Wake the Dragon Lord

Chapter two: The Maou and The Dragons in the South

When Yuri came back to Blood Pledge castle he found Gunther waiting for his return, which in of itself wasn’t too weird, but it was odd how worried the lavender haired demon was looking.

“Your majesty! Thank the spirits you’re back. There has been some very ill omens here in the castle. Gwendel has been having horrible nightmares of the fall of the Demon kingdom. He won’t tell me anything more. I’m so worried my lord.” Yuri frowned and looked at the older demon as his eyes became glazed with tears.

“I’ll talk to him, Gunther, don’t worry. I’m sure he’s just been over working himself lately. You know how he does that,” Yuri said with as much cheer as he could muster to help quell the adviser’s worries. Gunther smiled gently at the young man and nodded, love clearly seen in his eyes.

“Thank you your majesty. You always have a way of making me see hope when it seems dark.” Yuri shrugged and blinked seeing Wolfram come in the room.

“Gwendel left for the south, I don’t know what he’s doing. All he would tell me is that there’s something he needs to find out. He said he would be back at nightfall.” Wolfram frowned worried for his eldest brother. Yuri went over and put a supportive hand on his fiancee’s shoulder.

“He knows what he’s doing Wolfram. I’m sure that if I asked a Boney would follow him to make sure he’s okay.” Wolfram snorted and shook his head.

“I already took care of that; I’m not stupid y’know.” Wolfram scowled, trying his best to be his normal self, without showing too much worry. Yuri smiled a bit at him and gave him a kiss on the cheek. Gunther frowned and started to walk away worried for Gwendel, and wondering why he left without telling him.

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Gwendel rode towards the south, unnerved at the fact that though he didn’t know where he was going, that he directed the horse with almost an automatic control. His horse became increasingly disturbed the farther they got to a southern mountain range.

~ I’ve been here before...~ he thought to himself as the landscape about them changed into a desolate dark area. The horse reared and bayed at a sudden roar coming from an box canyon that was just within eyesight. Steadying his horse, he realized where he was.

“The dragon canyon. Spirits....what’s going on with me?” Turning the horse about, he galloped back towards the castle. He paused and looked up seeing a Fly-Bone above him. He relaxed a bit, and slowed down. The Fly-Bone hovered lower and began to chatter in it’s language. “I’m fine, I just had a hunch is all.”

“Clack click chatter...?” The Fly-Bone chattered hovering and tilting it’s head. Gwendel sighed and nodded.

“Yes, from the nightmares. Fly ahead and tell the Maou and my brother I’m coming back. I don’t want to spend the night out here...” The Fly-Bone nodded and flew off quickly. Gwendel winched a bit and rubbed the back of his neck. He felt as if something was trying to control him to move back towards the dragon sanctuary. He spurred the horse into a gallop away from the mountains and back home, hoping that all would be well later.

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“Why did you leave and not tell us, Gwendel?” Gunther cried running down the stairs seeing the black haired demon come in on his horse. It was nearly the middle of the night by the time he returned, and Gunther was afraid that something had happened to him.

“I...I don’t know. I had to do something is all, Gunther. But right now, I’m tired and need some sleep.” Gwendel allowed a guard to take his horse into the stables and sighed rubbing his head. Gunther put a hand on his shoulder and frowned.

“I’ll make you some warm sleeping tea. Hopefully you’ll get a full night’s sleep tonight.” Gwendel nodded and sighed.

“Thank you Gunther. You’re a good friend.” A tired smile crossed Gwendel’s face and was gifted with a return smile and half closed eyes. Gunther helped the older demon up into the castle and to bed. Giving Gwendel a hot cup of sleeping tea, Gunther watched him as he slept for a while, gently brushing the rather tussled hair out of his face.

“Good night Gwendel.” Biting his lip a bit, Gunther leaned down and gave the demon a gentle kiss before leaving the room.

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The night went on and Yuri slept as soundly as he could with Wolfram by his side, taking up most of the bed. He snored gently unaware he was being watched. Yuri jumped and looked around the room and a large thud that resinated from the other side of the door. He frowned and shook Wolfram’s shoulder gently.

“Wolfram...Wolf, wake up. There’s something outside the door...” Wolfram muttered something and sat up a bit in his pink night gown.

“What are you talking about...?” Both young boys jumped as a roar and a horrible scratching noise came from the other side.

“I’m talking about that....” the demon king said nervously watching and listening. Wolfram sat up fully and lit the lamp next to the bed and looked around. He frowned and looked around reaching for his sword next to the bed. After moments of silence all seemed well.

“Guess it left...” murmured Wolfram looking a bit more relaxed after the fright. Yuri nodded and blinked jumping and yelping just a bit as a red eye passed a hole in the door before leaving.

