The Blood Of Three Kings

Lucian sighed. This predicament that he was in just got worse no thanks to Crystalis. He hated when Neutral, powerful beings got involved. The pencil marked its charcoal strokes over the paper swiftly. Lucian never touched hand to pencil to paper. He let the picture draw it’s self. Maybe he could pretend to not remember exact details. He couldn’t do that in a way. Kaire told him just to help with this and get it over with. She was being her usual lovely, charming self towards him when she said it.

His thoughts carried him away while the pencil put mark to paper. He didn’t even hear the door to the room open or see that he had a set of eyes watching him. Kaire leaned back against the wall and crossed her arms over her chest. Yes magic could a great many things in this world but she’d never seen what he was doing. The next thing was should she make her self known to him and let him be aware that she saw this from him. Her curiosity would answer that one for her. She wanted to know who this man was and how come he seemed to know so much.

“So.”

The pencil fell lifeless to the paper as soon as her words were spoke. Lucian jumped in surprise. She pulled him from his a stray thoughts with a jolt.

“Don’t do that!”

He turned to face her. Kaire raised a brow at his facial expression. For a moment she saw something that she wasn’t quite sure of. It was a very quick flicker of his yes. If only she could see that a little slower. Kaire pushed her self off the wall and stepped cautiously forward. Lucian rose to meet. His hands quickly snaked around her, pulling her close. The ex maiden of chaos could only gasp in surprise and let him do this.

“Why? You afraid I’ll see something that I’m not supposed to?”

Kaire looked up at the silver haired man. Her hands were now on his chest. That was the only comfortable place for them to be considering her current position. Her chest was pressed very close to him. Both his hands were sliding up from the small of her back and rubbing over her shoulder blades. Lucian smirked at her.

“You scared me. That is all.”

“I think it is more.” Kaire spoke up. “Who are you? Really? Because I think there is something you’re hiding.”

“I am Lucian. That is enough love.”

“I am not your love.” She grinned. Lucian could almost imagine little devilish fangs coming from her when she did that. “So who are you?”

“I told you.” Lucian’s grip tightened around her. “I am Lucian and you are my love.”

“No I’m not.”

Kaire had to argue it. She was stubborn. Lucian leaned down closer to her ear. He normally admired her for her stubborn nature but this issue needed to be settled. Kaire closed her eyes when she felt his lips brush over her ear.

“Do I need to convince you again?” His whispers were soft. “My love?”

Kaire tensed and her hands suddenly pushed a little harder against his chest. She wasn’t complaining about the sex in general. Her issue was that she was still sore from the last ‘convincing.’

“No.” Kaire grunted. “I don’t need convincing right now. I’m still recovering from the last episode.”

“I rather enjoyed the last time.” Lucian chuckled at her. She was cute when she got like this. “I am certain that you did as well.”

This topic needed to be changed. Kaire pondered what was happening for a moment. She could let him sweep her away into the bed again. Her mind gave her a great mental slap. She wasn’t supposed to like him! He was keeping her from using her abilities with that blasted stone!

“Uh!” Kaire pushed her self from him. “You should finish that drawing before Silvan and Mrs. Prissy pants come back bugging you.”

“Shouldn’t you be calling her by her name?” He raised a brow. “Queen Serenity?”

“Like I said before. She is not my queen.” The black haired woman turned and made for the exit quickly. “I think you should finish that picture however. I heard the two coming in from the snow. They were talking about paying you a visit.”

Lucian sighed once again. He wasn’t supposed to be the one that pressure was put on! Kaire smiled towards him. She pressed her figure against the door in a more provocative pose. This brought Lucian’s attentions fully on to her.

“You are lucky I need to finish this woman.”

The man forced him self to look away from her and back to the pencil. Oh she was lucky. Lucian would have to have a little ‘talk’ with her later about her teasing. Kaire giggled at his reaction. She was starting to learn that he could be fun in his own ways. If she could get him to remove the inhibitor stone she would be much happier. Of course she might end up attacking Serenity but that prissy pants deserved it! She flaunted her relationship with Silvan in front of her. None of the others saw it but she did.

