114 | faces; yet you are familiar

"Nicola," said Kaden quietly, swinging his head around as his hands pressed against the scaled surface underneath. "We left her behind. We need to return for her."

Niklas stared at him and shook his head. "It was the plan. If we had more time, I wanted to sneak into the castle. But we were rushed and now she's there—and he won't hurt her."

"He is capable of many cruelties—"

"He won't hurt the woman he once wanted to be his Queen."

Behind the pair, Holly frowned as she wildly clung to Noah's body, her hair whipping around in the air and unraveling her frizzy braids. "Queen! What? Hey, what are you talking about?"

Arlo's head was lowered, thrown onto Noah's back in the commotion, his expression mixed between confusion and wild fascination of soaring high in the skies. Despite his mature atmosphere, on the back of a dragon, he was reduced to a little child with big dreams.

Niklas opened his mouth to reply, his cloak wrapped around his neck and bristling in the rushing wind, before the surface underneath them trembled.

The dragon faltered, his weight sinking lower and lower. A suddenly drop, and then an insistent hovering midair as if he were trying to remain flying.

There was blood everywhere, soaking their clothes as it drew a hideous line down his back.

"Bellamy, go down. Go down." Kaden stared at his blood-covered gloves and felt his stomach turn.

He could try to endure it, the ghosts that haunted him from his crimson-coloured past. But if Noah died, consequence of saving him, he would never sleep again.

They dropped another meter in the air, and Niklas grabbed Holly's hand and Kaden's arm. Kaden grabbed Arlo, and the young teenager looked at him with delight despite their impeding situation.

Soon, they were all spiraling to the ground, towards a thick cluster of trees. Noah's breath stagnated as he struggled to turn, large wings enveloping the three in protection.

The branches scrapped past their bodies, tearing skin and fabric as they collided into the ground.

Kaden groaned, rolling over as his hands pressed into the membrane of Noah's wings, curled around him. The large wings covered all four, shielding them from the brunt of damage.

He pushed himself up, hurrying to examine the dragon—still kept in his beast form. Noah was so still, like an exhibit placed on display, that Kaden feared the worse.

Then, a hoarse voice penetrated his mind, filling the cavity of his thoughts.

"I can't change back."

Niklas, his one arm twisted oddly, winced and looked over at Kaden's startled expression. "What did he say? He said something, didn't he?"

Kaden remained crouched, palms resting on the dragon's leather skin. "He can't change back."

All three fell silent, at a loss. It was one thing to treat a faerie—they were more commonplace—but a dragon? Was there anybody capable, and if they were, would they be willing?

Dragons were one of the most discriminated species, even when they were revered or glorified.

Holly shuddered where she sat with her knees drawn in, and didn't think there would be a person. Noah's demure was intimidating and cold even in his human form but this was different.

Here, she felt a fear running across her arms like needle points and burrowing into her bloodstream. Her chest squeezed and her palms were slicked with sweat.

She knew it was Noah, and that he wouldn't harm her—but that was the very reason.

The danger that dragons radiated from their mere existence.

The trees shielded them, covering the space in a shadow and a faint breeze that rustled the hanging leaves.

"The Dragon's Treasure," said Niklas in sudden awareness. "There might be somebody who can help him there."

A noise that sounds almost mocking came from the lying dragon, and Kaden thought it sounds similar to a snort. The voice sounded in his head again. "There might be."

Dragons were independent creatures, Kaden remembered. They watched death around them and chose not to interfere. Perhaps, even Noah's death would be overlooked as an unfortunate event.

But there was no other option.

"Lead us, Bellamy. I won't watch you bleed out here."

The dragon shuffled his large body, squinting. Kaden continued to transcribe the words spoken in his head.

"They are kinder to other creatures, but hostile to human men. They are more welcoming to the Blessed and those who don't quite fit in."

Dragon's were secluded and isolated. Poached for their blood and scales if they couldn't fight back.

Holly nodded, relaxing slightly. "Then that's fine, we're all students of the Academy."

But the sharpened, glaring gaze of the dragon had fixed onto Niklas. Viscious even in their roaring pain.The blue-eyed man stiffened and sighed, reaching back to untangle his necklace from underneath his cloak.

