Hidden Souls

Part 2

"Master? Master!!"

I grown, my whole body aching.

"Master are you alright? Was that the first time you merged?"

"Shut up. My head's pounding." I moan, blinking. After a few minutes I am finally able to open my eyes and look around to see the caster boy sitting by my side, seeming to hum with anxiety.

"What happened?" I say groggily, trying to get up. with a cry I fall back, my side and hip throbbing. The boy flinches, by my side in an instant, hands hovering over me.

"Oi, you mute? What's wrong?" The boy shakes his head, opening his mouth to speak, but no sound comes out.

"Did something happen to your voice? Here, maybe I can help." Wincing, I reach out my hand, still unable to sit up. The boy shakes his head, pointing first to me then to his throat. with a jolt, I understood. "Oh, I told you to be quiet didn't I? You are allowed to speak now. Sorry, I didn't realize you are bound to my words. Is something wrong?"

"Where are you hurt?" THe boy cries, eyes roaming my body, hands trembling above me.

"My side and hip. But not too badly." I say quickly, noticing how he takes in a breath of horror. "I..hurt..you..?" He whispers, his voice heavy with dismay and self-hatred.

"I don't know, did you? What happened after I changed?" I say, narrowing my eyes.

Immediately the boy goes into a submissive gesture, showing his neck. "I thought you knew what you were doing. After you merged into your dragon form, you wrapped yourself around me and bit my neck. I responded by biting your side and...wrapping my wings around you." I turn my head, noticing the boys pause when he was explaining what he did. But the boy was about to fall over, he was leaning so forward. I give him a relieved smile, pushing the matter to the back of my mind. " Then that means you are matched with me? You and your spirit are our pair?"

"Yes." The boy whispers. "Avan and I are willing to take our lives if you don't want to be bound to us. I am male after all." He then takes out a dagger and points it at his heart, looking up into my eyes for the first time, waiting. I gasp, for the boy's eyes were a bright and bloody red. Shilla stirs within me, her emotions flowing. A deep joy. Affection. And powerful possessiveness. Mine, she seemed to say. Mine and mine alone, just like I am only his. I smile bigger, showing my fangs. With a gasp, I quickly cover them with my hand, tuning away from the boy shamefully. How could I show him such an embarrassing and disgraceful thing? The fact that parts of shilla exist on me even when we aren't merged is a huge disgrace and show of weakness. Suddenly, Shilla moves me, pushing my left hand in the direct path of the dagger that was headed straight for the boy's heart. "What the hell? Why did you do that? Why are you trying to kill yourself?!? I didn't say too!" i spit, pulling the dagger out of my hand with a squelching sound.

"Your hurt!" the boy cries, covering his hand around my injured one.

"Answer the question. Why were you trying to stab yourself?"

"You looked away from me. A dismissive gesture." He says quietly, wrapping my hand in a torn piece of his shirt. "I thought you disapproved of me and wanted a different partner."

"How could I disapprove of you if I have only known you for twenty minutes?!"

"Because I am male.You wanted a female partner right? I cannot comfort you the way a female could." He says, shame in his posture and on his face.

" And what could a female do that a male can't?" I say, looking at him with my hands on my hips. The boy looks over at me strangely then asks "How old are you?" Shilla bristles at the commanding tone in his voice, but I respond. "Eight. My birthday was only a week ago."