4 Chapter 3

I watched as Augustus left the cave. Something must have caught his eye, or he's gone to meet one of his..friends I suppose. I wait for him to disappear from sight before shifting back and grabbing the small bag that held what little I owned. A small leather journal and some clothes. Grabbing the journal, I opened it to the next blank page. As stupid as it seems, this journal is the only thing that keeps me sane at times. I never get to actually talk to people. It's always just zeymah and me. I hate it.

I hate how he is always babying me. I'm almost three hundred years old now....well technically still two hundred and ninety-nine, but honestly who's counting? The mortals around us always say I look as if I was fifteen. If I was fifteen I would still be an egg. They confuse me, I never understand them. I have so many questions that I want to ask but Augustus always makes us move before I'm able to actually get the courage to do so. I might be a dragon but I'm not all that brave. I'm not a fan of people. Especially the mortals that Augustus sneaks off to talk to. He always thinks I'm asleep when he leaves, but I never am. It's just way too hot for me to actually sleep. Being an ice or winter dragon or whatever it is I am has its perks, don't get me wrong,..the temperature my body needs to be at just to be comfortable would kill Augustus. A room that's simply ten degrees is uncomfortable for me. It has to be a minimum of forty degrees below zero for me to feel the slightest bit comfortable. I never tell him that, I know he's trying his best since Mom and Dad's been killed. He's really not that much older than me. Only a few hundred years older. He's nice and caring, but he's way too protective.

With a soft sigh, I close the notebook in front of me just as I heard Augustus footsteps approaching.  A low growl echoing from deep within his chest as he approached the cave again. My attention now being fully on him noticing his once brown eyes were now black. Great..just what I need. Slowly I stand and raise my hands as a means to show I wasn't a threat. This wasn't my brother anymore. This was his dragon taking his human form, Aliki.

"Aliki, nii los zu'u Akiera. Hi los safe. Deep su'um"

I've said this so many times, it's engraved into my brain at this point. I don't even think of them. I always tell him he's safe..remind him who I am. He eyes me closely and gives a soft rumble of annoyance as he slowly stands taller. As if to intimidate me. His body groaned as he grew a few inches taller, his skin showing the etches of the dark scales his original form holds. It was as if they were trying to rip through the skin from underneath, and that is exactly what they did. The blackness surrounded his eyes and cheeks. A few showing on the exposed parts of his arms and chest. He's gotten stronger, taking more control than I ever remember.  This couldn't be good.

Within a blink, Aliki stood in front of me. His hand shifted clawlike as scales began to cover from the tips of his fingers to the middle of his forearm. A smile of satisfaction seemed to fill his face as he admired it. Slowly I lower my hands watching him. "Aliki..is everything alright?" 

My voice was meek, small sounding. I've learned from a young age not to go against this side of Augustus. He's a much more experienced fighter and older than my own dragon by an unknown amount. On top of that, despite being able to shift, I can't hear them. There is no other for me. At least not yet. So, until then, it's best I seem submissive. Make him feel superior and in charge. I watched him as he admired his growing strength, his eyes flashing with something dark as he stared at the palm of his hand before slowly lifting his head. His eyes locked on mine as he tilted his head slightly. It was as if he were confused or unsure. Instead of answering he only rumbled. The sound is a mix of a feline purr and an alligator growl. Uneasy, I slowly offered my hand to him. He watched my movements closely before mimicking me. His arm outstretched to my own before grabbing it in his clawed one. His nails were sharp, like talons as they sliced through my skin as if it was nothing but soft butter. I bite my tongue so as to not wince from the feeling. Yet as his grip tightened, I knew he still took notice. Not once looking away, I watched as his gaze transferred from me to blood that flowed out from under his nails. His purr became louder at the sight as he lifted my arm closer slowly licking it away causing me to shiver at the feeling. The texture was soft like velvet but too hot to the touch. His hand began heating up, my skin burned where he held it, the area around becoming red from the touch. I try to pull my arm away gently but halt as he gives a low grow in warning. I faintly rumble in reply to him causing his eyes to snap at me. Anger spiraled through his blackened orbs like smoke. "..Aliki..I need Augustus. Could you..let him out for me, please?"

