The Room of the Ummaar

[Deleted]

Aixa wasn’t sure what he was more upset over. He figured that a lot had happened that would warrant such negative emotions, but he wished that he was more like the older Ummaar. They didn’t feel anything – they didn’t feel the heartache that came with destroying a trust they’d worked so hard to earn, they didn’t feel the gnawing ache of guilt that came with kidnapping a pregnant woman and her husband. It was a stupid thought, too, because he could tell that no one was happy.

Pippa. She’d been terrified – and it must have hurt so badly to be torn from a dimension. If it was painful for a Djinn then he couldn’t imagine how it would have felt for a poor human female. And while the Head of the Council had been speaking she’d looked like she was going to faint or puke her dinner up at any moment. He couldn’t blame her. He was sure that if he’d had a functioning stomach it would be doing the same. Although his wasn’t from terror it was from an overwhelming sense of guilt. The way she had looked at him.

And the Doctor had been just as bad. He’d been dangerously low on energy and that much was obvious. The Doctor had offered to help him – to help Pippa – and Aixa desperately wanted to agree. His entire body had fought against what he had to. He wanted for the Doctor to carry him and get Pippa back where she belonged – at home, safe and sound though she’d never admit it. And maybe it was better if Aixa just got out of her life.

His mind flickered to the latest couple he had taken, but Aixa covered his ears and made a slight wheezing noise. His energy was still low. He could feel the fire burning against him, and his flesh was hot to the touch. He buried himself in a corner, burying his head in his knees as he listened to the other Ummaar. He felt a sickening throttle of nausea again, but he fought it back. He was beginning to crave anything – any type of food, any type of mammal.

He clenched his knees and wished that he could cry. He curled himself into the corner.

He was dying.

Aixa shivered at the thought. What would happen to Pippa when he couldn’t keep going anymore? When his body turned into smokeless fire and his soul was nothing but ash? Sorry, he whispered against his knees. Sorrysorrysorrysorry.

[Deleted]

Shezaan shifted uncomfortably. The young jinn felt horribly out of place and shifted from one foot to the other. There was so much animosity in the room. Shezaan couldn't tell if it was towards each other or towards the ones who had been brought, but all he could feel from them was that each and everyone was unhappy about something. He had no master or mistress to speak of and so was relived that he did not have to bring them along to such a dreary place.

Shezaan shrank down to a small silvery spotted cat and clunt to the walls keeping out from underfoot and out of the way of the older Ummaar. He paused to groom, licking his paw and bringing to back behind his ear, not that he actually needed to be clean but it was a nervous habit. He didn't like being here one bit. As those wide blue eyes scanned the room, the stopped when the rested on a dearly familiar face. And the look on his face, Shezaan could feel his insides twist. it was the look of grief that he remembered from a former mistress. Not thinking to transform back, Shezaan ran up to Aixa and rested those small paws on Aixa's knee and that small rough tongue gently licked his cheek

"Please dont be sad, brother.", Shezaan whispered softly, those large cat eyes peering with worry. He had not seen Aixa for several centuries and what he had hoped would one day be a joyous reunion when he say his brother again, left his heart aching to see him so distraught.

[Deleted]

–sorrysorrysorrysorrysorrysorry—

His thoughts were cut off when a light weight was pressed against his knees. His breathing faltered slightly as he imagined another Ifrit leaning down to murder him, to sap away the rest of the energy. Instead of dying, however, a relatively cool tongue ran across his fevered cheeks. Aixa looked up, startled, into the face of a small cat with bright blue eyes. Aixa shook his head mutely, shutting his eyes and opening them. Why did they have to take Shezaan?

“Please don’t be sad, brother,”[/i][/color] the cat said quietly. Aixa’s lower lip quivered and he buried his head in his knees. His shoulders trembled and he wanted desperately to cry. But he just didn’t have energy to form the tears. It was getting hard enough to even breathe. He muttered something against his knees, and looked up at the cat.

“It’s my fault,” he said venomously, his voice low and breathy because his ribs were starting to ache again. “She’s going to die now because of me. She… it’s all my fault. I made her think she could trust me and then…” he faltered off, beginning to hyperventilated. He shut his eyes tightly and tried to breathe through his nose, the human heart slamming against his chest full force. “They’re going to kill her.”

