The rest of the day was uneventful. Nya polished the weapons in the shop until there was not a spot left on them to clean. She waited all day for a customer to come by, but she only had the occasional person walk through the shop, browsing before leaving with a wistful expression. Weapons weren't a necessity, but it did bring a man great shame when he couldn't afford to protect his family. Nya ignored her anxiety as best as she could and retired to bed, praying that tomorrow would bring her good fortune.

After falling into a fitful sleep, Nya awoke at the crack of dawn to the sound of a distressed animal. A horse... Nya realized, sitting up. Flame? Grabbing her coat and sweeping it over her shoulders, she ran outside into the freezing air.

Sure enough, the dark brown stallion was thundering towards the shop, missing his cart and his rider. Kai, he- he can't be- Nya breathed shakily, her heart pounding hard against her chest. She slowed down Flame, calming him down. "It's okay, it's okay." She stroked the horse's coat, biting her lip in worry. "Where's Kai?" She felt ridiculous talking to a horse, but it seemed like her only option. Mounting Flame, she clutched onto the reins. "I need you to take me to him!"
-
Kai found himself lying face-down on a cold floor. Grunting, he sat up slowly and shivered, surveying his surroundings. Dark walls, the bars of a cell, the distant dripping of water.. "A dungeon?" He whispered, seeing his breath as he spoke to himself. I've never done well in the cold... He thought, tightening the thin coat around his body. He closed his eyes, trying to recall what had happened before he ended up here.

Kai had been attacked by a pack of strange wolves, each black as pitch but painted with white markings, almost like that of a skeleton. He had lost Flame in the attack, ordering the stallion to warn Nya as he galloped back fo Ignacia. Somehow their horse had a way of knowing what to do on its own. He wasn't sure how he managed to escape the hungry wolves, but a shortcut into a grand gate definitely kept them away.

He had scrambled down the dark stone path into a crumbling castle, shivering and more frightened than ever. Slowly, he climbed the steps to the front door, knowing that he was going to need a place to stay for the night. As he knocked on the giant doors, he had the strangest feeling, almost as if he had known about this place before.

"H-Hello?" He called out uneasily as the door slowly creaked open. "I- I lost my way in the woods... t-traveling to the next town over? I need a place to stay for the night, a-and..." His voice faltered as he stepped inside, taken aback by the massive castle, as well as the absence of someone watching the door. "H-Hello? Is anyone here...?"

A low growl breaking the still silence caused him to jump. "I-I heard that!" He called out defensively, reaching for a sword and then realizing that Flame had taken it, along with the entire cart full of weapons. Cursing under his breath, he glanced around, trying to find the source of the sound. Someone or something was watching him.

Eventually, Kai grew sick of waiting. He walked away slowly, jumping once again when the doors closed behind him. "Just the wind, just the wind..." He muttered to himself, walking around to find anyone in the castle.

He continued to walk until he began to smell something delicious. Walking into a large hall, he gasped, finding a long table with a meal set atop it. Sitting at one of the chairs, he moved the plate closer to him and stared at the food. This couldn't be for me... I shouldn't take it. He thought to himself, but the gnawing hunger in his stomach protested. Glancing around, he slowly began to eat the bowl of soup and roasted duck. Yeah, never mind. This is delicious. He smiled to himself at the warm meal, reminded of the comforting meals his parents cooked before they had passed away.

After he had finished, he began to reach for seconds on the center of the table when he suddenly heard the sliding of a cup. He looked up, noticing the blue cup with an intricate white design, but nothing that could have made it move. Uneasy, he sat up and backed away. Maybe that was too good of a meal...

Whispers began to fill the air and the sliding and clinking of more objects rang in his ears. Oh god, am I going crazy? He backed into a cabinet, hearing the clinking of coins. Glancing down, he opened the drawer and hovered his thin fingers above the glittering coins, tempted. He hesitated before stuffing the large multitude of coins into his bag. A part of him knew it was wrong to steal, but with Flame gone, he needed to survive on anything he could get. Besides, he wasn't going to stay in this haunted place for another minute; it wasn't like he was going to come face-to-face with the master of the-

"What are you doing?" A voice hissed angrily behind him. Kai jumped, gasping for air as the coins clattered to the floor. He turned around slowly, fear seizing his heart as he met a pair of eyes in the dark. Yellow eyes...

