III. Week One: A Push and Fear

 The term ‘they’ was a loose term to Vile. There were a lot of things he could sense around him but this feelings was new to him. Maybe it had been because he hadn’t had to worry about a Slayer in years. Or, it could be because his best friend was a Slayer and they had masked their auras for so long that he couldn’t tell the difference. Whatever the case, the aura’s that Vile could feel now were intense and made him feel rage within him, rage with Flint, but not his own rage.

 Flint’s eyes burned with orange. He stood straight and tall next to his best friend. After all that had happened, after all he had been through he couldn’t imagine the moment to deal with these people was now. Vile was a brother to him, no question. The fact that he was a dragon, that was another deal to face but at the moment of these people’s appearance he had one thought in mind. To protect his best friend.

 Although there was something different about these auras that Flint couldn’t pinpoint. At first, he thought they were other slayers but that couldn’t be true. What did nag at him was this feeling for Gwyne which he expected Vile to have as well. Glance at his best friend, Vile met his orange eyes. The people he had thought were here weren’t the people he had expected and he hoped Vile would understand that. After all, they had developed a silent language.

 Sudden emptiness washed over Vile and Flint in an alarmed manner. Meeting each other’s normal set of eyes, they masked their aura quickly but not as quick as they had liked. Whatever had approached them wasn’t because of some blood lust for one or two of them. At least, that’s what they understood. Sniffing the air, Vile’s eyes widened. Baring he redirected his attention to the sky, hoping Flint would follow.

 Above them materialized a winged creature. A winged man with lustful eyes. Then, alongside him, two woman with the same attire. Flint could feel the hate for the two of them radiate off of the three winged above and drew his knives in defense. Slowly elevating down, the man and the two women took their places. Far enough out of range of an attack, close enough to talk.

 The woman dressed in a purple revealing outfit spoke first. Hissing as she spoke. “I see that our doll has come to quite the catch.” She smiled opening up her arms as if representing the two below.

 “They are quite the pair.” The woman on the right, dressed in blood red remarked, fluttering her eyelashes at Flint then winking receiving a painful glare in response.

 “I’d imagine the dragon was quite a tasteful morsal.” The woman in purple laughed to herself, eyeing Vile then licking her lips. Baring his teeth, Vile growled.

 “What do you want?” Vile spoke with power, lacing his speech with his aura.

 “Such intensity.” The man said with a grin. “No wonder our baby was able to keep herself intact for so long.”

 Meeting Vile’s realization, Flint held his throwing knife tightly. “There’s no way she could be one of you.”

 “Oh but doll, she is.” The woman in red laughed. “And we wondered how she could have kept this all to herself but we finally figured it out.” The woman in purple finished for the woman in red.

 “That Pheonix friend of yours.” The man said, his arms crossed and bare chest showing. “She wiped our poor baby’s memory of every being one of us. So she thinks she’s human for all she’s concerned.”

 “But she continued to somehow live without our guidance and we couldn’t imagine what men she could have reeled in to keep her alive.” The man said taking a good look at the Slayer and Dragon. “You two are quite a source you know.” Nodding at Flint he laughed. “And you. I mere slayer somehow manages to stay alive after being with one of our own for so long, if I didn’t know any better I’d say you’re more than a Slayer.”

 “I’m nothing more than a human raised Slayer who has blood of the willing.” Flint replied strongly. “If it’s Gwyne you speak of, our relationship is sort of up in the air at the moment.

 “Oh, love.” The woman in red smiled. “That’s not the only reason why we came.”

 “Then why.” Vile shouted, feeling more range enter his sobriety.

 “We’re here to make a pact.” The man exclaimed. “Since your Pheonix friend has messed with the mind of one of our own, she has yet to bare a child. As as you know, we thrive on our population. We have to have children or we will die.”

 “Moreover, she will die soon if one of you doesn’t give her what she needs.” The woman in purple said, trying to meet Vile’s eyes which were refusing to meet hers.

 “We have yet to actually check on our love,” The Incubus continued. “Her body mind may think she is human but she is still a Succubus.”

 “How she hasn’t hasn’t bared a child of either of yours, we do not understand.” The succubus in red added.

 “It is known that there are possibilities of intertwining the breeds.” The incubus replied.

 “We are taking her to be reborn, Dragon.” The succubus in purple said then paused before adding, “and Slayer.”

 “When we return, one of you is to give her life, or you both will suffer.” The succubus in red laughed.

 “I can’t let them do that.” Vile said, not turning to face Flint but speaking to him.

 “Please tell me you knew about her being a succubus.” Flint gritted between his teeth.

 “That’s on Zamer.” Vile replied. “I had no idea.” He said, hoping his best friend could hear the truth in his speech.”

 “Do you think they’ll bring her back?” Flint asked, watching the three wait for a reply.

 “They won’t bring our Gwyne back.” Vile frowned. “They’ll bring back a succubus is Gwyne’s body.”

 “But it is her, in a way.” Flint  tried to comprehend the details. Today was not going the way he expected.

 “The fact that she is dying means we can’t do anything but trust them. I did notice her decline in, well, everything.” Vile noted.

 Flint nodded. “I guess we have too much to worry about.”

 Vile agreed with a smirk then looked up at the three.

 “If we find that you’ve done anything to hurt her, we will come for you.” He shouted.

