ready to cry before Kai could answer.

"I'm sorry for leaving the castle when I wasn't supposed to,"

"I admit that I overreacted, but I would have been fine if you had just asked from my permission and told me where you were going, but I don't really blame you for that part," Cole replied, giving Jay, Echo, and Ronin a glance and they all gulped. He wrapped Kai in a strong embrace who looked up at him in his soft eyes. Kai felt an ugly combination of grief, heartache, and guilt burning in his heart.

"Does this mean you forgive me?" Cole asked.

"I'll forgive you if you'll forgive me," He replied shyly and Cole's response was cupping his cheek and turning to him.

"Always." He promised and kissed the brunette softly. It wasn't passionate, more like a shaky first kiss where someone didn't quite know what to do. Kai was stunned for a second, but recovered quickly and put a little bit more passion into it, realizing just how much he missed Cole's kisses, even though he might not have gotten many yet. The servants all cheered as their master and Kai reconciled their relationship. As they all celebrated, no one saw an inky black cloud of dark magic seep into the castle as look for the perfect tool of destruction.

It eventually found a large, seemingly abandoned giant pipe organ bolted to the wall.

It seemingly melted into the instrument, turning the grand pipe organ black as night. It suddenly began playing loud music, which shook the castle to pieces...

The Flame and the Dragon Chapter 22

Chapter 22: The Frosty Rescue

"This is the best day ever!" Nelson cheered as they skated around the frozen lake. Everyone was still skating around, except Echo, who was sat on the bank with Kai's horse Flame. Kai couldn't help but agree with the child, really enjoying himself for the first time in years. As much as Kai loved his siblings, they were too busy trying to make ends meet to really have fun, with the odd exceptions of Lloyd. Their little brother was the only light Kai and Nya had in their lives.

The brunette really hoped his siblings were alright without him.

Despite things getting better between him and Cole, Kai still felt trapped within the castle, so it was nice to get out and do something, even if it was just some ice-skating. As they skated around, Echo looked up at the sky and saw the dark clouds rolling in. He frowned at this. He had thought it would be clear skies all day, so where had those clouds come from?

"We'd better hurry back guys, it's starting to get stormy." He called for the others. All four of them groaned in disappointment, but complied and started skating over to Echo and Flame. Kai mounted his faithful horse and the others transformed into their creature forms, and just as Kai was about the ride Flame home, the stallion suddenly froze. They looked past Flame's head and saw a small creature standing in the snow a few feet away from them.

It appeared to be a type of bird.

It had two small wings and four small, clawed legs, with a long tail. It had two eyes that sat lightly in its sockets with a thin, sharp beak. Its skin was thin but strong and it was covered in short, thin feathers. Its feather colors were mostly dark purple and black. It didn't look at all intimidating, being only the size of a tennis ball, but something about it set the others on the edge.

"What is that?" Ronin asked, and that set the creature off. It suddenly let out the loudest, banshee-like scream Kai had ever heard. The sound was so loud it actually hurt their ears. The sound scared Flame and he ran in the opposite direction towards the frozen lake. With the speed, he was running at Flame slipped and this caused him to break the ice, exposing the icy waters below. Kai and the others started to scream as Flame started to try and buck them off him, sending Nelson flying into the air.

He went flying into the water and sank into the darkness.

"Where is he?!" Jay cried as they jumped off the still scared Flame and started desperately looking for the child.

"HHHEEELLLPPP MMMEEE!" Nelson garbled as his head vanished again. Kai saw this and, acting solely on instinct, he jumped into the freezing lake after him. Thankfully Nelson was close to the surface so Kai could grab his arms. Unfortunately, there was a strong current pulling them away from the hole in the ice, and that combined with Nelson's added weight and lack of oxygen meant Kai couldn't swim them to safety. The others saw this and they sprang into action.

"Hold on, guys! We will save you!" Jay cried and they started scanning the ice for the pair. Jay soon found Kai under the ice, banging his fist up against it while his other hand gripped Nelson and his feet kicked furiously under them to keep them afloat. As soon as Jay saw them underneath the ice and called for the other. Ronin rushed over to Jay, pulling out his dagger, and stabbed at the ice, freeing Kai and Nelson. They both emerged from underneath the ice, cough up the water from their lungs and shivering as the cold air froze their sore limbs.

When he regained some strength, Kai fully pulled Nelson out of the water and onto the ice with the others, but he stayed in the water until he caught his breath.

"Oh, Nelson, thank God you're safe." Echo smiled in relief as he checked the child over for any injuries.

"I wasn't frightened." Nelson grinned and they all rolled their eyes. The moment of relief was shattered, however, what the little bird from before suddenly shot up into the air and stared down at the group. Kai felt like he had seen those cold, soulless eyes before. He gasped when he realized those were the eyes of that creepy man Kai had met in the forest where Cole saved him from that monster. Before he could tell the others, the bird dove into the water next to Kai and disappeared into the darkness.

It was so dark the others couldn't see what it was doing, but they could faintly make out a purple glow under the rippling water.

Kai tried to climb out of the lake to safety, but it was already too late. The bird had infected the pondweeds below with dark magic and the plants suddenly shot up underneath him and wrapped around his leg, pulling him back under the water. Kai screamed and clawed at the ice, but it was hopeless. The others all try to pull him back up, but he slipped underneath the surface. Kai struggled against the weeds around his leg, but he couldn't get away.

Suddenly he saw a dark shape floating beside him.

He squinted his eyes to see what it was and almost screamed when he saw it was the creepy man from before, giving him a sadistic and perverted grin. It almost looked like the man didn't need air. As Kai struggled, the man swam forward and suddenly forced a rough and passionate kiss on his tanned lips, catching Kai off guard. When the man finally let him go, Kai reflectively gagged, but instantly regretted it when the air in his lungs was replaced with icy water.

The evil man just smiled as he faded back into the shadows of the water, leaving Kai to his watery grave.

Kai floundered, panicked, and made things worse as he tended to do. He was mad at himself for letting this happen even. Maybe he deserved this for being so stubborn, or not thinking before he acts, or trading places with Nya and Lloyd, or being cruel, or leaving the castle grounds without Cole's permission. He could hear someone shouting his name from the surface, but he couldn't tell who it was. The water garbled the sound, and his hearing seemed to be the first sense to go.

He could taste and smell the dirty lake water choking his lungs, he fell numb to the chill of the temperature, and he saw that this was probably the end for Kai Ash Smith.

Drowning in a frozen lake after not only breaking his promise and being forced to kiss a pervert who was trying to kill. Now there was not any time to appreciate the fact he might've been friends with an actual prince. Not just any prince, but the legendary hybrid Dragon Lord. He coughed causing more water to seep in, and the sheer burn he felt in his chest told him that this was it. In his fading moments, Kai felt something big and strong wrap around him and the water rushed down past him.

All of a sudden everything came back into focus.

Kai hacked up what had to be a gallon and a half of water. Jay and Echo were stood not too far away, both looking rueful and on the verge of crying. Nelson was full-on sobbing into Ronin's shoulder as the troll tried to calm him down. But when Kai did a headcount, he saw they were all standing in front of him and none of them looked wet, with the exception of Nelson. In his exhaustion, he searched to see who had saved him from drowning and realized his feet are nowhere near the ground.

He looked up, finding his body rested in the arms of a large black dragon.

Before Kai could work himself to thank his savior, he saw the burning rage in Cole's green eyes as he looked straight ahead. His scaly face was not giving away his true emotions. Kai wanted to say something, but he felt the cold claws of sleep fighting to claim him. In his muddled state, Kai just assumed he was safe with Cole and retreated to dreamland. He rested his head against Cole's strong chest and falling asleep to the sound of his mighty heartbeat.

Cole huffed frosty air out his nose, but said nothing and started carrying Kai back to the castle on foot.

The others just stood there in a mixer of relief, fear, and sadness as they watched their master carry his pale, almost lifeless, captive back to his prison.

"What have we done?" Jay finally asked in a terrified whisper, but no one had an answer...

****************

Kai shivered as he sat on the floor of the dungeon, his wrists bound about his head in black, rusted chains. His eyes were closed and his head hung low as the cold stabbed into his tanned skin like tiny needles. A large granite door with a tiny barred window marked the only entrance to this dungeon's cell. Beyond the door was a large, dark, damp room. The cell they were in was full of rusty chains, rubble, and rat droppings. A single, dim torch allowed him to see carved out words in the stone walls, faded and forgotten by time itself, but Kai couldn't make out what they said.

When they returned to the castle, Cole had the brunette checked over to make sure he wasn't seriously injured.

Once he was sure Kai would leave, he dragged the teen to the dungeons and imprisoned him there. He didn't even bother to change Kai out of his torn, soaked clothes, and this caused Kai to shiver even more. The prince was now standing in the doorway, glaring down at Kai with burning green eyes. He hadn't said a word to Kai since he saved him, and that alone scared the teen more than anything so far.

"You said you'd never leave." He finally said, hurt, anger, and betrayal echoing through the cell.

"I-I-I wasn't trying to l-l-leave, I j-j-just wanted to have s-s-some fun w-w-with the others." He stuttered out, his entire frame shaking from the freezing air. He had thought that Cole might not have been pleased to learn he had left, but he had thought that he could reason with him and smooth it over when he learned that he had gone with Jay, Echo, Ronin, and Nelson and that he was planning on coming back. Unfortunately, Cole wasn't in an understanding mood or sympathetic to his suffering.

"You broke your word and for that, you will rot in this dungeon forever!" He snarled and stormed out the cell without another word. He made sure to slam the cell door as hard as he could as he left, the sound echoing loudly through the entire dungeon and causing Kai to flinch in fright, still not opening his eyes. As he listened to Cole stomping away, Kai couldn't stop the tears raining from his tightly closed amber orbs. He should have known better than to hope.

Cole would never be anything but a monstrous beast...

The Flame and the Dragon Ch19

Chapter 19: The Gift

The cold wind bit mercilessly at Kai's exposed neck and cheeks. It had been snowing heavily for almost a week and snow blanketed the landscape once the blizzard ceased. Thick icicles hung from the balconies and roofs of the castle, and snow caked the roofs and towers. But the frosted surface, open fields of white hills, and frosted trees created the perfect environment for the playful staff. White, fluffy snow crunched loudly beneath his fur-lined paddock boots.

