Death: I have to say, I am liking the results of my experiment. By finishing one chapter, but keep it hidden while working on the next is really helpful. Although I need to work on my patience for the second chapter is not completely finished. However, I feel that I am in a good position to update this anyway.

Disclaimer: I own nothing.

Stage 01: Of Kings and Oaths

=3=

It was supposed to be a normal day in the Thornberg manor. Unfortunately for one Anghel, today just happened to be the day everyone in his family dotes on him. His mother forbade him to go outside and forcing him to do his homework. His sister was keeping an eye on him while his brother was trying to cheer him up.

"You know how mother is." Ethan patted his shoulder. "She's been getting better at doting you less and less. That's a good sign, right?"

"If I could trade to be Ethan, I would do anything." Anghel huffed.

"No, you wouldn't. You would be the first to married." Ethan replied.

The youngest raise an eyebrow. "Aren't you due to be married to – what was her name, Tabitha? – in a few months?"

At that a light blush crept on his brother's cheeks. "Don't get me wrong, I love her. But it's a lot of pressure to marry someone."

"True. I guess I'll just be content to be the youngest. Though I hope mother won't expect me to marry Cassandra." Anghel blanched at the thought.

"She's a sweet girl, Anghel. Why don't you like her?" Arabella inquired with a slight pout.

"I don't trust her father. He seems too ambitious to me."

"You don't trust any of the other nobles." His brother pointed out.

"Point. But I just can't shake the feeling the Duke Edmond Skye is not what he seems."

His sister sighed. "Shouldn't we get back to doing our homework, guys?"

Anghel bit back a groan. "But today is a nice day. I want to go riding with Black King."

"You have homework to do, Anghel." Bella reminded him as she crossed her arms.

"Oh, please. I finished my homework long ago. I don't see why she's making me redo it if I've already finished."

"It's because she thinks you cheated." His sister pointed out.

"Which, by the way, I did not!" The youngest protested, finally allowing his emotions to show through.

"Not everyone is as intelligent as you are." Bella huffed. "Besides, she still sees you as the little boy who could barely even tell what year it was."

At that Anghel released a groan while his forehead met table. He loved his mother, but seriously, why did she have to be so over protective? And his siblings never received the same treatment.

Not that it would be logical that she wouldn't, anyway. They were normal. Since he was born prematurely everyone was tip toeing around him with the hopes of keeping him safe. He would have to give them that much credit for everyone trying, but sometimes it felt like there was no room for him to so much as breathe.

His sister must have finally caved in at the sight of his defeated state for he felt her hand in his hair. Aside from their mother, Bella was the only other person allowed to touch his head. Sometimes he allowed Ethan to knuckle his hair. However the few times his brother did so he didn't have a say in the matter.

Anghel moved his head so his cheek met the slightly warm table to give Bella a questioning look. Although she had natural hair and eye color, there was no doubt that she was beautiful. At the age of twenty she could pass off as sixteen. She still had her round baby fat cheeks and her eyes wide and expressive.

Her light brown hair cascaded down to the middle of her back. Although she mostly inherited the straight hair from their father, she had curls at the ends of her hair and bangs that no amount of brushing or ironing would make them go away. Under the right kind of light her hazel eyes shine a more of a hazel green.

He could see the hint of green right now as she stared at him fondly. Anghel did not know why, but he always thought green was her color even though she preferred pinks and lavenders.

"Don't be so hard on mother. She still needs time to understand you're not so helpless anymore."

Anghel could not hold back a snort. Bella frowned at his careless attitude. He ignored her stern glare and straightened up in his seat. At the movement she removed her hand from his hair. Anghel silently admitted to himself that he missed the contact.

"It's nearly been five years since I became normal. Well, as normal as anyone could be, but we all know I'm better off than when I was a child." He gritted his teeth at even mentioning his childhood years.

"We understand how you feel, brother, but that is only because we are your siblings. Mothers have a different view on their children. And you know how stubborn she is." Ethan was staring at him with a solemn look.

"Of course I know. But that doesn't mean I want her to hurry it up and realize that I'm not a child anymore." Anghel glared, his eyes narrowing while the blue violet darkened to a more violet.

