Caffinated Dragon

Dragona yawned as he woke up from an impromptu nap in the library. The sounds of struggle and yelling roused him from his cozy spot, stretched out on top of the bookshelves, causing him to squint his bleary eyes in confusion.

Irritated from being woken up from the only decent sleep he has had in days, he rolled off and landed like a cat on the floor, slowly stalking his way to the source of the noise in nothing but a pair of leggings and the hair tie that kept his long white hair out of his face.

As he walked out of the room, the caretaker materialized into existence in the space in front of him.

"There is a disturbance that needs your attention, Traveler." The spirit then pointed toward the source of the noise. "It is not dangerous but could lead to future problems if not dealt with now."

"Thanks for the warning." He acknowledged as he rubbed his eyes and followed the spirits hand toward the stairs that led down toward the Elluvian.

From the railing he could hear people yelling from beneath the lounge of the Lighthouse, the sounds of arguing drifting slowly up the stairs.

"What the fuck?" He grumbled as he quietly began to walk down, debating whether to summon his knives just in case.

As he reached the first landing and listened however, he didn't hear any signs of battle. There was no smell of ozone that preceded magic, not even the smell of blood. What he could make out was Tash, Bellara and Harding seemingly standing around like they were corning some sort of wild animal they had backed into a corner.

Did something come through the Elluvian?

Where there even animals in the Crossroads?

One of them did lead to Arlathan forest. Could a Halla or something have gotten through?

He continued to sneak down the last of the stairs to try and figure out what was going on when he heard a very familiar, gravelly but also nasally voice shout.

"Let me out!"

Shit!

That was Spite!

Dragona took off at a run, using one of the pillars to swing himself down and leap over the last few steps.

Once he got to the bottom, sure enough, there was Lucanis but with glowing purple eyes instead of his normal dark roast brown.

Spite was standing awkwardly, like he wasn't sure exactly how legs worked but was managing anyway, as he shouted at the other three members to let him through.

Each one was brandishing their weapon at him and shouting back that they couldn't let him do that or that he needed to give Lucanis back to them like he was in danger of wiping Lucanis's mind away completely.

Even though he knew why they reacted that way, it still made him angry and in response he immediately got between the three of them and Spite and snarled, "What the fuck is going on?"

"They won't let me out!" Spite screamed as he looked at Dragona. "I want out!"

"He's trying to escape into the crossroads!" Tash answered, still standing in the way of Spite's escape path.

"What? Why?" He asked Spite.

"We don't know." Bellara replied before Spite could answer him which ticked him off.

"He just keeps saying he wants out." Harding added, again as if Spite wasn't right behind him fully able to answer the question.

"They won't let me out, Survival! I want out!"

"See?" Taash reaffirmed, once again like he was supposed to ignore him and listen to them instead.

Dragona looked at all three of them who were very much armed compared to Spite who wasn't and growled at them, "Are you fucking serious?"

"What?" They questioned in unison as if they didn't expect him to be mad.

"I understand that the general consensus on 'abominations', as your kind like to call us, make us out to be monsters but Spite isn't even armed. Nor was Lucanis a mage. He is defenseless." Dragona put his hands up and pointed at the weapons they were holding, "Did anyone of you try to explain to him why he shouldn't go out there instead of cornering him? Or even ask him why he wants out?"

All three of them looked at each other with guilt on their faces as they lowered their weapons.

"That's what i thought." He sighed. "Back up and let me handle this. Vhenhedis Lasa…"

He then turned to Spite, hands at his sides so he could tell he wasn't armed. "Are you all right Spite? What's going on?"

"Survival," He pleaded, "I just wanted out."

"What for?"

"Lucanis and I had a deal. I need to get out so we can fullfill it."

"What deal, Spite?"

"To kill Zara."

At the sound of the name Dragona's mind filled with the memories of the torture and experimentation he and Caleb had endured. Their chief torturer had been a woman by that name. A Venatori blood mage if his memory served. His hand clenched as he tried not to snarl.

"Do…do you know Zara, Survival?" Spite asked, apparently able to notice the change in his demeanor.

"Yeah." He exhaled shakily as he regained control of himself. "She was the reason i am the way i am now. Did she do this to you and Lucanis?"

"Yes." Spite growled. "Lucanis and I made a deal. We work together to kill her."

"And you were trying to go find her i take it?"

"Yes. Lucanis kept saying we couldn't kill her yet. When i asked why, he said it's because we don't know where she is."

"So you were trying to leave in order to find her?"

"Yes!"

He turned to the others and made a gesture that essentially translated to, "See? What did i tell you?".

The three of them shrunk in on themselves.

"Will you let me out?"

"No."

"No! Why?" He whined.

"Because the Crossroads, the area that mirror spits out into, is dangerous even for a full squad." He explained. "I can't let you run outside alone and get you and Lucanis both slaughtered."

"But What about Zara?" He pleaded again.

"She will have to wait for now." He rested his hands on his shoulders, "We don't know where she is, or who she's with and what sort of fire power we will be facing once we do. Before we can go after her we need all that information to make sure we can get to her without being killed ourselves. You have access to some of Lucanis's knowledge. Look through it. You will see what i mean."

Spite's eyes darted back and forth for a few seconds before realization and understanding crossed his face, "Oh."

"You see what i mean?"

He nodded, the anger and frustration before dissipating.

"You don't want to get Lucnais hurt do you?"

"No."

"All right." He moved one of his hands to cup at Spite's face as he pouted. "But I promise you, I know some people who can look into it for us. I will let them know and then let you and Lucanis know once i find something, all right?"

Spite nodded.

"Good. You gonna try to run out the mirror again?"

He shook his head.

"Good boy." He then turned to the others. "See? You treat him like a person instead of an animal and we actually get somewhere. Take notes." He then turned back to Spite, "Now, can I have Lucanis back?"

Spite nodded and then the purple faded from Lucanis's eyes.

Immediately as Lucanis regained control he began to panic.

"Oh. Oh no. Mierda, How-"

"It's all right, Vhenan, don't panic. Everything is fine." He shouted to the others, "Right?"

They all nodded like kids who just got chided.

"Did…did he do anything? Are you hurt?"

"He didn't do anything. I'm fine." He reassured him. "Apparently Spite was trying to take matters into his own hands and was trying to leave to go find Zara by himself. I convinced him otherwise."

"He told you about Zara?"

"Yeah. It seems you and i have the same torturer."

Lucanis's eyes widened, "She did the same to you?"

"Not exactly. Caleb and I were already bonded when we were given to her. Though now, i assume our bond was the prototype she used to do what she did to you and Spite."

"Mierda… That explains a lot." That's when he noticed the others.

"If Spite didn't do anything. Then why are they here?" He gestured to the others who were now trying to quietly slink back up the stairs.

"They overreacted a bit in trying to keep him from leaving." He sighed. "All i had to do was explain to Spite why it wasn't a good idea. Once he realized that running out into the Crossroads would potentially get you both killed, he backed off."

Lucanis stared up at him in awe, "How are you so good with him?"

"I know what it's like to come from the Fade into the material. It is not an easy transition for one that did so willingly let alone someone who was forced across. The fade is ever changing and does so at the will of the spirits that live within and those who dream. The material is static. It is hard to get used too."

"Like a child who was suddenly ripped away from home without any explanation…"

"Pretty much, yeah." He agreed. "For me, being a Spirit of Survival made the transition easier due to the need to survive being a pretty universal concept but for a spirit like Spite, not so much."

Lucanis nodded, his eyes downcast either from shame or exhaustion or both.

He then tipped his head sideways as he realized this was the first time he had actually seen Spite completely take over. "How did he gain control anyway? Out of curiosity. He didn't seem the type to just force himself on his host for no reason."

"I fell asleep."

"You fell asleep?"

"It's the only time he has been able to take over. We had an argument over finding Zara and when he gets frustrated he gets…well…Spiteful. I have been trying not to sleep as much as possible in order to avoid it."

The insane amounts of coffee beans the caretaker had begun providing recently suddenly made sense.

"Is that why your coffee intake has all but tripled since you got here? You have been trying to keep yourself awake?"

"Yes."

Dragona dragged his hand across his face, "Lucanis, you have to sleep. Sleep deprivation can literally kill you. Not to mention the hallucinations and actual madness it causes before then."

"But what do i do if Spite takes over again?"

"What am i chopped liver?" It came out a bit more defensive then he meant to causing Lucanis to shrink in on himself. "Sorry. What i mean is, I can handle Spite. If he decides to wander around while you sleep, i will make sure he stays out of trouble. I have already kept him from running out into your deaths. it will be fine."

