Lou

  During the night, Lou had barely gotten any sleep.

  The bed wasn’t his. The room as well. And another person was sleeping in that room. No matter how much Lou protested, Remy had insisted that he sleep in the soft bed while his friend took the sitting area.

  In addition, there were all the nightmares from which Lou was startled again and again. At one point, Remy tried to calm him down, but that had only made the situation worse. Remy gently stroked Lou's now clean hair. Lou pushed him away, screaming. After that, Remy just sat down by his side without touching him every time Lou woke up screaming again.

  The next morning, Remy brought him sweet milk again and also some bread, fruit, and cheese. Lou ate everything carefully. "Is it really okay?", he asked quietly. He sat next to Remy in the sitting area where Remy had slept. The upholstery was soft, but not as soft as the bed.

  "What exactly?"

  "That I'm here? That I eat your food?", Lou continued. "I heard the argument."

  "Oh, don't bother. Of course, it's fine. Besides, the two of us won't stay long."

  "We?" Lou shook his head in confusion. "No. I should go."

  "Lou?" Remy sighed. He reached out to Lou again, close enough for Lou to recognize and dodge. Remy withdrew his hand. "Lou? I wanted to leave for a long time anyway. Nothing keeps me in this house. I'll buy my own ter. There's one nearby that's free."

  Lou frowned. "Didn't you want to build one?"

  "That would take too long. And my dream home is currently unavaible. Don't worry. Well... Of course, I have to have the house furnished before we can move in. Unless we sleep on the floor?" His friend ughed merrily. "Well, what are you thinking? Is your dragon friend coming over today?"

  "Veit?"

  "Who else? I have to go to the temple right away. I'd rather someone be with you. Narcisse should also be here soon. Or Renan. Basil. He will keep watch. Just to be on the safe."

  "Why? I can go!" Lou didn't understand why Remy wanted to keep him here. In this house where he wasn’t welcome. He also didn't understand why Remy wanted to take him to his new house. "I'm just endangering you. I'm cursed."

  "No, Lou. You're not!", Remy murmured.

  "No!" Immediately, Lou shook his head. "So many bad things have already happened! And all because I was happy for a short time? How can this not be a curse? You're talking nonsense, Remy! I can't stay. Your family is right. The wise are right!" He almost screamed, since he was desperate. "Why don't you want to admit it!"

  "Lou..."

  But then there was a knock on the door, which was opened shortly afterward. Lou couldn't make out the person peering cautiously into the room. But from the voice, he knew it had to be a young woman. "A visitor. For the boy! A dragon, I think", she growled. "And Narcisse sits on our roof! Please send him away. It's annoying. The first guests should arrive soon. Do you want them to be scared right away by a dragon?" Lou could hear the displeasure in her voice. He was getting nervous.

  "Ah! Good!" Remy stood up. "Then I'll get your friend, hm? I'll see you ter." He didn't mention the fact that Narcisse was sitting on the roof. The young woman snorted indignantly.

  "Okay..." Lou murmured uncertainly. Guests? I should go...

  The other person hissed indignantly and disappeared again, while Remy walked to the door, leaving Lou alone.

  His friend. Veit. Would Lou now know what the dragon looked like when he took human form? A strange tingling sensation crept tickling over his skin. Lou didn't know what that feeling was.

  "Yes, yes! I'm careful!" Lou heard a familiar voice say shortly after. But it wasn't Veit's voice, it was Harper's. "Remy! Yes, yes. I'm always nice! And what's all the fuss about here?"

  Harper? Harper is human, isn't he? Or not?

  "A wedding. Today the first guests arrive. The bride's parents and the bride live here until the wedding is over. Ignore them", Remy replied.

  "A wedding?" Harper sounded amused. "Am I invited?"

  "No, I don't think so. Good. If anything happens, take good care of him. I have to work, but I'll be back. Don't drag him off into the mountains, Harper. He can't stay there!", replied Remy. "And Narcisse would stop you right now!"

  Wedding... I bring misfortune upon a bride and groom. In a panic, Lou pulled his hair as he listened to Harper and Remy's voices.

  "Yes, yes. But he can stay here, or what?", growled the other boy. "Here! Pah!"

  "Not here, but with me. And now go and say hello. You have a lot to expin! A lot!! See you ter!"

  "Hm..." And then Harper came into the room. He almost rumbled in. "Hello, Vivi! How are you?"

  "Harper..." Lou blinked, looking in the direction the voice was coming from. He recognized bright colors and also dark, slightly reddish, brown hair. He still trembled a little as Harper approached eagerly.

  "I can sit with you, right?"

  Lou nodded. "What are you doing here?"

  Harper sat down next to him and looked around. "Nice room! Unlike our caves!", he mumbled. Lou realized that he was wearing a white tunic and over it a sleeveless coat made of colorful fabric. "I'll visit you, of course."

  "How do you know I'm here?" Lou didn't understand the world. Caves? "Are people talking? I really shouldn't stay. Remy gets in trouble because of me. And you too!" All the people in this house.

  "Me?" Harper chuckled in amusement. "If I get into trouble, it's not because of you, Vivi. Stay here, for now, you're safest here. I think... The wizard is right... Probably... For now..."

  "His name is Remy."

