The Cure for Boredom - A Taron Sunwake Story

Chapter 3: Outer Dragon, Inner Demon

"Okay," said Taron. "What was with the evil spell?" Kam cringed, he hadn't been expecting the questions to start so soon. He flopped onto his bed and stared at the ceiling for a long time before answering.

"You already know I don't actually look like this.. and that I'm hiding from someone.. But you don't know that the reason for both is my mom and my... [i]step-father[/i]." He spits the word out with such loathing that the air itself seemed to draw away from him. "If she hadn't meet.. [i]it[/i], I'd probably not be here covered in illusions and threatening roommates because they noticed them. She meet it and we moved within a week. Not down the block or another town, but to a [i]different plane[/i]. The.. the Infinite Planes of the Abyss, to the Floating Citadels that followers of Pazuzu created so their Demon Lord wouldn't have to walk the infernal ground to accept their occult worship." He stops, trying to calm himself and failing. "I was four years old when I saw my first sacrifice to that overgrown crow! The things they did to that person-who actually seemed to [i]enjoy[/i] it-gave me nightmares for weeks. My loving mother took that as a sign that Pazuzu would be a great part of my life, that I'd be devout just like her. Never before had I prayed so hard that I'd be able to get away, to go home and live like nothing had happened!" He had tears streaming down his face now. "Years in the Abyss, raised by demons and having occultist teachings shoved down my throat... and then I turned thirteen! Oh what a happy year that was! You know how kids change, how their parents say it's normal? Well, I wasn't like other kids!"

He reached under his right sleeve and pulled a hidden armband off. Slowly, his form wavered until the illusions faded away. Now before Taron stood an entirely different Kamenwati. Short brown hair was long and black like a storm cloud, green eyes were blue, and fair skin turned dark gray. Small horns poked out from his forehead, while scales covered his upper-arms and collarbone. A barbed tail whipped about furiously behind him. The storm and brimstone scent Taron had smelled earlier filled the room.

"Once I was a normal tiefling, a child with a weak blood-tie to some demonic filth far back in my family tree, just like my mother. Now, I'm a cambion, a half-fiend, forever chained to the Abyss by my body! To make matters worse, the Abyss acted as a catalyst for more than just my demon blood." He closed his eyes, and electricity arced across his skin a moment later. "Exposure to Abyssal storms charged my blood throughout the years, and with puberty came the onset on storm magic."

"You can run now, go screaming through the halls about how Kamenwati's a demon child. I'll be gone before anyone gets here." He pulled a suitcase out from under his bed and went to his clothes drawer to start packing, but Taron threw a bolt of mental fire in front of him. Kam whirled around, black lightning surging around his clawed fingers and wings spreading wide. "What? You want the glory for catching me, for stopping some made-up demonic invasion!"

"No," Taron said simply. "I merely wanted you to stop be boring and stupid. I've said time and time again that I'm not telling anyone, and still you don't believe me. I have never lied, never been untrustworthy to anyone. But you seem to need proof that I won't say anything. Step back." When Kam stayed standing, Taron threw a ball of mental fire strong enough to knock him onto his bed.

"Now don't move." Taron felt the change traveling through his body, directed it so it was quicker, and curled in on himself when the room started feeling cramped. To his credit, Kam hadn't moved an inch.

"You.. you're a.. a.."

[i]Dragon? I hope you understand now why I won't tell anyone about you. It is because like you, I would have to run or face those who wish "a dangerous beast" dead if my true nature was revealed.[/i] He watched as Kam jumped at the voice in his head, and saw the moment he realized it was Taron speaking telepathically.

"Bu.. but how? Dragons are supposed to be extinct! Your should be nothing more than a picture in a Agarthian history book!" Kamenwati shouted.

[i]A[/i] cambion [i]doubts my existence? Kam, try to be a bit more open minded, it's gets boring talking to people who can't see what's right in front of them. Granted, I'm bored all the time, so that may not be saying much.[/i] He stretched his neck to nudge Kam with his snout. [i]There, do you know I'm real now?[/i]

"I guess so. It's just that, of all the things I expected to see, a dragon wasn't one of them... Why are you even here? All the stories I've been told say dragons were..." He stopped, obviously thinking it wouldn't be smart to finish that sentence.

[i]Feral creatures that bring destruction upon all they see?[/i] Taron finished for him, causing Kamen to cringe. [i]I'm going to have to tell Uncle students are spreading lies. He won't be able to do much about centuries worth of hatred toward my species, but at least he can try. Mother and Father can help him.[/i]

"Uncle? Mother and Father? You mean you aren't the only one?" Kamen said, sitting up so he could pay attention better.

[i]Yes. But I can't tell you anymore than that without their permission, and they would want to know why you know about me, why I would show myself to you in this form. I do not think you are ready for that.[/i]

"No, I don't think I am. I'm not sure I want to be. Knowing one dragon is one thing, but having him as a roommate [i]and[/i] knowing his family? No thanks." He replied as he looked around. "Um, do you know where my armband went?"

Taron stood up as much as he could and looked at the floor. He saw the armband by the dresser, which had been partially hidden by his tail. He used two talons to pick it up and hand it to Kamenwati, who took it back slowly. Taron slipped back to his human form as Kam's illusions came back. He grinned at Kam's expression, forgetting for a moment that he wasn't bored.

"It's not as painful as it looks. You should see what the slower process looks like."

"I'm not sure I want too..." Kam replied as he checked to make sure his armband was hidden perfectly. "It's getting late. Between the Hunt and the post-adrenaline rush crash from seeing a dragon, I'm almost sleepwalking. I'm going to sleep. See you in the morning" He got under the covers of his bed and turned his back to his roommate. The last thing Taron heard as he got into his bed was a joking "Don't make me a midnight snack..."