Chapter 20

Without thinking, Nina backed up against Ryu. Her sea blue eyes widened in the flickering candlelight.

"Why do you not speak, in the presence of a leader, young one?"

She frantically glanced back at Ryu who cleared his throat and grasped her shoulders firmly. "Master Sattva, she cannot speak. Due to Deis'...healing...she has lost the use of her voice. Please, I assure you, she wishes to give you the utmost respect."

Nina's eyes followed Sattva as he stood from a large dark wooden chair in the middle of the room. Why they called him an Elder, she didn't know. He looked barely older than Ryu. Long vivid silver hair flowed down his thin lanky body to the middle of his back and curled gently at the ends. His eyes peered at her through layers and layers of dark azure that shined ominously in the odd lighting of the room. He smiled and she flinched.

"Come closer, my dear. Let's have a good look at you." He whispered, beckoning her with a pale hand.

After a second of hesitation and a gentle push from Ryu, she walked slowly forward. He came closer and she stopped suddenly, wings fluttering beneath the crimson cloak. Sattva's lips curled into a smile and he reached over, unhooking the cloak collar from under her wide eyes. It fell to the ground and her huge white wings unfurled, a few stray feathers floating to the ground.

Nina whimpered softly and clutched the front of her dress when his hand went back to grasp the top of her right wing. Ryu coughed. "She doesn't like that."

Sattva's eyes turned cold when they went to him. "I don't remember asking for you to speak, Dragoneye." He spat bitterly, but took his hand away regardless. Nina relaxed. He turned, his silver mane flowing behind him lock by lock. "I merely wanted to see if she was the truth."

"The truth?"

His hands went to his hair, pushing it back from his eyes. "Yes. It's just so odd that one of them would appear so soon... It's...almost like a trick."

Nina looked up and opened her mouth. Nothing but a wheeze pursued. Sattva's look softened. "Well isn't that cute. She's trying to speak to me."

Ryu came forward and placed a hand again on her shoulder. This time, she didn't flinch. She was actually relieved. Sattva was odd. There was something about him that made her blood run cold. The way he stared, the calmness of his voice... It reminded her of something that she felt her mind was trying to keep from her. Something...horrible she couldn't recall. She shivered slightly.

"Master...I'd like to know what you meant by your last comment."

Sattva walked to one of the walls of endless candles and reached up, putting one out by closing his fingers on the tiny flame. A thin wisp of smoke curled into the air and flew across his face. "Such a beautiful girl...It's hard to believe they'd make someone like her do this..."

"Do...what, Master?"

"Does she know about the Tower of Ladon?"

Ryu's hand tightened. Nina looked up. "I..."

"Dragoneye...did you take her so that we'd be able to get into the tower?"

"I..."

His hand closed on another flame. "She must understand that she can't stop us, no matter how strong she thinks she is. Fae's cannot fight. Not even one like her."

"I don't understand..."

Sattva whirled around and glared at Nina, swinging a smoldering finger out to point. "She's one of them...! A toy gone wrong! Using her beauty to manipulate my best warrior..." She cowered at his tone. "She wants to stop you from Ladon. She knows you are the only one who can save us! She knows...everything...I can see it in her pretty little eyes."

Ryu stepped in front of her. "No, actually..." He glanced back at her trembling figure, his heart breaking with every sniffle she made. "She knows nothing."

"What do you mean?"

"I said she knows nothing. I..." He closed his eyes. "I did not want to tell her my intentions. I thought...it might frighten her."

Sattva laughed gently. "What's to be frightened of? Ladon only purges the weak, the evil. Are you concerned he will purge her?"

"I'm not saying that!"

Nina clutched her torn dress. What...was going on? Was the Tower of Ladon...Angel Tower? She looked up at Ryu. So...he was going through Windia to get there...but... Did he really wish to release Ladon to purge the races? Was this...the way he would get to everyone's hearts? Her eyes widened and she whimpered again. No...he couldn't...he wouldn't! To purge the races...to overthrow her father's kingdom... Every kingdom... Did he really take her so that they would let him through? Hot tears formed in the corners of her eyes. He was a lie. No matter how much she thought her life was a lie before, this topped it. He was lying. Everything, every feeling...a damn...dirty lie...

She began to back away from him. This wasn't right. She wanted to go home. She didn't want a part in this charade. Sattva...Ryu...this whole place was mad...and she felt if she stayed here any longer, she would become the same...

Ryu's gaze went to the ground. "I...can't tell you exactly why I took her... Maybe I was thinking the same as you at first, but...as I traveled, as I got to know her..." He looked back at her, emerald eyes wide. "I know that's not why she is here, after all... She didn't know who Ladon was...until I told her..."

