Here is Chapter 54!

Tomorrow once I am finished editing, I will post the final Chapter (55). There will also be an epilogue that I will edit and post sometime in the week!

I hope you enjoy the Chapter,
Love Daisy x

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Chapter 54 | (Un)contained

*

'Let me die first,
or I will die
t w i c e.'

-Atticus

*

CIRCE

"You- "

Circe stared at the person standing in front of her, her face paling drastically. She glanced down at the hand that still held hers gently. Although it was more humanoid in its shape, it was, without a doubt, a dragon's claw. The white scales were smooth and soft, but the claws extended past the fingertip, sharpening into lightly curved points, that were too long and too sharp to be called nails.

Her gaze skimmed over his face once more. Now that she had recovered from her initial shock, she realised that this form was almost identical to Zalas's half-dragon form that he transformed into when he fought.

Her previous relief was rapidly disintegrating into dread. All she could think of  was Obsidian and Zarska. Was this what had happened here as well? Was Zalas destined to be lost forever, with only his brother inhabiting the shell that was left behind?

Noticing her gaze, Unabonan let her hand fall from his, retracting it rapidly with a light sneer of self-derision. When his upper lip curled, she saw curving fangs set in the place of incisors, and if she was not mistaken, a soft hiss of annoyance escaped his lips when he sighed.

I apologise, he thought to her, and she was shocked by the self-loathing present in his mental voice, this form is most undesirable.

She started as she realised; he had misinterpreted her silence as disgust. "No-" she said helplessly, "no, that's not why I-"

A sudden thought occurred to her and she turned to Airocei abruptly, remembering only now, her Aunt's words from earlier. The Queen had arrived beside her while she was otherwise occupied and now Airocei looked up at Unabonan with a sad, gentle smile on her face.

"Is this what you meant by 'needing time to recover?'" Circe asked sharply.

Airocei glanced at her, her eyebrows furrowed as she tried to catch Circe's train of thought. "If you are thinking of the scenario that occurred with your Pirate and his dragon, then no, not exactly-" she began, however, before she could continue, the doors to the throne room opened once more and an all too familiar voice swept into the room.

"Mother. I am sorry for the delay – has she arrived yet? I can go and fetch –"

Circe turned to meet a pair of opalescent eyes that were filled with worry.

Her expression collapsed in undisguised relief and she swore that she was going to get whiplash from all of these churning emotions.

"Zalas." Her throat felt thick and her eyes were hot as she called his name, her feet carrying her forwards before she had realised she was moving.

She hugged him tightly, confirming he was real and when she felt his hands hovering awkwardly around her as he tried to decide what to do, she resisted the urge to laugh. It was undoubtably Zalas this time.

Eventually, when she did not pull away, his hands fell onto her back as he returned the gesture tentatively. She felt his head drop as he rested his cheek briefly against her hair before he pulled away slightly to better see her face.

She suddenly felt a little vulnerable and slightly defensive. If he was going to tease her for her concern, she vowed to send him straight back to the brink of death.

To her surprise, he did nothing of the sort. Instead, he peered carefully into her slightly bashful face, and she held still – cautious as to what he was looking for. When he finally spoke, his voice was quiet and serious.

"I heard about what you did," he informed her, his pale eyes calm as he met her gaze, "I am proud of you – for choosing your own path."

Suddenly Circe's memories were rushed back to the moment when her and Zalas had stood together, high up in the turrets of the Water Kingdom palace, overlooking the bright festivities below, and Zalas had said to her then, that a Ruler's duty was to forever serve the people. That personal desires and individual aspirations would never be fulfilled, so long as they did not coincide with what was best for the Kingdom.

She had looked at him then, and many times again since that moment, and thought how lonely it must be, to shoulder such a burden. But she had never, truly imagined herself in the same position.

And now, as Zalas was staring at her with such a profound look of acknowledgement and respect, she could not help but wonder if he had wished a different path for her from the start. If his words, which had seemed like advice at the time – were actually meant as warning.

Before she could ask him however, the corner of his lips ticked up in a smirk and he straightened, his expression relaxing back into one she was more familiar with. Unfortunately.

