The storyline, new character development, new events, and new characters are my intellectual property. Glorioux

a/t a longer chapter in two pieces around 1600 words each, to reach more of you. The drama is mostly gone. I will have a new chapter of PP this week, I am hoping in my site, but still needs work.

Healing and a good dragon

The healer was an odd-looking being, not like any of them, narrow as a dragon-fly. She looked like a stick fairy, not ugly but different. She carried many satchels and pouches hanging from a couple of belts; and carried across her chest and shoulders.

"He is poisoned; the substance is lethal and kills slowly. The biggest problem is the wound, it is still bleeding, probably the poison."

Raven asked, "There must be an antidote. I will pay any price to get it; my son must live."

"There is an antidote. A herb that is precious and only grows in a patch at one of your prince's private garden. The one who married the Dragon princess, who died when she had her son. Some said her family had her killed because she had married someone from your kingdoms; as you must know, their king forbade any of his people to come with you. I saw her once, she was amazingly beautiful; I hear her son takes after her." She tapped her lip, and her shiny wings fluttered.

"I can make the healing potion if someone can get this pouch filled. It will cost a fortune if they part with it. It is used in most antivenin potions and very hard to obtain. For this potion, we will need 20 drops of the prince or his son's blood, freely given. Frankly, I don't know anyone who will give their blood to someone else, it could be used to control you, besides being linked for life. I'll need 20 drops from your son, right after he takes the potion. The one who shares his blood must drink a potion with it."

"Do you mean the garden of Prince Xen, his son is the half-dragon," Raven asked.

Georgiana looked aghast, "William will drink blood, sounds unpleasant." She wrinkled her nose.

"Yes to the young Lady. And yes, Zal's father, he is the famous prince. I have tried with them before, they will sell the herb, but not give or take blood."

Argo looked at his daughter, "Darling, go with Smith, now. Ask Prince Zal for what we need, as a special favor."

"No, she can come with me, our families are very close. Georgiana, do you want to come to it, I would like it." Zoe asked her.

"I want to stay with William," Georgiana sat by her brother, holding his hand.

Raven looked at Georgiana, "I believe that a sister and a bride will move them to give the blood."

Georgiana obeyed her father, she always had, so she stood up.

Zoe told the Lizzie and Georgiana, "Hold my hand, my dears."

They arrived at a place where you could see hills all around, Georgiana looked up, "Two suns, the sky is no quite blue. It is so beautiful, I wish we live here." She looked at Zoe, she didn't want to be away from her. Georgiana had decided she was staying with her mother, or her mother would come with her.

There were no buildings, but they could see giant glass-like boxes like greenhouses.

They stood, and Zoe called Zal, "Zal, come fast, Lady Elizabeth and my daughter are here, we..."

She was still talking when Zal came out. He was dressed more relaxed; they often went with the minimal covering, or none at all when swimming; modesty wasn't part of their make. They wore clothes as protective wear, many similar to armor. Elizabeth and Georgiana were not used to seeing a male barefooted, plus his tunic was open at the neck. Both stared fascinated, he noticed and raised his eyebrow. He would ask later.

Georgiana had never seen anyone quite like him, male or female. Elizabeth felt a wave of attraction that she squelched, this wasn't the time.

Georgiana blushed and looked at Lizzy and at her mother; Zoe noticed and winked. Zal realized he was too tall, so he shrunk a couple meters to be at their relative height. Georgiana thought that he looked like a fairy prince, perfection. Yes, but Angus looked better, she decided.

"My ladies do come, let me serve you some refreshments." Georgiana noticed Zal only had eyes for Lizzie. How could he? She was angry at once. She was her brother's fiancé, and William was dying; how did he dare? Was he in love with her, no, no, and no.

She heard her mother inside, "Don't judge too hard, he cannot help it; be nice for William's sake. I'll explain later."

Zoe explained what they had come for. What she didn't expect was Zal's quick acceptance. "Give me a moment." With those words, he was gone. It wasn't long before he was back.

A round short furry creature came out, holding a box. Zal followed behind, he was now dressed like Raven. Georgiana liked their clothes much better. Their clothing was loose-fitting, very comfortable looking. Zal now wore a power circlet around his head, a show of his rank, and for protection. Elizabeth noticed Zoe wore a headband that looked similar.

Zal told them, "I am coming; it will be better if the blood is just taken," he looked at Elizabeth, "My Lady Elizabeth, your wishes are mine. Now, let's go. The creature that attacked Prince William is a favorite of dark beings. Their bite can kill many of us, tearing the victim apart, and always attacking from the rear." He offered his arm to Lizzie, and she held on to him. Zal wished she held on to him forever.

Raven hugged Zal and kissed his cheeks. Elizabeth noticed they all touched often, the males hugged each other; they were demonstrative.