“Indeed you shall.” The woman in purple smiled. Receiving a nod from the incubus, Vile snarled.

---

 Entering the house, Flint stepped to the side as his best friend followed him in then shut the door.

 “So who won?” Zamer’s father asked intently, glancing down at the bet on the table.

 “No one.” Vile, glancing at Zamer.

 “What is it?” Zamer questioned, seeing the look on Flint and Vile’s faces.

 “You erased Gwyne’s memory.” Flint smirked. “You shouldn’t have done that for us.” He sighed.

 Turning to face Zamer, Xeq raised an eyebrow. “What do you mean?”

 Sighing, Zamer nodded. “First you tell me how you find out. Then, I’ll explain why I did what I had done.”

 “Gwyne’s old pals came by.” Flint explained. “No exactly the fun crowd but they told us they were going to take her and make her new.”

 “I’d like to see that.” Zamer said in amusement. “My magic isn’t to be reckoned with and once I take a memory, it doesn’t exactly come back.”

 “But you took who she was.” Vile said, now a look of hurt and betrayal in his eyes. “I don’t know how I’d get to know her if she was represented as a succubus from the start but I do know that this isn’t something you keep from me- or us!” Vile’s voice rose as he spoke.

 Putting his hand out in front of Vile, Flint spoke. “They said they’d bring her back, do you think they’ll keep their word?”

 “The only way for her to come back is if they make her inner succubus self switch into an incubus.” Xeq said, making a face of concern but amusement. “If they do that then she’d impregnate someone and then when she… or he in his case had enough then the incubus could return to being a succubus.” Xeq shrugged. “At least I think that’s how it works.”

 Making an uncomfortable face, Luis looked over at Flint. “So you two were having an affair or something like that and then her clan stepped in saying what exactly? That she’s dying? But how?”

 “Succubus and Incubus live to deceive women and men in their dreams. To engage in-” Zamer started to explain, thinking of her past memories.

 “Right.” Luis nodded, hoping to prevent the rest of the explanation. “So if she was doing you…” He looked at Flint. “And you…” His eyes went to Vile. “Then how is she in danger?”

 “Because she hasn’t given birth or impregnated anyone.” Xeq replied, trying not to laugh at Luis’s discomfort.

 “It’s also because I’m not exactly human.” Vile replied. “But.” Looking over at his best friend, Vile smirked. “And neither is he.”

 “But he’s not like me.” Luis said in shock. “How are you not human?” He said as he looked his cousin over again. “There’s no way your parents…”

 “They’re not, Luis.” Flint said, sighing heavily. “Do you remember what you’re supposed to do after you kill a dragon?”

 “Considering I don’t know what’s actually going on,” Luis said with a shake of his head. “No, I don’t.”

 “Bath in the blood of the dragon.” Flint said as casually as he possibly muster.

 “Right…” Luis nodded, thinking of Niali and shaking his head. “I don’t suppose I did that the first time.”

 “I doubt you did.” Flint replied, now avoiding Vile’s gaze entirely. “That doesn’t mean your grandfather didn’t get you too,” Flint added, focusing on Zamer.

 “Suppose he did.” Luis shrugged. “What would happen?”

 “It supposed to be a sign of good luck, a ritual in our pay to respect the dragon. Similar to the Natives praying when they shoot a deer.” Flint replied.

 “But it doesn’t make us not human does it?” Luis said, shaking his head, not understand how he could possibly handle that procedure.

 “You absorb part of the dragon’s aura then. Making your own aura stronger.” Flint explained.

 “Unless you ingest the blood of a dragon.” Xeq interject, amazed at Flint. “That was a rumor.”

 “And so are you.” Flint nodded towards Xeq. “I don’t know what you are now Xeq but none of the books have anything on what you’ve done.” Flint explained. “I am not a dragon, not like you Luis.” He said, finally facing his cousin.

 “But I do have the blood of all the dragons I’ve killed within me.” Flint sighed. “It’s a way to mask our scent in a sorts.”

 “So you weren’t only hiding you aura.” Vile nodded, his voice quiet.

 “No.” Flint frowned. “Not everyone follows the tradition. I haven’t slain a dragon in a long time but I used to and that’s enough to affect my blood now.”

 “So you’re not the plain ol’ human boy that you wanted everyone to think you were.” Zamer’s father announced. “What a surprise!”

 Glancing at Luis, Flint shook his head. “You can take refuge here but I can’t say I can do much for you. I know you’ve always looked up to me and there are things you can do here but all in all, I believe you need to work on the other part of you that is calling for you.”

 Taking a step forward, Vile nodded. “I agree with Flint. Your dragon side isn’t going to keep itself quiet and if you ignore it, it will consume you. Although me and Xeq aren’t exactly experts in training dragonkin we are willing to help.”

 Luis nodded. “Rogue dragons.” He said, thinking of all the stories his grandfather had told him. “When a dragon loses all trace of their ‘human’ mind.”

 “In a way, we were never human.” Xeq said, taking his seat across the table and taking back the money he had set between him and his going to be father in law.

 “But we coexist and only the way to do so is stay in our reflection form.” Xeq added.

 “I never understood how the water could mirror your…?” Luis shrugged at the term.

“Trueself.” Xeq filled in for him.

 “It shows the truth, it reflect who you are, and not what you want others to see you as.” Replied Xeq. “At least, that’s what Xi told me, my teacher over in China.