"Blasphemy!"

"No!" Ryu cried again facing his master. "Just...naivety. She had never been out of the castle walls. There was no way her kingdom would teach her about our race and you know it. She'd have been better off not knowing about us." He lowered his voice. "Still...I have a feeling I've dragged her into something she knows nothing of, yet...is a huge part of..."

"Of course you have! If she's indeed...her...then..."

"I don't know...but I know that I'm trying, my hardest... If a Windian like her...the Princess of the Windians can trust us...then maybe we don't need Ladon... Maybe we can fix this ourselves. If we just venture out, spread our wings... People will listen...they have to..."

Sattva's eyes widened. "Are you mad?! Did they not throw you in the dungeon to rot? Or is that not what you told me before? Even with the young girl vouching... They know she knows nothing, so therefore, it's just a stupid little girl's opinion." He pushed his hair back on his shoulder. "And you...are a stupid boy. After fifty years...you still have no concept of the real world... What does that say about you?"

Nina's eyes widened. Fifty...years?

"In fifty years...I have realized that there are good people, as well as bad, and that if we think badly of them, they have every right to hate us back. If we fight...doesn't that just make us hypocrites?"

His silver haired Master made his way back to his chair and sat, clasping his hands under his pointy chin. "Dragoneye...what are we?"

Ryu's eyebrows raised. "Well...dragons, of course, but..."

"Yes...dragons. And what are dragons?"

"I..."

Shadows flickered eerily over Sattva's now grinning face. "The strongest race. We were blessed with the mind and body of the Gods. And you...you were given the body of Ladon himself."

Nina back away even more. The body of...Ladon?

The smile widened. "Don't you want to inherit the mind as well?"

Ryu lowered his head. "I thought...that I did, but... I don't think I'm..."

"You might as well say 'worthy' because it's the only thing I'll allow you to say. You must not speak ill of Ladon. You know better than that, Dragoneye."

The young dragons eyes went up to meet his. "Master, I..."

Sattva leaned back in the chair and crossed his feet. "I will allow you and the girl to stay here for as long as it takes for her to recover. But..." He said raising a thin finger. "I want you to train, and I want the girl...to explore. Find out about Drogen, make it a second home." He turned his odd azure stare to a still cowering Nina. "You'll find it a lot more pleasant than Windia could ever be."

Ryu walked forward and collected his cloak from the hardwood floor. "Then what shall we do?"

"You shall head to the Tower of Ladon. If you want to take the girl with you, then fine, but my advice is to leave her in Windia. I don't want any of those filthy things coming around here asking about her."

"I..."

He lowered his head into his hands, his long silver hair parting over his pale fingers. "Now, I'm very tired. Please, when you leave, send Deis in."

Ryu reached back and wrapped the cloak around a shivering Nina's shoulders and bowed. Nina did as well, but very slightly. Sattva didn't seem to notice. When she came back up, Ryu began to usher her out of the flickering room.

"Dragoneye."

Ryu turned. "Yes, Master?"

Sattva grinned. "It might do you well to watch after her. After all, there are many in this village who either crave or hate the winged ones. Who knows...how long she'll last here...?"

Ryu nodded. "I know...I'll do my best to protect her. I always have..."

Sattva watched as they exited the room, the large wooden door banging shut behind them. His grin widened and he laughed gently. "We'll see..."

* * *

The gates of Windia were silent. Ever since the soldiers had heard of the King's disappearance, no one wanted to speak. Something in their souls pleaded for them not to, even though their minds screamed for them to. It was odd. Every time anyone would stare at that new King, they would swear to see blood stains everywhere on his robes, but when they would blink, they would disappear. It was enough to make one go mad.

"All's clear!"

In her study, Lucia dipped a quill into an ink bottle and pricked her ears at the shouts of the soldiers. She scowled at the blank piece of parchment in front of her. So they thought all was well. The white haired man really did enchant them. Black ink dribbled over the side of the bottle when she pulled the quill out and onto the desk. She pushed it away and brought the other end to her lips.

Regardless of the fact that the white haired man was a madman, the place was eerily quiet. Without the Princess and Shyong, she really didn't have much to do. In a way, she missed the days when she would hatefully teach that girl, and then have awkward conversations with that soldier. She closed her eyes and leaned back.

Shyong.

It wasn't that she had any feelings towards him, it was just he was the only soldier around here who...well... wasn't still a teenager. Besides, all the younger soldiers wanted to talk about was the Princess. Well, so did Shyong, but he did it in a way that was tolerable at least.

