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Twisted Night: Chapter 21

Dreams sluggishly crawled back into Infinity's skull. The endless void of black that stretched it's inky tendrils into her mind pulled taught. Images flashed of her previous life. The stolen days she'd longed for so long before. Loved ones she hadn't known, playful days she'd wished for, thoughts that'd haunted her. But then came the waking nightmare. The heart pounding images of the not so distant past. Horrible tentacles of malevolent pink, racing to snatch her away.

Cordenth's face mocked her from the fuzzy trees. Milky white eyes pierced her soul, gazing from a snout marred with acid burns. She couldn't watch, screaming into the void as she ran faster and faster until it was as if her legs would set ablaze. She reared when piles of blackened ash grew icy blue eyes, and toothless mouths moaned her name.

She collapsed, out of energy and spirit broken. Her form coiling in on itself as she began to sob thick tears. Still their tormenting accusations pinned her ears, practically cutting deep her hide with sharpened talons. It was all her fault. Everything they said or implied was truth. Her father, Cordenth, and even her beloved Axton would still be alive if not for her meddling. With each gasping sob the fuzzy forest melted away, draining into a vortex of colors.

Despair traveled unchecked through her soul, twisting around her every fiber like a snake. Nothing mattered. It would be better if she were dead. Least then no one suffer thanks to her. She stared at her claws, trembling in the dim light. It would even be fitting, with the numerous lives she'd taken with glee in her heart. She was the monster in tales that humans told to frighten their children. The _beast_that knights fought against. She coiled in, shaking at the cold. Hating every pulse of her blackened heart.

Though it seemed no reprieve would be given, the cold was coaxed away. With each beat of her heart, sounds started to emerge that perked her ears. The soft crackling of an evening fire, the pages of a book turning, and the quiet breaths of a child she knew too well. Her heart melted as the darkness around her morphed into her room back at the tower. Not the cell she used to frequent, but the one she shared with the young teen.

Her Axton was laying on his belly on his gigantic bed, turning the pages of a thick tome. The book was bigger than his head, something he pointed out with a laugh.

She whispered his name, knowing it was a dream. Though despite her strength she couldn't look away. Nor could she fight the demand of her limbs. Like a siren had cast her spell she was drawn to the bed, settling in around the still chuckling mage. She grabbed him and pulled him upright, snuggling him in against her chest. Initially he was surprised by her neediness to hold him, but soon enough he settled in with his arms wrapped around her neck.

She said nothing as she fought the urge to sob, petting his brown hair with her claw. He laughed and went back to his reading, to which she was in no mood to decline. It was something of Rothdell and their towering cities, where painting across their buildings would move and dance around. She smiled at the idea, squeezing him ever tighter while enjoying the fire's enchanting glow. If only this could last forever, each breath no longer terrified that this glimpse into happiness would end.

"You shouldn't blame yourself mom. You tried your best." Axton said softly, flipping to a page with the illustration of a green dragon, he rubbed at her forepaw so tenderly that she nearly assaulted him with her nuzzling.

Of course, he'd never blame her. His heart was too pure to see anything but the one that helped him. But would even he have loved her if he knew what she was? The murderer and tormenting monster she'd seen? She curled ever tighter against him, practically squeezing the air out of him. "Axton, you know many things. But that is not one of them. I deserve everything that comes to me." She trembled, heart so weak that a scratch might put it to an end. "Even you would be better off without knowing me." When he looked back at her with widened eyes of concern she nearly wept right there. So she quickly dashed away, instead staring at the flames to keep her image.

Though even the flames worked against her, molding into the spade head of her father."Did I ever teach you to speak such lies daughter?" His snout levied her with a solemn stare, with eyes like burning coals. "A dragon is only as good as their word. How can the human here trust you if you lie to him?" He surged through the stone fireplace with a throaty growl. The wood beneath his body buckled and burned, his glowing wings sizzled the air. Onyx underscales were lit with speckles of light, like the very wood they'd been burning. It was her father, not the broken beast she'd killed. But the one from her dreams that padded towards her. Instead of anger and judgement, she saw the warmth of a father within. Undeserving to the creature that she was.

Tears swelled in her eyes as she averted her gaze. Was nowhere safe to linger? Would Cordenth spring next to torment her? Her ears flicked and pinned against her head as Nigel's old deal whispered to her. To have a better life she only had to kill a dragon. If only she'd known it was her father.