 “Your teacher Xi speaks the truth.” Zamer’s mother said, her voice light. Somehow catching everyone’s ears to make them turn towards her.

 “What?” She smiled as she saw everyone’s eyes. “I was raised with the Phoenix before Zamer, I know some things.”

---

 Bahram’s hands shook as he tried to get a hold of his anxiety. Saint George was missing. He had to find him, but how? At his side, Mikey put his hand on his shoulder. “We’ll find him. Until then, I’ll see how my mom feels about letting you stay.”

 Fumbling with his fingers, Bahram shook his head. “Doesn’t your mom like not know that you’re part dragon?”

 “Which is odd because you thought we were all genetic but no. She doesn’t. It’ll be fine man, I know our place isn’t big but I’ll make some excuse like, we’re super cool mates or something.” Mikey shrugged.

 Shaking his head again, Bahram looked at the window. Maybe I should go. You don’t exactly look like you have room in here.” He said, gesturing his hands to the small room that Mikey called his own.

 “I could get Dröfn to make you a room that exist one way and not in others?” He questioned wondering if it was even possible. “Point is, you’re not going anywhere. You can’t.” He said with his arms crossed. “At least not until you get your powers under control.”

 Still staring at his shaking hands, Bahram frowned. “I’m still not sure if I’m cold or if I’m nervous.”

 “You can’t be cold, your element’s ice.” Mikey said patting him on the back. “You’re nervous.” He added, then shrugged. “It’s alright I was nervous at first too.”

 “You won’t get me to make the same mistake you did and get myself cursed will you?” Bahram said, rolling his eyes, holding his hands together in order to mask the shaking.

 Mikey grinned. “I’ll try not to mate but no promises.” He said, heading to the door.

 “Saint George.” Bahram said as Mikey reached for the handle.

 “We’ll find him.” Mikey assured then headed downstairs.

 “Is your friend feeling better?” Olivia asked as she heard Mikey’s footsteps.

 “Yes, a lot better.” He smiled then pulled his mom into an embrace.

 Ruffling her son’s hair, Olivia sighed. “What is it my son?”

 Mikey grinned as he tried to sound as sympathetic as possible. “Mum, Ram is a good mate of mine and was wondering if he could stay with us. You know, until he gets back on his feet?”

 “And his parents?” Olivia questioned, putting distance between her and Mikey.

 “They’re on vacation.” Mikey shrugged. “He said they let him stay home by himself all the time but I’d rather him stay here, it’s scary living in alone.”

 Olivia nodded. “Of course he can stay.” She smiled. “But you’ll have to get him to call his parents so that I can speak with them about the matter.”

 Mikey nodded. “I’ll go tell him.”

 “Son?” Olivia asked as Mikey reached the middle of the staircase.

 “Yes, Mum?” He said turning towards her.

 “Doesn’t he go to a different school than you?” She asked, putting on her ‘mum look’ expression that she did when she knew something was up.

 “He does.” Mikey replied, keeping his best innocent face on. “But he’s mates with my mates.” He explain with a smile.

 Nodding, Olivia turned to the table as she replied. “Well alright, a mates a mate I guess.” She said, hiding her concern in her voice. “Breakfast here in twenty minutes. Don’t be late.” She remarked as Mikey’s footsteps faded.

 Opening the door to his room, Mikey smiled at Bahram as he entered. “So… You said Saint George was your only family?”

 Bahram nodded, the sheets iced over beneath him.

 Mikey sighed. “Okay, well luckily I have friends who can cover for you but you’re seriously going to have to work on this whole icing things over because I’m not a dragon of fire so I can’t undo what you’re doing.”

 “Can’t Dröfn?” Bahram asked in desperation, pointing to Mikey’s necklace, instantly freezing it.

 Wide eyed, Mikey stared at the trinket then glanced over at the window that slowly encased itself in ice.

 Making twisted face between being impressed and mortifying terror, Mikey nodded, holding the trinket in his hand, then meet Bahram’s shocked eyes.

 “I didn’t” Bahram started.

“I know.” Mikey interjected. “But that doesn’t mean anything to Ægir. He’s going to be pissed you froze beloved daughter and he’s probably going to have to replace that window any second now.

 Waiting in terror, Bahram and Mikey sat in silence for a few minutes before Mikey shook his head. “Must have not gotten the memo…” He muttered. “Dröfn…” He said, clearing his throat. “If you can hear me, we’ll figure out how to undo this.” He said, imagine that she would be yelling at him in Norse if she wasn’t frozen.

 “And when we do I’ll apologize for not protecting you and we’ll have Ram’s powers under control by then okay?” He added.

 “And if she can’t hear you?” Bahram asked quietly, sticking his hands in his pockets.

 “Then I can at least say I tried to communicate with her.” Mikey shrugged. “Until then, I have a frozen wave of a girlfriend and Ægir is going to probably come after us when he find outs. But.” He nodded looking at the time.

 “I’d rather deal with that after we eat breakfast.” He smirked, gesturing to the door.

 “I’m not hungry.” Bahram sighed.

 Mikey nodded. “I wasn’t either when I first turned my food into acid but I tried and I need to you try.” He said, holding Bahram’s gaze.

 Sighing, Bahram nodded. “And if my food get frostbite?”

 “Then I guess you’ll have to give that frost some bite.” Mikey shrugged, receiving a glare from Bahram.

