Dark Empire, 'The Chornicles of Dajorin

He walked ahead of them highly annoyed at the moment. The sky was painted in soft majestic hues, breathtaking to behold in there splendor. Soft amethysts which added elegantly into ruby hued gold’s, were backed by a warm inviting sapphire bearing just the faintest hints of emerald green. The colors danced before his eyes coming together in flowing harmony over the tranquil sky. Rich bejeweled tones splashed the clouds with color as they littered the sky. Deep warm inviting hues truly breathtaking to behold in there bearing, while they faded ever so slowly into a rich deep indigo littered with small glittering diamonds. As if to let the world know that soon it would be draped in black velvet. Set against this splendid back drop was a large sweeping castle, grand in bearing; white marble set against large sweeping snow capped mountains. Snow littered the ground looking much akin to diamond dust spotted through with gatherings of emerald green as the winter thaw began to works is natural magic upon the sleeping world. Small ethereal fingers played with his long shimmering indigo hair, pulling about the highlights of silver and pale blue making a mess of it as if the wind where his wanton lover seeking his whimsical affections. He paused reaching up his hand long slender fingers moved through the now tangling tresses as if to admonish the playful teasing of the wind and correct what it had done.

It was hard for him to believe how much time had passed since he last stepped foot onto these lands before this impressive castle. The castle of course belonged to his father; it had been twenty five hundred years ago, when he had left here. With the thought that he would never again set foot before these grand stone walls, after his mother’s death he had been he had been unable to forgive himself for not being able to save her. That being the main cause as to why he left with naught a word into the night with no intention of ever returning, he had not once looked back believing that his father would be better off with him gone. With him not being around to remind him of the pain of the loss; now though he had returned although not of his own accord. No that credit went to another to the Vulpine and his friends who had sought him out and brought him back here… His Imperial twilight eyes met with the silver fox’s own golden hued orbs. Deep fire tinged amethyst could not be colder as he glared at the tall elegant silver fox. This man, this Fiore Kamui had brought him back to Dragon’s Nest. The home of the Dragon Lord Traitorin Crystalantis; his father, for Fiore was very talented indeed…Able to talk him in to returning, to traveling with the party to his father’s home and hear him out. However skilled the fox seemed to be this was as far as he would allow himself to be persuaded to go. No, if his father truly wished for him to stay then he would have to come out and tell him. It wasn’t that he hated his father, or was even angry with him. In truth he didn’t feel he had the right to be here in his father’s home, on his father’s lands, no…not when he felt responsible for his mother’s death.

“This is as far as I’ve agreed to go Fiore Kamui.” He said in a soft tone, tired and wary but there was naught a trace of anger in his voice, much like the dragon lord himself his voice was low deep rich and embracing. As if the very sound of it could blanket the person he was speaking too, and chase away all of their worries, all of their fears...

He was afraid that his father would not in truth really want him there, but it was more than that, he was more afraid that his father would. He turned and looked past the traveling party to the trials that spanned out behind them wanting nothing more than to turn and move down them again, to fade into the night and be forgotten but he had seen just these past few days how well that had worked. He knew he would not be. For it was Fiore who had tracked him down and sought him out, and it was Fiore who no doubt would track him down and find him again. Without giving it much thought he rubbed at the long scar on the back of his hand, a reminder of the day she had died, and of the secrets that he held because they were what she had left to him.
~*~ ~*~ ~*~

