Bound [Open]

[Rae-Star Berii]

<sup>[awesome post ]

”Who are you telling this too? Me or yourself? Have you met these people that would have killed me and my dragon?"

The damned dragon. It wasn’t about the damned dragon it was about the risk he was putting himself into needlessly.

But fuck, why did she care?

Rae’s jaw tensed, her eyes seemed to swirl almost with a darkness in then.

He’d paused, seemed to be looking for an answer from him.

She gave him a bitter reply; “Yes. And I’ve met others that have hunted worse…I’ve hunted creatures myself, for a bounty. Though never a dragon.”

Then he went on something of a little rant, demanding to know how she was still alive, demanding to know about this world she proclaimed was so evil. Rae just watched him with those dark eyes of hers as he rose and as his temperature seemed to rise. Eli came to her side, more defensively now, more on guard than his calm watching. The animal gave a low, warning growl, which rumbled like thunder as he lowered his head and showed his teeth.

"This world that you claim to be more dangerous than my cell. Tell me what in your life makes you think that mines was better? That you would have traded a life of freedom for my life. Tell me Star, tell me the history behind your eyes and help me understand how fucked up this world is!"

He hadn’t earned the right to her story, but perhaps she would surprise him with her answer as Rae said;

“I was kept as a prisoner too.”

She turned away from him, taking solitude from her dog for a moment and calming the creature so he didn’t attack this naïve and messed-up man. She knelt to Eli’s side, stroked her hand along the length of the dog back and kissed the top of his head; “guard.” She told him, murmuring in the animal’s ear. But, in his unchanging obedience, the animal trotted off to the door of the metal container. He turned his back on the two of them inside, and went to sit in the sunshine, watching the outside world for trouble.

Apollo’s rant continued and Rae rose to her feet, straightening once more. She didn’t look at him anymore, didn’t give him the contact he sought from her eyes, but she listened to what he had to say and she didn’t interject.

"I know I am naive. Do you think I want to be naive? Do you think I want to kill my dragon or what is left of my life?"

“Some of us just know how to survive, it’s in our blood.”

She talked in meaning of both of them. They had both endured. They had both survived horrible, terrible and damaging things. Rae was damaged. She knew that. And a part of her would always blame that for the disgusting things she had done in turn. Absently she touched the back of her neck, fingers feeling over the scar there. It seemed to make her shudder, but while he was quiet, while he was trying to calm himself she said;

“My prison was different to yours. I wasn’t always kept in a cell, I was allowed to go out, to look at the world. But I had to be silent. I couldn’t scream or beg for help. I had to let- let things happen whilst knowing what was happening to me wasn’t…right.”

She chose her words carefully, but they were soft, like a whisper and so full of emotion. Not sadness, but something.

Her uncle, after an occasion where she had tried to escape- after she’d help Craig fight his demons (or vampyres if you want to be literal) – had placed a micro-chip in the back of her neck. He tracked her, watched her, and knew her every move and every decision. She’d been free but trapped and so afraid of the moment he would decide he was finished watching her… she'd cut it out many months ago and when he found her again, as he always found her, he had been punished her for it.

"I am naive. But I wanted you to teach me.... Help me wake up to what this world really is.”

He presented her with another occasion to say no. What he didn’t understand was that Rae rarely said no to people who asked her for her help; these days people didn’t do things like that. They didn’t reach out or ask for help from others, particularly strangers. Yet, when they did, she had a weakness in not being able to say no. Maybe it was because she wished that someone had noticed that she needed help, perhaps it was because she hadn’t been strong enough to ask for it in the first place. But despite everything it was possible to say that Rae was, it always came back to her helping someone else.

Even as simple as a child, playing in the streets of India…

She shuddered, not allowing the memory to capture her as she nodded to his request. “Okay. But you have to stop asking me to tell you crap about who I am.”

Who she was, was irrelevant to her helping him. She fought who she was at every turn and in every occasion. She didn’t need to allow others to know about that part of her too.

“And you have to persuade you’re dragon to listen too.”</sup>

[Apollo Lion]

His breath had escaped him so many times that he had to reclaim it harder. His mind had gone blank to the words she gave him. 'I was kept prisoner too.' 'Prisoner' that word came at him like a whisper, a chilling haunt that teased his neck at every chance. 'Prisoner, Prisoner, Prisoner.' It did not stop. Some times it would get violent and other times it would be soft.

'Prisoner.'

“Okay. But you have to stop asking me to tell you crap about who I am.”

'Prisoner.'

"Got it," He said paying close attention to her words. He had expected a different outcome. He had expected a gun being shoved in his head, a drop kick to the face, or a dog trying to rip off his arm. Instead he received a girl willing to help him. Wonderment of how the hell that happened circled in his mind, but not as much as-

'Prisoner.'

“And you have to persuade you’re dragon to listen too.”

'Prisoner.'

He was still breathing in and out profusely. It had taken a lot to actually try to offend her after he was taught not to. But it felt good, like an entire weight had been lifted off of his shoulders. The only problem was that the weight had to go somewhere. It couldn't just float out into the world waiting to drop on someone else head. He felt like he added another to Star's already strain back. So he decided from now on he wouldn't give her anymore trouble. Not because he pitied her but because it was, what he thought, the right thing to do.

'PRISONER.'

*Tell the bitch that I will never listen to her.* Bayla said spying on their conversation. She had been listening, watching, and feeling what was going on around Apollo. When the pink haired witch pointed the gun at him she almost moved out the warehouse and drained Star with Acid. But Apollo stopped her with his thoughts. 'A warning,' he said it was. It still pissed her off that a gun touched his chest, warning or not. *And tell her the next time she points a gun at you she better be ready to melt.*

'Prisoner.'

"She will listen." Apollo said drowning out her words. *WHAT THE FUCK DID YOU JUST SAY I WILL DO?!* She said screaming into Apollo's mind. He didn't show any signs that he was speaking to Bayla even though she was causing serious headaches for him. "Of course she will listen. She always.... Half listens to me." The word slid off with a nervous giggle. *THE FIRST ORDER THAT BITCH GIVES ME HER HEAD WILL COME OFF!* "If she didn't listen to me then she would have eaten you by now right?" He said remembering all the times she actually asked and tried to eat Star. *LISTEN TO ME APOLLO! IF YOU DON'T TELL THAT BITCH THAT I WILL EAT HER AND THAT LITTLE MUTT THEN I WILL COME OVER THERE AND EAT THE THREE OF YOU!*

'Prisoner.'