Week Eleven: The Hydra's Heart

  Xeq put his hand to his heart.

  “You miss your brother?” He asked as he observed Xeq. Xeq sighed. “Yea. I do. But if you can tell me about this Hydra’s heart then he’ll have to wait.”

  “You took something of his.” Mioko said as Xeq sat Indian style by the river inside the mountain, the same place Mioko had brought him to when he first fell from the sky.

  “No?” Xeq said in confusion.

 “The wind tells me that he had fallen into the Atlantic.”

  Xeq got up in shock. “What?”!

  “He’s hurt?” Xeq questioned in panic.

  “He’s okay.” Mioko said with an assuring gesture to indicate that Xeq should sit down. Reluctantly, Xeq obeyed.

  “Before you go. I shall tell you why your connection is severed. No?” Mioko glanced at Xeq seeing that he had his full attention.

  “Yes.” Xeq said exasperated. “Please.”

  “You are Feng and she is Shui.” Mioko started.

  “What does Zamer have to do with this?” Xeq interrupted in confusion.

 “She is the Phoenix. The one who heals.” Mioko continued. “She told you what was required to heal someone, yes?”

 Xeq smirked. “Something significant, right?”

“That day she did not tell you what she took now did she?” Mioko wondered.

  Xeq frowned. It was one of the only days that he had yelled at Zamer. The two weren’t a couple then. He didn’t know who to turn to. He flew everywhere to find people to heal Vile. Finally, he found Zamer.

“No.” She walked away and since I found out that we lived only hours away from each other she set out and went home.

“Did you want to know?” Mioko curiously asked

  “Well.” Xeq frowned as he thought of his bother. “No. Because he was healed and that was all that mattered to me.”

  “What brought you and him close?” Mioko questioned. “You two aren’t blood. You’re an only child. Did he know that?”

  Xeq shook his head. “No… He doesn't knew about that. Besides,” Xeq smirked. “He’s always been around since birth. There’s no way he would know that we’re not really blood related…” He muttered.

  “A silver dragon of the sky related to a dragon of the sea? Unheard of.” Mioko said simply.

  Xeq frowned. “Our parents aren’t dragons.” He said sternly. “It’s possible.”

  Mioko shook his head. “The Phoenix’s parents are not phoenixes.”

  Xeq nodded. “That. I knew.”

  “Her great grandfather on the other hand was a phoenix.” Mioko added.

  “But phoenixes don’t die?” Xeq asked now the one confused.

  “You’re right.” Mioko nodded. “They great reborn.”

  “Wait...” Xeq raised an eye brow. “What?”

  “Her grandfather said he had seen enough in the world and thought that it was time for a new era. He gave his life to the baby that his granddaughter was having. In turn, she became the next phoenix, the power being reborn within her.”

  “Ew.” Xeq said as he thought about dating Zamer’s great grandfather. “So basically?”

  Mioko nodded with a smile and laugh. “Don’t worry. She only has the memory of the past phoenix’s but
 she is still her own person.”

 “Better be.” Xeq said with a sigh.

 “She took the nightmare.” Mioko remarked sternly.

 “What”, Xeq said in surprise. “How could a nightmare be significant?”

 “It told him who he was and would one day lead him to his true brothers.” Mioko explained.

 “What do you mean?” Xeq asked now starting at his true self.

 “The hydra’s heart.” Mioko pointed at Xeq’s stomach.

 “You will gain power, you lose your ability to breath fire, if you can consume the hydra’s heart.” Mioko said.

 “But it’s beating inside me.” Xeq frowned and feeling a little sick in knowing that he was now part hydra.

  “You and your brother can become one.” Mioko continued. “He is what you’ve consumed.”

   “No.” Xeq looked at Mioko is disbelief. “Vile’s a hydra?”

  Mioko nodded. “That would be the only reason why you two can’t communicate anymore. The hydra
inside him wants his brother. Each part of a hydra can be separated but in the end they all need each other. 
They’re each other’s life source.”

  “But that doesn’t make sense.” Xeq protested. “Vile was ad-”

  “Adopted? Through a foster home?” Mioko guessed.

  Xeq nodded. 

Week Ten: Fen Shui

  How could he explain this to his brother? They couldn’t communicate through long distance. Well, they could with a cell phone but that’d be a hell of a phone bill if Xeq explained everything. So, he let the thought settle to the side. He couldn’t do anything but learn for now. He may even come back to learn more but Mioko helped him and he had to pay his regards somehow.

  Mioko explained that dragons here in the east represented luck. For the most part, what Xeq got out of Mioko’s lecture was that they were presented differently. Western dragons were looked upon as protective, strong, but feared while eastern dragons were associated with protecting riches which meant luck, wealth, power, wisdom, and strength. Shines, status, and all sorts of traditions were built to praise the dragons that lived in China. Mioko wasn’t sure himself how western dragons were praised or glorified so he asked Xeq.

  This took a moment to process before Xeq could fully understand how to answer the question. Shrines? Festivals held in their honor? Maybe in California in one of those race based towns that he heard existed but he didn’t know for sure. In Texas, where Xeq was from, he couldn’t think of a place that would hold a tradition. Maybe Dallas, San Antonio, or probably Houston but he had never gone to one or heard of one.

