17 Chapter 17: Rivals

As we walked towards the sound, it got harder and harder to resist. I struggled harder in Arine's arms, but he continued to hold me tightly. "She's getting worse. We must be close." Sure enough, up ahead there was a man laying on a rock in the distance, singing loud enough to hear for miles.

He was in a human form, but you could see gills on each side of his upper body. He was only wearing vines that wrapped around his limbs in intricate curls, and a golden metal crown only visible on his forehead with beads hanging from it, and he was wearing gold necklaces and many rings. His hair was blue, and his eyes were a deep green with slits for pupils. The sight of him made me calm down mesmerized. 'He's almost as beautiful as Ikko in the moonlight. His skin is shining, and his voice is amazing.'

Then all of a sudden Ikko walked up next to him. "Can you shut up?" He stopped singing and sat up. The moment he stopped I stopped struggling and felt dizzy. Cienar smiled revealing that all of his teeth were pointed like Sythyon's. "Ikko. It's been awhile since I last saw you. What brings you here?" Ikko crossed his arms. "We're looking for the book of souls." Cienar's smile faded. "We?" He looked behind him at me and Arine. "Huh. I never thought you would ever work with a fairy and a-" Arine put me down and I turned to see me and Cienar's eyes meet. His eyebrows went up in surprise. "A human?"

His smile returned and he stood up. "And a lovely one at that." But before Cienar could take a step closer, Ikko pushed him back. "Don't even think about it." Cienar raised an eyebrow. "Since when did you start caring about humans? They're nothing but food to you." Ikko crossed his arms again. "True. But this one isn't." Cienar looked at me again. "I see. She is very beautiful isn't she?" I blushed and Arine stepped in front of me glaring at him. Then Ikko sighed. "We're off subject." Cienar looked back at Ikko with a small evil look in his eye. "I'm sorry old friend. But I will not help you until I get a closer look at that goddess in human form."

Everything he said made me shutter. But then Ikko's eyebrows creased. "Fine. But you touch her, I kill you." Arine stepped aside in shock. I could tell what he was thinking. 'If he was that strict, then why didn't he kill Arine a long time ago?' I grew tense as Cienar stepped in front of me, studying my face. "How unique." Then Arine got impatient. "So you got a closer look, now will you tell us where the book of souls is?" Cienar smiled. "Yes. It is a long and dangerous journey which only me and my father know the safest way through, and you won't make it halfway without being killed."

Arine's expression changed to confusion. "That... Didn't help." Ikko walked up to Cienar. "So you have to come too in order for us to survive?" Cienar nodded. "Though being a prince, there would be many responsibilities I'd be missing out on. So I want something else in return for leading you to the book of souls." Arine got annoyed. "What now?" Cienar turned to me. "All I want is a kiss from you." My eyes widened and both Arine and Ikko's mouths dropped.

Then Arine pushed him back. "No way!" Cienar crossed his arms and turned away. "Fine. Good luck dying." I hesitated for a moment then called out for him. "Wait! I'll do it!" Then both Ikko and Arine stepped back. "WHAT??!!" Cienar turned around smiling, and Arine looked to me. "But I thought you said you weren't going to kiss anyone again. Plus, he's a jerk!" I sighed looking to the floor. "Your sister's in trouble. I said I would help you and I plan to do so, no matter what."

His expression was at a loss of words as I walked passed him and up to Cienar. He smiled down at me. "It has to be good. Only if I like it I'll help you-" I immediately grabbed him by a vine on his shoulder and pulled him down, passionately pressing my lips against his, running my fingers through his hair with my other hand. I then pulled away letting go of him, wiping my mouth with my arm. "How was that?" He stared at me blankly. "Wow..." I smiled. 'I might've picked a thing or two up from Sythyon...'

I turned to Arine and Ikko standing frozen. Arine then covered his face blushing. "That's so not fair! Now I want to try it!" Ikko crossed his arms. "You and me both." I got annoyed. "Hey! Don't even think about it you perverts! This was a one time thing!!" Cienar laughed and walked over to the rock he was laying on and pulled a staff from behind it. "Let's go." Arine uncovered his face. "Okay, who do you want to fly with? Me or Ikko?" He said repeatedly pointing to Ikko.

Cienar turned to them. "Neither. We're walking." Arine's expression changed to surprise. "What? Why?" Cienar started to walk away from us. "There are dragon riders and demons patrolling everywhere. Apparently the demon king is looking for something. It would be best if we didn't run into anymore trouble than we needed to." I then rushed up beside him as Arine and Ikko followed behind. "The demon king is looking for something?...What is he looking for?" I was tense but I couldn't help but wonder.

Cienar was about to answer when Arine crossed his arms. "Probably another victim. That sick bastard thinks he can do whatever he wants just because he's the most powerful being on the planet." I sighed looking down. 'Of course. I'm such an idiot. What would possibly make me think that there was even a slight chance of Sythyon looking for me?'

We walked until we entered a clearing in the trail revealing clear blue skies and the beaming sun overhead. Cienar was in the lead with his staff which was filled from top to bottom in carvings and beads hanging from the bracelets wrapped around the upper part of the staff. "Past this clearing is an enchanted jungle. They should rename it because enchanted jungle sounds too peaceful. They should really call it the jungle of death. So stay close or die."

Getting nervous I looked behind me and saw that Ikko was gone. I stopped suddenly noticing that he hadn't followed us past the end of the forest in the shade. 'That's right. He doesn't walk in sunlight, and there's no shade around this entire clearing.' He was standing there and started to turn away when I ran back to him. Cienar and Arine stopped as well to see where I was going.

I ran up to Ikko and took his hand. "It's okay. I promise not to look! It's just for a little while until we reach the jungle!" He sighed. "It's not just that. Every time I show my true form, I feel the hate for myself get worse seeing that I've become the very thing I stand against." I looked up into his eyes. "And what is that?" His eyes narrowed down at me. "A being who is considered higher than everyone else because of how they look."