The wind still searching wantonly for its missing lover played with the silver tresses of the fox as easily as it had played with the dragons. His soft ears becoming lost in the quickly tangling silver hair. He tipped his head and listened to the dragon speak, even as he brought his hand up to push his hair behind his ear. Taking a deep breath, his ears twitching as he listened to the young dragon prince beside him. To bear so much self loathing and hatred pained Fiore. He wished he knew why the boy could not forgive himself? Or perhaps it was his father that would need to open the young man’s heart to the fact that it was not his fault. Fiore was blind in all sense of the word save one. He could see a person’s heat signature, although that didn’t allow him to tell much about the person. He could not tell what they looked like, what color their hair or eyes were. Their skin anything of any value, all that he had to rely on for, however his other senses more than made up for it. His sense of smell was so very keen he could tell anything by the scent alone, if something was good or bad, if a person was happy or sad. If a wound was infected he would know. He could tell you how high or low something was by the sound it was emitting, let alone being able to find his way around by it. Then there was his sense of touch, being a ten tailed fox spirit, human-like in appearance at the moment, with large soft silver ears, his tails everything and yet none of that could give him any insight at all to what was truly troubling the young prince.

“Of course….” He said in answer; where the prince’s was deep and embracing his own voice was low and silken quite charming to many a lady in the castle who listened to him speak. He glanced back at the silver tiger who he knew wanted nothing more than to get back to the woman he loved more than anything. To the Canid half breed who wanted more than anything to find his friend and make sure she was alright. The Centaur twins who just wanted to go lay down for the night and of course the Princess Mildune herself who was tired and worried about everything all at the same time.

There were several interesting things about her, for one despite the high tensions between Humans and Mystrians, she was welcomed by just about every Mystrian she came across. She didn’t view things the same way as the others did, then there was the fact that she was perhaps the only human he had ever met who had Natural magic. The humans who did have magic gained it through a manufactured stone. The oddest thing about her was her scent. Unlike every other Human he had ever come across hers was sweet and not tinged by the ever present passage of time. The wind spared not even her from its wanton grasp as it played with her deep blue-violet hair, dancing it around mercilessly. Her eyes he had been told were a deep warm indigo in color, setting against her tanned skin. All together he imagined she’d be quiet lovely, if not breathtaking to behold but he could not tell.

“Mils, could you wait with him out here while I find Lord Traitorin?” he asked in a gentle tone feeling bad about asking her to wait here when all she wanted to do no doubt was get reunited with her family.

Mildune Wincrest by nature was a gentle girl. Even as she ran her fingers through her hair much like the others were she nodded and then blushed brightly when she realized that Fiore had not and could not see her do such an action. Although he would not doubt realize she was blushing by the rise in her body’s temperature but that could not be helped. Which only made the blush that much worse to bear. He was like a big brother or close family friend but even still the idea that she had forgotten he could not see was embarrassing to her to say the least. When she spoke her voice was warm and whimsical, holding the faintest notes of a silver bell like sound to it. Something enchanting and beautiful to listen to and many did.

“I…ah sure; Fii I don’t mind.” She said softly as he chuckled.

“Thank you,” He said nodding his head and attempting to make sure she didn’t feel bad about it. “I won’t be long.” He said softly as he walked into the large castle in order to search out Traitorin. His trek through took him to the Dragon Lord’s bed chambers and while he felt bad for disturbing him he at the same token knew that Traitorin would want to be disturbed for this. Worried that he might be waking the great dragon he also knew that Traitorin had told him to tell him the moment of their return regardless the time day or night. He heard the sound of the doorknob turning even as he heard the heavy oak door start to move. The man that answered the door had deep indigo locks falling long down his back and intense dark mystic amethyst eyes. He remained silent knowing that Traitorin was a sight to behold for those who could see him; it was his voice that usually washed over Fii, a deep velveteen timber like fine silk washing over and thru you. It was the sort of voice that could wash over and embrace you like a fine silken cloth. As if the dragon lords voice could wash away all of your fears and make everything much; much better.

“You’ve found him.” Traitorin said in a soft tone as he opened the door. There was no mistaking the relief in the Dragon Lords voice the knowledge that if Fii had returned like this it was because he had found his son. Traitorin was very glad to know that he was home but it was the look on the fox’s face that troubled him now.