Bayla words, no matter how big they are, were pushed out of his brain for now. He needed Star. And no matter what the task she asked him to do he would do it. Even if it was to jump off a bridge, mostly because he knows that Bayla would be there to catch him. "What first?"

'Prisoner.'

[Rae-Star Berii]

<sup>"What first?"

Rae wasn’t sure.

“Do you have any other clothes?” She asked him, pointing to the dampness of his white hood again. It seemed a little silly that he should wear it.

Perhaps his learning about the world wasn’t best to be done through them fighting and arguing or even talking to each other. Perhaps the best way for him to learn about the world was to be put in the middle of it.

As it was still before lunchtime and the sun was climbing higher in the sky, Rae didn’t expect to drop him in the middle of the night’s darkness, she didn’t intend to show him the world of werecreatures, vampyres and daemons. Not straight away at least. No. He needed to learn to be normal.

She ducked out of the cabinet, motioning him to follow here briefly.

Rae went out into the sun, wincing after the semi-darkness of the metal container.

There she sat on the floor with Eli and stroked his fur, looking out at the city across the water.

For many years, until she was thirteen, that city had been her playground. And now she was older, she still returned to it, though her play was different and the ground she left behind was often soiled with blood and fire, she knew each inch of the city.

And yet she was paired with this guy who didn’t know what a motorbike was.

His best survival, Rae came to decide, would be to learn what a little normality was.

She spoke again but it was unclear if she was speaking to herself, to the dog who her hand continued to fuss, or to him if he’d chosen to follow;

“No point trying to get through the day on an empty stomach is there. Could go eat, couldn’t we?”

Eli’s tail swished backwards and forwards at the thought of food.

“Have to leave the dragon here though.” Rae continued in her thought process and glanced to the warehouse where the creature was being kept; “Unless it can do anything useful in the way of camouflaging itself?”

She pondered that thought for a moment. She had met creatures that could shape shift into humanoid forms and hide themselves and their – oddities- from the daylight world.

“She isn’t going to like this one bit.”

Eli whined at her side and Rae kissed the top of his head. “I know buddy, she scares the shit out of me too.” She whispered, those words were definitely just to the dog.

Then Rae stood, tugged her jacket around her a little more, buttoning one of the big marble-black buttons on the front. She seemed to have made a decisions now and she stood to look to the sun once more before she went to speak to the dragon directly. Rae felt as if the creature needed to understand that Rae wasn’t going to hurt her- well, baby (that’s how she treated him, as a naughty son).

Rae didn’t go back into the warehouse but she went as far as the door, her hands at her sides as she leant on the empty frame.

“So listen.” She said to the big, fierce creature. “I want to take Apollo into the city- to the mall to buy clothes, to this really cool little burger place to get some food. I, he needs to learn a little normality and I know my way around this city. You can’t come with us- but I think it’s important for Apollo to learn how to camouflage himself ‘in real life’, for the times that you can’t be there to protect him.” She paused, collecting her nerve as she added; “Eli can’t come into the mall either- so he’ll be staying here too.”</sup>

[Apollo Lion]

“Do you have any other clothes?”

Star said to Apollo pointing at his clothes. He gave a gaze at her before his attire. These clothes were not, technically, his to begin with. He had stolen them from a shop and he had claimed them his ever since. He always thought about stealing more, maybe strolling into a mall and taking what ever he could find before running away. He didn't have much stamina to run away from an entire police unit if caught so he decided against it. "I never really had any money for clothes so the answer is no." 

She moved and he followed taking a last glance at her motorbike. The suns light blinded him for a moment and he found himself rubbing his eyes vigorously trying to adjust. He stayed away from her when she had her little interaction with 'E.' After all he didn't really want that dog to bite him or rip out one of his body parts. She watched the city and he watched her, finding fascination from her movements and words. If he was going to learn from her he might as well watch everything she did, every human interaction she made, and every area her chocolate eyes scanned. This was how he was going to learn to survive for now. Just until the real action began.

“No point trying to get through the day on an empty stomach is there. Could go eat, couldn't we?”

He was not sure if she was talking to him or the dog but he allowed his stomach to do the answering for him as it gave a little growl that would follow the wind to Stars ears. It had made a good habit of making noise when ever he thought of food. It is true that his body had learned to handle starvation, but his hunger had lasted for a long time and now no food remained in his stomach so that it could do its daily digestion. If Star offered food then he would follow her until his life ended. It appeared that E was thinking the same thing as his tail began working. 

“Have to leave the dragon here though. Unless it can do anything useful in the way of camouflaging itself?”

Apollo took a large sigh at the thought then turned to the warehouse. "If we could do that then we wouldn't need the big building." His eyes ran back to Star while his arms folded behind his head. He kept his pupils on her as she whispered to the dogs ear, calming him down, but they started to blink rapidly as she walked to the warehouse. His arms flailed in the air, his voice called out 'Hey', and his feet moved him to her side. He stayed away this time, but close enough for her to know that he existed besides her. 

The warehouse was dark now as the light only moved so far into the entrance to see Bayla's tail and bottom body. Her deep breather and snarl could be heard though while her glowing yellow reptilian eyes targeted Star. Bayla said nothing and allowed the insolent human before her to speak, giving a large growl to her a few times, warning her to watch her words in front of an acid dragon. Apollo just stayed behind Star readying to throw his body in front of her when Bayla's anger reached its peek. 

Surprisingly, the dragon did not snarl, roar, or move to snap her jaw at Star. Instead she just gave a nice stern look at them both before closing her eyes for good. 

*You speak to me as though you ask for permission from his mother to go take him out on a date. Do what you want. Just don't get him killed bitch.* She gave a chuckle. A chuckle that was noticeable enough for everyone to know that she was laughing. Apollo took over the conversation but kept it a little bit clean, he didn't tell Star what Bayla name for her was and he didn't plan on telling her in the near future. "She said do what you want."

An assuring smile crossed his face as he started heading for the city. "You don't have to worry about E. She won't eat him right Bayla?" Bayla hissed. "Yeah yeah what ever. Guide the way Star," he would say stopping to wait for Star to lead him. 

