by Pierce Smith
WHEN KYG CALLED XEG, he was in the hospital with Erga getting a full medical checkup. Recently he had started facing unusual weakness, problems in shifting and muscle spasms. None of them were ever traced in his medical history. He knew he was hurt many times in the war and many venomous fangs had penetrated his muscles, but none of them ever overpowered his dragon blood. But this was different. He could feel changes in his blood and something trying to overpower his dragon. When the medical department failed to decipher the cause, he looked for other routes. Routes which were not welcome in the dragon kingdom, but his responsibilities had taught him to cross the road and to protect the throne.
Xeg lay on the table, the medical devices monitoring his blood pressure, and wired pads stuck to his chest, recorded his heartbeat. A nurse stood beside him taking his blood for further tests. He scanned the room, watching the nurse and Erga working. True, he didn’t want news of his illness to spread through the kingdom like a plague and create panic, so they were sworn to keep it between the two of them. The nurse stored the blood in a vial and left with it. Erga followed her. And soon the room was empty. Lifting his head, Xeg scanned the room and his gaze struck a window. He removed all the wires attached to his body, then walking to the window, he jumped out of it.
Before his human body could touch the ground, he shifted to his dragon and flew to the jungle. His instincts guided him, Erga and the team didn’t have a cure. He needed to look for something unusual. He flew to the deeper part of the jungle; one which was full of swamps and mud, cursed woods and nasty smells.
Xeg did what hadn’t been done in ages. He approached the royal witch to look for any witchcraft done to him. The witch didn’t expect anyone to approach her, especially the blue-blooded Xeg. Excited and scared, she asked for fifteen days’ time. Inviting Xeg into her small cottage which appeared smaller from outside, but as they walked inside it kept stretching for yards and yards. Xeg saw many bizarre things hung from the roof, eyeballs in a jar at the table, octopuses, mollusks, tree roots, herbs and flowers scattered on the table. It seemed the witch planned for some medicine preparation. Xeg smiled as the strange smell hit his nose and his eyes turned to the boiling pot on the stove. The cottage looked like a typical witch residence, which he had read about in books. While he stared around, the witch dragged a wooden chair for him.
“That’s all I can offer you, Sire. This poor witch has the woods and a little magic to serve you,” she humbly said, and sat across the table on another chair.
Xeg sat down on the chair and still scanned the room. There were more rooms behind the closed doors. “I’m here for a task...”
“My powers are for the service of the throne. Address it, Sire.”
“I feel as if witchcraft has been done on me.”
“And you think it’s me?” A sign of worry traversed her face.
“No, not you. I can’t guess who it is. I want that witchcraft to be removed.” Xeg huffed. The pain travelled back in his right arm. “And to know about that witch.”
“I doubt you’ve any witchcraft over you.” She smiled. “I cannot trace any witch or warlock around you. Though, you’ve enemies everywhere... inside and outside of the palace...” looking deep in the air, she spoke.
“The kind of difference my blood is feeling, I think that is not any natural work.” Xeg resisted her arguments. He thought no one was ready to listen to him.
“I agree, Sire. Royals are the easiest bait for witches, but you look clean. There’s no dark magic over you.” she said, and stood to pour some drink from the boiling pot. “It’s a herbal drink with an ugly taste, but I bet that will make you feel better... much better.” she added, placing the big cup before Xeg.
“Not you?” Xeg pointed for her drink. He didn’t want to be trapped in another problem.
“Oh yeah!” she chuckled at her place, “why not?” she sprinted towards the pot to get a drink for herself. “By the way, you can call me Nicole... that’s the name my friends call me.”
“You have friends too?”
“Yeah.” Nicole laughed louder. “We too have friends, and they are from both the worlds.”
“I see,” Xeg spoke, while stirring the drink. He could see unusual things floating in it. Roots, flowers, flesh and more. “Do I need to eat all of them?”
“Yeah.” Nicole turned to see Xeg’s action, and smiled, “that will make you stronger.” She returned with her drink in a bigger cup and a bone to stir it. Xeg watched as she sipped the drink directly from the cup, and then chewed the bone. It cracked in her mouth making loud crunching bone noises, and Xeg watched her, while Nicole was busy with her meal. “Am I that beautiful, Sire?”