"I know what you're doing. Its not going to work." She pinned her spines and shifted till the bed creaked. "But you're biased. The care for me is blinding your visions. I got you both killed. Just one of you more directly." Her head sulked as the weight of her adventures hung on her. The wicked winds of time teasing at her thoughts. "If we'd only accepted our fates, Axton would still be around. His voice would be a kind comfort to me. And you father." Her head sunk lower. "If I'd not longed for the pain to end. You'd still be alive. Possibly even still to be saved." She whimpered as thick tears swelled in her eyes. "Always my selfishness. Need to be free, need to survive, need to find happiness. Each time it's taken someone from me." Cordenth's scared face bubbled to the surface of her mind, shivering her scales. "Even now it continues."

"And yet it still continues. Such weight on your wings, I'm surprised you're not pulled from the sky." Her slipped around her with a warmth that burned brighter than any star. "As if there were not circumstances, and beings of influence. It's not wrong to want pain to end or yearn for a better life." His snout descended upon her, "Its also normal to feel fear. Even creature such as we can be manipulated by it's urges. Though we must remember to not let it control us." He pressed in at her cheeks, red scales rubbed against black, breaking her heart. "I know you won't let it control you again. You're braver than you think."

How could he be so calm? Especially after everything that'd happened. The villagers, his death by her claws, even the gryphon she'd killed for food. That was all to be taken in before counting the hundreds if not thousands of people she'd killed and couldn't remember. Did that make it worse somehow?

"What if I'm not?" She trembled, holding Axton tight against her scales. She'd already failed before with the brother dragons. "You've seen what happened. One dead already, the second soon to be." She stared at her scales with moistening eyes. "Even during his healing I made things worse. Chances are he'll die when we try again."

But her father didn't say a thing, instead cupping her drooping snout in a tender claw, with his kindness he pulled her nose to his while she struggled to not break down into tears. "Everyone stumbles through life, fails at who they think they should be. That's not a sin. I doubt they blame you. You've tried your best. Cordenth chose the path of a hero. He knew the risks. Did he choose wrong in getting you to protect his brother? To banish the demon to the ethereal winds? I know you fear it, but you musn't let it drive you to inaction. Without you the other will _surely_die."

"But...But.." She couldn't find the words as tears sprung forth from her eyes. Every shred of happiness she'd felt the past few weeks couldn't have been further away. She averted her gaze, trying to ignore the rapidness of her heart.

"Mom?" Axton tapped her claw, drawing everything to a pause. "I've watched you the entire time. It's not been easy, but good things rarely are. Nigelious, the hunters, Grozo, now this. You'll come through in the end. I believe in you."

"What wisdom do you even have?" She whimpered, pushing her snout against his tiny chest. His arms wrapped once more around her as she broke into thick sobs that soiled his robes. "You'd say anything to make me feel better."

"There there." He tenderly stroked her folded spines. "I don't blame you. It never was a question."

Icy shards tickled along her scales, running deep through her veins. If only this wasn't a figment of her imagination. Random collection of thoughts trying to keep her on track. "You're not even here." She whispered, curling in around him. What she'd not give to relish in this warmth, the slow movements of his palms. She could remain here forever, lost to memories past.

"But that's not right." He rested a hand on her cheek. "I'll always be there. In your memories and your heart."

"The young one speaks truths daughter." Her father announced with a puffed chest, curling around her as the air filled with a throaty rumble. "As do I. find strength from within. I know that you are, as did your mother. Both of us couldn't be any prouder than we are now."

"But---bu-" She shivered in both their embraces, feeling like she was a wyrmling once again. "How can you say any of that? Had you not seen the memories? What'd I'd done? What I became? I'm a monster! I spread fear and death!"

"It was the past daughter, but not who you are now. You've changed your scales so to speak. Given a new perspective from which to grow. You cannot change it, mold it, nor wish it away. You can only learn from your mistakes and carry on. Never forget and strive to make amends. Even if it takes the rest of your days to do so."

She cried, curling her neck around her father's. How she felt so small in this moment, scales trembling uncontrollably, tail shuttering. She'd wager no bigger than a cat.

"Can you do me a favor Infinity?" His head had curled downward, fixing her with kind eyes.

Looking away was never an option as he pulled her ever closer.

"Make sure the green one is safe. That you find your happiness." He wagged a digit to her nose. "If I find out you abandoned your happiness. I'll be most aggravated."

"I can do that." She replied softly as more tears cascaded down her scales. "Father...I'm sorry. If I'd have known who you were...I'd have never-"

"Shhhh." She was silenced by his tender claw. Like a siren's song he held her in captivation, "You are not to blame. It all lies on those wretched feet of that lich." The red dragon growled. "Mark my words. One day he will get his just rewards."