He looked at his brother and picked the cat up, cradling it against his chest. “I don’t want to die,” he whispered, shaking his head. It was a selfish thought and it was terrible of him but he couldn’t help it. He wanted to live. He wanted to see Pippa again, although he knew it was more than likely she would revoke his contract after this. He wanted to live for Shezaan, because he was the best friend that Aixa had ever had. Still, if he was going to die, he was grateful he had at least gotten to see his brother again.

He held the cat loosely and looked at it pleadingly, needing for Shezaan to turn human. “Shezzy,” he mumbled, embarrassed because he’d always just tolerated the other djinn’s affections. Still, he rather felt like he needed someone – anyone – to hug him and tell him it was going to be okay even though Aixa knew it wasn’t because Pippa was alone without him and maybe she was already being tortured.[/font][/size]

[Deleted]

“It’s my fault,” he said venomously, his voice low and breathy because his ribs were starting to ache again. “She’s going to die now because of me. She… it’s all my fault. I made her think she could trust me and then…” he faltered off, beginning to hyperventilated. He shut his eyes tightly and tried to breathe through his nose, the human heart slamming against his chest full force. “They’re going to kill her.”

"It's not your fault! Of course it's not your fault! Please dont say that, brother!" he pleaded, nuzzling his furry feline head under Aixa's chin trying so hard to reassure him. "You wouldnt let something like this happen on purpose, I know that. You're a good Amir."

He looked at his brother and picked the cat up, cradling it against his chest. “I don’t want to die,” he whispered, shaking his head. It was a selfish thought and it was terrible of him but he couldn’t help it. He wanted to live. He wanted to see Pippa again, although he knew it was more than likely she would revoke his contract after this. He wanted to live for Shezaan, because he was the best friend that Aixa had ever had. Still, if he was going to die, he was grateful he had at least gotten to see his brother again.

Those large blue cat eyes went large with sadness and the ears folded back , making the eyes appear even larger and Shezzan let out a soft mew, purring softly. He didnt want Aixa to die either. Aixa was more than just a brother to him. Aixa was his best friend, and the idea of Aixa not being around any more made his heart sink. "You're not going to die.. I wont let you. We'll think of something." but as Shezaan licked his cheek, he could feel the burning rising to the surface of Aixa's skin and this pulled a tear from Shezaan's eyes.

He held the cat loosely and looked at it pleadingly, needing for Shezaan to turn human. “Shezzy,” he mumbled, embarrassed because he’d always just tolerated the other djinn’s affections. Still, he rather felt like he needed someone – anyone – to hug him and tell him it was going to be okay even though Aixa knew it wasn’t because Pippa was alone without him and maybe she was already being tortured.

Shezaan nodded, seeming to understand Aixa's plea and gently shifted, his human arms tightly embracing his brother, Shezaan's head resting over his brothers and gently kissing his head, brushing those long wavy tendrils of chocolate brown away from his brother's beautiful eyes. His voice wavered, trying not to break into a sob as he caressed his brother's forehead with a cool kiss.. "What can I do?I'll do anything. I'd share my life force with you if I knew I could."

[Deleted]

Aixa looked away from the other Djinn. It was true that Aixa wasn’t at fault for the war the Jinn were planning against the Time Lords. That part didn’t upset him… except when it came to the pregnant mother he had just signed over to the Shayteen. His grip on Shezzy’s furry figure tightened instinctively as he thought of the ‘devils’ of the Jinn. What bothered him, and what was truly his fault, was Pippa’s involvement. She hadn’t done anything to either the Time Lords or the Jinn.

She was an innocent bystander, and it wasn’t fair. She hadn’t wanted his Lamp. She’d even threatened to beat him with a baseball bat if he didn’t leave. And no wonder her instincts had told her that he wasn’t someone to be trusted. He had gotten her kidnapped and tortured more than once. He felt another twisting of guilt lighting his stomach and another cloud of nausea.

—you’re a good Amir. Was he? Was this what a good Amir did? Aixa looked around the room skeptically – many other Ummaar were pacing the room or trying to get the door to open. They were fighting for their masters. Aixa was crumpled in a corner waiting for death. A flicker of annoyance aimed at himself sparked into his thoughts, but he swallowed it bitterly. A good Amir didn’t kill their master.