"But Dragona-"

"Lucanis." He spoke firmly, mimicking the same tone that Catarina used to get her grandsons to listen. "You need to sleep. I can handle Spite. You have been looking after me for years now. It's about time i return the favor." He grabbed his head with both of his hands. "Let me take care of you. All right? I got you."

He could tell that for a second he was going to protest again but, ultimately relented.

"All right." He sighed.

Lucanis was rooted to the spot, unable to look away as Dragona danced in the middle of the training hall. He was shirtless and wore a beautiful multicolored skirt that seemed to be made out of dozens of silk scarves sown together. His feet were bare and adorned with golden chains around his ankles, on his wrists were several multicolored bangles and gold chains that matched the ornate necklace around his neck. The skirt hung low of his hips, drawing the eye to the waist chain that clinked softly as he moved. His hair and ears were adorned with similar jewels and chains making him look as if he was the most exotic treasure anyone had ever seen.

He was beautiful in a way Lucanis did not have words for making his heart race and his blood burn with what felt like dragon fire.

The dance itself was like nothing he had seen, making his body move like water.

How was he able to move his ups like that, almost flicking them out without moving the rest of his body? How was he able to make his torso and spine move as if he was a river flowing through mountains? How did he make his arms drift as if he was floating underwater? The body control in order to do these movements had been something even he had difficulty mastering.

But for Dragona, it seemed as natural as breathing.

Meirda it was…intoxicating. Hypnotizing.

He had not been mesmerized like this since the first time he saw a Wyvern as a child.

He couldn't look away.

Nor did he want too.

What had he come in here for again?

It no longer mattered.

"Enjoying the show, Lucanis?" Viago asked, seemingly materializing from out of nowhere and scaring him half to death.

"Mierda!" He cursed as he was suddenly dragged back down to earth.

He heard Teia snicker at him, who had apparently been watching him practically leer at Dragona for the past five minutes.

She was dressed in a similar fashion, though with a sleeveless cropped shirt accompanying the skirt she was clearly wearing over a set of training leggings.

Dragona himself however, didn't seem to care or notice, as he continued to dance, a genuine happy and contented smile on his face.

The same smile he had at the cat cafe over a week ago he realized.

Viago answered with a rare smirk, "He's quite impressive. Incredible body control. Teia asked him to show her a few tricks since all we were taught is ball room dancing." He tipped the glass of whatever poison he was currently micro-dosing towards Teia. "Teia has been enjoying herself."

"As have you, with the way you have been staring at me Viago." She teased while she mimicked Dragona's movements.

He shrugged, "Do you blame me?"

"Never." She purred as she switched a hip towards him in a way that showed off her curvature.

Viago just chuckled and took another sip of his drink.

"Vhenan!" Dragona greeted as he ended his dance with a flourish and then began removing the various adornments on his person. "Sorry, I didn't notice ya. Got a bit lost in the sauce." He stripped the jewelry off and placed them all in a small unassuming case on a training hall bench. "Sorry Teia. I was supposed to be teaching you and just…"

"It's all right. It was fun trying to keep up. We should do it again." She then winked at Viago. "Perhaps you will join us."

"Oh no." Viago put his free hand up. "I am perfectly fine as a spectator. But you have fun."

"I will." She purred again.

By the time Lucanis's eyes found Dragona again he was down to the faded black leggings he normally wore around the house. However, he was still shirtless and barefoot.

Lucanis's eyes watched a bead of sweat slowly travel down the nape of his neck as he pulled his hair back into a tail.

"What kind of dance did you say this was again?" Teia asked as she mimicked a few of the moves again.

"Rivaini Belly Dancing. I picked it up during one of my contracts. My target was obsessed with male belly dancers so…"

"You picked up dancing for a target?" Lucanis asked surprised.

"No. I have always loved dancing. It was one of the few things House Aranai couldn't take away from me without losing one of their best assassins. And since it was also useful, they didn't care if they found me spending time doing it." Dragona stretched his arms above his head, causing the muscles in his torso stretch and ripple. "Of course, most of the dancing i do is very…primal and down to earth. Stuff that most high society types would view as savage and vulgar but…" He finished his explanation with a shrug.

"Were you ever interested?"

"Eh." He responded as he took a swig of water form a pitcher. "I mean, am willing to learn. They seem fun but most of them require a partner and I couldn't risk that while in House Aranai for obvious reasons."

"I can see that." Teia agreed as she grabbed a drink of water herself.

"Now that I am all loosened up, I have energy to burn off so…" Dragona turned to him his eyes excited like a puppy. "Vhenan, since your here, Dance with me."

He took a step back nervously, "I do not know how to dance like that Mi Amigo. I would only trip over my own feet."

"What are you talking about?" He rolled his shoulders and bounced back and forth on the tips of his toes. "You do it all the time."

"I do not dance all the time."

A wild and almost feral grin spread across Dragona's face that made him suddenly feel like he was on the menu somehow. "Yes you do." He purred as he summoned his infamous ice blades into his hands, though clearly missing the razor sharp edge he normally summoned them with.

"Come on, Vhenan. Dance with me."

Oh.

Oh.

Dancing.

"Well, in that case." A similar wild and fierce grin spread across his face as he striped himself of his coat and grabbed a pair of training blades from the rack.

As Lucanis walked out into the arena Dragona began to circle him, his eyes running up and down his body as he moved, hungry and blown wide.

This close he could see the musculature that Dragona had developed after his recovery. His torso, long and feline, rippled with muscle like a wild cat on the hunt. His eyes were fierce and sharp, his movements graceful and flowing but with a wild edge to it.

It felt less like sparring with another of his fellow Crows and more like coming face to face with a force of nature.

A force of nature that he wanted to crash down on him like a high wave in Rialto Bay.

"Ready Vhenan?"

"Always." He brandished the blades and slipped into a ready stance. "Don't hold back."

"Wouldn't dream of it."

Then Dragona charged forward. Lucanis moved to parry his attack only for Dragona to vanish a foot in front of him. A tingle in the back of his head alerted him and he turned just in time to block an attack that would have ripped up his spine had they been fighting to the death. The grin on Dragona's face as he blocked was mad and feral as he growled out, "Yes! This is going to be fun!"

Dragona then blinked away again, coming at him from above, forcing him to dodge out of the way. Just as he was able to right himself, Dragona was in his space, swinging and slicing at him, keeping him on his back foot.

When Lucanis saw an opening and was able to slip out of the way, Dragona disappeared again.

"Mierda." He panted as he tried to focus his senses to pick him out.

The time between when the tingle came back and when Dragona reappeared was quicker, making him nearly loose his footing as he suddenly appeared in front of him. He slashed out as he appeared forcing Dragona onto his heels this time, cutting and slicing at him to keep him there.

But as if he was learning his movements in real time, Dragona mimicked the move Lucanis had used before, broke free, and then countered with a strike to his back that sent him tumbling to the ground.

When he got up again, Dragona was gone.

Maker's Breath…

He scanned the room seemingly unable to find him.

His heart was beating in his ears, not from fear but exhilaration and excitement.

It had been years, decades even, that he had anyone that could keep up with him, let alone get the best of him. As they continued to spar Lucanis realized with delight that Dragona was in fact learning as he went. The longer they fought, the quicker and more precise he became. The time between signal and appearance got shorter and shorter as if he was figuring out his abilities limits. More and more of his own moves began to be used against him and each time he reappeared he found it harder and harder to keep on his feet.

Dragona adapted quickly. Way to quick for him to even keep up.

But even so, he was perfectly fine with it.

This was the most fun he had had in ages.

He let a feral smile grace his features again as he felt Dragona pop back out to his left and turned, only to find empty space. By the time he got a second tingle, it was already too late.

Dragona disarmed him by hitting his wrists with the but of his dagger and pining them behind his back with his free hand. His legs were swept out from under him before he could break free forcing him onto his chest on the floor. When Lucanis tried to throw his head back Dragona easily dodged it and rested his entire weight onto his back.

Maker's Breath he could feel him against him. His weight, his warmth, his scent, the feel of his breath against his neck. It was all he could think about as he was pressed into the floor. He should have been trying to break free, move his body so that he could dislodge him but…

To his horror and confusion, he wanted to stay there. His blood once again feeling like it had been ignited inside of his veins.

"A little rusty are we?" He chuckled, a growl rough sound like a Wyvern about to pounce on a boar, that made a deep shiver run down his spine and settle in a place he tried desperately to ignore.

When he turned his head to retort as a way to distract himself, he found he was only inches from his face. Dragona's pupils were dilated and dark, filled with a heat that had nothing to do with their sparring. He watched as Dragona's eyes shifted to where his mouth was and lingered there before flicking back up.

