The Room of the Ummaar

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Aixa had been valiantly ignoring his brother’s attempts to get the older Djinn to shut the hell up. When he confessed, though, he realized that Shezzy had gone awfully quiet. He looked up anxiously, wondering if he’d gone too far with the whole Arabic ‘my soul’ thing. Maybe Shezzy wasn’t even the type to like romantic gestures? They’d be at odds, then, because all Aixa had ever dreamed about was a corny stereotypical love story. Still, if Shezzy wanted low-key he totally do low-key. Assuming they made it out of their alive… which was a pretty major assumption.

He took a deep breath, deciding to change the subject to that of their plans. He noted Shezzy’s heated and flushed face. Great, he thought, frowning in distress. I broke him! He had broken his brother from sheer embarrassment! He wasn’t going to get an ‘it’s okay’ or ‘love you too bro’ or anything. Just as he was going to burst out into another fit of apologies – this time he figured maybe he should apologize for being in love because it seemed just a great big steaming pile of awkward.

“Well, first thing’s first…”[/b][/color]

Aixa breathed out a sigh of relief, but then Shezzy grabbed his face and kissed him. Kissed him. There was no energy being exchanged, and normally his brother only kissed his forehead or his cheeks. And although he had read countless romance novels, had sighed over couples in movies, Aixa hadn’t expected how… well, perfect it was. He shivered at the sensation, smiling into the kiss as Shezzy’s fingers made their way through his hair. He hugged his brother’s body to him, a blush on his face and a spark in his fire as he returned the kiss shakily.

The younger Amir pulled away, and surely that wasn’t a look of fear in his brother’s eyes. Perhaps Shezzy felt as strangely as he did with these new emotions for a ‘brother’. “Beautiful,” he said, giving Shezzy’s lips a chaste kiss. He glanced down at the Lamp again, and pressed a kiss to it. His arms and legs were shaking and his heart was beating rather quickly, and he wondered if love was a medical condition by itself.

“What’s your plan, rouhi?” he asked, wishing they hadn’t been kidnapped and could explore those new feelings – among other things – within the confines of his home. His cheeks immediately heated as he thought about Pippa’s reaction and didn’t Shezzy have a life to get back to? [/size]

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The younger Amir pulled away, and surely that wasn’t a look of fear in his brother’s eyes. Perhaps Shezzy felt as strangely as he did with these new emotions for a ‘brother’. “Beautiful,” he said, giving Shezzy’s lips a chaste kiss. He glanced down at the Lamp again, and pressed a kiss to it. His arms and legs were shaking and his heart was beating rather quickly, and he wondered if love was a medical condition by itself.

“What’s your plan, rouhi?” he asked, wishing they hadn’t been kidnapped and could explore those new feelings – among other things – within the confines of his home. His cheeks immediately heated as he thought about Pippa’s reaction and didn’t Shezzy have a life to get back to?

Shezaan gently trailed his thumb over Aixa's lower lip as he cradled his chin with the other fingers with a small smile and grew smaller as he looked down at the black chalk and over at the wall.. He knew for certain this would get the Head and the Shayteens attention. But to be perfectly honest, he was not keen to GET their attention. But their mistresses.. no.. their friends were in harms way. The Time Lady that tried to spare him from all this.. and a fragile human that was only here because "Guilt By Association". He twirled the chalk nervously in his hands, the other reaching to tightly hold Aixa's hand. Once they were out, he didnt know what was going to happen. If they were going to be housed separately from the others, if he and Aixa would be separated, if they would be taken straight to The Head.

"No matter what happens... " He trailed off... he wasnt sure what to say. The Shayteen were ruthless. And there was no telling how big this place was. Would they actually be able to accomplish anything? When they were only fledglings, they had torn the two of them out of each others arms before they could understand was was going on around them. Since then, he had been desperate for companionship, an unnatural behavior for their kind. He always felt... less than whole. But now that Aixa was so near, back in his arms, like when they began. Shezaan didn't want to lose that again. His brother, his twin... his soul mate.