  “See?” Mioko said as he shook his head. “Here, the human hold festivals in our honor. They even ask for our wisdom and strength to get through their storms. Depending on who sees the offering first is the one responsible to help them because not all of us accept offering and not all of us are ‘named’ in Chinese history.”

  Xeq nodded in understand. “I have nothing to offer you, Mioko.” He started and paused for a moment. “But by any chance I have a hunch that you know how to fix this Hydra heart problem of mine. Could you maybe guide me in a direction?”

  Mioko smiled. “You say you tried to consume the Hydra’s heart in sake to save your brother?”

  Again, he nodded.

  “However, you also did it for your selfish reason to becoming more powerful?” Mioko added.

  Xeq’s face flushed. With a smirk he replied, making sure that he couldn’t sound aggravated in the process. “You can declare that….” He sighed. “Yes.”

  “You did it for your love one as well I supposed?” Mioko questioned.

  His eyebrow raised. Xeq didn’t remember telling Mioko about Zamer. “What makes you say that?”

  Mioko smiled. “My dearest Xeq, only one of her kind can be alive at a time. Would you think that she would stay quiet about you?”

  A smirk slipped up on Xeq’s face. “I don’t know what you’re talking about.”

  Mioko shook his head this time. “Now, my dearest friend, you are lying to me.”

  Xeq laughed. “Okay. So I’m dating a Phoenix. I mean… The only Phoenix. So what? Please don’t tell me there’s an actual prophecy to that too.”

  “Feng Shui.” Mioko said with a grin.

  Xeq shook his head. “Yea. Hello to you too.” Xeq joked.

  “There are two types of Feng Shui. There is the good and the bad. Feng meaning wind and Shui meaning water. Together, they could mean good fortune or they could mean misfortune. Before your time, and probably your lover’s time, this science and art was created. At first, it was created to protect the knowledge of the Emperor and was known as Kan Yu. Kan Yu was used to make sure that there was success in the emperor’s land. It was a way for farmers to ensure that their crops weren’t to perish and their buildings would withstand from the cold winds of the north but then, in the same way society develops so did Kan Yu.

  It became the study of nature and in turn made ‘environment’. As the study matured its focus was redirected to Qi. Qi is energy or a flow. Through Qi, location and direction was now a clearer subject. After Qi, the five elements of wood, earth, water fire, and mental came about. Finally, when used in the proper location Feng Shui emerged. Through Feng Shui in which is used through Qi, balance to the environment can be restored or destroyed.”

  Xeq shook his head as he thought of Zamer. Shoot, the Chinese had an answer for everything huh? Feng. He thought to himself. The wind. She was Shui, or the water. That would explain the healing abilities. They had been together since high school. They had their fights but they came together. They restored balance.

  “The Feng Shui is also used to help bring Health, Prosperity, and Relationship. Also known as man, heaven, and earth. Through traditional Chinese medicine, Chinese Astrology, and Feng Shui, you get good health, prosperity, and a balanced relationship.

  A good example of where Feng Shui can improve relationships is through one’s home. In one’s home there may be Qi which can create a separated and lonely feeling. By using the five elements of the Feng Shui one can rectify this situation.

  In the time of the emperor Feng Shui was known to bring wealth and power. This can be seen more often in an office setting in which a finical benefit would occur.”

  The lost look on Xeq’s face made Mioko smile. At least the boy was understanding it all. “You were probably asking yourself how you got here, did you not?” Mioko finally interrupted Xeq’s in depth thinking.

  “What?” Xeq said in surprise to the snap out of his trance. “Oh…” He paused. “Yea. I was.”

  Mioko nodded and grinned. “You, my friend, are the wind.”

  Xeq smiled. “It lead me here?”

  “Your heart, “Mioki said while point. “You trueself” he said again pointing to the water fall, “You.” He stopped to look at Xeq directly. “You lead you here.”

  Xeq nodded. Course, Mioko had to make it all suspenseful. There were so many questions that Xeq wanted to ask but decided against it. It would all make sense in its time. All he hoped was that Vile would be able to take care of himself until Xeq got back and wouldn’t do something rational like go look for him. Then, there would be a problem. There would probably be a bad Fen Shui if Xeq wasn’t careful. He couldn’t stay here for long. For now, he stared at his reflection, his true self, and quietly thought, “What now?” 

Week Seven: Worry

  Mioko lit facts about Xeq like freworks. Xeq and Zamer resemble Feng Shu yet they also resemble Yin and Yang? It confused Xeq for a while but then it cleared as he learned that the Yin and Yang meant balance. Dragon being Yang and Phoenix being Yin. They represented everlasting love and symbolized that a man and spouse… Xeq stared at Mioko as he said ‘spouse’ not woman. Did that mean a man could be with a man?

  Personally, Xeq didn’t care. He had his handful of gay friends both men and woman. They were all good people. However, the thought of sleeping with them didn't cross his mind. There had been no interest in swinging that way either. When Xeq finally asked Mioko smiled. “Man chooses what he believes is true.” Was all that Mioko said and continued on with the explanation.

  As long as Xeq paid attention, absorbed all the information, and understood it that seemed to be Mioko’s greatest concern. It was also Xeq’s. He didn’t want to explain this all to Vile. Maybe he could bring Vile here for a lesson or two. He knew that he’d enjoy it. Especially if China was where they were meant to go instead of where they happened to be.