“Ah, yes….” Fii said in a soft tone trying hard not to awaken Traitorin’s mate, he could scent her in the room. Her scent always reminded him of apples and spice, the sweet scents could be caught in the air from within the room. A warm soft motherly scent that drifted next to Traitorin’s, “But he won’t come in.” Fii spoke, in a low soft tone trying to not disturb her.

Trait nodded once in understanding; that he would need to go and speak with him in person. He could not push this off on another. After all this was his son. He turned to look into the room looking over at his mate who was resting on the bed. Her long deep ruby red hair and warm gentle eyes, filled with such kindness and understanding. “I’m sorry Dia’Lamari. This is very important.” He said, in a gentle tone.

They had already finished for the night, the children all turned in the bed sheets turned down. But Fiore was a good friend and she knew he had been sent out a few months ago to find someone. It would seem that he had returned and had indeed found him. She smiled warmly at him. Trait was very glad to see that warm inviting smile on his mates face. She spoke her gentle voice dancing through the room adding life to the atmosphere of the room. “I’ll be here.” She said softly to him.

“Thank you Dia.” He said in a gentle tone, thankful for her warm and caring nature. Stepping out of the room he closed the door behind him; hearing the large heavy wood slide against the polished marble before closing his eyes a moment. Taking a deep steadying breath he began to walk with Fiore in silence. The one he needed to see, the one he had been searching for all of this time, and now he was here. Just outside of the castle and the question that plagued his mind now was could he get him to stay here?

Once they had arrived outside having traveled in companionable silence he spent a long moment just looking at his son before taking a deep breath and nodding to the others. As Millie walked past him he placed a fatherly hand on her shoulder and squeezed it gently welcoming her home. Fiore and the others walked in with Millie now following a step behind. That left Traitorin to deal with his son. That was fine it allowed them privacy for their conversation.

“Averie’Lorani.” He said in a soft tone. “Please, I know it’s been a long journey and there is much we need to discuss.” He said as he stepped towards Averie who stiffened and looked away. “But all of that can wait ‘til morning. The important thing is your home.” Traitorin said in a soft tone, hiding how very nervous and uneasy he felt. Would he say something wrong that would in the end send Averie away again? “Your room has been and will always be yours.” Trait said in an attempt to get him to stay.

At the pause both father and son stared at each other, neither one speaking for a few moments. What could be said now that had been left unsaid twenty five thousand years ago? There were many things for sure, but then Averie had left without a word. Without warning, in the still of the night he had disappeared without a trace. Leaving his father to search for him all of this time, yet as both men stood before each other: Trait concerned that Averie left because of some undying hatred for him. Some anger towards him that he could never mend, and Averie…who could barely face his father, for he could barely handle his own guilt, being the one unable to save his mother. To have been right there when she died not able to protect her and baring the burden of carrying her lifeless frame back home to his father. It ate away at his heart and soul, neither being able to talk to each other, being able to tell the other what it was; the other was thinking and feeling not then, not now either.

“Fine…for tonight…” Averie responded, in a low quiet tone of submission for now. He was too tired to argue with him. Too tired to tell him no, to let him go and disappear for now he would stay and reenter his father’s home. But he didn’t know how long he would be able to stay within these halls that bore so many memories for him. Both good and bad even now after all of this time just walking up to the castle had brought back upon him a feeling that he had not felt in a long time. He felt like he had come home and yet it was that very feeling that he believed was no longer his to behold.

~*~ ~*~ ~*~

“Welcome home Averie.” Trait said as he walked along beside him trying to figure out what to say to him, how to get him to stay and make him feel welcome. To assure Averie that it was fine to stay here longer than one night here at the castle. Here in his home, he wasn’t sure anymore. Taking a deep breath he began to speak. “I…I’ve remarried again.” He said as he walked not getting a response out of him. “Dia’Lamari she’s a sweet woman you’d like her. You have many brothers and sisters now…and you’re an Uncle.” He said as he walked along with Averie whom was still silent. Not speaking to him, Trait could feel a heavy weight in his heart. Averie the son who left without a word and who he had feared he had lost was now home and seemingly farther away than ever before. There was also Aspen one of his youngest who had left due to issues of his own to join with the Assenitio, an enemy encampment. Blake, Aspen and Averie’s brother as well as Malcavian a close friend of Blake and Aspen’s were going to try and bring him back at some point tomorrow. He could only hope they were successful.