“You’re not going to die… I won’t let you. We’ll think of something.”[/color]

Aixa swallowed thickly as he saw his brother’s tears. “Yeah,” he said, nodding and bringing up an arm, heavy as lead, to scratch behind Shezzy’s ears. “We’ll think of something.” He didn’t have any confidence in the words, but he didn’t want Shezaan to cry anymore. His little brother was trapped here, too, and it just wasn’t fair. “I’m sorry… sorry, sorry…”

He continued mumbling apologies into his brother’s shoulders. He trailed off as Shezaan brushed his hair away from his eyes. Aixa took a deep breath, his chest and heart aching at the sight of his brother. He apologized again, embarrassed as the younger Djinn kissed him. “What can I do? I’ll do anything. I’d share my life force with you if I knew I could,”[/b][/i] Shezzy said, and the poor Djinn’s voice broke Aixa’s heart more than it had been.

“I’m sorry,” Aixa said, wrapping his arms around Shezaan and burying his face in his brother’s chest. “Shezzy… i-if I die…” whenwhenwhenwhen “…you have to make sure they don’t hurt Pippa. I promised I wouldn’t let anything happen to her,” he requested, nuzzling his head into his brother’s neck. “And tell her I’m sorry…”

His grip loosened slightly and he looked up at his brother, pressing a kiss of his own to the edge of Shezzy’s lips. “At least we got to see each other again,” Aixa offered, pressing their foreheads together. “I love you, Ugh. But… but I kind of wish you weren’t here. I hate to see you upset.”[/size][/font]

[Deleted]

“I’m sorry,” Aixa said, wrapping his arms around Shezaan and burying his face in his brother’s chest. “Shezzy… i-if I die…” whenwhenwhenwhen “…you have to make sure they don’t hurt Pippa. I promised I wouldn’t let anything happen to her,” he requested, nuzzling his head into his brother’s neck. “And tell her I’m sorry…”

"No!" Shezaan cut in, with a determined stare, those cerulean blue eyes looking over Aixa's distraught face "You're going to tell her yourself. Because we're getting out of here. You and me. We're going to find your Pippa and get her home." Shezaan took Aixa's face into his palms and forced his brother to look up at him.. He didnt have a plan but he wasn't about to let his brother wallow in self pity and despair. Aixa was the older of the two. Aixa was supposed to be the strong and brave one.

His grip loosened slightly and he looked up at his brother, pressing a kiss of his own to the edge of Shezzy’s lips. “At least we got to see each other again,” Aixa offered, pressing their foreheads together. “I love you, Ugh. But… but I kind of wish you weren’t here. I hate to see you upset.”

Shezaan offered a nervous laugh and shuddered a sigh as their foreheads rested together. His brain was buzzing with all sorts of daring things he could try, but noting was coming to mind. He squared his jaw and put on his brave face and smiled, flashing those white teeth at Aixa "Dont you worry about me. I'm.. I'll be fine.. Now YOU, on the other hand.." he said quietly as he stood, Aixa still in his arms, trying to help his brother to his feet "What happened to you? I've never seen you like this before"

[Deleted]

Aixa jumped, startled when Shezaan interrupted his deathbed speech. If he’d had enough energy to give his brother a glare, he would have, because it was very rude to interrupt that sort of thing. No? he wondered, his eyes widening as Shezaan declared that they were going to bust out of the Jinn Council with his mistress. He looked down, conflicted. But soon his brother’s cold hands cupped his face and Aixa realized that his brother was either very cold or Aixa was exuding quite a lot of heat.

He smiled at his brother, pressing into the cold hands. “Shezzy…” he said warmly, taking his brothers hands in his own. “You know we’ll always be together even if…” he trailed off and shrugged, embarrassed. What was wrong with him? He’d always been the one who never gave up without a fight. He’d taken on Charlemagne singlehandedly; he’d even killed a few Daleks. Why was it so different now? Why was the thought of Pippa in danger crippling him?

“Just promise me you won’t let them hurt her,” he said, staring into his brother’s eyes as their foreheads were pressed together. He took in Shezzy’s face and offered a tentative smile of his own, not sure if he could summon upon the amount of optimism that his brother seemed to have. He looked down again, ashamed at how he was acting.