It may have been a fleeting dream, yet it brought a smile to her lips. She pulled both close against her, wishing that this could last for an endless amount of time. "I love you both. She licked one at a time, nearly breaking down as they mimicked her response and faded away into nothing.

*

_It was only a dream?_Thoughts sluggishly returned to her, twisting and turning around every limb. Fluttering eyes brought about a great, tongue-curling yawn. How long had she been out? Hours? Days? Despite the questions she'd never felt so rested. If only the price of such sleep hadn't been so tiresome.

The golden sun painted her scales with an enchanting radiance. Like it was on a mission to coat not just her but everything in a fresh coast of pleasing warmth. If she but closed her eyes she bet she'd drift back asleep on its alluring promises.

Lyyreth was sound asleep, peacefully wrapped around her. His tail was intertwined with hers, and his head nearly pressed to her cheeks. Heat far greater than the sun found her cheeks. Did she dare risk moving and wake him?. On one claw they needed to move, yet on the other it was cute beyond measure. Pleasure won out as she laid back down, pressing back to him with a sleepy grumble.

No!

Her eyes shot open, her ears shot to the sky. This was no time for sleeping! Rests that brought dragon and dragoness together could wait! Not to say that they were a thing." She stole a quick glance, traveling curious eyes across his scales. Those kind of thoughts could wait but a few days longer. When that demon didn't threaten his soul. Then they could snuggle, sleep closely, and speak fondly of the other. Snuggling would be the norm, ridding them of their darker thoughts.

"Wake your lazy tail twinkle toes." She leaned in, licking at his nose until he stirred. "have you forgotten? Today is the day that demon loses."

His nose twitched, the green dragon squirmed, scales clinked together as he took his first deep breaths of the morning. Like a princess rising from her slumber his eyes blinker. Confusion painted across his features until they wrinkled into a tired groan. "Infinity?" He curled around with a relieved expression on his face. It latest for but a fleeting moment as his eyes darted across the path, seeking out his missing brother. Any warmth in his yellow pools died. Down sunk his neck, his frills pinning to either side. "I thought it was a dream."

She was right to him with a slow nuzzle. How she imagined both their hearts stabbed with pain. Yet her father's words whispered to her ears. She spoke softly, trying to convey how she cared. "We can mourn later. I won't forget what he did, but if we don't succeed, he'd have died for nothing." Winding him with her wings and pulled him tight against her, shivering with him.

"I'm aware." He said, staring at his claws

She sighed, evidently, he wasn't getting it. So, she spelled it out for him with her tail lashing. "I'm trying to get your spirits up. Think we both need that right now."

He drifted towards the trees, silence like a heavy fog. Cordenth's absence clearly weighed heavily on his snout.

Could she be the pillar for him to lean on? She gulped down her minor dread, nuzzling across Lyyreth's neck with a whine. "Please, I need you to keep going. We can't let him down...I can't let him down...Not after..." She paused, nearly breaking into tears. Cordenth's demand for them to continue pressing down her ears. "Just please."

He seemed to weigh her words, searching her for any hidden remark. He sighed, pressed against her and swore he'd go on. "You're right after all."

"Course I am." She snorted, setting her sights to the path with a swaying tail. "Stretch your tail, bare your fangs." She growled, kneading the earth below her claws. "Cause we're going to be tearing that demon out by our teeth if we have to!"

That got a weakened smile out of him. Possibly just letting her know she was on the right track. Considering what happened and the dangers that might lie ahead, this was probably the best was going to get. She slung a silver speckled wing around him, guiding him along the unbeaten path. As they strode she curled back her neck, giving the forest around them one last look that could ignite the very air aflame. She gave thanks for Cordenth one last time, swearing he'd never leave her thoughts.

You were not a useless princess after all.

*

The thick forest pressed in on either side of them. Almost as if it sought to squash their resolve with enticing sights or images. No method was deemed to low, for even Cordenth's soft whines had started to trickle in like slithery eels. It was all they could do to not go bounding in after him.

Hugging and pressing against one another they kept their word. Tails swished on either side as taunts and temptations proved nothing more than minor distractions. When these didn't work it thought to show off more of her past. Highlighting her misdeeds and cruelty on full display. Though she sickened at the acts of her servitude, it only twisted the resolve in her chest. For if it was trying this hard, then they were surely getting close.