“Fine...” Averie said, in a low quiet tone as if to answer him and keep him from continuing. There was nothing he could say, he was happy for his father he really was. He was glad that Trait could fall in love again and have a family, but in his mind it was even more reason for him not to stay, after all his staying would cause his father nothing but grief in the end. What was he to do? He had to leave if his father was to stay happy, least Averie destroy that as well.

“…If…you can’t talk to me about what’s bothering you…” Trait began as he glanced over at Averie able to tell that he was tense, that something was indeed bothering his son and yet his son would not, or could not speak to him about it. Although he supposed that was also his fault as he wasn’t always the easiest to talk to. “I’m sure there is someone here who can help you through your worries.” He said careful not to call them problems he didn’t want Averie to feel alienated. But wasn’t sure how to go about doing this without making that a reality. He caught scent of one of the guards a fair enough warning before the young Canid Dragon hybrid was before them.

“Lord Traitorin.” He said bowing slightly. “Please forgive the interruption. But do you recall the human scientist we took into our custody form the Mystrian Liberation Party the other day? It seems that he’s having great difficulty figuring out what the High Mage had done to his original virus. I’m not sure he’ll be able to make a cure for the Rage Virus infecting the lycan in the next cell…before it’s too late. Even if we cure him now, I don’t know if it’ll do any good except keep it from being contagious.”

Traitorin took a breath reaching up to pinch the bridge of his nose. He shook his head not sure what else to do with this. It wasn’t good, not be a long shot. “Thank you.” He said it was as if High Mage Severin was ten steps ahead of him at the moment. He had always been able to stop him in the past, but unfortunately it was never lasting…

“Rage Virus…?” Averie asked, as he regarded both the guard and his father a moment. He had survived the ‘Rage Virus’ twenty five thousand years ago, the one that in the end was the cause of his mother’s death. He knew he still carried echoes of the virus within him, but it was dormant now and would remain that way. For he also carried the antibodies to that particular strand...but this..?

Trait looked back at him and took a deep breath his mind clicking over at the tone in Averie’s voice. “Averie I know you just got here but…” he asked and watched his son shake his head no even as he spoke.

“No, it’s fine.” He said looking at Traitorin.

“Tripp, this is my son Averie’Lorani. Please show him the way.” He said nodding to them both before turning and walking down the halls after to make his way back to the chambers he shared with Dia. Traitorin closed his eyes as the hot sting of tears threatened to fall. He had never spoken of his son because it hurt too much knowing that Averie wasn’t going to come home. How he was home and yet Averie still hadn’t forgiven him for what he wasn’t sure. He knew he should have been there that day, and hadn’t been. Not only had he lost his first wife that day but his first born son as well. That was obvious as he stood there in his room, and Averie was further away now than he ever was.

Tripp had this surprised look to say the least. In truth he was in complete shock that Lord Traitorin had another son…one whom he had never spoken of. So much so that he spoke after the dragon lord left. “O-oh...” He said, “Of course, sire,” he finished before turning to lead the way for Averie to Train’s holding room.

He walked off with Tripp, and then looked at him as he walked on quietly. “I take it my father never mentioned me.” He said it was more of a statement than anything else. There was no anger or coldness in his voice as he spoke as if simply stating a fact which truth-be-told he was.

The young hybrid shook his head, “Ah…No, sorry. And sorry for the um…reaction back there.” He said, as he looked at the dragon noting for a moment how the dragon’s skin glittered as if dusted by crushed diamonds. “So you often solve problems like these?” he asked, meaning the Rage Virus that the humans had infected the lycan with, anything at the moment to try to settle the unease he was feeling. That was apparent by the look within his eyes.

