Disclaimer: I don't own Dragon Knights. I can't speak Japaness, either. Just so you know.

Yes, this IS another update. Rejoice if you like me. Burn things if you don't. Sorry, longer chapter.

Chapter Thirteen: Unlucky

Dark rain clouds had been gathering around the city, just on the edge of the border since Nick's healing session with Lidan. They had yet to make their way toward the castle until just recently and could now be seen on the horizon from the Dragon Castle. Cesia, who had been kept cooped up in her room horribly ill for a good month, was out on the balcony against the nurse's best wishes.

She rubbed her aching forehead, trying to ignore her senses and enjoy the day. It wasn't working out very well. A cool breeze blew and all was peaceful, despite the clouds outlined by the sunset. Inside, her stomach was turning upside-down and inside out as her muscles ached in agony. No one seemed to know what she had but Cesia was beginning to guess it had something to do with her fortune-telling powers. She had noticed when she had finally awakened from the fever-induced sleep that the crystal ball by her bedside was going crazy. And ever nerve in her body was screaming "Nadil" with painful passion.

She was trembling and drenched in cold sweat but she didn't want to return to her room. She had awakened for some reason. Whatever that had been driving her sensitivity to magic nuts had developed in some way that allowed her to wake.

Watching the clouds sparkle in oranges and purples, Cesia knew the Demon Lord would soon disrupt the peace of the Dragons. It was only a matter of time…

Rath made his way through the confines of the palace to Rune's usual evening spot. There was a lot on his mind.

He saw the elf through the tapestries in the Library sitting on the grand window's edge reading an old, tattered book in the fading light of the setting sun.

"When was the massacre of Rimune?" he asked bluntly, as it was Rath's nature. (Rimune is the city they found Nick in.)

Rune didn't look up from his book. "About three weeks, maybe closer to four. Why?"

Rath bit his thumbnail while he thought. "How long does it take to get from the Demon Castle to Rimune?"

Rune looked up, trying to reason out why Rath would care about such a thing. The Fire Knight smiled innocently. "I just wanna know," he said. "I've got a hunch."

"Anywhere from a week to a few days, I suppose. Are you going to share this hunch?"

"Nope," Rath said already walking away. He had a demon to see.

"I think it's time you told us everything you know," Lykouleon said. "If we can clean this up without bloodshed, then let us."

"I don't understand," Nick said, feeling cornered. "I've told you."

"Hardly," Ruwalk said, not meaning to sound forceful but failing. "We know nothing about you."

"She doesn't have a real name," Lykouleon backtracked. "We know she was imprisoned by Nadil but for how long? Did he raise you?"

"I…don't remember." Nick said.

"Do you remember why Shydeman attacked you in the marketplace?"

"I don't remember an attack of any kind. When was I in the market place?"

"Yesturday. With Rath," Ruwalk said. "Do you remember Rath?"

"I remember running away from Mr. Alfeegi with him just now but that was the first I've seen of him."

Lykouleon and Ruwalk exchanged glances.

"Would you please tell us what you do remember?" Lykouleon asked. "Starting with when you first woke up at the Dragon Castle."

"Well, I woke this mourning. I can't really remember when I first woke up here, but it had to have been before today because everything looked familiar. But, that's okay, because it's always like that after Lidan heals me."

"Lidan?" Ruwalk asked.

"Her dragon," Lykouleon explained. " Lidan healed you because of what Shydeman did to you?" he asked the blond.

"I don't know who Shydeman is," Nick said.

"You did the other day."

" I don't remember. I thought Lidan had healed me because I was injured. I only guessed I had been here before because the things looked familiar. I do know I wasn't always here, though."

"How?" Ruwalk asked.

"A feeling," she tried explaining. " I have this feeling I was somewhere else once. I don't know where, though."

"So," Lykouleon tried putting the pieces together, "when Lidan, your dragon, heals you, your memory slips?"

"Yes, because then I don't have to remember how I got hurt, if it's something really bad. That would make me afraid and I can't be afraid."

"What would you be afraid of?"

"I'd be afraid to continue living."

An eerie silence fell as Ruwalk and Lykouleon exchanged worried glances. The more Ruwalk heard, the more skeptical he was that Nick was even a real creature. He was beginning to think the blond had been made, much like Nadil's other pawns. This would certainly upset Lykouleon.

Nick got up to look out the window, feeling the eyes of the men in the room. Clouds were coming in; they were just about over the castle now. The sun was setting. It would be a dark night, a long night. A painful night…

"Lidan!" she squealed as the black creature circled her neck, embracing her the only way he could. He licked the child's cheek, not speaking but silently letting her know how much he cared for his master. "Lidan, I missed you. Did you find anything?"

Lidan didn't respond for a very long time, circling her neck, spotting the Dragon Lord's eyes. He positioned himself on her so that he could hardly be seen by anyway but Nick. 'I must speak with you alone, Child.'

"Lidan…" her voice was a worried whisper.

'I know,' he soothed, 'I feel your fear. You do not have to show them.'

Lykouleon had seen the fabled Lidan, that he was sure. He was also sure he absolutely detested the creature. It reeked of Nadil's power and energy. One glance told him Ruwalk could sense it also. Still, there was something very familiar about the thing.

Nick caressed her reunited treasure with a passion that sickened the Lord. He thought of the creature that had brutally attacked a peaceful village, murdering, no, slaughtering hundreds. Thousands. No creature of Nadil's should be loved. None.

"Nick," he tried to begin. When he did, the blond whipped around, still holding her dragon. The light from the giant window behind her had ceased to form as light so the only glow came from the candles next to the doorframes behind Lykouleon and Ruwalk. The effect it cast upon the girl's face was truly frightening. "Nick,-" he stopped again, noticing a drop of blood running from her eye down her cheek. "Are you hurt?"

"Sir." Ruwalk's whisper was low but help his urgency. Lykouleon nodded, he saw the dragon's eyes as well. They were mirror images of the Demon Lord's.

"It appears we have a demon in the house," he told his officer.

To Be Continued...

Demon-eyed dragons not included...