She sighed and brought the quill tip down on the paper, allowing the ink to spread slowly through the parchment's layers.

~24

The Princess has been gone for a good month and the white haired man continues to reign. At first, I was scared, but now...I think I'm terrified. It feels as though he can read my very thoughts. The nights when we pass each other in the darkness of the castle hallways, I fear for my life.

When will the darkness fade? Will it be when we retrieve the girl? Or...will it go on no matter what? Right now...with the way that man's amber eyes burn...I frightfully feel it will.

Do I trust my fears? Do I believe the voice within me that screams night and day for my legs to flee?

Or do I stay here...to wait and die....?~

Sighing again softly, Lucia moved to blow on the ink, but stopped suddenly, when her slate colored eyes picked up tiny droplets of black splatting erratically over the parchment. Looking carefully over, she realized the hand holding the quill was shaking rather violently. Other hand trembling, she reached out and grabbed it, stopping it short.

She sat back in her chair and dropped the quill onto the desk. What the hell...was wrong with her? Ever since she came in contact with that...that thing of a man, she'd been like this. Did he enchant her as well, or was she just paranoid?

"Who could blame me? Anyone would be paranoid with him breathing down their neck every minute of every goddam day..." She muttered viciously under her breath.

Eyes moving to gaze outside of her window, she watched the stars glimmer in the dark night sky. As much as she hated that girl...half of her wished she had just run off to stay with the dragon. If she was gone, or dead, the white haired man would have to leave and then...

Panic flared and she clutched her chest. The tiny tawny colored hairs on the back of her neck stood. Visions flew through her head. Blood. Tears. The King's open eyed stare... His crimson lips dripping with the life blood she took so freely...

Through the flowing blue curtains in the room, she thought she felt the familiar chill of that ice cold stare.

~I will never let you forget.~

* * *

The air in Drogen was like a frozen catalyst for the heart's darkest desires.

Snow flittered through the pale gray sky and settled on Nina's flyaway blonde strands. Blank expression covering her colorless face, she absentmindedly shook her head, sending a shower of ice onto her heavily cloaked body.

It had been exactly a week since she had awaken in this god forsaken place. Everyday it snowed, and everyday, her hopes melted away with the day's ice. Her voice had not returned and even Deis had been surprised. Maybe she didn't have enough will power. She didn't know. She really didn't care. Her voice was no good to her here anyways, where the only person who ever tried to talk to her was Ryu, and even he was getting quieter day by day.

"Hey, winged girl!"

Nina's eyes barely flickered at two young dragon girls that had stopped walking to gawk at her. Everyday it was the same thing. She barely noticed anymore.

"You...go away! No one wants you here! My mother won't let me go far outside because of you, you know that?!" One cried, pushing dark brown hair from dark violet eyes. "She says you're cursed or something and we'd best not be anywhere near you!"

Hot mist poured from Nina's exhaling mouth. Then why were they talking to her?

"Y-Yeah!" The other cried who was much shorter and plumper than the first and had stringy reddish locks that bounced when she spoke. Nina looked away.

The violet eyed one growled and walked closer, kicking up snow with a bare, pink polished foot. "Look at us, you filthy creature!" She cried swinging an arm out. "You're not better than us! You have to pay attention when we are talking to you! We're dragons you hear that?! Not stupid ugly..."

"Get away from her."

The two girls suddenly backed away and looked up. Nina still didn't move.

"D-Dragoneye...!" The plump one breathed.

Ryu walked in front of Nina and wiped his brow with his forearm. "I said get away." He growled softly.

Violet eyes' hands went to her hips. "You know, you can't protect her forever, Dragoneye. My mother says you're a no good traitor for bringing something like 'that' in here." She said pointing.

He shook his head. "You shouldn't speak of Nina in that way."

"What are you going to do about it, huh?" She mocked narrowing her eyes. "It's not MY fault no one likes this 'Nina'. It's not MY fault she's got those...hideous things growing from her back..."

"I said enough!" He cried jumping forward into the snow.

The girls backed away more from his trembling body, and stared wide eyed at his darkening irises. "Hey, hey, there's no need for that... We were just..." The short one moaned.

He walked forward a bit, lifting a shaking hand to his face, boots shuffling in the powdery white snow. "Getting the hell out of here...right?"

Nodding sharply, the short one grabbed the other's arm and tugged frantically. "Come on, Skylar. You didn't say he'd be here..."

Skylar narrowed her eyes at Ryu and spat onto the ground. "Just because you're the one 'he' chose, doesn't mean you can boss us around. Only Elder Sattva can do that." She hissed.