A movement his body mimicked before he could catch himself.

Once he realized however, he used the distraction to wrestle himself free and back onto his feet.

As soon as they stood facing each other in the arena again, he felt the air shift around them.

Dragona slowed, his pace going from frantic intense energy to an unnerving calm. He practically stalked around him, like a wild predator that had finally figured out his prey's weakness and found it fascinating. The smirk that slid across his face was confident, sultry and seductive, drawing the eye to right where they wanted you to look.

The world around them faded as he realized he was now being hunted, and for some crazy reason, he wanted to be caught.

Of course, that didn't mean he was going to make it easy.

When Lucanis charged forward, Dragona dodged out of the way, ducking and twisting his body away from his blade as if he was made of water. He had gotten him on the back foot this time, put him on the defensive, or so he thought.

It was too late when he realized that not only had Dragona for gone weapons entirely, but had dropped them on the ground and was actively being led into a trap.

When his foot slipped and hit the puddle of water where he had dropped his blade, Lucanis was unable to catch himself.

With a punishing blow to both his ego and his back, he slammed down onto the arena floor. Before he could even figure out what had just happened, Dragona was on him, one of his legs trapped under his, the other hiked up on Dragona's hip, and his hands pinned above his head by Dragon's long fingers.

Every attempt to wrench free was just proof of how much body control Dragona had, his form able to shift and adjust in order to keep him from gaining any leverage he could use to dislodge him.

Once again, being trapped like this should have terrified him, made him nervous or even frustrated.

But instead…

All he could think about was Dragona's hand on his thigh, the way his long hair fell down, blocking the world around him from view, and how much he wanted Dragona panting above him but with a soft bed against his back instead of the hard wooden arena floor.

It felt like he was somehow reading his thoughts when he felt the hand pinning his wrists shift to thread themselves through his fingers. His heart raced and blood burned as the hand on his thigh pulled his leg up even further, allowing Dragona to fully settle between his legs. And when he leaned down, his eyes flicking down to his lips again…

He suddenly found his mind filled with the want to know what they tasted like.

Just as it seemed he was about to find out, a very familiar voice loudly cleared her throat.

A very deep growl preceded a very irritated, "What?" from Dragona as he turned his head to look at their intruder.

It was Catarina, standing with her cane in front of her, an all knowing and mostly amused smile on her face. "Am i interupting something?"

As soon as Dragona noticed her, he sat but did not get up, as the anger drained from his voice and was replaced by that excited almost puppy like expression he used when he saw the people he actually liked.

"Oh hey, Catarina! What's up? Everything good?" He greeted as he waved.

"Everything is fine." She reassured as Lucanis felt like he wanted to melt into the floor. "I came down here to look for my grandson who was sent to find you." She looked down at him annoyed but with that smirk all elder's had when they figured something out before you do. "Lucanis is usually very prompt with the tasks i give him. So when he didn't return i became concerned and went looking myself."

Mierda… Now he remembered what he had forgot.

Catarina had sent him down to collect Dragona because of a mission she had wanted them both to go on.

How had he let himself get so distracted?

He then looked up at the man still on top of him.

Maker's Breath what was wrong with him?

With a groan he slowly slid himself out of Dragona's grip and stood. "Sorry Catarina. I got distracted."

"We were sparring." Dragona cheerily informed as he stood and grabbed a towel that was on the bench and began wiping the sweat from his body. "We may have gotten a little carried away though…"

Lucanis had to physically keep himself from following the movement of the towel in front of his grandmother.

"I see." She chuckled but had that look again as she turned to him. "But since you are both here…"

Catarina explained to them the mission and handed them each a list of things for them to prepare for. As soon as Dragona was handed his he gathered his things and took off with purpose as always when given a task.

Once he was out of the room, Catarina looked at him with that all knowing smirk again that made him want to turn into a mouse. "Don't be embarrassed Lucanis. You may be a Crow but your still a man."

"I don't know what your talking about."

"I found Teia first."

"Mierda." He winced.

"This is normally where, if it was your cousin, i would give you a long talk about the dangers of relationships while in the Crows that may or may not involve the use of a shovel but," She put a hand on his shoulder. "I trust that is not something i need to worry about?"

Lucanis shook his head.

Dragona laid in their wedding bed, holding Lucanis close to his chest. He ran his fingers through his now silver hair, studying every laugh line and crow's foot that had carved itself into his face from a life well lived. Spite sat next to him, still the same purple form he had when they saved the world, that was slowly changing into something more akin to human with every second that passed.

The two seemingly immortal husbands of the soon to be late First Talon, stayed with their beloved waiting for the inevitable end of a long mortal life. The past 50 years had been some of the happiest Dragona had ever had. A life of love and light as much as darkness and danger. It was a life that Dragona thought would never come to an end.

Until one day, he noticed Lucanis's hair turning gray while his stayed the same.

He knew then that Death was coming not long after.

And now here they were, Dragona and Spite ageless beings holding on to their mortal lover as he faded into the ether in their arms.

Lucanis smiled fondly as he looked up at the both of them, his voice tired and faint as he spoke, "Mi Amore's, promise me one thing."

"Of course, Vhenan." He looked down at him, trying not to cry. His ageless face quivering with preemptive grief.

"Live for me. Do not make me an anchor. Promise me."

"We will, Vhenan. Right Spite?"

Spite nodded, as his body began to slowly soldifiy, his normal purple skin beginning to fade into something closer to a normal skin tone.

"Good." Lucanis sighed as he closed his eyes, "I love you, both."

"We love you too, Vhenan."

"I am very tired."

"It's all right, Vhenan. You can rest. We'll be right here."

It didn't take long.

The moment he felt the weight of a new body sink into the bed next to him, he didn't have to check to see if he was breathing anymore.

As the tears began to fall from his face, an unfamiliar but expected hand the same deep caramel tan that Lucanis once had, reached out to touch Lucanis's face. When Dragona looked to where Spite had been, he saw instead a young man about mid two late twenties, naked and shaking with sadness and grief he hadn't ever felt before.

Spite's new body looked like he could easily be their son if not for the obvious. He had his angular elvish features but Lucanis's square jaw. He was tall like him but with Lucanis's broad shoulders, the caramel colored skin of his youth and his black hair.

His mismatched purple and blue eyes, a mirror to his own, were wet and already red with new found tears.

"Good bye, Lucanis." Spite's hand began to shake as he tucked a loose hair form Lucanis's now still body behind his ear. His whole body began to shake as he turned towards him. He knew the look in his eyes as true despair and grief hit him for the first time. "Survival…Lucanis…is gone." He tried to breathe in but hiccuped as true emotion began to rise choking him like it had when Caleb passed so long ago. "He's gone…It hurts. Survival, what is this? I am not injured but it hurts! It hurts so much!"

Dragona reached out and pulled him into his arms as they both began to cry, mourning for they man they loved so fiercely.

"Why did he have to go?" Spite sobbed. "Why couldn't he stay? I want him back! I don't care if i don't have a body. I want him back!"

Through tears of his own Dragona tried to comfort him, "I'm sorry Spite. Every Mortal is born with only so much time to live a life. Lucanis's time just ran out."

"I wish we could have found more time."

"Me too." He then picked gently caressed the new flesh, blood, and bone face of Spite. "We just have to take comfort in the life we were able to share with him and that he got to live a full life of 80 years. It is lot more than most get."

Spite nodded as he rested his head on Dragona's shoulder. "What happens now? What do we do?"

"We hold his funeral." A soft and kind voice spoke from the doorway.

Both ex spirits turned to see a third of their kind crossing the threshold and closing the door behind him.

Dressed in his signature coat and goggles, but with a body that resembled a much younger Emmerich wearing a much more rough and tumble version of Emmerich's old style was none other than Manfred, his eyes a bright fade green now sparkling with tears of his own.

Manfred, like Spite had done, made a pact with Emmerich to use his remains as a base for a body of his own. On the day of Emmerich's death Manfred used his fading energy to build himself the body he had now and officially joined the Mournwatch as a necromancer just as powerful as Emmerich was.

When they sensed Lucanis's end, they got a hold of Manfred to help with funeral arrangements and so that Dragona had at least one more person who understood the pain of gaining a form at the cost of someone else around that could help Spite.

"He's gone, Curiosity!" Spite sobbed again.

Manfred, having inherited the same gentle kindness and compassion Emmerich exuded, walked to the side of the bed Spite was on and sat down. He grabbed Spite's hand and held it in his own as he spoke. "I know. What your feeling now is grief. Grief occurs when you lose the ones you love. It never truly goes away but, time softens it. Let yourself feel it. just don't let it become all you feel. You are only beginning your journey. There is still much more out there waiting for you."