“What the hell was that?!” Wolfram drew his sword and jumped out of the bed heading for the door. Taking a breath he threw open the door and thrust into the dark hall, finding nothing. Yuri followed grabbing his own sword and following him into the night hall. The two looked up and down the hall finding nothing except the few lit torches along the hall.

“Yuri, I think we should lock the door from now on.” Wolfram looked at the maou with a concerned expression.

“I agree...and the windows...let’s get back inside.” The two returned to their rooms, locking the door and windows before laying back in bed, close to one another with their swords in arms reach.

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The morning revealed the damage done by the invader in the night. The southern door was damaged by what looked like claws and several patrol men during the night reported sightings of a red eyed beast with a roar like a dragon prowling the halls. The door to Yuri and Wolfram’s bed chamber door was almost destroyed completely by claw marks as well.

“My lord! I should have stayed up longer, than what I did. I might have been able to stop the beast! Your Majesty how can you forgive me?” Gunther fell to his knees before Yuri, feeling guilty and responsible for the terror that the young Maou had received in the night.

“Gunther it’s okay. Whatever it was didn’t break through. Thanks for the concern but Wolfram and I handled it just fine.”

“What do you mean? You screamed like a girl, wimp,” commented Wolfram looking at the maou. Yuri sighed and nodded.

“I was surprised okay? But it doesn’t matter. Maybe we should increase security...if someone is breaking in....”

“No one is breaking in, Your Majesty...” Gwendel appeared, his hair disheveled but in his common uniform. There was a look in his eyes that could only be described as guilt and terror.

“Gwendel? What’s wrong?” Yuri frowned and waited for an explanation.

“I...I believe this needs to be spoken about in private...” Yuri nodded and followed as Gwendel walked towards the war room. Gunther hurried along as well, worried about what was going on. As they entered Yuri sat down at the head of the table with Wolfram on his left. Gunter sat down next to Wolfram and watched as Gwendel closed the door to anyone else.

“Gwendel, what’s going on?” Wolfram frowned looking at his brother worriedly. Gwendel sighed and went over to the table one hand behind his back.

“This is what’s going on...” as he removed the hand that was behind his back they saw the sharp fingernails, almost like claws upon his hand. “I think I was the one who caused the trouble last night. I...had yet another nightmare...” Gunther looked at him and swallowed.

“You didn’t tell me everything did you?” Gwendel shook his head slowly and sat down at the table. Gunther frowned worried and a little insulted that his long time friend wouldn’t trust him with things.

“The nightmares aren’t just about dragons...they are also about me. I don’t know how but...I’m controlling and manipulating the dragons to my will...I’m giving orders that I would never give in my right mind...Yuri...I’m fearing for your life right now. I don’t trust myself at night...and...I don’t trust myself during the day either. I was drawn to the dragon sanctuary when I left yesterday morning...I feel like I’m being controlled,” Gwendel admitted slowly his head hanging.

“Possession...” muttered Gunther with a frown. Gwendel looked up at the lavender haired man curiously.

“What?” Wolfram looked just as worried and fidgeted.

“Dragons have the ability to possess when they are in spirit form. Because their souls are immortal, just like the Demon King’s in a sense, they must be reborn. But because of the fact that dragons are very hard to mate, most of them move to possession of a demon or human body. Or in rare cases, to be reborn in a human or demon body. Usually when reborn like that they die at birth because of the intense magic dragons contain. Which is why they choose older Demons because of the control that we have...Gwendel this is not safe...we have to free you from this dragon that is possessing you.” Gunther looked around the table, before settling his eyes upon the blue orbs of Gwendel.

“But what dragon would be strong enough to possess Gwendel?” Wolfram said looking at his brother and the other demon.

“The Dragon Lord...” Gwendel offered frowning. “He was an earth dragon and the one who started the wars between humans and dragons. He threatened to destroy the Demon King and the Kingdom because of the fact that the king wanted to end the war between the humans and dragons. That’s how the Demon Kingdom got dragged into it. Humans began fighting both demons and dragons at that point, it was a demon who killed him finally at the end of the war.” Gwendel rubbed his temples as Gunther nodded his agreement.

“This is very dangerous, even to you Gwendel. Your Majesty, if I may make a suggestion...I feel that we should place guards at Gwendel’s doors at night.” Yuri frowned and nodded slowly.

“Yeah...I think that’s a good idea. It’s not that I don’t trust you Gwendel, it’s just I’m worried about what will happen if that dragon guy takes over again in the night,” Yuri said looking at the black haired man. Gwendel nodded in agreement before getting interrupted by his brother.

“Well what I want to know is how we can get that damn dragon out of him!” Wolfram glared at both Gunther and Gwendel waiting for an answer that didn’t come.

“I...I don’t know...” The silence in the room stretched on for several minutes and Yuri became concerned for not only the three close friends in the room, but for his entire kingdom.