He tried to finish the sentence he started, his hands unable to stop trembling.. he was afraid. "N-no matter.... what... Happens.. " but he couldn't finish. He took a deep breath and stood to face the wall, chalk in hand and closed his eyes, pressing the chalk tip to the wall. A sudden and strange calm swept over Shezaan and the trembling stopped. "We will find them. My Goddess will be alright. She is a brave time woman. Your Pippa is our priority."

He then began to scrawl a huge circle on the wall, a second circle, slightly smaller within like making a border, tiny little marks withing that border circle like the Roman Numeral 3 at certain intervals. Without lifting the chalk, he drew a straight line from the last numeral and moved to the center, ornate circles and shapes like crescent moons and dots, swirling intricately within the sphere. He wasnt 100% sure what he was writing. He just knew that it was the first thing that The Goddess had taught him to write.

A Gallifreyan lullaby. It was something to do with the stars burning out and fading, leaving the the sky black and featureless. In another huge Circle he continued the next stanza, something about the dying stars singing across the universe calling out to the Void. In the Third circle, and he drew this one MUCH bigger, was something about 'Nothing' answering and seeking out other systems to collect stars and bring them back over to the dead sky and relight the heavens. As Shezaan drew the final circle, almost as if out of habit from writing it, he whispered softly "And if the stars should appear but one night every thousand years, how man would marvel and stare"

He stepped back and looked over his work. He looked over to the largest circle and shook his head. "I've never understood this mark.. Why would stars cry out to nothing? I wonder if that's a word that was lost in translation?" He looked back at Aixa meekly. Every muscle in his body screaming to erase what he had written and cling to Aixa and live out the rest of whatever life he might have had with him.

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Aixa smiled sheepishly as Shezzy ran his thumb across his lips. He knew that he should enjoy it; really, because this could be the last time they could touch each other. He kissed his brother’s thumb, watching as the smile grew fainter. As nerve-wracking as this was for Aixa, he could only imagine what it was like for Shezzy. His brother grasped his hand, and Aixa brought the hand to his lips. He couldn’t keep thinking like that. True as it may be, it was only useful for making him want to crush the chalk under his feet and part of him just wanted to leave Pippa to the Jinn.

“No matter what happens…”[/color][/i] Aixa looked at him anxiously and pulled him closer.

“We’ll be okay, Shezzy,” Aixa said, rather unconvinced. They were about to go up against the Head of the Council and probably the entirety of the Shayteen force. “I won’t let anything happen to you,” he said, letting go of his brother’s hand.

“N-no matter… what… Happens…”[/b][/color] Shezzy trailed off again. Aixa looked at the ground, embarrassed again from the tears. He just wanted Shezzy to say it. Aixa wiped away his tears with the back of his hand, shuddering out a shaky apology. He couldn’t lose the tenuous control he had over his emotions, lest he scream and sob (even more) and generally just throw a tantrum while physically restraining his younger brother. It would just be so much easier if he heard those words.

I love you, too.

And he knew Shezzy meant them, he knew Shezzy loved him. But he was a romantic and he wanted to hear it. But he bit his longing back, because his brother was trying to get himself killed for the sake his mistress. And of Shezzy’s former mistress. While it was a noble cause to be sure, Aixa was selfish. He didn’t want to choose which life he would rather save, but… but Shezzy was his soul. “Rouhi.”

“We will find them. My Goddess will be alright. She is a brave time woman. Your Pippa is our priority.”

And then he began to scribble on the walls. It didn’t mean much of anything to Aixa – just a bunch of circles with a few pretty lines and moons. His ears pricked as his brother whispered a lullaby, but he didn’t question him. Obviously he knew what he was doing. Maybe a little too well. “I’ve never understood this mark… Why would stars cry out to nothing? I wonder if that’s a word that was lost in translation?”[/b][/color]

Aixa lifted his shoulders in a shrug, wrapping his arms around his brother. “I’m sorry.” He nearly said something else, but anything else would have sounded so trivial. So he just closed his eyes and hugged tighter.