Spite nodded but didn't say anything. Instead just burying his face fruther into Dragona's shoulder.

Manfred then turned to him, "I have to confirm the time of death. May I?"

Dragona nodded, slowly removing himself fomr Lucanis while grabbing and pulling Spite with him so he had room.

As Manfred did what he needed to do, Dragona distracted them both by helping Spite with the set of clothes they had set out for when it was time. He had a bit of diffuclty with tying the laces on the boots but everything else he was able to manage from sharing a body with Lucanis for so long.

Once the final confirmation was done, Manfred nodded solemnly and stood, facing the two of them who were now tangled in each others limbs as much as they could be while still standing.

"I will let the others know and begin preparations. Are we still preceding with the plan?"

Dragona looked to Spite who stared at Lucanis's still form in the bed, "Do you wish to stay here or got too Nevarra while you settle?"

Spite looked to Dragona and then to Manfred, "Would Curiosity be staying here if we stay?"

"Unfortunately I can not. I have to return to the Mournwatch to teach and perform my duties."

"Is Nevarra where you live, Curiosity?"

"It is."

"Do you wish to stay, Survival?"

Dragona looked back to the bed, thinking about all the good memories he had here. All the memories that were tied to all those long dead. Lucanis and Spite were the only things that had kept him here. And since it is clear that Spite wanted to leave, he had no reason to stay.

"No." He nuzzled the side of Spite's face, "Without Lucanis or you, I have no reason to stay."

"I will let the others know and begin preparations. Vorgoth will be happy to see you two again."

"As will we."

No one would question Dragona's disappearance. The elven husband of the First Talon was well known and their love even more so. When news would reached the other houses of the Late First Talon's husband disappearing in the night, most would assume either he got taken out or went to be with him.

And since Illario's eldest daughter had more than proven herself to be an exceptional replacement for First Talon, they would have no need for an "old man" to get in the way.

So, About a month after Lucanis's funeral, Spite and Dragona slipped away, leaving with only what they absolutely needed to get to where they were going.

At the Antivan border they met Manfred who was waiting for them with a Mournwatch carriage enchanted to the nines, ready to take them to Nevarra and the Grand Necropolis where others like them took refuge.

Which was not many but more than most would expect.

Upon seeing Manfred, Spite ran over and hugged him, happy to see a familiar face after their long and frustrating journey.

Most of the frustration being Spite figuring out in real time what having a body really entailed.

Manfred laughed, picked him up and spun him around before turning to Dragona with an arm outstretched.

Dragona gave him a hug that was a lot less enthusiastic but still just as fond.

"Did you have a smooth journey? No troubles i hope."

"Outside Spite cursing every rock he stepped on, branch that hit him in the face or root that tripped him it was fine."

"I hate the wilderness." Spite grumbled. "People also suck."

"People suck?"

"There was a little kid in the last village that pretend attacked him with a stick. Once i explained to Spite that he was just playing and what he meant by asking to have a 'sword fight' with sticks, everything was fine and Spite played with the kid."

"It was fun!" Spite exclaimed before grumbling. "Before that man came up and started yelling at me."

"Why was he yelling at you?"

"Because Spite was being a better dad to his kid then he was and he got all jealous and uppity about it."

"Oh Dear… What happened?"

"He hit the kid when he tried to defend me." Spite snarled. "I wanted to stab him but Dragona said 'no stabbing' when we went into town so i punched him instead."

"Luckily the man wasn't well liked to begin with but it was clear no one was doing anything about it either so…"

"People suck."

Manfred shook his head but had a smile on his face.

Dragona looked back in the way they had come from as SPite and Manfred talked about thier journey's. He stared in the direction of the city Lucanis had loved so much. There was nothing there for him now. The only thing left that could have tied him there was now standing next to him, following him on this new road, far away.

Spite joined him, "I miss him."

"So do I. But we promised him."

"Don't make him an anchor. We continue living. For Lucanis."

"Yeah. For Lucanis."

"The two of you ready to go? We still have a lot of travel ahead of us before nightfall."

Dragona ran through the lab, his heart pounding in his ears. He screamed at the top of his lungs as he fought through guards, mages, and the demons they summoned to stop him, desperately looking for a sign he wasn't too late.

"Lucanis! Lucanis where are you?" He cried as he cut down his enemies one after another, scrambling to find his scent among-st all the blood and magic.

Wave after wave came at him as he carved a bloody path through all the faceless bodies around him, finally finding the shape of a familiar form draped across a table. He continued to slice and dice his way towards the table frantically as he saw the tell tale red of blood slowly dripping from he stone he laid upon.

"Fuck. Fuck. Fuck!" He cursed as he finally broke through and ran towards the table.

Once he reached it though, he knew he was too late.

Lucanis's skin was pale and lifeless, his eyes rapidly losing the light that used to warm his dark coffee colored eyes. His body was covered in cuts and stitches as if they had pulled him apart and put him back together the same way they had him.

His chest was still.

His skin cold.

"Vhenan?" His eyes began to burn with tears as the weight he had been without for over a year, returned.

When he glanced down at his right middle finger, the black bone ring he had given him, adorned it once again.

"No…No! No no no!" He yelled as he reached forward and pulled Lucanis's body into his arms frantically trying to use what little healing magic he could in vain."Vhenan, please! Open your eyes! Wake up! Vhenan!" He began to rock back and forth, tears streaming down his face as grief and loss settled into his body. Anger and guilt rose in his throat as he took a deep breath and-

"Ahhhhh!" Dragona woke up screaming and swinging at whoever had shaken him awake. He felt his hand hit something metal followed by a familiar voice going, "Whoah! Whoah! It's okay Lethalan. It's okay. It's just me. Bellara, remember?"

He looked up and saw the newest member to their ragtag team, her metal gauntlet up in front of her face blocking the blow he had aimed in her direction, luckily unarmed. Seeing her he quickly turned to his right hand and upon seeing the right middle finger adorned with only the old tan line where the ring had been, exhaled shakily in relief.

"Sorry, Lethalin." He managed to croak out as his heart rate slowed and the pain and grief of the dream subsided. "You good?" He asked as he tried to steady the shaking in his hands.

"I'm fine. The gauntlet took most of the swing." She reassured as she sat down next to him on his old bed. "Are you okay? That seemed like a pretty intense nightmare you were having."

Dragona thought about lying but knew he was shit at it so he didn't bother. "No. Not really."

"Anything to do with how you keep looking at that tan line on your hand?"

He nodded as he nervously checked it again.

"Wanna talk about it?"

He smiled fondly at her before answering, "The Demon of Vyrantium is not just another Crow, at least to me."

"Your Vhenan, right?" She then quickly explained as he looked at her surprised she knew that. "You said it in your sleep."

"Mmm." He began to rub the spot where the ring used to be. "A little over a year ago Lucanis was sent on a mission that made me suspicious. I knew something about the mission was wrong and so i gave him my ring in order to help protect him. It's enchanted. It helps sense danger, peoples intentions, and within a certain range allows you to know where people are and what they are doing. It is also enchanted to always return to the person it's bonded too or to someone they designate until certain conditions are met."

"And what were the conditions you set when you gave it too him?"

"His death."

She looked down at his hand somberly, "So, if the ring comes back then that means he died? Was that what you were dreaming about?"

Dragona nodded as he added, "I was too late by mere moments. He died right in front of me."

"I'm so sorry, Lethalin." Bellara wrapped her hands around his and looked up at him with determination in her eyes, "But, as we can both see, he's not dead yet. We still have time."

He took a breath, "Yeah. And the Ossuary's not far."

"Exactly. We'll get too him. Don't you worry."

"Thank you, Lethalan."

"Your Welcome."

Dragona then got up and started heading to the Kitchen, "Coffee? I doubt either of us are going back to sleep now."

"I would love some."

—

Dragona plucked a piece of familiar fabric from a very dead Venatori's hand before looking around the cell that someone or something had busted out of. It was a dirty and ragged piece of the armor he had left in. But, outside the obvious, the cell was completely empty.

If Lucanis had been in this cell, he wasn't anymore.

He glanced down at his hand again, still nothing.

"Wow." Bellara studied the body on the floor that very much looked like someone used this Venatori as a pin cushion. "That level of damage almost seems personal. He must have really not liked this guy."

"Yeah. It's why I'm worried. Lucanis wouldn't take the time to stab someone repeatedly like that. Takes too much time and risks his weapon getting stuck in a rib or something."

"You think he might be possessed like the others?"

His eyes lingered on his hand again as something occurred to him.

Would he know? Could the ring tell the difference if the body didn't die?