“Don’t you worry about me. I’m…”[/b] Aixa noticed the falter in his brother’s voice and looked up. “I’ll be fine.. Now YOU, on the other hand…”[/b][/color]

Aixa winced, leaning against his brother heavily. His legs shook precariously underneath him. He could hardly muster the strength to keep breathing, why was he trying to stand? He locked his legs and stood awkwardly, miserable and preparing himself for spontaneous combustion, because it was really getting rather hot and he didn’t think that anyone else was feeling it be—

“What happened to you? I’ve never seen you like this before.”[/color]

The Djinn sighed and ran his hand over bruised ribs. His shirt was beginning to irritate the skin underneath. “I was trying to protect her from the Nothing,” he explained quietly, his legs faltering again. He grasped his brother. “I, uh… kind of gave it an all-you-can-eat treat instead,” he admitted, wrapping his arms around his brother’s neck.

“I’m sorry I’m not being much help…” [/size][/font]

[Deleted]

The Djinn sighed and ran his hand over bruised ribs. His shirt was beginning to irritate the skin underneath. “I was trying to protect her from the Nothing,” he explained quietly, his legs faltering again. He grasped his brother. “I, uh… kind of gave it an all-you-can-eat treat instead,” he admitted, wrapping his arms around his brother’s neck.

“I’m sorry I’m not being much help…”

-His breath caught in his throat at the mention of a Nothing. Those things were evil and cruel and twisted. They made the Head just look like an over ambitious child.. but.. The Nothing? And his dear brother was still alive?? He now understood why Aixia was acting like he was on death's doorstep.. He actually WAS.. Shezaan didn't hesitate to ease Aixa back down, immediately sorry that he forced him to stand.

Shezaan looked down at his brother, chewing his lower lip. He was hiding something and his body language and posture betrayed him attempt to conceal this.. He had heard a rumor floating around that the Ifrits had brought a Nothing from the Void. The rumor was that The Void Demon had killed three Ifrits before they could subdue it and somehow imprisoned it. It was only rumors but it was too much a coincidence that his brother had nearly been sapped dry by a Nothing, and now there was probably one here as well...

Shezaan forced a smile while trying to hide his shudder, long feminine fingers gently trailing through Aixa's hair, trying to be reassuring. "Dont worry about being help. You keep what strength you have and I'll help keep Pippa safe anyway I can... What does this Pippa look like?"

[Deleted]

A flair of panic shot through him as Shezzy set him down. He’d noticed the look he’d given Aixa when he’d mentioned the Nothing, and the older Djinn didn’t like it a bit. “No,” he said, frowning and scrambling away from Shezaan. “You weren’t supposed to put me down!” he insisted, gripping the wall and trying to stand up from that. He slumped back on the floor, desperate although he wasn’t sure why.

Shezzy didn’t look comfortable discussing the Nothing. Aixa stared him wordlessly, slightly wounded that he wasn’t revealing everything. But an Amir was entitled to their secrets. “Shezzy?” he questioned. Aixa shut his eyes, feeling the smokeless fire within him. It was burning at his sides and it was so hot. He opened his eyes reluctantly, coughing up a bit of ash. He raised a hand to his lips.

He didn’t want to die.

Cold fingers ran through his hair and Aixa stared up at Shezzy. “You don’t have to be brave for me, ‘beautiful’,” he said, a small smile on his lips as he teased his brother about the name he chose. “My only regret is dying a virgin. How unromantic. I spend my entire life trying to find someone and I die before I meet them,” he grumbled.

“Don’t worry about being help. You keep what strength you have and I’ll help keep Pippa safe anyway I can… What does this Pippa look like?”[/color]

Aixa smiled, wiping the ash from his mouth. “You’ll know her when you see her. Short little Asian-Irish… probably crying or shaking. She might try to beat you with a baseball bat when she first meets you,” he said, frowning and curling up against the wall.[/size][/font]

[Deleted]

Aixa smiled, wiping the ash from his mouth. “You’ll know her when you see her. Short little Asian-Irish… probably crying or shaking. She might try to beat you with a baseball bat when she first meets you,” he said, frowning and curling up against the wall.

When the bits of ash began to cling to Aixa's lips, his eyes seemed to search the room wildly. The other Ummaar were too busy trying to get out to notice the dying Amir. Thoughts whirled in his head. This was his brother.. More than his brother. They had been called into existence within only moments of each other. As far as Shezaan knew, that had never happened before and would never happen again. Perhaps they were born of the same fire, had twin souls. It was only a theory, and not a very sound one, but Shezaan was desperate not to lose his brother.

