Chapter Two: Silence

Lei lies on his bed, looking up to the roof. His pale blank expression saying everything that could be said. His face red from crying the night before. Large bags underneath his eyes, he couldn't sleep. His mind replaying the night on repeat. His heart feeling that it is physically being pulled out and squeezed. Lei quickly turns over his bed as he vomits in his chamber pot.

He sits up loudly breathing. He looks at his room trashed that he caused in grief. Curtains ripped, pillow feathers scattered, books on the ground, broken porcelain along with his clothes all over the floor.

A room that was once so pristine and clean. Lei loved his room clean... But now it didn't matter to him.

He decides to stumble around the room looking at his own destruction. Tripping over a drawer with him vomiting on his expensive rug. He looks at his long hair and notices his hair caught in the vomit. He leaves it there, without a care. He then continues to stumble around his room terrified to leave.

He then hears a knock on the door.

"Lei?" An all too familiar voice is heard.

"Zheroh?" Lei asks.

"No Lei... It's Aaron and Iolene is with me. We are here to see how you are."

"Oh..." I all Lei can say. Even saying the simplest words is exhausting for him.

"Lei?" Iolene asks. "Your mother has allowed us to see you. May we come in?" Iolene using her sincerest voice. "Lei, we are here to help you."

Lei then stumbles to his door as he trips and vomits again. Iolene noticing the sound she bursts into the room. She see Lei lying on the floor. Trying her hardest not to cover her nose. The room smelt terrible as she looks in shock at the state of the room.

Aaron carries Lei damsel style and places him on the bed.

Lei remains blank faced as he stares forward. Like Aaron and Iolene were invisible. After staring for a while he slowly looks at Iolene and then to Aaron.

"I will ask who is dead or alive. Please answer only yes or no. Please no details I want to see for myself." Lei says in a daze.

Aaron and Iolene nod.

"Chin?"

Iolene softly answers "Yes."

"Ning?"

Aaron answers "No."

Lei's heart skipped beats and it felt like another part of his world is destroyed. His sister... His baby sister...

"Chen?"

Iolene answers "Yes."

"Fen?"

Aaron answers "Yes."

"Ponderrah?"

Iolene answers "Yes."

"Shun Shun?"

Aaron answers "Yes."

"Shinsen?"

Iolene answers "No."

"Tao Wen?"

Aaron answers "No."

"Okimi?"

Iolene answers "Yes."

"Zheroh?"

Aaron whispers "No."

Lei rubs his eyes as the man he loved has died... They never got as far as Lei hoped. But he loved him none the less...

"Lexi?"

Iolene whispers "Yes."

Tears begin to fall out of Lei's eyes and shakes his head. "NING! My sister! My beautiful sister!" He screams in grief. He grabs his hair and pulls it. He begins rocking back and forth.

Aaron and Iolene remained silent as they didn't know what to do. A few hours they remained by his side as he mourned.

Iolene leans in front of Lei and grabs his hand. In slow motion both her and Aaron take him to the hot baths. Aaron prepares a fire to warm the bath up.

Iolene undresses him. Her seeing his body, the various black draconium burn marks splotched around his body. Lei didn't want to fight. The bath felt so warm and comforting. Lei walks down into the large bath.

Iolene and Aaron grab the soaps and begin scrubbing him. Iolene massages his head to wash the vomit from his hair.

It was silence only the splashing of water can be heard. Until Aaron begins to sing.

"Oh... Hava ma hava... Tarka mar har. Fora ki nee youra hambra. Guida mar har thra da drakra. Fora da drakra ses da nava een. Mar betra iz crad mar meend iz empta. Oh, hava ma hava... Tarka mar har. Iz aida yoush, Iz knaw dere iz r petta jauve. Leaz tarka mar dere. Dara is r larka homara. Oh hava ma hava..."

Aarons beautiful voice echoes in the bathroom chamber. Aaron has always had a beautiful voice... Iolene thinks to herself. A man who has so many talents yet is so shy about them... I am curious as to what it means?

Lei begins to cry as Iolene hugs him. She begins to wipe tears from her eyes. Aaron grabs his shoulder in solidarity.

It was at least an hour in the bath, until Iolene and Aaron dress him in fresh clothes.

Lei looks at himself in the mirror. No matter how much they will bath and use make-up. He looks gaunt and still pale.

The three walk through the palace. Lei walking at a slow pace. Vomiting in a nearby vase. Iolene hold his hair as he released his stomach contents. Lei seeing the palace devastated him. As they walk further up the hall they come across two guards. Standing in front of a detailed door unlike the rooms.

"We are here to see Prince Chin..." Iolene softly says.

The guard points a spear at her. "By the Empress's orders. No one enters." He says sternly. Aaron quickly grabs the spear shaft in response.

"FOR FUCK'S SAKE I AM HERE TO SEE MY BROTHER!" Lei shouts. "OPEN THE DOORS! I DEMAND IT!" He then throws a nearby statue at the guards. They bow and let the three in.

The room is dark and no one else is inside. Lei rushes forward to see his oldest brother. "I'm so sorry I haven't visited." Lei says with tears in his eyes. However it took him a quick moment to realise the state his brother is in.

Chin is covered in bandages top to bottom. Much of the bandages have changed black because of the poison in his body. Only the left side of his face is exposed. His bright blue eye looks up at the three. He heavily breathes as he can only move his head.

His right arm is missing as Lei notices a bulge at the shoulder where it once was. His beautiful long hair has now been completely shaved off. Iolene like Lexi uses her gold draconium magic to try and purify the poison. It helps a little as his skin lightens. She then notices he is missing half of his right leg and missing his left foot.

Lei leans in and kisses Chin on the forehead. "Oh Chin..." As he then gently rubs his forehead.

He groans in response.