Bellara winced as she looked at his terrified expression, "Sorry. I shouldn't have said anything."

Dragona shook his head, "It's fine. It's best not to make any assumptions until we actually find him. Come on. This close i can sense the rings location."

"Neat! Which way?"

Dragona took a moment to focus on it.

Vhendis Lasa…it wasn't far but it was moving far faster than even a man as skilled as Lucanis should be able too. If he didn't know any better he would say he was flying but, that was impossible.

Or at least he hoped so.

He didn't want to think of the reason why Lucanis would able to do that now.

"It's that way but on the move. We need to catch up before we lose him."

—

Well, that's a problem.

There were about six Venatori waiting for them on the other side of the door. They were decently armed and at least seemed trained.

Shit.

If he was on his own he wouldn't have been concerned. With his ability to jump back and forth across the Veil he could make short work of them but…

They were also surrounding someone who was currently fighting them like a feral madman. It took him a few seconds to move to where he could see who or what it was but once he did he resummoned his ice blades and ran towards the fighting.

It was Lucanis as he had feared.

He was in tatters, covered in blood and dirt, half emaciated and with…eyes that were flashing purple every so often and a pair of purple and black wings spread out from his back.

Once again, he tried not to think about the reason why.

He didn't take much time to dwell on it though as he could see the way his form slipped and slowed as he continued to fight.

Dragona took no time in blinking across the room, landing right behind a Venatori that was about to slice a sword up Lucanis's back. His knife plunged into the mans heart before he even knew anyone was behind him. Another came up to try and do the same but was cut down as he blinked out and back in again while Bellara provided cover fire from the Venatori that joined in from outside.

Between the three of them, the battle was short lived and over in moments.

Once he was sure there would be no more coming, at least for a bit, he whipped around and faced the man he had been desperately searching for, for over a year.

Lucanis's eyes faded from the strange purple to his normal coffee brown as Dragona approached him, slow and cautious.

"Lucanis?" He asked tentatively.

He half expected a whole different voice to come out but when Lucanis's voice, tired, confused and not a little bit unbelieving answered, he nearly cried with relief.

"Dragona?"

"Thank the Gods, Vhenan." He sighed before crossing the room and wrapping him in a tight hug.

He was much to thin and shaking with adrenaline but, it was him.

He was alive.

He made it in time.

When he felt him stiffen, he remembered what they could have been putting him through and instantly pulled away.

"Shit! Sorry. I should have asked first. You may not have wanted to be touched after-"

All of his thoughts fled as Lucanis grabbed him and pulled him back. "Your here. Your really here." He then pulled back and grabbed his shoulders, "How? Why? Everyone should think I'm dead."

"You think a little bit of bloodmagic enchanting a mask was enough for me to think they killed you?" He tsk'd. "I gave you my ring for a reason. Thankfully, Catarina believed me and sent me to search for you. Probably would have found you sooner but it didn't occur to me that the lab might literally be in the sea, under water."

"Fair." Lucanis agreed. "This is ancient magic holding this place together."

"Yeah. Magic that is deteriorating by the state of things. We should-"

Suddenly a second Lucanis with glowing purple eyes and skin and hair that made it look like he got tossed in a vat of violet dye again, filled his line of sight.

He glanced over to see if Bellara noticed the second Lucanis but she didn't seem to see him.

As he studied this new very purple Lucanis, a gruff but still nasely voice spoke from the second form, "Look Lucanis, he came! You said he wouldn't but there he is!"

That was a spirit. A Spirit of Spite, if his senses were accurate.

And…

Fuck.

He may have been in time to save his life but, not to prevent them from making Lucanis into another test subject. Unfortunately for them, spirit and host came to some form of arrangement despite being forcibly bonded with each other.

Memories of the weeks and months it had taken for he and Caleb to find a balance with each other flooded his mind. It had been difficult then and their bond had been willing.

These two were going to need a lot of help.

Thankfully it was help he could provide once they got out of here.

"Dragona, what are you staring at?"

"Your new friend."

Spite's voice cut in, "Can you see me?" He then walked from one side of Lucanis to the other, Dragona's eyes following. "You can see me!" He then charged forward, causing him to take a step back to keep his balance. Spite got only a couple inches from his face, staring at him as if searching his eyes for something. After a moment, the purple glow in his eyes lit up in recognition. "Survival?"

When Dragona nodded, Lucanis looked between him and Spite in shock, "You can see him? Actually see him?"

"Yep. He looks like that time Illario knocked you into the vat of purple dye. I can hear him too. Hello Spite."

"Survival! Lucanis! That's Survival! You did not say you knew Survival. Wait, how are you like Lucanis? Why do you have feet and squishy flesh?"

"The short answer is that i was once like you and Lucanis are now. The long answer can wait until we are out of here."

"Rook? Who are you talking too?" Bellara asked as she finished her sweep of the room.

"Spite." She squinted at him confused so he explained, "Lucanis has been bound to a Spirit of Spite. You can't see or hear him but i can."

"Whoah! Are they okay?"

Dragona's heart warmed at her concern for both of them, "Not sure." He turned to Lucanis, "How are you feeling? Any injuries we need to take care of before we continue? I picked up some healing magic while traveling with The Veilguard to find you and Bellara always has a potion or two handy."

Lucanis shook his head, "But i could use some water."

"Gotcha." He handed him his water skin. While he took a good long pull he turned to Spite, "And you? Any fading or blinking in and out?"

"No."

"Any bits missing?"

"No."

"Perfect." He took the now half empty water skin from Lucanis's hand. "Did they take anything from you? Hair, skin, blood?"

"They took blood."

"Do you know where?" Lucanis nodded as Bellara handed him a potion just in case of any hidden injury he might not have been aware of. "Was your contract completed before they got you?"

"No."

"Is the target still here?"

"Yes."

"All right then." Dragona rolled his shoulders and summoned another set of knives. "Name?"

"Dragona-"

He repeated the question firmly cutting him off, "Name, Lucanis."

There was a look of surprise that crossed Lucanis's face before his cheeks reddened the slightest bit. "C-calivan."

"Got it. Let's get this done and you out of here."

—

Dragona rested his shoulder against the mantle as he explained the situation to the rest of those gathered. As he did so he kept one eye on Spite as he flitted about the dining room, studying each person sitting around the table. Every time he blinked Spite seemed to pop up in a different location, staring at a chair, trying to knock a mug off the table, waving his hand in front of other peoples faces, and just generally behaving like a bored kid or a cat with the zoomies.

After a while though, Spite turned to him irritated, "Survival? Survival."

Dragona continued with his explanation while holding up a finger signaling to Spite to wait.

He grumbled to himself before turning to Lucanis who was currently having a staring contest with the hearth-fire. "Lucanis. Why isn't he talking to me?"

"He is talking with the others. You have to wait."

"But I want to talk to him! Tell Survival I want to talk to him."

Lucanis sighed in that same long suffering way most of them did after surviving the life of a crow long enough. "You have to be patient."

"But I am not Patience, I am Spite! Let me talk to him!" He growled, "I want to talk to Survival!"

The second he saw blood began to pour from Lucanis's nose he rounded on him and roared, "Spite! That's enough!"

The sudden change made Spite freeze and Lucanis jump to attention along with almost everyone sitting at the table.

Taking a deep breath he reached into what remained of Calebs memory, mimicking what his mothers often did when he got in trouble.

"When i raised my finger I was signaling that I acknowledged you wanted something but to wait until i was finished." He began as he snatched a napkin off the table to hand to Lucanis. "Once i was done, i would have talked to you. There was no need for you to lash out and hurt Lucanis like that." He then stopped in front of where Spite was standing, letting his voice calm but still remain firm. "I understand that this is all very confusing, disorenting, and frustrating but that does not mean you get to hurt people because of it. Do you understand?"

Spite grumbled but nodded.

"Good. Now apologize."

"I'm sorry, Survival."

"Not too me." He then pointed at Lucanis.

"I am sorry, Lucanis."

"It's all right, Spite."

"Good Job. Now don't do it again. Understand?"

Spite grumbled again but nodded.

Satisfied Dragona went back to debriefing the team and assigning maintenance tasks for the next day. Once everyone was dismissed and cleared the room, he then turned to Lucanis and Spite who now was looking like he was genuinely sorry once he calmed down.

When Dragona walked over to them, Spite put himself between Dragona and Lucanis with a guilty look on his face. "I am sorry Survival."

"It's all right." He reassured, "I was in your place once. I know how confusing and disorienting this plane is for a spirit of the fade that willingly crossed. I imagine it is at least ten times harder for one that was forced here."

Both host and Spirit nodded.