His brother shifted uncomfortably in his seat. Anghel noted very early on in his life that when he glared like this, everyone would become nervous. At first he thought it was because he was the youngest and no one wanted to face his wrath. When he was around ten he realized exactly why everyone seemed to take a step away from his glares.

"Just be patient, brother. She'll come around eventually." Even under the scrutinizing gaze, Ethan still tried to put up a good front.

Anghel rolled his eyes. "Always the optimistic one, aren't you, Vlad?"

His teasing seemed to have done the trick. Perhaps it helped greatly he called his brother's middle name, for only Anghel had that right to do so. Ethan relaxed as he smiled wide enough to reveal perfectly white pearls. Anghel couldn't help but to return a smile of his own. His brother's carefree grins were always a weakness of his.

In fact Ethan's smiles always seemed to brighten even the grayest of rooms. The way he smiled from the heart put his handsome features to use. Although Ethan took after their father in appearance, he inherited their mother's thick dark curls. Black hair and pale skin brought more out of his pale blue eyes that could put anyone under his spell.

Of his two siblings, Ethan was the one Anghel related to the most. They understood full well what it meant to be the sons of an Earl. Together they put on a mask in front of the other nobles, using their charms and wits to draw potential allies closer to their father. On the outside they pretended to be young men hoping to prove their own worth in the game of nobility.

On the inside, however, was a slightly darker intention. As of right now their family is under fire and hate. They needed as many powerful allies in order to keep their father as Earl. Their aunt, the widow of Vincent's elder brother, has been trying for years to rip their father from his status so her son could to take his place.

This wasn't out of pride to help their father. No, the reasoning behind their actions was simply because their cousin held no motivation what so ever. Sure, he was the proper age to gain a status, but he enjoyed the life of parties and held no interest in politics. He certainly had the intelligence and the wits if he put his mind into it. But it was all too boring for him to even try. If he became the Earl, their family would be in ruins.

If worse came to worse, then they would have to move out of England for Bulgaria and move in with their mother's sister and her family. Anghel would not entirely mind about moving out of the boring countryside, for he felt better to speak in his mother's native tongue than the complicated nasal sounding English. But where their aunt and uncle lived was an even more dangerous play of politics.

It didn't help matters Katalina was originally from Romania. Though in ancient times Bulgaria and Romania were once on in the same, the two neighbors abhor each other these days. Their mother's love story of how she fell in love with a nobleman from England was well known in both countries, therefore both held the old ways of thinking. Those that had the greater voice in the matter despised how Katalina would abandon her large family in a tiny village in the middle of nowhere just to live a life in luxury.

What they believed wasn't true, of course. But it's not like they could change the minds of the foolish and make them see that what their mother did was out of love, not of greed. If they were to so much as even visit either country they would be heavily scrutinized. Well, if Anghel was given the chance, he could make them change their minds. It would have to be done secretly, though.

Speaking of, he could probably use it right here to make his escape. With a blink he felt the power within him begin to stir. Although he rarely used it, Anghel was always amazed at how he could feel its power come to life at his will. It was something otherworldly, the power of the kings.

Just as he opened his mouth to make the command, there was a crash of something breaking just a few rooms away. Anghel blinked once more and he felt the power within dissipate. His siblings were immediately alert.

"What was that?" Bella was now standing up.

"I don't know. I'm going to check it out." Ethan made his way to the hallway. "Is anyone there?"

"I'm coming with you." Anghel stood up to follow his brother.

"Wait, it could be an intruder! You can't fight against them, brother!" His sister exclaimed as she followed them.

"Then go and find father. I believe he's in his study." Anghel casually suggested. Vincent's study was on the main floor of the manor. They were on the third, thus no matter how fast Bella ran it will still take her some time.

From the corner of his eye he saw his sister hesitate for just a moment. Anghel felt smug as she nodded and headed for the nearest staircase. He turned to his brother who was already making his way to one of the many rooms in the hallway.

"Let's split up. We can cover more ground that way." Anghel said as he headed towards another room.

"Haven't you ever heard safety in numbers, brother?" Ethan paused in the doorway he was about to pass through to send a worried glance his way.

