Chapter 10- The Triplets of Laquaria

Hey, sorry I took so long-for me- to update, it was my birthday on Friday, so I have been busy playing with my gifts and working…unfortunately. I want to say Happy Birthday to Canada…yes I AM CANADIAN and to the US, because I live on the border and have to work at the fireworks tonight… Anyway, this was a hard chappie to write so please R&R!

Varien's POV

I should have known something was wrong the moment I stepped into the dark ballroom. Now I was tied up to the bedpost in my old room, and desperately trying to figure a way out. I knew all of the hidden passageways in the manor, and had explored them extensively as a child. I could easily escape myself, but I wasn't just going to leave Arya and her sisters here to fend for themselves. I had no idea why my brother wanted them, but I wasn't going to stick around here long enough to find out.

Zane had started to act strangely ever since my mother died when we had seen 14 summers. We had been very close, identical twins actually, but that year we began to drift apart, and later, my father announced me as his heir. This only threatened our relationship even more, and he began to become hateful and distant. It worried me, and one day, when I confronted him about it, he said I was a backstabbing, spiteful lizard, and he'd wished I'd become one. Well with that, I admit, I was very angry, and I stormed out of his chambers in a huff. I went to sleep with Zane's harsh words in my mind, and when I woke up, I was a giant lizard, just as he'd said. Ashamed and frightened of my new appearance, I exited my manor through the secret passage, and traveled to the dense forests of Laquaria's main island of Marinshale.

I still didn't understand why Zane hated me so much, and why he was still out for revenge. He had everything he'd ever wanted, Darin, hundreds of women swooning at the sight of him, and riches beyond belief. Why would he continue to seek his revenge against me when I was only trying to help him?

I clenched my fists together in their bindings, and hurt myself because of my sharp claws. That gave me an idea. I maneuvered my hands so that I was able to cut the bindings with my claws. After I had been released, I freed my feet and body and located the hidden doorway behind my family's portrait. Zane's dark gray eyes seemed to taunt me as I opened the passageway. But where was Arya? I carefully searched all of the servants' quarters with no sign of her, so I moved on to the suites of the nobility. I first went to my father's old room, and opening his portrait slowly, I peeked out from behind. To my intense relief, I found Arya's two sisters and their escorts.

After looking around to make sure no one else was present, I moved forth into the room. Narayatha was to first to spot me, and made a muffled exclamation, which caused all of the others to look at me. I loosed all of their bonds, and Dellaryanna was the first to speak.

"Varien, where's Arya? And where are we?" she asked frightfully, her escort Mathias grabbing her shoulders for support.

"We are in Darin manor Princess. If Lord Zane has yet to visit, we may still have time. I'll explain everything but we must get into the passageway first." I replied hurriedly, motioning them to follow me.

Once we were safely inside the hidden duct, I told Arya's sisters everything. About my past, and how it was linked to Zane's.

"But how come we've never heard of a missing heir?" Narie inquired. "You'd think that we'd hear about it in the palace wouldn't you?"

"I'm sure Zane would have bribed the servants Narie, as we've seen, he isn't stupid." Della spoke, and then looked at me. "Arya trusts you Varien, so I am inclined to do so as well. Please find her. We will wait right here for you to return."

I nodded in agreement, and moved deeper into the only passage that I had yet to explore, the one that led to my mother's room.

Opening her portrait, I peeked out into my mother's rooms. Arya was tied up and bent over in tears. Seeing no one else in her rooms, I entered cautiously. She turned to look at me, tears streaming down her face. It looked as if she would run to me, and she began to, only she tripped over her bindings. I rushed to help her up, and cut her free. I noticed something gleaming in her closed hands. Once she was completely free, she lifted up a familiar golden heart-shaped locket, and opened it to reveal small, intricate, almost identical, paintings of my brother and I.

"Let me guess," she started, and pointed to my picture, "this one's you. I could tell because of the eyes."

I turned away. "Why didn't you tell me? Did you think I wouldn't understand?" she accused.

"Arya, I would be glad to continue this conversation at another time, but right now, we must get out of here." I pleaded.

"I'm not leaving until you tell me the truth."

Knowing nothing else to do, I told my story for the second time that day.

Well that's all for now. Hope you enjoyed the chapter and I know that there are still questions, like "How did Zane manage to turn Varien into a lizard in the first place." My response for now is…WAIT AND SEE:D R&R mes amis!