"These tired things again?" She'd finally snarled, snapping away her eyes at her younger self burning a dozen humans in bursts of cerulean flames. "You're starting to bore me. We get it. I used to be a terrible dragon. You haven't a grip on me anymore." She plucked up some dirt and flung it at the images, earning a little satisfaction. Shed'd have been happier if it had actually struck them instead of passing through, but she had to savor the small things. Though there was something of all the images that was nagging the back of her mind. In all of the flashes she'd of course age. Eventually growing to her fully grown self. Though what had her perplexed was that of the Axton. He'd never age at all during this time. Sure he'd grow his hair or his beard, but he relatively stayed the same. Either he wasn't human or age was very kind to him. Like he'd had a spell someone enchanted on him.

Knowing Nigel though, there is a good chance of that. Must he have control of everything? What am I talking about, of course he would.

This continued across the path, until a crumbling ruin of a castle lay before them. Where once it might have been a shining beacon to some lord's wealth and strength, nature now claimed it with grass and weed. It was placed within a hill, that acted more like a ravenous ooze, spreading little mossy fingers all along it's weathered walls of stone. Sections that had once been strong and proud lay crumbled into the dirt like a shattered quarry. Even the air around them took on a chilled breeze over this stone corpse.

"Have another one for me eh?" She sneered as the form of her father strode beside her. Clearly another image. His presence didn't even startle her anymore, neither did how her other self-snarled and stomped over to him like an unruly beast.

Her former self was almost the same size of him, emerald eyes lit with a raging fire. If she could, she bet the air would ignite under their withering glance. But they were on her father, fluffing up her wings to appear bigger. She was hissing, her tail was lashing as the red told her about her the truth about her mother.

"I can no longer stand by that lie he made me keep." The red dragon shifted from paw to paw. "Your mother never abandoned you. It was as you remembered. That man is the lich creature that you had nightmares about when you were little. I was sworn to serve, or he'd do away with me. You needed someone to teach you."

Her younger self didn't say a word, merely replying with a lash of her tail. With but a breath her mind seemed to be made up. Out went her wing and shoved aside her father. "Then get out of my way." She growled, "I have a lich to kill. At least one of us will be trying to avenge her."

"You tried to kill him?" Lyyreth piped up, his frills twitching in interest. He nuzzled along her neck when she didn't answer. Though his comfort was appreciated it wasn't needed.

"Evidently I failed." She gestured to her many scars. "I remember being thrown in a cell and tormented?" She grit her teeth as she scales shook with phantom pain, remembering all the terrible ways that he'd lashed out at them. From serrated blades, to spine covered whips, to potions and tests that left her shivering and wanting to die. She strode forward as the scene shifted around her, images like blurred fish in her vision. Course the question burned in her mind.

What did I do to forget? Why did he suddenly start torturing me?

It fascinated her, made her want to see more. Maybe that's why the images kept appearing. So they did, racing past them as they strode towards the castle.

This time it wasn't her father, but the beard totting Axton standing opposite her. Her younger self was asking for his help in regards to slaying the undead abomination he called father.

"You act like we haven't grown together. Course I'll help you." The ageless teen replied, his hand slipping to caress her scales. "I have your back, he has to be destroyed."

"Then we will be left with all his mechanizations, power to wield, riches to be had." The younger Infinity grinned malevolently, "Not to mention the sweet vengeance of crushing his skull with my claw."

"But first the phylactery." Axton warned, placing a finger to her snout. "Otherwise he'll just return."

"You mean that dragoness he used to talk about? The Arctic Wind was it?" Her younger self snorted. "Hard to believe she became the thing that keeps him alive. Pitiful if you ask me."

Well, that was par for the course by this point. Product of her upbringing. In a way she thought Nigel would be proud with how she'd turned out. Scheming and willing to get what she wanted by whatever force required. In a way she was like a mirror of him.

So, we did attack his phylactery? We couldn't have succeeded could we? Was that what started the abrupt change?

She shivered as clearly the other Axton wasn't around. Perhaps one of them hadn't been so lucky. Just her left to receive her master's loving spells. It made sense if they'd tried. Taken her mind so she couldn't do so again.

"I'll admit I'm glad you're not like that anymore." Lyyreth's soft voice pulled her from her thoughts. With a sneeze he covered his nose when her snout curled to search him from frill to tail. "Well...Really...Let me rephrase that." His frills darkened as she maintained her look. "You look positively ready to kill. Not like your defending yourself, but that you really, really enjoy killing someone. Not in the way of doing away with a vile creature either."

