Read Forever, After... :: FA - Chapter 08

Chapter 08 - 'I'm Surprised, You?'

It's the games he likes to play that irritate Azrael. Instead of peacefully soaking up the moonlight that strengthened his bones. Azrael lay defending his exposed form from his partner's touch.

Golden eyes round and full of life, danced each time the skeletal hand swatted him away. Growing bored Rystler sat up from the soft blanket. Although being under the stars with his partner was usually a fun past time. Tonight lacked the excitement that came with it.

"I still don't see how this helps my sweet," said Rystler.

The skeleton next to him lay deathly still in the meadow. Not caring to give an answer Azrael ignored his words. The reason Rystler thought nothing was happening was because he did not have the rhetorical eyes to see. At that very moment the life within him pulsed at a steady beat feeding on the generous amount of moonlight that was being shined on it. The aura surrounding her was calm unlike the crazed behaviour she had earlier that day.

Tired of doing nothing Rystler pulled on his shirt. He could handle being skyclad beneath the stars, but moon bathing with nothing else involved set him off. This was their private moment on the small island that they claimed as their own and he wanted to do something a bit more frisky. Never mind the risk, Rystler was ready to make a move.

"Lie down!" said Azrael.

The order was firm and gave no room for negotiation. The soft tapping of bones, as his spine twisted itself to accommodate the change in the skull's direction, was the only sound between them.

A dark flame was ignited in Azrael's eyes. The index and middle fingers were lifted each entering a separate socket. Catching on fire, a smaller version of the flame sat on the tips of his bones. Extending them to Rystler he lightly pressed them into his golden eyes. Rystler blinked rapidly, his vision leaving him for all but ten seconds. When it returned he tried to regulate his breathing.

The world around him was ... different. He could see a thin film that traced the outline of Azrael's physical form glowing in the moonlight. Black eyes stared into him with indifference. The soft clicks were heard once more as he repositioned himself. Excited, Rystler threw himself onto the resting haala. Hovering over the man beneath him a soft kiss was placed on Azrael's lips.

Rystler pulled away when he noticed something he hadn't seen before. The raised area on his stomach was encapsulated by a layer of darkness and a layer of ... moonlight? Rystler stared at it with genuine curiosity.

"My protection and the Goddess' blessing," said Azrael without prompt. "Now lay still on the blanket you're shifting it!"

She's beautiful. Rystler's mind ran at a hundred words per second, glorifying the life within him. The egg ten inches in length and six inches in width sat in the incubation space of his dragon.

Each dragon is given one superior egg every fifty years ensuring ease of impregnation. This egg is made and nurtured to maturity by the male body until the desired energy is introduced to give it life. It is at this point the baton can be passed onto the female form or it can be expelled from the body and held within a special nesting area.

The incubation process would last until the dragon is able to break free of its shell. The dragonoid would spend its first few days of life in its birth form until it can force a change at which it takes on human flesh. With thoughts along those lines Rystler turned to Azrael.

"I've been having thoughts," said Rystler.

Azrael's peace was once more disturbed. At the blink of an eye he reverted to his human shell. He could not handle another suicide attempt on Rystlers part.

"Hopefully ones that aren't deadly," said Azrael.

His heart ached slightly at the memory of his partner's weakest moment. Shaking his hands, a frantic Rystler quickly cupped the cheeks of the man beneath him.

"No, no, Goddess no! I meant like if I should keep the egg," said Rystler. Azrael's eyes widened from the obvious misunderstanding.

"Of course!" stated Azrael. His dark eyes were steady, but the war which they hid was threatening to take over his rational mind.

Smiling, Rystler placed his lips on the soft pair in front of him. Oblivious to Azrael's misunderstanding he continued, "I was thinking that as well, but I'm so over the morning sickness and the aches and the strange food cravings. I want to be free of it right now!" Rystler bit his top lip, as he looked off to the side.

Azrael who was uneducated concerning the dragon anatomy, especially when it came to the fine details was appalled by his partners words. Were you not showering words of love upon our daughter not more than half an hour ago? The one word he could mutter left his lips.

"Why?"

"I just explained 'why'. Besides, wouldn't it be better if we could hold her! We could also take turns looking over her!" said Rystler. His excitement could be seen as he caressed his stomach. Cocking his head to the left, Azrael felt that for some reason or the other they weren't on the same page.

"What did you mean by 'keep the egg'?"

In one breath a concise explanation was given to Azrael which opened his eyes. He felt the urge to slap himself. Of course the birthing methods of dragons were different! They came from actual eggs which could be, for lack of a better word, 'laid'.

A breath of cool air escaped his pale lips at the revelation. Although his first instinct was to agree, he thought of the ramifications if they were to do such a thing. Azrael was not the type to engage in idle talk but his group was always speaking of something that held their interest.

Thanks to them he knew there were people that were part of the underground that profited from stealing and smuggling said eggs. Be it of bird, fish, or in their case dragon. Neither of them could ensure the safety of their offspring in the event that they were both called out to duty.

Yes, an incubation nest could be built. Yes, charms and protection wards could be put in place. However there was always that 'what if' that lingered giving Azrael a sour taste in his mouth. With the egg safety tucked away in Rystler's dragon, the chances of someone getting their hands on it was extremely low. To do that they would have to induce labour.

With his decision firm in his mind, Azrael broke the silence saying, "No. It is not safe."

"What do you mean it's not safe? We do this all the time, especially for multiple births," said Rystler.

Another issue which bothered Azrael sparked his mind. How is there only one egg present?

Dragons were plusieurs creatures. Having single births were almost unheard of. At first he wanted to blame it on the dark energy that was used to fertilize the egg, but the more he thought about it the more unsettled he felt. Even though it took fifty years to create a superior egg, what about the ones that lay dormant beside it?

Did none awake at his 'touch', being filled with life?

Fully aware of the bitter silence that would follow Azrael said, "You should first see a physician. To be on the side of caution." Dark eyes bore into Rystler, he could see the stubbornness in those golden eyes.

The creatures of the night took the opportunity to express their love for the darkness. The sounds made filled the space between the two men creating a tense atmosphere. Seeing as his partner would not respond he continued saying, "Either way I still think you should not remove her from where she is."

Rystler's lips opened to retort when his senses became overwhelmed. His neck snapped to the direction of the mainland. He got up in a flash thanking the Gods and Goddesses for his keen sense of smell. Though faint on the winds that brought it to him, he could still smell it which alarmed him. They were quite a distance away, so why could he smell a fire?

Dressing quickly he motioned for Azrael to do the same. Quickly transforming himself the haala rose to the night sky on golden wings. The sight he feared to see was revealed, its orange and red glow inserted anxiety and fear into its onlooker.

The castle's on fire!

Arriving on the ground Rystler spoke saying, "We have to leave now. The castle's on fire. Possibly under siege!" Azrael's hand shot out holding the waist of his partner.

"Your glamour!" said Azrael.

The reminder shocked Rystler to the present. He had almost forgotten his secret which needed to be hidden. Taking out of a side pocket the catalyst for the enchantment he swallowed it dry. A seat was taken on the grass and he focussed his intent to start the enchantment.

The speed at which the glamour charm was done shocked Azrael. Looking like his normal self, Rystler held Azrael in his arms. The man sent his hands behind Rystler's back and clung tightly to his shoulders.

Feeling comfortable with Azrael's secure grip he looked up to the starry night. The haala extended two powerful wings and took to the sky leaving the small utopia behind.