I reassured myself with thoughts of Alexander as the king led me to the center of the ballroom, his grip tight around my hand. Tighter than was necessary. Tighter than was comfortable.

Eyes pressed on me as the music came to a stop and readied itself for the next song. They were imprisoning, confining. How long would it be before I cracked?

Think about Alex. Think about Alex. Smile, don't do anything incriminating, and think about Alex.

Easier thought than done.

"How long has it been since the last time we've done this?"

"What? Danced?" I asked, distractedly.

"Don't worry about them, Thomas. They won't hurt you as long as I'm here."

It was like a lion promising safety from wolves. "They aren't the ones I'm worried about."

"Are you afraid of me?"

"The last time I saw you, you stabbed me. You almost killed me."

"Well, yes. But that was what, ten months ago? Surely we can move on from that."

"I can't just—"

"Forget about it. Just for right now. Promise me that much?"

"I don't owe you anything," I spat at him, my wings flaring.

His calm expression didn't change. Why did I feel like his gaze was tearing at my body, slowly picking me apart?

I hate this. I want to go home. I hate this. I want to go home. I hate this. I want to go home.

"Here's a crazy thought, Thomas. If you relax, you may just enjoy yourself." He nodded to someone to his right, and the music swelled around us. As we began to dance, he said calmly, "if I wanted you killed, you would be dead."

That's supposed to make me feel better, how?

I wanted nothing more than to snap at him or even kill him here, but there were too many eyes. Too many people watching. I had to keep in line, watch my mouth.

We fell into the traditional dancing, which had never been enjoyable for me before, but now it was just horrible. The music was slow and empty and meaningless, which was mind numbing.

"Do you know what worst part about being king is? The paperwork. It's horrible. I never have time for myself anymore."

"You can't just get somebody to do it for you?" I asked, trying to continue the conversation in hopes that it would distract me.

"You would think so."

"Well, there go my plans."

He laughed. "Speaking of which, have you been tested yet?"

"No."

"Are you planning to?"

"No."

"Why not? You still don't want to be the lord?"

"So I can deal with this again? I'll pass, thanks."

"Oh, think about it. Wouldn't we make a good pair?"

I glanced over at the musicians as they sat. I could feel their energy flowing through the air, creating the meaningless sounds that encompassed our music. We didn't have instruments; such things were beneath us.

When will this song be over?

"You're tense."

"Really? I haven't noticed."

"Just relax, Thomas. We're here to enjoy ourselves." And then, without any significant change, he added, "ironic that it is a dragon, don't you think?"

My blood turned to ice. "How did you—"

"Please, Thomas. Do you really write me off as not perfectly coordinated?" It was a joke. It didn't seem like a joke.

I don't know why I asked. I guess part of me was just hoping that perhaps he'd let me go. "Is there anything I can do to stop it?"

"No, of course not. But I can help you control it, if that's what you want."

To say that I didn't want his help would be lying, but I had a sense that it would come with a price.

"How's your family doing?"

"I don't know."

"When's the last time you've been to Avionerra?"

"I haven't exactly had the time. You know, I've been busy."

He frowned. "That's a shame. You should go back and visit them."

The music filled the air between the two of us once again.

"So, when did you decide to start dating Alexander?"

"What? I—"

"Don't be ridiculous, Thomas. I can control his dreams, remember? I can also see into them." He smiled to himself then. "Truly a magnificent work of magic. I'll teach it to you sometime."

"He dreams about me?"

"Focus, Thomas."

I bit down, hoping he wouldn't notice the embarrassment I felt rushing to my face. "Right. Well, that's none of your business."

"It just caught me by surprise. That's all."

Did I imagine the defensiveness in his voice?

"Don't be jealous of him," I chided, for once meeting his gaze. I found a smile.

"I'm not."

I swept my eyes across the ballroom as the conversation dropped and the dancing continued. "Hercules is okay, right?"

"He's fine. Don't worry."

"You didn't hurt him?"

"Why do you care?"

"He's my friend."

He didn't look impressed, and I could just imagine the disapproval swarming through his mind like a pack of angry bees. Why did that thought hurt so much? "Honestly, Thomas, you should be leading that rebellion. Not Washington."

"The fact that you think that is the reason I'm not."

Why do people keep assuming I'd make a good leader?

"Why do you doubt yourself?"the king asked, as if reading my thoughts.

"I didn't come here looking for a therapy session. I came to talk to you."

He was silent, swirling around in the traditional way that everyone else who knew the dance did. "Did you miss me?" The question was the most genuine thing to come out of his mouth the entire night.

I didn't answer, fearing what would spill out of my mouth if I let it open. My silence spoke more than words could, however, and he saw it too.

"How long were you on Earth for?" I asked him.

"A year or two. But I wasn't living there. I was just popping in randomly. Why?"

"I don't know. I was just curious." A beat. "There's something really interesting about human music."

"What do you mean?"

"Well, it just—I don't know. It's better. Humans have somehow found a way to put their emotions behind their songs and it's just wonderful. You haven't listened to anything?"

"Not really. Is it worth listening to?"

I fumbled for words. "You know what, it's probably just easier if I show you."

"Wait," he said. He snapped his fingers.

Everything around us slowed to a grinding halt, like gears of a machine that had suddenly stopped turning. I stared in awe as they stood, as still as statues.

"Did you just stop time?"

"Impossible. Time cannot be stopped without the worlds collapsing in on itself. However, I did freeze the entire world around us. Time is still ticking, but they won't notice."

"That's amazing. You'll have to show me how you did that." 