Serenity didn’t do anything really. It was Kaire’s jealousy that let her think Serenity was. Although, Serenity did make her dis like for kaire well known. She didn’t like how Kaire would openly say things like ‘My silvan’ and ‘I want him!’ She had a right to be jealous because he was her husband. Kaire couldn’t rationalize with any of this.

It was only a little later before Lucian went to find his reluctant lover. The picture he had drawn was in hand now. The truth of this whole thing had gotten lost some how. It was not his vision. Why was he doing this again? How did this benefit him? When he looked at Kaire’s heavenly form playing chess by her self, that answer came to him. He was protecting her. She just didn’t know it. He chuckled at his revelation.

“I guess it is true what they always say about women. They can make you do some of the strangest things.”

“What was that?”

Kaire looked up from the game. The black king was in her hand at the time. Lucian grinned at her. How appropriate was that? He black king?

“Nothing love.”

“Is that the picture?” Kaire turned away from the table and faced him. “Can I see?”

“It is and yes you may.”

“Well let’s see it.”

She stood and grabbed the picture from him and let her eyes scan over it. It looked very unique as a building. The columns rose high above and circled around a court yard. The building it’s self might be compared to a castle. It was very grand in stature. Kaire sat back down quietly while looking over the image. Aside from the fact that it was well drawn she got a shiver from looking at it. Lucian noticed her intent look and quickly pulled the picture away.

“We should let Serenity and Silvan see this now don’t you think?”

“Huh?” She looked as if she’d been shaken from a day dream. “O..Oh yeah. We should.”

Kaire couldn’t understand why she was getting all these strange feelings. Was she really some ‘Key?’ Crystalis said they were all keys to an entry. The riddle it’s self made no sense but what she said was clear enough. They were all there and they were all involved. She didn’t want to help! Kaire forced her self to stand.

“You ready?”

“Yeah I guess.” She sighed. “I just don’t like..I..” She paused. Kaire looked up at Lucian, who was watching her every move. “I don’t know. I really don’t know anymore. This whole thing has gotten far too complicated. What happen to it being just me and wanting to get Silvan in bed? Now it’s Silvan and Serenity. It is actually finding the staff. The Shi are involved. You’re strange enough for anyone. Just Gahh! This thing has gotten way out of hand. It is beyond anything simple any more.”

“That’s how adventures are love.” He tugged her along. Lucian could understand her frustration. He was a bit worked up him self. “That is just how things are.”

“If it WERE that simple of an answer, I wouldn’t be as flustered as I am I think.”

“Sometimes answers do not come easily. You can’t expect them to really.” His foot steps guided them down a long hall. “The moment we expect it is when things become even harder.”

“Yeah true but you would think that Crystalis lady would have made it a little easier. She seems to want to help them yet she is leaving it on you and me even. I think she knows I am trying to not help personally.” She still hated the whole idea of being helpful. “I think she is enjoying it too.”

“That could be love. You can never tell with people. All I can say is nothing is as it seems in the end. There will always be something to pop up and cause problems.” He shrugged and pushed a door open that lead t another door. “This little adventure is proving that statement to be true.”

“I don’t know.” She pushed the second set of doors open which lead to a large seating room. “Personally I could do without it all.”

“You try too hard love.” He smiled. “You really should just let what ever flows from you happen.”

It was easy advice to give but it wasn’t easy advice to follow. Not considering his normal take on things anyways. Lucian was one to say how will this benefit me in the end? He was a lot like Kaire in a way. Kaire shook her head at him. He made no sense sometimes.

“Hey.” Serenity’s voice broke the momentary silence.”We were just looking for you.”

“So I have heard.” The silver haired man chuckled and extended the picture. “I believe you are looking for this.”

“Yes. You got it finished. That is great.”

Serenity pulled the drawing away from him. Silvan was coming up behind her to look over her shoulder at the elaborately drawn picture. Kaire found a little chair to the side and sat down. The less she had to talk to Serenity, the better.

“It looks like a very old building. I’m reminded of some of the old cultures of my old home.” Serenity went on. “This looks like Greek or Italian styling. The statues look slightly familiar too. I just can’t place them.” Serenity looked up at Lucian now. “Are you sure you do not know where this is at?”