  They represented a love and passion that would last till the very end. Xeq was the basis of the Feng Shui that controlled the comic chi (energy) and forces on earth. He brought prosperity and good luck while the Phoenix was to bring the excellent side of the female.

  Xeq smiled bigger than he thought he would of when he heard that one. Mioko laugh and made a joke. It cause Xeq to blush but he laughed too because it was funny. There was more to the two's relationship than Xeq even considered. The two were meant to strengthen the relationship but it could even ‘relight the fires of a kindling relationship with the fiery energy of the Phoenix’ Mioko said exactly. It didn’t clear up until the next sentence which explained that it was a good symbol of a single female or bachelor looking to find love.

  “Well, she found it so I’m not worried.” Xeq laughed. “And I love her with more passion and words coming out of your mouth right now.” Xeq joked.

  Mioko smiled. “I did say that there were many things to learn did I not?”

  Xeq nodded. “Too many. What are you, my college professor?”

  This time, Mioko shook his head and smirked. “You could learn more from me than any college professor could promise you with two lives.”

  Xeq nodded. “Because you’re teaching me from a firsthand perspective not through the books and ‘this is how it works just cause’ attitude.”

  “Is that how you see your college professors now?” Mioko laughed.

  Xeq would have punched him in the arm if they had known each other longer. Mioko tricked him into saying that. Xeq rolled his eyes. “Yes it is and I would tell them any day.” Xeq smiled and spat back.

  “It would be an honor.” Mioko laughed again.

  The time that Xeq would spend with Mioko was limited. He hoped that he could get back to his brother but it occurred to him that Vile might not even notice that he was gone. Not because Vile and him weren’t close, but because Vile had been speaking to Zamer lately to tell him what Vile wanted to say. This Hydra’s heart interrupted the flow of connection that Vile and Xeq had. Speaking to his brother in person wasn’t so bad. It was the fact that they couldn’t communicate through thoughts that bothered him. Something was with this Hydra’s heart, something that had to do with destroying his connection with his brother.

 --

  Vile knocked on the door reluctantly. If Xeq was sleeping at Zamer’s all he had to do was tell her to tell him. But in the past few days he hadn’t heard a word from either of them. If they were having that much sex he didn’t want to know. He only needed to know about his brother’s whereabouts and since his brother had consumed the hydra’s heart to save him their connection had become murky and then it cut off completely. The two used to know how to communicate over long distance without technology but since the two were normally together or at least had an idea of where each other were at there was no need for the distant communication. Now, he really wish they focused on it because he was getting worried.

  Zamer’s mother answered the door with a smile. She was just as beautiful as Zamer. If Vile didn’t know any better he would call them sisters. At least she was nice. Vile shrugged in his head as he thought of what to say.

  “Vile!” Zamer’s mother wrapped her arms around him. “Son-in-law!” She said again as she squeezed him.

  Vile was careful to not hug her too tight. He always loved her hugs though. They were heartwarming and probably the best compared to anyone else he knew. Xeq and Zamer weren’t married yet but both their families treated the other as if they were already married. Xeq and Zamer both came to the conclusion to wait until after college because their families wouldn’t force them to be at home.

  “Mom.” Vile said with a smile.

  She blushed. “You don’t have to call me that if it makes you uncomfortable, honey.”

  Vile smirked. “No.” He shrugged as they let go of the hug. “That’s why I said it.”

  Vile and Zamer’s mother hadn’t spent a lot of time getting to know each other. He had come over only to stay on the couch and play video games, or to try and pry Xeq out of their house. Sometimes, he would even stay because they were fed up with home. Now, the brothers lived in the same house only a few blocks away from their parents. It was the farthest that Xeq and was allowed to go and Vile had promised that he would help pay bills so Xeq allowed the partnership.

  Zamer’s mom smiled. “Care to come in?” She said seeing that Vile didn’t step a foot inside.

  Vile shrugged. “If you want. I was hoping that I wouldn’t need to pry my brother out of your house again.”

  They both laughed at the remark but then her expression changed in concern. Before Zamer’s mother could say anything, Zamer flashed into the room. Returning to her normal form she let out an exhale of partial relief.

  “Vile!” She exclaimed. “Thank goodness you’re all right.” She paused and then look at Vile in more concern than Vile wanted her to. “You’re here for Xeq aren’t you?”

  Vile nodded slowly hoping that his brother would scare him from behind or run downstairs reluctant to see that his brother wanted him to come home.

  “He hasn’t been here in the past three days.” Zamer said in horror and disdain. “We were hoping that he’d be with you.”

  Vile’s eyes widened. He wasn’t at Zamer’s? At least if he had been he could make a joke or two about it but he wasn’t at Zamer’s? He already checked all the other places that Xeq would disappear to. He decided to save Zamer’s for last because he knew what Zamer and Xeq did in their free time. Vile bit his lip softly.  If he wasn’t here, then where could he be?

Week Six: Discovery

  Vile stood at the open window. It had a latch that opened outward so that there was an easy escape route to the night sky when either Xeq or him decided to go out for a fly. He stood on the frame and let the wind hit his face. He made sure Gwyne was fast asleep before he took off to the skies. He had even fallen asleep with her for a bit.

  Gwyne and him weren’t dating. As much as he’d love to he didn’t see how she, a normal human, could bare his child or even him. So instead, they slept together. It wasn’t much of a difference except when he found out that she was planning on dating someone.

