Back with another chapter. This is where the gears start to turn and loyalties our tested. Let's go!

Disclaimer! I own nothing!

Dragon Princess

Chapter 21

Calieve couldn't stand it! How was it that one of them could be alive, specifically the damn main Queen! That elf . . . reminded her of her step-daughter, too much, and Adalinda. The long drown hair, the eyes . . . everything about her was almost a mirror image to her former friend.

It was obvious that poison was not the way to go when dealing with these elves. Caleb came in then, a happy smile on his face, which meant he was thinking of his former wife again. Why couldn't she find a damn man who loved her? "Husband."

He turned to her; the smile was wiped off his face. "What?"

"When do the elves leave?"

"I have no idea, but they seem to be enjoying themselves and if they want to stay for a while longer, then I'll let them. It's not everyday you get to have elves in your kingdom, Calieve."

Pressing her lips into a thin line, Calieve turned and left, slamming the door behind her. Stupid, stupid man! Why couldn't he see that she didn't want them here? Or maybe he did and choose to ignore that fact. Whatever the reason, it pissed her off to no end. But tonight she would get what she wanted in the first place.

Power.

She had slipped a drug into his water that he drank every night before he went to bed. It would make him weak for about a year, but it would be cut in half because of the healers here. Still enough time for her to get what she wanted before moving onto the next man.

Atem and Anzu had returned to the castle to find their dragon friends sitting at a large table with a familiar face, Soren. Joey and Tristan were laughed and pointing at the young man, their faces flushed red as the women giggled.

Chaya looked to be in pain.

"By the way, I never got to ask but is Soren a dragon?" Anzu asked. Atem chuckled and nodded.

"One of the last of his kind, he's a gem-stone dragon."

"Isn't that the same as a gem dragon?"

"Kind of," Atem said as he tapped his finger on his chin, trying to find the right words. "He's an Obsidian Dragon. It's like a glass/stone/jewel. He's the very last of his kind. Kid had no family when we met him, at the time, he was being raised by a couple of different dragons."

"What's he like?" Anzu asked.

"Personality wise, he's a laid-back flirter who loves warmth and if he could get friends would be happy to do anything for them, as long as he gets warmth or snuggles."

Anzu raised a brow. "You're his friends, aren't you?"

"Of course!" Atem said. "It's just, Joey doesn't like it when Mai gives him snuggles, Tristan and Duke, they're after Serenity, don't like it when she gives him snuggles, Yugi isn't as bad, but he still gets very annoyed."

"So if I gave him lots of snuggles you would-"

"Destroy the world." He said bluntly. Anzu looked at him for a moment before sighing.

"Fine, have it your way." Atem growled and brought his arms around her in a tight cage. Laughing, Anzu pulled him to the table where they sat down. "Hey guys, hey Soren!" she said.

The boy perked and hopped over and gave Anzu a bold hug. Wanting to tease Atem, she hugged him back and ruffled his hair.

Even though Atem knew what she was doing, he couldn't help but grind his teeth while Chaya was cutting her steak up a little too much. The women were trying hard not to laugh while all the men sent pitying looks toward their friend.

Anzu smiled at her mate and gripped his hand and squeezed, assuring him that he was her only one. Atem looked over at her, glaring at first but slowly, he couldn't help but smile.

'Silly.' She laughed softly. Atem glared at her playfully and pulled her seat a little closer so that she was sitting closer to him while Soren went back to Chaya. He was telling a story. Anzu smiled, seeing Chaya laugh at him, an actual smile then what she had seen in a while.

Joey and Tristan were laughing as well, in fact, everyone was. "He's well liked." She said.

Atem looked over and nodded. "Yes, even though we have our problems with him, we still care for him as friends . . . especially Chaya." He chuckled as the two started a small war over the last piece of lamb.

"It's almost painful watching them." Anzu said. Atem looked over at his mate. She shrugged. "They love each other, but they won't say anything."

Atem chuckled. "Yes, that's very true, but they're both too stubborn and pigheaded to see it."

"I think Chaya is aware of it, she just chooses not to show it because he likes to float around." Anzu said. Atem sighed.

"Whatever the case may be, they need to get it over with. Chaya won't be young forever. Age won't affect me like it will for her." He explained when Anzu gave him a confusing look. "I'm a god, while she and the others are merely Lords and Ladies, so to say. Though they'll live longer than most dragons, they will return to my mother and our home dimension sooner or later, unlike me, who will live on."

"Sounds lonely." She said softly. Atem nodded and smiled sadly.

"Yes, but thanks to you, I won't be as lonely as a normal god would be." There was a short silence before he stood up. "Come, let's go to bed now. We've had a long day." He said. Anzu nodded and said good-night to the others before walking to their room and falling asleep at the stars and the moon rose in the sky.

Calieve was sitting in front of her mirror, waiting for the news to come. How long was this going to take? The door opened then and Ruby came in. "My Queen!"

"Yes?"

"The King, your husband, is gravely ill." Calieve smiled. That was what she was waiting to hear. Ruby watched her Queen and felt something drop in her stomach.

"Well, then it's time those elves took their leave, don't you think?" The Queen laughed as she walked out, making Ruby pale as dread filled her heart. Something was off about the Queen, and it wasn't normal.