"That's who I was." She growled, tail flicking. "Though don't get me wrong. What I wouldn't love to do away with him. See his skull crush beneath my claws, stare him in the eyes as he understands who put him away." She shivered as a course of pleasure ran through her at the idea. She steadied it with a calming breath. Remembering why killing was so easy. It'd been part of her for so long, her body probably remembered it. The pleasure and delight of taking life. She stared at her claws, imagining the blood that must have coated them. "I've killed again and again. It's in my very blood. Hopefully it remembers when we meet again."

"You're not the killer any longer." Lyyreth's chest puffed up, cutting her off with his body. "You're caring, kind, and thoughtful. If anything, you blame yourself too much for the killing. Would that shadow of yourself feel such remorse? Guilt for what she'd done?"

She looked away, ears splaying. Sure his words were what she wanted to hear, but she hardly believed him. That was just the way he wanted to see her. His bias was blinding him." For a pep talk this is kinda awkward. "She nearly gasped when he grabbed her snout and forced her to look at him.

"I'm being serious here." His eyes were hardened, he meant every word. "I don't blame you for anything. Not a thing."

This time she couldn't look away. Not from that field of caring yellow in his eyes. She lost herself, hating how they chased away the darkened thoughts. But he was right, and both knew what he meant. Weither it was the silence that hung between them, or her heart controlling her neck, she was soon nuzzling at him with a weakened whine. The flames inside her flickered and died, replaced with the sensation of scale on scale.

"It means a lot to hear that from you."

"Did it?" He perked up as she rubbed along his frame.

"Wow you're more clueless than I thought." She rolled her eyes to the castle.

His snout only wrinkled, "Maybe. But what am I clueless about?"

Chuckling in her throat, she gestured to the castle with a wing, how the battlements and towers surrounding it looked ready to collapse in on themselves. "Know any fairy creature that might live in a castle like that?" Her eyes followed the crumbling structure, tracing vines that almost seemed to move in the light. Her talons kneaded the ground, twitching as she remembered Cordenth. Already her flame glands stirred with latent power, ready to be unleashed.

"Several actually. It all matters where this was plucked from. Of course the architecture within could have been outsourced to other cities. Pixies prefer berries, and making their houses in the trees. Fairies prefer building them next to flowers. Then there are several breeds of elves that decided to-"

She cut him off with a backwards glance. "Nows not the time for a history lesson. Short answer is this avatar could be any of those things you listed." She growled in the back of her throat, really hoping it wasn't a pixie. After her time with the swam in the woods, they'd be lucky she didn't open with her firebreath everytime they met. She rubbed her barren neck, how empty it felt.

In silence they crept towards a nature eaten portcullis, the steel bars having been corroded with decades of rust. Their claws were placed ever tentatively, snouts eying every crack and moss eaten cobblestone. They didn't need any traps getting set off cause of their foolishness.

What would have been a guardhouse was empty and bare, no signs that anyone had ever stayed within. They used their strength to crack the portcullis open, too afraid to use their wings to simply glide over the wall. It shuttered and shook with the effort, but they passed without incident.Once inside they found themselves in a large courtyard for humans, but cramped for them. Half eaten barrels and molded over food lay scattered across the ground. Anything that wasn't eaten by roots or moss was weathered and beaten.

There were other structures scattered around, with shattered roofs that allowed the dragons to squeeze and dig through what rubble they found with little effort. As they padded they'd learned to watch their movements, several times slipping on moss covered debris. But despite their freedom to explore, they still found themselves unable to spread their wings.

The air was filled with a sweet aroma of wild flowers and honey. With each breath it brought a suspiciously warm caress of the wind. Infinity's spines had flared up as she darted her head, expecting another barrage of purple tentacles each time she caught a whiff. But as she'd snap around and stare, it would eventually pass. All caressed away with a tender nuzzle from her green companion.

"So what are we supposed to do? Yell out for this avatar? Her eyes scanned over the broken courtyard, not finding a trace of where this smell was coming from. "Or are we to wish really,_really _hard If it's that I'll gnaw on my tail?" She snorted at that idea.

She sniffed and moved aside some loose rocks, snout wrinkling at a sudden smell of rot and decay around them. Before anything could leap out and attack, she hastily sought to return them, if but to get fresh air once again.

Lyyreth called her over, having found some interesting stones, carved with symbols in shapes in the image of a unicorn. They seemed to have been well made, a professional artist for sure. The likeness of the creatures was almost lifelike, practically leaping off the stone. Even stranger was that they were perfectly preserved.