"I may be short, dear brother, but that does not mean I am useless. You forget we have the home field advantage." Anghel had already gone into his destination before Ethan had anymore to say in the matter.

His words had struck a chord, for Ethan did not pursue him. Good, then Anghel could still take advantage of the situation at hand. Just to be sure it was not an intruder he still made an effort of searching.

He noticed the doors of a rather large closet were slightly ajar. With caution Anghel walked up to it and opened the doors to reveal a familiar figure staring back at him. The figure did not say a word, but the glare was enough for him to understand.

Anghel smiled with guilt. It was a silent communication passed between them that he knew he shouldn't use his power on his siblings. The figure relaxed if just a little, but there was still a hard stare, as if reprimanding him for even having such a temptation. The young noble almost chuckled, but he was still within earshot of Ethan just one room away.

So Anghel simply closed the closet doors and began to slowly creep into the hallway for his escape.

=3=

The air was warm with a slight breeze, a perfect day to admire the countryside surrounding the Thornberg manor. It was a day Anghel could not resist from going out with his favorite horse and ride the family landscape. Normally he would have the saddle and bridle on hand but the young man wanted to get away from the stuffy mansion without anyone following close behind.

He loved his family, yes, but sometimes everyone became too overprotective around him. So with only a halter on Black King's small head, Anghel jumped onto his back and together they jumped over the fence and raced off. His mother and brother didn't even have the time to run and gather their mounts when he was already gone out of sight.

He was sure someone would be riding up to him soon. But for now he will just enjoy the green fields and rocky cliffs before him and a calm view of the sea. Anghel always had a sense of calmness whenever he gazed to the sea. He was no fan of the beach, though. Instead he had the habit of admiring the view from a remote area such as this.

His horse snorted, already bored standing about. Black King was the horse the young man had raised from a foal when the mother rejected him. From the beginning the two shared a special bond and Anghel was the only one he allowed on his back with full control. Anyone else and King would fight for the reigns for all his worth. Anghel pat his neck reassuringly.

"I know, I know, it's boring for you. Just let me enjoy my brief window of freedom a little more."

Black King pawed at the ground, anxious to start their countryside work out. With all of King's energy Ethan suggested they train him to be a jumper. Although his parents were against the idea of Anghel riding in competitions, he threw back if he needed to get stronger physically then this was the way to do it.

And it wasn't like anyone else could keep Black King under control. As an Arabian he was intelligent, and no tricks anyone else, whether it was his mother or any stablemen, could do to make him obey their hands. Anghel made it an absolute rule never to use the whip on his horse. In a way Black King was his child, one of his true friends and a breath of fresh air from his family. In his entire seventeen years he had been watched from a dozen pair of hawks.

Being born premature was a curse in his mind. Compared to his brother Anghel was nearly dwarfed by Ethan in height. Even his sister was taller than him. And everyone doted on him as if he were a helpless child. Everyone was careful what to say and how to interact with him as if he were made of glass.

This was why Anghel could not be deterred from riding in competitions with Black King. It was all to prove he was not a fragile bird to be caged all day. There were many arguments over the matter. However, it became clear that Anghel's stubbornness was a continuous black pit. Thus it has been easy enough to ease his family's fears as he continued to train.

True he was frail in appearance. Thin body frame and weight, barely a scrap of fat and muscle on him. He had the highest chances of catching a cold during the winter than anyone else living in the mansion. A few times he caught pneumonia when his body was strained from too much work. However, despite all of these drawbacks, that did not mean he was entirely weak.

Anghel took care of the horses with his mother. He focused most of his attention to the proud stallion he raised. He rode or worked with Black King as much as possible every day. Four years of work pulled off exponentially well for Anghel.

His limbs were stronger from lifting bales of hay to riding and working a champion out of the orphaned horse. As the youngest son of the Earl of Thornberg, it was decided to wait a little longer before Anghel and Black King make their debut. Right now their family was under fire for their support of the Black Knights for the past twenty or so years have come into light.

The Thornbergs were the first noble family within the EU to give Zero their full support. His father even went so far as to help fund for the new Knightmare frames when the Black Knights were a few million short. A little ridiculous in his opinion, but Anghel had no control over these matters.