He heard a door slam shut, and he jerked away from Shezzy, his pupils slitting and his muscles tensing. Instead of the little raven-haired child, however, stood a lanky blond man. Aixa blinked and sniffed. He certainly didn’t smell like a Djinn. Aixa looked over at his brother, puzzled.

“Mattie.”

The blond man looked up, startled. A grin spread over his face. “Blue!” he chirped. The Djinn in question stood hesitantly. “Blue!” Mattie repeated, nearly tackling the man in a hug. Blue caught him, stumbling as Mattie lifted his feet off the ground.

“Mattie…?” he whispered, burying his face in the young human’s neck. “Mattie. Mattie,” he continued, ignoring how Mattie was becoming limp in his arms. He finally examined the face.

The normally dark eyes were a wicked shade of blue. Mattie crumbled into dirt, a green mist appearing behind the young – relatively speaking – Amir. Blue dropped to his knees, running his fingers through the human’s dirt. He stared up at the blue-eyed child silently. The rest of the Jinn had scrambled away from the Head of the Council.

“I’m not here to hurt you,” the Head said, tilting his head slightly as the pale eyes observed the members of the room. A small smile appeared on his face as he put Mattie’s remains on fire. “Come now, brother, you don’t think it was really your darling Mattie do you? I was only having my fun,” Iblîs giggled. “I’m not done with him yet.”

Blue raised a hand meekly, and Iblîs sighed, rolling his eyes as the Amir found himself dangling in the air with his back threatening to break. “No need to act so rash, my brothers. I mean you no harm.” Iblîs glanced over to the twins’ side of the room and tilted his head. “Nor the humans. I gave them chocolate. Humans are very fond of that, I hear,” Iblîs mentioned, his eyes scanning the Gallifreyan text on the walls.

“Did you not tell them what happens to the Ummaar who can speak and read the language of the Lords of Time?” he asked, Blue falling with a snap on the ground. “Blue gets to have fun with them!” he said. “Of course, if he doesn’t listen to everything I say…”

Iblîs trailed off, looking over with a smile towards Blue. “That was the first time you touched him since you murdered him.”

Blue averted his eyes.

The pale boy tutted, shaking his head and returning his attention to the two siblings in the corner. He crouched beside them, his energy radiating off him. “It was a very good plan,” he acknowledged, the symbols lighting up in a fire. “Let’s distract the Head of the Council and the Shayteen! Don’t you have any sense of self-preservation? The Shayteen would have killed you without hesitation. There would be no second chances, no trials,” Iblîs said, resting his hand against the symbols. The fire swallowed his hand.

“I have a family to protect. I granted you the mercy of forgetting the worst,” Iblîs said, removing his hand from the fire and grasping Aixa’s ear. “Perhaps you, too, will understand protecting your family.”

Aixa yelped, pain immediately going through him. He raised his hands to beat the small insolent child, just to get him off, but Iblîs had already picked him up by the ear and moved to the center of the room. “I wonder how your soul will react when pressed to death…”

“Stop! There’s no point in this, Ib—”

Pale blue eyes sparked, and Blue shut his mouth. “I’m not going to hurt him. Look how drained he is.” Iblîs said, a pale green mist slipping from his mouth and entering Aixa. “I must fix him. And then your dear brother will be returned to you.” Aixa choked on the mist, clawing at his throat before vanishing. “At least he’ll have Mattie to keep him company, yes? Aren’t I kind?”

“My, but aren’t you the lucky one?” Iblîs told Shezaan, looking curiously at the scorched marks of Gallifreyan text. “Well, I have granted your wish to see your ‘Goddess’ – such a narcissistic name, Goddess of what pray tell? – once more. You will assist the Shayteen in the… questioning process.”

He frowned and fixed the two Jinn in a stare. “I really shouldn’t have to say this, but I assume you both know the consequences of disobeying me?”

“You kill everyone,” Blue snapped, looking at Shezaan accusingly. If the stupid younger Ummaar hadn’t tried to escape…

“Why, how perceptive. Gold star for you,” Iblîs said charmingly, sticking a gold star in the middle of Blue and Shezaan’s foreheads. “The Shayteen will come for you momentarily. Chin up, brothers. Soon none of this will have happened.”