Harumi gave Kai a new pair of thick leather riding breeches and a long-sleeved, form-fitting, dark crimson turtleneck.

Over the outfit, he wore a long, red fur coat that covered most of his skinny frame. Soft fur tickled his skin and snuggly hugged the warmth to his body while the leather exterior managed to block any wind that dared try and penetrate it. Kai spun around a couple of times admiring the new coat from all angles and wondering what Cole would think if he saw him in it. Flame trotted beside him, overjoyed to see his master again. Nelson was running around the castle grounds with them, excited to see and touch a real-life horse for the first time in over a century.

The stallion was happy to let the boy pet him and ride on his back.

He always loved attention, just like his owner. The horse suddenly snorted into Kai's spikey hair and rubbed against his arms. He sniffed Kai's jacket and started digging through it Kai laughed at the treatment and pulled a juicy red apple from his pocket. He grinned as Flame's dark eyes lit up and he carefully snatched the apple from his master's hand and devoured the tasty treat. When he was finished he licked Kai's cheek, making the teen laugh loudly.

None of them noticed Cole admiring them from the balcony, watching the stallion triumphantly gallop across the snow-covered plains.

A small smile was on Cole's face when he watched Flame play with Kai and Nelson. His main focus was on his captive, though once in his thoughts the word no longer seemed appropriate. He felt a small jump in his chest when Kai smiled and laugh when Nelson tried racing Flame. Cole realized that was the first time he'd ever truly seen Kai smile or laugh. The teenager smiled brilliantly and laughed alongside Nelson as he had never before experienced something so enjoyable in his life.

It was a stark contrast to the feisty character he'd become accustomed to.

Just the sight of Kai's warm smile he'd kept hidden from him melted Cole's frozen heart. His breath hitched being suddenly exposed to the most innocent and blissful side of the otherwise resolute and world-hardened young man. For a brief moment, Cole would've given anything to have Kai smile at him like that. Subconsciously, his hand touched his bandaged torso beneath his opened coat. He hadn't bothered wearing a shirt under it, in case Kai insisted he changes the bandages again.

The wound had fully healed by now.

It had taken much longer than he thought it would have, and had no doubt it could've been a lot worse, had it not been for the teen's persistence. Cole had never felt this way before. His claws subconsciously moved to his chest as if feeling his heartbeat for the first time as it thundered in his chest. He sighed in frustration and started back towards his room, and down the stairs. Cole collapsed into his favorite chair at the head of the dining room table and sank to the seat.

His hands started massaging his temples in a desperate act to help him think but it did little to help.

His attention turned to the wide window, the curtains were drawn open. He could only faintly see the dots of his captive and his servants, but that perfect smile Kai had worn so effortlessly burned vividly in his mind. He sighed and collapsed his upper body against the table. A small stab of pain filled his chest at the realization that he was probably the only one who hadn't had the honor of seeing Kai smile like that. Or maybe he had and didn't realize it.

He had felt this foreign emotion for reasons he assumed was simply because he hadn't had time to focus on them.

When he saw Kai today, playing in the snow with Nelson he'd normally just think it was childish or idiotic when the only thing they'll do is get cold and wet, but he'd never felt this way before. Like he'd do anything to him smile like that all the time. With that thought, Cole rose to his feet, eyes bright with determination. He wanted to do something for him and not as a thank you or a repayment, just for the hell of it. He'd heard through the grapevine that Kai loved books, though the statement didn't surprise him.

It seemed natural that Kai would possess an artistic soul.

An idea formed in Cole's mind, forming a grin. With that, he turned around and burst from the room, radiating an aura that could rival the people playing outside in the snow...

****************

After putting Flame back in the stables and Nelson had said goodbye because he had some chores to do, Kai had intended to go and find someplace to get warmed up again and rid the cold from his bones. That is until Cole suddenly pulled him aside and said that he had something to show the teen. Kai was confused by that, but his curiosity won and he followed close behind the Dragon Lord as they walked to his surprise. Neither of them said anything.

It was like when Kai first arrived at the castle, but there was now hardly any tension between them.

Kai recognized the way to the ballroom, only instead of entering, Cole continued walking, so Kai followed him. The brunette looked around at the area of the castle he had yet to explore. Large curtains pooled like waterfalls of gold and silver around the enormous windows. The pale moonlight poured through them illuminating the different posed dragon statues standing in between each window. The hallway ended in front of two curved-shaped ivory doors outlined in gold, beneath a glittering emerald tapestry embroidered with a huge silver tree.

Cole suddenly came to a stop and Kai barely managed to stop walking straight into the hybrid's back.

He opened his mouth to speak, but again was cut off, this time by a sudden blackness wrapping around his eyes.

"Cole, what are you doing?" He asked as his hands instinctively moved to remove the blindfold, but Cole stopped him.

"It's a surprise, and I can't have you spoiling it by peeking." He said, loosely tying the cloth securely around Kai's eyes. He kept his paw on Kai's hands. Kai sighed and let Cole guide him.

"Can't you trust me by now? What if I promise not to open my eyes?"

"I do trust you, but I also know your curiosity has a nasty little habit of always getting the better of you." He admitted. The scream of wooden doors opening filled Kai's ears. Temporarily blinded, he let Cole guide him inside the mysterious room. They stopped in the middle of the room, and Cole let go of his hands.

"Can I take this thing off now?" Kai said more impatiently than he meant to sound, but there was anxiousness that didn't go unnoticed by Cole.

"Not yet." He whispered. A swoop sound and a gust of wind was his only warning, followed by the screech of reeling curtain holders. The light brightened the darkness covering his eyes and Kai wondered if that was moonlight.

"Now?" He asked with the anticipation of a child waiting for a birthday present. A loud thump was his answer.

"Now," Cole said as he carefully cut the blindfold and moved so he could see Kai's reaction. Kai kept his eyes closed for a second, momentarily fearing what he was going to see but his enthusiasm won and they slowly opened, then bulged with joy. A gasp of delight escaped his mouth and his cheeks flushed with happiness. He spun around taking in the wonder around him and resisted the urge to pinch himself in case he was dreaming all of this.

"This is incredible!" Kai breathed, his amber eyes alive and bright with childish wonder as they took in his special surprise. He was in the largest, most magnificent library he had ever seen. The room was enormous and rectangular with a roof that curved to a slope. Books lined all four of the walls so tall ladders were placed on them in intervals. The shelves were separated only by two enormous stained glass windows stretching all the way to the ceiling.

The moonlight illuminating them in a way the sunlight never could.

In the corner, an elegant golden staircase with spiral patterns carved into the wooden banisters spiraled to a second floor, an entire open circle overlooking the first floor. The bookcases on the second level, looped together like a giant circle stopping just at the base of a huge mural painted in rich detail upon the ceiling. A midnight blue dotted with silver stars with bigger ones forming constellations, whose true forms were painted in brilliant gold lines.

On the ground floor, globes were dotted around as well as several couches and chairs.

Two or three large desks made from giant smoothed slabs of stone made a suitable workstation on either side of the room. Two bookcases stretched from the walls stood on either side of an enormous white marble fireplace trimmed with gold and interline with black onyx. Just above it behind the banister of the second floor rested another huge stain glass window. Only this one was arched and was decorated with the symbol for the Tree of Knowledge.

But what stunned Kai the most were the books.

They were different from the ones he was used to. Each book was an antique, bound in velvet, leather, or hardcovers with thick hinges. Some had locks while others had jewels embedded in the cover. Older volumes had simple plain leather or velvet coverings with only the title on the side. Others were painted a vibrant blue, red or green. Age had dulled the colors, but none of them lost their wisdom. Upon closer inspection, he noticed each elegantly carved bookcase had a sliding glass cover protecting the books from air and moisture.

Even the second floor has multiple glass doors despite the circular shape, showing him these books had not just been well-used but loved and cared for.

Kai practically jumped with excitement, before bolting around and pouncing on Cole in a hug so sudden he almost fell over.

"I take it you like it?" He laughed.

"I love it! I've never seen so many books in my life, or such an amazing place, I mean look at this!" The teen beamed as he raced around like a kid in a candy store, admiring each shelf, each globe, each desk, the fireplace, then bolting up the spiral staircase and exploring the entire top section. He moved so fast Cole got dizzy following him.

"Thank you!" Kai smiled when he came back downstairs, and hugged him tightly. "Thank you! Thank you so much!"

"I'm glad you enjoy it." Cole's smile brightened. Kai's face was almost an exact mirror of the one he'd seen earlier. "Because it's yours." He added and Kai gasped in shock. He examined the hybrid's face for any hint of lies, but when he saw none, the brunette squealed in delight as he wrapped Cole in a tight hug.

"Oh, thank you so much!"...

The Flame and the Dragon Ch18

Chapter 18: The Truth

Kai stumbled as he carried the bundle of clean sheets and thick curtains in his arms while balancing a bucket filled with bars of soap, clothes, and oil polish. Despite taking him back to the castle and tending to his injuries, Cole still gave him punishment for breaking his promise and left the castle grounds. Cole only told him to clean the Lord's room and as a reward, he would let the brunette go for a ride on Flame, who was being pampered in the stables by the staff.

Immediately, he dreaded the job but the thought of seeing Flame sent a wave of joy through him.

Kai chuckled to himself. He couldn't deny it was nice being able to spend time with Cole without having to worry about setting off his temper or arguing with him, but if Cole thought he would be that easy to win over, he was sadly mistaken. His eyes lit up at the challenge until the weight of the objects in his arms brought him back to reality. He groaned in annoyance as he reminded himself of the task at hand. When he found Cole's room again, he was surprised to find the door open and the room empty.

He set the items on a clean-looking spot and dug out the bucket, oil varnish, and a half-melted cake of soap.

He dumped the soap in the bucket and filled it with water from the bathroom, and poured a generous amount of varnish into the water. Supplies in hand, he turned to his opponent and glared. His eyes darted from the dusty furniture to the smudges on the wall, the glass, and furniture scattered across the floor. Fortunately, the sheets had done their job, the couches and chairs were free of dirt. He set the bucket on the floor and fished out the leather gloves the servents had given him and slipped them on, refusing to risk cutting his hands.

Carefully, he gathered the scraps and put them in a pile out of the way until he could figure out what to do with them.

