Baited~ Book 2

20

"Ok, Jan... Try to make that snake again." Virgil smiled as Janus nodded moving into position. They've been at the sanctuary for so long it's actually starting to affect Virgil. Janus could see it clear as day even if Virgil pretended to be fine. The poor dragon's paler than usual. He's slower and sicker. Janus's caught the man leaning against the wall several times just trying to catch his breath or to stop the room from spinning. He had to go back and soon before it gets any worse. 

"Hey, Virgie... maybe we should..." Virgil narrowed his eyes making the man freeze as he sighed. Nope, Virgil just won't go back. "Ok." Janus took a deep breath letting his eyes go yellow as he felt that buzz under his skin. He felt it slither up his arm and he couldn't help but start to smile. His hair started to spike up as electricity sparked around him. A bright yellow snake appeared curled up around him like a scarf. It was a lot larger than what he used to be able to do and Virgil smiled with pride over how far Janus had already come. "Virgie, look.... lo..." Virgil started to cough making Jan freeze in concern. "Virgil?" The dragon couldn't stop coughing ending up on his knees as Janus ran over to help. "Virgil?! Virge..."

"Stop." Virgil waved him off as he pushed himself to his feet. "I'm fine. I'm..." He swayed a bit as he got back to his feet refusing to accept Janus's help. "I'm ok, Jan."

"Virgil, you are not ok. If you are this sick than what about..."

"I don't care about Ro..." Virgil whimpered as his chest burned within him. Janus just smiled sadly understanding his pain.

"Virgil, he's your rider. I know you're worried about him. Even if you're angry at him, you're still his dragon." Janus frowned as he rubbed his arm anxiously. "There are many times where Kuro was angry with me but she still never left my side."

"You've never..."

"I've never what?" Virgil froze at the serious look Janus gave him. "I've never kidnapped, tortured, abused... or hurt someone?" Virgil's eyes widened as Janus smiled softly. "You can't say that's different either. I was broken... Deceit was created through pain and abuse, yes but... You don't know what happened to make Roman this way."

"Roman's never been through..."

"I chained him up to Virgil." The dragon paused as his blood began to boil. "Remember? I brought him to the brink of death so you thought he died and then chained him up in that room in the basement."

"No... You didn't." Virgil sighed as he noticed the tears in his friend's eyes. "You didn't do anything Janus. Deceit did. And that... Roman didn't snap then. He even saved you from me so... I don't know Jan." Virgil started to pace as his pain got worse. "I love him. I do. I love Roman but... I can't go through that again. I can't have another..."

"ROMAN IS NOTHING LIKE ME VIRGIL!" Janus ran over, taking Virgil's hand as he panicked internally. "Not the me your thinking of anyway. Virgil, he broke." Virgil's eyes narrowed as Jan shook his head. "The last time he was there... the day you broke me out... He was so broken."

"I don't understand."

"He came in there already snapped because you had compared him to me." Virgil's face fell as Janus started to cry. "It was like everything in him was in a flury. He was scared. He asked me what I did to you and he just... I could tell he was scared he was losing you. The moment he asked why you would compare him to you... I realized what was in his head."

"I'm scared, Janus." The snake just smiled softly as Virgil pulled his hand from the other's grasp. "I don't want to go through that again. I love him. I gave him the one thing I never thought of giving you." Virgil had expected to see some sort of reaction from Janus at the but the snake just nodded in understanding as Virgil stepped back. "He's my rider. Not only that, he's my fiance. I never thought I would have someone love me for real..."

"I loved you..." Virgil shook his head as he stepped back again. Janus just laughed sadly at himself. "I did... I'm not saying anything else as I fucked that up royally.... but I did. You deserved better than me anyway."

"Jan..." 

"Roman loves you more than I did and that's saying something Virge. You're his everything. Being away from you has to be killing him."

"But if I go back he won't ever learn!" Virgil yelled as he stepped back again only to slip. Janus cried out seeing Virgil fall. The poor dragon was lost in the deja vu. As Janus peered over the ledge lost to the fear, Virgil was remembering the last time he had fallen off the gazeebo. He felt his body hit the ground hard as he tumbled, Janus's voice melting into the silence as his head hit a rock. All he could hear at that point was this constant thrumming pain, a ringing in his ears.

"Virgil!" Janus screamed out as he ran down the hill not even caring if he fell either. "Virg..." He slid to his knees pulling Virgil in whose eyes were glazed over and dulled. "Virgil, can you hear me? Virgil!" The snake could feel Virgil's heart beating but his breathing was so labored. "Virgil, please... Shit, I don't know what to do!"  Janus's chest burned as tears fell freely down his cheeks. "Virgie? Don't you dare!" Virgil's eyes began to flutter as Janus held him tighter. "You can't go! Roman needs you. I need you." 

Janus sobbed as he held Virgil, who just laid there limp in his arms. He couldn't stop the way he shook. He was so lost, he didn't notice the glow. Janus's hands began to glow, a bright white light encasing them entirely as he just cried. The glow grew and grew until Virgil was covered in it. The blood that covered Virgil's head slowly disappeared as color-filled his features. Janus didn't see it at all.

"J-Jan?" Virgil blinked as his finger twitched. "Janus... what..."

"VIRGIL!" Janus sobbed louder as Virgil looked around him. His head was still spinning but he could see the white glow around him clearly.

"Janus..." Virgil froze up wide-eyed as Jan pulled way to wipe his tears. His eyes were a blinding white, unlike anything Virgil had seen from him or Lydia. It was always yellow. "Janus, what are you doing?"

"What?" The snake just frowned as Virgil tried to push himself up only to wince and reel his hand back after cutting it on a jagged rock. "Virgil..." Virgil just stared at his hand as he watched his cut close and heal as if nothing ever happened.

"I can't heal... that fast."

"What?" Virgil's eyes narrowed in thought as he turned to look over at Jan. 

"Dragons... they heal fast but... not instantly." Janus's eyes went wide as Virgil just smiled awkwardly. "So... how."

"Maybe... it's your power?" Virgil laughed as he shook his head. 

"I'm not the one with glowing white eyes. Janus whatever this is... You're the one doing it."