Frustrated foot steps paced the marble floors in agitated circles. Back and forth, wearing down at the ground with heavy footsteps that echoed furiously off the polished, stark white walls. Angiel grumbled to himself, impatiently looking around for any sign of relief. Things had not gone as he planned, and although his brother was now out of the way, just as he wanted, he could not celebrate just yet. The planer Vhysps continuously tormented him. Diving into him aimlessly, nipping at his ankles, tugging on his now, unkempt near-white hair. He had been losing sleep as they would whisper to him in their tongue all day and all night. He could not understand them, but they were clearly not happy with him. His fatigue showed in the dark bruises under his naturally dark-crimson gaze. His sleepiness nights were even causing him to hallucinate as he would swat his hand at black creatures that would fly across his vision every now and then. For all the commotion he should have caused, the castle was surprisingly quiet. The events that had taken place a few nights before still baffled him to no end. After he had sent his dagger flying out the window, hitting his accursed little brother in the back, his body never hit the ground. One moment he was falling to his death, the next there was nothing. A pool of blood was found where the body should have been, but after two days of searching, his men still had nothing to report to him. Angiel’s patience was wearing thin as he bit away at his thumbnail to the nub, grinding his teeth as he continued to mutter incoherently. His pacing became more intense as his worries dawned on him. He should be happy that Yu was gone, but the fact that he was not sure if he was dead or alive troubled him. If he was dead, he would not have to worry. But if he was alive somewhere, he could come back. Would his brother dare to fight him was the question though.

Suddenly distant footsteps could be heard clattering along the marble as Venire ran back to greet his prince. The man looked just as exhausted, but he did not have the same tormented look in his eyes. Swatting away a few Vhysps that turned on him as he approached Angiel, Venire unclasped the brooch holding together his simple traveling cloak. Folding the cloak neatly over his arm, he bowed to the prince. Breaking all formalities, Angiel grasped his friend’s shoulders with a frantic look in his eyes. When Venire returned his gaze with a defeated look in his usually dead eyes, Angiel turned around and screamed loudly out of frustration.

Slipping a hand around his friend’s shoulder, Venire pulled the prince close, stroking his hair calmly. Angiel never understood his friend’s habits of close contact with people, but he could feel himself relaxing.

“You know I don’t like it when you cast your magic around me, Venire,” He said as he leaned in close to his friend, feeling his strength slowly slip away.

Venire smiled as his hands started to glow with a warm light. The Vhysps that had been tormenting Angiel started to skitter away or melt into a stream of smoke. The ones that could not get away screamed in pain and an eery smile crept along Venire’s face.

“I only have your best interest in mind, Angiel.” His voice was low, almost sultry as it seduced him into a restful state.

“I’m too worried for rest, Venire. You know that. What if my foolish brother is still alive? What if he seeks the aide of a neighboring kingdom? Everything I’ve worked for would be ruined,” His voice lacked any passion and was slowly losing any life to it.

“Yu knows nothing of the outside world. Even if he did survive, he lacks the diplomatic majesty you possess. We got reports that last night Vhyspian energies were detected near the Balthaean boarder and—“

Angiel’s eyes snapped open at once as he forced himself out of his friend’s grasp, knocking the slightly larger man over. Venire hit the marble floor with a loud thump that echoed throughout the glorious halls of the marble castle. A fine welt started to form on the side of his face where Angiel had struck him.

“Why didn’t you tell me sooner, Venire? There is no reason for anyone from the Empire to be close to that cesspit!” Angiel’s crimson gaze burned with a strange sense of hope and life. He looked crazed, disturbed, and desperate.

Venire got back to his feet and calmly approached his prince with complete disregard for the injury the man had just inflicted on him. If he was the least bit angry, he hid it well.

“Now, now my Prince,” Venire cooed, gently raising his hand as it glowed with a murky black aura, “If he ended up in Balthae he is as good as dead. They hate our kind and we despise them in turn. If they are the ones to kill him, it will still serve our purpose just as well. No blood will be on your hands,” He had a cruel, twisted smile on his face as he spoke in that lulling voice of his.

Angiel felt his strength slowly slipping away as he fell back into Venire’s arms. He fought against his heavy lids to no avail as the entire room seemed to spin about him. If he was not on the brink of losing consciousness, Angiel would have probably thrown up on the spot.

“Venire…you…”

“Let Brothious guide you, my Prince.”

He was weak with exhaustion as he silently begged his legs and arms to move. He had no time for his friend’s antics, he needed to make sure that his brother was truly gone. He saw Venire’s mouth move as incomprehensible words fluttered through his ears. He couldn’t understand anything anymore and simply gave in to the magic that forcefully encased his very being. Angiel could feel Venire running his finger through his long, platinum hair again. Playing with it, twisting it around his fingers as he lost consciousness in his arms.