He shook his head, and closed his eyes, he wasn’t upset about it, in fact he would have been more surprised if his father had mentioned him at all…”It’s fine…I left the castle without a word twenty five thousand years ago. I haven’t spoken to him since then. So it’s not surprising he didn’t mention me. After all it’s my fault she died on him.”

He couldn’t blame his father; he was the one who left without a word. Averie shook his head and sighed. “No usually no. But the Rage Virus isn’t exactly new to me…a different version of it was around when I was younger. Affecting dragons only at the time, it had infected a black thorn that was attacking me. My mother got in the way, killed it and died in the process,” Averie looked ahead down the halls. “So when I say I took her from him, I’m the reason my mother died.”

“Oh…” Was all Tripp could say, for the prince to be telling him all of this, to be so forth coming he wasn’t sure how to respond at the moment so he responded the best that he could…He nodded. “Not to speak out of turn, or be out of line or anything, but…I doubt he sees it that way,” he said. “I haven’t been around nearly as long as you…barely a blink of an eye actually, but…he doesn’t seem the type. I mean, it makes sense…He took in a few orphaned dragons, basically raised them…probably missed having his son around.” He noted.

Averie looked at Tripp, than away again. “I wouldn’t know. I didn’t stay around long enough to find out. I told him sorry once, and he said for what,” Averie shrugged then looked down the hall again. “Missed having me around…” He whispered as he closed his eyes then lifted his right hand and looked at the scar that went the length from fingers to wrist on the back. “But I suppose it’s because I blame myself the most and can’t understand why he doesn’t.”

Tripp decided it would be best to leave this discussion to Averie and his father. “Here we are.” He said, slowing down then looked at Averie a moment to wait for his attention. “It’s this room over here.” He said opening the door before him to the holding room, which held Train. The scientist was likely inside trying to work on the cure in his highly limited environment.

He nodded as he followed Tripp into the room and waited for the guard to make the introductions. He didn’t really know how similar the viruses were but all he could do at the moment was try... “Thank you for bringing me here.” He said lightly to the dragon hybrid. Even if he didn’t plan on staying for a long time he didn’t want to seem out right rude either.

The guard looked at the dragon prince next to him as he unlocked the door and let them both inside. “No problem. Thanks for offering to help.” He said going inside of the room with Averie but a step behind him. “Train, this is Averie. He may be able to help you with the remedy for the Rage Virus. At least, he’d like to try and do whatever he can. I think…we’re running out of time.” He said not meaning to put undue pressure on the already overly stressed human inventor but they were truly running out of time. “We really need it soon, I’m still trying to see about getting a connection to that girl in town for you…but it’s harder than we thought it would be…” He admitted not wanting to lie to him.

He walked in with Tripp and looked at Train, his blonde hair was a ruffled mess, there were bags under his eyes and he looked overly exhausted as if he was trying everything and even forgoing sleep to get the cure as quickly as he possibly could. Even if that meant working himself into the ground the difference between the two viruses troubled him to no end. “It’s a pleasure to meet you.” Averie said lightly, the man may or may not be an enemy. He wasn’t the sort to judge. Everyone had a reason for their actions even if they weren’t the right ones.

“Listen, I am good…but not that goo…” He paused though, he had never been overly fond of Mystrians in general, but here at this castle, although a prisoner he was treated more like a confined guest. He had to offer them a grudging respect for that. Train had been working all night on this to no avail. Whatever the mages did to his work, they made sure it would not be easily corrected. He had heard his door open when he gave his witty retort to the interruption. He was sure it was Tripp, although he was caught a bit off guard by the young Mystrian with him…although if he was honest with himself there was no real way to tell the man’s age. “I see…” he said in response to Tripp’s comments to the man’s name. Averie and he were here to help?