Fortunately, none of the pieces were too heavy or large, but the tiny scraps littered the floor. Dropping to his hands and knees, he meticulously scanned the floor until he'd moved every visible scrap to a harmless location. He sighed and fell back on his knees, pulling off his gloves and tucking them into his pocket. Not wanting to ruin any more clothes, he slipped off his jacket and placed it on a nearby chair. He tied a clean cloth around his mouth to keep away the dust.

He grabbed the bucket, the rags, and the rest of the equipment and began attacking the layers of dust covering the furniture.

Painstakingly, he dug into each crevice, leaving a glossy trail in his wake. By the time he finished the furniture, the dust and holes caked the rag, making it useless. He fished out another cloth and attacked the walls. He growled as higher smudges mocked his height and stretched on his toes, scrubbing the black smudges, fiercely. His arm screamed with each stroke. When he couldn't bear the pain, he finally receded and switched hands letting his sore arm fall limp at his side.

He exhaled deeply in liberation an hour later from exhaustion.

His eyes wandered from the pale spots on the wall to the smudges on the floor. Groaning, he dunked a thicker rag in the bucket and carpet and brushed with passion. He stopped and wiped the sweat from his brow, his arms ached with stiffness. When the last smudge faded, leaving bright blue in its wake, he threw the destroyed cloth in the bucket and struggling to lift it. His muscles screamed at him until he dumped his burden in Cole's bathroom sink.

Free at last, he rewarded himself by collapsing in the nearest piece of furniture which turned out to be the bed.

He sighed in relief and let gravity sink his body into the softness of the bed, his arms liquefying with numbness when he tried to move them. His legs dangled over the bedside. A smirk of victory crossed his face. Now all he needed to do was replace the sheets and he was done. He lost count of how many hours he'd been working. For all he knew, he'd been asleep most of the morning and it was already late afternoon. He wasn't sure he cared anymore.

Finally, his body gave and he closed his eyes in relaxation.

"Damn, did you do everything?" A voice suddenly said. Kai's eyes popped open. He jumped in surprise and whirled around just in time to see Cole standing in the doorway balancing a tray of food in his hands. His eyes scanned the room from top to bottom, raising an impressed brow. "You did a nice job."

"Thank you." Kai smiled as he stood on his feet, stumbling slightly from the heaviness of his body. "I still have to do the sheets before I can see Flame, right?" He asked hopefully. Cole frowned and gestured towards the window. Kai's heart sank. Darkness had already crept across the sky, and the last traces of sunlight were the deep purple and reds of dusk. "That's impossible! I only lied down for a few minutes!" He protested, his eyes unintentionally drawing him to the window, pressing his forehead against the glass.

"You must've fallen asleep," Cole concluded, looking around the room again. "Not that I blame you, you certainly did more than I expected."

"Damnit! All that work for nothing!" Kai cursed and pressed his head against the glass hard enough for the sound to echo. Cole almost laughed at the teen's mild tantrum.

"Now you will have the entire day to spend with your horse, and it's supposed to be nice tomorrow." He said as he sat the tray on the table, strolled over to the teen, and gently grasped his shoulders. Kai was taken aback when he was pulled from his position and guided towards the table. He took a seat in a chair that was far too big for him. His stomach sang with glee at the sight of the food Shade must've prepared for him. The thick aroma of spices and meats caused his mouth to water.

"Now eat before it gets cold, otherwise you'll give Shade a heart attack," Cole said, motioning for the teen to eat up. "Besides, I know for a fact you haven't eaten since yesterday and you're much too thin as it is." He teased and Kai surrendered, his eyes widening as he took in what Shade had prepared. A large bowl of thick tomato soup with a plate of bread spread with garlic and herbs and mushrooms boiled in butter formed the appetizers. A whole hen baked to a golden brown and dressed with chestnut and hazelnut stuffing formed the centerpiece.

A separate plate of roasted eggs, potatoes sprinkled with parsley and a plate of biscuits sat next to it.

A bottle of light blackberry wine and two jeweled encrusted goblets completed the meal. He wasted no time, and dove for the closest thing he could find. Devouring the soup, a biscuit, and the spread toast, he moved onto the mushrooms. He ate half the chicken before Cole grabbed his hand and offered him a goblet of wine.

"Slow down before you choke." He commanded. He swallowed a mouthful of food and blushed, mortified by his bad manners.

"Sorry, I guess I was hungrier than I thought." He apologized, taking the goblet. He sipped the wine, noticing Cole had not moved except to stop him. "Aren't you going to eat anything?" he asked, concerned. Cole's eyes widened. His face too confused to respond as if he'd never been asked such a question. "Here, there's more than enough here for two." He suggested, offering the plate of mushrooms.

"I... I don't need to eat."

"But... you do eat, don't you?"

"I can, I just don't need to."

"So, in other words, just because you don't need to do something, you don't do it?"

"Exactly."

"That sounds boring," Kai commented, taking an empty plate and set one of everything on it, then filled the second glass with wine. Cole opened his mouth to question the action only for Kai to place the plate and goblet in front of him. Cole stared at the food with confusion, then back at the grinning teenager.

"Did you not hear what I just told you?"

"I heard you, but you can still eat and Shade's food is delicious, I can't eat all of it and he'll be crushed if we throw some of it out."

"I just told you, I don't need to eat." Cole snapped, biting back his annoyance. "If there's no point to things, why do them?"

"Haven't you ever just done something for the sake of doing it?" Kai interrogated, trying to keep his voice civil. "If not for any other reason than because you can, or to have fun, or to try something new?" He asked and to emphasized his point, he picked up the plate and held it closer to Cole. "When was the last time you actually tasted something? I'll bet one bite and you won't stop."

"Why does it matter?" Cole replied harshly, snatching the plate away and setting it back on the table. "If I don't need something, then what's the point? It's such a waste if something isn't done for a purpose."

"It's not a waste! It's not poison and besides, you not eating means it will go to waste and your staff would've worked hard for nothing." Kai scolded, gesturing with a swing of his hand to address everyone who wasn't in the room.

"I adore my staff, thank you very much, but I doubt my lack of appetite bothers them," Cole answered in a dry tone. "They still eat, though I fail to see the reason why, and regardless, they have always found other ways to entertain themselves in the past." He snarled. Kai's brow narrowed but he had a mischievous smirk on his face.

"But not what they want to do, so everyone else is denied their wants solely because you have nothing better to do but wallow in your room? No wonder you're so grouchy all the time, you must bore yourself to death."

"You really don't know when to bite your tongue, do you?"

"Well spare me for trying to bring a little sunshine to the doom and gloom you call your life." Kai protested, getting to his feet. "I just don't understand you, you have an entire castle here, people who adore your company, and all you do is lock yourself in this room and break things! It's like you purposely go out of your way to make yourself miserable and everyone worries themselves sick because of it." He glared and Cole was on his feet in an instant, anger in his eyes.

"I have my reasons and they are none of your concern nor anyone else's." He countered harshly and turned left. Using his smaller stature to his advantage, Kai cut in front of him, forcing Cole to look at him.

"It is my concern and everyone else's when everyone worries about you." Kai protested passionately. "All the time I hear everyone worrying over you and wondering why you've never left your room; the last two weeks, all they did was ask me what happened to you, and ever since I arrived here, I've been wondering what I did to make you so angry with me!" He blurted out. Cole's expression dropped. The anger from before had vanished, leaving Cole's face a mask of neutrality.

Kai froze and bit his lip as an awkward silence passed between them.

His eyes hadn't left Cole's but he felt himself shaking slightly beneath that gaze. Finally, Cole shook his head, a line formed on his lips.

"If you're referring to the incident in the ballroom, you can relax, I'm not angry at you for that; our... conversation just brought up a few bad memories and I overreacted and your rudeness did little to soften my temper so we were both at fault and it's done." He replied and Kai wobbled a bit, almost sick with relief, but another question came to mind. He opened his mouth to ask, but he bit it back. The rift between them was already large enough.

"What is it?" Cole ordered, curiosity softening the command.

"Nothing," Kai replied, lowering his gaze.

"You wanted to ask me something," Cole observed. Kai didn't look up until the tip of the dragon's tail curled beneath his chin. Cole's arms crossed over his chest, an amused smile crossed his face as he leaned over to meet Kai's eye level. "I know from past experience what happens when your curiosity isn't satisfied, so ask." He said humorously, but there was forcefulness as well. Kai had never been afraid of Cole before the previous night, and he wasn't now, but the knot in his gut twisted.

His voice felt like it vanished.

He froze in place, enthralled by the desire to see what was beyond those emerald depths but the fear of adding another layer to the barrier between them was equally as strong. As if sensing the teenager's dilemma, Cole's expression softened. "Whatever it is, I promise I won't get upset." He added. The statement broke the enchantment. Kai closed his eyes and exhaled a breath.

"Is that your family?" He asked. Completely blown away, by the statement Cole's face dropped to one of flabbergasted silence

"What do you mean?" He asked in a breathy voice, releasing Kai from his grip. His tail curled nervously at his feet. Kai swallowed, almost too afraid to ask, but knowing it was too late, his eyes wandered to the painting on the other side of the room. The cloth had been removed when he changed it and now it was open and visible beneath its glass case.

"The painting over there, are they your family?" He asked with concerned eyes, silently praying he hadn't unintentionally tread into forbidden territory. Cole didn't answer, but the look of conflict on his face spoke for him. He was torn between anger, anguish, and something else. Kai opened his mouth to apologize but Cole raised a hand.

"Don't apologize, you were only curious." He said quickly, silencing any apology. Cole swooped past him, quickly strolling to the balcony, and braced himself on the table where the candle rested. His claws sank into the table as he gave a heavy sigh.

"It's alright if you don't want to say anything." Kai blurted out quickly, his mind racing for some way to repair the rift he knew he'd increased. Cole shot up and the second his eyes met Kai, the teen looked at the ground. "I won't pry into your private life."

"It's not that!" Cole said quickly, hoping to remove the young man's unwarranted guilt. "You've done nothing wrong, it's just something I've come to accept; I know I can't change it no matter how much I wish I could, so I've just accepted it." He explained, turning his back to Kai, who looked at him with wide eyes. Realization at their misunderstanding dawned on him, and he shook his head, turning his attention back to the painting then Cole.

"Are you talking about the curse?" He asked, without thinking. Cole shot up, completely astounded by the statement. He knew the boy knew who he was, but he was forbidden to speak of the details nonetheless.