"Luckily though, you two have someone who has dealt with it first hand to help." He pointed at himself. "Come with me. Once i get Lucanis fixed back up i will answer any questions you have. Good?"

"Yes!"

"All right." He then turned to Lucanis and motioned for him to follow him into the kitchen.

Once they were close to the sink, Dragona pulled out the stool the caretaker had "aquired" for him and sat it in front of it, patting the seat. "Sit, Vhenan."

"Dragona I'm fine." He whinged. "You don't have to act as nursemaid to me. We both know I have had worse."

He sighed and grabbed his shoulders gently manhandling him onto the stool. "Just shut up and let me take care of you for once."

"That's my line."

"And now it's my turn. Now hold still."

Out of the corner of his eye he could see Spite doing the same thing he had been doing in the previous room as he looked at and patched up Lucanis's nose. When he wasn't doing that, he patiently fidgeted behind or next to Lucanis like a kid waiting for their parent to stop talking to the other adults so they could go home.

"Luckily for you, Vhenan, Spite didn't put his full strength behind that. There were a few of your fellow prisoners whose heads were no longer attached to their bodies but instead splattered over the walls of their cell."

He watched his face pale and turn slightly green, "Are you saying their heads exploded?"

"Oh yeah. But, like i said, Spite didn't use his full strength." Dragona gently grabbed his chin and lifted it up so he could get a clear view of the injury. Bursted blood vessel. Easy enough to fix. " Which is good because if he had, you both would be dead."

Spite's head shot up, "Both of us?"

"Yes. Upon his death, you would have shattered with him. The two of you are bound together now like Caleb and i used too be." He wiggled his fingers a little bit, sending golden light shimmering between his fingers before placing his hand cautiously over his nose.

Once the light faded, Lucanis's nose stopped bleeding and he turned to the coffee maker to start brewing their favorite shared beverage.

"But…there is only Survival in that body. Where is Caleb?"

The image of a 19 year old elven man who looked exactly like him just with one solid tan skin tone filled his mind. He had lost too much blood. His body too traumatized by experimentation to keep going. He remembered talking to him, floating above him as he told him to take his body after he dies. Survive, but also make them pay.

And he had.

Or at least thought he had.

Must have missed one.

With his voice dripping with sadness at the loss of his friend he answered, "Dead.", before reaching for what food they had left to craft a bit of soup in order to put something, anything, into Lucanis's stomach.

"But you just said that if Lucanis dies, so do I. How are you here?"

"It was a part of the pact we made with each other before we bonded. Upon his death he would give me his body as materials before his essence slipped back into the fade. We had both expected it wouldn't be until he was a much older man but…It didn't work out that way." He poured the coffee, adding a piece of chocolate, a little sugar and milk to it before handing it over. He would have to remind himself to get some of that Lavender honey cream Lucanis liked now that he was here.

"How old was he?" Lucanis asked as he handed him the "Leftover soup" as the team called it.

"19."

"Maker's Mercy…" Dragona watched as he took a sip of the soup. He made several expressions that ranged from confusion, to mild indifference to, that's a little strange but still better than what i was fed for the past year. "What is in this soup?"

"What was left of the groceries that were still edible before Market Day." He shrugged. " I would have made you something out of your cook book to show off how good my cooking skills have gotten but," He motioned for Lucanis to follow him and lead him to the mostly empty pantry. "As you can see, we haven't gotten groceries in a bit so…"

"I see." He nodded as he scanned the room with that face he made when he was planning a grocery list in his head. "But wait, why do you have my recipe book?"

The guilt of taking the book caused him to ramble nervously. "Because i wanted to have something of yours in case i didn't make it in time and the book represented one of the things you and i did all the time that was also a way for me to hold on to a part of you that was uniquely you and now that i am saying it out loud it is starting to sound very obsessive and kinda creepy and i now feel like a dumbass for taking it in the first place and-"

"Dragona." Lucanis placed a hand on his shoulder which stopped the rambling flow of words. A fond expression he thought he would never see again cleared his mind. "It's all right, Mi Amigo. I feel honored that you value my cooking so highly." A sparkle of mischief lit up his coffee brown eyes as he smirked, "Besides, I stole it from the Villa's chef first anyway. He was a Pendajo but he was good at his job."

"Wait really?"

"He speaks the truth. I've seen the memory." Spite added excitedly.

Dragona laughed good and hard for the first time in a year, "Oh fuck. That's amazing. Gods I missed you, Vhenan."

That's strange…

He wasn't in his room napping in that sunbeam that warms the little nook under his window. Nor was he stretched across the bookshelves in the Library. He wasn't in his usual hiding spot behind the bookcase in Viago's workshop or even in the old willow out in the garden.

Where did he go?

Dragona was supposed to be back by now, wasn't he?

He had been excited to finally get out into the field again and completed his first mission for House De Riva with time to spare. Catarina had been particularly impressed by how smooth and seamless the mission had gone, especially after so long in recovery.

To celebrate this achievement, Lucanis had made a reservation at the new Cafe that opened, El Gato Espresso, a place he knew Dragona would love.

But now, he couldn't find him.

Did something happ-

Illario walked past him as he headed toward where Viago and Teia had their weekly game of wicked grace on the balcony. His eye was clearly swollen, he was holding his stomach, and his hand was wrapped in fresh bandages. When he went to ask what was wrong, Illario didn't answer and pushed him away grumbling under his breath irritated but incoherent.

Something he only did when he got the Paella beaten out of him and it was his own fault.

Oh…no…

What did he do?

"If your looking for Dragona your not going to find him." Viago didn't look up from his hand as he sighed like a long suffering father with a feral child as he came in.

"He wont be in any of his usual spots either." Teia added as she slapped down her hand with a grin that made Viago glare at her and then push the cookies that were in a pile on the table towards her.

"I have figured as much. What happened?"

"Apparently Illario has been in a one sided seduction contest with Dragona since he shoved him against the wall." Teia explained as they started another round.

He tipped his head to the side, "Didn't Dragona threaten to rip his hands off if he touched him again?"

"He did but Apparently Illario discovered he liked getting manhandled and that was all he remembered." Viago pulled a card from the deck with a stony face. "And you know how he gets when he thinks with the head between his legs and not with the one on his shoulders."

"So, I assume Dragona is the reason Illario looks the way he does right now?"

"Yep." Teia popped her lips as she drew her own cards. "He tried to pull the move Dragona used on him but he saw it coming. Sank his teeth into his hand, punched him in the stomach and then in the face."

Lucanis dragged a hand over his face. "Maker preserve me."

"Would have probably killed him if Catarina didn't intervene. Even she knew not to touch him without either being in line of sight or with permission. Illario had neither."

"Which means Drago believes he is under threat hence why he is hiding." Teia then sighed, "But unfortunately, Illario knows all his usual spots from following you so he is more than likely hiding in a new spot in order to avoid him."

"Meirda." Lucanis groaned as he pinched his nose. "That means he could be anywhere in Treviso."

"He hasn't left the building." Viago stated as he showed his hand with as close to a grin as he ever managed. Teia cursed as she pushed the pile back towards him.

"What makes you say that?"

"You and he had plans later right? You informed him before you left this morning."

"We do."

"When he knows he is going somewhere with you or either of us, he doesn't stray from the manor grounds or the diamond. He may be hiding in a new spot but he is still here. The mansion's chief mouser wouldn't have been fed otherwise."

That was true.

The grey cat known as "Demon" was an excellent mouser who was sometimes a little too good at her job. This would often leave her without food unless someone fed her table scraps, or in Dragona's case, catch fish for her out of the bay.

The man loved cats just as much as he loved wyverns, which was why he had chosen this particular cafe.

Luckily the reservation wasn't until a little later in the afternoon so he still had time to locate him.

"The trick will be finding someway to lure him out of hiding." Teia offered as she drew cards.

He nodded as he wracked his brain.

Suddenly his stomach rumbled, reminding him of the breakfast and lunch he had skipped in favor of setting it all up and gave him an idea.

He knew just the thing.

—

When he walked into the kitchen his forehead immediately started to tingle. He froze for a moment before he felt the barest brush of air on his arm, like a cat gently asking for attention.

The Kitchen was empty, which meant only one thing.

"Dragona?"

One tap.

Lucanis relaxed. It would make sense he would be around here. He never strayed to far away from food.

Not that he blamed him after his previous house starved him.

"Your body nearby?"

Another single tap.

"Fell asleep?"

One tap.

"Do you need me to wake you?"

Two taps.

"All right. I Found out what happened with Illario. Have you eaten?"

Two taps.

"Hungry?"

One tap.

"I will make us some lunch then. Feel free to join me when you start smelling the food."