"A temple to Nutambar?" Lyyreth whispered, sniffing around at the broken structure, sighing how the roof had broken inwards and destroyed what other trinkets had remained. "Some would say this was a sacred place. It's a shame to see it in such a state. Only the followers of the forest god were supposed to step foot in here." He peered down, wiggling a claw. "Really hope Nutambar isn't vengeful."

"Forest god huh?" She only turned her head at the sound of a hooves, getting a flash of white among the stone. Something that bore the tail of a lion.

A horse? She trotted after it as the sound of it's hooves clattered against the cobblestone. It stopped as they came to a tree that'd sprouted through the ground, parting the stone like a battering ram. Why would a lion tailed horse be in the fairy realm?

"Perhaps another illusion?" Lyyreth stood at her side, casting his gaze to the many stones around. "Normal ones can't even come here...Unless..." His attention turned to the stone, drawing the interest of his frills.

"Unless what?" She nosed after his curious sniffing snout.

"Unless we just saw a unicorn." He cocked to a carving along one of the walls. Of a horse like creature with cloven hooves. It had a single horn atop its head, with a tail like a lion's on it's rear. "They protect enchanted forests or holy sites. Ward away evil beings and such. Can teleport at will, and are seen as a sign from the gods themselves." He shrugged with his wings. "Fitting I suppose. We're looking for an avatar of one. Though wow." He stared at his claws. "Really regret stepping into that shrine now."

"You remembered all that?" She whispered, turning around for maybe another glimpse.

"More or less. Honestly I can't believe I remembered that much from the encyclopedia."

Another clatter of hooves drew their attention. They followed without another thought.

Why would one be here? Could that be the avatar? Or would it know where to find it? As they slithered over the moss her thoughts soon betrayed her. Would it try to ward her away? The thought coiled into a ball in her gut. They came to a stop, back at the tree. "In a circle, really?" She lashed her tail, glaring at the stones. "Should we be prepared for rainbows and sunshine to come peppering at us? I mean, it's only a horse."

"They actually love rainbows. Quite vain creatures."

"Lyyreth! Not now!" Her ears perked as she scanned the cobblestone. Waves of fog had started to curl and rise from every inch of moss, weaving around their foreclaws. It seemed to pulse with a mystic power, setting off bells in her head to leave. To turn tail and never return. "Please tell me the chances this creature wants me to leave is tinie tiny."

Before it thinks I have an evil heart.

"You?"

"Who else would it be?" She snapped, taking a tentative step towards where they came.

"But why would it do that? You're not evil." He followed with twitching frills. "We're not evil!"

"Son of the Emerald Lady, and a mind altered murderer. I'm not going to count my chances." Her heart was racing, her breaths were coming much faster. Was it the fog she was breathing? The fog was now up to her chest, slithering away like a white snake. "What's it waiting for?" She pressed back to Lyyreth, searching the thick fog. "Just get it over with!"

"Shhh!" Lyyreth's tail lashed. "We don't need him thinking that!" The green dragon coughed and adopted a relaxed pose. "Apologies dearest avatar. We're just a little nervous to be around a unicorn!"

Was it getting closer? She thought she felt a brush of fur along her scales. While it may have taken the form of a smallish equine, she was starting to get the sneaking suspicion it wasn't as helpless as she believed. "Yes, we only came here to help my friend." She announced slowly, gesturing to Lyyreth with her wing. Just in case this beast was still watching them. She pinned her ears, lowered her head and tried to look the least bit threatening that she could. "He has a terrible affliction that needs to be healed. If you could direct us in the right direction, we can go on our way." Silence fell around them leaving her doubtful that it worked. She backed closer to Lyyreth, any traces of the fortress consumed by the fog. Then came a booming voice that sent electricity down their spines.

"Is that so dragon beast? You traverse my lands in seek of healing, fear coils in your bellies. Your kind are known for their silvery tongues. Quite the oddity you've brought before me."

Where is he? She halted, squinting through the fog. It was hard to see anything sliding through the mists. She got a rough shape ahead, horse like to be sure. Why did it feel as though it was staring at them, piercing the veil of scales.

"Interesting. Both touched by evil in their time. One by blood and the other deeds. Though one has known it twice in their life time."

"That would be me." She lowered her belly to the stone, bowing her head. "Please, we were on an adventure to travel. To see what splendors Sethera had. In the while gathering allies to do away with a terrible lich. We came across a dragon inflicting pain and misery onto mortals." She grimaced as she recalled ripping open his jaw and ending his life. "he died, but during the battle my friend caught a demon. So...I beg of you, please, don't help me...but help him. Lyyreth has a kind heart and deserves so much more. He lifts me up when I'm feeling down, gives strength when I have none." She pressed her snout to the cobblestone, memories of Cordenth flickering past her thoughts. "We've already lost those we love to get here...Please..."