"I read it in a book," Kai explained with a small smile. "The librarian gave it to me, it's my favorite book." He explained, trying to stifle a laugh at the jaw-dropped expression on Cole's face. "I didn't believe it at first, but it told about this castle, the prince who lived here, the sorcerer who cursed him for no sin other than wanting to protect his kingdom; I wasn't even sure it was real until I saw you for the first time and I later found out Zane wrote it."

"I don't believe this," Cole muttered as he collapsed in a nearby chair, his face a mask of pure shock.

"It wasn't that difficult to figure out, everyone does a horrible job of hiding it every time I ask about it, how dense do they think I am?" He explained with a laugh.

"It isn't that, they can't tell you." He explained, noticing the cute look of confusion on Kai's face. "It is part of our curse, no one can reveal the details of it or how to break it to an outsider; Zane is the only exception because he wrote it down." He laughed to himself at the irony.

"Wait, you mean you knew about it?"

"Yeah, who do you think gave him permission to do so?" Cole laughed, standing up. He hooked a hand around Kai's arm, pulling him to his feet with such swiftness their eyes met again. "I was joking at the time, I'm glad he took me seriously."

"Yes, but that still doesn't answer my question." He replied. "Is that your family? You don't have to tell me about them, I just wasn't sure; they look a lot like you, so I just assumed." He added gently. Cole's face was unreadable as he let Kai go. His eyes darted back to the painting of the happy family safely locked away behind the glass, carefully taking in every detail.

"Why do you want to know?" He asked his voice stoic and his eyes absent of emotion.

"Because I want to get to know you." He answered honestly. His eyes and voice held true conviction, not a flicker of doubt. "The real you, not the character I read in a book or the façade you put up to keep people away, I want to know the real Cole." He said passionately. Finally, Cole closed his eyes and shook his head with a small smile at the boy before him. He walked past Kai with a commanding aura. Kai's gaze followed him until he saw Cole had stopped in front of the painting.

His claws gently glided over the glass and gently caressed the cheek of the girl in the painting.

"My mother was the sweetest person you'd ever meet." He sighed sadly. "She had a heart of gold and a temper to match, do not mistake her though, you would not wish to anger her in fact, those who did often wish they hadn't but she was fair in her discipline; all children in the kingdom she considered her own and it was her personal duty to help all the orphans in any way she could; there was not a soul you could find who didn't love her and I doubt there was anything about her you couldn't love."

"She sounds so kind."

"She was a firm ruler, a tough woman, and a very strict parent." He smiled and, for a moment, Kai swore it was the smile of a child longing for his mother. "My father loved us with every fiber of his soul but he was always willing to sacrifice his own time and happiness for the good of his kingdom." He continued. "He didn't sit around and let officials do the work for him and when something needed to be built or when there was a battle, he was there; he always said a King is only as good as the people who follow him and he never asked his people to do anything he himself wouldn't do." Cole paused for a minute to chuckle at the memory.

"That's a good thing to teach."

"That was the first lesson he taught me; respect for my people." The Dragon Lord smiled at the memory. "I hated it when I was younger; always having to go into town and work, but my father was firm with me, especially in his discipline; despite his duties, however, he always made time for us, and every day, he'd take my sister and I horseback riding or he'd educate us on what it meant to be King; he wasn't there as much as I would've liked, but I also understood his reasons." He sighed heavily.

Kai felt his heart jump as he heard Cole speak, never before had he spoken so kindly, so happily.

It was like he was living a dream and nothing else mattered. He stood up and strolled over to his side.

"They sound wonderful." He smiled, recalling his own parents before they passed away.

"They were."

"Is that your sister?" Kai asked, gesturing a hand to the young girl in the image. Cole didn't answer at first. Instead, he knelt down to meet the eyes of the girl.

"I loved my sister the most, even though she was adopted." He replied.

"She was disowned by her original guardian, but it didn't matter to me or my parents; she was my sister and she meant the world to me, I adored her and she looked up to me and I promised her I'd do anything to protect her." His voice was bright with adoration that Kai swore could only rival his own love for Lloyd. "She was so young." His voice faded to a whisper as his forehead pressing against the glass. "She did nothing wrong." He mumbled. His claws clenched, scratching the glass.

"Neither did you," Kai added, with a small grin of understanding. "Is that why you lock yourself away here? To punish yourself?" He asked and the dragon hybrid looked up. Fierce emeralds bore straight into concerned ambers. The younger held still, not pressuring him but waiting for an answer.

"Why are you so persistent?"

"Why do you avoid answering me?" Kai persisted, his glare hardening. "Am I correct?"

"It doesn't matter," Cole huffed before he turned around and started towards the door, his tail wrapping around Kai's waist gesturing for him to follow. Kai dug his heels into the ground, wincing as the scaly appendage tightened. He bit his lip to keep from crying out. Cole tugged on him, but the stubborn teen remained firm, refusing to back down. Finally, Kai slapped the appendage away and glared at the king. Cole winced, more shocked than angry by the strike.

"What is the matter with you?" He demanded harshly, moving to grab the teen, but Kai evaded his talons, refusing to let time repeat.

"Why is it so hard to answer me?"

"Why does it matter?" He growled at the teen's boldness, his tail whipping at his side, filling the room with loud smacks every time it struck something. "Go back to your room, Kai, you're done here." He ordered, pointing to the door.

"I am not leaving until you answer me!" He shouted and Cole saw red. Before either of them could react he roughly grabbed his upper arm and pinned him against the glass, but not hard enough to hurt him, only immobilize him.

"You are the most stubborn person I have ever met!"

"Funny, I was just about to say the same thing about you! Now let go of me, this instant!" He yelled as he wrenched his arms, but Cole harshly tugged him closer, making him wince.

"You know nothing about me!" The dragon hybrid snapped, shaking the teen slightly.

"That's exactly my point!" Kai argued, clawing at the man's talons with his free hand, in a weak attempt to earn release from his captor's grip, digging his heels into the ground. "You only tell me about everyone else, but you never say anything about yourself! And when I ask you why you stay here, you change the subject or avoid it? Why! You did nothing wrong! So why are you punishing yourself for a crime you didn't commit?"

"You think I don't know that!" Cole exploded, with such force that Kai went silent. Slightly afraid of the mad anger in the Lord's face, Kai stopped his resistance, paralyzed. He put up no resistance as Cole forcefully pulled him closer. "I know I did nothing wrong! I know there was nothing I could've done! Is it better knowing I could do nothing but watch as my entire family vanished right before my eyes and I could do nothing to save them? That I could do nothing to stop the monster who stole them from me from turning me into this repulsive creature? Yes, I'm well aware of that!"

A disturbing silence fell between them, disturbed only by Cole's heavy breathing.

Slowly, regaining his composure, Kai's gaze softened, and his voice civilized.

"So you are punishing yourself." He concluded in an expressionless voice. He'd braced himself for a blow, expecting Cole to strike him, or yell at him once more, but he did neither. Instead, he responded in the last way Kai expected him to. He laughed. Low pearls rolled off his lips like small dark chuckled, before finally erupting into a triumphant burst of hysterics.

"You think I blame myself for that?" Cole mocked, still laughing. "I'd have to be a damned fool to even think that? Why should I when I know the real culprit?" He asked, breathless from laughing. The Dragon Lord then released him and with a shove, more powerful than he intended, threw the teen back into an armchair he'd backed himself against. Kai hissed at the treatment, but his eyes never left Cole's. Cole strolled across the table, bracing himself against an opposite chair, his head hung low as he continued to laugh.

"You really want to know?" He asked with sadness. Regaining himself, Kai nodded, suddenly alert.

"So persistent, fine I'll tell you." Cole chuckled darkly and his voice drifted off. "I stay here because it's easier this way; it's safer, keeping everyone at arm's length so they can't abandon you because they can't stand the sight of you and they can't insult you or turn you away despite all you've done for them because you're a monster; I've done nothing wrong, but still the world rejects and repulses me; I've long accepted I'm a monster." He explained.

Bitter sarcasm drenched his retort with venom.

Each anguished word, poisoned with a frightening familiarity, all while Kai absorbed each brutal word.

"I just don't like being reminded what I already know." He concluded. "It's just safer this way."

"You fool!" Kai protested in a tone so sharp, Cole shot up. Kai's eyes were locked on the floor, his hands balled into fists at his sides and his frame shook violently with rage. "You're a fool, Cole!" He exploded.

"How dare you!" Cole erupted, rage and betrayal in his voice. He was a fool for accepting sympathy.

"Yes, I dare!" Kai countered, stepping forward until he was face to face with the hybrid. "How dare you just give up!" He paused, voice shaking with anger as he tried to find the right words. "You were betrayed, shunned, and abandoned, I don't blame you for that! But how dare you give in to those accusations! So what?! Just because a bunch of heartless traitors shun you and tell you you're a monster that automatically makes it true? When do you ever listen to anyone but yourself!?" He demanded angrily.

Cole's talons ceased the teen by his shoulders and lifted him off the ground, growling with rage.

"You know nothing! You don't know anything that I've been through! You have no idea what it's to be shunned and hated for nothing! You have no idea!" He bellowed so loud Kai was sure the whole castle shook. Kai flinched at the words, not by the harshness in the man's accusation but by its inaccuracy. He shoved the man off him, so hard, Cole was taken aback by the force and stumbled backward. His legs hit those of the armchair and he fell back, but before he could forget, Kai braced his hands on either arm, pinning the man beneath him.

Stunned by the sudden action, Cole froze, paralyzed by the ferocity and gravity in the intense gaze.

"You think I don't know what it's like to be hated? To be shunned and mocked through no fault of my own? Do you think I don't feel something when I see the way people look at me and whisper about me as I walk by? You don't think I know they think I'm a freak! Just because everyone agrees I'm some brazen youth whose only purpose in life should be to marry some pompous aristocrat, live in a gilded cage, and raise spoiled children until I croak means I should accept it and do it?" His shaking grew work as he spoke.

Passion and rage consumed him, and he narrowed his eyes, biting back the tears threatening to fall.

"At least I don't give up! At least I don't just give up and accept what everyone thinks! Because they're wrong! And I know they are! Even if they all agree, even if everyone and everything thinks you're something doesn't mean you are, right? Even if they drill it into your skull, even if they convince you you're a monster or a freak! That doesn't mean it's true!" He finished screaming, his entire body shook violently. Without bothering to wait for a reaction from the stunned Lord, Kai pulled back and turned to leave, knowing he couldn't keep himself in control any longer.