Iblîs smiled and disappeared, returning to the main chambers.[/font][/size]

[Deleted]

Aixa lifted his shoulders in a shrug, wrapping his arms around his brother. “I’m sorry.” He nearly said something else, but anything else would have sounded so trivial. So he just closed his eyes and hugged tighter.

Shezaan stroked his cheek lightly, gently putting their foreheads together. The deed was done. Any minute either the Shayteen or the Head himself was going to make an entrance. Shezaan began trembling again in Aixa's arms. Why? Why did he have to try and be a hero? This wasn't like him. Shezaan was always so quiet, meek. Not afriad, but like he knew his place was to be in the background, silent. So.. why the sudden urge to be bold and reckless? He looked into Aixa's eyes.. 'my love' he whispered quietly to Aixa.

'Now, we must be at our bravest, my love' Is what Shezaan was about to say before the doors swung open and he heard a lightly chirping voice call out to the fluffy haired one. "Blue!". He saw the look on Blue's face, and though, before, he detested him.. he felt a pang of sorrow for him. He smiled softly at what appeared like a joyous reunion, but tears rose to his eyes as he watched the frail man Blue called "Mattie" grow limp and crumble to dust. It was too cruel to watch and he couldn't imagine the torment coming from the older amir. But when their Head, Iblîs, appear, he watched the other ummaar scatter away from him like magnets repelling from each other.

“I’m not here to hurt you,” the Head said, tilting his head slightly as the pale eyes observed the members of the room. A small smile appeared on his face as he put Mattie’s remains on fire. “Come now, brother, you don’t think it was really your darling Mattie do you? I was only having my fun,” Iblîs giggled. “I’m not done with him yet.” Blue raised a hand meekly, and Iblîs sighed, rolling his eyes as the Amir found himself dangling in the air with his back threatening to break. “No need to act so rash, my brothers. I mean you no harm.” Iblîs glanced over to the twins’ side of the room and tilted his head. “Nor the humans. I gave them chocolate. Humans are very fond of that, I hear,” Iblîs mentioned, his eyes scanning the Gallifreyan text on the walls.

Shezaan stood protectively infront Aixa, his pale blue eyes meeting Iblîs'. His gaze was not apologetic, but almost challenging, daring him to come anywhere near Aixa. Shezaan, in a single brave act of defiance, flicked the black chalk at Iblîs as if to say 'Yeah, it was me. What are you going to do about it?!'. Shezaan looked down at himself, his mind racing 'Why am I acting like this??? I.. I could get us both killed. What is wrong with me??'. His normally warm and inviting blue eyes were hard and cold, like ice, faintly glowing behind his hair as it cast a shadow over his face.

“Did you not tell them what happens to the Ummaar who can speak and read the language of the Lords of Time?” he asked, Blue falling with a snap on the ground. “Blue gets to have fun with them!” he said. “Of course, if he doesn’t listen to everything I say…” Iblîs trailed off, looking over with a smile towards Blue. “That was the first time you touched him since you murdered him.”Blue averted his eyes.

The pale boy tutted, shaking his head and returning his attention to the two siblings in the corner. He crouched beside them, his energy radiating off him. “It was a very good plan,” he acknowledged, the symbols lighting up in a fire. “Let’s distract the Head of the Council and the Shayteen! Don’t you have any sense of self-preservation? The Shayteen would have killed you without hesitation. There would be no second chances, no trials,” Iblîs said, resting his hand against the symbols. The fire swallowed his hand.

Shezaan's brow arched. "Then why not let them take us? Why come in their stead?"

“I have a family to protect. I granted you the mercy of forgetting the worst,” Iblîs said, removing his hand from the fire and grasping Aixa’s ear. “Perhaps you, too, will understand protecting your family.”

Shezaan's eyes went wide, a sudden heat radiating off of him, sending his hair out as if standing infront of a high powered fan, a watery mirage radiating off of him "Dont! I'm the one who wrote it! Let him go!" he spat, nearly snarling. The sight of Aixa in that monster's hands was like waving a red flag before a bull.