[Rae-Star Berii]

<sup>"I never really had any money for clothes so the answer is no."

While she made no attempt to respond to this, Rae noted it down in the back of her mind. This was important because it told her that they had two options; a) she buy everything in the next hour that she spent with this man or b) that she teach him to steal. It didn’t seem like a good idea to stick with option b, after all, it was breaking the law for the start (not that Rae was against that, if it meant he survival, but she preferred to take other options than those that were unlawful). She didn’t make a noise in relation to this either way, nor did it even look like she had heard him or that she was listening to him, but she did take a moment to think about it.

Similarly, Rae didn’t pause when he called out to her and followed her to the warehouse. Rae was trying to work this dragon out. The woman didn’t seem to appreciate weakness- she’d indicated that by throwing her companion across the floor- but more so, she seemed to loath anything that wasn’t her. Why, then, had she chosen to save Apollo in the first place?

It was a nice relief, and surprise, when the dragon did not snarl, roar, or move to snap at her, and Rae took that as a good thing. She spoke clearly and carefully and when she was done she looked to Apollo for an answer.

"She said do what you want."

Rae smiled, giving a nod of her head to the dragon and murmuring; “Thank you.”

Then she motioned Apollo to follow her as she headed back to the cabinet. For a moment, Rae talked to Eli, getting him to lay beside the motorbike, telling him to stay. She had no worry about the dragon eating Eli. If the dragon came out of the warehouse it would be seen by the yard security here now that the day had begun and as long as Eli didn’t come out of the cabinet then the dragon couldn’t get to him. Then she grabbed her rucksack, and moved away from the container. Rae even replaced the chain lock. It wasn’t done up tightly, and the doors weren’t closed. In fact, the dog would’ve been able to squeeze through the gap if he wanted too, but she didn’t want someone to happen upon her motorbike and try and steal it.

That being said, she wasn’t riding it into the city. From here, it was a short enough walk. And it would give her time to ask questions of her new…companion.

She shrugged her bag on and started walking in the direction she came at the beginning of the morning. Motioning him to follow.

“Best thing I can teach you, is to fit in.” She told him. “So you need to see the city, get over the surprise and wonderment and ask your questions about the world.” She shrugged. He’d been so freaking weird about her bike- he couldn’t afford to show how naive he was to the rest of the world.

“Where are you from?” She added; “Which part of Germany?” Making conversation…sort of.</sup>

[Apollo Lion]

She smiled when Apollo told her what Bayla said. Apollo stared at them both studying their own unspoken interaction. He wasn't sure about it that much but for some reason he thought that they both gained respect for each other. He had no clue as to why he thought that but it played in his mind for the moment.

Star motioned him to follow her but his he stayed starring at Bayla. Was she really going to be alright by herself? They didn't really make an action plan of what would happen if someone were to spot her. Would she be able to get away without him? Bayla was a strong and wise dragon so she would be able to escape.... Right? 

The more his mind ran on the subject the more he would brood on the outcome. What if she didn't make it out? What if she was to get killed or captured? Then he would be alone. Those words ran inside his head making him more concerned than ever. 'Maybe I shouldn't leave her,' he said to himself preparing to decline Rae's offer. His feet began walking to her and his thoughts centered on how he was going to tell her that he did not want to leave Bayla's side. However, he did not tell her a single thing. Instead he remained quiet, allowing Bayla's new words to play in his head.

*Go with her Apollo* She said to him. *You know more than I do that you need this. You can't be a baby and rely on my presence forever. You either learn to survive now or later when your left alone for real. As much as I hate to say it, the bitch finding us is the best thing that could have happened to you. Don't waist what luck gave you.* 

His eyes went down, but his chin nodded as he started walking with Star. Everyone, including him, knew it was a necessity. His naive ways would have to end so that this cruel world would not rip him apart later. 'I am not gonna let this world chew on me,' he thought giving a determined look. 

“Best thing I can teach you, is to fit in. So you need to see the city, get over the surprise and wonderment and ask your questions about the world.” 

He went over what she said memorizing everything. He would be practicing this skill for later when he needed it. His hands moved to his head, holding connecting and giving his skull while he walked. His pupils targetted the city in which they where going to. He had seen it from the sky this mourning when they landed near the area. He had noticed the waters and the beautiful tower and found this place a little interesting. Star said that she would like for him to get all his questions out and he did not even hesitate to start the asking.

"Thank you Star. Very much. Maybe in return I will help you out with something someday. So first question. What is this city called?" While he would let her answer his question her lip movement, expression, and vocal letters all locked inside his mind.

"I do not know the town or location of where I came from sadly. I was told about the town, but where I was remained a secret. Some called the camp Auchwitz 2, what ever that was. When I was free I ended up in a city known as Dusseldorf where I stole these almost dry clothes." He looked at the still wet spot of his jacket curious as to whether not the water was fading. the more it spent in the sun the lesser his clothes stained. "Me and Bayla started traveling further south and landed here. Nearly ran into some trouble with airplanes." He laughed.

"What abou-" he stopped himself from talking. He didn't want to offend her and make her not want to help him because he asked her about her past again. She was trying to escape what she was, apparently, and him asking her about her life was only going to bring her back to what she was trying to escape. "There are more out there aren't there." He said hoping that this would change the subject. "Monsters like Bayla. Do you mind telling me about some?"

[Rae-Star Berii]

<sup>The road along the river was a pedestrian only walk-way, so Rae didn’t need to worry about him getting run over. She tucked her gloved hands into the pockets of the blood-red trench coat and she kicked the dirt with those thick heeled leather boots of hers as she walked along. Rae didn’t generally feel the need to make conversation, she didn’t feel awkward in silence and now she watched the world around them as they headed back towards the city.

“London.” She told him, when he asked where they were. She gave him a glance, turning her head in his direction and taking a moment to smile at him. “Capital city of Great Britain, with such tourist finery as Big Ben and The Queen.” There was a level of scoffing in her voice, but she mostly seemed content to talk about the city. “I grew up here- until I was like, thirteen, I lived in Chelsea- it’s the nice part.” She pointed across the river, to the big, gorgeous manner homes and the white walled flats.

Sat amongst them, and in view, was a building that was charred and black. There were still fire cruisers there, though the fire was long out…

Rae looked away from the sight of that. She’d told him enough about the burnt up building, she didn’t want it to haunt her anymore.