"He struggles to speak. Don't make him talk..."

The three turn around and see the Empress. To Iolenes and Aarons shock she sounds normal.

Still wearing white she walks up to Lei and hugs him. "Oh my son..." She whispers in his ears and then kisses his cheek. She then gracefully walks to Chin and kisses his forehead.

"Sazan Jona escaped after the explosion... His armies are heading North as we speak. They attacked the city of Ping Jing. A siege for it has begun. Our armies will intercept them..."

The Empress then grabs a vial of pure blue draconium from the side table. And tries to make her son swallow it. Iolene rushes to assist the Empress looks at her as she climbs onto the bed. The bed is so large Iolene had no choice.

"Let me your majesty... The way you are doing it could lead him to choke." She nods and hands Iolene the vial. Iolene quickly noticing her hands shaking. Iolene then gently raises his head. Dripping the bright blue liquid bit by bit. He swallows slowly and once the vial is finished Iolene gently places his head down.

The Empress sits on his bed silent. "Please see Cheng... I need to be alone with Chin. I will see you later Lei..."

The three then leave and as the doors shut behind them. They can hear the Empress crying in distress.

Iolene grabs Lei's hand as they stand in front of Cheng's room. Shouting and smashing of porcelain can be heard. A young woman screams as the three burst inside. Cheng is in bed holding a statue with a very scared Aika covering her face with her arms. Iolene rushes to Aika noticing she has bruises and cuts.

"Cheng? What the?!" Is all Lei can ask. Aaron rushes to Aika and Iolene as Cheng proceeds to throw the statue. It hits Aaron as he shields the two girls. Aaron breathing hard as the impact hurt him. Trying his hardest not to yell.

Lei rushes to Cheng. "What are you doing!?" As Lei sits on his bed and wrestles with him.

"THAT SOUTHERN BITCH! SHE CAUSED THIS! SHE IS THE REASON WHY FATHER AND NING ARE DEAD!" Cheng shouts as he quickly gets subdued by Lei.

Aika sobs in Iolenes arms. "I just wanted to see if he was okay..." She whispered. "I didn't do anything I sware!" She looks up at Aaron and Iolene.

"It's okay Aika I believe you!" As Iolene hugs her as she sobs. Iolene thinking of how Aika is betrothed to Cheng. How horrifying...

Cheng then gives up as Lei easily over powered him. Which surprised him. Since Cheng is larger than him. Lei looks down as he sees the extent of his older brothers' injuries. Covered in bandages he lost his right eye. Half of his left arm is missing, a massive black scar covers his right arm. Lei moves the covers and realises his toes are missing.

"I want that bitch out of this room!" Cheng says again. Iolene grabs Aika's shoulders and guides her out of Cheng's room. Cheng then slumps onto his pillow.

"Look at me Lei, I'm a freak!" Cheng says he looks down at himself. "A complete freak. You are lucky brother... As always." He says with an angry tone. "You get fathers affection. You get out of the betrothal. You escaped that explosion with barely any damage. Lucky bastard you are!"

"Lucky?!" Lei says with anger. "I am devastated! YES I am lucky in the injury department! But I am heartbroken. I don't want to fight Cheng!" Lei clenches the sheets in frustration. Tears falling out if his eyes again.

"DON'T CRY!" Cheng shouts. "It's weak!"

"I am not in the mood for this! See you later Cheng." Lei gets off the bed and ignores Chengs comments. Aaron opens the door as Lei walks out.

Iolene tends to Aika's bruises and scars.

"Thank you." She whispers meekly. She insisted on walking back to her room alone. Iolene lets her go and places her healing tools back into her bag.

The next visit will be Fen. Walking in the silent palace Lei walks past a room and looks at the door. Iolene quickly realises it is Ning's room. Lei opens it ajar peeking inside. Her room was exactly as she left it. Her large array of outfits on special hangers hung by the window. Her selections to wear for the day... He sees one hanger empty as it was the outfit she chose.

Her room still smelt of flowers. Her bed folded neatly and has not been disturbed. Lei couldn't help collapsing but Aaron catches him in time.

"I am so sorry Lei..." Iolene whispers. "She was a wonderful princess."

Lei gathers his strength to stand up. I will never see my fashion princess sister ever again... Oh Ning! I remember when you were born... I was four. I remember mother heavy with child and telling me I was going to be a big brother. I will no longer be the youngest. Mother was in child bed for a week. Then I heard I had a baby sister. Princess Ning! They announced. The gong rang five times every hour during the day. Then I got to see you... A little pink thing... Chubby with lots of baby fat. Many people made fun of you... But you grew up to be so beautiful. You aspired to mother so much... Dressing like her and becoming an icon for style. But you weren't just about beauty. You were incredibly smart. Making gear and technology that is fascinating. I remember you creating a hand held gear that stuns people and dragons. I miss you Ning... I miss you so much.

Lei stumbles away from the room. Iolene still holding his hand. They finally see Fen. She is looking out of her window. Wearing a beautiful traditional dress. She turns to Lei.

"She wanted me to be beautiful..." She then runs into Lei's arms. Sobbing uncontrollably. "I WANT MY FATHER AND NING BACK!" She screams. "JONA WILL PAY! JONA WILL PAY! JONA WILL PAAAAY!" She shrieks pulling on his clothes. Lei shushes her as he picks her up and rocks her. As little Fen collapses.

"They will pay Fen... They will pay." Lei whispers to her. As an anger begins to form inside of Lei his eyes glowed red for a second.

"Oh.. Mother my mother, take my hand. For I need your embrace. Guide me through the darkness. For the darkness seems to never end. My heart is cold and my is mind empty. Oh mother my mother take my hand. I love you... I know there is a better place. Please take me there. There is a light somewhere... Oh mother my mother."