Tales of a Dragon

Chapter Twelve

"I wouldn't know where they hide!" Rastiv shrieked.

Avril shook her head. "Then do you have any idea where?"

Rastiv sighed. "No."

They were looking for the Crossbones's hideout, where they could be keeping Axis. Rastiv was supposed to holding a Ceremony today, but he was too focused on finding his boy.

Huh, he chuckled slightly. His boy.

It was five past noon on the next day. Avril was not reluctant to go look for Axis once more, but she was hesitant on going with Rastiv. He could tell with her jerky movements and blank, but not blank at the same time, face. He was used to it, having people look at him with shame and disappointed, but Axis had gave him a family bond and Avril, having look so alike with her brother, it hurt him when she gave him that look. He wanted nothing but for her to see he wasn't that bad... but he was, wasn't he? Ha, she wasn't wrong.

He was a horrible person.

But he would find Axis. And maybe then, he would finally be seen as something else other than a coward.

===

Axis had seen the master of the Crossbones awake two days ago, sitting in the training room in meditation. And that night, he had seen the master awake, his eyes wide open, which was strange since he was meditating. And then, the next morning, he had been awake. And that night, he had been wide awake. And the next morning, today, he had been awake.

And when Axis was sneaking out tonight, and the master had to be awake, too.

How could one man stay awake for over 48 hours and not drop on to the floor with exhaustion? Holy stars, he would have to be quick and quiet. Quick and quiet became a mantra in his head that he repeated over and over again.

Quick and quiet.

He got out of the dorms successfully. Kecia and Jackson had stirred, along with a few others, but he had managed to not wake anyone. His tip-toeing didn't seem to help, and it just hurt his feet, so he walked normally, his bare feet cold on the stone.

The air down here was very thick and cold, since it was underground. It was sometimes hard to breathe; he would have a shortage of breaths once in a while. Maybe a small hiccup.

As he went up the narrow stairs, his throat tightened and he hiccuped.

His heart froze, and he listened. Someone was getting up. No, no, no, someone had heard that. He went up the stairs faster, his feet arching up the steps lightly and swiftly. He reached for the hatch that opened the secret passage.

But suddenly, he felt a presence next to him and a hand grabbed his collar.

He gasped quietly and turned to face his captor. It was the master. He had his black robes on his long, gray hair in tiny braids at the side and the rest of it down. His face was marked with thought, as if he was thinking about something. Maybe thinking about killing Axis. Please, all of the holy stars, no.

The master released his collar and surprised Axis by opening the hatch for him.

Axis was very confused. Was he letting him go just like that? What was the point of capturing him then? This must of been some trickery, but he couldn't pass up this offer... he reached for the wooden hatch, lifted it, and went through.

The ari was finally normal and smooth to breathe in.

And the master stood right underneath Axis's feet. He suspected he was watching Axis, but Axis kept walking. There was a glint in the dark as Axis turned around. But as he kept walking, there was nothing.