But she knew curiosity made him want to ask her about herself, and if he was patient and un-pressing maybe she would give him little granules of her story, moment by moment.

"There are more out there aren't there…Monsters like Bayla. Do you mind telling me about some?"

“Not in the open.” She shook her head at him then, thoughtful. “I’ll tell you, but not right now. If you’re unlucky, later, maybe you’ll meet a few.” She added, side-stepping as a kid on a bike road between the two of them at speed. It came from behind her, and once again Rae showed off how nimble and how agile she could be, side-stepping as if there was a mere breeze brushing by her.

After the bike had passed she stepped back beside him and said; “Let’s start with simple things, alright? And build up to the stuff of nightmares?”

As they gained upon the tourist area she pointed out the Ferris wheel over the water; larger than your average wheel, and with pods instead of carriages, the London Eye gleamed in the sunlight. Rae glanced over her shoulder, crossed down the path and out onto the road, waving him to follow her, she headed onto the pier. It was busier here- lots of people milling around. “Stay close.” She added to him.</sup>

[Apollo Lion]

The birds were completely out singing songs and moving through the grass. Their eyes focused on food. Every once in a while when they think they caught something, they would stick their beaks into the ground. Most come up empty but one, and that one pulls its head up in victory as it snatches itself a worm.

As Apollo and Star walked together, a couple of those searching and song singing birds would stand in their way. But only a little bit because they would be afraid that Apollo or Star would step on them and they would skip or fly away. The draconian enjoyed watching the birds flap their wings fast enough to send them through the air and into trees. He also found it amazing that they could move so fast with such strong wings. But that wasn't the only thing that caught his attention.

A black and white man was standing on the other side of the walk way attracting many people to him. He would pretend that certain things were actually there and he would interact with the said invisible objects. Apollo found it amusing and funny, chuckling as he moved along with the pink haired female.

"London huh. There is a queen?!" He thought about the word queen, straining his head. It came up a lot to him in the camp when he was told stories of a princess being kidnap from a castle by a dragon. In the story he was told the queen was the wife to the king that controlled a kingdom. "Is this a kingdom?"

“I grew up here- until I was like, thirteen, I lived in Chelsea- it’s the nice part," Star said pointing towards a certain neighborhood. Inside was the charred remains of what Apollo assumed was a beautiful house. Some of the neighbors, along with the fire crew, stayed to bask or gawk at what was left. 'So that's the building she burned down huh?' He laughed when he saw that. He, for some reason, found it funny that there was an actual burned building. "So you actually burned it down huh. Next time you wanna destroy something just ask Bayla and she will melt it down for good." He left his comment at that not wanting to push the memories on her like he and Bayla did before. It made him feel bad enough causing her great pain being forced to remember this place. He didn't want to cause her anymore. However, if she were to tell him things about her past slowly then he would be extremely happy. Because that would mean that he would be one step closer to her trusting him like he trust her. 

For some reason he didn't like when Star said that if he was unlucky he would meet the monsters of this world. He didn't like the thoughts of another Bayla out there in different forms. "I hope you will train me on how to handle them before I meet them." A nervous chuckle flowed from his lips as he thought about the hell he might meet one day. Apollo watched with great amazement when Star flowed out of the direction of the bike. It was like nothing he had seen before. She moved like the wind, not missing a step or tripping on her own feet. She was swift and made it seem like beautiful art instead of just moving out the way. What he watched most were her toes, legs, and hips as she nearly danced to avoid the kid crashing into her. With her movement and the sunlight shinning down on her captivating face, Apollo thought that he was looking at a young goddess for a moment. 

He gave a warming smile and began clapping at her side step. "To learn from you will be glorious, I can just tell."

“Let’s start with simple things, alright? And build up to the stuff of nightmares?”

Apollo nodded with agreement. He should probably get use to humans first before getting use to monsters. That way their actions would not be as much as a surprise to him. Apollo was told as a kid that the scariest thing in the world were human beings. If he could conquer them then he could conquer monsters.

His mouth nearly dropped off of his body when he saw a large wheel. It was so tall that it nearly reached the clouds. Actually, he thought he saw a couple of clouds touching the capsules of the large thing! Star called him and his neck turned to her before turning back to the giant machine. His body moved to the pink haired girl, but his eyes stayed drawn to what Star had pointed at before. "We must ride on that before we part ways." He placed determined eyes on the pink one clenching his fist to showing that this was one thing he would never allow her to say no to. "We must! Promise me!" He looked at her but his fingers pointed at the machine, his mind dead set on getting both him and her on the Ferris wheel together.

Suddenly, he stopped noticing where he exactly was standing. His foot pressed the floor lightly before tapping it. Each tap he gave was harder than the last, creating noises along with the moving of waves. He was uncertain if he was safe or not on such a foundation of this, so he began jumping a little trying to test if this thing would actually support him. Star seemed alright with walking on this thing, so he would brave it as well.

He began walking down the walkway known as the London Pier and couldn't help watching his step as he felt the ground below him become less solid. "Are you sure this thing will hold?" He said to the pink beauty afraid that he will fall off. 


 

[Rae-Star Berii]

<sup>Ever observant, Rae noticed that his attention was on the birds and their free flight. She wondered privately if he had ever been afraid of flying. She assumed, based on what he’d said previously, that he had flown on the Dragon’s back. It seemed to Rae like a bizarre, wonderful and crazy thing all at once. The stuff of both nightmares and dreams. But had he been afraid? Or did he watch the birds and miss his scale-friend back at the warehouse?

Then his attention wandered from the birds and Rae followed his gaze.

"Is this a kingdom?"

If she found it a strange question, she didn’t say anything. She had told him to ask questions and Rae had promised herself, that as long as those questions weren’t about her, or her story, then she would answer them as honestly as she knew. She nodded at his wonder and awe, and gave a gently giggle at his apparent childish view on the whole thing.

“London is the capital city of this place. We’re on an island at the moment, not that you’d really ever tell, it’s not like a dessert island or anything, but the place where you are at the moment is called Great Britain. It’s got a Queen and that Queen is also the Queen of many other parts of something called the commonwealth. Urm, like Africa or Canada.”