"Well, he's not here now, is he little one?" Ryu's lip curled and his fangs glinted. "Now, leave her alone before you get hurt..."

"You can't do a damn thing."

"...watch me."

"S-Skylar, let's go...! He looks serious!"

The dragon girl pursed her lips and flashed a scowl at her heavier friend. "Don't be stupid, Iria." Her violet eyes slowly moved back to Ryu, the corners of her mouth turning up into a grin as she did so. "He knows he can't do anything."

Iria's watery blue eyes widened. "A-and how is that, S-Skylar? I-I'd really like to know..."

Skylar's grin widened. "Because he didn't make it to the Tower, and he knows the Elder's pissed at him already. Besides..." She gave a casual glance to Nina. "What does he care about her? I'm sure he'd commend anyone for getting rid of her."

"That's not true." Ryu growled, pushing his crimson cloak back over his shoulder.

Iria looked from her friend, to the fuming man and then back again. "Listen, Skylar, I know how you feel, but it's not right. Come on... Your mom said dinner was going to be ready soon..."

Skylar held Ryu's gaze for another minute and then laughed gently, mist snaking out from between her venomous lips. "So be it."

The blue haired man's fists shook as they turned slowly and disappeared into the dense winter fog. He green eyes narrowed and he moved to face Nina, cloak waving slightly in the wind. Running a thin hand through her hair, she shook off some of the snow and then stood.

Ryu walked forward. "Listen, Nina. I'm sorry this keeps happening, I just..." He stopped as she looked up. His expression softened and he let his face settle back into his crimson collar.

There was...nothing he could say. He knew he could apologize all he wanted. Say sorry a million times, but...it would never mean a thing. Every day the bright shine he so loved to see in her eyes diminished more and more. Every day... she moved farther away from him. Every day... a part of him died.

At first, he was saddened. She was so animated when he first met her, so...curious. Now, though, she barely noticed anything. If someone spoke to her, she wouldn't even look at them. The sadness he experienced for the first few days, grew to pity, then...to his astonished soul, awakened a hatred inside of him he thought he could never have for her.

But why did he hate her? Why did he feel that every time she would look at him he wished she would just disappear? Maybe he was reminded of the failure he was. Maybe Sattva was right. Even if she wasn't there to stop him, she was holding him back. She didn't know it, but she was...and it killed him.

He found himself every night, sitting on the edge of his bed, staring across the broken wooden floor of his room at that little bundle lying there, shaking, whimpering... He found himself hating the sight of her, hating the sight of the thing he thought once was so beautiful.

She wouldn't sleep in the bed. He had asked her over and over again, but to no avail. He figured if she was going to be so damn stubborn, she deserved whatever illness she got sleeping on that cold floor.

He sighed gently. If he hated her, though, why did he protect her? Why did he just stand up for her when there was really no reason for him to? As his emerald eyes peered through the flittering snow at her cold emotionless face, he clenched his fangs. The thing was...he didn't know. Regardless of the way he felt, he found himself saving her time after time. He found himself dropping everything just to be near her, to protect her...like it was some kind of freakish reflex.... Why... why the hell...?

His eyes went to his boots which were digging firmly into the snow. "I think...you should go back into the house. I tell you time after time not to sit out here. Maybe you like snow or something, I don't know, but if you want people to quit bothering you, then you might as well listen to someone who knows what they are talking about." He snapped bitterly. "You got it?"

She fluttered her wings to get the snow off and stood. Her eyes narrowed slightly and she nodded briskly. But still she stood, peering at him. Staring, it felt, through his soul.

He tore his gaze away. "Well, what are you waiting for? You don't need help going through a door do you?"

Her expression didn't so much as flicker. She merely pulled the collar of her cloak up over her nose, turned, and walked slowly into the house, closing the heavy wooden door behind her.

The wind picked up, blowing dead leaves and bits of powder into the air along with the fresh day's flakes. Ryu felt his hair lift from his back float before his wide eyed scowl.

If he hated her so much then...why were there tears...?





A/N: Sorry this is so short and that it took me so long to get it up. First I was sick, and then just life happened. I'm sure you all understand. Right now, creativity is the least thing on my mind and it's hard for me to concentrate on this, but rest assure, it will be completed. There is no way I would have let this get so far if I was going to quit. All of you have my word. Alright, so I should have something else up soon, I really don't have much more to go on this next chapter, I just wanted to get something up lol. Thanks for being patient and I want to thank Legacy for bein' you of course and Ryu Gunslinger for motivation. Also, thank you Stephen for your...interesting reviews...but now that the puppy's gone, does "Snufflefluffigus" really mean anything?