So long as they were not to become targets among the EU nations he couldn't really care. How can the son of an earl care for the world around him when he wasn't allowed to step out of the Thornberg property? His most current problem was to face his mother and argue over his well being.

Anghel was snapped from his musings when Black King shyly side stepped. The black mount began throwing his head up with his ears flat against his head, nostrils flaring. Squeezing his legs around the slippery hide Anghel held tighter on the black mane as he examined their surroundings.

The young man smiled at the sight of a man leaning against a tree staring at him. He had dark curled hair and too pale olive skin. The man was average height and build, but still intimidating if he wanted to be. What Anghel found most mesmerizing were the dark hazel green eyes that have seen years beyond the human man's capability.

"Fancy meeting you here, Rad." Anghel greeted, stroking the King's neck to calm him down. Normally the black stallion wouldn't shy away from anyone, but Rad, or Radimir, was an exception with good reason.

"You're too trusting with this one, Anghel. There is a reason why black horses are feared in the Arabian breed." Radimir crossed his arms.

"Always one for superstitions, aren't you?" Anghel rolled his eyes.

"Whether you believe in those stories or not, there is some truth to legends."

"Says the ancient one." The teen snorted. "So, how did you get out here so fast anyway? Last I checked you were hiding in one of the guest room closets."

Radimir only smiled that would have sent any sane person running. "Oh I have my ways."

"Perhaps I shouldn't have asked in the first place." Anghel laughed dismissively.

In truth, Radimir was an immortal. Although they shared a contract Anghel rarely used his Geass. He had no real reason to, with the exception when they had first met when he was thirteen. Before they met Anghel was living in a never ending storm of nightmares. No amount of specialized doctors or medications would put an end to these horrors he experienced.

At thirteen, he had made his escape from the house one night with the intention of ending it all. Anghel made his way to one of the cliffs overhanging the ocean below, some thirty feet below. There had been a storm that night, one that the rain soaked through his thin clothes and the wind bit into his flesh. Anghel did not care for the elements. It only decreased the chances of his survival for what he had planned.

Just before he made the jump someone pulled him back. Anghel fought with all his might, but he was scrawny and weak. Within seconds he lost his resolve to fight and accepted the warm embrace around his small body. This stranger was warm like the sun, and no amount of rain seemed to affect him. It was then he heard the whispered promises for an end to his Hell without taking his life.

Anghel accepted the offered promise in a heartbeat. He didn't even question the contract or gave any indication to learn of the details. It was all too good to be true that he could finally escape from his inner torture and live a normal life, but he was not going to pass up this opportunity when presented.

Even as his instincts screamed at him to avoid Radimir as much as possible, he suppressed these feelings. Anghel just felt so safe and secure when R.R. was around that he ignored his intuition just to have a sense of inner peace. At night Radimir would pull him close into that same warmth Anghel was fond of, falling into a deep slumber as the immortal watched over him. When Radimir was around the nightmares would lesson, thus Anghel would not cry out as he used to.

Anghel might have an unhealthy attachment to the immortal, but for now he saw him as his savior. The moment when it was time to cut off his emotional bind to the immortal would be the day when his Geass would fail and the nightmares will start once more. It was only a matter of time when the unnamed horrors would break through their hold and come flooding back. He learned early on he could only use his power once on one person, therefore, in time he will have to experience the nightmares all over again.

Until that moment came, Anghel will savor every moment of peace as if it were his last.

=3=

Much to their surprise, no one came to collect and reprimand the young man for making a run for it. Taking advantage of the situation the two men relaxed in a patch of grass on an overhanging cliff. The immortal was sitting with Anghel's head in his lap, overlooking the ocean. Behind them Black King grazed the salty sweet grass, never leaving out of sight of the pair. The young noble was just starting to doze off when realization struck.

"I think this is the same place where you pulled me away from the edge." Anghel breathed a chuckle.

Radimir could only blink. It was so long ago, it seemed, when he prevented the boy from leaping to his end.

"You know, if it weren't for you, I wouldn't be alive today."

The immortal lowered his gaze to the young noble, cocking his head to one side in question. Maybe the young man was too tired to care about such things, but he had made it a mission to forget the past.

"Are you feeling all right?" Radimir inquired.