Xeg was caught, and blushing, he looked away from her. Outside the window the scene was different. A devastated jungle and a lonely cottage. “Do you feel comfortable here?”
Releasing a deep breath. “Not exactly, but that’s how most of us witches are living. Away from society and settlements.”
Xeg kept sipping the drink and eating whatever came in his spoon. A little later he felt better. His pain was gone and his energy had returned. “Your drink was great. It worked fast. Can I get more for later?”
“I may ask humble apologies for this. This drink is made from a secret recipe discovered by myself and it cannot be preserved for longer. You need to return to me for more... if you need it,” Nicole said.
Xeg stared at her face and admired her bold reply. Her forehead and chin were covered with dark tattoos, messed hair as if it had not been washed for ages, ugly teeth and big eyes looking at him.
“I said I’m beautiful,” she chuckled, completing her bone cracking. “Why don’t you visit on the night of the full moon, then my powers will be at their peak, and I can trace any magic hovering around you,” she said, collecting the cups. “Sometimes magic doesn’t attack directly. It hovers around and slowly sucks out the power.”
Xeg nodded, but didn’t say anything. He walked outside and jumping on the ground, he shifted into his dragon and flew away from the jungle. Nicole stared at Xeg flying far away from her. She returned to her thinking and entered her deepest rooms, locking herself in there.
XEG WALKED BACK INTO his medical room where Erga and his team awaited him. Erga was worried, which was clear from his face, and he had several questions to ask, but Xeg came and lay down on the table quietly. He tried putting the devices back on his body, but Erga gestured to the nurse and she came to help Xeg.
“You should take more care of yourself. Running off mid-examination is detrimental to finding out what is wrong with you,” Erga stated politely. He knew he was talking to a prince, but Prince Xeg was his friend too.
“It’s not your concern where I go, but I am taking care, ” Xeg replied, ending all concerns.
“How deep did Solomon bite you?” Ignoring Xeg’s rude behavior, Erga continued his examination.
“I don’t remember... now.”
“You should...” Erga insisted.
“Deeper. I know my bones felt his fangs. They were big enough to tear my shoulder.”
“Don’t you think you should have updated me immediately about it? The vampire’s venom will be deep in your bones by now.”
“I tried, but I was busy.” Xeg stared at the machine reflecting his abnormal heartbeat. “Do you think it’s a vampire’s venom in me? Do you think I am converting into a vampire?”
“I’ve no reply as of now. I have sent your blood for testing, and whatever the results are, they will be secret between us,” Erga said, sitting beside Xeg. “Though, I doubt you’re becoming a vampire, because that’s a different process, but I cannot deny your malady isn’t from the vampire’s venom in your blood... perhaps the blood is reacting badly with yours .” He patted Xeg’s shoulder. He could see two sharp bites.
Erga gestured Shenarah Falen who stood beside him, holding a filled syringe. She gave Xeg a slow dose of anti-vampire venom. So, if Solomon’s bite was affecting Xeg, he could recover fast. The possibilities w
ere endless, but Solomon’s was clear. His powerful vampire’s blood could be affecting a dragon. They also asked Xeg not to leave the hospital again until his medication was over.
However, Xeg heard the news about Sam going missing on the intercom and had a short chat with Kyg. He left to meet Kyg. Seeing the urgency of the situation, Erga didn’t stop Xeg. He knew Sam’s escape needed greater attention.
Xeg connected to his spies, spread all across the kingdom and beyond to look for their Consort. Though he was updated that Sam was abducted from the palace rather than leaking a husband/husband drama to the public. He tried converting into a dragon to scan from the sky but he failed. The venom in his body was overpowering his dragon. He tried connecting to Sam’s mind, but he failed at that too. It seemed Sam was in a room made of metal and stones. Metals always disconnected telepathic signals. He wished Kyg could get better options to search.
On the other hand, following Sam’s scent, Kyg was having trouble finding him. He came out of the tunnel and landed in the garden, thereafter his smell was lost. He found Sam’s clothes scattered in all directions. “Shit, what is he doing?” Kyg bawled, flaring a small flame into the air. The crowd ran away witnessing such an angry mood of their King which was rarely seen outside. He ran around all over looking for Sam’s footprints, but after few steps they were lost. The garden was recently mowed, Sam’s smell was lost in the air, and so was the hope to find him ever.
