Words and Worlds Apart: Lamb of Serpents

Chapter 7-Apologies Aren't for Royalty-

"You're more of an idiot than I thought!" Nico continued to scoff as Lucas looked away in embarrassment, Lucas had already known the answer as to who Nico was, why did he say something so stupid? "Oh, just get off me!" Lucas barked as he continued to struggle underneath Nico. But that was when Lucas finally looked up at Nico's face, and when he did, he was stunned. Nico had spiky black bangs, wine-red eyes, a couple of light-colored freckles, light lips, and an embarrassed rather than angry expression. Was Nico only upset because he didn't like being seen so vulnerable?... Lucas stopped struggling and looked up at Nico with a small frown and a calm tone "Apologize. And I'll leave." Nico sputtered in shock "W-wha? Never! Apologies aren't for royalty!"

"Well, then I'm staying here," Lucas responded flatly, which did not generate a great response from Nico. "No! This is my palace, my rules! Now out!" Nico spat. But Lucas merely sighed "One, I can't exactly walk out since you're on top of me. Two, if this is your palace...why does nobody talk about you and why are you wearing that shackle?" Both of Lucas' points were true. Nico was still on top of Lucas holding the dagger at his neck and Nico was also wearing that shackle, without a chain, however. Nico released his grip over so slightly, and a shocked look flashed against his eyes for a moment before Nico regained his composure. "...Mind your business! And I'll get off you when you say you'll leave!" Lucas' frown softened as he realized he got close to a touchy subject, but Lucas' curiosity got the better "Fine. But one more question..." Nico raised an eyebrow "And that is?..." Lucas paused for a moment before taking a deep breath and asking in a soft tone "Why are you stuck down here? And what's with everyone pretending like you don't exist?" the tension in the room seemed to lessen rather than increase with the personal question. Nico broke eye contact with Lucas as he thought of a reply, his grip on Lucas lessening ever so slightly. " The...I'm stuck I'm stuck down here because of a prophecy..." Lucas' eyes widened " A Prophecy?. W-why, what kind of prophecy?" the room grew still, but then Nico slowly lifted himself off of Lucas and helped Lucas up, his hand cold and soft. "I'll show you, I'm sure you saw it but I'll explain it anyway."

Lucas followed Nico from behind as the two walked out of the pool room and into the hallway that Lucas had come in through. Now and then Lucas would look at Nico with a curious expression. Nico had well-toned yet barely visible muscles that his skin rippled over with every move he made, his tail swished back and forth and his bare back was still dripping with small droplets of water from the pool, his toe, and fingernails were painted black and he was wearing sandals. "Hundreds of thousands of years ago, not long after Draconia had disappeared the current ruler had a dream one night...that Every race would either rise or fall by the hand of the darkest night. That one day a ruler would tip the scale of fate...That Emperors dream told him that until then no dragon would be born with black scales. But eighteen years ago I was born, and my father, Emperor Caius saw it as a sign that the prophecy had arrived. But Emperor Caius didn't want to take chances with the fate of his Kingdom, so for ten years I have been trapped down here, in the bones of the Palace..." Lucas frowned as he looked up at the murals he had passed, focusing on the mural of the boy with the crown... "That's so cruel, why would your father do a thing like that?" The cruelty of Nico's father made Lucas think about his own. King Adrian had always been kind and untempered when it came to his only son, he couldn't imagine any father trapping their children because of a simple prophecy or the color of their scales...it made Lucas...upset. "I guess he was paranoid. And since I'm imprisoned he has no other heir except my sister...She may seem nice and quiet but in reality, she is a vile little rat that takes what she can and steals what she can't" Nico huffed in annoyance. "I see..." Lucas nodded "But if you're that much of a problem...why doesn't your Father get rid of you?" Lucas asked quietly, Lucas figured that if Emperor Caius could lock up his son forever he would be willing to kill him as well..." That's the thing...he can't kill me."

"I'm immortal."