Beauty Is The Beast

"Can we slow down a bit? I did just give birth you know!" I huffed. We've been following Kyle through many different halls. Where ever we are, this place was built like a maze. Much more confusing than Thazar's, but Kyle seemed to know where he was going. At least I hoped he did. I still wasn't sure how he fit into all this, but for his sake I hope this wasn't a betrayal on his end. Cause then I'll have to end him.

"We don't have time to slow down Valentina! I need to get you out of here." As if to show how urgent he is, he started dragging me faster.

"Where is here! Where are we Kyle?" Try as I might I couldn't stop the whine from leaking out. My feet was killing me and my body hurt. All I wanted to do was throw myself in Enzos arms and have him take the pain away.

"Level five, you were never to be brought to this level. Jannod will pay for this." Level five? How the hell did we get to level five?

"Jannod!" Now I knew that name. He was the prince of level five. What reasons did he have to kidnap me? I turned to check on Rayne and Jacob behind us, but my eyes caught something on the wall. There was a shadow that didn't belong to either one of us, yet it was keeping pace with us. Fear gripped me. "Kyle! There's something on the wall!"

He looked to see where I was pointing and cursed, skeeding to a halt. I stupidly ran into his back. Thank God Jacob was holding my son.

The shadow darted from the wall, sliding until it was on the floor in front of us. I gasped as it started taking shape, forming into something solid. "Ruining my fun Kyle? I always knew you were as weak as your brother." The body wasn't fully formed yet before it spat those words out. "Where are you taking the girl?"

A tall pale skinned guy stood before us. His feathers screamed Asian descent. Short black hair, and slightly squinted eyes. If Jackie Chan had a son, it would be this guy. "My brother will find her. If you were smart Jannod you'd get her out of your home, before there's nothing left. My brother will show you no mercy for what you've done." Kyle spoke with a voice strong and full of confidence. It reminded me so much of Enzo.

Jannod laughed, throwing his head back like Kyle just told him the world's funniest joke. I looked at Kyle's face to find his jaw clenching. "The reign of your brother is over! We've been waiting for him to get a weakness, and lucky for us he has not one, but two now." He looked at me, then the bundle Jacob was carrying.

I stepped forward. "If you think I'm going to let you lay a hand on my son, you're sadly mistaken. You'll have to get through me first." I didn't break eye contact, letting him know it wouldn't be easy going through me.

"Oh look, it has wings!" He chirped, pointing them out to the group, like they didn't notice them already. "Vince do you see it?" Our eyes shifted to the spot next to him, where another shadow was forming. How did I miss that one?

I watched as one of the people I trusted stand there, a smirk on his face. He betrayed Enzo! For all the times he protected me, now he's working with the enemy? "It's quite the sight sir."

"Vince?" I didn't like how unsure I sounded. I couldn't believe this was happening. Vince was working with the enemy? "What's going on?"

He opened his mouth to say something but Jannod cut him off. "Don't talk to him brat." My eyes narrowed."Now back to your room, unless you want one of your friends here to die."

Standing protectively in front of the group, I squared my shoulders. Only for Kyle to step in front of me, stealing the glory. "I'm taking Valentina with me, and you're not going to stop us."

He grinned."Maybe I won't," Then he stepped back behind Vince, "but he will."

I've seen Vince in action before, I'd be lying if I said I wasn't a bit nervous. "Vince, you don't have to do this." I begged. As a answer to my pleading he pulled out a long glistening sword.

While I was trying to find a way out of fighting him, Kyle pulled out two long daggers. I didn't think he'd get close enough to stab him, but he held them with confidence, a look of rage on his face. Where are they getting these weapons? Did he have that this whole time? "A betrayal to my brother is a betrayal to me." He crouched low, "I'm going to enjoy killing you." Then launched himself at Vince.

Enzo

"Who is this woman to you?" Talgroth looked curiously at me as we walked. Unfortunately the levels had protection spells on them so no one could just teleport in when they wanted to, including me. We're walking through the maze in front of level five elevator.

"Everything." Malaka stumbled at my answer, squinting at me. I know they're both shocked, I never claim women. They're usually just time passers for me. "She's carrying my heir." It's never safe to let your enemies know who you care about. Just because they're with me to rescue Valentina doesn't mean there's trust. After all, it was another prince that stole her. My fist clenched, when I see him.

Realization dawned on them. "So it's the baby she's carrying that you care about, not the girl." I didn't bother correcting him, like I said, best not to let potential enemies know everything.

The thing about this maze is that it shifts every thirty seconds. You could be close to the elevator but if you don't move fast enough you'll miss it by a second. No dragons lived here but if you don't know the switching cycle, you're dead. You'll die from either exhaustion or starvation. Most die from the latter.

"I can't believe they did this." Malaka grumbled in disgust. My fingers twitched, my talons trying to come out. I've never had so much lack of control over the Beast, not in any of my years of living. Now I could hardly stop him from ripping apart everyone around me.

I felt something wrap around my neck and glared down at the culprit. The dragon instantly recoiled. He was resting on my shoulder, every now and then it seemed he got the urge to try and kill me. I see why he took such a liking to Valentina.

"How did you come across a Gazzak? And it seems very trained." Talgroth says in amazement.

"Enough talking!" This wasn't social hour and their voices is irritating the Beast. There's only one voice he wanted to hear, and right now my enemies have her.