A Faint Light

By Ai Auraine

A girl from the long past returns for Chase Young. The Dragon of Light, his deceased friend, and his lover. But she's not just here for a visit, she's back in the living world because she's on mission: Bring Back the True Chase Young.

Chapter 4: Converse through the Argument

I left in a huff and stormed down the hallways. "What an arrogant, evil little prick. He's so annoying, so irritating. I can't believe he said all that. I can't believe he believes all of that," I muttered. I wasn't paying much attention to where I was going. I didn't really care. I needed to work off all the extra adrenaline rushing through me in my rage.

Suddenly, from the dimly lit hallway, I was engulfed in complete darkness. Ugh, he's rich and powerful, but proper lighting is so inconvenient to have? How he can live in this place? "Probably to keep up with his little evil façade," I muttered.

Then, inspiration hit. This should be fun.

I spread out my hands, palms facing up. "Flickering Stream, Light." Orbs of light formed at my finger tips, and I waved them over to the walls so that the hall was filled with blinding lights. Orbs continued to form as I threw more and more against the walls, walking down the hall. Finally, I came to the end of the hall to a large door. I turned and admired my work. The hallway was blinding. Perfect for angering a dark and foreboding being.

Wanting to return to my room before Chase found the lights, I retraced my steps back to the now empty banquet hall, then took a different route to get to my room. After a couple of tries, I eventually reached the safety of my room. As soon as I closed the large door, I heard a roar and growls. I ran for my bed and hid under the covers, pretending I had been asleep the whole time. Seconds later, my bedroom door slammed open, revealing a red and aggravated Chase.

I put on an innocent pout and said sweetly, "Is something the matter, dear? You look… flushed?"

He glared at me with his intense stare and gritted his teeth. His fists were clenched. At my question, he began to twitch.

"You look twitchy, Chase darling. Did one of your pets bite you in the behind?" I grinned. "Would you like a kiss to make you feel better? Sorry dear, but I'm not the one to do that for you. Ask the lioness, she looked pretty loving."

His eyes stopped twitching, and he relaxed his fists, but his eyes still gave off an intense glare. "Of course not. I just found one of my hallways brighter than I'd like, and I was just wondering if you, the Dragon of Light, had anything to do with it?"

I pointed at myself and said, "Me? I would never do something like that! It's simply unthinkable."

"Of course. How silly of me to even suspect you."

"Yes, you should be ashamed of yourself."

"Well, when I do find out who did this, I'll make them pay."

"Hm, how bad will the punishment be, dear? Not too painful I hope?" I asked with as much of an innocent tone as I could possibly muster.

"Oh, of course not. I'll simply be taking on the same measures as the great emperor of Rome, Nero and throw the troublemaker into my lion pits… although, considering that the lionesses look loving, I might just throw them into some kind of bottomless hole of some sort. Nothing too bad, my dear."

"A classic."

"Yes."

"Not very creative though. I would've thought that a crazed evil being could think of something more… unique."

"If I were more creative, you wouldn't be able to have this cheerful chat with me today."

"Did you just insult yourself?"

He blinked. "I don't know what you are talking about." He turned around.

"You just admitted that you aren't very creative."

"Well, that may be, but unfortunately, your simplistic mind is unable to comprehend my ingenious and intricate plan to lure you into a false sense of security."

"Of course."

"Yes. Well, I'll leave you now. I must tend to destroying those infernal lights."

"Would you like help?"

"Your help is expected."

"Sorry, but do you not remember our little dinner chat? Apparently, I'm below you're expectations, meaning my actions are just as well. If help is expected, I, being below expectations, should not help and stick to the label you've achieved in giving me."

"You are not willing to clean up your own mess?"

"My mess? Whoever said it was mine?"

"You are the only being capable of illuminating an entire hallway in my sanctuary."

"That does not make the fault all mine. For all you know, one of your feline associates could have set off those little orbs of light that seem to… aggravate you so."

"You will shut up and help me."

I shook my head. "I will not."

"I say you will!" Chase grabbed my arm and tried to drag me off my bed. I felt my eyes glow yellow, as my other hand glowed with a white light.