Aixa yelped, pain immediately going through him. He raised his hands to beat the small insolent child, just to get him off, but Iblîs had already picked him up by the ear and moved to the center of the room. “I wonder how your soul will react when pressed to death…”

Shezaan balled his fists, steam radiating from them before erupting into pale blue fire. He spoke in a low voice "If you do not unhand my soul, I swear, you will be the first life I claim"

“I’m not going to hurt him. Look how drained he is.” Iblîs said, a pale green mist slipping from his mouth and entering Aixa. “I must fix him. And then your dear brother will be returned to you.” Aixa choked on the mist, clawing at his throat before vanishing. “At least he’ll have Mattie to keep him company, yes? Aren’t I kind?”

When Aixa vanished, Shezaan fell to his knees, almost in immediate defeat. Iblîs was supposed to take him, not Aixa. The heat seemed to increase off of Shezaan's body, to the point he was actually flaking ash from his forehead. If his rage increased much more, he would burn himself out. He forced himself to calm, taking slow breaths. The flames vanished from his still clenched fists. He was no use to Aixa if he used up all his energy in a fit of anger. There was still Pippa and The Goddess to think of.

“My, but aren’t you the lucky one?” Iblîs told Shezaan, looking curiously at the scorched marks of Gallifreyan text. “Well, I have granted your wish to see your ‘Goddess’ – such a narcissistic name, Goddess of what pray tell? – once more. You will assist the Shayteen in the… questioning process.” He frowned and fixed the two Jinn in a stare. “I really shouldn’t have to say this, but I assume you both know the consequences of disobeying me?”

“You kill everyone,” Blue snapped, looking at Shezaan accusingly. If the stupid younger Ummaar hadn’t tried to escape… “Why, how perceptive. Gold star for you,” Iblîs said charmingly, sticking a gold star in the middle of Blue and Shezaan’s foreheads. “The Shayteen will come for you momentarily. Chin up, brothers. Soon none of this will have happened.” Iblîs smiled and disappeared, returning to the main chambers.

Shezaan snatched the star off his forehead and burnt the little sticker to a small flake of ash. He muttered darkly at the now closed doors, ignoring the confused and accusing stare of the other ummaar in the room. He didnt care if they could hear him. "I... will.. kill you. "

[Deleted]

He'd been so close to the human, and, although part of him knew that it had never really been Mattie he was hugging, Blue couldn't help but stare at the dirt on the ground. Mattie's life was on the line, and Iblîs had made his point loud and clear. Blue looked up, watching as Shezaan threatened the Head's life. A small little smile curled on the Head's lips, and he was no doubt planning what to do with Aixa and Mattie. Blue looked over at Shezaan, desperately wanting to scream at the much young amir to shut the hell up unless he wanted his precious Aixa to die a brutal murder. And if Aixa died... well, he knew it was only a matter of time before Shezaan threw a temper tantrum and got Mattie murdered.

Again.

The Head of the Council pressed a gold star on his forehead, but Blue didn't take his eyes of the dirt. He took a shaky breath, finally watching as the little boy pressed a gold star to the young amir. The ifrit glanced over at Blue, and the smile on his lips tugged a little wider before disappearing completely. The boy disappeared, and after a few moments of silence, the doors vanished as well.

Blue sighed, watching the last tendrils of green energy fade from the room. The rest of the Ummaar were silent. He ran the dirt through his fingers again, shutting his eyes and calming his breath. He looked over at the others of his species. There were a mixture of emotions. Confusion, despair, accusation, anger... Blue shook his head, clearing his emotions the best he could. It was obvious the Head had been in a fairly good mood - and although it was good for Shezaan and Aixa momentarily, Blue knew the Head enough to know that a 'good mood' stemmed from 'good news', which wasn't 'good news' for the rest of the Jinn.

He looked up at Shezaan, annoyed. He had tried to warn the stubborn little amir, but he'd been ignored. And now he ran the risk of not only getting his precious brother murdered, but he'd put Mattie in danger. Losing his temper would get them nowhere. He shut his eyes. Blond hair, bright brown eyes, a small smile on the frail man's lips. Mattie. His eyes opened and he smiled, his anger placated enough.

