I feel ridiculous. Pretending to be my magical girl sister, in this way too frilly pink dress, while being tired up in front of the villain known as the Blazing Emperor. I’m a 22-year-old guy… If he is fooled by this, then he is a moron or blind.

Said Blazing Emperor is this man sitting on a dark marble throne, silently examining me. "Ladon, I do not think this is the fire witch."

Well, Shit.

A gold snake man replies with, “Why would you say that, my dear lord?”  

The Emperor got up from his throne and began walking toward me. My heart started beating quickly like a Hummingbird as he spoke.

“Well, the shoulders look broader, and their eyes are blue, not brown.” I should have put in those contacts.

“And the last time I heard girls don’t have these…” With those words, he pulled up my dress to show my manhood. Thank god I am still wearing my boxers. I would be lying if I said my face didn’t turn red. 

“Pervert!” was all I could say. Then he smirks at me as he puts down my dress. ‘He just smirked at me, I want to kick this guy's ass.

As he walked back to his throne, he commanded, “Everyone leaves me, Ladon, and our guest alone. We need to discuss how to make our dear guest more… comfortable.” With that, everyone left except us three. This is not good. “Ladon, take off his mask.”

Before this Ladon snake guy could take off my pretty pink mask, I’m proud to say I got in. “Aren’t you gonna take off your mask first? Only fair right?” As I glare at his white mask with black-covered makings, unable to see his eyes. 

Ladon ripped off my mask with a hiss. “Don’t disrespect the Emperor, Boy! You’re lucky I wasn’t instructed to cut off your tongue in front of the gracious Emperor.”

“Now Ladon, I quite like his smart mouth.” The Emperor just looks at me with a smirk as he pushes his long white hair back. “My my, what a cute face you have, very similar to someone we know very well. Right, Ladon?”

“You’re right sir, he does look very similar to him.” Ladon’s golden snake eyes scanned me up and down.

“Ladon go bring him here quickly.”

“Yes, Sir!” With that, Ladon ran off, and now it is just me and this smug man on a thrown.

But this time, I got a good look around me. I can’t lie, this place is beautiful. There was a marble checkered pattern of white and black tiles with gold trim. The pillars had a similar theme of black and white but with some of the brightest and most luscious yellow and golden flowers I have ever seen. And to help these flowers grow were these big stained glass windows, which I guess tell stories of the past. I never noticed how enthralled I was by the beauty of this place until the ‘Emperor’s’ voice broke my trance. “Are you admiring my plants? They're quite beautiful … and soon you’re going to be a part of them.” Well, double shit, I’m going to be turned into fertilizer. 

We stay quiet for a couple of minutes until “What’s your name?” Is he trying to make small talk with someone he is planning to turn into plant food? Well, I’m already dead. Might as well make this fun.

“Jackass,” I stated. It wasn't the best, but I didn’t have much time to think of a better response. 

“My, my, what a dirty mouth you have, and you were being so cute while quiet.” Well triple shit, the first guy/girl to flirt in a year happened to be evil. That's my luck with my so-called love life. 

“What did you expect? You tied me, plan on killing me, and are constantly trying to kill my little sister?” 

“So she is your sister? That’s even better.” Well, what do you call 4 times again? Quadruple shit? “I am only taking a wild guess that you are the older brother to the little fire witch with the heart of Gaia around her neck.” That hit the nail right on the head.

I tried my best not to show on my face that he was right. He could hurt her by torturing or killing me, maybe even bargaining me for her. The only reason I said yes to this stupid idea was to keep her safe. Olivia, please get here soon. 

He mocks me with a “You’re being cute again. I will know soon enough. Besides, you look so much like her in that little disguise.” 

“How much longer until Mr. Golden Snake comes back? I want to get this over with! Just kill me! Stop playing around like this!” 

“Who said we were going to kill you?” With those words leaving his mouth, I have never felt more confused. 

Before he or I could say anything else, the door opened with Ladon’s return, along with someone else. The first thing I noticed was their face were covered by fabric that was tied to their light brown horns. They also had a tail that looked similar to pig’s, cows’, and lion’s tails. It was nothing like Ladon's long golden snake tail. 

“Oak, you’re finally here! This is a special occasion, so could you get to show our guest here your face? Take off your veil.” With that, this Oak person started unraveling their veil. 

As the fabric left their face, I could not believe my eyes. It was like I was looking in a mirror.