During the time of waiting for the introductions, he could feel all eyes on him.  He held onto Lia’s hand tightly, knowing that if she knew the truth, she would not want to see him again.  She squeezed his hand tight in return, and gave him a reassuring smile. The Dark Queen brushed past him on her way to the front of the line of Royals, pausing to look him over. 

“Don’t you look lovely this evening.” She said with a smile. “I always did prefer you to keep the darker hair though.” She said, brushing her fingers along his cheek, and up into his hair.  A shiver ran down his spine as her fingers grazed along his temple. Her fingers had been cold as ice, and it felt as if the ice had crawled through his temple, into his brain. He could feel Lia tensing beside him, and he squeezed her hand a moment to reassure that she had nothing to worry about.  He didn’t even have a chance to respond before she hurried off to the front of the line. Everyone was announced in order as if nothing was wrong.  He even heard Raina’s name in the announcements. Had he really heard her name?  No one else seemed to react to hearing her name.  Maybe he’d just heard it in his mind because it had been said during every other night of the celebrations, and it was expected.  He pushed the thoughts from his mind.  The last thing He needed was to run into the Fyre King, and have his thoughts heard.  He would have to either not think about what he’d done, or steer clear of the Fyre King for the night.  If things went according to plan though, He would be doing both.  Finally it was time for him to be announced though, sky and water were announced together.  Ronan sat to Lia’s left, while He sat to her right, and Cory sat on His right.  Ligea had taken Raina’s seat to Ronan’s left for the evening.  Chogan sat beyond Cory, and the Light queen at the very end of the table.  He glanced to His left to look towards the dark Queen at the opposite end of he table.  The Queen raised her glass to him, and flashed a small smirk that unnerved him.  The King and Queen of All stood to make the beginning toast.  The feeling of ice in his temple returned, and he closed his eyes, trying to push through the pain.  Had the Dark Queen done something to him with her touch?  He could barely think as the pain spread through, seeming to freeze his brain.

“Tonight we celebrate the Land of light, and honor those who carry on the light sibling’s love and power.” The Queen began.  

“Balance between light and dark within the realm has always been an ongoing goal, the will of The Mother.” The King continued.

“We need the light to keep the balance, just as we need the darkness.” The Queen spoke again.

“Tonight, we serve light fruit wine.  A reminder of the good within the light lands.” The King spoke again, raising his glass.

“So raise your glass, and celebrate the light, for without it, we would not be here.” The Queen exclaimed, raising her own glass as she spoke, and took a drink.

He swallowed his own wine in one quick gulp, trying to rid himself of the stabbing pain that was working its way through his brain.  His fingertips pressed against his temple, rubbing softly.  He glanced towards the ballroom floor, the solitary image of Raina standing in the center flashed just before a searing pain drove through like a spike in his brain.  He cried out in surprise, and threw himself against the back of his seat.  Those around him looked to him with alarm, but when he looked back to where the image had been, she was gone.  He took cory’s glass of wine straight from his hands, and swallowed it down before his brother could even object.  Lia placed a hand on his arm, looking to him with concern.

“Sorry.” He whispered. “I’m not feeling very well tonight.” He said, rubbing his fingertips against his temple once more.  He swore he could hear the ice spreading through his brain, the crackling as it moved, and shifted through.  He stood. “Perhaps another drink…” He whispered almost inaudibly as he moved his way towards the food area that had been set up on the far end of the floor.  Tonight the tablecloths had been set as white with gold edges.  The light coming from the algae underneath reflected off of it, lighting the room even brighter, and breaking up the darkness more than it had any other night.  Once he reached the table, he leaned on the edge, barely able to hold himself up from the pain.

“The celebrations look lovely tonight.” A voice whispered just behind him. “Too bad I can’t be here to celebrate with everyone.” 

He spun around to see Raina standing before him.  It felt as if all blood had drained from his body, his eyes widening.  He didn’t dare speak a word.

“You look like you’ve seen a ghost!” Raina exclaimed, a smile forming on her face as she leaned in to speak to him, calmly, and softly. “But I’m not a ghost yet am I?” She whispered, looking towards the direction of Lia. “What will she say when she finds out that you took me?” She asked. “Do you think she will ever trust you again?” She asked, looking back to him.

“You’re not here…” He whispered, closing his eyes, and turning back to the table.  He grabbed one of the wine glasses that had been poured, and drank it quickly, another following soon after.  The wine would have to take effect soon.  He needed the strength of the light to get through whatever was causing these hallucinations.

“Of course I’m not!” She laughed, moving to lean against the table beside him, arms crossed casually over her chest. “Because you kidnapped me, and left me cold, and alone.” She turned to look at him, tapping a finger against his temple. “Feel that cold?” She asked, a dark grin forming as the pain shot through his brain again. “I am feeling that all through my body.  I am going to freeze to death if you continue to leave me like you have.” She thunked on his temple once more, the pain stabbing straight through to the other side.  He dropped his glass, and she giggled. “You made me drop my glass too when you drugged me and took me!” He clutched to the table, his knees giving way, almost causing him to fall if it weren’t for the table in front of him.  Someone caught him, pulling him back to his feet.  The room was spinning too fast to see anything.

“I think you have had enough…” A man’s voice said.  He recognized the voice, but couldn’t place it through the pain.  He shrugged the man’s arms away angrily, his focus on the balcony.  He needed to leave.  He could not be here anymore.  He needed to escape, to get away from everyone, and everything. 

The cold breeze outside enhanced the cold in his brain as it began to spread down his spine.  Both hands clutched at his temples, attempting to scratch the ice away from his brain as he dropped to his knees.  His eyes closed, trying his hardest to focus.  He shifted from his human like form, and into the form of an owl.  The moment he shifted, the pain ceased, and he flew towards the Sky Kingdom.  He flew directly to where he had left her, crashing to the ground as he made it through the window that had been broken the night before when she had screamed.

“How are you doing it?” He asked, the icy pain slowly subsiding as he shifted forms, and lay on the floor in the complete darkness.

“Doing what?” She asked “I can’t do anything because you have me trapped here, tied up, and this dress doesn’t exactly keep the warmth in very well… it’s not meant for somewhere this cold!” She said angrily.

“Shhh…” He whispered, the throbbing in his head all he could hear other than her rambling.  He didn’t get a single word she said, just that she was talking.  She sounded even angrier after he had shushed her, but the words blended together as one incessant noise.  His eyes closed, sleep taking over.  He was far too exhausted to fight it.