He stood. "Making threats will not get your brother back, Shezaan," he said, crouching down in front of the younger amir. He didn't care if he wasn't very high up on the amir's "friend" list. "The only thing you have accomplished is endangering the lives of everyone in this room, yourself included, and your brother." He decided not to mention Mattie, because he knew Shezaan didn't care for his personal life.

"I understand that you are young and ruled by passion and inexperience," Blue said. "However, if you want to see your brother again, and not a pile of his ash, you're going to have to choke down your personal feelings and do what the Head of the Council says. I can guarantee you that the next time you pull a little stunt like that..." he trailed off and stood up. "You and your brother should never have done those things here. He knows how you feel of him now, and that was your first mistake."

He knew that from experience, but that was neither here nor there. "So," he continued, standing and brushing away the wrinkles of his clothes, "if we want to get out of this alive, we're going to have to work together."

[Deleted]

He stood. "Making threats will not get your brother back, Shezaan," he said, crouching down in front of the younger amir. He didn't care if he wasn't very high up on the amir's "friend" list. "The only thing you have accomplished is endangering the lives of everyone in this room, yourself included, and your brother." He decided not to mention Mattie, because he knew Shezaan didn't care for his personal life.

Shezaan shuddered, trying to cool his body. Where there would have been sweat on a normal person, he was dripping ash. The ache in the pit of his gut was akin to the feeling when they had first been separated. I did not remember their birth clearly, all he remembered was pain and clinging desperately to Aixa. And then they had been torn from eachother's arms. This was that same feeling. Lost, helpless. His arms wrapped around himself and he bent so low, his forehead was touching the floor,, his shoulders trembling, obviously trying not to cry in front of Blue. Why hadn't he listened?? Now Aixa was in danger.

He couldnt help it. He was angry. Not and Blue, or at the head.. he was angry, furious with himself. "I have to get him back. I have to" The heat radiating off of him was beginning to burn his shirt. It smoked, turned to cinder, and fell away in ashes. his bare back trembled.

"I understand that you are young and ruled by passion and inexperience," Blue said. "However, if you want to see your brother again, and not a pile of his ash, you're going to have to choke down your personal feelings and do what the Head of the Council says. I can guarantee you that the next time you pull a little stunt like that..." he trailed off and stood up. "You and your brother should never have done those things here. He knows how you feel of him now, and that was your first mistake."

he rolled gently to press his back against the wall where the door once was. his looked up at Blue, his forehead covered in ash. Ruled by his passion was an understatement. If he wasn't careful, that passion would consume him. He brought his trembling hands to his face, ashamed by his uncontrollable anger. He muttered softly, a sort of apology."I.. I only wanted to help them. It was the only way I knew I would see them, tell them we were on their side.. I didnt mean for this to happen. " he started muttering something unintelligible behind his hands.

He knew that from experience, but that was neither here nor there. "So," he continued, standing and brushing away the wrinkles of his clothes, "if we want to get out of this alive, we're going to have to work together."

Shezaan looked up at Blue from under his long trailing ashen blond hair. He sucked in a slow cool breath and closed his eyes. He nodded meekly and forced himself to stand. He brushed the ash from his arms and shuddered. "What must I do, Blue? Anything you say, to get him back. He is more than my brother. We are the same. one. If he dies.. I dont know what will happen to me"

[Deleted]

Blue watched the young amir battle with himself. He sighed, pressing his cool hands to Shezaan’s forehead to expedite the cooling process. Shezaan wrapped himself up and pressed his forehead to the floor. Blue remained crouched in front of him, watching the Djinn curiously. He couldn’t remember when he was that young – but surely he hadn’t been so overcome by passion. Of course, he had never found someone worth fighting for until he met Mattie. And by the time Mattie came along, he was over a million years old. He had already gotten a grip on his emotions and how to suppress them.

