candle in the window

An empty glass waiting to be filled.

Chapter 22

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Kai-Stern's mind felt hollow. It wasn't the stupid valley girl kind of airhead ditziness. It was like a light pressure that starts in the middle of your brain and ripples outward scattering the cohesive thoughts. It was a strange feeling...

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That kind of feeling you get when distraction is all you can do to stay focused. Unfortunately, one distraction leads to another and eventually, you can't tell what you were focused on in the first place. Not good when trying to accomplish something. Alfeegi had encouraged the secretary of foreign affairs to work on the stack of files in his office, at least for today.

The albino unfolded the paper he had been cutting. The string of cut-out's bounced between his hands. Four doll shapes reflected the afternoon light, softly. Four...There was something about fours lately. Normally he'd cut out six, one for each dragon crystal of the dragon officers, but today and even yesterday four.

"Please excuse me, Kai-Stern." A fine young lady with long blond hair and blue eyes knocked as she came in. A frosty eyebrow twitched at her friendly smile. Huh? Light yellow eyes blinked, confused at his sudden agressive feelings. Even though it was rude that she just marched in, that doesn't normally bother the former human. Not to mention, he barely knew this girl and yet there was something about her that irritated him. "I'm sorry to disturb you." She gave him a respectful gesture.

"It's quite alright." the blue dragon officer stood and tossed the paper covertly behind him. "Can I help you?"

"I have been assigned to be your personal assistant, starting today." She smiled. "My name is Shizell. I'm happy to meet you." Her smile was sweet and gentle like...a snaggle toothed rat, foaming at the mouth from rabies. The albino shook his head, trying to banish such wholely cruel thoughts.

"Uh, yes. Who was it that approved the order?" Kai-Stern fought to keep his smile. He put his hands on his desk in a white knuckled grip.

"The Cheif Secretary Alfeegi, with permission from the Dragon Lord of course." What was that trouble making, hoity toity, my way or the high way, stick up his unmentionalble, lord's little favorite cheif secretary up to this time? "It will be my pleasure to be serving under you from now on." Shizell was just glowing with admiration. She was so sweet Kai-Stern was getting a tooth ache. Or was that his clenched jaw. Aside from that, did she just say what the albino thought she said?

"Serving under..." When he heard the heavy oak desk start to creek under his grip, the blue dragon officer let go. He plastered a merchant's smiling face on and rounded the large wooden desk, the center peice of the room.

"Thanks so much for your coming, but I'm afraid I don't need a personal assistant." The blue dragon officer touched her shoulders and spun her around in one fluid motion. "I can take care of my own work, by myself." He emphasized, pushing her out the door. "So you see? There's been some kind of mistake."

"But," Her bamboozled blue eyes blinked back at him from the hallway.

"But don't worry, I'm sure Alfeegi will find something more suitible for you." Kai-Stern started to shut the door, only to stop so he wouldn't slam her hand in it.

"Wait." the girl pleaded. "Please, I really would like to be your personal assistant. I'm sure I can serve you in many ways." she wouldn't let go of the door. "I...There's nothing I wouldn't do." She begged as the albino pushed on her fingers.

"Nothing you won't do?" Some how this irritated him more than anything. What was she trying to say? Was she offering her services as an assistant or a mistress? He managed to get the door closed, finally. The blue dragon officer leaned his back against the smooth wooden surface and let out a breath of relief. It was much better to have her on that side of the door.

"To tell the truth, sir." Her voice penetrated the ornate door that seperated them by mere inches. This girl wasn't giving up. "I requested this position. I've seen you before in city, at the tavern. You were so kind." She confessed. "I just..." She barely whispered. "I just wanted to be closer to you."

Light yellow eyes looked into distant inner thoughts. He imagined her two hands touching the door and her ear pressed against the panel that might open his voice to her. Such a romantic idea and although pity might be his first response, the albino felt poisoned, dirty, like a peice of meat that had been seen in the market place. Or maybe a toy some child fancied. Mommy, mommy by me that! The blue dragon officer tightened his jaw. How mortifying!

She wanted to be his assistant for no other reason than to watch him, maybe get close to him and finally to...The albino frowned. She noticed how kind the dragon officer was? Yeah right?! She's probably some gold digger trying to gain power or money. Kai-Stern smirked to himself or maybe just a good time and a sweet scandle to save for a rainy day.

"Kai-Stern?" She inquired after a moment.

"Please leave." The blue dragon officer locked the door and walked away. "Just leave me alone."

*****

later

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"Kai-Stern, I demand you open this door!" Alfeegi had knocked several times and nothing. The cheif secretary began to wonder if he was still there.

"Alfeegi?" There was a soft click of the door unlocking, before it slowly drifted open. The albino on the other side was rubbing one of his sleepy yellow eyes. "Is something the matter?"

"Have you been napping?" the strawberry blond came into the darkened room this early evening. The white dragon officer lit a few lamps around the desk. "And look at this." he scrutinized, nothing out of the ordinary though. "You haven't even started your paper work." The albino sat down on a long, comfortable resting couch.

"I'm sorry." Kai-Stern apologized in a sincere small voice. "I was going to but..." The dragon rubbed his light yellow, sleepy eyes. The cheif secretary blinked.

"Well," The strawberry blond didn't know how to react to the blue dragon officer when he wasn't being defiant some how. Crystaline copper eyes noticed no defense or resistance in those light yellow pools. His expression was also a bit...vulnerable. Could he have awoken Kai-Stern from a bad dream?

"There's no helping it, I suppose." Alfeegi decided to be leanient about paper work...today. The white dragon officer noticed how small and unassuming this normally proud man appeared, like a lost puppy in the rain. "That's not why I came anyway." the white dragon officer folded his arms. "I simply wanted to ask you why you turned your assistant away." Crystaline copper watched light yellow turn away slowly.

"I'm sorry. It's not that I couldn't use some help here it's just...I don't like her." he finished the sentence in that small voice, like before.

"Don't like..." the stawberry blond lifted an eyebrow. "You don't even know her, how can you not like someone you don't know?"

"..." the dragon before the cheif secretary offered no response.

"It's too late this evening." Alfeegi walked to the door of his collegue's office. "Why don't we try again tomorrow. Start a fresh." The strawberry blond encouraged. "I'm sure once you get to know her, you'll change your mind."

"..." The albino was usually very good at hiding his feelings, but there was a small frown on his face right now. "I'll try." the pale dragon looked up, forcing a smile.

"Good." the white dragon officer had noticed that frown and also...something in his eyes...Kai-Stern. "Perhaps you should get some rest." The dragon's frosty head nodded. Alfeegi opened the door and stepped through. "Good evening, Kai-Stern."

"Good evening, Alfeegi." The albino almost mummbled. Bangs hid the expression of crystaline copper eyes, as he shut the door behind him.

The cheif secretary, mentally, went through the conversation he just had. That attitude was a bit unusual for the normally confident and some times agressive blue dragon officer. Did something happen to change his mood? He remembered Shizell's words: 'He was angry with me, and a little...cold.' That attitude just now was neither angry or cold.

Does it...Is it some how connected to his disappearance? Were the dragon fighters recalled too eagerly? Alfeegi made a lose fist to rest against his helpless heart. It was just a feeling but...the cheif secretary was almost certain something was filling up behind metaphoric flood gates. He felt like, time is running out.