He didn't get far.

In a flash, Cole blocked the man's path with his wings, carefully placing a talon on his shoulder, and gently turned him to face him, but Kai refused to meet his gaze.

"Kai, wait!" Cole called softly. When the teen looked up, Cole's eyes widened. Tears streaked the teen's face like transparent rivers. Droplets accumulated on Kai's chin until they finally dropped to the floor or dampened Cole's claws.

"What!" The teenager snapped, harshly, furiously rubbing away the signs of his weakness. Even with tears falling from Kai's eyes, fire blazed in them. Those same indomitable eyes he adored, at first sight, blazed with so many emotions at once. Anger, anguish, sympathy, disgust, hurt. It was hard to tell who they were for or what emotions were directed at whom. Frozen at the sight before him, Cole moved a clawed hand to catch the tears, unsure how to react.

The Lord gently brushed his chest, wondering why his heart suddenly felt like it sprang free, and why hit hurt when he saw the tears, he tried so hard to force back fall.

"Kai, I'm sorry, I didn't mean..." He choked, sincerely. Kai froze at the sudden apology, barely feeling the leathery wings wrap around him. He found Cole staring at him, guilt and remorse glazed his features. His eyes softened when they met his gently demanding the truth "Are you speaking about me or yourself?" He asked and Kai moved his arm to wipe away his tears before responding.

"Both." He replied. Just then two arms wrapped around him and pulled him into a tight, warm embrace. Cole gently brushed away the remains of his tears, careful not to prick the delicate skin with his claws. Unable to resist, he carefully leaned down and gently kissed the remaining tears away. Kai froze when the king pulled back, his face crimson. His voice died in his throat, unsure of how to respond to the sudden gesture, even as his finger subconsciously brushed the tender area the kiss left behind.

Cole smiled at the reaction and gently stroked the kindred spirit's soft hair hoping to calm him before gently whispering.

"No one has ever cried for my sake." He whispered as he embraced the boy tighter, enjoying the warmth Kai's body radiated. Relishing in the comfort, Kai leaned his forehead against Cole's chest, the soft material of Cole's shirt brushed against his cheek, cushioned by the lean muscles beneath. Cole wrapped his arms and tail around his waist, his wings wrapping them in a cocoon of bliss. Kai finally collapsed, emotionally exhausted, his body felt heavy with bliss.

The Dragon Lord followed his example, taking the teen with him, fell back into his chair.

His body felt as though an enormous burden had been lifted from his being and the loss of such a weight had left him immobile with peace. Cole hummed as he gently running his claws through the silky brunette locks, not caring whether or not Kai heard him. The teen smiled as he faded in and out of consciousness and exhaustion started to take its toll on him. Cole closed his own eyes, letting his hand fall limply at his side...

****************

When he opened his eyes, Cole couldn't recall where he was. He closed his eyes and shook his head for a moment, gently brushing his claw through his black hair. He looked down, feeling a heavyweight on his chest. He almost jumped up in surprise when he found his house guest curled against his chest like a cat. Once the memories returned, however, he calmed himself down and smiled. He had to admit, Kai looked adorable while he slept.

So peaceful and innocent, without a care in the world.

The opposite of the fiery, strong-willed spirit he was when he awoke. Cole decided to let him sleep for a bit longer. He carefully gathered the teen in his arms and carried him to his bed. He brushed aside the veils with his tail and gently placed the boy on his side, pulling the comforter over him. His eyes fell back on the half-eaten tray of food on the table. He tested it with his finger. It was cold but not enough to be inedible. He paused for a bit when he heard a stir behind him.

"Cole?" Kai called half-consciously. Kai rolled onto his stomach and rubbed the sleep from his eyes, blearily looking for the other man. He found him by the table gathering the food and goblets from before.

"I'm just cleaning up," Cole said over his shoulder. He watched as Kai rolled over and sat upon the bed, kicking off his boots and letting his jacket slip from his shoulders. Perhaps letting him sleep in his clothes wasn't such a good idea. He left the plates on the table and strolled over to the wardrobe, searching for something light. His eyes darted to something bright on the table. Closer inspection revealed the garment was a folded pile of red silk glowing like a hot beacon among the dark color scheme.

He snatched up the garment and let the slippery material fall open, revealing an angel-sleeved robe that fell to the knees.

The size indicated it was much too small for him but saw it would fit Kai perfectly. His sharp eyes caught a white note in the pocket. He pulled it out and his eyes skinned it over, instantly recognizing Harumi's handwriting.

For Kai, since he'll probably need it.

His jaw clenched and his face reddened as he crumpled the note in his hand, reminding himself she was too valuable to kill. He could just hear the implication. What the hell did she think they'd be doing? Cole purposely chose not to answer that question. He took a breath and composed himself before placing the garment over his arm and exiting the wardrobe. Having grown used to his dragon scales, sleeping in his clothes no longer bothered him.

When he returned, he paused for a moment.

His eyes drank in the delicious sight of his house guest stripped to only his pants. Cole smirked, licking his fangs at the delicious creamy-caramel skin, briefly wondering if it tasted as sweet as it looked. Deciding to take advantage of the situation before the teen returned to full waking, he slowly strolled over to him. His tail grabbed the blanket as Kai climbed back into the bed. Kai growled, half exhausted, annoyed, and yanked the comforter.

Cole won the small war, the younger being too tired to argue.

When he noticed Kai's eyes starting to brighten, he waited until the teen turned to glare at him. When Kai did so, he held out the robe to him, smiling. Kai blinked in confusion as the slippery material fell into his hands.

"It isn't very comfortable sleeping in your clothes," Cole answered the unasked question. chuckling slightly at the boy's confusion. Realization caused Kai's eyes to bulge and he looked at Cole, then robe, then down at himself. Kai instinctively pulled the robe to his chest, his face scarlet as he glared at the smirking king.

"Cole!" He howled, more from mortification than anger.

"Relax, you can change in the bathroom." Cole smiled, gesturing to the door next to the wardrobe. With as much dignity as the teen could muster, Kai stood up, still clutching the robe, and disappeared into the bathroom. He released a sigh of relief seeing that it was clean. Chuckling, Cole returned to his earlier work, glaring down at the chicken bones, empty plates, and goblet. The wine bottle had been resealed, but the second goblet was still half-full and small amounts of appetizers littered the smaller plates.

"It would be a waste," He agreed, gathering all the food onto one large plate and stacking the dirty ones. He grabbed the half-full goblet, debating its fate. Dumping it would be a waste, but he couldn't return it to the bottle either. His eyes narrowed at the tempting liquid. He couldn't recall the last time he had wine. Hadn't Kai said something about seizing the moment?

"Oh what the hell?" He finally decided, raising the goblet to his lips. A mixture of richness and a sweet woody tang ignited his senses. His eyes flew open. The small sip turned into a large gulp, then another, then another, determined to capture the burning the liquid brought him. He gorged himself until every drop was gone from the goblet then wrenched it away to breathe. "God, I'd forgotten how good this stuff is." He said loudly as if buzzed by the minimal alcohol.

He wiped his mouth on his shirt and turned to the appetizers.

He scooped up a biscuit and took a bite. It was cold and the butter had hardened, but the combination tasted divine. He downed the other half in one gulp, unable to resist the pleasure it brought to his taste buds. He grabbed another appetizer, this time, a piece of bread with the garlic and herb spread and bit down. The bread tasted harder than the biscuit but the pasty spread had softened it, the sharpness of herbs leaving a bittersweet desire for more.

He swallowed the delicious treat before eating another one, deciding to savor the taste before it was gone.

Potatoes dripping with garlic butter went down thick and creamy. Next was the stuffed mushroom. Juice trickled down his chin and the rich, stuffing crunched in his mouth, savoring each bite until he could stand it no longer and swallowed the rest. He licked his lips and fingers, determined to capture the remains of the taste before opening the wine again and downing the rest of the bottle. The taste of berry juice flushed his senses while the sharp brisk of alcohol burned his throat.

He gulped the juice, not even bothering to stop as his lungs screamed for air and his throat burned.

He pulled the bottle from his lips and gasped as the final drop went down. He was buzzed from the ecstasy of the experience. He wobbly placed the empty bottle on the tray and carefully got to his feet. The buzz of drunkenness beginning to slip away as his body cleared his system of the alcohol.

"I told you so." A familiar voice chuckled lightly. The Dragon Lord almost dropped the bottle. His heart plunged into his stomach as he whirled around, just in time to catch the wide grin on Kai's face as he leaned in the doorway, his arms crossed over his chest. His eyes were brilliant with triumph and his grin nearly split his face, alerting Cole he had seen the entire scene. Ignoring the blush on his face and the large bruise on his ego, Cole got to his feet and glared at the teen.

Kai said nothing.

He removed himself from the door and walking back towards the bed, the red robe he was wearing perfectly molded his form and leaving nothing to the imagination, but Cole barely noticed. His blush worsening and his glare hardening as Kai's grin spoke more than a thousand voices. Kai sat on the bed and smiled at him, daring him to counter him.

"Go to bed!" Cole finally snapped, plopping down on an armchair. Kai smiled and shook his head...

The Flame and the Dragon Ch17

Chapter 17: The Reason

"Would you hold still?!" Kai snapped, pulling the cloth soaked with medical herbs from the kitchen away.

"That stings!" Cole argued as he moved his clawed hand to cover the wound and prevent Kai from touching it but hissed every time his claws grazed the surface of the wound. Kai snorted feeling his blood boil in rage. He'd had to drag the man back to the castle and wake up some of the servants to get the things he needed. Then he had to drag Cole to the kitchen and force him to sit on the table. Shade all but exploded when the two entered the kitchen covered in leaves, dirt, and blood, all of which were scattered all over the room.

Then he practically buried Kai and Cole with questions when he saw the wound on the man's chest, despite Cole's insistence that it was only a scratch and that he was fine.

He only managed to free himself of the other noirette's badgering by pointing to Kai. The brunette was digging through the cabinets for anything he could use. Shade all but exploded. Now, Kai had to put up with the Dragon Lord acting like a child while he tried to remove his coat and the remains of his shirt to nurse his wounds. His already thinning patience was on the verge of snapping.

"If you'd hold still, and let me clean the damn thing, it wouldn't hurt as much!"