  It struck him harder than he thought. Her being someone else's… He let the cool night temperature judge him. He was starting to doubt if he should go. They were at his house after all. He planned to make it quick. He had no school until Monday. However, leaving her here all alone would look bad on him. He made sure to leave a note on the table saying that he had gone downtown to get something for her and would be back around twelve. He had his central time watch on. He had to make sure he’d be back by then. It was midnight. He had twelve hours to do this.

  “Vile?” a feminine voice muttered as she groggily walked into the room and rubbed her eyes. “What are you..?”

  Vile turned at a haste, his shimmering blue eyes met hers. “Gwyne…” He said. Crap. I thought she was asleep.

  “What are you doing standing on the window ledge? You’ll fall. Get down from there.” Her voice was soft. He almost forgot that he was about to do something irrational.

  “Gywne.” He said with a sigh. It was dark, so she couldn’t see the gills that engraved the water dragon inside him. Getting down from the ledge, he took her in his arms and kissed her.

  Letting go, Gwyne attempted to place her hand on Vile’s cheek. Taking her hand, he pulled her closer and stared deeply into her eyes. “You don’t want to do that.” He said sternly but playfully.

  “Why? Where you are you going?” Gwyne wondered, not completely awake still.

  “Are you escaping because I’m dating Felix?” she said with a hint of pain in her voice.

  Felix?! My best friend? The one we always made fun of for being a Yankee? Vile intertwined his fingers with hers as he held in the thoughts. You’re cheating on Felix with me? He felt complimented knowing that she liked being with him in bed rather than Felix but she still was dating him. If he had known sooner…

  “Vile?”  Gywne asked sounding ashamed. “Should I go?”

  “No.” Vile said as he kissed her and picked her up wedding style. “Stay with me.” He said feeling a ping of guilt as he imagined his friend Felix glaring at him.

  “I’ll be back in the morning.” He whispered to her as he kissed her forehead and slipped to the window again. His breath was heavy still taking a toll from his last attempt to put Gywne to sleep. Diving into the sky and changing slowly he remembered what she whispered to him the night after her first date with Felix.

  “He doesn’t have to know.” She didn’t say who ‘he’ was, and she was avoiding it because she knew that he might fight for her. “We can be together in the dark.” She said soothingly as they knew what each other wanted and went for it. “Would you say that you love me?”

  The question hung in the air as Vile spread his wings and darted for the skies. He was faster in the water but his brother, if anything, would take to the skies. Where are you? He thought as he searched for any hint that may give Xeq’s trail away.

  He thought about the Hydra. What was it that breached Xeq and his communication? Hydras were distinct by their multiple heads. That was the first hydra on land that Vile had seen since… The thought occurred to him. He never had seen a hydra. Vile glanced down to see the ocean. He was over the Atlantic.

--

  “Are you sure?” The voice was Zamer’s.

 “Yes. It’s the only way. I can’t let him die like this.” Xeq pleaded.

  The two weren’t going out at the time. Vile laid still, chest barley rising.

  “Please.” Xeq was holding Vile’s hand now. “I can’t let my brother die.”

  Zamer stared at Xeq and glanced at Vile. “Normally, the one who needs healing allows me to take their significance from them. Not the person who cares so much allow it.” She spoke with sympathy in her voice but directness.

  “He may lose the memory of you ever being his brother if that’s significant enough.” She warned. “But he’ll lose something he may not want to lose.”

  “His life?”! Xeq spat. This was one of the few times that Xeq ever lost his cool and even one of the fewer times that he would yell at Zamer.

  “My brother means everything. If he doesn’t remember me, the blood that we share is altered, or whatever you say he’ll lose is lost then he can blame me. I’ll teach him who I am again. He just needs to live.” Xeq was in tears this time.

  “He’s been away from them for too long, Xeq. Your brother. There is no blood bonding.”

  Xeq growled as his eyes shimmered silver. “Don’t say that.”

  “He is not your responsibility.” Zamer said flatly as she slowly transformed into her phoenix self. “He is his own.”

  Backing away, Xeq watch quietly as she embraced Vile in her phoenix wings. She let out a cry as Vile began to glow. He was half in reflection form and half not. Transforming back into her reflection self, Zamer laid Vile back on the bed. He was now in full reflection form. She glared at Xeq as she stood at the frame of the door but then turned away, with the memory not that never was.

--

  “Say what?” Vile said as he gasped for air but inhaled water. He could still breathe. He was no longer in the air but in the Atlantic.

  “Protect the underworld.” He heard a voice say. 

Week Five: China

  Xeq soared above the clouds. He hadn’t been up this high in days. Vile already headed to England so there was nothing he had to tell him. It was dangerous but he knew that he had to figure out how to fix this somehow. He didn’t like the random overbearing pain that encountered his passionate time with Zamer. The only way to truly heal was heal himself. No Phoenix magic would change that.

  Roaring in pain felt the Hydra’s heart beat within him. It had already been a week. Why hadn’t the damn thing digest yet? Unwillingly, Xeq felt his stomach do a flip and forced out a beam of light. Was he frustrated? Xeq had to wonder as he shot his head up so that any plane under him wouldn’t find unexpected turbulence.

  In his earlier days, Xeq could use fire but now, all he could use was light. It still burned like fire did. He didn’t understand it when he first used it but since that day he had forced himself to use it and it only. The fire element was burning him on the inside. (Not that the light wasn’t either) but he felt it necessary that he learn to use the light and use it at will rather than to use it when he really needed it the most. Like, for instance to save his brother.