A tingling sensation that mimicked someone patting and squeezing his shoulder followed before the pressure in his skull abated.

He still hadn't gotten used to Dragona being in spirit form. Catarina had informed him after the first time he found him passed out on his bedroom floor. Dragona was, technically, an abomination. He and a boy named Caleb had once shared the form he now had as a spirit of survival. Their combined skills had made him a shoe in for assassin training and made the young man an incredibly skilled Crow that, had he not been betrayed and sold to an underground lab, would have given even himself a run for his money.

Unfortunately, Caleb ultimately did not survive what was done to him and as a last ditch effort to save the spirit he though of as his only friend, gave his body and his knowledge up to Survival so at least one of them would live.

Hence, Dragona was born.

Lucanis began to hum to himself as he gathered the ingredients for a couple of toasted sandwiches, one with all the fixings, and one that was mostly meat and sauce with maybe some sliced pickles on it. As he began to season the meat and prepare a pan, one of the cupboards below and to the right of the counter he was working on began to open on it's own.

He barely caught it out of the corner of his eye and on instinct grabbed the cast iron and held it aloft as the cupboard door creaked open. He waited a beat and then two before a very familiar dark tan and pale hand wrapped around the edge of the cupboard door to push it fully out. The hand was followed by a familiar forearm and faded black sleeve that was rolled up to the elbow. Another beat and Dragona's pointed ears and the long white hair that adorned his head appeared beneath the kitchen light.

With the feline grace of a cat that had just woken up form a noontime nap, Dragona crawled out of the cupboard, yawning, rubbing his mismatched blue and violet eyes, and carrying in his arm the large grey mouser their chef "lovingly" called "Demon".

Lucanis put the pan back his eyes looking from Dragona, to the cupboard, and back several times. Now, Dragona wasn't a large man but he wasn't small either. Lucanis only came up to about his shoulder while the man was barefoot, and he knew those cupboards, thought retrofitted as the sleeping place for the cat Dragona was currently holding, were not large.

But somehow, Dragona had found a way to hide in them anyway.

He swore the man must have been possessing a cat before his current form with how often Dragona reminded him of one.

Probably why he liked them so much.

"Mierda, Dragona." Lucanis cursed as he relaxed. "I almost smashed your skull in."

"Sorry." His deep sleep drunk voice rumbled, "Thought since you knew i was in here I wouldn't startle you when i came out."

"Had you came in through the door perhaps, not from the floor cupboards."

He chuckled as he rubbed his face against the cats head, "Fair."

Lucanis went back to cooking, "So, do you want me to tell you where we are going or leave it a surprise?"

"Tell me. I don't like surprises."He responded as he gently placed the now squirming cat on the floor.

"Very well. Do you know what a cat cafe is?"

"Mm-mm." He grunted as he took his place at the cutting board, summoning one of his ice knives to cut up the vegetables he laid out. "I assume it's some sort of…cafe with cat decorations?"

"Close." He agreed as he finished cooking the meat. "There are also actual cats that mill about while you eat."

Dragona turned to him with an eyebrow raised, "Like live cats? Just…doing cat things?"

"You can also pet and play with them as well as give them treats."

Dragona's eyes widened, dilated and shown as he bounced on his heels. "So your saying this place has coffee, food and cats i can hang out with?"

Lucanis couldn't help the smile on his face. "Exactly."

"Where is it? When are we going?" He asked excitedly trying not to disturb his cooking as he practically vibrated with excitement.

"Not for a couple hours yet hence why i am making food now. I made sure I made the reservations during a time they won't be as busy due to you getting anxious around large groups of people."

"I appreciate that, Vhenan. Thank you."

"Your welcome, Mi Amigo. Now here," He handed the mostly meat sandwich to Dragona. "Eat. You need to keep your strength up if your to keep going on missions."

—-

The second the shop came into view Dragona's eyes lit up and locked on to the cat lounging in the window. A large and chubby orange tabby was stretched out across a length of cushioned board dozing peacefully as he approached, admiring the cat through the glass.

"There are more inside." He smiled as he reached for the door and motioned for him to join him.

"Excited. Excited!" He bounced as he followed through the door.

The moment Dragona crossed the threshold and look around his eyes widened, dilated and sparkled as he scanned the room full of at least a dozen cats milling about, playing or napping. A couple of them padded over, meowing at him in greeting. Dragona mimicked the sound back at them before crouching down and nuzzeling there faces with his own, a wide grin on his face.

Lucanis's face mimicked his in the empty and quiet cafe, watching his friend finally be able to relax for a bit.

As a member of the staff approached them, Dragona followed one of the cats that led him over to a sunbeam beneath the window and rolled onto the floor. Dragona joined them, causing several of the cats already enjoying the sunbeam to decide he would make the better napping spot and climbed on him.

Dragona looked like he was right at home.

"It seems you weren't kidding when you said your friend was practically a cat himself, Mr. Delamorte." The owner of the cafe teased as she approached. "I take it this is Dragona?"

"Yes, and thank you for accepting the reservation on such short notice."

"Your very welcome. Why don't you make yourself comfortable while i go get the menu's."

Lucanis nodded and did as she suggested, taking a seat at a table not far from Dragona, in full view of the kitchen door and all exits. When the owner came out Lucanis quickly ordered what he had when he had scouted out the place that morning before turning to Dragona who was squinting at the menu that had been handed to him.

He knew Dragona could read and write just as well as he could but he also know that sometimes, as Dragona often described it, "His brain didn't want to elf anymore", between missions.

By the looks of things, that was what was happening.

"Are you all right, mi amigo?" He asked as Dragona began blinking and rubbing his eyes as if he was having difficulty seeing.

"Yeah, I just…think I might still be a bit burnt out from the job. My brain wants to cat instead of elf at the moment." He then handed the menu to him, "Could you read it for me?"

"Of course."

Once Dragona made his order he returned to communing with his new furry friends, chirping and play fighting with them as if he was one of them until their coffee and snacks came.

"Having fun?" Lucanis asked as he sipped on his coffee, his voice warm and soft enjoying the view.

Dragona nodded as he fed some treats to the cats that were a part of his order. "Did you know that cats are only this vocal with people?"

There was that sparkle in his eyes again that made his heart swell.

"Oh really?"

"Mhmm." He nodded as he watched the cats munch on the treats, "They are mimicking how we communicate to get our attention. Between cats, most language is non verbal. Also, unlike dogs, cats are pure carnivore's and only eat like grass and stuff to aide in digestion."

"Similar to Wyverns."

"Yup. Cats and Wyverns have similar mannerisms actually. It's why they are difficult to train for most."

"Why?" Lucanis, genuinely curious, tipped his head to the side.

"Because, unlike dogs who are literally bred to be obedient no matter what, cats and wyverns are domesticated for their survival instincts and hunting skills so they have most of their natural instincts still in tact." Dragona then sat up as one of the cats decided to lay across his shoulders. "Which means that, unlike dogs who are bred and trained to see people as thier owners and masters, cats and Wyverns just see people as a hairless or scaleless version of themselves."

"We are equals in their eyes."

"Yep." He gently removed the small kitten that had begun climbing up his back and began fussing the creature with his hand. "Which is why, if you meet someone who loves and praises dogs but hate cats, don't trust them."

"Why is someone that hates cats but loves dogs bad?"

"Because a lot of people like that love dogs because they can do whatever they want to them and the dog will still remain loyal where the cat wont put up with it."

"Ah."

"Of course, not everybody is like that." He added, "Some had bad experiences when they were kids or are literally allergic. But, the ones that like to go out of their way to say how much they hate cats are always suspect."

"I will keep that in mind."

Once he finished his coffee Lucanis decided to join Dragona on the floor and laid down on his back. A small but very fluffy black cat climbed onto his chest not long after, purring loudly as it began to knead on his shirt like to was trying to make bread. He reached up to pet the cats soft fur, finding the weight of the beast on his chest a comfort he hadn't expected.

When he turned his head to check on Dragona, his breath caught in his chest. The sun coming through the window set his long white hair ablaze with light. The mismatched blue and violet eyes sparkled like gemstones, and warmed his tan and white skin like a freshly poured latte.

He was a beautiful man, made even more so with the soft happy smile on his face.

"Why are you looking at me like that?" Dragona asked as he loved on a short haired tabby with a fur pattern nearly identical to his skin.

He chuckled as he scratched the head of the black cat now dozing on his chest, "Just admiring the beauty of The Makers creations."

"You think I'm pretty?"

"I have eyes Dragona."

A fond expression formed over Dragona's face that made his heart skip and swell in a way he didn't want to think about too much.