"If you hadn't run away, this never would've happened!" Cole yelled in a voice bitter with sarcasm before he deliberately scolded. "Do you have any idea how stupid that was? How much danger you were in! You were only lucky you were on your way back to the castle, or I wouldn't have been able to save you!" He shouted. Kai growled and threw down the washcloth.

"If you hadn't started blasting things and scaring me, I never would've left!" The teen countered, if for nothing more than to wipe the smirk off the man's face. "You scared the shit out of me!"

"You shouldn't have been in the West Wing in the first place! You were specifically told what it was, by several people I might add, and I never permitted you to enter my room! How would you feel if someone entered your room without permission? And don't lie to me because we both know you've would've reacted the same way!" Cole retorted. Kai felt his ego bruise at that comment and opened his mouth to protest but bit back the words and exhaled.

"You're right." He said with no emotion. Cole was stunned and clearly not expecting such a response.

"I beg your pardon?"

"I said you are right." He repeated in a more civil voice. He was tired of this blame game. "I shouldn't have gone into your room without your permission and I'm sorry." He said and his apology was sincere, but when he looked up again, his fierce eyes bore into Cole's. The dragon hybrid sat frozen by the intensity. "But I'm not the only one at fault here! You should learn to control your temper!" He scolded. Instantly, Cole opened his mouth to counter but immediately realized he had no answer.

He felt his pride deflate when he realized the boy was right. He had lost his temper, but he refused to take all the blame for this.

"I'm the only one with a temper or at fault here! You should learn to listen and do what you're told!"

"I already know that!" Kai snapped, collapsing into a chair. "I'm too impulsive; it's one of my faults but, to be honest, if you weren't always hiding maybe I wouldn't be so curious." He mumbled out loud, dumping more yarrow on the cloth. "I've been here almost a month and the only thing I know about you is that you have a temper, you're a control freak and you can throw energy."

"Haven't you ever heard 'curiosity killed the cat'?" Cole snorted but chuckled lightly.

"Yeah, I have." Kai chuckled. "As a kid, I always heard the story of Bluebeard; everyone always said it was supposed to show how curiosity only causes trouble." He chuckled then smiled. "But I always thought that if that were true and the girl obeyed her husband, he would've killed her anyway, and start the process all over again, but because of her curiosity, not only did she find out the truth, she and her brothers managed to kill the guy and save a lot of other girls from suffering the same fate." He burst out laughing at the memory.

Cole just stared as he listened intensely.

"No one could answer that one, not even Mom and Dad said curiosity was a double-edged sword; it helps us learn new things and make discoveries but if we let it get the better of us, we set ourselves up for trouble and I always let mine get the best of me."

"Obviously," Cole added before his voice took a stricter tone. "Next time you want to ease your curiosity, you should try asking."

"So if I asked you, you would have let me into your room even if it was for the sake of getting to know you better?" He asked with a raised eyebrow, his voice a mixture of sarcasm and teasing.

"Hell no!" Cole blurted out fiercely. He realized his mistake when the smirk on Kai's face widened. Again his pride was dented. "I see your point." He mumbled with as much dignity as he could muster.

"And you say I'm impulsive." Kai teased.

"You are." He countered, leaning closer to him. Since he was sitting at the table, their eyes were level with each other. "You're reckless, that's why you get into trouble and you never have the control to hold your tongue when the time calls for it, and you always put others or your pride before your own safety; there's a time and place when your own safety should be more important than defending your pride."

"Like in the woods, when that thing tried to kill you?" Kai asked as he raised an eyebrow in an accosting tone. "I don't care what happens to me if someone I care about is in danger! If I can help them I will!"

"You care about me?" Cole smirked and a blush painted Kai's face before he growled back.

"That's not the point!"

"I know what you meant." He chuckled as he shook his head with a small smile. "But I stand by what I told you before, if you keep focusing on everyone else's happiness and let your pride get the better of you, you'll never be happy." He said and the statement didn't anger Kai as much as it did the first time, but he still felt his irritation spike as a result. He opened his mouth to protest but Cole cut him off. "Everyone else who goes out of their way to try and make you happy will constantly worry about you because they know you'll always put everyone else before yourself." The hybrid said and any protest or angry words died in his throat.

He never looked at it that way before but it was as if the last piece of an extremely difficult puzzle had suddenly been put into place.

Nya had told him something similar before she and Lloyd had left. Everyone else in the palace had been sick with worry over him since he arrived, worse after his and Cole's fight. The teen put the medical supplies down and lowered his head.

"Why did you let me stay here?" He asked in a low voice, unsure if he wanted an answer.

"I don't understand." Cole blinked. Kai raised his head and glared at him.

"When I asked you to let me stay in Nya and Lloyd's place, why did you say yes? You said so yourself, I'm nothing but trouble?"

"I never said that." Cole corrected.

"That doesn't answer my question." Kai glared. Now it was Cole's turn to smile, a smile that curled at the corners.

"You really want to know why I let you stay here?" He asked and Kai nodded.

"Because you fascinated me the second I saw you." He replied and he raised his claws and spoke in a passionate, free-flowing voice as if he no longer had to keep something secret. Kai was clearly not expecting such an answer.

"What?"

"I'd never seen or met anyone like you; you found my castle all on your own, you were willing to sacrifice everything for your family and when you saw my true form for the first time, not only were you not afraid of me, you knew who I was! I didn't believe it when my staff called your arrival here a miracle, but everything about you astounded me." Cole paused for a moment, taking in the stunned expression on Kai's face. "Every time you saw me, you showed no fear and you refused to obey or respect me unless it was earned and you defy my every order; you countered every rule, regulation, or demand I made with one of your own and you had an answer for each one."

He paused for a moment and looked around the kitchen, not surprised to see the staff had left.

"You treat everyone in the castle-like people, where anyone else would've fled in terror, you let them pamper you even though you hate being waited on, you treat this place as if it were your home, and you put your own needs on hold for the sake of someone else." He sighed and Kai blinked again, but Cole was unsure if he was truly confused or if he disbelieved Cole meant what he was saying. "I agreed to keep you here for the reason that everything about you fascinates me from your beauty, intelligence, spirit, fiery temper, fierce independence, courage, heart... need I go on?" Cole smirked at the crimson blush spreading rapidly across Kai's face when he realized Cole was serious.

"I-I..."

"You're like a desert rose, Kai, something so unique and powerful that it can grow in the wildest of places." He smiled warmly. "You're like one giant puzzle and no matter how hard I try, I can't figure you out, but mark my words, I plan to." He promised. Kai just sat there for a moment, too stunned to speak. His mind was still trying to process what he was just told, completely ignoring the blush he knew was blazing across his face. When his mind finally put everything into perspective, he smiled a small smile and laughed.

"Funny, back home everyone but my siblings considered me everything from odd and peculiar to weird and bizarre for the way I am, and yet here, everyone seems to like me for that reason."

"Then those ignorant, backward fools need to get their asses out of the past and accept the end of aristocracy; I've been trapped in this castle for over a hundred years and I know full well things are much different." Cole laughed. Kai couldn't help but laugh in agreement. He flashed a small smile before turning back to the cloth soaked in yarrow medicine.

"Now hold still and let me finish cleaning this, it'll sting a bit." He warned before pressing the liquid-drenched cloth to the wound. Cole bit his lip, a hiss making his pain evident but he held still while the boy gently worked.

"Just a little longer, I promise." Kai comforted him, throwing away the dirty rag and grabbing another one. Once the wound was clean, he screwed the yarrow jar shut and took out a cotton-padded patch large enough to cover the entire wound. He grabbed one of the thick aloe leaves, cut it open, and squeezed the clear gelatin onto the patch before carefully spreading it all over. Cole watched patiently as he emptied the entire leaf until it curled.

Once that was done, Kai carefully lifted the patch from the bottom and pressed it to the wound.

Cole hissed, but this time, he only felt slight discomfort.

"Don't worry," Kai said, wiping off his hands. "It's aloe, it's more soothing than yarrow and it'll stop the itch and it's also a very powerful disinfectant." He explained, pressing his hand to the patch gently. "Now, I just need you to remove your coat so I can bandage it." He said and Cole shrugged the garment off his shoulders, revealing his entire upper body. Kai bit back a blush as the naked flesh was revealed to him. Kai quickly grabbed the bandages and carefully began wrapping them around Cole's waist.

"You're a good nurse," Cole commented, noticing how skilled the teen was.

"Thank you." He replied as he forced down another blush.

"Where'd you learn this, if you don't mind me asking?"

"My mom and dad taught me," Kai replied. "Our family was well known for their knowledge of herbs and since we traveled a lot when I was younger, we had to make sure we knew what to do in case one of us got hurt before we reached the next town or doctor, but most of the time, it was just me and Dad always teased me, saying that was why the yarrow stung; it was both a healer and a punishment for misbehaving."

"Sounds like the two of you were close."

"When I was little, he would always buy me the most beautiful and bizarre things wherever we went and he'd tell me stories about them." Kai smiled. "My favorites were always the ones about how our family descended from a powerful line of warriors from Japan."

"He sounds like a good man." Cole laughed. "My father was like that, he always told me our family was chosen by the legendary dragon to protect this kingdom from corruption and prejudice, and obviously, this castle's theme was modeled around that myth."

"I noticed," Kai replied as he tied the bandage tightly. Once he was finished, he frowned and turned away again. Cole looked concerned until he noticed another blush forming on the boy's cheeks. "Thank you, by the way." The teen finally spoke.

"Hmm?"

"Thank you, for saving me." He clarified. Now it was Cole's turn to blush, but he hid it by coughing in his hand.

"You're welcome, and thank you... for coming back." He added.

"I made a promise and I intend to keep it."

"Oh, is that all?" Cole replied, sounding a little disappointed.

"No, that's not all." Kai giggled a bit. "Honestly, I like it here; it's nice to be away from that town for a while and I'd feel bad if I left everyone without saying goodbye, and besides, I want to get to know you too." He added. Cole just smiled and gently ran his claws through Kai's hair before scooping him into his arms like a bride. The teenager yelped at the sudden movement.

"H-Hey! W-Wait a minute!" The teen protested.

"Don't think this means you're off the hook, you're still in big trouble for going in my room," Cole smirked and laughed. Kai snorted and crossed his arms. He hated being carried. The few staff members watching backed away as Cole flew through the hallway with his captive in his arms. The four creatures stood frozen, their eyes bulged and their mouths dropped in identical masks of shock.

"Um..." Jay mouthed, pointing to where the two men just were. "Did they just—"

"Uh-huh." Ronin nodded.