"I heard that you were worried about me," he began smugly.

Circe turned back to Airocei, her expression blank except for a slight dusting of colour high on her cheeks. "So now that that's sorted," she said bluntly, "would you mind escorting me to see Obsidian?"

"Excuse me," Zalas said indignantly, "Don't you want to know what happened?"

"Do I really need to ask?" Circe said sourly, "I'm sure you're going to tell me anyway."

Her eyes flickered back to Unabonan however, as Zalas continued mutter angrily behind her – she did want to know what happened. She wasn't even sure of the extent of the damage done to Zalas, before they had decided on such drastic measures, but obviously it couldn't have been good.

"Well, I was on the brink of death," Zalas said, a little too arrogantly for Circe's liking.

Behind Airocei, Unabonan let out a quite snarl – a rumble that resonated throughout the room. It appeared Circe was not the only one unsettled by his complacent attitude.

Forget brink of death, Unabonan thought sourly, you were dead.

"I was not," Zalas retorted.

"Zalas," Airocei reprimanded firmly, "take care not to make light of your brother's sacrifice."

Zalas opened his mouth, but Circe cut across him quickly, her eyes on Unabonan. She was remembering a conversation they had had; upon which time she had asked if Unabonan was capable of transforming into a human – just as Zalas was able to inherit certain draconian features in order to enhance his physique.

At the time, the dragon had declined to give her a definitive answer, choosing only to scoff at the inconvenience and limitations of human form. Circe took his reply as something akin to: 'Why on earth would I want to be human, when I can be a dragon.'

And yet now here he was, looking more human than she had ever imagined – his resemblance to Zalas uncanny in its similarity. But then she supposed, they were practically twins after all.

"Why are you like this?" Circe asked, gesturing to Unabonan, "Can you change back?"

Unabonan gazed at her, his haughty face elegant and unreadable. He looked away, but his voice still resounded through her mind.

Sometimes, we must sacrifice the things we love, for the people we love.

The room was silent, and Circe felt her heart squeeze.

After a moment, Airocei broke the silence to offer a deeper explanation.

"During the battle with Zeus, I believe that both Zalas and Obsidian were gravely injured," Airocei's words were a little vague, as though she was omitting something, and Circe glanced suspiciously at Zalas. The Prince's face was perfectly blank however as he stared at his Mother, and Circe decided she would get the full explanation out of him later.

"Obsidian managed to use our Kingdom's pendant to salvage what was left of Zalas's soul before he died," Airocei continued, "I believe Zephyr has already informed you of this, but our Kingdom's pendant is unique. It has the ability to store life," Airocei's expression was solemn, "Obsidian pressed it directly into Zalas's chest. An ingenious move on his part."

Zalas rolled his eyes, "Fortunately someone was quick at thinking on his feet. I'll never live that one down," he muttered, but his tone was grudgingly respectful.

"However," Airocei continued, "our pendant is merely a vessel that stores life. It cannot bring people back from the dead. Zalas was caught in a half-between state, so to speak. The pendant was embedded within him, so although his body had faded, it was not a true death."

Listening to the recount, Circe suddenly felt a little overwhelmed. It really had been as bad as she had thought. If she had waited for them to return, if she had been there ... she should have stayed. She could have helped.

There was nothing you could have done, Vanima.

Circe looked up to see Unabonan staring at her. The dragon shifted slightly, his curtain of white hair swinging forward over his left shoulder, hands clasped behind his back.

To try to heal such a broken vessel, it is like pouring water into a bucket with a hole at the bottom. You would never be able to fill it.

"But you did," Circe disagreed. "I could have helped you."

Unabonan shook his head. Only because he and I share the same soul, was I able to act. I gave a portion of my life force to him. But the consequences mean that I am no longer powerful enough to maintain dragon shape. And so, I am reverted to this primitive form. The dragon's lip curled in disgust and behind her, Zalas laughed – but it was a forced laughter.

"Come now brother," the Prince uttered, "it is not so bad."