"You give yourself too little credit dragon." The voice uttered, warm as a summer's day. "Your heart has kindness aplenty. Despite what once lurked within. Like the phoenix you were reborn."

The fog pulled back, revealing the ivory hide of the unicorn. It stood as tall as a horse, with a spiraling growing from it's head. Silvery eyes shimmered with rainbows, but held wisdom of hundreds of years dwelling within. Cloven hooves clacked against the stone as it approached, a snort following the swish of it's lion like tail. Without moving its mouth, it spoke again, clear as a robin's song in their minds.

"Your journey has reached its end. You've found what you've sought. I am the avatar of Nutambar." The stallion bowed his head. "And you may call me Roshan."

Oh thank the gods. He isn't going to kill me.

Her body relaxed as Roshan cantered over to Lyyreth with a curious eye. He sniffed the air tentatively, not minding how the dragon shied away from his nose. You'd think for a divine avatar of all things, he'd move less mundane.

"Fear not dragon. I mean you no harm." Roshan snorted, searching every scale the dragon had. "The demon has a powerful grip. Deep does it's roots spread. You were wise to come seek my council. It will be quite the effort to remove it, and with me as a conduit we will succeed."

"Conduit? She blurted as her heart skipped a beat. "But you were supposed to help us!". She could already feel her ears pin to her head.

Roshan sighed, ignoring her outburst. He gestured to them both to follow with a flick of his neck, leaping atop the stone walls in a single bound. "Fret not. For this is my gods domain. It is a place of healing. Those cursed beings will find it a loathsome place, they will be weaker and we stronger. It is true that your mate will be safer here than anywhere else. But his safety will rely on the strength of your resolve."

All this way to be told _they_were the ones to free him of it? It was like Matilda all over again. With every step, her heart was racing. The ground around her claws seemed uneven and distorted, she almost collapsed in disorientation. They had to rely on her _again?_After she failed the first time?

"We're not-" Lyyreth began, but was cut off by Roshan's confident tone.

"It's the heart of loved one the demon's cannot stand. They don't understand it, drives needles into their blackened souls. We'll take that advantage and forge it into a brilliant weapon to sever it's hold on you."

They leaped along after the unicorn as it led them through the ruins. With each step the precariousness of the situation dulled. This is why they'd come. Her father's voice whispered in her ear encouragement. She could do it. She didn't have a choice, course did that make it worse or better? "Unicorn! She called after their equine leader, pulling his neck towards her. " Just so you know, I failed the first time we- Her ears splayed. "Tried to banish it."

"Ah." Roshan nodded, padding below a chipped and broken archway. The stone here was heavily carved, inlaid with obsidian stones. "It explains why the demon has such strength."

She averted her eyes, unable to look at either of them. How her claws felt heavier with each step. If she hadn't messed up, Cordenth wouldn't...

"Though it matters little she dragon. Its only the present we can focus on. Mistakes happen, yet you haven't shied away. You grow stronger as a result. This is the way of all thing. By Nutambar's you will get it. Just like he scattered the demon lords in eons past when they tried to rear their ugly heads."

The unicorn brought them from the arch and out of the fog, climbing the grass covered hill. Out here the sun seemed to be shining ever the brighter, painting its golden brilliance over a whole landscape of towering trees in the distance. They were not of different colors, but true green. It was like an image out of a painting she was sure Axton and she had set eyes upon. But whether or not it was a memory being used she didn't care; it made her heart warm and swell just the same. For a brief flicker of time the weight of the coming task didn't seem so strenuous. Perhaps she could do it.

They halted at a ring of various flowers. They'd grown in a pattern like the ones that Matilda had drawn. Inside the rings were formations of tiny stones, triangles of three stones every few inches. The ivory horse tapped in two sections around the ring with his hooves, gesturing to them to take positions on either side. He stilled, staring off into the countryside. His shimmering eyes narrowed at a solitary golden flash on the horizon. "Time is not on our side dragons. So take your places so we can rid your friend of this terrible curse."

They nodded and faced each other, worry clear as day on Lyyreth's snout. She smiled at him, trying to lift his spirits. He returned it, the sun sparkling in his yellow eyes. They reached out together, nuzzling along the others neck. Her eyes closed in content, knowing this wouldn't be their final moments.

"Don't worry." She said softly, not wanting to part. "I won't fail this time."