He sprinted towards the gates in hope of reaching the nearby city, anticipating Sam had taken refuge there, but halfway to the gates, his feet stopped. He saw a man standing away from him, his back turned to him, feeding birds. It looked like Sam. Kyg lost in his senses, ran to him and hugged tightly, crying, and kissing at his neck and head.
“Why did you leave me?” he kept mumbling, until Xeg came from behind him and removed Kyg from the man.
Surprised, Xeg stared at both of them, “What happened to you, brother?” shaking Kyg by holding his biceps, he cried.
“I got my Sam,” Kyg cried, removing Xeg’s grip and trying to catch the man again.
“He’s not Sam,” Xeg shouted, and turned the man toward Kyg.
Astonished, Kyg looked at the man almost looking liking Sam, but not him. Their features matched, so did their physique, and the smile.
“How can I help you, Your Majesty?” In an utmost seducing voice, the man spoke, pulling Kyg out his dizziness.
“I’m not your king.” He shoved off his hand and stood away. Looking at the guy, his ocean blue eyes enchanting Kyg and his smile making him fall to his knees, he became aware it wasn’t his Sam. His slim physique was identical to Sam’s. It was rare to match a human’s identity on a dragon planet. “Who are you?” he shouted at him.
“Zamza a warlock from Yoa and now your slave. So you’re my King,” Zamza said, carrying a playful smile on his face. “And I’m at your service... for anything...”
“Get your shit away from my brother,” Xeg shouted, and pulled Zamza away from Kyg. Holding Kyg by the arms, he pulled him away from Zamza.
Kyg’s eyes didn’t draw away from the new slave. He halted Xeg and returned to Zamza, “None of the slaves are stationed here? How come you entered the royal garden?” he screamed.
“Forgive my ignorance. I was in the Prisoners’ Hall when you got a new tattoo,” speaking, he caressed Kyg’s left chest where Sam’s picture was inked. “And then I came to this place. The inquisitive beauty of this place took my breath away,” Zamza said, looking deep in Kyg’s eyes.
“You seem to be using your warlock powers, to me,” Xeg put a sword on Zamza’s neck.
“Yes, My Lord. I’m not using my powers. I will not lie to my masters,” Zamza said, and took his neck away from the sword. Seeing Xeg taking his sword, the soldiers surrounded him. “And, I can serve you as you wish,”
“Where is the King’s Consort of this kingdom?” Xeg barked.
“In another planet behind a hidden realm,” Zamza replied plainly.
“He cannot escape this planet,” Kyg barked.
“She, My Lord.” Zamza said getting away from Kyg’s grip. “I can see a lady as the Queen of Byndra,”
“I’m talking about Sam,” Xeg huffed, gritting his teeth, “Kyg’s husband,”
“Oh! Seems to be in a carriage, surrounded by soldiers, of your kingdom,” Zamza replied, in the same effortless manner. His magic helped him see beyond normal eyes. “But Sam is not a queen...”
“He is... my Consort.” Kyg semi-shifted to catch Zamza.
“Apologies, Master,” Zamza said, while he bowed on the ground before them, “He’s your married partner, but yet, not queen of the kingdom. Though you’re king but she... sorry... he is not yet Consort.” he looked up at them. “My magic says Sam’s ceremony hasn’t been done yet.”
Kyg looked at Xeg and found Zamza was correct. There was a different ceremony for the Consort and in all the rush they missed out that. So Cezzot was still a Queen of Byndra and she could access her powers.
“Where is Sam, exactly?” Kyg bawled, lifting Zamza in his grip.
“In the carriage ... that’s all I can see now,” Zamza replied.
“Has he been kidnapped?” Xeg questioned.
“Seems so,” Zamza kept his words crisp.
“You’re saying our soldiers kidnapped him?”
“I can see him in a carriage escorted by your soldiers... I cannot add if they are working for you or not, Sire,”
“Shit! I knew we had moles,” Kyg screamed in pain. The soldiers appeared to be loyal to Cezzot.
