"Are you happy?"

A person's voice distracted Kaden from his wandering thoughts as he stared out at the deep blue skies, stretched out and far beyond his wildest imagination.

The countries he'd yet to see, the land he'd yet to touch.

Kaden responded almost instinctively, the words leaving his mouth before his mind could follow. "I think so. But I regret too many things in the past to completely move forward."

The modern buildings in an ever-growing city. He'd been surprised, the first time he opened his eyes in this unfamiliar world.

And then he'd cried, curling up into rough blankets, surrounded by noise that he hadn't heard in a very long time.

The voice was deep, a low, familiar rumble. "Do you remember your last words?"

"What?"

"It's time for you to return."

Kaden spun around, furrowing his eyebrows. However, empty air greeted him on the lonely bridge. The wind's howl picked up, spinning around him, growing louder and louder.

There were no cars below on the typically busy highway.

"...Hello?"

Had he overworked himself? He'd been caught up recently in some child abuse cases—determined to have them uncovered. The investigation had been difficult, including countless days of sleepless nights, but it had been well worth it.

He'd finally be able to find evidence to forcefully take the child from their abusive parents, and relocated the young boy into a proper home they deserved.

The corruption in the system reminded him of his previous world, schemes underneath the facade of salvation. It would exist wherever he went, a present constant in society.

But he found it to be a truly tragic thing, when children had to grow up earlier than they should.

The only downside, he supposed, was that he was now hallucinating.

Dark shadows clouded the underneath of his eyes as he pushed through the wind, crossing the bridge. He shoved his hands into the deep pockets of his trench-coat, narrowing his gaze.

The wind was still screaming.

And the rest of the world remained soundless.

Kaden peered around, discomfort tugging at his stomach. He'd get some sleep in that small apartment of his, maybe grab a bite or two.

He still couldn't really make friends in this lifetime, but maybe he would.

Eventually.

"I apologize, Kaden."

He twisted around violently, wide-eyed at the voice that seemed to carry with the blowing wind, brushing gently against his ear.

"Hello? Is somebody there? This isn't funny in the slightest, I hope you know." called out the man, anxiety riddling his mind.

But where could somebody hide on this empty bridge?

He buttoned up his coat, tugging at his collar before hurrying down the bridge. His footsteps increased, until he was almost sprinting.

The voice continued as he ran.

"I never intended for things to turn out the way they did. My power wasn't stable. I..."

Kaden shook his head, eyes fixated on the staircase at the opposite end. Almost there. And then he'd eat, sleep, put an end to these crazy hallucinations—

"...only wanted to save you."

A mirage flickered in the corner of his eyes.

A familiar, gloomy figure that he'd forgotten over the years. The dead eyes, void of life or emotion, leaning close to the edge.

And he just couldn't help himself.

He reached out.

And the figure smiled, leaning back into the empty air. Kaden's eyes widened—impossibly wide—before he lunged out, feeling the soft graze of fabric on his hands. Then the warm, sticky red that he was once so familiar with.

As he startled, horror rapidly twisting his expression, the grey concrete appeared before his face.

Then suddenly, he saw nothing.

—— xxx ——

He jumped up from his bed, gasping, sweat dripping down his forehead and making shivers run along his back. Goosebumps littered his flesh as he stared, wide-eyed and confused.

"What on earth is this?"

He scrambled to life under thin covers, staring at the white cloth that draped over his too-slender frame and the hands that splayed open, pale and bony.

It wasn't unfamiliar, this pathetic, malnourished body, but he stumbled out of the bed, crashing to the floor as he groaned in pain.

Impossible.

Pushing himself up, he spread his fingers against the mirror that stood in the corner, waiting.

The curse was gone, removed from his skin where it had been inked as a reminder. But it had been for several years in that other life. But...

This life, again.

The cold and unflinching viridescent gaze, and limp pink hair that was tied neatly into a ponytail. The hands that had already been stained in death. A violent tremor took to his body as he smashed his fists down into the mirror.