“I have a small confession to make.” Lucian cleared his throat. “This is actually not my dream. So you don’t need to ask me. You need to ask Kaire. I got this vision from her when I placed the inhibitor stone on her fore head. For that brief moment when my fingers were on the stone I caught a glimpse of it. I was just protecting her when I said I had the dream.” He looked at Silvan now. “You would have done the same thing if you thought your love was not ready to handle such pressures.”

“Why would you do that?” Serenity looked astounded. This man dodged bits of truths the entire time. He was as unclear as crystalis. “Why not just tell the truth?”

“It didn’t benefit me at the time.”

kaire was still in silent shock from what he said. How dare he say that was her dream. She didn’t remember having anything like that! Silvan sighed as he looked between all of them. He could see his wife getting more and more temper mental with Lucian if he didn’t quit this non sense.

“So why does it benefit you now?” She popped off. Serenity couldn’t help it. This man was going to drive her insane. “Huh?”

“Because I feel that it does.” Lucian smiled at her. “That’s why.”

“Oh!” growling, Serenity stomped her foot. “You are getting very annoying!”

“Hey! Hey! Hold on!” Silvan got between the two before this could turn into a long, over drawn fight. “I believe we should ask Kaire what she remembers about this dream now.”

“Of course.”

Lucian turned away from t hem to look at Kaire. She was blinking and looked very confused. She didn’t know anything! Silvan pulled Serenity into his arms and shhd her. She needed to be calm and not let this person get to her.

“Kaire? Silvan spoke up. “Well do you know or remember anything?”

“No! If I remembered having that dream I would have remembered and I.....I don’t now! I wouldn’t have said anything if I did.” Kaire crossed her arms over her chest. “I honestly have no clue however. I am sorry. If that dream is in my mind, it’s buried some where that I can’t see it.”

“Why do you two have to be so difficult!” Serenity pushed away from Silvan. “Can’t you just answer a question! We are trying to do something that benefits us all here!” She was panting. “Honestly!”

“Love calm down.” Silvan pulled her back close to him. “Keep your temper in check.”

“Yeah and don’t yell at me. I told you I do not know anything.” Kaire stood and looked at them all. “Like I said. If that vision is in my head it’s hidden and I can’t access and or remember it.”

“Then it is settled.” Silvan smiled. “We will have to ask someone to try and link with you to retrieve it.”

“Hey hold on.” Lucian didn’t like this idea. “She is my lover. It’s a dangerous thing to ask someone to allow someone else in their mind.”

“Not if we ask the right person.” Serenity added quickly. “Look we take this picture back to Veleska and my mother. My mom studied all kinds of ancient stuff like this and Veleska is an avatar. If anyone can do what is needed safely, she can.”

“I don’t know about this.” Lucian looked as if he was questioning many decisions at once. “But I guess.”

“Hey!” Kaire’s voice shouted over all of them. “This is MY body we’re talking about. Shouldn’t I be the one to agree or disagree?”

“We need you to agree Lady kaire.” Silvan nodded to her. “You need to agree because we all need your help in this. We have to know if you are the one who can guide us to the staff.”

“Please Kaire? I know we do not get along but I am asking. Please just say okay.” Serenity didn’t like having to lower her self like this to kaire of all people. “Please?”

Kaire had three sets of eyes on her now. Oh this was so unfair! She sighed and fell back into the chair. Kaire’s hands went over her eyes. None of them understood how she felt. There was a constant battle of good versus bad inside her. She hated being good but yet she always seemed to do good. If this was not bad enough, now they were asking her to let Veleska, the Seraphim’s avatar probe her mind!

“Okay! Okay! Just stop looking at me!”

kaire stood once again and quickly made for the exit to this room. She was going to explode inside. If she had her magic use back she would blast someone back into a wall right now. How could this be happening to her? One minute she was a self centered, happy Woman who only thought about her self and her wants. Now she was being turned into some poor excuse of a caring person who seemed like they wanted to help everyone!

“Blah!”

She yelled it. Kaire didn’t care if she left the others behind right now or not. She needed to think. Maybe a walk in the crisp, cool night air would clear her mind. Even though technically it was very early in the morning. The sun hadn’t risen but still it was early, early morning.