TW: Lou has sad thoghts again.

  Lou

  The following three days were quiet. Lou stayed in his room most of the time. He often held the sparklestone in his hands or stroked the fabric of the clothes that were in the wardrobe. Sometimes he also hugged the doll to himself.

  Of course, Lou didn't have to stay in his room, but this was where he felt safest.

  Remy repeatedly tried to lure him out of the room. But Lou was rarely persuaded. He didn't even want to go into the small, view-protected courtyard. Thoughts circled in Lou's head. In his dreams. Harper had... Was that a kiss? Lou didn't understand. Of course, he had heard of kissing. Louise often talked about wanting to be kissed by a prince as a child, but Lou had never seen one. How could he? Who would let him watch very closely so that Lou could see the kiss? No, Lou didn't understand.

  Remy asked him what was wrong. He asked if Lou was okay. Whether he needed or wanted something. He asked what had happened between him and Harper. Lou allowed Remy to help him bathe. He let his friend comb his hair and tie the bow into it. But Lou remained silent.

  Remy eventually gave up asking him what had happened and Lou was grateful for that. He didn't understand it himself. Why would Harper want to kiss? Him? And worst of all, Lou liked the kiss. He wanted more of it. He wanted another kiss. And that was not to be. Because when Harper kissed him, well at first Lou was of course quite frightened, but then a tingling feeling spread in his stomach. And that was bad. Lou didn't like the feeling.

  He almost...

  Lou had felt the corners of his mouth pull up. He almost smiled. And then? What would have happened then? No, Harper wasn't allowed to kiss him. No more hugging. Lou was never allowed to see him again. It was best if Lou stayed in his room until he was forgotten. He also allowed himself little contact with Remy. Because Remy's care also caused the devastating tingling to appear. Just a little different from Harper.

  A soft knock snapped Lou out of his gloomy thoughts. "Lou?"

  Just like the days before, he didn't answer, so Remy finally just walked in. "Lou? I have to go to the Wise Men. A messenger was just arriving. I won't be away for long. Remember, don't get too close to the windows. Our neighbors are not allowed to see you. It's dangerous. I'm sorry. But you couldn't stay with the dragons. It's even riskier there."

  Lou just nodded. He didn't want to go back to the dragons. Not after the kiss that Lou couldn't forget. With Remy, on the other hand, there were no kisses. Instead of that, there were a few rules that he had to follow:

  When guests visit, stay in the room, don't leave your room, be quiet, and don't look out the window into the garden.Don't go to the windows when the curtains are open.No yelling, no shouting, no noise.So far, no guests have come. Except for the three dragons. And they knew about Lou. And Lou didn't make any noise in general. But the day before, he had peered out of one of the windows until Remy pulled him away from it. Lou had heard ughter and singing. The song sounded familiar to him, as a few children and adults sang. Lou didn't know when he'd heard the song, but he believed he knew it. It brought back vague memories of hugs in a dark house. Memories of his twin sister's ughter. Maybe his parents had sung it? When he was little? He wanted to know where the voices were coming from. But apart from the strange colors of his new surroundings, he saw nothing. Remy ter told him that a few neighbors had been celebrating. "Lou, don't look out the window. How would I be able to protect you? When they see you?", his friend had pleaded. Lou didn't want to have to be protected.

  "I'll be back soon!" Remy gently stroked his hair, snapping Lou out of his memories. Lou tensed up immediately. He couldn't and didn't want to get used to direct touch. It seemed too dangerous for him. If one didn't hurt him, they could cause this horrible feeling. The warm tingling sensation. "Don't go to the windows. Promise me."

  "Hm", Lou confirmed quietly. That's all Remy got.

  His friend stayed away for a long time.

  Lou clutched his sparklestone and stared through his window into the garden. Remy had assured him that the window was well hidden. Nevertheless, Lou should not look out if guests were there. To be on the safe side. In the garden, green mixed with the light brown. He heard the rustling of the rge palm leaves. There was a smell of sweet flowers. He closed his eyes and hoped to forget. But the memory of Harper's warm lips haunted him. Lou grimaced and pushed the thought away. He didn't want to think or feel anything. If I could dissolve into colors...

  At some point, Lou heard the front door being opened with a thud. But it wasn't just one person who came in. Lou heard the footsteps of several people. Did Remy bring guests? Or is it the dragons? Strangely enough, Remy and the others didn't talk. Their footsteps sounded unfamiliar, too. As if they were sneaking. Lou frowned.