  He didn’t know how far he actually flew until he started to feel dizzy. It had been so long since Xeq had reached his limit to fly but he had been so engrossed in his outburst of beams that he paid no attention to his sense of direction. Hearing a roar, one that he was able to label but not put a face to, Xeq shot down in altitude for landing. Eyes wide, the last thing he saw was a mountain and then it was suddenly black. Not only had he reached his limit. The Hydra’s heart beat next to his and pulsed hard enough to knock him out.

  When Xeq would awake he’d probably be in rubble under a mountain, hopefully in his true self form. If he were return to reflected form however, he’d probably be in the hospital. Then, the people would be wondering why he’d have two heart beats. Great. If Xeq could move his body he would take note that the source of regeneration of a Hydra is its heart so maybe, it regenerated a system within himself instead of digesting.

  Vision blurry at first, Xeq’s silver eyes sensed the different and new scents around him. There were many different auras. He wasn’t sure if they were good or bad since he was in an unknown place. He did recognize one thing. He was in a cave and something mouthwatering was over the fire.

  “Father.” Called a soft voice. “He’s awake!”

  “Come.” Said a masculine voice. “You’re just in time to eat dinner with us.”

  “Where…” Xeq wondered as he sat up with assistance. “…am I?”

  The man couldn’t have been much older than Xeq himself. “Don’t worry. You’re safe. That’s all that matters.”

  “You were falling for the sky.” The old man explained. “You’re lucky I was out surveying the land for any bad spirits of no one would have caught you. Even for you, that would have been a deadly fall.”

  Xeq looked at the man confused. “What do you mean, ‘even for me’, I’m no different from any other dragon of my kind.”

  The man shook his head. “Western culture hasn’t been around as long as we have.” He started. “Us eastern dragons have a thing or two to tell you about yourself.”

  Xeq’s eyes widened. “No… I couldn’t have.”

  The girl pounced and curled up beside him in her fox form and smiled. “But you did!”

  “How did I…?” Xeq’s voice was lost. How much time had passed between him taking off at home in an aimless direction and him actually going above the clouds? He didn’t know his altitude. He only knew that he went higher than normal because it seemed easier to not be spotted. And then when he began to upchuck beams of light he forced himself to go higher and concentrate on not hitting anything below because he had no idea how far his hyper beam would go.

  “When I grabbed a hold of you, I could hear you struggling to keep your hearts beats steady with one another.” The old man continued.

  So it wasn’t Xeq’s imagination. He could feel two hearts beating inside of him and even then, they weren’t beating at the same time. It gave him a rush and a sense of panic. He hadn’t felt that way in years.

  “The second heart you have.” The old man wondered. “How did you get it?”

  “I took down a Hydra that attacked my brother. The gang had disrupted the peace in our town. I couldn’t let them go so easily. Especially since they were after my girlfriend and then they got a hold of my brother.” Xeq explained mindlessly.

  It bothered him that he felt like he could the trust guy but then again, he was alive and apparently the guy saved him. That was enough for most people to say trustworthy. He never gave Eastern dragons a lot of a thought though. For the most part he thought they’d have a language barrier.

  As quickly as the thought came to him the old man smiled and commented. “Dragons have their own language young one. Our ‘reflection’ selves as you call it are mere shells that can only hear what they want to hear.”

  "You can say that again" Xeq smiled. He could tell that the old man understood him even if he didn’t speak but he chose to anyway.

  “So then, what do you look like in the water?”

  The old man smiled as he got up. “Follow. I’ll show you.”

  Xeq didn’t know what to expect. Eastern dragons didn' look the same as western ones. He didn’t look into it much. He let his human life take over him for the most part. An exasperated gasp left Xeq’s lips as the guy stood back to a water fall within the cave.

  Was it ten legs? It was more than four was all Xeq knew. The style of his head was different from anything that Xeq would have imagined. The little toy dragons he would see dancing around in those Chinese tinker shops wasn’t down to scale. His eyes weren’t googly like the toys. They were fierce yet kind and brown. Nothing really special about the color like Xeq’s. He had whiskers and pointed ears but they were set farther back and placed farther up than Xeq’s. Actually, it reminded Xeq of his brother’s fin like ears except these were more like a fox. Well, technically… The scales of the dragon weren’t a red like on the trinket. They weren’t black like most ‘normal’ dragons were depicted. They were every color that Xeq could imagine. Like a… What was that thing he saw in that store? That fish with the many colors. Xeq thought hard but eh old man spoke for him.

  “It’s called a koi fish.” He replied.

  Xeq shook his head. “Incredible. You’re magnificent.” Was all he could say as he stared at the waterfall not completely done gawking in the real scale of what seemed to be some mockery of a dragon.

  “Don’t worry.” The man laughed. “It’s the best that human’s can do with their limited technology of tradition. It’s fine.”

  “But if they knew they you were…” Xeq’s voice trailed off again.

  “It’s fine.” The old man said again.

  “Listen, young one, you have much to learn and I don’t believe we’ve introduced ourselves.” He said with a small smile.

  “I’m Xeq.” Xeq said after he finally snapped himself out of his mesmerized trance.

  My reflection name is Mioko.” The now named old man smirked. “Welcome to China, Xeq.”