She paused for a moment, swung her bag around to the side of her body and routed in one of the pockets. Here she pulled out an orange and cream slip of paper. It was a ten pound note. She handed it to him, a picture of a woman facing him on the money. “That’s the Queen.” She explained, “Or her portrait at least. She’s on all the postage stamps too.” After a moment, and a glance to check, she added; “The old guy on the other side is Charles Darwin.”

It occurred to her that Darwin had a lot to answer for. His theories of evolution seemed like nothing but trouble these days. Though, she wondered what the old scientist would say if he knew about Bayla the Dragon.

“Put that in your pocket, you’ll need it later.” She said, effectively giving him the money.

"So you actually burned it down huh. Next time you wanna destroy something just ask Bayla and she will melt it down for good."

“I wanted to do it myself.” She smiled. “And yes, I actually burnt it down. Did you think I was lying to your dragon?”

As she glanced over at the burnt house she tried to sort through the darkness and think of some fond memories; memories of love…of joy, of happiness. One in particular took place on a warm and sunny day on the Embankment, the boats were out in force on the river Thames; Rae remembered it being her birthday and her parents had taken Caleb with them out for lunch, a picnic in Saint James park and later her father had taken Rae up to the stable stables to pick out a brand new horse, a colt, for her thirteenth birthday.

It had been just a few days before the incident, before the demons that stole her life.

Barney had been there, in his sportswear, with his mother. She remember knowing it was his mother almost instantly, they shared the same eyes. “Hello.” Barney had grinned, and Rae remember being swept away by the flutter of his voice on the air. Perhaps its romantic hindsight, but he was a knight in shining armour, a true Prince Charming. That was the day he invited her to the summer ball. How could she deny him?

Of course, all her memories are tainted with darkness. Rae never made it to the summer ball, her father wouldn’t let me go after what happened at the house, after she had hidden with her baby brother under the bed when demons rampaged the place looking for something.

It wasn’t until later that Rae learnt they were looking for her father, for the case file that Rae now wore on a USB around her neck, and the money Uncle Taron was forced to give them…

"I hope you will train me on how to handle them before I meet them."

She came out of her thought, a little blush on her cheeks, and glanced at him. “Train you to handle them.” She seemed to muse for a moment. Again, her thoughts were bothered by that. She had spent a long time in training and learning to survive herself. She had travelled to Australia and to Iceland to harden herself and polish the skills she had. She had a reason to stay alive, a reason to be determined to learn. With a sideways glance, she wondered if he had the same reasons, or if this was just part of a game to him.

Still, she smiled. “One thing at a time. There’s still lots I don’t know.”

"We must ride on that before we part ways."

Her laughter sounded once more, musical and light. “Maybe.” She didn’t seem to be giving him an inch when it came to things he wanted to do.

For a moment she hadn’t realised he’d stopped, it was only when someone in the crowd brushed by her on the left hand side that she realised. She stopped, turned and saw him jumping up and down on the boards. Rae closed her eyes for a moment, exhaling slowly through her nose and then went to get him. She offered her gloved hand to him, silently. And although her insides twisted at the thought of his touch, she added; “Come on, stop making a scene.”

People were looking at them. It wasn’t good for her need to go unnoticed, his fooling around.

“I promise- there are hundreds of people walking on it- stop mucking about.”

Whether he took her hand or not then, Rae moved on once more.</sup>

[Apollo Lion]

Star came to grab his wrist while Apollo was doing his attention grabbing jump, and he allowed her to take it and guide him to where they were going, not wanting to piss her off. They came into the position of a line where they had to wait until all of those in front of them were accepted. Apollo didn't mind standing in place, but he did feel another curious question wanting to burst through his lips. Where were they going? She was leading him somewhere but all the information that was given to him was that he was going to get a new set of clothes and a burger, nothing about where they were going to get this clothing and burger or how long it would take until they got to where she was leading them.

He moved close to Star and held one hand over his mouth so that those in front of him would not see. His voice was silent, in a whispering tone, giving Star non verbal knowledge that he did not want anyone else to know what he was about to ask her. "Where are we going?" His breath blew on her ear but that was the only thing from him that touched her; though, he would still be too close to Star if she considered it. It was a tight space in the line, full of happy sheep ready to flock to something, Apollo had no knowledge as to what. The children in the line literally jumped with excitement to the very thought of what was to come, which he found himself being unhappy about since everyone looked at him crazily when he was jumping just a few minutes ago. 

It did not matter if Star would or wouldn't tell him their destination because soon they would reach the front of the booth they stood in line for. There they would be greeted by a female of Apollo or Star's age. She was what most sexually perverted boys would call cute. She had dark hair and red eyes. Her skin was pale like Star's and their English accent where nearly identical. The booth woman gave a look at Star before giving a look at Apollo, then giving a seductive look at both of them as if to tell them that they looked nice together. 

"Welcome to the Millennium pier," her voice chimed. "Two notes please." "Two wha-?" He looked at her with as much confusion as he would give when talking to Star. This was all new to him and complicated for his mind to get a hold of. He didn't know the Britain name for currency, nor how to count the Britain coins he took a while ago. Words like Pound, pence, penny, and note would need to be told and taught to him as if he were a child. Despite being an eighteen year old he was young at heart and that is where his heart would remain until Star deemed him ready for the world. 

"Sir two notes please," She said to him again. The booth operator was looking a little annoyed at Apollo and the long line of people waiting for him to pay his toll. He looked towards star for explanation, hoping that she would know what to do. If Star was as helpful as she said she would be, his mind would be reminded back to the piece of paper that she gave him. He would take it out and look at it for a little bit, becoming a little sad that something that Star gave him would leave his hands. He found sentiment for the paper as a sign that Star was opening to him. He would place it near the glass, unwillingly, where the lady would take it and give back to him a green piece of paper, three coins, and a ticket. 

"Enjoy your ride," would be the operators rushing words, looking at the next costumer like Apollo never existed. If he had to, he would stay back and wait for Star. 

There was a tunnel that connected to a station that seemed built to the ground. Apollo's fear on stepping inside grew even greater when he noticed that he would have to pass through another possible cause of death. He stopped for a while to investigate if this was also safe. It seemed sturdy, and a lot of other people were passing him with no trouble, so it must be safe. It was as Star said, a hundred people were walking on it and a thousand more probably walked on it at once before. His feet began moving again while his fingers pushed away everyone in front of him. He would be determined to catch up to Star, if she continued to move without him, and he would go so far as to crawl under everyone's feet until he stood next to her again. He would accomplish his goal, despite making a few people angry and dirtying up his already dirty pants. 