"It'll be fine if I look like another creature, right?"

Holly frowned. "What? What are you even talking about, why do you need to change? Anyway, how can you—"

The man rubbed his thumb over the butterfly wing tenderly, swiping it across. In seconds, his skin begun to peel and scaled unfolded over the surface, dark veins crawling underneath his skin.

His face changed, twisting, and his hair grew longer, drawing in the green shades of the forest.

"It's a spell," he explained carefully. "I met somebody who worked with magical tools. It's limited, but I have a few more uses."

When his transformation finished, Kaden stared and stared.

Quietly, he remarked, "A different face. But you're still familiar." He knew a person like that, always wearing a different face and always strangely familiar.

Niklas' shoulders hunched in, gaze lowering. "Yeah. Kaden—"

The sinner turned away, drawing his focus back to Noah's injuries.

Niklas stood helplessly in the cluster of trees, his entire body deflating. He was keenly aware of other people's moods and pressing the matter would only end in disaster. He could only shut his mouth and wait for the right moment.

Without turning around, Kaden called out. "What happened to the dragon that brought you to the castle?"

"He'll be there. Or here. That brat is probably listening in anyway like the stalker he is, so he'll appear soon I'm sure."

On cue, the air pushed away above them once again and the powerful flapping of wings entered their ears. The smaller dragon landed, and as he approached the ground, his scales fell off, wings retracting slowly and bones cracking into place.

A bare foot landed on the ground, and a cold, gloomy man gazed at them with disdain.

Kaden's mouth parted slightly. "From the forest."

But the dragon's eyes were staring at Noah, trembling. He shrunk away awkwardly, limbs skinny. "I'll take you to the Dragon's treasure. He can find his way on his own, but he can't bring you all."

As if protesting, Noah's heavy body lumbered, moving slightly to reveal a cluster of crushed flowers under his body.

The younger dragon eyed him sharply. "If you move right now, I'll run away again. You'll all be stranded. I want you alive, but these humans can rot for all I care."

"How cruel of you," sighed Niklas, clutching a hand to his heart. "After all we've been through?"

"I'd like you to die first."

"Fortunately, you'll be stuck with me for a long time."

Noah resigned himself to being a patient—he could barely move, and even dragging his tired body would be excruciating. Insisting on bringing the others would be stupidity.

Soon, they were soaring into the skies on an unfamiliar back. Noah was left in the forest to regain his energy before he followed.

The young dragon paid no attention to the humans on his back, swooping and soaring up and down. Before them, an endless sea of stormy clouds appeared.

Without hesitation, the dragon plunged through them and the air filled their lungs, burning their throats.

Holly coughed violently, covering her mouth and Niklas raised his cloak over his face with a scrunch. All four plastered their bodies onto the bumpy back, trying not to swallow.

It was like all humidity had been stolen from the air and their skin cracked and peeled, any sign of moisture being leeched.

A long time through the clouds and the dragon dipped, spinning towards the ground. Standing at a jutting cliff of bare ground, only stone, an elderly woman frowned.

In her wrinkled hand, she held a twisted dark wooden cane that held a red orb at its top.

Kaden looked around in awe—as if every tree, every flourishing piece of nature had been carefully crafted and designed. The water far below was clear and untainted, flowers and plants blooming.

Among the lively scenery, there were several spans of mountain ranges, pure rock and stone that towered around everything, appearing unnatural.

The young dragon dumped his luggage onto the cliff and transformed into his humanoid form.

Niklas groaned, clutching his broken arm and Kaden winced, rubbing his legs that had gotten caught in a stone. They were all a mess of tattered clothes and blood.

The woman, her white hair long and braided, lifted her knowing gaze to the skies. Her voice, surprisingly soft, was distant and fleeting. "I'll have him go to the Manifest Mountain. That brother of yours."

"There is room for guests, I suppose. Do you remember where they are, young dragon? It has been many, many years."

The dragon nodded stiffly, more rigid than he'd been originally. There was a hierarchy in these lands, and this woman stood at the top.