The healer pulled a small flask, pointed the hand, a short cut appeared on Darcy's hand, and the right number of drops went into the tube. Zal touches one hand appeared on it, he placed it over a flask, and 20 drops of his blood went into it.

The healer took the flask with the blood, added the fragrant herb, already macerated, and the contents of something else. Lizzie and Georgiana looked at each other when the healer put the potion next to Darcy's mouth. She said, "Drink it," although he was out of it, William swallowed.

Then she took Darcy's blood, placed it in a ready flask with liquid, mixed, and Zal drank it. He licked his lips a couple of times, just because Georgiana was looking disgusted, and for effect smacked his lips. Raven had to control a smile looking at his daughter, but he liked Zal being playful. No wonder, dragons were light-hearted, they liked games, and laughing, which was the reason why children loved them.

"He likes it, nasty," Georgina, she was sitting between her parents. When she shivered, Raven chuckled. Angus smiled, knowing that she would change her mind about blood when she was in a union. He, like Darcy and Elizabeth, had acquired much knowledge after his grandfather unlocked his Angelus form.

"Yes, my lady, I like it, rather refreshing, though it was not enough;perhaps, you should try it," Zal told her, not smiling. His answer made many of them grin, knowing he was acting and just teasing her.

Argo held Lizzie's hand, she was ice cold. "William will be fine." Argo said it but didn't sound confident. Argo was grateful Zal tried to lighten the somber mood.

Sally lifted her face, beating her tail, and sniffed Darcy; Lizzie noted Sally had stopped her whining and howling. Sally waited expectantly, so Lizzie's heart started beating furiously, please let him be okay. She prayed over and over.

They waited a few minutes, expectantly, Darcy's eyelids fluttered. The shoulder was healing, no more bleeding; slowly, his body changed to his Fae form.

"William is so handsome," Georgina exclaimed when she looked at her brother. Then she looked at Angus, then at Zal, and at her father. She told her mother, "They all are handsome."

Her mother nodded, agreeing.

"What is going on? Where is my Sally, my best girl?" Darcy asked, and Sally jumped on him, smothering him with licks. He hugged her and kissed his small dog.

"She attacked the thing tearing me apart, it jumped on my back. The pain..." Darcy stopped noticing Lizzie's face.

Darcy saw Zal. He felt close friendship with him, more than that, something akin to deep affection, like for Richard, but more. "What is going on?"

Raven explained while holding his son's hand and touching his face, wanting to make sure his son was back.

"I owe you my life, thanks. Zal, whatever I can do for you, just ask." Darcy said, what he wanted was to hug Zal, finding it odd.

Zal asked, "Do you know what this means? You can always call me, and vice versa. Whereas I have never done this since it is too dangerous, my Lady Elizabeth asked, and you are my king's son. What you feel, I will feel to a great extent. It is unknown, but I have been told, if you die, I can die as well. Same for you, we are sharing a lifeline. There is more, it will show with time, I have no idea what to expect. Though I hope this means I can cross, my father cannot and didn't want me to try."

Darcy realized there was a lot more about Zal than his looks. Friendship, for now, was enough, Darcy decided.

Raven added, "Zal means that you now have Dragon traits and other shared traits. I think Dragon Fire is yours, but Zal has a part of you as well, you shared your blood with him. Who knows, you could even morph into a dragon. In a way, Zal is my son, it feels like it already. Ah, and his father is your father, for him, it will be a surprise."

Darcy wanted to know more about the beast, though no around Lizzie. Argo told him what happened, and knew it was unwise to ask when he saw Georgiana's scared face. Darcy was upset to hear that George might not be gone, he and everyone else. "We need to figure out how to find him, there must be a way."

Zal asked Argo about George, after he heard about he told Darcy, "George's kind were kept locked up, but they escaped long ago. Some are around, but others went to other realities attaching theirselves to others. I think there is a way, I just don't remember. I will look on our bibliotheca." He told Darcy. "Let's talk about it later."

Darcy nodded, but it felt as is they needed to act soon.

By the Hurst Estate

The creature that had escaped from Pemberley, carrying part of George, was trying to find its way into the Hurst estate's house. It was best if It took its human form, the body stolen from a victim. Minutes later a young blond woman was strolling near the estates' house. It had trapped many human males with this form. Maybe there would be an agreeable male who would invite It inside the house, to retrieve more of the minion pieces. And then, maybe, feast on the human and steal some valuables. Though feasting might be too dangerous; it was only a dumb idea. It was a ghoul fond of human flesh, but killing for flesh was too dangerous, there were easier ways to get it, already dead.

A/N Let's see what Charles does, and what else happens to William and Lizzie. I will publish the second part around 8:00 PM East Coast time. Much love and wishes for health and safety.