"Hmm. Just a soul reminiscing." Anghel's eyes were fluttering, barely able to keep his eyes open.

"You normally wouldn't bring up the past like this." The immortal pointed out. He began to run a pale hand through silky black strands.

"I get the feeling that everything is about to change. I can't really explain it." The boy whispered. There was a hint of sadness in his voice.

Radimir simply nodded. He understood that feeling. As Anghel was losing strength to keep his eyes open he whispered once more, almost inaudible even to Radimir.

"I just… There are no words to express how grateful I am to you. You pulled me out of the darkness and into the light. I only wish that this could have lasted…forever…"

And the young noble fell asleep, lost in a dreamless slumber. The ancient one could only stare at the sleeping form in wonder. For he, too, had sensed the change in the winds. As an immortal he was more in tune with the world than most. He found it surprising that his current contractor would feel the same.

'He has the ingredients of a great immortal. That, I cannot ignore.' Radimir frowned.

He had made a vow long ago not to pass his Code down to anyone else. It was his duty to watch over the family he had nearly led to destruction during his foolish years when mortal. But now that the chance has presented itself to him, the immortal was caught between his sworn oath and the instinct it was time to hand his Code over. To give up his responsibility of carrying the Code would mean the end of his resolve.

'You have no idea the torment I am under because of you, boy. Perhaps I should hand my Code down to you just so you could experience the same. You never asked for the conditions of our contract, so you would not question that I ask you to watch over the remains of your family as they continue to breed and die.'

At such thoughts the immortal cursed at himself for how dark he seemed. Perhaps he shouldn't take all of his anger out on the boy in his lap. He was not entirely at fault, here. The immortal held part of the responsibility for granting the boy the chance to live on more than one occasion.

'Or perhaps I am the fool for giving you life in the first place.'

But if he had not, then he would not be watching over the one black sheep he grew so fond of. For once in centuries the immortal found a companion, a soul that shared many of the same traits as he once did. It was a wonder why it took so long for another version of him to appear in his descendents.

Or maybe it was because of something else that lurked within the boy. Something that had urged the immortal for daring to show himself in order to save the boy's life, so long ago. He had a sense of the souls around him, including those he watched from afar. He found it curious as to how this boy could harbor two souls in one body.

It was that second soul that piqued his interest. The one that for so long tried to remain hidden as it lurked in the back of the boy's conscience. It tried so hard for so long to ease the pain of the boy, but could not interfere when the boy chose to end the suffering himself. As a result of hiding away it could not reach out and take control of the shared vessel.

In the years he watched over the boy R.R. had not once attempted to contact the shadow. He had been content enough to simply observe as the boy transformed from a hopeless case into a confident young man. But now that there was a threat of the time of peace was about to come to an end, Radimir found the curiosity that had been hidden for so long appeared.

As the immortal stroked the soft black hair, readying himself to reach out to one of the shadows, the black horse snorted. Radimir withdrew as his body tensed, waiting for the beast to make his move. Of all the boring horses he had met, this one just had to be the one that was sensitive. Black King was able to sense his powers, and thus the reason why the beast never took a liking to him.

Yet the beast was not brave enough to make one move against him. In normal circumstances Black King would bite and kick at those he held distaste for. But the horse had enough intelligence to know the immortal could render him useless if he so much as tried. Thus, Black King would only share his discomfort by pawing at the ground, ears flat and nostrils flaring.

The beast was antsy, tip toeing as it battled against what it wanted to do and what it shouldn't do. When Black King finally stilled, ears still flat as he gave up this battle, the immortal continued where he left off now that there was no danger to his body.

Since the boy was asleep it was far easier to penetrate the deepest recesses of the boy's mind. The immortal was cautious as he came into contact of the other soul. He felt the surprise rippling from it before quickly raising its mental defenses. Radimir maneuvered around these defenses with practiced ease. It raised more when the first wave didn't work, creating more complicated and time consuming walls.

'I have all the time in the world. I am sure you know exactly what I am by now.' He did not mock it, and the mental communication put it at ease if just for a second.

He could sense it was hesitating, though, as it calculated whether or not to communicate with him. The immortal patiently waited for it to make the decision. He did not dare pressure it in the fear of being blocked and thrown out. Radimir had a curiosity to satisfy. He had to know what it was and why it shared a body with another.