He looked at the human scientist and gave a faint smile. Averie nodded his head as he regarded the man before him quietly a moment. “I have come to give as much help in your research as I can.” He said softly into the room, not sure if the man’s head hurt from lack of sleep, but attempting to be polite none the less. “I am not sure how close the Rage Virus is to the one in the past but I am willing to help you find a cure for the one here now.” He paused and looked at Tripp nodding his head, as he stepped past the guard to be clearly seen by Train.

Train looked at Averie for a moment then to Tripp. “Rage Virus, such a simple uncreative name.” He said looking back the disdain clear in his voice, at the name his creation had been given. Then at the notes scattered haphazardly across the table before him, it was such a confined working space, hardly anything like his labs back in town…and yet in town he had a death sentence. So he could deal with things here for the moment…no matter how very mundane they were… “Fits perfectly to what these mages did to this,” He turned back around to face the two Mystrians in the room with him, “Hope you are in for a long time, as half creator of this..I haven’t figured out a cure yet.”

He walked over and nodded. “It would seem so…May I see what you’ve found so far; I do not wish to redo what you’ve already tried.” Averie said as he walked up to Train. He looked down at the work station, and at everything he was working on.

Train watched Averie carefully, guarded not sure what to make of this young man. He was the first Mystrian he had seen whose skin glittered like diamonds and hardly looked old enough to know…that and not many Mystrians had an interest in science preferring their own natural magic’s then the explorations of the mind. “What you see here is what I have done.” He pointed his hand taking in the entire expanse of the desk, the paperwork littered about it. A seeming disarray, and yet he knew where everything was, his work…and that of those who tampered with it. “Here I separated my work from theirs.” He pointed and moved the paperwork over so that this Mystrian could look at it. He wasn’t sure if he should trust the dragon or not but if his assistance got him out of here and back to finding her…all-the better.

Averie nodded and accepted the papers. “Thank you.” He said simply to them both as Tripp left the room and he began to look over the paperwork off to the side. He’d have to catch up before he got started.

“Well, I’ll leave it to you.” Tripp said to them. “If you need me, I’ll be on rounds tonight.” He said before he ducked out and pulled the door shut behind him.

He crossed his arms and let his new ‘partner’ look over the notes he had been making since they put him to work. The deal was simple enough he helped them stop a mess he had a hand in creating. They would help him find her, Juno…the only reason he even agreed to such a task in the first place was to one day be reunited with his one true love. “So you are new…”

“Yes…” he looked over. “In a manner of speaking, I just came home actually.” He looked down at the papers again. “I’ve been traveling for a while.” Averie read through them, shaking his head as he did. It wasn’t that it was confusing it was that he was trying to figure out why nothing Train had tried so far had worked.

Exhaustion caught up to the scientist, his head bowing slightly as he sat there in his chair, Averie in the room he forced himself to wake up having nodded off. He was so very exhausted since his arrival he had been working none stop in an attempt to solve this problem quickly…unfortunately to no avail. “Sorry, look what we are dealing with here is simple. They want this to spread.”

Averie looked over at Train. “I see.” He said and sat down. “That’s a problem.” He began comparing what he had done to see if he could find a common working point.

Train lay on his bed holding his head; his thoughts drifted to Juno and then back to his work. If he could fix this he could get back to her…to see her. At least know she was okay in town. Something…anything was better than this. Then not knowing, where she was, how she was doing…not knowing anything.

He paused in looking over the paperwork, the man in the room with him could only do so much, and he could tell the man was exhausted. No matter how important this was getting rest was just as important. Shaking his head he looked at him. While picking up a glass needle, pure and unused he withdrew some of his own blood he had to see if there were any similarities in this. And he didn’t need sleep yet.

“Train get, some sleep, exhaustion isn’t going to help…and a fresh mind may help you think clearer.” Averie said in a light comforting tone.

Train sighed a little and laid there on the bed. “Sure why not…what’s another night as a captive...” He said closing his eyes, and letting sleep overtake him. Although his dreams were no more reassuring to him then the waking world….