"Didn't think you would." He whispered back into her ear, pressing firmly against her folded spines. "I wouldn't have anyone else here right now. And if this is my last words."

"Don't say that." She splayed her ears, trying to stop him with a nudge. She didn't even want to think like that. They hadn't suffered for nothing. "You'll survive this."

But he wasn't halted. "I wanted to say that you're the most beautiful dragoness I've ever met. I'm glad we did, and I still wouldn't have traded traveling with you for anything."

How her cheeks burned at his words, even if she didn't think about what it'd cost them. She rumbled all the same, pulling back and locking his lips with a draconic kiss. Which was rather messy and coated in drool. "Now don't worry about that, you'll do quite fine." She shifted from paw to paw. "Handsome."

His smile made her do the same, and she didn't even shy away. "One more thing. Can you remember exactly what happens? That way we can catalog it for later. You know for research purposes of-"

She silenced him with a nuzzle and an eyeroll. "I'll try."

It was the Unicorn that brought them back to the situation with a cough.

"I did say that time was of the essence correct? We can enjoy life's little moments another time."

Infinity nodded, her cheeks burning. "Let's get this out of him." But as the unicorn turned to her again, she had a tiny glimmer of doubt. Could this all be yet another trick from this blasted place? She composed herself, trying to keep the growling to a minimum. "How are certain that this isn't another trick. He's a fey creature after all." She flicked her tail, scales burning as those pixies came to mind.

"She dragon Infinity." Roshan stomped. "I may be fey, but that doesn't mean were all the same. While the pixies have their little games, I am not of their ilk. You may find trust in me kin of bahamut."

His words were kind and calm, enough to cool her. His gaze told of pleasing nights, relaxing breezes. Every part of her was whispering to trust him. She stood frozen, watching his ever move as he stared off into the horizon. Gold shimmered about his eyes, like a ring.

"Your trip has not gone unnoticed. Even now, the blood of your friends attracts ghosts of the past. Servants of a long dead tyrant. We must hurry if we wish to escape their notice."

"H..his blood." Down went her ears. Did the things like to devour dragon blood of all things? When she had words with Matilda again, she was going to give her a piece of her mind. She turned to Lyyreth, perhaps he knew exactly what he meant.

"Beats me." He shrugged with his wigs. "Unless she means my mother."

"As with all things, it can be yes and no." The unicorn trotted around the ring, tapping at interpoints of flowers. With every tap they shimmered with life, seeming to sway in an invisible breeze. "We must act in haste. To get their corrupted talons on another of his kin? That would be too interesting to pass up. While intelligence has left them, instinct and his will guide them."

"Him...whose?" Infinity tapped the ground impatiently. "Unicorn, we have no idea who your speaking of."

But the Unicorn ignored the demand, instead pushing Lyyreth towards the circle's center. "We concern ourselves with what is needed to be focused on. The wraiths can be told another time. Quickly young dragon, into the circle."

Lyyreth did as Roshan requested, taking a seat on his haunches. He rubbed his chest with a claw, clearly wincing in pain.

"It knows." Roshan said flatly. Without another word he insisted that Infinity place herself across from him. "Its will to try and trick you young one. It's words will mean to confuse and shatter your resolve. I ask if you're prepared for this. If you fail this time, the beast may spread to you as well."

She shot up, ears and spines all along her neck. "It can do that?" Since when could demons do that?

Roshan nodded. "Are you up this dragon?"

She turned to Lyyreth, meeting his sunflower eyes. Within she saw the fear brimming the surface, no doubt a reflection of her own. But it didn't matter in the end. She needed to do this. Not only for him, but for herself, for Cordenth. With a puff of her chest, she held as much bravery as she could muster. "It won't get the better of me this time."

"Then once it is done. We shall force our way into the demon's being. Not only will we cast it from him, but we will cast it back to whence it came. Far weaker than it's ever been. No more shall it steal mortal souls for its sadistic pleasure." The air rippled with power as the unicorn took a drag of the air. Electricity seemed to flow along it's fur, arcing and twirling around its tail. Clouds swelled in the sky, instantly shifting to the blackest void. The wind surged forth, battering against every blade of grass.

"It is time."

Gulping, Infinity offered a single prayer and placed her shaking talons to the edge of flowers. She was Infinity, no matter who she was or who she'd turned into. No matter what her past was, it wouldn't have any bearing on her now. No longer the murderer of the past, but something new, molded by new circumstance. She swallowed down the knot in her stomach and sighed, letting her wings pin to either side. "Do it." She took a heavy breath, practically tasting the lingering tension in the air. "I won't fail."

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