The evil dragon's golden gaze raked over the slumbering form. Perfectly formed tiny hands, perfectly formed little feet, perfectly formed small body and perfectly formed big head.
The child of water was flesh and blood once more…reborn out of his darkness!
Chase walked slowly over to the sleeping rosy-cheeked boy and let his thin fingers play along the round head until small eyes fluttered open. The dragon's bronze painted eyes stared at the newborn life as he awoke.
"Who?" the boy uttered softly whilst staring at the unknown person.
The man smiled a ferocious smile coated with sickening politeness and bowed slightly.
"I am Chase Young…your lover…"he drawled as golden eyes glittered strangely.
The big headed boy blinked as his infant mind took in this new information. "Lover?" the yellow fleshed child questioned with a tilt of his head.
Ah, the boy, newly born knows nothing; nothing of what the deceased Omi knew, he thought, the child is my clay, to be molded by my hands.
So he smiled at the clueless boy and spun a magical tale of magic and power. Of wicked Xiaolin children who plague the good Heylin clans with their evil elemental powers of fire, wind and earth. Of how water powers ran through his veins and was captured by the greedy Xiaolin monks…and how he was rescued by the brave dragon that now stands before him.
The child stared at him with wide enchanted eyes and an open mouth. Eyes that shore with fear, joy, confusion and adoration as the story unfolded.
'But what is a lover?" he asked after the poisonous tale ended.
Chase smiled calculatingly. "A lover is one you swear loyalty to, one who will never lead you astray nor ever betray you…"
The naïve boy nodded; eyes wide and mouth agape.
Elegant hands brushed the young boy's cheek. "A lover is the only one who can touch you…"
Lips pressed against the little one's lips with false gentle feeling. "A lover is the only who can kiss you…"
The boy smiled softly. This man was so gentle and kind, but…"What is a kiss?"
"A kiss is a symbol of loyalty…" the sly dragon explained.
A happy smile graced the child's face once more. "It tasted of peppermint!' The smile turned upside down and eyes questioned again. "But what is my name?"
"Omi," Chase answered without hesitation.
The child born of darkness was as happy and sweet and innocent as the water dragon used to be, so naturally his name should be Omi…the boy was created in his image, except for his empty white eyes.
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The heavy bronze doors slammed open by a willowy figure with cascading crimson hair and flowing black robes and was followed by a thin youth of dull red hair and black clothes.
"How can we fail!" the emerald eyed woman whispered viciously to her trembling companion with green eyes flashing and pointy little teeth bared in a snarl. "This is all your fault, Jack!"
"My fault!' Jack screeched, "This is all your fault, Wuya!"
Wuya sneered. "It should have been very simple…the death of that cheeseball should have rendered them defenseless. We would have raided the temple, steal the Shen-gong-wu without any trouble!"
Jack watched the wicked witch seethe with fear. Those python-green eyes with the malicious black markings would glow with red-hot fury, those scarlet slashed lips would twist into an animal-like sneer and those tiny red tipped claws for hands would clutch in fierce rage.
The demon witch rested one elegant hand on her hip whilst frowning. "It should have been easy…"
Jack blinked. In the mist of Wuya's loud complaints and murderous rage was the teeny tiny eitty bitty little sound of faint child laughter…and how could there ever be the sound of happy laughter in the dragon's dismal cave-castle?
Wuya apparently heard it too, for her displeased frown became one of confusion and puzzlement.
The paste coloured face of the evil boy genius paled even further. "What if its one of those…sharp…toothed cats?"
"Don't be stupid! It sounds like a child."
The wiry awkward youth followed the tall sylphlike woman into the dark deep depths of the reptile's lair with cautious cowardly steps. They walked; they creeped and stalked until the low faint laughter was clear. They came across a small room, barely lit, but one of simple elegance.
The walls were of clear transparent blue, as blue as the sky and ocean, the floors of pure glistening oak wood and one large blue draped window to gaze at the world beyond. There were no fancy decorations, but only a small unpretentious bed of deep navy silk sheets and tiny fluffy pillows.
And a small form shrouded in the vivid shadows hunched over a shimmering sea-green orb.
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