[Rae-Star Berii]

<sup>Rae led him to the queue, thinking nothing of it. It was something brits were always considered to be good at doing; queuing. That and complaining, wasn’t that their global stereotype? Part of waiting in a line of people was a life lesson, but it was also more interesting than most made it out to be. Sure, being stood still not doing anything was pretty mind-numbing, but if you used the opportunity to watch the people around you, a lot could be learnt. Rae was a watcher, she was a keen observer, she liked to take notice of other people; most of whom lived in a startling display of normality. But this observing also came with a purpose, Rae would check them for weapons or suspicious behaviour or as simple as checking to see if they might know here. After all, a girl who was playing dead, didn’t want to be trapped on a boat with an ex-school pal. That wouldn’t be good at all.

As well as the children lining up to take a ride on the boat, there were the usual business world. This was a commuter’s service, it saved the twenty minute walk to the nearest bridge. Which, in this world that was always in a hurry, those twenty minutes were vital.

"Where are we going?"

His breath on the back of her neck made her shiver and absently she moved her hand up to brush the back of her neck and replace her hair over the jagged cut that rested along the top of her spine. Mostly hidden by her hair, the cut was like a lightning bolt, angular and irregular. Rae had done it to herself, with a glass bottle, in an attempt to remove the micro-chip from the back of her head and stop her Uncle tracking her. His being so close to that secret, made her shiver and fuss with her hair uncomfortably.

“You’ll see.” She answered him, without glancing at him.

Quickly they came to the ticket booth and Rae nodded at him, motioning the pocket where he’d kept the money she had given him. She gave him a small smile of encouragement and added; “Put the change in your pocket” As they moved away from the booth, “But keep the tickets out.”

They followed the queue down the tunnel that connected the station and Rae offered her hand to him again. She didn’t know if he’d like this. As they stepped out from the tunnel the ground started to move beneath their feet, the gentle bobbing of the River Thames taking the wooden platform up and down in its lethargic dance. The last thing she needed was for him to freak out about the ground moving, so she gave him another of those rare smiles and even rarer she extended her hand to him, whistle pointing out their mode of transport.

“The boat will take us across the other side of the water.” She explained to him, as if he was a tourist, but also very aware that he wouldn’t know what a boat was.

As the queue dwindled and it came to their turn to board she motioned that he give the tickets over to the man with the bum-bag. Then she led him up the gangplank and onto the desk of the ferry. It was a single deck, white (mostly) boat, with several bench seats and a little roof area. Rae took him straight to the front, and stood at the railing. From here they would see where they were going, from here, he would be able to feel the spray of the water as the boat took them across the River Thames and onto the Embankment Pier the other side.

When all the passengers were boarded, the engines started to whirl noisily, enough to cover their conversation. But Rae said nothing out of the ordinary as she spoke to him; “We’ll take this across and then we’ll head East to Covent Gardens- you’ll like it there, there’s lots of street performs and things to see. If you’re feeling really touristy I can take you past Trafalgar Square on the way there.” She knew these things wouldn’t mean anything to him, but didn’t want to give him away. If he passed as a tourist some of his odd behaviour would be excusable.

“She gave you eight pounds change, by the way- the coins are one pound coins, and the green paper is a fiver- or a five pound note. You can use that later to buy some food.”

She wasn’t trying to patronise him, but felt it would be easier for him to get an understanding of the world if she spoke clearly about everything, as if he was a small toddler who needed the world explained. She doubted, based on what he’d told her about his time in captivity that he’d never handled money before. So, Rae, in her patient way, was starting with the basics, from the beginning.

“Are you alright with this?” She added, as the boat took off across the water. It wasn’t particularly fast, not a speed boat by any stretch of the imagination, but it was nippy enough and the wind was strong against her face as they headed toward the other side. From here, they could see some of the parliament buildings, the others bridges in the distance. But she didn’t point these things out, they wouldn’t mean anything to him and she didn’t want to confuse him further.</sup>

[Apollo Lion]

When stepping into the tunnel Apollo feared the worst. Fearful of being taken into the waters and sinking deep within. For he was not the excellent of swimmers. He never learned, was never taught, and for a while was not familiar with the liquid he was to dive in. His fear of water was great and he always cursed Bayla for bringing them to an area where he could drown if a structure was not well jointed. Of course, he wasn't cursing her now because he met Star. And if Bayla did not bring them to London then the help from Star would have never been given. 

The tunnel was well structured and seemed not to shake when he moved. There may have been a few times when he thought that it quaked but other than those he felt at piece with the non moving escalator. His stares and confusion showed again when Star suddenly offered her hand to him. She did that before but it was only because he was not moving along with her. This time he was right behind her, so his wonderment of why she wanted to touch him grew. His shoulders moved up and down while his fingers connected with her glove. He could feel the tip of her fingers touching his skin. She was the one touching him this time so maybe she wouldn't turn dark on him this time... Right? 

His left foot landed on the ground of a large platform that seemed to be made to float on top of water. Apollo felt the swaying motion the ground gave in correspondence to the moving liquid below. His legs began to shiver and his muscles only made him weak. His body wished to sink to the ground and hold onto the floating machine, not wanting to do anything to turn it over. When he wanted to fall, he looked towards Star then forced himself to stand. He would not be weak, not when she was strong. He wanted to be like her, confident, graceful, and helpful. So he braved the death trap and leaned to the poles every time he felt nauseous.

When Star pointed towards where they would be riding, nervous sweats started to show. She explained to him that this floating vehicle would take them to the other side of the city. He gave an awkward smile that tried to say that he understood her but actually said that he was very uncomfortable with this. Star then gestured him to give the man with the bag on his waist the ticket he was told to hold, and he did so with less pep in his step. Then they had to walk on wood that connected to what Star called the boat. He stayed close to her the entire time and, if they still held hands, never let go of her.

Star showed him to the front where the fragrant of the sea could clearly reach his nose. There were bars to where he could hang on to something more than Star. When he grabbed the railing his veins could be seen, showing that he was grabbing the metal tool robustly. Soon he could hear the rumbling of the vehicle and the moving of the waters increasing. Star said more words to him but he wasn't listening. His mind was preparing for anything and everything that came next. Though his ears twitched once when she mentioned the currency of this kingdom, he gave her nothing else that would manifest the idea that he was listening.