A laugh, short and concise. "Well, you promised to show me the music?"

"Right," I said, suddenly feeling like I had taken on an insuperable challenge. I weaved through the people that were frozen mid-dance until I found an area big enough for what I wanted to do, acutely aware of him following me.

I closed my eyes and summoned my piano. I debated bringing other instruments, but decided against it. The cushion on the bench was soft and comfortable. I sat and began to play, trying not to think too much about him as I did. I found relief in the music, and that's all that mattered.

I played a song I had played many times before. It was reliable, and I needed reliable right now.

Come to think of it, this was the first time I'd ever performed in front of other people. And it was King George.

Gross.

But for a while, I was so wrapped up in the safety the notes brought that I forgot about him and the ballroom. I genuinely thought that I would open my eyes and I would be in my safe room hidden away from prying eyes and hurtful stares.

Finally, the final chords of the song tapered off, leaving the room in an echoing silence.

"Hmm. Not bad."

"Thanks," I said dryly, looking up at him.

But his face told a different story than his comment had.

I softened, but that didn't stop me from pressing on so we could just get this night over with. "So, now that I have you alone, and I gave you what you wanted, can we talk?"

"It's just business with you. No fun."

"I can have fun!"

"When's the last time you had fun?"

"Just now! You know me, George. I'm not good with other people."

"Fine, fine." He stepped away from me, picking his way through the crowd. I followed him, turned to look back at my piano over my shoulder, and made it disappear back to where it had come from.

He turned down a hallway, leaving the ballroom behind. I followed closely, but kept my guard up the entire time we walked. I didn't like the way the lights dimmed as we passed them. I didn't like how ominous and looming the side doors appeared as we moved further and further down the hallway. I didn't like one bit of this place, really.

"Why can't we discuss it here?"

"Because I have to show you something."

Finally, after what could have easily been hours, he turned to his left and opened a door. He ushered me inside and closed it after the two of us, as if anyone could follow us.

The room was mostly dark except for a glowing blue light. My eyes didn't have to adjust to the darkness like they usually would have, but I still didn't exactly feel comfortable waiting in the still and quiet room.

The light pierced the darkness, and it seemed to be coming from a single source. Disregarding the feelings of dread and anxiety, I tread over to the blue light and reached out for it.

My hand brushed something solid, like glass.

"What is it?"

"What do you think it is?"

"If I knew what it was, would I have asked you?"

I looked back at him and picked out the way he shrugged and smiled. Did he know I could see him?

"I'm willing to make a deal with you Thomas. Obviously, you're at a crossroads between Tenebrie and death."

"You planned for that."

I had hoped against it. I had hoped he actually meant to kill me all along, and I had defied him. But the thought that always haunted the back of my mind turned out to be right.

I had played the part he wanted me to play perfectly.

"Of course I did." The confirmation wasn't necessary, and he knew that. "I am willing to help you. To teach you how to handle this. To show you the raw power you could have if you embraced this new side of you."

"And let me guess. You want me to betray my friends?"

"Betray is a strong word, don't you think?"

"I'll never do it. I would never join you."

"I thought so. So selfless, so brave. That's why I'm offering you something else. Something I feel like Alexander would appreciate." He nodded to the blue light.

My insides went cold.

No.

No, no. He would never make me choose between those two things.

I turned back and stared at Alexander's memories, encased in a glass vial and glowing brilliantly.

Of course he kept them.

How long had he planned this?

"Well? I'll return Alexander his memories. Isn't that what you want? Isn't that what he would want?"

I couldn't find my voice.

"Or are you too selfish?"

When I didn't respond, he moved forwards. I knew I should have met his eyes, but I couldn't wrench mine away from the glowing blue light.

"You know that if Alexander had his memories back, he would hate you again. Just like that." He emphasized this by snapping his fingers, the sound of it booming through the otherwise silent room. "And then where would you be?"

"Shut up."

He was closer now, so close I could reach out and touch him.

"Face it Thomas. You're a coward. Always have been, always will be. You're afraid to lose him. You know you shouldn't have gotten so close to him in the first place. But now that you have, you can't let go of him, can you?"

"Shut up."

He brushed his hand against my shoulder, the touch chilling.

"I'm giving you an opportunity here. A real chance to redeem yourself, to show the world exactly what a Tenebrie could be capable of. Why deny me now?"

"Shut up!" I all but yelled.

The king took a step back away from me. Finally, I looked over at him. His mouth had fallen into a disappointed frown, his hands reaching for the sword he kept at his side.

"I will give you two months to consider my offer. I'm being quite generous, with it, so I hope you will not let me down."

"I'll never do it."

"I doubt that. But, in the meantime, I'll let you return to your little friends to think it over."

He turned on his heel and made for the door, then suddenly paused in his tracks and glanced over his shoulder at me. I didn't like the smirk he flashed me.

"Enjoy your two months."

A tingling sensation shot through my body. I prepared myself for the pain, but none came. The tremors grew and grew until I couldn't focus on anything else, and when they finally disappeared, I found myself staring up into the king's grinning face.

It took me a few seconds to realize he was one, huge, and two, holding me.

"What did you do to me?" I demanded, but my voice sounded wrong.

He shook his head at me, smiling still, and pocketed the vial of blue light. While I argued, demanded, borderline begged for him to put me down and let me be, he brought me over to the closest window and opened it, sliding me outside.

"Sorry we have to cut this night a little short, but I'm afraid we've both been here longer than we want to. I'll see you later, Thomas."

He closed the window, and seeing no other option, I took off into the night, mind set on home.