As another cough sputtered from Aixa, the normally sweet, innocent and caring face of the fair Shezaan turned stern and resolute. He ripped the ornate pendant from his throat, his lamp and shoved it into Aixa's palm and held their hands tightly together. With Shezaan's free hand, his place the palm to Aixa's forehead and held his head steady. Their lips were suddenly only inches apart and a tear spilled down his pale alabaster cheek. "I'm not losing you. Not today. We were born together.. We will die together" and without giving Aixa a chance to protest, he sealed their lips, immense heat pouring from Shezaan's mouth into Aixa. He didnt know if it would work, but he was desperate. He hoped that while Aixa held his lamp, even if involuntary, Aixa's desire to live would count as a wish and allow the transference to work, allowing Aixa someof his smokeless fire, to give him enough strength to see this through

[Deleted]

Aixa widened his eyes when his brother ripped the Lamp from his neck. This wasn’t good. Aixa squirmed, unable to tell what Shezzy was going to do, and somehow that lack of knowledge was more terrifying than the sudden fierce determination of the other Djinn’s face. Shezaan took his hand and pressed the Lamp between them. He looked up, confused by their proximity and the nervous curling in his stomach that told him that something very important was going to happen in mere moments. The Djinn’s eyes strayed to Shezaan’s lips.

“I’m not losing you,” Shezzy said sternly. Aixa shivered; the younger Djinn’s lips were dangerously close to his and Aixa wasn’t exactly sure if the dizzying sensation was from pirouetting with death or… well, from his brother. And maybe that was even more disturbing than not knowing Shezzy’s thoughts. “We were born together… We will die together.”[/b][/i]

And, immediately, there was another set of lips on his. Aixa widened his eyes. He had studied his brother many times – from his beautiful eyes to the pout of his lips, but he had never imagined them explored in alarmingly close proximity to his own. He shut his eyes, pressing into the kiss needily and grasping his brother’s shirt with his free hand. The pain was beginning to ebb away and that was when Aixa’s mind decided to step in.

The Lamp. The heat. Shezzy was offering him life. Aixa pulled away, his face a bright shade of red that had nothing to do with his lack of energy. Shezaan had been trying to save him and he’d… oh God, he’d enjoyed it. “Shezzy…” he whispered, taking the pendant from his brother and slipping it back around the younger Amir’s neck. His hands were shaking, probably from a combination of his nerves and his still relative low amount of energy.

“T-talk about the kiss of life, huh?” Aixa muttered, severely embarrassed. What was wrong with him? His eyes drifted back towards Shezaan’s lips and he licked his own. “I… uh… are you okay?”[/size][/font]

[Deleted]

The Lamp. The heat. Shezzy was offering him life. Aixa pulled away, his face a bright shade of red that had nothing to do with his lack of energy. Shezaan had been trying to save him and he’d… oh God, he’d enjoyed it. “Shezzy…” he whispered, taking the pendant from his brother and slipping it back around the younger Amir’s neck. His hands were shaking, probably from a combination of his nerves and his still relative low amount of energy.

“T-talk about the kiss of life, huh?” Aixa muttered, severely embarrassed. What was wrong with him? His eyes drifted back towards Shezaan’s lips and he licked his own. “I… uh… are you okay?”

Shezaan smiled weakly, his normally pale cheeks a bright crimson. He teetered slightly as if light headed and stepped to the side of Aixa and leaned against the wall, pressing his forehead to the cool stone. It had gotten slightly warmer in the room. He didnt know if it was because he was blushing so hard or if it was because of the fact he had sacrificed a small portion of his life to give his brother a small boost.

He closed his eyes and rested weakly against the wall before looking at him and replied sadly "No... I dont think I am.. We're all in danger.. Not just the Time Lords... I.. I think the Ifrits.. those idiots.. I think they brought a Nothing here.. I dont know if it's true.. only whispers.. But three Ifrits were said to have died trying to.. to.. 'Muzzle' it." his voice trailed off and looked into Aixa's eyes. "If we're going to save Pippa." he seemed to place a good deal of emphasis on 'we' "I need you able to stand and come with me.."

[Deleted]

Shezaan looked as embarrassed as Aixa felt. The older Djinn looked down at his hands, watching out of the corner of his eye as Shezzy leaned against the wall. He felt awful – not physically so much anymore, although he was still rather low on energy, but he wasn’t going to start coughing up his soul again. Shezaan had just given him his life force. His fingers gently touched his lips again, feeling a thrill as he remembered the heat and smoothness from Shezzy’s lips.