Suddenly the world moved and the wind blasted onto his face. His eyes closed while his arms folded over then under the open space of the railings. Inside his head he was ready to call to Bayla for if this thing began to sink. He didn't care if others would see her or if the bad people would kill try to kill him as well. During this moment, all he cared about was not crashing and being killed by the city ocean.

 “Are you alright with this?” Star said to him, her words awakening his eyes that were once closed shut. He looked at her for a moment then looked ahead. As he stared at what was coming his way and felt the freezing breeze upon his face, Apollo's tensed body constricted less and less. His lips slowly moved back and a grin turned into a smile which then transformed to an ecstatic expression. You could hear a faint chuckle fall from his lips as his arms moved back to his side. His facial expression was childlike, much like his naive mind. This was his first boat ride and he was slowly starting to like it.  

[Rae-Star Berii]

<sup>Rae had never liked the water, as a child she’d always feared it. When they had to take the crossing, like the one they were doing now, Rae had always clung to her father, afraid of being sucked into the murk and mud and suffocating in the grey-blue of the river. It had been a deep routed and psychological fear, but she’d gotten over it. Her trip to Iceland, where she’d learnt many new skills and had become a colder, deadly sort of fighter, had also taught that things didn’t have a right to be fear, but fear itself was the bully. It wasn’t the water that deserved her fear, it wasn’t the water that made her weak. She had been taught to overcome that fear too, she had been taught to overcome the water. To learn to read it a little better, to know when it was safe, to know when it was angry, to know when it was hiding something. She had been taught to endure it. She had been thrown, headfirst, into an ice hole, and told to tread the water until she realised that her fear was what was crippling her.

Now, as she looked out from the boat, her hands in the pockets of her blood-red leather coat, she didn’t feel anything but respect. The River was probably hiding so many secrets; engagement rings from in fury from a bridge, lost money, old or broken pieces of a service boat gone by or bodies of the dead. But she wasn’t here to question those secrets, just to be thankful to the water for their safe journey across it.

If she was a spiritual person she may have said a short word of thank you to the water. But Rae…her faith was complicated. She’d been saved and punished by the gods. She’d always forced herself not to believe, always scolded them for abandoning her family when all those dark things had happened to her. But she had met one of them, she had her life saved and her world healed by Varos, Goddess of Balance, who had said that it wasn’t Rae’s time to die yet. Then, when she was just finding her faith, Rae had been forced to betray the Gods. Her Uncle had taken her to India and had put her to the test of the darkness, of those so disturbed they killed prophets to the gods. Rae- Rae had nearly lost her mind through those trials. But she had killed too.

Whatever the reason, the tests had ended badly. At least, they had ended without her Uncle’s favour. She had not managed to secure a role in the army of the broken immortals, as her Uncle had so wished, but instead had clawed herself into a hole and had fought to get her mind back. She’d lost track of her Uncle again, though, she hoped as she always did, that he was dead.

Her chocolate eyes watched him for a moment, seeing his fear turn into joy at the experience and Rae just smiled at him in return. She took a moment to adjust the backpack on her shoulder, tightening the strap and nodded to him. Let him bask in this, let him enjoy the experience, what would the harm be? Wasn’t that what she was trying to teach him, to be ‘real’ and to live outside the confines of his prison? Maybe, once she’d come to trust him a little more, she’d teach him to fight, or to at least defend himself.

But she was far from trusting him with her secrets.

The boat bumped into land, the dock on the other side of the river and Rae motioned for him to follow her again. But she did not reach out for his hand again, preferring to keep them in the pockets of her coat.

She led him up a dock and galley, which was the mimic of the one they had come down to board the boat. Up inside a tunnel they went, and then out onto the street the other side.

Rae nodded to the police officer that happened to be guarding this post, the same as every other person seemed to do as they passed by. Then, she headed down the road, to the west.

The walk would take them about ten minutes and keep them neatly on the outsides of the major city. It was busy now, there were cars and vans and motorbikes and people everywhere, moving like little ants about their business. But Rae paid no mind to them. She just let him take it all in, leading him to Covent Gardens.

As they drew closer to the indoor market area, music could be heard. The square was full of acrobats and clowns, jugglers and people watching them in circles, calling and cheering and dancing to the music that played. Rae came to a stop, giving him a smile, letting him watch as the men and women flipped and jumped over each other so expertly.

Around them was a buzz, different to the commuter buzz of the streets. This place felt safe, it felt warm with life and the people seemed to be much more relaxed. People called out prices from stalls, but there were also standing shops here, grand shops, with colourful and bright displays. Clothes shops, food shops, even a Disney shop and a shop that sold expensive pens. Off to the left was even a store with an apple painted on it, a bite missing.

“Let’s go there- find you something a little more…suiting to wear.“

She pointed to a store that had a wooden outlay, like something from a southern farm. The name, in fancy swirls on the door labelled the shop as ‘Ben Sherman’. And, although the rocker chic looked very much out of place here, she walked with confidence on those biker boots of hers, across the courtyard to the shop.</sup>

[Apollo Lion]

The ride felt great. The feeling of tiny waters smashing into his face, the rush of air that tickled his skin , and the amazing view of the capital city known as London. His awe and oohs fell upon most of the buildings, finding it a little bit interesting how these things where made. He was once a constructor. Building walls and cutting down trees with his prison buddies. Though he could never imagine that this world could create something like the London eye. He would have to read later on about how such a structure was even possible and if there were more structures even larger.

Surprisingly, reading was just as possible for him to do as talking. His own freedom lied in the stories he would read with his mother. He could read English language, German language, and a little bit of Hebrew. Despite being oblivious to the beauty of the world, he was probably a little bit smarter than the average humans. Though the full capacity of his mind was not met, that is why he wanted Star.He needed her to mold his brain, make him grow till he was able to live with no one babying him. Of course, in order for him to swell in brain function she would need to teach him with baby steps. It didn't make him feel demeaning because he liked it. He liked talking to her, spending time with her, moving about the city and sight seeing with her. Of course she looked like she had seen all of this before and got use to it and that maybe she was just entertaining his young mind, but he did not mind.  He would remember this first day for the rest of his life.