"And then they—" Tox continued.

"Yup." Echo finished. This was certainly an interesting turn of events...

The Flame and the Dragon Ch16

Chapter 16: The Fire Within

Kai's legs and body screamed at him to stop, or at least slowdown. His lungs felt like they exploded but Kai refused to stop. He thrashed and growled as claw-like branches scraped and tore at his silk shirt and pulled at his cloak. His boots sank into the ankle-deep carpet of mud and dead leaves, causing him to stumble several times. Nevertheless, he pressed onward, his heart hammered loudly in his chest from anxiety. He had no idea where the castle was anymore.

He was heavily panting as he blindly tried to navigate himself through the black woods, hoping for some sign, but none came.

A crash behind him caused him to whirl around. A loud snarl, the thunder of feet, and the crushing of branches echoed in the background with the force of a huge stampede. Kai's heart leaped into his throat at this. Pain and exhaustion forgotten, Kai bolted into a sprint running as fast as he could. Snarls and claws hammered behind him but he refused to look back as the hunter chased him. A stray root sticking out the ground caught his ankle, causing him to trip.

He crashed into the icy mud and leaves beneath him.

Spitting out leaves, he pushed himself to his knees and prepared to run again but froze when a huge shadow flew over him. It suddenly landed in front of him. He stumbled backward, paralyzed by fear. His mouth opened in a voiceless scream. Tremor wracked his body, paralyzing him as his eyes met the pupil-less, soulless, demonic eyes of a monster. Its enormous, muscular body was covered in tight, pitch-black skin. Enormous razor-sharp talons protruded from its paws and a long, thin tail tipped with a spike curled and cracked like a whip.

Its head was fat but its nose and jaw were slender like those of an alligator's head.

A black, forked tongue licked its lips as it stepped towards Kai. Opening its jaws and flexing its claws in preparation for devouring the boy in front of him, it sprang. Kai closed his eyes and waited for death. Instead of death, however, another shadow swooped in front of him. A loud bellow like the roar of a dragon echoed through the clearing, followed by a loud thud as the source of the sound landed with force. Kai opened his eyes to see large wings unfurled to protect him as the figure stood to his full height.

Kai's eyes widened as he now stood behind none other than the Dragon Lord.

Cole didn't answer him as he released a harsh punch straight into the side of the monster's head. It sent it crashing into the trunk of a tree. Kai stood frozen, too overcome by shock to move or speak.

"Don't just stand there, you idiot!" Cole commanded and a harsh tug on his arm brought the boy back to reality and he jumped to his feet.

"What is that thing?" Kai demanded as the creature recovered from the blow and shook its head, snarling at the pair with rage. Cole cursed and wrapped an arm around Kai's waist and pulled him against him. Before Kai could protest, a scream tore from his throat as he was hurled into the air by a giant gust of wind. Cole flexed his wings and with a mighty leap, they burst into the air, barely missing as the beast pounced again. Terrified and confused, Kai's arms flayed until his hands clenched the front of Cole's jacket and he buried his face in the man's coat from shock.

Beneath them, the beast snarled opening and snapping its monstrous jaw and sending sticky, thick salvia everywhere.

"Cole, what is that thing?" Kai demanded as the Dragon Lord landed on the branch of a tree. He screamed when the beast started clawing against the trunk of the tree, attempting to climb it, but Cole was faster and slapped it in the side with a swing from his powerful tail. The beast crashed to the ground, howling furiously in its rage, and began clawing once more. Cole snarled as his eyes flashed with determination as he released Kai's legs and pulled him close to his body.

Kai gasped at the protective, and slightly possessive, look in the man's eye.

Orange sparks danced between the Dragon Lord's claws before a blast of bright orange energy struck the beast in the chest. It howled and screamed in pain, fury burning in its soulless eyes. It pounced ferociously and sank its claws into the bark of the tree before racing towards its prey with inhuman speed. Cole flew into the air just as the beast pounced, the swipe of its claws barely missing them. Cole landed on another tree and carefully placed Kai on a thick branch, a good distance from the beast.

"Stay here!" He ordered, turning to glare at the beast with cold eyes.

"Wait! You're not-"

"Please, for once in your life, do what I tell you!" Cole warned with an almost desperate plea before his eyes returned to the beast. All concern melted away and his hard, stoic expression returned as he elegantly leaped from the tree and landed in a crouch position, his wings expanding to their full length. Once the beast saw him, it bent low to the ground and crawled towards Cole like a shark circling its prey. Cole matched it with an arrogant smirk on his face.

"Come on." He tempted the beast. "Are you the best that bastard can do?" He mocked the monster, which snarled and snapped its disgusting fangs, trying to look threatening. Blinded by its anger, the monster lunged at the Dragon Lord. Cole dodged easily and kicked the monster hard in the gut. It recovered as it was falling and pounced with its maw open but Cole grabbed its snout and lower jaw and yanked them apart. The monster exploded with rage, struggling in vain to free itself but Cole snapped its mouth shut, struggling to lift it before slamming it against the ground.

The beast squealed and rolled over, barely missing as Cole slammed his foot into the frosty ground where the monster once lay.

The battle raged on and Kai watched in amazement. For the first time since he was trapped in the tower, Kai saw the real Dragon Lord. Moonlight poured through the trees, making lights dance across Cole's form. The powerful wings flapped and moved perfectly in sync with his body, either to shield him from harm or to let him swiftly dodge the monster's strikes. His arms and legs were brawny and muscular and, covered by almost impenetrable scales, each limb moving together in swift, lethal motions.

His claws were always poised to attack while his feet were quick and positioned to either dodge or strike.

His body moved with all the strength and power of a dragon but the adaptability and flexibility of a human. The Dragon Lord was the perfect fighter. Kai's eyes widened, enthralled even more by the sight before him. He was sucked in by the brutal but beautiful display of power the Dragon Lord presented. Just as the Dragon Lord's victory seemed assured, the beast suddenly pounced again. This time, however, it landed in front of its assailant, dodging Cole's punch and leaving his un-scaled sides open.

The beast leaped forward and sank its teeth into exposed Cole's side.

Kai screamed louder than he ever had in his life. A sound between a human cry and a dragon's roar of pain ripped from Cole's mouth. Blood and pain exploded from his side as he slashed the beast across the snout, causing the monster to release its hold as part of its mouth were ripped off. It wailed feebly and backed away to nurse its wound. Cole fell back against a tree and his hand flew to cover his side. His black hand was red as rubies as blood dripped from his hands and speckling the frosty ground.

He hissed in pain and turned to Kai, who was hastily trying to free himself from the tree.

"Kai, get out of here now!" He called to the boy, the pain in his eyes evident, as he gestured north with his other hand. "The castle is that way! I'll distract him as long as I can, but you'll be able to make it from here."

"But what about—"

"Go! Now!" He bellowed as loud as he could. That was his only warning before he took to the air as the beast lunged at him, invigorated by the smell of blood. Cole bit back a scream as his side tore during the flight. The beast took advantage of this and pounced, swatting the man out of the air. Overcome by shock, Cole crashed to the ground and didn't bother stopping the scream that escaped him.

"Get away from him, you monster!" Kai yelled as the beast stalked towards its weakened prey. Confused, it turned its head only to find its previous prey standing at the base of the tree, shaking in rage. Cole growled and opened his mouth to yell at the boy to run, but no sound came out. "You want me? Come and get me!" Kai taunted as his eyes blazed with fire. The beast growled and charged. Kai didn't move. Instead, he backed up until his back was pressed against the trunk of a tree.

He jumped and grabbed a thick but low branched with both hands and, with haste, pulled himself onto it, just as the beast crashed headfirst into the base of the tree.

It howled as it thrashed its head wildly, showering blood everywhere from its injured nose. Taking advantage, Kai lowered his body on the branch. With the skill of a gymnast, swung his body back and forth until he swung himself full circle and launched his body forward. His feet collided with the beast's side, sending it crashing through branches as it fell to the ground. He finished by releasing his grip on the branch and landing in a perfect crouched position.

"What the hell?" Cole gasped as his eyes wide with disbelief.

"What?" Kai asked, panting. "You thought you were the only one who knew how to fight?" He asked but the teen didn't wait for a response and knelt to inspect Cole's wound.

"Look out!" Cole shouted, jumping to his feet and pouncing on Kai just as the beast lunged at them again. It sailed over them before orienting itself and sliding across the dirt, blood, and saliva dripping from its fangs.

"Damnit! This thing doesn't know when to quit!" Kai cursed as he moved to grab Cole but the man grabbed him first and forced him to meet his eyes.

"That thing is after you."

"Me? Why?"

"Not now!" He shouted as he pulled Kai behind him and bit back a loud grunt when he put weight on his bleeding side. "Just go!" He ordered and started to walk towards the beast, but Kai didn't move. His eyes darted from the barely standing Dragon Lord to the beast who, despite the damage it took, looked fresh and ready to fight. Cole saved him when that monstrous thing attacked him. Despite Kai breaking into his room, almost ruining his candle, he still came to help him.

Now, he was willing to sacrifice himself to protect him.

What about everyone at the castle who needed Cole's protection? They would be devastated if he died because Kai ran away. His fists clenched at his sides. His nails sank into his palms and his face grew red with rage.

"Cole, get behind me." He spoke in a dangerously low voice. Cole opened his mouth to protest but was silenced by the sharp look in Kai's amber eyes. Kai turned to the beast with a blank expression. He glared at the beast with hatred, wanting to blame it for all his pain. The beast's jaw formed a twisted smile before it charged towards its prey, ready to rip the boy limb from limb. Kai didn't move. His determination to protect the one who saved him and his anger at both the creature that hurt Cole and his own stupidity burned in his eyes like fire.

Heat pooled in his hands, sparks forming between his fingers and crackling to life.

As the beast closed in, he turned to meet its eyes. All his anger, determination, protection, and emotions spiraled together. Without any hesitation or training, he raised his flaming hands in the air and dropped to his knees, sinking his hands into the dirt. Bright red and gold flames burst from his hands. The beast roared in shock and anguish as tongs of fire consumed its entire body. Its skin burned from its bones as it howled and wailed with an excruciating, inhuman cry of death.

Fire danced in Kai's eyes until only a smoldering pile of ashes remained.

