36 Chapter 36 - Realizations

"You sneaky bastard!" Another knife was thrown, this time grazing Nox's cheek.

Aether flinched at the small dribble of blood that seeped from the wound.

Nox hummed. He gently touched the place where the knife hit him. Pulling his hand away, he stared dully at the blood and rubbed it in between his fingers. He scoffed. "Is this really the best you could do?"

"Oh? You think that this is my best? Ha! Well won't you be surprised." His mother pulled out her sword, water circled the blade turning and churning until they became sharp, pointing directly at Nox.

Her eyes narrowed and she sneered, "Now let's see if you can survive." She lunged.

"Wait! Stop!" Aether cried out, his hands reached for Nox, but met nothing.

Nox was doodging as his mother attacked. Her sword moved like water, slipping through cracks and moving in angels Aether didn't think possible. The water spikes surrounding the sword separated and flew towards Nox with great accuracy, but they never hit.

Nox dodged each attack with little to no effort. He had a calm smile on his face with his hands in his pockets. Overall he looked as if he were going for a stroll rather than fighting.

"Why? Why can't you just stop fighting for once. It's not that hard." Aether groaned. He took a step forward, ready to put himself in between the two to stop the fight, but was stopped by Leon and Aria stepping in front of him. He shot them a confused glance and stepped to the side, only for Leon and Aria to follow.

He frowned even more. "What are you doing? Let me through."

"No. Father said to stay put."

"Ha? Are you serious?" Aether's frown deepened. He couldn't believe what he was hearing.

A sickening scratch of sword hitting flesh echoed in the small clearing and aether pushed his way past his siblings to see what had happened.

Nox fell back against the tree with a grunt. Other than his slightly labored breathing, one would think that he was perfectly fine. He took a couple deep breaths. Moving one arm, he ripped a piece of clothing from his shirt and wrapped it around his bleeding arm.

His eyes never left Aether's figure as he did so.

Aether gasped in shock. He understood that the two families hated one another, but did they really have to go this far? It was just a small trip to see a creature! It wasn't a big deal!

"What is wrong with you! He did nothing wrong!" Aether yelled at his mother.

His mother scoffed, "He did everything wrong. Roaming the halls of another's homes without an escort, taking someone out of their home without their parents permission, bringing them into a forest filled with creatures that could potentially harm you." She crossed her arms, "Do I need to go on?"

Aether's mouth was agape. 'What the hell?' His eyebrow twitched and he gave his best damn sneer, "What the hell do you think I am? A child? I am old enough to leave the house without your permission and so what if I went into the forest. Nox was next to me the entire time! Did you forget he has abilities?"

His mother scoffed, "Just because he is with you doesn't mean he will protect you."

Aether's mouth shut tightly. His gaze shifted towards Nox. There was some truth in his mothers words. He knew better than anyone that trust was practically non-existent in this world and that betrayal was like a second skin.

He had been walking a fine line between life and death since he arrived here. Each step he took, each decision he made, was like a stone being laid out before him, where it led him was yet to be determined.

'Should I have kept my distance?'

Nox met his gaze and Aether pursed his lips. 'No. With everything that has happened, Nox can be trusted.'

Nox was breathing heavier than before. His injury was bleeding through the cloth and his face was painted with a slight blush.

Aether clenched and unclenched his jaw, biting his lip as he thought about Nox's actions so far. Nox had saved him, helped him in class and even brought him to see this creature. So far every action he had done had either helped him or entertained him in one way.

He opened his mouth, hesitated for a single moment before saying, "If he wanted to harm me, he would have done it already."

His mother scowled. "That doesn't mean-"

"Aether what is that?" Aria interrupted. Her eyes were glued to the creature wiggling in Aether's arms.

Aether glanced down and smiled, raising the creature up he said, "I'm glad you asked. It's a dragon! Isn't he cool." He pulled it back into his hold before Aria could react. He cooed at the dragon, "Isn't he cute? The little guy got hurt and Nox rescued him. I wanted to see it so I asked to follow along. So, don't be mad at him, okay? It was my choice to follow, he didn't kidnap me."

He looked up at them with a serious expression, "Not only has Nox saved me once," He shot his mother a glare, "but he also saved this creature and even wanted to help it, so I think he deserves to have at least a little trust."

The look in Nox's eyes deepened and Aether expected his family to say something, to refute or agree, but his family was no longer focused on his words of 'trust'.

"Aether, you should put it down."

"What? Why?" Aether held the creature even tighter.

"It's dangerous."

Aether scoffed, "It's a baby."

Aria's eyes twitched, "You-" She clenched her teeth, "Do you not know what dragons can do? Did he not tell you what they are capable of?" She shot the slightly injured Nox a glare.

Aether held his head high, "In fact he did."

Aria's hands clenched, "Then you know why you can't have a dragon. Put it down."

Aether shook his head, "No."

"Aether listen to your sister and put the dragon down." His father spoke up.

Aether's frown deepened, "No." He held the dragon closer, stroking its head. A soft purr vibrated throughout its body. Aether cooed at the dragon, "You are a good boy, aren't you." In response it opened its mouth and let out a small chirp.

"Stop!"

