Thunder, lightning, rain and sun, every Drait's worst nightmare.

Two brothers huddled close under the protection of their blanket. Light spewed through the window and just as suddenly darkness returned. Thunder rumbled in response. Both boys gasped and clung to the other for fear that the sky had been ripped open and the Cadits would fall from the heavens to ravage all of Drait.

The older boy wrapped his arms around his brother. "Don't worry Lua, I'll protect you."

Amber eyes glowed in the dark. Lua regarded his brother with a special kind of admiration that only children could have. The kind that believed that the person they looked up to could never fail them no matter what.

A figure loomed beyond the thin cover of the blanket's material. Footsteps neared. Hands took hold of both boys. Juvenile screams erupted against the roaring storm outside.

"It's me Mom!" A melodic laughter coiled around them and quickly displaced the fear in their young minds. They peeled the blanket back to be met by their mother's beaming countenance. At once they attacked her in an embrace.

She held her boys as best she could. They were getting bigger and taller by the day and soon they wouldn't both fit on her lap. "Did I scare you two?"

Two sets of eyes, one like flames and the other like the sky, gazed up at their mother with tears in their eyes.

"Mommy scare us," Lua murmured.

Their mother kissed them both and snuggled them close. "Forgive me my dew droplets."

"It is raining, we thought you were a Cadit!" The older one cried.

Their mother smiled to herself like she sometimes did when she was alone. "The rain isn't something to fear. But something we should embrace. Without it the rivers would run out of water and the oceans would be one great desert. The rain is one of God's beautiful design to keep our world in balance."

"Papa says when it rains the Cadits are preparing to attack." The older boy's words were hushed and coated with fright.

Mother hummed and regarded her boys thoughtfully. "Your father only wants to keep you boys safe. But my droplets, I hope you always know that differences bring beauty. But it can also bring war, only if we allow it to. Before the Cadits and Draits were enemies, they were brothers."

"Brother?" Lua looked to his brother.

"Yes, like how you and Huo are brothers."

"Does that mean that one day we will be enemies too?" Huo looked upon their mother for an answer.

"I hope that day never comes." Her grip tightened around her boys. A fear lingered behind her eyes. "If ever you quarrel or fight, never forget that you will always be brothers. And brothers always have each other's backs."

~~~

Huo woke from slumber, with the image of fear swimming in his mother's gaze. As if she'd seen far into the future to this day.

He swung his feet over the edge of the floor and stared ahead at the reconstruction of what was once his home. Men moved to and fro, carrying timber and stone. Huo grabbed the nearest man.

Instinctive aggression soon melted into fear caught in Huo's grip. "What can I do for you, Master?"

"Where is Wasu?"

"He should be in the village."

Huo released the man and went his way. Strolling out of the capital and towards the village, he took in all the changes. What once used to be a vibrant, bustle of market goers was now a dreary scene of Cadits at every corner and Drait men and women hung up to kill every last bit of courgae within the minds of the spared Drait people.

Wasu was stringing up a boy, barely a man, when Huo arrived. He stepped back to marvel at his work when he caught Huo in the corner of his eye.

"What brings you round?" Wasu smirked. "Here to admire your work?"

"Where is my brother?"

Wasu looked at him like he'd just asked why the sky was blue. "How the hell would I know?"

"Where was he on the day of the siege?"

"Forgive me for being preoccupied on such a day. But as much as I wanted to I wasn't able to find your brother."

Huo glanced at the executed Draits, hanging by their throats, with as little emotion as one would have for a lifeless rock. "This isn't all of them. Where are the rest?"

Wasu scowled. "They should be holed up in the ruins. They'll be back soon enough, their consciences wouldn't let them be apart from their people for too long."

"Are you certain Lua is among them?"

Wasu rolled his eyes to the sky. Neither of them enjoyed each other's company very much. But Huo wouldn't leave until he knew where his brother was.

"No." Wasu glowered. He spoke through clenched teeth. "Would you like me to find out for you?"

"I'd appreciate it."