He did not know how long he waited, for he lost sense of time. At some point in moving through the mental defenses he lost touch with his body. He could not feel the warmth of the sun's rays to know how much time had passed. Radimir did not care at this moment. He was too focused on what it would do.

In what seemed like an eternity it granted him acceptance. Although it did not speak directly to him, he could tell by the emotions that he was to enter only on its terms. He was only here for questioning, and thus he agreed if a bit too eagerly. It seemed satisfied with his answer, for he was pulled further into its conscience.

Radimir found himself in a world that was not his own. He could only blink as he took in the strange surroundings. He seemed to be in a room of a palace of some sort. The room was spacious, filled with endless shelves of books. The only light source to this world was the large ancient church like windows, casting shadows that seem to be too dark for any normal mortal.

What he found most puzzling was that this world was devoid of all color. Most mortals he came across held colors of different variations. Yet this soul had enough experience to allow the colors to be drained away, leaving its world as black and white. There was no hint of gray or lighter tone of shadows. In fact the shadows seem to be the only outlines of evidence there were any shapes in this white world.

In the center of the room was a table in between two couches conveniently facing each other. There he saw a figure, sitting in the couch nearest to him. Its back was turned, but from what he could see it was a young man. Curious, but still did not want to disturb the strange soul, the immortal held back. He stood where he was, waiting for the other to acknowledge him.

"You may sit." It was not a suggestion or an invitation but a command.

Radimir would have questioned how he could order him around if not when he became distracted. That voice, if his hearing had not been impaired on the journey here, was the very same voice as Anghel's. But there was something in that voice slightly different from the boy's. This unnamed soul held an air of eloquence and confidence beyond that of a seventeen year old.

Although he was confused, the immortal did as he was bid and made his way to the empty couch.

He noticed a chess board on the table between them. His side of the board was the white pieces while it had the black. Radimir was distracted once more as he briefly wondered if this was all to throw irony at his face, or, if the soul before him really did prefer black.

"Would you care for a game of chess, my immortal friend? While we play we can discuss whatever it is you wanted to ask of me. However, I will request that you remember our deal."

"You can relax. I am a man of my word." Radimir replied. "I will not look at your face until you grant me permission."

He could sense a smirk from the other man. Although it shared the same voice as Anghel it did not behave like him. Interesting.

"Then let the game commence."

There was nothing but silence for the first several turns. Although it had been decades since Radimir picked up a chess piece, he was grateful how he had not lost the ability. In turn, he quickly realized that his opponent shared an equal amount of skill and strategy. And for a moment it was surprised at how well the immortal was against him.

What confused the immortal was what this man would gain from something like this. His confusion must have been read on his face, for his opponent chuckled.

"Each move that I make is a hint as to who I am. Even so, it would be complicated even for most unless they truly know me. So, whatever questions you have all you have to do is ask them."

Radimir knew he was only being reminded for being silent. At the moment he did not know what to ask for he did not know what bit of information he could grab onto first. Thus, he began to focus more on what his opponent was doing in terms of what piece he moved and where. It has been a while since the immortal came across a challenge, a present within a jewel that was Anghel. This challenge was tempting him yet drawing out the inevitable to heighten the thrill of the chase. It was a present waiting to be unraveled.

Neither had captured a piece until the eighth turn. Radimir slowly blinked when he realized his bishop walked right into a trap. How could he not see that one coming?

"You use the knight more often than the others." The immortal noted, for it was one of the black knights that took his bishop.

"Yes. The knights are tools that, if used correctly, will be a powerful force to defeat."

Radimir frowned. "So you use the terms of chess into the real world."

"So it would seem."

"You are Britannian, then." The immortal smiled when he saw the figure shift uncomfortably from his peripheral vision. "Britannia has never changed from the birth of its very existence. Her people are fond of knights and shining armor, and thus the reason why the royal family appoints so many knights to serve and die for them."

At the mention of the royal family the figure's hands tightened into fists.

"You are uncomfortable. Would this be a response to how I quickly came to this fact, or that you do not identify yourself with your country? I would not blame you if it were the latter."