Unabonan's lip curled further and he bared his fangs in a hiss of displeasure. My face is flat, he thought, his mental tone dissatisfied, and my wings have been reverted to this ... miniscule form.

The dragon curved a shoulder by way of explanation, and Circe realised that what she originally thought was a white cloak – it's tie hidden by his hair – was actually a pair of opalescent wings, folded neatly against his back.

"Your soul?" Circe whispered, still staring at Unabonan in shock, "how is that even possible?"

This time it was not Unabonan who answered her, but Zalas.

"Oh, it is possible," Zalas swept back his hair behind him and deftly unfastened the top three buttons of his shirt, yanking his collar to the side, "just not without this."

Circe's eyes widened as she stared at the blood red gem that was embedded within Zalas chest, directly over his heart. The jewel was almost sinister in colour, and the paleness of Zalas's skin made for an even sharper contrast. The longer Circe looked, the more she felt as though the gemstone was pulsing, as though it were feeding off the body that surrounded it. She shuddered and looked up to meet Zalas's gaze.

The Prince was quiet as he studied her reaction. Upon meeting  her gaze, the corner of his lips twitched upwards. However, the smile did not reach his eyes. He tugged his shirt back into place roughly.

"So that is that" Zalas said, a little harshly, "I will just have to get used to living with an accessory." He fumbled slightly with his top button. "Unabonan had to receive instruction from Father of course. Such a feat is not achieved easily. And Father was not happy about the circumstances, but we managed to avoid any casualties." He shrugged, a little too nonchalantly for Circe's liking.

She could see that he was upset. She could see that it hadn't been as easy as he was making it out to be. The tension in the room was proof of that fact. Airocei had resorted to looking out the window, in order to hide her expression – but the stiff set of her shoulders spoke of the burden she had been carrying recently. And that wasn't even mentioning Aranel.

Circe also wasn't sure of the repercussions such an act would have on Unabonan and Zalas in the future. Air Sprites lived for a long time, and Dragons even longer, but Circe still felt that there was something that wasn't being said. And she didn't want to ask.

So instead, she smiled and tried to lift the mood out of the dark corner it had turned into. "Well," she smiled, "I am glad that you are alive."

Zalas huffed sent her an incredulous look. "Didn't anyone warn you against telling lies?"

She couldn't help but laugh. "Is it so hard to believe that I am genuinely relieved you're alive?" She had thought the words would be harder to say, but they fell easily from her lips and she did not think twice before continuing. "And Unabonan, you are not disgusting in that form, you are very handsome. Much better looking than Zalas," she praised, her smile wide.

Zalas scoffed in outrage as Airocei laughed, the Queen turning back around to join them. Circe was relieved to see that she was smiling. .

"Excuse me," he retorted stonily, "I am an original. Never to be surpassed."

Unabonan had cocked his head to the side as he received her flattery with a cool façade. When he spoke however, his internal voice was smug.

Well, I suppose I do still surpass his more mortal form in many ways.

"Yes, of course," Circe said sincerely, "and your wings are truly beautiful," she coaxed, "Zalas doesn't have wings."

You speak the truth, Unabonan pondered, his mental voice growing more self-satisfied by the minute. And my tail is longer. And you see, he curled his top lip up, revealing his dagger like canines, my teeth are sharper.

"Truly, still as magnificent as you were before," Circe said solemnly as she tried to supress her smile, "if not more."

Zalas pointed an accusing finger at her, "You," he hissed, "don't think I don't see what you are doing."

Circe smiled sweetly, "I don't know what you are referring to," she said.

After all, it was common knowledge to everyone, that dragons were weak for flattery. Common knowledge to everyone except the dragons themselves it seemed, as no one was actually brave enough to point it out to them.

And although she had never uttered any words of false praise, Circe still could not help but find this particular characteristic so incredibly endearing. And as she was always in the presence of Anthemin, as well as another ... well, beast, Circe had become particularly adept at indulging draconian egos.

Zalas's expression was outraged, "You can't just go around coercing people with such blatant obsequiousness," he spat out with an ugly expression, "that's cheating."