“In which direction should we look for him?” Kyg questioned.
“Earlier he was in the desert, now he... is in a forest.” Zamza replied. “Seems his location is changing very fast.” taking a deep breath, “Now, he is with different people... scary...”
“What?” Kyg yelled.
“He appears scared, Master,” Zamza said.
“Kyg, stop wasting time before this guy. I’ve put my spies all around and soon we will have news about Sam. Don’t worry, he will be safe.” Xeg consoled Kyg.
“What the hell is this guy talking about? Who has kidnapped Sam? What will they do with him?” Kyg screamed back , tears spurted from his eyes.
“Control yourself,” Xeg screamed back, holding Kyg’s waist and dragging him up to the palace.
Kyg kept yelling, trying to get out of Xeg’s hold, when a few more sturdy soldiers came to support Xeg. They tried to push Kyg inside to keep him safe and controlled, but Kyg had lost his mind in Sam’s absence. Internally he blamed himself for everything. His guilt hitting his alpha hard and making him weak to accept the situation. His mind wandered to all the possibilities that could happen to Sam. Cezzot could kill him in the easiest manner and torture him until death. Their baby, which they had conceived with such a struggle was also at stake.
“Kyg, calm yourself,” Xeg barked, while making Kyg sit in a chair. However Xeg fumbled, moving the chair and fell on the floor.
Flabbergasted, Kyg stared at Xeg who was unconscious. “Someone call, Erga,” Kyg shouted, sitting on the floor beside Xeg, attempting to wake Xeg, but failing.
A few minutes later, Xeg lay in the ICU. Kyg stood in the corner of the room, watching Erga and his team work on the unconscious Xeg. Kyg’s alpha was restless, anger making him silently roar, but his human pushed him deep within his soul. Erga and the team kept giving injections to Xeg and powerful electric shocks, soon he opened his eyes, but Xeg was too weak to sit, he just smiled at Kyg, before succumbing to sleep.
“He’s fine. Needs a little more time to recover.” Erga updated Kyg. “We’ve also confirmed Solomon’s venom is reacting badly in Xeg’s body.”
Kyg was shocked to hear this. “But Xeg is such a powerful dragon and his body has never accepted any outsider venom.”
“I agree, Sire, but you shouldn’t forget, Solomon is a powerful vampire and a hybrid dragon too. We cannot ignore that Xeg’s body is being invaded by the venom, whether that is ca
used by Solomon’s dragon or vampire. The consequence is before us.”
“Sire,” Shenarah spoke up. “Being a hybrid vampire/dragon, we don’t know which part of him is more dominant but seeing his effect on Xeg, we can definitely conclude that it’s the vampire venom which is prevalent in his blood. You see Xeg is a dragon and they have nucleated red blood cells, while vampires have enucleated blood cells, missing the nucleus which is why they need to drink blood. So, Solomon’s vampire’s venom is reacting with Xeg’s genetic material in the blood cells.” She handed Xeg’s medical report to Kyg, which Erga and his team had been analyzing during the last fifteen days.
Kyg turned the pages and found the distorted pictures of blood cells, red blood becoming green and small clots forming.
“This is just the beginning. The situation needs careful monitoring, we don’t know what the outcome will be . We cannot risk Xeg going out in the field. He needs a medical cure.” Erga added.
“What is the solution?” The papers fell from Kyg’s hand onto the table as he sat on a chair. His head shaking and his mind not responding to the situation. “I never knew I would have to face this day too. What harm has Xeg done to anyone?”
“Shenarah is.... She is a vampirologist. I brought her to Byndra, knowing Solomon was a danger. I had guessed that sooner or later Solomon and his army would attack any royal.”
“I thought you two were in love...” Kyg interrupted Erga.
“Yes, we are, but safeguarding the kingdom is also important,” Shenarah replied.
“We’ll be giving Xeg, daily doses of the anti-venom to counteract the vampire venom. We gave him a shot today, but I know now that was too small a dose for him.” Erga accepted the fact. He gestured to ready another injection.
“How long will we have to do this?” Kyg turned pages again.
“Until he is cured.”
“And by when will he be okay?”