Great, Aixa thought sourly. Now he was too much of a freak to get CPR from his brother. He swallowed back the bile threatening to rise in his throat.

“No… I don’t think I am…”[/i][/color] Aixa felt a rush of guilt and he looked at his brother anxiously, hoping that it wasn’t him that had made his brother so upset. He tentatively reached over and patted the younger djinn’s back. “Not just the Time Lords… I… I think the Ifrits…those idiots…I think they brought a Nothing here… I don’t know if it’s true… only whispers… but three Ifrits were said to have died trying to.. to.. ‘muzzle’ it.”[/i] Aixa paled. The only way he had survived his encounter was with enough energy to spare and the Doctor and Pippa. He was running on borrowed energy.

“They… she… Pippa can’t be alone with another Nothing,” he said anxiously, looking around. He was about to insist that they go bash some heads in until they figured out a way to get his Pippa back, but Shezaan fixed him in a stare. He trailed off, the heat building in his stomach again nervously.

“If we’re going to save Pippa-“ – we, Aixa noted gratefully – “I need you able to stand and come with me.”

Aixa gripped the wall and stood shakily to his feet. “I’ll stand with you anywhere, Shezzy.”[/size][/font]

[Deleted]

“They… she… Pippa can’t be alone with another Nothing,” he said anxiously, looking around. He was about to insist that they go bash some heads in until they figured out a way to get his Pippa back, but Shezaan fixed him in a stare. He trailed off, the heat building in his stomach again nervously.

"I dont know where they're keeping it. I dont even know what they're using to keep it from running rampant. I've always heard they didnt have a physical body that could be contained.. I dont understand. How could they be so stupid. Those.. THINGS cant be trusted." he replied in a worried tone. He wasn't even sure why they'd even need a Nothing. Those things were mindless killer monsters. "Come to think of it.. I dont even know where your Pippa would be kept."

Aixa gripped the wall and stood shakily to his feet. “I’ll stand with you anywhere, Shezzy.”[/color][/size]

The young Amir smiled softly, taking Aixa's hand and squeezing reassuringly before letting go and looking at the sealed door. It was most likely sealed and prevented exit my magical means.. But maybe pure brute force? Shezaan dropped down into hands and knees like a track runner in starting position. His pale blue eyes narrowed with a fierce determination. He spoke darkly, a tone that was normal for the soft spoke jinn. "You may want to hold on. If I can get through those doors.... I dont think we should stop.. I dont know what's on the other side."[/color]

[Deleted]

Suddenly this didn’t seem like such a good idea. What if they did – by some small chance – break out of the prison? The other Ummaar had been trying for at least twice as long. But what would they do once they got out? The Head of the Council would have them immediately caught and thrown in the salt room. And perhaps he was being a little selfish, but he wasn’t exactly fond of dying a slow and agonizing death. Been there, done that, not keen on repeats.

He didn’t want his brother to risk his life just for his mistress. It was his responsibility as long as he was still alive. And, thanks to the CPR (that wasn’t a kiss so Aixa really needed to get his senses back together), he was going to keep living as long as he didn’t do anything stupid. Or if he didn’t chase down a Nothing and take on the entirety of the Jinn race with only his modicum of energy and a hard-headed brother.

Aixa looked up as the younger Amir took his hands. There were too many things on his mind for him to open his mouth, afraid they’d all come tumbling out. No, he’d rather do that with Pippa. She thought him mad on the best of days, but at least she ignored most of the stupid things he said. His brother wouldn’t ignore his stupidity as easily. His brother…

“We can’t do this,” Aixa said finally, his words clipped as he tried to control his tongue. He stood in front of Shezaan, putting his hands on the djinn’s shoulders and knelt down. “Shezzy, they have Shayteen here. We’re not any safer than the Lords of Times or the humans,” Aixa said, frowning. “I don’t want you to get thrown in the salt room because of me.”

He tucked a strand of his brother’s hair behind his ear. “If we’re going to do something,” he said quietly, taking in his brother’s face again. “We need the others,” he pointed out, his eyes returning to his brother’s lips briefly. Aixa wiped some of the ash from around his own mouth and placed it on Shezzy’s lips. “There,” he said, satisfied. “Now you’ll always have a bit of me inside you.”