  Confused, he turned around when he heard the door to his room open. Remy? Someone entered the room. The person's colors were alien to Lou. Another person followed.

  "So here he is!", one of them said in a hoarse voice. "Alive!" Lou pressed himself against the wall, blinking, clutching his stone. He briefly saw a man's tanned face, then a piece of cloth was pressed over his mouth and nose. The fabric smelled funny...

  What...

  Lou blinked. He was lying on cold ground. It was dark. The world was turning. His head hurt. Lou tried to sit up, but he couldn't. His hands and feet were tied. The rough rope scratched with every movement. Something cold wrapped around his left ankle. An iron shackle with which he was chained to the wall. But Lou only noticed the coldness of the metal. He had been taken away. But where to?

  In the darkness, Lou couldn't see anything. He didn't know how long he had been unconscious. Perplexed and trembling, he y in the cool darkness. Maybe it was already night. Why had he been kidnapped? But... Actually, he didn't care. Perhaps he would be forgotten here. Maybe Lou would just disappear here. There was something comforting about the thought.

  I just disappear. Then it all ends. Then my family will be free.

  So Lou closed his eyes and waited.

  A few hours ter, he was awakened. Someone kicked him. Lou moaned helplessly.

  "Wake up!", the person growled in a raspy voice.

  "Hm..." Lou whimpered. His back hurt after the person kicked him violently.

  "The cursed one is awake, revered Wise. You can question him now!", the voice said again. Lou didn't even try to catch a glimpse. Although it was brighter in the room now, he could hardly see anything. The darkness had given way to a dark brown and somewhat flickering light. Fire?

  "Very nice. Thank you. I'll call when I'm done here!" the other person answered, entering Lou's darkness. With the person, more light came into the room. Lou recognized light brown stone. He heard a door being locked. Someone cleared his throat.

  "Your name is Lou Vivien?"

  Lou didn't answer.

  "I am one of the Wise Men. Asen. One of the elders. I have some questions for you."

  Lou could make out the man's fine sandals. Sparkling stones were attached to it. Immediately, Lou missed the feeling of his sparklestone in his hands. He must have dropped it.

  "Well!" Asen cleared his throat again. "You were hidden by Remy, right?"

  Lou blinked and stared at the beautiful stones.

  "You had a diamond with you when you were arrested. Did you get this one from Remy, too?"

  Lou was silent.

  "Remy's dragons helped him?" Slowly, Asen sounded impatient. "Boy? Respond! We found you inside Remy’s house. And you had a diamond with you."

  "Where's Remy?"

  "He is under house arrest." The Wise snorted. "So? Does Remy trade with the dragons? Did they help him protect you? This is a heavy betrayal, do you realize that?"

  Trade?

  "Does Remy get riches from the dragons? What does he need them for? What is his pn? Did he just help you out of friendship, or is he pnning something? Is he a traitor? No, he is one. After all, you're alive. ANSWER!" Again, Lou was kicked.

  Traitor? Lou's head was buzzing. His back ached, and now so did his tummy into which he had been kicked. Why was he asked all this? His throat felt uncomfortably dry and scratchy. Lou coughed.

  "So?", the Wise repeated, nudging Lou with his foot. Immediately, Lou flinched. "Where did the diamond come from?"

  "It was a gift... From... Not from Remy...", Lou whispered. "Why should Remy... No... I..." He coughed again.

  "Not from Remy? This can't be. The dragons are very stingy when it comes to their diamonds. Who else could have given it to you? So? What are Remy's pns?"

  But Lou could only shake his head. He didn't know anything about any pns. The Wise repeated his questions a few more times. But Lou didn't answer anymore.

  "Good, then just keep quiet! We have received an answer from the gods. We now know what the gods want. Why you were born. You were born so that we might receive a great blessing. Your suffering was only the first part of the trial. You will be publicly hanged in two days. The gods demand a human sacrifice. With your sacrifice, we are to prove our devotion and loyalty to them. We will be richly rewarded. Blood must flow." With these words, the Wise Man knocked at the door. When it was opened, he instructed the other man to untie Lou's handcuffs and bring him bread and water. So that he didn't die of thirst or starvation before the big celebration. Then he left Lou alone.

  Lou, on the other hand, y calmly on the cold floor. He didn't even react when his shackles were loosened. He felt peace. Inner peace. So his existence had a purpose. He was allowed to go. Soon it will be over.

  At st, he had his answer.

  sasi