~~~

Curses trailed out Lau Tayo's mouth. He had dug himself into his own grave. He should've advised the king against having him as the princess's guard. It only burdened him more than he already was. He shouldn't have been so damn good at his job, for the king to believe that Tayo could even be capable of finding someone who didn't exist. But who was he to deny anything of the king. He cussed under his breath and followed closely behind the blind princess and her dog.

"You highness," he said, "please hold on a moment."

She halted. Turned round. She was the picture of innocence. Tayo didn't dare suspect the princess had any involvement in this case. But all the leads led right back to her, the closest person to Harran Opal.

"Yes?" Her unfocused eyes had a way of capturing gazes.

"We don't have to be the ones to do this. We can send other, more specialized indivuals to locate Harran Opal."

She perked a brow. "Are you not specialized enough?"

He huffed. "I am currently your guard. And as your guard the last thing I should be doing is leading you anywhere that'll only put you in harm's way."

"But I can't let anyone know why Harran went down there. Imagine what they'd say about my father and the royal family. Please Officer, you have to help me."

She was innocent. She wouldn't lead him right to Harran Opal if he had anything to do with the alien man from the viral video. She was an unfortunate case with royal lineage. A helpless little lost girl. Or so she let on.

She was to be married into the Tailan House, one of Dhulka's founding families, now the house in charge of Dhulka's security. And the footage of Harran Opal delivering a drunk Amir Tailan back to his residence from her apartment in the Southern Quarter only solidified how soon that would be. With only a word out of her, Tayo could lose his reputation, his job, and his life if she so much as felt like it. He couldn't underestimate her.

He let out a drawn out sigh. "No. I refuse to risk your life for a measly guard. I won't allow you to put yourself in such a position either. The one thing I strive for is your safety. And if I can't keep that then there's worse consequences then me losing my job."

She wavered on the balls of her feet and pursed her lips. "Fine. Fine." She continued down the corridor. "But I wish to speak to my father about this."

"Your Highness, can you postpone this visit?"

She halted, an unease set into her shoulders. "You won't allow me to see my father too?"

Tayo grunted and stepped closer. She stepped back. The dog growled his way. He had enough sense to halt where he was. "Alright, I'll take you to see his majesty. But the streets will be packed full with citizens attending the star dance festival. You can't ever leave my side."

She nodded and let her guard down. Tayo led the way out to the West Quarter's streets. The sound of drums pulsed through the corridors and cheers jingled along its waves. Vibrant garments and glittery cloths danced through the air. Bodies brushed against bodies as they moved to and fro. The excitement almost tangible.

Tayo held out his elbow to the princess. "Your Highness."

She reached for his elbow only to push him away. "Kaka is enough help for me."

"But—" She had already begun navigating the crowds. Tayo scrambled after her. "You Highness, if could slow down."

The drum beats claimed all other sound. Quickening now. Hearts mimicked its tempo. Then it was no more. Darkness fell upon the crowds. And the princess left his sights. One by one little glowing lights came alive, imitating those above them, beyond the glass.

Tayo pushed past people, grabbing anyone who even slightly resembled the princess, peering over heads. He spotted a head of blonde dreadlocks moving through the swarms of people in the dim lighting of a hundred glowing lights. But by the time he managed to reach her she was gone. And it would be all his fault.

~~~

"Elevator Kaka," Zemlya instructed.

Kaka led her forward, away from the buzz of the crowd and away from Lau Tayo. They entered an elevator. She felt for the buttons along the wall. And pushed the very bottom button. The Underbelly.

Zemlya knew she was being foolish. She was naive and silly. And she was desperate. She couldn't simply sit back and wait for everything to be alright. She couldn't rely on anyone to help her either. She had learned long ago never to expect any ounce of sympathy from life.

The elevator halted. She held Harran's old boot to Kaka's nose. "Seek Kaka, seek."