My voice was barely above a whisper. The tension was growing by the second as silence began to stretch before us. I watched his eyes as they swirled with white and grey smoke. His grip began to slowly loosen from my arm. The storm within his eyes seemed to disburse as they returned to my brother's soft almond brown. A faint look of confusion and concern filled his face. See, when Aliki takes over, Augustus has no idea what he does, let alone that it's happened. 

"How long was I out? Were you hurt, had he done anything to you?" I shake my head hearing Augustus' voice. With a soft smile, I nod, hiding my arm from sight

"I'm not sure and no, I'm fine. You came back before he did anything..but..he's getting stronger Augustus. You have to figure out how to control him"

Hesitantly he nods, concern still evident in his eyes as he watches me. Slowly, he nodded in agreement and sighed. "I am aware. I'm trying but when you are unable to actively speak with your other half, it is much harder to do anything about it."

I rolled my eyes as I turned away from him, "Yeah yeah, whatever Augustus. Have you ever thought maybe you're just not trying hard enough"

He gave a soft rumble at that before sighing "Until you have access to your own dragon, you can not give me such lectures briiah. You know little of what I must do to keep him at bay. Not to count what it takes to return him to the depth of my own mind until he is truly needed. And will you please stop speaking so...loosely briiah. You were taught better than to speak so informally. Use it to your advantage, hone it as if it were a weapon, not a toy"

I growl softly and roll my eyes as I walk back to our bags and pick mine up muttering under my breath softly, "And you sound like an old bag of ass...I doubt monah and bormah were like this.."

"Akiera...I am doing my best with what I can remember from them. I know you do not understand yet, but you must see I am doing what I must to keep you safe. To keep us safe briiah. I can not lose the only one who remains within our family." his voice is soft as if it were to break at any moment. I know he was close to our parents. He was their first child, I was the runt second. I wasn't even supposed to survive. I should have died after I was born, not them. Shaking my head I look down and throw my bag over my shoulder.

"I'm not a child anymore Augustus so stop treating me as if I was."

I listen to the sound of him grabbing his things as I walk out of the cave into the dense forest. This was the first area I was allowed to pick. Augustus always picked where we would stay to rest.  I'm not sure what it was, but it was as if this area was calling to me- to my soul in a way. The feeling in my chest makes me think I'll be finding out soon. With that thought in mind, I walk through the waist-high grass towards the river nearby. Augustus was not far behind me. His steps were like a thundercloud crashing over the silent terrain. I sigh softly.

A faint sound of bells rang around me. Seeming as if it were echoing in my head. Glacier was trying to communicate. I may have not been completely truthful. I  am able to speak to my other half, the issue however, is the fact I can't have her take over, or else it will just be dangerous to the both of us. Where were are, it's not cold enough yet for her. She would only get hurt or sick. I can't have that, she's my only ticket to freedom. 

As the sound of rushing water fills my ears, I open the mental link between us free.

"I thought you were mad at me"

"That statement is still true. I still wish to be released girl. You have imprisoned me long enough"

I frown slightly hearing her. She still refuses to call me by my name. I know she wants out. I know she wants control. She has every right to be mad at me. I did lock her away in a sense. I locked our link, deprived her of flight, and enjoyed the feeling of being shifted alone. 

"I know Glacier. I'm trying, but it's still too dangerous. You could get hurt.  We could get hurt."

I flinch as she growls loudly in my head. The sound felt as if it were vibrating my skull. With a slight lower of my head, I continued forward. 

"For both our safety, I hope you find a place soon girl" 

I didn't bother to respond to her. There was no point. All it would do is agitate her more than she already was. So, I just focused on the woods around me. Ahead, between two thick oaks, I could see the sun reflecting off the river. As I got closer, a gentle breeze blew the scent of dirt, pine, and.. cinnamon towards me. Slowing my pace, I made my way to the base of the trees. Pressing my back to its sturdy base I looked to Augustus as his steps went silent. He must have smelt the same thing as I had. We had company ahead of us. Hopefully, they wouldn't notice us or just ignore us. With our experience though, I doubt they will. We are a rather odd pairing. My hair alone is enough to cause stares.