"Then fly along. Do not disturb any others."

There was something about her voice, stern and yet soft, that demanded obedience and carried immense knowledge.

The young dragon—Wisteria, Kaden learned his name was—flew them to a little cave on the side of one of the many mountains. An area only they could reach—a precaution so visitors couldn't roam.

Holly walked around the little cave, walls rugged and sharp, but enough to provide shelter.

She crouched down and poked at a wriggling worm, almost transparent. "Where is Noah going? She said it's the Manifest Mountain?"

"Tell us, Wisteria," said Niklas with a look as the dragon was about to flee. "For Noah's sake."

The dragon glared irritably. "It isn't attractive to use my weaknesses to your advantage."

Niklas smiled in reminder. "You find me unattractive regardless."

The dragon squinted, his lips curving into an unpleasant frown that debated between killing these humans or appeasing them. Finally, he sighed, winkling his nose.

"He's lived as a human for so long, but he can't forget his roots. The Manifest Mountain is where we are contained as children, or for injured adults."

"What is it?" wondered Holly curiously, skipping closer as the worm flopped over her finger.

"It's a space, similar to this, only much deeper in the mountain. Neither the young nor injured are able to fly out. You stay there until you can control your emotions and abilities. Injuries can make us lose control of our restraint."

He exhaled, exhausted from talking more than he wanted to.

Holly's face fell. "That's cruel."

"It's dragon. He isn't human, don't make him to be one. Emotions to us are destructive; restraint is the lesson drilled from birth. We learn to be lonely and in solitude. That is our life."

His words were sharp and grating, forcing even the most talkative to fall into an uncomfortable silence.

There, at the edge of the mountain in this land of dragons, they were the outliers. They were the ones that knew nothing and could only apply their human ideals.

It was unnerving, thrust into a situation where their every action was judged.

Kaden's pale green eyes flickered. How did that dragon feel, every day, while he wore human skin but could not hide the blood that ran under his skin?

"Take me to him."

Wisteria sneered, and Kaden thought his name didn't suit the gloomy, murderous disposition. "You have a death wish, human. During recovery, if he does, I can't guarantee he won't attack you."

Kaden's hunched shoulders, weighed down by the years of obedience, straightened and clarity returned to his eyes. He was used to choosing which emotions to suppress and which to paint over his face.

It was only in the face of these people—the ones who fought for his salvation, the he found pretending to be a little harder.

His memories were still unclear and he felt a little uncomfortable.

He smiled, the sort of fleeting one that was akin to a goodbye. "Take me to him, little dragon."

"I'm not little," hissed the other, baring sharp teeth.

"You certainly act little. It's the aura."

"You and he are perfect friends, both irrevocably irritating. Do you want to see him out of petty obligation? Do you think he would be pleased? All his restraint and you thrust your pathetic self before him to be killed."

Kaden didn't flinch. "If death is his choice for me—"

"You've been rejecting help all this time, yet want to help others? You hypocrite. If you think he'd willingly kill you, then you don't know him at all."

Kaden paused, faltering. He corrected himself because that was true. That bad habit of his, the core belief that nobody could want him living, nobody could love him painlessly.

"Take me to him, please. If he's in pain, I want to be there."

The dragon sneered. "Why?"

Kaden took a deep breath, forcing down the discomfort in his chest. "Because I need him. And because," just maybe, "he needs me too."

"Hah. You want to admit that now? If you leave him again, I'll kill you." Wisteria jerked his head to glare at Niklas. "I don't care how many enemies I make killing you. My brother left these lands to free himself and found instead a shackle in human form."

"Enough," said Niklas quietly, his voice firm and anger burning in his face. "You're not to threaten me, Wis."

"I wonder if helping you saved my brother or ruined him."

"Keep talking, and I can make you believe the latter." The coldness in his voice made Holly flinch. He turned to Kaden. "We need to talk. Seriously, Kaden. Please."

Kaden walked to the entrance, looking down at the stretching forests, the height that separated them. He stood at the teetering edge as the wind blew around him, ruffling his hair and clothes.