  "I know. I just don't like him." Harper snorted. "But you like him and that's why I'm going to be nice. Promise. But that's all I promise when it comes to the Wizard!"

  "Remy." Lou nodded thoughtfully. "How do you know?"

  "That you're here?" The other boy nudged Lou mischievously with his elbow. Lou flinched, but Harper did not comment. "From Remy. And Narcisse, of course."

  "Remy was with me the whole time..." Had Narcisse gone to Harper? Why should he? It didn't make any sense. Lou frowned and pulled his hair again until Harper held his hand gently. Lou flinched.

  "Vivi?"

  "Yes?"

  "I have something to confess to you." Harper let go of Lou's hand after holding it carefully in his for a few seconds. Lou's hand tingled.

  "What?" Lou blinked and groped for the sweet milk that was waiting for him on the low table, half empty. But his still-tingling hand trembled and he almost knocked over the cy cup. Haper held the cup without touching Lou's hand again.

  "My name isn't just Harper," he murmured, handing the cup to Lou.

  "And?" Lou took a sip of milk. Then, with his other hand, he pushed the pte of cheese to his visitor. Remy had brought him more than he could eat. "Do you want some?"

  "No. I don't eat cheese."

  "Oh." Lou pulled the pte back toward him.

  "I..." Harper ran his hand through his dark hair. "So... my full name is Harper Janne Veit."

  "Ah." Lou just nodded. Veit? "Huh?"

  "I'm Veit. I told you my third name." Harper sighed. "I thought you'd be more afraid of a dragon than a human, but... Oh... It was stupid. Sorry. I lied. And it didn't work out either."

  Lou blinked again and pced the cup of milk on the table. "You're a dragon?"

  "Yes."

  "You're Veit?" Lou stared at the table. He couldn't look at Harper. The world was spinning.

  "Yes."

  "How..." Lou shook his head. "Why..."

  "Lou. Look at me." Harper tentatively touched Lou's shoulder so that he would look at him. Lou quickly moved away from him. "Vivi, please. Look at me." Suddenly, something very soft touched Lou. Confused, he saw blurry white feathers. Now he turned his head to Harper. He saw Harper's colors, his very blurred contours, and a lot of white. Wings. Harper leaned close to Lou so he could see his face. Lou saw orange, glowing dragon eyes. No brown eyes.

  "You..." Surprised, he leaned away from Harper. As he did so, he touched the soft wings. "Oh."

  Harper grinned. He showed his sharp, shark-like teeth. Long, pointed dragon teeth. Lou turned pale. "Oh!" Harper looked scary. Beautiful, but terrifying. Beautiful? Lou blinked. His gaze was fixed on his teeth. Teeth that could kill him in a matter of seconds. He shuddered. His gaze wandered back to the wings. Beautiful, but scary. As if in dragon form. He felt cold. Now it was Harper who shook his head. "It's all right, Vivi. You're safe. You know me. This is me. Your best dragon."

  "What? Best..." Lou frowned and looked to the side. He pulled on one of his strands of hair again until it hurt. Harper hugged him with one of his wings. Lou wanted to stroke the feathers, but he didn't dare. Instead, he pulled his hair even harder. Lou had never heard of dragons being able to show their wings in human form. But he knew how soft the feathers were. And he saw a few orange ones. These wings were beautiful.

  "Vivi, don't!" Again, Harper reached for Lou's hand. "It's all good. Don't."

  "I..." Lou shook his head and continued to stare spellbound at the beautiful wings. Harper let go of his hand and Lou hesitantly reached out to one of the feathers.

  "You can!" Harper chuckled happily and moved the wings slightly.

  Lou shook his head.

  "Why not? You may. I’m waaaaaiting!"

  Lou found it a little outrageous how much fun the dragon seemed to be having while the world was spinning dizzyingly for him. He was in Remy's room. With a dragon. With a friend he had thought was human. Friend? It was this thought that troubled him the most. But then he reached out for the feathers and stroked them gently.

  "Oh!", excimed Harper, then sighed contentedly. "It feels good."

  “Hm." Lou couldn't agree more. Harper's wings felt good. The thought made Lou blush. He quickly withdrew his hand.

  "What? Don't stop!", the dragon protested immediately.

  Lou's cheeks grew all the redder. He held out his hand again and pyed with the feathers.

  "That's tickling!" Harper pulled the wing away. Immediately, Lou missed the warmth. Apparently, this was obvious and the feathery embrace returned. "Vivi?"

  "Huh?" Lou stroked the feathers again. Soft.

  "Why were you in the sandstorm?"

  "Hm..." Lou stared at Harper's wing. So soft... Soft is good. Soft doesn't hurt. "I wanted to... end everything", he finally answered.

  "End?" Harper sounded startled. His wings trembled a little. Lou frowned in confusion.

  "Hm." Lou pulled his hand away. What is wrong? He wanted to turn away, but suddenly he found himself in a tight embrace. Harper wrapped his arms and wings around him. Lou felt the soft fabric of Harper's clothes on his face. He heard his heartbeat. "What? No!" He tried to escape, but Harper hugged him all the tighter. Almost too firm.

  "It's all right, Lou. Vivi. I’m here." Then something warm dripped onto Lou's face. Did Harper cry?

  Why?