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Authors: Scarlet Hyacinth
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argue, paying the woman for the service and her silence. Before they left the establishment, Aurus asked, "The other boy with me? Did you see him since we entered the suite?"
"I did, sir," the mermaid replied courteously. "He left just a few minutes ago."
"Was he alone?"
The woman nodded. "I would've stopped him, but I didn't want to interfere."
"That's all right," Aurus replied. "I'll find him. Thank you."
Aurus followed Chrys out of the brothel. He only hoped Chrys did indeed know where to look for his twin.
* * * *
Jaden wrapped himself tighter in the cloak, berating himself for his foolishness. He shouldn't have left the brothel, he knew that now. But he'd been so ashamed of himself, so scared he would be discovered and his secret would come out.
He hadn't lasted long in the room on his own. The first gasp that reached his ears crumbled his resolve, and he'd needed to go see with his own eyes what caused it.
He regretted it now. The sight of Aurus making love to Chrys would be forever branded in his mind. He wished he could say he felt disgusted. Instead, envy filled him, not just over Aurus but his sibling as well.
Because Jaden now realized he wanted Aurus, too. As if lusting for his own twin wasn't enough… when had things gone so wrong? Why did he have to desire such sinful things? He couldn't live like this any longer, especially now, when Aurus had taken Chrys as his lover. It hurt too much.
The thought prompted Jaden to run away, much like a few weeks back. It had seemed like the right thing to do, but now, he realized it had been stupid.
Unfortunately, unlike then, Jaden didn't think he could return. He'd been so lost in his thoughts he'd completely messed up. He couldn't remember where he'd come from and, as he advanced, he dug himself deeper and deeper. If the brothel had been shady, this area of the capital seemed even worse. Jaden felt like he would be attacked by the Sea Mother knew how many bandits at any moment now.
By a miracle, Jaden spotted the dome in the distance. The dome marked the exit out of Atlantis and could be seen only when very close to it. Someone—or something—had guided him this way, taking him to the gate closest to the Forbidden Zone.
He managed to dodge the guards at the city exit easily enough, and breathed a sigh of relief when he was out. The water around Atlantis welcomed him. And besides, Chrys would know where to find him if he went to the Forbidden Zone.
How odd that such a dark place had become a sanctuary for him. He couldn't explain it, but something wanted him there, needed him, just like he needed love and warmth. He'd stopped questioning it long ago, and felt grateful he had a place to run to when things got bad.
Unfortunately, in his excitement, Jaden forgot one thing. The path toward the Forbidden Zone took him dangerously close to the bandits' hideout. Jasper had told them they were on their own to get out of the city, but that didn't mean they'd been freed.
Jasper came out from behind a large coral, followed by Dialy and a number of other mer. Jaden froze in his tracks, fear surging inside him.
"Well? How did it go?" he asked Jaden.
Jaden hesitated, glancing forward nervously. If he tried hard enough, he could still make his escape. "Uhh… okay, I suppose. Chrys left with someone," he replied vaguely.
Jasper arched a brow. "And you came to let us know, I take it."
Jaden nodded as he started to swim toward the group of bandits. He needed to get the moment right. Otherwise, they would catch him, maybe even kill him. He didn't know why he felt this urgency, but he somehow knew his fate would be sealed should he leave with them.
"I see," Jasper said. He reached for Jaden and, at that moment, Jaden shot forward.
He dodged Jasper and Dialy, flashing through the water with a speed only despair could give him. At one point, one of the bandits nicked him with a sharp weapon, but Jaden didn't let it discourage him.
"Get him, you fools," Jasper
"I did, sir," the mermaid replied courteously. "He left just a few minutes ago."
"Was he alone?"
The woman nodded. "I would've stopped him, but I didn't want to interfere."
"That's all right," Aurus replied. "I'll find him. Thank you."
Aurus followed Chrys out of the brothel. He only hoped Chrys did indeed know where to look for his twin.
* * * *
Jaden wrapped himself tighter in the cloak, berating himself for his foolishness. He shouldn't have left the brothel, he knew that now. But he'd been so ashamed of himself, so scared he would be discovered and his secret would come out.
He hadn't lasted long in the room on his own. The first gasp that reached his ears crumbled his resolve, and he'd needed to go see with his own eyes what caused it.
He regretted it now. The sight of Aurus making love to Chrys would be forever branded in his mind. He wished he could say he felt disgusted. Instead, envy filled him, not just over Aurus but his sibling as well.
Because Jaden now realized he wanted Aurus, too. As if lusting for his own twin wasn't enough… when had things gone so wrong? Why did he have to desire such sinful things? He couldn't live like this any longer, especially now, when Aurus had taken Chrys as his lover. It hurt too much.
The thought prompted Jaden to run away, much like a few weeks back. It had seemed like the right thing to do, but now, he realized it had been stupid.
Unfortunately, unlike then, Jaden didn't think he could return. He'd been so lost in his thoughts he'd completely messed up. He couldn't remember where he'd come from and, as he advanced, he dug himself deeper and deeper. If the brothel had been shady, this area of the capital seemed even worse. Jaden felt like he would be attacked by the Sea Mother knew how many bandits at any moment now.
By a miracle, Jaden spotted the dome in the distance. The dome marked the exit out of Atlantis and could be seen only when very close to it. Someone—or something—had guided him this way, taking him to the gate closest to the Forbidden Zone.
He managed to dodge the guards at the city exit easily enough, and breathed a sigh of relief when he was out. The water around Atlantis welcomed him. And besides, Chrys would know where to find him if he went to the Forbidden Zone.
How odd that such a dark place had become a sanctuary for him. He couldn't explain it, but something wanted him there, needed him, just like he needed love and warmth. He'd stopped questioning it long ago, and felt grateful he had a place to run to when things got bad.
Unfortunately, in his excitement, Jaden forgot one thing. The path toward the Forbidden Zone took him dangerously close to the bandits' hideout. Jasper had told them they were on their own to get out of the city, but that didn't mean they'd been freed.
Jasper came out from behind a large coral, followed by Dialy and a number of other mer. Jaden froze in his tracks, fear surging inside him.
"Well? How did it go?" he asked Jaden.
Jaden hesitated, glancing forward nervously. If he tried hard enough, he could still make his escape. "Uhh… okay, I suppose. Chrys left with someone," he replied vaguely.
Jasper arched a brow. "And you came to let us know, I take it."
Jaden nodded as he started to swim toward the group of bandits. He needed to get the moment right. Otherwise, they would catch him, maybe even kill him. He didn't know why he felt this urgency, but he somehow knew his fate would be sealed should he leave with them.
"I see," Jasper said. He reached for Jaden and, at that moment, Jaden shot forward.
He dodged Jasper and Dialy, flashing through the water with a speed only despair could give him. At one point, one of the bandits nicked him with a sharp weapon, but Jaden didn't let it discourage him.
"Get him, you fools," Jasper
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