*Apollo!*

Bayla mentally bawled out. His eyes flowed to the side, though his head did not turn, so that he could picture Bayla's face as she spoke with him.

*The bitch is taking you too far away from me. Soon we won't be able to speak to each other.*

His smile dwindled at the thought of not being able to communicate with Bayla emotionally and mentally surged through him. *Will you be alright by yourself?* He said to her, his feelings of sadness showing to only the dragon. To Star he will appear distracted, thinking of other more important things than enjoying the liquid road ride. 

*I will be fine. I have survived on my own before and I can survive now. Just be careful of the bitch. You are trusting her too soon when she might be doing all of this to kill you. She may be separating us and bringing you to an area full of evil humans trying to kill you to get to me. Just be careful.*

With her last sentence she was gone. He could not feel her, he could not hear her. All that he could do was picture her towering body and threatening voice. Though the headaches she would give him when she yelled would not be missed or pictured. 

His body moved with Star when she left the watercraft. His use to the swaying and movement of the concrete below him was non existing, but so was his reaction. At the moment Apollo's mind stayed on his idea of losing Bayla. He would not know if she was safe or under attack for the time being, and he feared the worst. He would kill himself if his family member got into danger and he was not there to help her.

His eyes moved up to Star again, watching her like he had been doing since the first time he saw her. It seemed that all he wanted to do was just watch her. Like his fascination and muse birthed from everything she did. Maybe he was making her his role model. That's what he desperately wanted. For him to be like her, strong and independent. Yet, there were some things about her he did not want. One being her female body parts, and two being her troubled memory. An unhappy look for a strong and beautiful female. He was saddened that he could not make her happy like she was at one point in time, if she ever was happy. Maybe he would help her show her true smile again, if she allowed him the chance and did not kill him like Bayla thinks she might do.

His gesture of respect would be given to the men in orange, just like everyone else gave as they passed by. Curiosity kicking in again while his feet moved to the side of Stars so that he could have a better position to speak with her. "Who are the men in orange?" His tone hush again, though his lips did not move up to her ear and his voice was loud enough for her to hear. 

His eyes would only fade from the men, finding them oddly respected by everyone, until the main attraction came to view. Beyond the opened doors and giant grey building filled with markets lied the performers. Humans, maybe even other species, that gathered to show their amazing skills. There were clowns, dancers, and jugglers. Each performer shining bright in Apollo's eyes. He got a nice good look at every one of them, despite the gathering of characters  demanding to stop him from looking. His eyes glittered the most when he saw a black haired female performing with a small monkey. The way they moved was unique and impressive, but still not as graceful as Star, another thing surprising to him since she only showed Apollo her side stepping skills, and not her flipping skills. "I wonder if you and Eli can out shine them two," his fingers pointing to the dancing monkey while his laughing expression stayed to Star.

“Let’s go there- find you something a little more…suiting to wear.“

His sigh told the pink haired girl that he did not want to leave the entertaining area to go into the store, but his feet still strolled with her, not wanting to go against the woman helping him. Upon entrance his nose wrinkled to the smell given off in the area. It was overbearing and made him unable to breath for a while. He started breathing through his mouth just to get a good portion of oxygen inside him. The second thing less enjoyable about this place were the clothing. He found none of it good on him. They were incredibly fancy and seemed a little too flashy for him. He liked his clothing simple, maybe a logo brand on one and not multiple strands of different color mushed together.

When he moved to the t-shirt section his eyes widened in disbelief. Targets. Nothing but targets. Different colored targets on different colored shirts giving him a wide variety of target shirts to choose from. "What is with the targets?" His words flowing to the pink haired beauty he was traveling with. He moved to pick one out and showed it to Star by placing it over his chest area, modeling it as though he was wearing it himself. This one was dark blue with a light blue, white, and red target logo in the middle. He had to admit that it did look kind of cool. But he wanted a little more art to his shirt, he wanted something more awesome to look at, but for a very low price of course. Though, his opinions of the shirt were meek to Star's and he would happily accept any shirt or clothing that she would give him.
 

[Rae-Star Berii]

<sup>"Who are the men in orange?"

She followed his gaze and laughed softly; “They just work on the dock is all. It’s the men in blue you need to watch out for.” She teased him, figuring he wouldn’t necessarily know what she meant and nor did she offer him any explanation.

As they came upon the street acts she let him take a few moments to watch, moving slower as she weaved around the people, adjusting her backpack and keeping it close, checking the weight almost. When she spoke, she found herself laughing;

"I wonder if you and Eli can out shine them two,"

“Eli doesn’t roll over and play dead.” She explained, “He thinks parlour tricks are beneath him. Sometimes, he’s too human for his own good.”

But she didn’t let the conversation dwell on the dog, her thoughts going to the animal left with the dragon and her lip twisted in momentary concern for her friend’s wellbeing.

She let him go off a little in the shop, letting him look at things and pick things up as he found them interesting. She just followed, watching him and watching the server behind the tills, just to make sure that they weren’t drawing unnecessary attention towards themselves. Still, as he pulled a tee out and exclaimed unnecessarily loudly she found herself laughing at him once more and came closer. She examined the t-shirt and said; “It’s just the design.” Though she supposed, for someone in her line of work the pattern could be considered trouble. If one believed in fate, it was definitely alluring to chaos.

“If you like it, keep hold of it, if you don’t put it back and look for something else.” She told him, looking around the racks of t-shirts and figuring this was a good enough place to start. “When you’ve got three or four things, meet me over there by the curtains.” She told him, pointing to where the dressing rooms were. Then, Rae left him to his own devices, going to gather some staple items for him. She picked out two pairs of jeans, one light, one dark and a belt. She was guessing at his size, but went for the medium and figured if she needed to she could trade up or down. But everyone wore jeans, didn’t they? She also found a pair of grey commando boots that she liked and grabbed a pair of those for him to try on. Finally, she picked up a grey coloured Harrington Jacket.

Not once did Rae look at the price tags, and she was aware of the serving girl watching her now. After all, in her rock-chic ensemble, Rae didn’t look like she belonged in this shop, nor did Rae look like she could afford the clothes she was picking up and throwing over her arm. But, truth was, she could afford the shop several times over, she just didn’t like to flaunt it.

Finally, with an arm full of clothes for him to try, she headed over to the curtain to meet him.</sup>