Circe's smile was so sweet enough to rot teeth. "I don't know what that word means," she said smartly, "but I'm sure you're not implying that my observations of Unabonan are false. Especially not since he has sacrificed so much for you."

Zalas's opalescent eyes narrowed and he held his tongue. She had him there.

"I would still like to know," Circe said quickly before the conversation strayed further off topic, "how you even ended up in such a dire situation to begin with. I thought that you were the almighty 'Dragon Prince," she teased. She was only able to take such a light tone due to the fact that he was standing in front of her now and she had been assured – however temporarily – that  everything was fine.

Zalas opened his mouth with a nasty look on his face, but before he could speak, Airocei cut in.

"I am sure," the woman said with a smile, "that we could fill you in on our way down to Obsidian's ... quarters. You must be eager to see him, and we have held you long enough."

"Oh yes," Zalas's ire had suddenly dissipated and his eyes gleamed delightedly, "I haven't had a chance to see it for myself yet."

"You are not coming," Circe said brusquely, "you're awful."

"I can do what I want," Zalas shot back, "he owes me."

"What's that supposed to mean," Circe said suspiciously.

Zalas suddenly became a little cagey, folding his arms across his chest firmly. "Never you mind," he said, pearl eyes flashing, "I'm coming with you."

Circe sent him a disbelieving look. "Since when," she said through gritted teeth, glaring darkly up at him as she moved to block his path to the door, "have you and Obsidian ever been friendly enough to have secrets between you. Confess. Now."

*

"You did what?!"

Her words rung through the diamond halls as she stopped in her tracks, staring at Zalas in horror. Her gaze fell down to land on his foot which currently looked exactly the same as the other one, although hidden by a shoe.

"Shut up," Zalas grumbled under his breath, walking ahead. She hadn't noticed it before because he hid it well, but he was in-fact limping lightly – although his back was straight and prideful as ever. "This is why I didn't want to tell you."

She hurried after him, "But your foot ..." she faltered.

He sneered. "Prosthetic's in the human world might be lacking, but I assure you that my Kingdom is not." He paused for a moment to tug the leg of his trousers, lifting the hem so that she could see a shine of something metallic and gold in the place of where his ankle should have been. "It's still healing," he added, "but I will get used to it."

"But still," she frowned unhappily.

Zalas glanced at her and snorted ungracefully, "You are a true Princess," he said, "you would have us win wars without sacrificing anything."

"Only because I know what sacrifice feels like first-hand," she shot back with a glare.

"Then you should be grateful that I all I lost was my foot," Zalas replied smartly, "and that your precious fiancée still has his life."

Circe stared at him, mortified. "How do you know about that?" She hissed incredulously.

Zalas smirked, "Didn't you even wonder what Obsidian did to deserve locking up in the first place?"

"My Father just said they had a 'clash of opinions'," Circe said, her eyes narrowing suspiciously.

Zalas let out a bark of laughter, "A clash of opinions is putting it lightly," he grinned wolfishly, his sharp incisors showing, "I believe your Pirate asked Zephyr to go and sort out his 'relationship issues' in the Water Kingdom, so that you would be free to marry him."

Circe's face drained of colour as she stared at Zalas in horror, but the Prince wasn't finished. "Apparently, he then continued to say that if Zephyr did not go to help, he would go himself and take you by force." Zalas laughed, "According to my Mother, he did not forget to leave out the fact that he was not asking for anyone's permission – least of all, Zephyr's permission to marry you."

"I can't believe it," Circe groaned, beside herself with shame.

"Can't you?" Zalas laughed, "I can, it certainly seems like something he would do. And it's not as though he was wrong – you don't need anyone's permission to marry. But he probably didn't need to rub it in Zephyr's face. My Uncle may seem like a philanthropist, but he is secretly just as petty as the rest of us."

"You don't say," Circe said drily, her mood calming somewhat. "Although, I am surprised that my Father succeeded in locking him up at all."

Zalas's expression became bemused. "Yes, well," he said perfunctorily, "there isn't much use in fighting the God of the West Wind. You can ready yourself for battle, but somehow you blink and then suddenly you're