This hell, again.

It was true that he regretted it, because he did. He truly did.

But that didn't mean he wanted to redo the torturous days, submit like a dog waiting for a treat, waiting for praise. He didn't want to redo the loneliness either, whether it was within these luxurious walls or out in his banishment.

His fist slammed against the mirror again, jagged pieces digging into his skin and red dripped.

Again and again and again.

Until he collapsed to his knees, huffing, staring into the broken mirror that made his appearance distort. There was nothing he could to about his odd phenomenon. He had to accept it.

Breathe.

He closed his eyes, listening and feeling the rise of his chest before opening them again. This time, it wouldn't be the same; he wouldn't allow for it.

Their foolish, ignorant dog had been replaced by a wolf.

The Chauvets would fall. And every scheme they planned against the Dragons, Kaden would unravel it all.

So that their legacy became nothing more than dust in the air, fading away from history.

He blinked slowly, staring at his reflection that gazed back at him with burning determination, hatred pulsing against his veins.

Eighteen years old.

The age where he entered the Academy—it was now. Where he would capture away the man blessed by the heavens, the son of the Dragons. He recognized the blooming bruise on his leg from a week prior to leaving for the Academy, one especially terrible.

Then, in the midst of his thoughts, the door burst open and a sharp laugh filled the room.

"Awake, little brother?"

Reed.

One crueler than Kaden by no other than reason except his own amusement. The one who branded a curse crueler than Noah's could've been—a curse of absolute obedience. 

Burned into his skin by a searing iron rod the day he'd been taken off the streets by the person he'd known as his elder brother; his master.

The man looked down at the mess on the carpet and laughed again mockingly. "Have you gone mad already, dog? Is the idea of the Academy so overwhelming that you've lost any bit of sanity you had left?"

Kaden lifted his chin with pride—even back then, there had been defiance in his eyes. It was that spark that Reed wanted to desperately snuff out, one that Kaden refused to let him. "Unfortunately, I've yet to go mad, Reed."

With biting politeness and careful words, obedience with traces of reluctance. That was how Kaden behaved to Reed, but by the end of the day, he'd always behave.

And he would continue behaving until he could grant Noah the opportunity to steal the secrets away and bring the Chauvet's fall from the inside.

"I'm thrilled to see you in good spirits. I am here to inform you of a mission from the King, so deal with your mess later." Reed stalked over to the bed and sat down, crossing his legs arrogantly. "You are to befriend the son of the dragons, Noah Bellamy."

Despite knowing he'd get no decent response, Kaden swallowed. "Why?"

"Is there any use of a servant knowing their master's purpose?"

"There is if it will help me accomplish the mission."

Reed paused, lowering his eyes at Kaden, who was still on the floor from his earlier shock at his rebirth.

He eyed Kaden carefully, as If sensing something was out of the norm. But Kaden was well versed in the facade, carefully built over his entire lifetime. What pride did he have left? If it was for vengeance, he would throw away everything that he was.

There was no other purpose to this unwanted rebirth.

"Crawl, and kiss my feet, dog." ordered the cruel man, watching observantly.

And Kaden obliged.

Through the pain that erupted in his hands from the broken shards that continued to dig into his skin, he moved forward with his head lowered and planted a kiss on the man's shoes—a promise of false obedience.

He bowed down to the prince, his current lord, and jailer.

There was probably a satisfied, arrogant smirk on that man's lips.

'Reed Chauvet.'

The sole surviour aside from him that has escaped on that fateful day in the past, avoiding the destiny he so deserved.

The man who was both his teacher and his owner, one who taught the oblivious him of trickery and cruelty. Somebody who once had been a brother to him.

It was almost pitiful, almost unfortunate, how unsightly things would be. Kaden wanted revenge, but more than that, he wanted to right the wrongs he'd committed. Save the lives that had been lost.

Nothing would make up for the crimes he'd committed.

And one day, he would end up in hell for his sins.

But, '...I will drag you down to hell, myself.'