"A little of both, actually." Its voice was guarded, determined not to give away what disturbed him most.

Radimir moved his queen and took out the knight that had taken his bishop. "Now you are one knight short. What piece is most important to you after the knight?"

"Oh, the knight is only the third most important piece to me. The knight is a powerful ally with the force of one army." It moved his queen into position.

The immortal backed his queen away from the challenge. "So the queen would be what, the first or second most important?"

"Second." It confirmed, while moving the black queen towards its counterpart once more.

Radimir killed two birds with one move. He moved his queen out of harm's way while taking out one of the black bishops, now he was closer to the king. Unfortunately, the king had enough room to get out of danger.

"Check."

His opponent's next move astonished the immortal. Instead of fleeing, the black king captured his queen, the most powerful piece on the board.

"You move the king to make a blow?" Radimir raised a thick brow.

"If the king doesn't lead the charge, his men won't follow."

Something in those words struck a familiarity in the immortal's mind. He did not know why this seemed oddly familiar, not the words, but the mere psyche of someone that had briefly caught his interest.

"An idealist, then? As noble as that sounds I doubt any kings these days will follow up on that logic. As mentioned before knights are used as tools to serve and die. To a king everyone else is nothing more than mere pawns meant to follow his every command. I wonder, then, do you follow the same rules?"

"Once upon a time."

There was no hesitance in his voice or gesture. The immortal furrowed his brow as he pieced the few clues he gathered together. It couldn't be, could it? He had a vague idea on the identity now, however, he could hardly believe where all of the evidence was pointing at. If this was, however, who he think it was, then Radimir had every right to do what he did seventeen years ago. This could also explain his strange impulse for coming to Anghel's rescue when the boy was about to attempt suicide.

"Before you ask me anything more, I have to know something."

Radimir was surprised at the turn of events. "Go ahead. I am merely a guest, after all. I do not share the obligation of saying no as you do."

"It is good to ask before making assumptions." The other chuckled, the air lightened if just for a moment. But as soon as the laughter came it went, leaving behind a shadow of what had just transpired.

"Anyway, back to the point. You said and I quote, 'I doubt any kings these days,' suggesting that kings of old had put themselves in the front lines. The way you said it made it sound like you had witnessed something of the sort."

Radimir moved his knight into position. "I suppose you could say that."

"With an answer like that, I can assume you were of royalty, then?" A castle wiped out the white knight.

"In a twisted sense, yes. However I doubt you could identify which king I was." Radimir moved his other knight.

"No?" The remaining black knight was moved to challenge its white counterpart. "I have been watching you from the sidelines. I notice things Anghel would never dream of."

"Oh, really? Would you humor me on what exactly you have observed?" Despite how controlled the immortal was, he could not help but slip how disturbed he was in his voice.

"You may be supportive and understanding, however, you have a violent streak about you. The way you tense when Anghel so much as touches you, even if it was just to lean on you, makes me think you are uncomfortable of being touched to the point you would push him away. Oh, your body doesn't remain tense long enough for him to notice, but I can't help but notice since I've been watching you every minute you're around. You glare at Black King, a horse of which I named, not Anghel, as if you wanted to end its life."

"Does Anghel know about you, then?" In the entire life span thus far, Radimir had not sensed the boy knew about his shadow.

"No. In fact, his knowledge of me has been prolonged because of you. For that, I am grateful. But I can influence him if I had the effort and the means."

Realization struck the immortal like lightning. "You are the instincts that tell him to avoid me. Why?"

"I cannot trust you as easily as he can. It all just seemed too convenient you were around when he was about to take his life. We were in the remotest area, and you just happened to come by. Do not believe that I am ungrateful, for you know that I could not raise a finger to stop Anghel. I just happen to find the circumstances suspicious."

"If you have been watching Anghel, then you should know of the stories his mother tells him about the guardian."

"Yes, I have pieced together that you are that guardian she foretells. However, I know nothing about who you really are. Even though you told him you are R.R., I did not buy it. The way you introduced yourself was practiced, rehearsed even."

"You think R.R. is not my real name? What other evidence do you have of this?" Radimir recoiled. Although what his opponent said was true, there was nothing to give him the right clues as to who he really was.