Niklas took a step forward, reaching out as if to pull him back, but stopped. He knew that Wisteria wouldn't let Kaden die just yet.

His heart pounded against his chest, hands curling into his palms. Why did this fool have to be so stubborn and mistrustful?

And why did Niklas Astors choose to save this man?

Kaden's head turned back slightly, quiet. "What else have you not told me, or have all your secrets been uncovered?"

Niklas sucked in a breath, his limbs stiff and tensed. Clearly, they were standing in a cave made of solid rock, but he felt like the ground was unsteady underneath him. In the space, his voice echoed, sounding louder and amplifying the intensity of emotions.

"What about you Kaden? How little have you told us all these years, how much of yourself have you shielded? It isn't fair. You can't be angry at me."

"You have the right to be mad at me. As I do at you." Kaden's expression faltered, hurt filling his gaze. "What other lies, Niklas?"

"This isn't the time. Not right here, not right now. Come on Kaden, this is our long-awaited reunion. Talk to me. Don't scold me, I'll cry." He offered a smile of compromise, but Kaden shook his head.

There was always that lingering tension, an air of mystery that surrounded Niklas' sunny and teasing appearance.

Kaden ignored it because that man weaseled his way into his life and it was like nothing Kaden had known or experienced before. Because he thought whatever lies Niklas told, he could forgive.

Niklas Astors, the first friend of the lonely sinner.

But what were the reasons why Niklas approached him that day, or why he had to change his appearance, or how he could twist his appearance and display that uncanny familiarity?

A man who knew a deeper truth than all of them. All the uncertainty bled into doubt, and the less Kaden knew, the more cautious he grew.

The biggest betrayal in his life had been Reed, his saviour, and his family. If everything had been a lie—and Kaden so desperately wished it weren't—then what would he do?

"Come on, Kaden. We can scrap it out, talk it out, whatever you wish. This just isn't a good time for... everything. My arm's broken and you're literally bleeding onto the ground."

"When is the right time?"

"Well, clearly not right now. It's... complicated."

Wisteria had transformed, uninterested in their conversation as he gruffly lowered his back to gesture for Kaden to hurry on. Kaden turned, swinging his long legs over the rough back as long, elegant wings unfolded.

"You're running away again, Kaden," said Niklas with exasperation. "You're always running."

Kaden faltered, breathing slowly. He'd fled from the palace, and there was no option but to place his faith in his companions.

His body and mind had told him it would have been better to continue that routine, to remain a mindless doll to Reed and forsake the trivial fantasy of happiness.

But he'd left. It was a rebellion against himself.

He'd remained stagnant in time for too long; if he wanted to change their destiny, he would have to change too.

Right, Bellamy? Kaden closed his eyes.

'Your protection is a cruelty. Your kindness injures. More than we wanted to live, we wanted to live by your side.'

How many times had he been told, that despite all his fears and anxieties, they chose him?

"You said you'd forgive me, Kaden," said Niklas quietly. "Even if the secrets I'm hiding go against everything you know."

Kaden slowly opened his eyes, the light from outside the cave filtering over his pale green eyes, steady and focused.

"I'll forgive you. No matter what."

He pressed down his bubbling fear and doubt, smothering it to the pits of his stomach. Because he knew Niklas Astors, at least one side of that man, and he wouldn't be betrayed.

He trusted Niklas; that could not be denied.

Blame him if he was betrayed for this stubborn trust, despite suspicion. Because he would rather face betrayal than suspect the one companion that had been at his side since he opened his eyes in this rebirth.

"Let's talk when I'm back later. I'll let you know how Bellamy is." He nodded at Niklas and Holly, and thought for the first time, that he was really seeing them.

A similar uncertainty and fear carved into Niklas' azure stare. Was he scared that Kaden wouldn't forgive him?

Kaden wanted to laugh. All this time and all their distance and secrets, yet really, weren't they all fools hiding secrets in fear of losing each other?

It became so strikingly clear, that Kaden didn't know whether he wanted to laugh or cry.

They were all judges and the judged; they were frightened, escaping creatures that sought company because they feared the solitude of their minds and fled when others drew too close.

They were only living.