"Get away from me! Let. Me. GO!" I yelled, flinging my glowing hand into his groin, sending him flying out of my terrace doors. I ran out onto the terrace and looked down. I knew he'd be okay. He could recover from a little throw, and just as predicted, there was Chase standing perfectly still on the ground below. Sensing I was looking from above, he looked up at me, staring directly into my eyes. His glare was similar to a dagger piercing my heart. It hurt me to hurt him, but… he wasn't the same Chase. I repeated that to myself, over and over again, to keep myself from feeling guilty, but no matter how hard I tried to keep them away, the feelings always managed to creep back into my heart and make my vision blur. He was the first to break the stare when he looked back down without any emotion and re-entered his palace.

I half expected him to barge back into my room to claim his revenge by hurting me in some way, but another side told me he wouldn't be coming back. I wanted to him to come back up to my room, just so I could see his face again. I didn't care whether he was mad or disappointed, as long as he was physically around me. I didn't hear from Chase at all for the rest of the night.

The next few mornings, I ate breakfasts alone. In fact, I ate all of my meals alone. I barely saw Chase for about three weeks. I would sometimes catch a glimpse of him outside but then he would immediately disappear as soon as he sensed my presence. I sulked around my room the whole day, not knowing where Chase was and with nothing to do. The day after the terrace incident, two lions were stationed and patrolling in front of my bedroom door. After a couple futile attempts later, I figured out that I wasn't allowed to leave my room except for meals, and even then, I was escorted by either a tiger or a leopard. There was no one to talk to, so I was more or less being forced to live in my own little world, talking to walls, ceilings, nonliving things. They were never much company. I did try to talk to the cats, but all I'd meet was usually a blank stare, and if I was lucky, maybe a growl.

It was painful not knowing what was going on anywhere besides the dust bunnies that had begun to thrive underneath my bed. I didn't know how the fight between good and evil was going because I was stuck in this dainty little palace, and what's more pitiful, I don't even know what's going in the palace. My mission was to bring Chase back to the light, but stuck in this room, there was no way I'd be able to do so. Why Chase was keeping locked up I didn't bother pondering about. It's probably part of his "diabolical" plan.

I walked out onto my balcony, and leaned on the banister, admiring the trees in the yard. It was still as gorgeous as the day I came, and had probably been that way for centuries. I wonder how they survive in a mountain. Suddenly, a voice behind me said, "The same way you are." I whipped my head in the source's direction, and just as expected, Chase stood there, watching me intently.

"How did you know?" I asked uncertainly. What, he can read minds now, too?

"I can tell what you're thinking. It's always been the same. All you cared about were how the plants were growing, or how the world felt, as an apprentice and even now as a Dragon."

I felt my heart take a small leap. "So you haven't completely forgotten those old days?"

He grinned. "I never said I did."

My stomach dropped. That smile was so entrancing, it was almost humiliating for me to stand there in front of him and simply stare, but there was no way to break the trance I'd entered, staring into the eyes of the man I once loved. Once loved? I think…

"What are you staring at?" The question broke the spell.

I shook my head and exclaimed in a quick stutter, "N-n-nothing." Then, after regaining my composure, I raised an eyebrow and said, "What is there to look at? There's nothing worth staring at in this room."

"What are you trying to say, my dear?"

"I'm not trying to say anything. I already said it," I laughed.

"Do you think you're funny?"

"Of course! Who else in this room has a sense of humor?" I laughed louder.

"You aren't funny. Your remarks are pointless and there is no reason for you to be laughing, especially in my presence," he said sternly.

"Oh. So divine evil can no longer laugh? I thought you said being evil was fun?"

"Not laughing IS fun."

I looked at him. "Idiot."

"What?"

"Saying laughing isn't fun. You should try saying it to yourself, and see if even YOU believe what you yourself are trying to preach to me. Practice what you preach, don't they say?"

He sighed. "I have no time for this."

"You have an eternity. It's plenty of time and you have certainly wasted a lot of time." I crossed my arms.

Chase looked at me, closed his eyes, and drew in a long breath. "There's a reason I locked up you here."

"Well, I certainly hope so."

"I don't remember you being so sarcastic."

"One picks up a lot of things when she's living with a sadistic being."

"Who? Me?"

I shrugged. "Perhaps."

He shook his head and looked me in right in the eye. "Why are you here?" He took a step forward as I took a step back.

"Don't you think it's obvious?"