"Nothing, as of yet." This meant he was going to figure out this little puzzle no matter what.

"So that's why you allowed an audience with me. We have each other cornered." It was not a statement, but fact.

He could feel that smirk creep its way back. "Now you realize the dire situation at hand."

"I apologize, but this bit of information is not something that I will hand out willingly." The immortal bristled. "It is something dangerous. And if not treated carefully the entire family, both the Vladimirescu and the Thornbergs, will be slaughtered."

"Do you honestly think I can go anywhere? I am trapped in a cage of my own creation. I read whatever comes to my fancy just to pass the time. I may be able to influence Anghel, but it is only by a few nudges in the right direction. I cannot make him do what he will never dream of doing such as murder, for example."

At that last sentence Radimir released a humorless laugh. "So it would seem I am not the only one with violent tendencies."

"Something we both share, unfortunately." The other growled out.

"Ah, so you do not relish in the act of violence? And here I thought I have finally found myself a companion who shares my philosophy."

"And what would that be, may I ask?" It was defensive again. The immortal will have to tread carefully should he not be thrown out of this very room.

"If I tell you, you will do everything in your power to keep Anghel away from me." Radimir took a shuddering breath to calm the buzzing in his head. "Fear not, my friend. I will never bring harm to the boy. I have made a sworn oath, one that I absolutely will not break."

The immortal bit the inside of his cheek. He had not meant to hand over that bit of information, not to someone who was just as dangerous as he was. And this stranger was only mortal.

"This…oath, what are the conditions?" It seemed distracted, focusing more on what Radimir did not intend to hand over on a whim. Perhaps this was a good sign.

The immortal waved him off. "A foolish oath made by a foolish man seeking to end the destruction he had caused. It is with my great regret that what I had done in my mortal years affected my family, forever dragging them down to the deepest depths of despair. I loved my wife and the son we brought into this world. But greed had overtaken my mind and soul."

"… That is something I can relate to. However, it was not my family that I hold my deepest regret towards."

Radimir slowly blinked at the reply. It sounded like it was...confessing? There was deep regret in that voice, he was sure of it.

"Then at least you will not be as discouraged about life as I am." Radimir rested his head into his hands, sighing deeply. "However, I find myself with hope."

Surprise rippled the room around them. It would seem he could catch it off guard, after all.

"Hope? Whatever for?"

"It is because of you and Anghel. I saw the moment he was born he harbored two souls. It is not unheard of, however within days the stronger of the two souls would devour the weakest. When that did not happen, I watched the boy more closely. Now that I am speaking to you for the first time I see that despite the dark front you put up, there is kindness in your heart. There is enough that you willed Anghel to live while you hide in the shadows."

The figure in the opposite couch tensed. Radimir was about to say more when pain made his body lurch forward. The immortal coughed as blood spilled over the chess board. A hand reached out to grip the table as he doubled over in pain, knocking over half of the pieces.

"We're being attacked!" The other had stood. "You must leave now! Protect Anghel!"

Out of reflex and perhaps forgetting the deal he had agreed to, the immortal glanced up just as he was forced out of the room. He saw only for a second the features of a young man. Radimir did not have enough time to burn the image of the face in his mind, but he did remember one detail that put the hairs on the back of his neck on end.

He saw flashing red eyes infected by a familiar sigil of a bird taking flight.

=3=

Death: *Whistle* That's a long chappie right there. Hell of a lot longer than the prologue, but that's simply because I had to cram a lot of information into this chapter as I could. As a result, it feels like this chapter was a bit slow. Slow like, not a whole lot of action going on type. However, there are a lot of little bits of information throughout this entire chapter about what can and will happen in the future. I introduced the older siblings for a reason, and you should pay close attention to the conversations.

As for the immortal, well, he's not as sweet and handsome as Anghel made him out to be, no? It's a surprising turn, but one that I enjoy writing.

And I don't think I need to explain about just who Rad was playing chess with. I think we all know. It does not need to be said XD

So, since I was right in the fact people are so lazy not to leave a review, just do whatever you want. But a review will be much appreciated. Though I could do without the "Please no yaoi", pretty please? I have enough of that in Ashes to Flames.