When he rose to his feet and the burning dissipated from his palms, his senses returned to him. He shook his head and looked quizzically at his hands, then back to the Dragon Lord, who doubled over in pain, clenching his side. Forgetting his internal questions, Kai dashed to his side and hooked Cole's arm over his shoulder before helping him lean back and rest against a tree.

"Hold still." He ordered once Cole sat down and swiftly removed his cloak. "You'll tear it open."

"Don't fuss," Cole said but Kai had already removed his cloak and ripped it into long strips. Cole hissed when Kai started to tear open his coat and began to lift his shirt. The dragon hybrid tried to move but Kai held him in place.

"Will you stay still?! I'm trying to get to the wound!" He explained and shuddered when he saw just how bad the bite was. "Damn, it doesn't look deep but I'll still need to disinfect it when we get back to the castle, I hope you've got yarrow tincture or something."

"It doesn't matter, it'll heal on its own, now let—"

"Not a chance in hell!" Kai protested harshly, pressing a clean piece of fabric to the wound. Cole yowled at the pressure but held still as Kai tied the rest of the long strips around his hip and side, forming a make-shift bandage. "There, that should hold it until we get back to the castle." He said and the second he finished, Kai hooked Cole's arm around his shoulder and used the other to help him to his feet.

"Can you still walk?"

"I said I'm fine!" Cole snapped and removed his arm, but the second he put pressure on his side he hissed and slouched over, Kai quick to catch him.

"If this is fine, I hope I never see your idea of dying." The teen said sarcastically and he allowed Cole to slouch half of his body weight on him. "I'm stronger than I look." He added but Cole said nothing. His pride having already been wounded, he allowed the boy to help him home...

The Flame and the Dragon Ch12

Chapter 12: The New Clothes

Kai didn't want to move. Even as the noon light poured through the window, taking him from the other reality of sleep. Taking advantage of the sudden wakefulness, his stomach took the time to growl. The pain of emptiness effectively ruined Kai's sleep. The boy growled and tried to sink deeper into the soft pillows and comfy mattress. His hand reached to pull his comforter tighter around his body. Except there was no comforter and the pillows were not his.

Surprise shocked Kai into wakefulness, and he looked around his room frantically to try and figure out where he was.

This bedroom was not his back in the town. The bed was too soft against his aching skin. The pillows his head was snuggled against were too fancy. The bed and furniture too rich for what he and Nya earned, no matter how much they saved up, and the outline was nothing like the room he'd created for himself in his father's house. Last night suddenly came crashing back to him. A hand rose to gently press against his temples while the other braced his shaking form.

The reality finally sank in that all the events of the previous day had not simply been a nightmare as he had hoped.

It had all been real. Kai certainty didn't feel real, though. Nothing about this felt real to him. He really wanted to feel like he'd suddenly followed a white rabbit and fallen through the rabbit hole, and awoken in a twisted version of his once-favorite fairy tale. He'd dreamed about this before but never in his life had he ever dared wish for it to come true and yet here he was. The prisoner of the Dragon Lord he'd read about every day since he was little.

Living out his sentence in a magnificent castle that haunted his thoughts, and sleeping in a room that suited a prince.

Kai just froze, stunned as the utter impossibility of his situation crashed against the sheer actuality of it. He shivered, pulling the covers tighter against his bare skin, the only warmth he had was the baggy sweater rubbing softly against his chest. It was then he realized something. A shiver of dread suddenly crawled up Kai's spine as the cool air suddenly bit the bare skin of his arms, legs, and torso. Slowly, very slowly, he looked down at himself and found he was wearing nothing but a red sweater and his boxers.

He screamed in both anger and shock, before growling and wrapping the covers around his naked body.

His face turned as red as the sweater, despite the fact no one was in the room. He wondered what had happened before the answer suddenly crashed into his mind, making him see red all over again. His fists clenched the fabric so hard his knuckles went white. It had to be Cole who undressed him while he was asleep and couldn't do anything. He had ordered the servants to not speak to him, so he doubted they took a peek in while he was fast asleep.

Kai growled low in this throat.

He searched frantically for his clothes and only found a neat pile of different clothes at the end of the large bed. A letter sat on top of the pile. Kai stood up and snatched the paper off the pile, using one hand to keep the baggy sweater on him. His name was written in elegant black ink.

Dearest Kai,

As I'm sure you are aware of, you have no clothes, and no, it was not I who undressed you, but I refused to let you roam around my castle in your filthy mud-stained clothes. Therefore, as an act of kindness, I've provided you with a new outfit until the seamstresses and tailor can create a new wardrobe to suit your liking. I suggest you become acquainted with them soon for I will not be around to provide for your needs if you do not take it upon yourself to see if they are met.

Sincerely Cole.

Kai growled and crunched the note into a ball in his hand, unsure if he should be grateful or angered at the note's tone. Any kindness Cole had tried to place in it was stained by the sheer arrogance he could just hear behind the words. It was like Kai was a child and Cole was teaching him how to take care of himself. However, that last line burned a blush across his face. He crumpled the note in his hand and threw it across the room before scanning over the clothes.

Kai couldn't deny the clothes were lovely.

They reminded him of the garments he'd seen when the family had lived in London for a time. The clothes in his arms seemed unique as if they were made just for him. He growled in frustration before swallowing his pride and pulled the sweater off. It was either accept Cole's gift or go naked. At this point, he wasn't sure which was worse anymore. The long-sleeved burgundy red shirt fitted against his lean form and was trimmed with white cuffs.

Black pants with a slit from just below the knee to the floor sculpted his legs then flared at his ankles and the hems had gold designs.

The slender knee-high black leather boots with gold clasps completed the outfit. Once he was fully dressed he jumped to his feet and spun around in front of the mirror as if testing out the outfit. He hated to admit it, but the clothes were perfect. He noticed a crimson sash on the bed. He snatched it up and walked over to the vanity mirror and wardrobe, both were empty of garments but to his happiness, he found a wooden box of old accessories.

He dug through it until he found a gold cross-shaped pendant with a ruby at the top bottom and on each arm of the golden cross.

He looped the sash threw the loop at the top and carefully tied it around his neck in the form of a chocker. This was so much better. He smirked to himself, admiring his appearance in the tall mirror. Lloyd would have loved these clothes. He was always Kai's chief fashion advisor back home. Kai chuckled as he started remembering all the times he and Lloyd had spent their afternoons filling their diverse wardrobes. Realization crashed into him again.

All enjoyment was quickly sapped from his face until he matched the shocked, broken face in the mirror.

He hadn't thought about Nya and Lloyd since he had woken up. He mentally kicked himself for forgetting even for a moment why he was there. He leaned his head against the mirror, before sighing in defeat. It didn't matter now. Kai had made his choice and he could only hope and pray they found happiness. As if answering his prayers for a distraction, his stomach suddenly howled its protests, reminding him he hadn't eaten anything since the previous morning.

His argument with Cole was still fresh in his mind, but he wasn't going to let that arrogant bastard starve him.

Kai stormed to the door before carefully gripping the golden handle. He gave it an experimental turn and found it was unlocked. He turned it completely and pulled it open. No one was outside. The hallways were dark as they had been the previous night save for the light seeping through the skylights overhead and the burning candles. Kai smirked, but deciding not to tempt his luck. He carefully scanned the hallway before slipping out of the safety of his room and slid against the wall.

Nothing moved.

No one acknowledged his presence. In fact, the castle seemed as deserted as it appeared when he first arrived in this hell-hole. Smirking in victory, Kai strolled through the hallway past the wide windows and descended down the staircase. Now all he had to do was find the kitchen...

****************

Echo sighed as his back hit the wall. He put up no resistance as his lover ravished his neck with small kisses and caresses against his bronze skin through his dark brown suit as his golden yellow eyes seemed to glow in the darkness. The touches sent a shiver of delight through him. Cole had put Jay there to guard the door and to tell the lord when Kai woke up. When Echo walked past, however, Jay became a little distracted.

"Jay..." Echo moaned through half-lidded eyes.

"Yes?" The ginger-haired teen smiled.

"We can't stay here, we'll get caught." He said and gestured to the hallway, behind them, though Jay had been sure to hide them behind the curtain first. They dreaded the thought of anyone other than Ronin or Tox should see them. Having been the best of friends as teens, a hundred years together in a castle had only caused their bond to grow and bloom until neither could deny the love between them. They mutually agreed to keep it a secret.

At least until the curse was broken.

Hopefully, if they were right about Kai Smith being the answers to all their prayers, they would all be fully human again and then, while everyone was happy and celebrating, they would tell Zane about their relationship, and Echo's older brother would take it a whole lot better than he would have done before.

"Aw, do we have to?" Jay whined and Echo could only laugh. Jay was such a child, but Echo loved that about him. It certainly didn't stop Jay from being serious when the situation called for it.

"You want someone to find us?" He teased.

"Of course not! Do you know how over-protective Zane is? He'll never let me see you again, or do something worse." Jay panicked as his breathing and heartbeat started to speed up in fear. Zane was Echo's older brother and everyone in the castle knew that nothing would stop the yeti from making sure his brother was safe, not even Cole. Zane would let hell freeze over before he let anything dare to harm his little brother in any way, shape, or form.

The very thought was enough to send Jay into a fit of panic attacks until he felt Echo's gentle hands on his arms.

"Then we need to keep quiet about it, just for a little while longer." He replied, disappearing through the curtain. Unable to resist, Jay swooped behind him before wrapping an arm around his lover's waist and stealing a kiss from him. Only to then ceremonially dropped him to the cold floor. Echo hissed in shock before he stared back at Jay's shocked face.

"Kai!"

"Kai? That's something you say when you're kissing you're boyfriend?" Echo growled angrily. Jay turned to Echo then threw his hands up in defense and shook his head.

"No! no! no! Look!" He pointed behind his upset lover. Echo turned his head just in time to see their new brunette guest disappearing down the stairs...

Maybe you can draw Echo Zane and Mr. E? Echo with orange and Mr. E with Red? I just love Echo, and the idea of him being Mr. E Also, I just wanna say, your art is amazing! I've seen your art elsewhere, but only just found you now, and I'm glad I did! :)

honestly i have no idea who mr. e is, bc i stopped watching ninjago at s7 and currently i am rewatching and i am at s5, but i really enjoyed drawing him!!! also im really proud of that echo drawing XD

and thank you uwu 💞💘💓

also i am curious, where have you seen my art? XD

Echo-Location.

Seriously. Where is he located.