“I have to get him back. I have to.”[/color]

The older amir watched as Shezaan’s shirt burned off. “I know you do,” Blue said, standing. “You can’t keep doing this to yourself,” he told the djinn calmly, watching as Shezaan sat up. The poor young creature was covered in his own ash. Blue leaned on the wall next to him, feeling the heat radiate from Shezaan. “I can’t imagine your brother being pleased that you killed yourself over him, however unintentional,” he commented, leaning his head on the wall and looking around at the other Ummaar.

“I… I only wanted to help them. It was the only way I knew I would see them, tell them we were on their side… I didn’t mean for this to happen.”[/color]

Blue nodded sympathetically. “You did what you thought was best, and although I don’t agree with your methods, I agree with the sentiment,” he said. “They have someone of mine, too. I know how tempting it is to act without a thought as to the consequences,” he said, patting Shezaan’s head awkwardly. It was meant just to calm the Djinn down – because he was getting rather close to murdering himself from sheer amount of passion.

“What must I do, Blue? Anything you say, to get him back. He is more than my brother. We are the same. one. If he dies… I don’t know what will happen to me.”

And hopefully Iblîs didn’t try to figure it out too much either. He knew that their options weren’t good – either way it resulted in death and misery for one of them. If Blue helped the Head of the Council kill Solomon, he would be able to keep his Mattie. But there was a possibility that the universe’s fluke that produced Aixa and Shezaan wouldn’t happen for a second time.

“Don’t make eye contact with the Head of the Council when he speaks with you. Do what he says, and I know that he’s going to ask you to do some very difficult things,” Blue said, frowning. “He’s going to ask you to kill the Lords and Ladies of Time. But don’t worry,” – although Blue himself was very worried – “everything is going to work out. You’ll get your brother back. I promise.”[/size]

[Deleted]

“Don’t make eye contact with the Head of the Council when he speaks with you. Do what he says, and I know that he’s going to ask you to do some very difficult things,” Blue said, frowning. “He’s going to ask you to kill the Lords and Ladies of Time. But don’t worry,” – although Blue himself was very worried – “everything is going to work out. You’ll get your brother back. I promise.”

Shezaan, with Blue's help, eventually began to calm down. He looked up at Blue, his eyes glistening, threatening tears. He them looked down at his own hands an arms and shuddered, realizing he was covered in ash. For a human it was like being covered in your own blood. He stared wide eyed at his hands in horror before muttering "ما الذي قمت به؟" . His hands suddenly covered his face, his legs feeling weak beneath him, leaning heavily against the wall. His lips trembling, he repeated himself in English, not realizing he was rambling. "what... have I done? They will die because of me" He then began trying to rub the ash away, disgusted with himself.

Shezaan slowly walked to the other side of the room, looking at the charred remains of the writing and gently blew at them, watching them flake and fall to the ground, leaving the wall a blank slate once more. then stared at the ground before looking back at Blue. He was well aware he was older, but how was he so calm, so collected? How was he able to remain so cool when the one he cared for was in the hands of a monster. Before he even thought of the possibly repercussions of asking such an intimately personal question, Shezaan nodded to the dust pile on the floor where the man once stood and softly asked. "Who is he?"

[Deleted]

Blue stared at the younger amir, unsure how to deal with the tears. He did feel sympathy for the young Djinn, but they didn’t have much time. Blue nearly said this, opened his mouth and took a breath, but there was a twinge of guilt that made the words tangle in his throat. He had never had anyone before Mattie – he could brush away death and he could scoff at those who needed companionship. But it wasn’t the time. As much as he was irritated by Shezaan’s actions, the younger Djinn had not meant to do any of this.

“Nothing,” Blue returned quietly, watching as Shezaan stared at the ash around the amir’s hands. “You didn’t do anything, Shezaan,” he insisted, putting his hands on Shezaan’s shoulders. Dark blue light left his hands and washed away the ash from the man. Blue withdrew his hands and put them in his pocket. “The Head of the Council would have known a Lady of Time possessed you. He knew about mine.” He wanted to comfort Shezaan about people dying, but it would have been a lie and Blue had learned that ignorance was far from bliss. So instead he watched as Shezaan crossed the room and rubbed away the writing.

