The dining table was laid out with delicious and exotic foods, lit by numerous candles. Jack had never seen such a feast. He fidgeted, trying his best to be polite as he sat down with Chase. The man had been so nice to him; saving his life, healing him, getting him new clothes and food. And he was going to give him the ingredient he'd been sent for!
Chase filled his plate and glass, making light conversation. It was easy to elicit information from Jack. The young man hid nothing, offering up anything Chase asked of him.
"How old are you, Jack?"
"Um, about nineteen, I think."
"You aren't sure?"
"Well, I don't know when I was born and Mistress Wuya found me as an infant… It has been nineteen Samhain rituals since she took me in though…"
"I see…"
"…what about you?" Chase paused, goblet millimeters from his lips.
"What?"
"I'm sorry, that was rude of me, nevermind." Jack quickly looked down at his plate, biting his lip. Chase set down his goblet, looking at his guest. The fear in his face…had Wuya instilled that?
"It's quite all right, Jack. I don't rightly know my own age either." Jack glanced at him, cautiously curious. "You see, I have what some might call a curse."
"You…do?"
"You heard the villagers speak of a beast in this palace." Jack nodded, though confused. Chase pushed back his chair, stepping away from the table to give himself room. With the pale man watching, his eyes began to glow. The crackle of magic echoed through the hall, along with the grunts of pain as Chase's form shifted and mutated.
Jack dropped his fork, staring as the beautiful warlock he'd been saved by transformed into a large ferocious draconic form. Dark green scales covered a strong upright reptilian body, a true monstrosity.
"You….you're the beast?" His voice was small, tangled in awe and fear.
"Yes." The sound was warped and deep as it came from the monster's throat. His eyes had an uncanny intelligence to them, it was truly terrifying. Except, Jack didn't get up and flee. Instead, he rose from his chair and walked closer. His hand trembled as he reached out, delicately running his fingers along the scales of Chase's arm.
"…does it hurt?" Chase blinked, looking at the youth. No one had ever asked him this. No one usually did anything but run, scream, or attack him in this form.
"…not anymore. I've lived like this for…ages." He watched as Jack looked him over. The twinge of fear in the young man's expression faded away, replaced entirely by curiosity.
After a few more minutes, Chase shifted back to his humanoid form. Jack's eyes were wide and in awe. It was an expression chase could get very used to.
"Would you stay here a while?"
"Stay? But I have to get back to Wuya. She'll be mad if I…"
"She's been trying to regain her power for nineteen years…I don't think a few more days will hurt." The smoothness of his voice, the way he stepped closer to Jack as he spoke… Jack felt his knees go a little rubbery, his cheeks flushing. Whatever punishment Wuya would give him, it would be worth it to stay with this man just a little longer.
