The arms came back again, only not for Demando. They stalked him, watching him, never letting him rest. The arms would slither down the walls, touching him. How Saphir hated being touched. They would whisper secrets to him, things he did not want to know. He shut his eyes. Go away. Saphir quietly walked down the hall. His shoes made no sound as they marched in a straight line. Those blue were full of agony, as if he was in physical pain. It was depressing the way he held himself, lowering his beautiful head and covering his eyes in a shadow.

He stopped. Saphir took a deep breath, but found no relief. He sucked in a mouth full of muffled, chocking air. The voices cackled at his demise from underneath his feet. The squirmed out and licked his body like fire. Into his eyes, his mouth, into his body they went. The arms have never done anything like this before. Saphir suddenly was drowned in fear. He couldn't breathe, they were strangling him. Their fingers were cold, chilling him. They felt him, leeching his warmth. Terrified, he yelped and slammed into a solid wall.

It knocked the wind out of his body. Crashing his head against the cement, it left stars dancing in his eyes. The arms shrieked and leaped out of his body in surprise. Winded and dazed, Saphir stared at the arms squirming at his feet.

Saphir, you are so pitiful. Easily frightened, weak, you should never have been born.

Saphir paused. There was that voice again. The arms were hissing in his ear, whispering.

You think Prince Demando actually cares about you? Do you really believe that you are more to him than a servant?

He remained slient.

Well here's the deal. You are nothing. When the time comes, Demando will ignore you. He won't heed your warnings, and you will die. Wiseman will kill you. You are wasting your breath, Saphir.

No. I am not.

Yes, the voice cackled. You are.

Rage built up inside him. Saphir is not one that loses himself with others, except for his own conscious. Why am I so messed up? He hugged his chest, squeezing it to try to comfort himself. His eyes grew misty and glittered in the light. Saphir has been in a dark mood lately, quietly building droids and inventing new things for the Black Moon Clan, or what is left of it. He looked up now, staring down the black arms that swished around his feet. Saphir said through gritted teeth,

"Go, away."

The arms chattered and clacked their pinchers together, nipping his pant legs. They taunted him, laughed at him. They twirled and brushed his cheek. Saphir growled at the shadow and blasted it with his hand. The twittering grew alarming and they circled him. The sound grew louder until the chattering became blood piercing screams.

We will never be too far away from you, Saphir. The sound grew fainter as the the arms soundlessly retreated. You can't hide from us… Saphir.

Saphir grew pale. He ground his teeth together. The arms had left him an empy feeling, sucking out his insides and replacing them with voids and voids of darkness. Somehow, this reminded him of Wiseman, the emptiness inside his hood. Saphir wondered if this was how became who he is. How he longed he could hole up somewhere, run away from the voices, the arms. His voice wavered; his breaths were short and raspy.

"Why," Saphir whimpered, "am I cursed with such a-" Saphir never did finish his sentence.

Something had just briefly brushed his shoulder. Saphir froze up his body. No one was allowed to touch him, not unless it was his brother or if he touched someone. Bristling with anxiety, Saphir whirled around to face who ever dared to graze him.

"Who's there?!"

Silence followed. Saphir backed up against the wall with a wild look in his eyes. They flicked around the empty hallway, tortured with the thought of it coming back, being tangible.

He's tormenting me, he knows I'm on to him. It's just a game, he want me to break… Saphir reassured exhaled deeply, closing his eyes. It's all just a game. He turned around. Just a game…

Saphir felt large hands clamp onto his shoulder.

Stunned, Saphir stood there, mouth hanging open.

"I've been looking for you, my brother," a soft voice murmured in his ear.

A few seconds passed, and Saphir could only take in the feeling of those hands resting on his shoulders. How warm they felt! It filled up his insides with heat that replaced the cold blue darkness inside him. He shifted his eyes up, meeting with the lavender flowers staring adoringly back at him. It was the Prince.

"Ni-san!" Saphir cried out. He attempted to take a step backward, but Demando dug his nails into his flesh and pulled him closer to his face so that Saphir could feel his hot breath brush against his cheek. Demando's eyes were full of suspicion and concern. Saphir was blushing furiously, goggling at his brother, wondering what was going on.

"Listen Saphir," Demando purred. "There's been a rumor going around."

Saphir cemented himself to the ground. Rumors? About what? Demando looked at the ground and took a step closer.

"You've been gone for days, not showing up when needed at times." Demando spoke barely above a whisper, still keeping his hands firmly on Saphir's shoulder to as if to prevent him from slipping away. Not like he would.

"I needed to talk to you about this, alone." Saphir stared at him. "That's why I found you here.

"The rumors… people have been whispering about your absurd behaviors. I don't know what you've been doing, but word has been spreading you're not completely sane."

Saphir remained still.

"I know you, Saphir. This isn't like you to act this way." Demando peered at his brother, as if asking what's going on? Saphir couldn't choke anything up. How could he not? Even at such a crucial time as this, where he was all alone with Demando, Saphir couldn't find the courage to talk.

"Ni-san, I-" Demando put two fingers on Saphir's lips. His face was only inches away from his, and the heat of Demando's body was radiating off of him. Prince Demando had gently pressed his crescent moon against Saphir's. He was now combing his fingers through his hair, pulling it back so that Saphir's thick mane would not bother his eyes. His words ran down in body in trembles. Blown away, Saphir held his breath in and shook before his brother.

This wasn't right. What was Demando doing? Yet Saphir gulped it thirstily down, taking shaky breaths and relaxed his sore muscles.

"I'm not finished," he crooned in his ear. "I've been told… you have plans against me." Saphir opened his mouth in shock. Did he just hear what he thought he heard?

"I've been told that you doubt me, that you've been plotting against me." Demando's voice was brimming with hurt. His face remained as white as a sheet and as blank as one.

He knows.

The little blood left in his face drained of color at once. Saphir broke out in cold sweat, straining to keep his scream in. Demando felt the tension in the air rising like a wave. It washed over them, pounding against the shore and splitting against the smooth rocks.

Wiseman knows my secrets. He knows I'm trying to get rid of him. He's corrupted my brother.

Saphir yelped and twisted away from Demando's loving grasp. His breathing was uneven, rasping in and out of his lungs. He's had enough of this, enough of Wiseman's tricks. Saphir had a crazed look in his face, looking at Demando in fear.

Demando only stared back at him in pain. Saphir shook his head slowly, and then breaking out in a full sprint down the hall, disappearing into the dark.

Demando made no move to stop him. His heart shrinking back in rejection, he turned and vanished.

So it's true, Saphir. The rumors really are true.