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Leo pouted, "you don't want to lay with me?" he rolled onto his back, huffing softly, "fine, then i don't want to lay with you, either. just watch me sleep like some creepy pervert!" he was kidding, of course, he just hoped Elliot picked up on that too

Tsume sighed happily, his nose buried in Kashi's hair, "you smell good. brought your own shampoo did you? good choice, the stuff they have here is too perfumed. makes me sneeze." he closed his eyes, surprised at how far Kashi had come. from being terrified at Tsume stepping within three yards of him to snuggling so closely in that short of a time was amazing.

Lewis rested his head on Al's chest, listening to his heartbeat, "Reta is sick. the land is dying. there is no life here, nothing green, nothing natural. just death and destruction and it's people are feeling it too."

Leo giggled softly, "is the kitty happy?" he asked, looking back at Elliot and lifting his eyebrow. "he sounds happy." he stroked Elliot's head just behind one of his ears. "very happy kitty."

Tsume hufffed, "even your thin mountain air is better than this stench. it's the smell of one death." he shook his head and curled closer, "i'll be happy when we leave here."

Lewis shook his head, "i don't know. even a corrupt elder wouldn't allow the land to become like this. it's as if-" he paused, almost afraid to say it, "as if the Retan elder were dead. it would make sense to why the land is dying...how can there be life when the source of that life is dead?"

Leo smiled, "yes, the party. it shall be hell tomorrow. just-" he was falling asleep, but he had to say this one last thing, "swear to me you won't leave me side. please? there are going to be a lot of nobles there, and with them their bentiens they want to show off. i'm going to need you tomorrow, please stay with me?"

Tsume nodded, "pompous a** is celebrating from morning to well after dark. i hear he has a special surprise for the evening entertainment, i shudder to think what it might be"

"What kind of monster could kill an immortal?" Lewis whispered, afraid of any such beast. "even the original Kasp elder lives, though i hear that his head being separated from his for this long has started to take it's toll." he closed his eyes, "i wonder how long i could be headless and still respond? don't want to find out, i still remember that pain."

Leo allowed himself to fall asleep. reassured that he would be safe with Elliot.

Tsume took a bit longer to fall asleep, but soon he too was out, happily dreaming with Kashi in his arms.

Lewis smiled and checked on the bentiens once more before letting sleep take him while he listened to Al's heart steadily beat on.

"Yes, sleep little ones," Istavia said softly, looking at the groups through his mirrors. "little do you know where this sleep comes from. prepare for the party, we will have ourselves a little fun tomorrow."

Leo sat up straight in bed, feeling sick and frightened. he couldn't remember his dream, something about darkness and thunder with no clouds, but it faded away as he tried to recall what he'd seen. he wiped the cold sweat from his forehead and slipped out of bed to get a drink, wanting for the day to be over already.

Tsume woke with Leo, sensing his fear, but when he felt it had only been a dream and that Leo was ok, he settled back down to rest as long as he could. he'd need it for today.

Leo smiled, "sorry, El. didn't mean to wake you." his love was still exhausted, that much was obvious. "i slept fine, just had a bad dream, that's all. i was getting a drink and coming back to bed, how about you go wait for me, hm?" he kissed Elliot's forehead and turned the sleepy lynx back towards the bed, guiding him to the soft surface, "come on, love. back in bed, it's early yet."

Tsume opened an eye to glance at Kashi and couldn't help a tiny snort. the hare found the oddest positions to sleep in. it was adorably cute, but rather funny at the same time. he made sure to keep still, not wanting to wake Kashi earlier than need be.

Leo shook his head, "just bits and pieces. darkness. and the sound of thunder, flashes of lightning, but it was odd. the thunder came before the lightning and there weren't any clouds." he closed his eyes, "maybe it was a dream from when i was taken."

Lewis grumbled as he came awake, wanting to sleep longer, but his body not letting him. he rubbed his eyes and glanced around the empty room, remembering that he and Al had fallen asleep out in the main room, but why? or right, to watch over the bentiens. he lay back down, planning to drowse a bit long when his eyes snapped open. there was something wrong. the room had been empty. he looked at the corner where the bentiens had slept, but they weren't there any more. "Al-" he whispered, pushing off the man and running to the cushions. they were cold, and the blanket was gone too. "Al! Al, their gone! Heather and Adi and Kate are gone!" how long? when were they taken? they didn't go one their own, they would have left the blanket. "He took them, Al, the took them!" how? they had been right there, he was a light sleeper. how did they take them? oh gods-what if they were already dead. he sat down on the floor hard, staring at the spot they'd been in, "we failed them." he whispered, his voice broken.

Tsume sat up, frowning, "what's going on?" he was up and getting dressed before the king had left their room, "something's wrong. the air smells different," he muttered. Leo was safe, so what was it. the king's announcement made him freeze, staring at the door in shock. gone? those three were gone?

Leo looked at the king in confusion, but the words made his heart stop. "Elliot-" he whispered, looking at his prince in fear, "Elliot, oh gods." he dropped his head to his hands, trying to keep control over his breathing, "those poor boys," he chocked out, sobbing into his hands, "those poor boys."

Lewis shook his head, "That's even worse. if they are still living...that's even worse." he closed his eyes and felt tears falling down his cheeks, "i'd rather they were dead! then he couldn't torture them anymore!"

Tsume hurried to Kashi, grabbing his shoulder so he give the hare a firm shake, "Don't you dare blame yourself! this wasn't your fault, Kashi. no matter what you think, this wasn't your fault!"

Leos hook his head, "we have to find them." he got up, heading to the main room, but Lewis' voice stopped him in the doorway.

"WHAT THE HELL DO YOU KNOW?" Lewis yelled, turning on Alvaro, his eyes burning with pain and anger. it was the first time he'd seriously yelled at the king since those first few years together. "WHAT THE ******** DO YOU KNOW OF TORTURE? OF BEING RIPPED APART AND FORCED TO LIVE ON?" he stood, his hands curled into shaking fists, "it would be better to die than end up like Kate! and He was lucky! at least he could still function," he shook his head, the tears falling freely now, "You know nothing! nothing! the body can live while the mind dies, the spirit breaks, leaving nothing but an empty shell."

Leo had been watching from the door of their room, but now he stepped forward, carefully pulling the sobbing Lewis into his arms and holding the older man. "I understand," he whispered softly, and he did. he knew just what kind of man Istavia was, just what he could do to the boys. "i understand, but that doesn't mean we can't try." he looked at Al, "Right? we can still try. even the most broken of minds can be healed, it just takes time. when we find them we can offer that time, but we can't give up. not yet."