"As do I." He leaned down. "I especially like those big coffee brown eyes of yours. Make me do almost anythin."

Lucanis smirked through the blush on his face, "Oh? How about staying hydrated and eating regularly without being reminded?"

Dragona stuck out his tongue at him. "I said almost anything."

He laughed, the sudden movement startling the cat on his chest but not enough to get her to move.

Dragona laid down on his side facing him, "Thank you, Vhenan." He looked at him, gratitude that ran deep and true in his eyes. "And not just for today." He scooched a little closer, mindful of the cat between them. "For everything. You and yours have given me something I or Caleb before me haven't had since his mothers died. Somewhere safe. Somewhere to call home. It means…more than i have words for."

Lucanis leaned forward so he could press his forehead against Dragona's. "I am glad you feel so. It is an honor to have you amongst us, Mi Amigo."

Dragona smiled fondly and not a little bit tired before resting his head on his shoulder and curling around the cat that had settled between them.

The two men fell into a companiable silence as they lounged on the floor, content in each others presence and the quiet of the cafe. A few people came and went without paying them any mind as they purchased a another round of coffee and snacks, casually talking to other patrons of the cafe as they gushed and loved on the many feline residents of the building.

All in all it was a good afternoon, until Dragona tilted his head so one of his ears faced the door.

At first Lucanis didn't pay much attention. Dragona had always been hypervigilent even while relaxed, so seeing him suddenly pay attention to a stray noise was pretty normal. What turned the sense of normalcy into actual concern was when he noticed him begin to spin the black bone ring on his right middle finger, before sitting up and locking eyes on the door in question.

Most seeing it would attribute it to a nervous twitch but Lucanis knew the truth. The bone ring had been enchanted by his former hosts mothers using a piece of his spirit form in order to protect them. Spinning the ring allowed Dragona to sense danger, keep track of people around him and even hear other peoples true intentions if he focused for long enough.

So when ever Dragona started spinning that ring, especially in a situation like this where they were supposed to be safe, he always took notice.

Lucanis sat up with him. "Something wrong?"

"Yeah…Illario is here. But he isn't alone." His head turned to one of the windows that faced the front of the store. Sure enough, there was Illario with a young woman on his arm.

Upon seeing her Dragona's eyes widened, "Fuck."

"What is it?"

"I know who that is. She's from my old house."

"Who is she?"

"She is House Aranai's 'Black Widow'." Dragona jumped to his feet with an annoyed growl. "I told him she was out hunting and to lay low for at least a forte night because we both know how he is. Dumbass didn't listen."

"Mierda." Lucanis jumped to his. "What do we do?"

"If were lucky she's just bored, which means she will back off as soon as she sees me."

"If not?"

"Then she dies and i send her back to Aranai in pieces. Which would be a shame. She was one of the only ones i actually liked."

Lucanis shook his head amused, "So what is the plan?"

"You approach him from the front, act like you have been looking for him or something. Get him away from her. I will do the rest."

He would have asked how he was going to get out of the store without them seeing him until he blinked and an empty space was left where Dragona had once been.

Maker's Breath, how does he do that? Is it a spirit thing?

Didn't matter.

He had a cousin to save.

"Illario!" He called as he approached his cousin and the dark haired and ample breasted woman that was clinging to his arm. "There you are. Where have you been? You shouldn't be out with your injuries."

"Ah! Hello Cousin, I was just showing this beautiful lady here the quaint new cafe that just opened. Being in her presence has been most healing."

The woman giggled and moved in such a way as to make her breasts even more visible. His cousin of course noticed and stole a quick glance as the girl pretended to blush.

Lucanis tried not to roll his eyes before he felt the tingle in his mind and the tap on his arm that indicated Dragona was in position.

"I see. Illario, can we talk in private for a moment?" He then tipped his head down and leveled his eyes at his cousin in a way that brooked no argument. "We have a family matter I need to discuss with you. Urgently."

Knowing the look meant a member of the house or the house itself was in danger, Illario relented, turned to his companion to apologize and then walked toward him.

As soon as Illario stepped away out of arms reach, Dragona popped into existence behind his back, facing the young woman with his arms crossed in front of him.

The woman was skilled and barely flinched but, the fear in her eyes meant she recognized exactly who stood in front of her. it passed quickly though and was replaced by a look of mild annoyance and a change to a much more powerful stance from the more demure and vulnerable one she had been using.

"What's going on cousin?" Illario asked, unaware of what was happening behind him. "Is the house under attack?" He then glanced back and forth. "I don't see Dragona with you. Is he all right? Was the mission too much for him after all?"

"I'm right here." Dragona's gravelly purr stated as he kept the woman in his sights. "And I'm fine, Lethalan. Your companion here however, is not."

Illario spun around, "Maker's Breath Dragona, where did you come from?"

Dragona ignored him and instead snarled, "Hello, Sophia. Didn't your masters tell you not to touch anyone from my house? Or are you following your 'urges' again?"

"Tch." She scoffed. "Knew that Idiota was lying when he said he killed you. Didn't expect you would jump to this one's defense though."

"Surprised you didn't try for Lucanis out of spite alone."

She looked at him and pointed with her palm outstretched, "He's the Demon of Vyrantium. I may be petty but i am not stupid."

"How do you know her?" Illario asked as he tried to push past him.

"She is from my old house. Sophia The Black Widow. If i let her take you away, you would be dead."

Illario's face paled as Lucanis gave him a look of an older sibling going, "I told you so."

Sofia sighed like a predator who was dissapointed that what she thought would be an easy mark turned out to be more trouble than it was worth. "I was pretty close too. But, as i said, I am not stupid. I know what Dragona is capable of. He was the best of us. In more ways then one. I know when to walk away."

"Before you run off, Soph, was this a contract or were you just bored?"

"Neither. It was a challenge. Who can get the closest to silencing a member of Dragona's new house without him noticing. Unfortunately most forgot that the De Riva and the Delamorte houses are some of the most skilled in Antiva, with or without you. Most never even made it too the Diamond before they were caught. So, either way, I win." She then turned to Illario, "As fun as it was kid, you really have to stop thinking with the head between your legs so much. One of these days, these two," She pointed to Dragona and him, "won't be here to save your hide. See ya later, Water Dragon."

Dragona did not take his gaze away from her until the market she dissapeared into broke his line of sight.

Neither Dragona or Lucanis said a word about what happened as they walked back home, flanking Illario on both sides as they traveled. For the first time since Dragona arrived, Illario stayed silent as well, clearly spooked by how close he had been to walking into the mouth of a lion wearing a pretty face.

Once they got back though, Illario finally spoke. "Dragona?"

"Hmm?"

"Thank you. I mean it. I-"

"Don't worry about it, Lethalan."

"Is she going to come back for him?"

"No. She doesn't go after the same prey twice for obvious reasons. She may have not gotten her prey but she got what she wanted. We won't have to worry about her again."

"Are you sure?"

"I am sure, Lethalan." He reassured as he patted Illario's shoulder like an elder brother.

"You keep calling me that. What does it mean?"

"Lethalan is the elvish word for cousin/brother/male member of the family that is around the same age. Lethalin, what i call Teia, is the female equivalent."

"So not a romantic term of endearment then?"

"No."

"Is there a romantic one? Ya know…just in case i come across a pretty elven woman."

Dragona mimicked Viago's long suffering sigh before opening the door, "Vhenan. Means My heart or something like that."

As LUcanis activly tried to ignore what his heart did in response to that, Illario gave him a look that Lucanis knew all too well.

Mierda… Here we go.

"Isn't that what you call Lucanis?" Illario smirked.

Dragona raised an eyebrow, "Yes, and?"

"Does that mean you are in love with my cousin?" He spoke in that way little brothers did when they were trying to make fun of an older siblings lovelife.

Dragona just shrugged.

"You don't know?"

Now Lucanis was curious.

Dragona sighed as his voice came out in a familiar monotone that meant he had reached his limit with socialization. "Caleb was 19 when he passed. What memories he left me with have provided no information on what i feel towards Lucanis. All i know is that, Lethalan/Lethalin doesn't fit."

"And Vhenan does?"

"Yes." Dragona opened the door and began to walk inside clearly done with the conversation and socializing in general but not without one final clarification. "Why that is, I do not know but i assume i will figure it out at some point. Just not today." He then blinked out of existence again.

It made sense to Lucanis, knowing that he had been a spirit before. And with what Dragona had told him of the life the boy had lived, he wasn't surprised that Dragona wouldn't necessarily know what bonds beyond family or friends would be like.

And he for one wasn't going to tell anyone, let alone a former spirit of survival, what he was feeling before he figured it out or at the very least asked.

"And…he's gone. How does he do that?"