Anzu lay in bed, curled up next to Atem. She could still feel the small after-shocks of their love-making when someone banged on the door. Getting up as fast as she could while putting on her nightgown, Anzu rushed for the door.

Opening it, she saw a girl red, glorious hair and moss green eyes. They were filled with terror. "Queen Anzu! You must get dressed!" the young woman sounded distressed. Atem walked beside Anzu then, half dressed with a worried look on his face.

"What's going on?"

"You must all leave, now! King Caleb has gotten very ill and all power has now shifted to the Queen! She hates you and will do anything to get rid of you! Please, you must leave!" The girl begged.

"Have you awakened the others?"

"Yeah, she did, Atem." Seto said. "I've heard guards being rallied, hurry, now!" he said. Anzu nodded and closed the door as she quickly put on the crimson dress she wore today while Atem did the same. The door slammed open and the girl shoved the dragons into the room.

"Hey!" Chaya said. Soren stood beside her, nudging her gently.

"The guards were coming in both directions." The girl explained.

"Then why did you trap us in this room?" Kisara demanded. The red haired girl looked over at them.

"Because this room has an emergency exit, one the Queen doesn't even know about."

Atem looked about just as everyone else was doing, looking for some secret door. The girl ran to the wardrobe and opened the doors, pushed the clothes out of the way and pressed against the back wall. To the dragons' shock and surprise, there was a door!

"This way, it'll lead you under the castle. This place use to be under heavy battle a lot, so the castle inhabitants needed a plan B if one was ever needed."

"They didn't get to use it?"

"No, the one who designed the castle died before he could tell anyone of this, the people who lived here all died." A cold shiver went through the room. "But I found this long ago, and now I can put it to some use. Go, quickly!" she said. "I will follow shortly."

No one wasted any time, but Atem and Anzu made sure everyone went first before they followed. The girl jumped in, closing the wardrobe door closed, shoved the clothes around and finally closed the secret doors. She turned and blinked in surprise. "What are you two waiting for?" she demanded.

"We were waiting for you." Anzu said. Ruby blinked before she smiled.

"Thank you." The girl took off after the others before Atem and Anzu followed the girl. As they ran, the floor crumbled under Anzu.

"Atem!" she gasped. His arm shot out and wrapped around her waist and he quickly pulled her to the solid side. They stood there for a moment, before she heard Atem gasp. "What?" she asked, looking up at her mate.

He, on the other hand, stared at her in complete and total shock. "Atem, you're starting to scare me." She said softly. "What is it?"

"You're . . ." he paused, unsure what to say. Anzu pouted but gasped as a shiver ran down her spin, she became aware of something. Something within her.

"How?" she whispered.

Atem chuckled. "Things happen."

"Will th-" he shushed her at that moment.

"Yes, it takes two years, I'll explain later, but right now, we need to catch up with the others." Anzu nodded and turned down the hall, Atem right behind her, making sure she didn't hurt herself any further. As they walked down the thousands of stairs, Anzu and Atem found the others waiting for them.

"Thank goodness!" Chaya said. "We thought you had been caught."

Atem turned to Anzu, smiling tenderly as she blushed. "We're fine . . . we just found out some happy news, that's all."

"Oh?"

"Later, let's get out of here, now." Atem said quickly. He turned to the red haired girl. "Your name?"

"Ruby. This way." She said, pushing against a rock wall that moved easily at her touch. They walked out and into . . . the elves' forest! Anzu walked deeper into the green trees and plants and yelled out.

"Arbellason, where are you? We need your help!" The forest remained silent until the sound of soft footsteps came from her right. Looking over, she saw that it was not the elf king, but a familiar face. "Thorontor!" she gasped.

He bowed, placing his fist over his heart. "Lady Anzu, you bring more with you?"

"Calieve has made her move to try and destroy us." Atem growled. Thorontor looked up, his cat-like features sharpening.

"I shall take you to the king then, come, quickly." He said and spun around. They followed him to a city of light and peace, but it was soon shattered as Thorontor demanded that the King come forth. It did not take long.

Arbellason walked out with his Queen, Verisiel. "What's going on?"

Anzu spoke quickly. "Calieve has made her move, we out smarted her, thanks to Ruby." Arbellason nodded and closed his eyes for a second.

"Verisiel,"

"Yes?" she asked, turning to her king.

"Prepare the archers, if the witch wants a fight, then a fight she shall get." Anzu smiled and turned to her friends, who looked just as excited.

"King Arbellason, may I ask you a favor?"

He turned to her and nodded. "Yes?"

"How good are your healers?"

The elf king blinked. "We are the best when it comes to healing, other than the dragon tears."

Could your healers work together with Mana to create a healing potion that will heal and wake King Caleb?"

"Yes." He turned and called two men. They stepped forward, fists over their hearts. "Work with the dragon named Mana and try to create a healing potion that can possibly travel through the wind and air."

The elves bowed and nodded before turning to Mana. Atem leaned close to Anzu's ear and whispered softly to her. "It's starting."

"Yes, but Calieve forced our hand, which means we have to come up with new ideas."

"Yes, that's true, but I have confidence." He said. Anzu chuckled.

"When do you not?"

There ya go! We'll have a new character joining us in the next chapter, I wonder who that will be. *shruggs* Also, what did Atem and Anzu discover in the the secret passage area? Only one way to fing out, I guess.

One more thing, please look at my new story, Legend of Light. Please and thank you! :D