"Put it down!

"Aether!"

"Let go of it!"

His family yelled one after another.

Aether looked at them confusingly. "What's wrong with you? Have you never seen a dragon chirp before?"

The smoke that swirled out of the dragon's breath circled around Aether like a vine. It twirled and twisted before vanishing into thin air.

They stood there shocked for a moment. Erik Frenzel shot his wife a look. For a moment neither made a move. Unsaid words and plans swarmed in their eyes as they stared at one another. A smirk made its way onto their faces. The creature didn't hurt him. A dragon at that. How could they let an opportunity like this slip away.

She gave a slight nod and immediately changed her demeanor. With a straight face and semi-relaxed posture she waved her hands in the air as if she were waving off some gossip and said, "Well, I didn't think that our son would be so gifted when it came to creatures." Her words were laced with sweetness, but her voice was as firm as ever.

"Mother?" Leon and Aria shot her a quizzical look. She glanced at them and waved her hand, a signal for them to shut up and follow suit.

Aether missed this small transaction between the four, instead his mind was caught up on his mothers words. "Gifted?" He glanced down at the dragon now sleeping calmly in his arms.

"Yes. Not many have the talent to approach, let alone hold such creatures."

She was right. He had seen how easily the creature had rejected the girl from class. She wasn't even able to get close to the creature and yet here he was, holding such a creature in his arms.

"Am I really gifted?" He repeated, his eyes focused on the sleeping creature.

His mother clapped her hands together. "Yes." She repeated, "Its extremely rare for someone to bond with a creature, especially one so rare." Her eyes darted over to Nox, who was now leaning against the tree, his one arm still bleeding. Seeing his awful state she couldn't help but smirk as she rubbed in the fact that her son was the one to make a bond and not him. That whatever he had planned was ruined and he had no one to blame but himself. "Something like this could only happen once in a lifetime." Her voice was filled with pride, yet her eyes lit up with victory. "I think it would be wise for you to keep such a creature, wouldn't you agree Nox?" Her eyes narrowed, a twisted dark desire burned in her eyes as she realized how easily the Prince had walked into the palm of their hands. Who knew that her youngest could come in handy like this?

Nox gazed back at her, his eyes unreadable, but a sense of urgency crawled down her spine. Her eyes narrowed. It felt as if invisible hands were clawing at her throat, waiting for a moment of weakness to strike. She grit her teeth.

Nox smiled. A cruel and twisted one. Leon and Aria flinched while Erik and his wife simply sneered, their eyes narrowing as they watched his every action.

"Such a rare occurrence." He repeated, but every word landed like a stone latching onto their feet getting ready to drag them under. A cold sweat enveloped them.

"I agree. It would be best for Aether to raise the creature." He tilted his head, "Wouldn't you agree?"

The words were laced with a hidden poison that they couldn't comprehend. Leon and Aria had stepped closer to Aether, hiding him from the monsters demented gaze.

"You…" Erik pointed his sword at Nox, level with his neck. His eyes narrowed. "What are you planning?"

Nox smirked. The wisps of black curled in his shadow, lapping at the grass that decayed with a single touch. His dark eyes filled with emotions that Erik could barely understand, flicked over to Aether.

Erik's eyes widened. Realization hitting him like a brick. His hands shook as dread seeped into his veins, "You-"

"I can keep it, really?" Aether's happy voice cracked the stagnant air. "Huh? What's wrong?" Aether had been too focused on the creature and was lost in thought. He only came back when he heard that he could keep the creature.

He glanced at Leon and Aria that stood in front of him, blocking his view.

"Did…something happen?"

Erik clenched his teeth and gestured for Aria and Leon. "Take him home."

"Yes, father." Aria and Leon turned around and grabbed Aether by the elbows, but the moment they did so the dragon hissed and blew out the black smoke. The two jumped back and shielded themselves.

Aether's eyebrows furrowed and he pursed his lips, "Is something wrong?" He glanced down at his little dragon who was hissing and spitting black smoke everywhere. His mouth opened slightly and he gave out a soft laugh. "Oh, don't worry he won't hurt you."

Leon and Aria shot each other a look.

Erik watched the small scene with split focus. His eyes kept darting between his three children to Nox who sat calmly in the shadows. His lip twitched. He could see the way the shadows moved around Nox as if they were living animals getting ready to hunt.

And his eyes.

They were like a demonic beasts that got a hold of something that peaked its interest. Silently playing with it, watching it, waiting. He grit his teeth. He didn't like that gaze. He hadn't seen a gaze like this for a long time and he didn't want to see it, never again.

It would be better to get rid of it before it got out of control. Yes, that was the best option. The King would understand, he has four other sons anyway. Missing one would mean nothing to him. In fact, it would be beneficial in the end.

He raised his sword and brought it down. It slashed through the air with a deafening silence. Its vibration as it hit something hard brought satisfaction to Erik, but it lasted only for a second.

Erik's eyes widened at the empty patch. The grass dry and brown, turning into dust as specks of blackness devoured it. With a quick breath he turned his head only to find that Nox was already standing behind Aether. His gaze calm and his smile soft as if nothing had happened.

'Fuck'