"I'm s-sorry, I-" Kai managed out, but the voice interrupted him, a hand grabbing at his shirt and lifting him in the air.

"You've stolen from me..." He growled slowly, his reptilian eyes lowering to the fallen coins. "You shall be punished for-" He was suddenly taken aback, squinting his eyes. "What are you staring at?!" He demanded, moving closer into the light.

Kai had fainted at the sight of him. The last thing he remembered was his eyes widening in fear as he came face-to-face with a monster.
-
"Kai?" Nya ran through the dungeon of the castle. She could have sworn she was following someone when all of the clues she recognized stopped, leading her to the castle. Now she was wandering through an empty dungeon, running along the hall of cages and trying to find her brother.

"Nya?" She breathed a sigh of relief as Kai's voice rang out. Rushing towards the sound of his voice, she found him crumpled weakly on the floor, reaching out to her.

"Kai..." Nya whispered, tears running down her cheeks. She took her brother's hands, gasping at the absence of their usual warmth. "You're as cold as ice, we- we need to get you out of here!" She fumbled with the lock, trying to pick it.

"Nya, no, you need to run, now!" Kai's eyes were desperate. "Please, or he'll-"

"I wouldn't pick at the lock, if I were you." A soft voice appeared behind her, causing her to jump.

Nya inhaled sharply as she whipped around, only to find that no one was there... only shadow.

"It's designed to grow more complicated the more the lock is tampered with. Only the key will release it." A pair of yellow eyes opened in the darkness, startling her.

"Did you do this to him? Show yourself!" She stood up in front of her brother protectively.

The figure ignored her. "You know him?" He asked, sounding partly confused but mostly disgusted.

"He's my brother. Release him at once!" Nya bit her lip, trying to muster up whatever courage she had left.

"Your brother stole from me." He shot back, squinting his eyes. "I wouldn't want a petty thief to be set free."

"Please, I'm sure he didn't mean any harm!" Nya fell to her knees. "I beg of you, show mercy to him! He'll grow sick in here!"

"I-I can't do anything." His voice was beginning to tremble, sounding rather boyish. He breathed shakily for a moment before turning away, walking down the hall. "Leave. Now."

"Wait!" Nya called after him, a little too loudly. The figure stopped and turned around, his yellow eyes wide with shock.

"If you aren't going to release him, then... take me instead..." Nya pleaded, tears filling her eyes.

"Nya!" Kai gasped, gripping onto her coat from behind the bars. "Don't you dare- I-I'm stronger than you think, I-I can make it!"

Nya ignored him, standing up to face the figure in the shadows. He was much taller than her, but just for a moment, she felt stronger. Closing her eyes, she inhaled slowly, collecting herself. "I'm making a deal with you. I will take my brother's place."

The yellow eyes seemed to glisten, glancing back and forth between the two siblings. "But... you have committed no crime..." He started, his voice softer than ever before.

"Haven't I?" Nya cocked her head. "I broke into your home and spoke with a prisoner without your permission."

"Yes, but..." He had stepped back, his eyes squinting as he thought. "You couldn't have known. This place has been abandoned for-"

"Then how could my brother have known?" Nya interrupted, her temper increasing. "He didn't know anyone lived here, just like me. So I don't see how our cases are much different."

The yellow eyes closed as he sighed deeply. "I see. Very well." He turned away, tattered fabric swishing. "You will take your brother's place."

"There's one more thing." Nya started. "I... I should know the face of my master."

The figure's body seemed to go rigid, standing up straight and revealing his even larger height. He swallowed, shaking his head as he slowly turned towards her. "That isssn't a good idea."

Nya began to realize what was off about his voice; it was soft and raspy, as if he had been screaming for years, but he also had a tendency to... hiss. He lingered on every "s", as if he was a...

"Please... Come into the light."

He reluctantly stepped forward, his serpentine appearance causing Nya to stumble backwards in shock. Everything made sense.

He's... He's a snake!