He shut his eyes, leaning his head back. Was there a way for him to keep Mattie and for Aixa to be returned to Shezaan? Mattie’s life was entirely in the Head’s hands; he’d brought him back, and he could easily kill him again. Blue took a deep breath. He would ensure Mattie’s life even if he had to sacrifice his own. He opened his eyes, aware of a pair of sharp eyes on him. He stared back at Shezaan, his head tilting slightly. He didn’t understand why the boy would be staring at him unless he wanted something.

“Who is he?” Shezaan asked, nodding towards the pile of dirt.

Blue stared silently at the dirt. How could he describe Mattie to convey the human’s profound impact on the Djinn? His master? His lover? His best friend? “As Aixa is your soul, Matthieu is mine,” he said finally, keeping his voice steady. “Mattie is the reason I’m fighting,” he continued, his fists shaking with the effort of keeping calm. “He’s my fire.” His voice trembled slightly, and Blue bit one of his knuckles, feeling tangibly his self-control beginning to dissolve. Why couldn’t he say those things to Mattie?

He shut his eyes tightly, his teeth sliding through his flesh. He took a deep breath, dropping the hand to his side and looking up at Shezaan. “He wished for me to kill him. The Council has promised his life if I help them defeat the Lords of Time.” His voice was calm again, and his expression was blank again.

[Deleted]

Blue stared silently at the dirt. How could he describe Mattie to convey the human’s profound impact on the Djinn? His master? His lover? His best friend? “As Aixa is your soul, Matthieu is mine,” he said finally, keeping his voice steady. “Mattie is the reason I’m fighting,” he continued, his fists shaking with the effort of keeping calm. “He’s my fire.” His voice trembled slightly, and Blue bit one of his knuckles, feeling tangibly his self-control beginning to dissolve. Why couldn’t he say those things to Mattie?

He shut his eyes tightly, his teeth sliding through his flesh. He took a deep breath, dropping the hand to his side and looking up at Shezaan. “He wished for me to kill him. The Council has promised his life if I help them defeat the Lords of Time.” His voice was calm again, and his expression was blank again.

Shezaan chewed his lips as Blue's words buzzed in his mind. He looked down at his feet.. He only had this one mistress only a few short hours... but.. watching her beg for death when she discovered the one she loved had betrayed her.. He couldn't bring himself to grant her wish, insisting she could make her forget him... she committed suicide and died in Shezaan's arms. Then, he imagined that pain of loss and compared it to his live for Aixa, and he could feel his heart breaking... That must be what Blue felt.. No wonder Blue was so adamant..

Shezaan pulled his hair back and braided it quickly to get his hair out of his face. He was still uneasy. The idea of having to kill The Goddess made his stomach twist. He didnt know the others, but The Goddess had been a friend to him. She never made a single wish from him, only accepted him as a companion, treated him like a friend. not a slave. She had been the first to treat him like a living entity, not a wish granting machine. He adored The Goddess for her kindness. "I.. I dont know if I'll be able to kill her.. The others, I dont think it will affect me as much.... but not her... I.. I know she'll just regenerate but....." he trailed off sadly and shook his head, trying to strengthen his resolve. "No... For Aixa... She would understand... "

He didn't know how true that was but, that belief was was all he had to cling to at the moment. He looked at Blue, his eyes told as clearly as if he had spoken the words to the elder amir.. He wanted this to just be a bad dream. The be back in The Goddess' TARDIS exploring the universe. And what was funny.. The whole time they explored, he'd secretly been hoping he would find his Aixa.. it destroyed him inside to know that in all his wanderings, he found his twin in this Hell.

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Blue shut his eyes once more, another sigh pushing from his lips. He was thankful that Shezaan didn’t press the matter more. He knew that many other ummaar would have. His mind returned to the death of the human – the pale fingers clutching him, the brown eyes wide and… Blue shivered. He did not want to remember, and simultaneously he never wanted to forget. He put his hands over his face. Each day of those nine years ran through his mind and it was becoming exceedingly hard to concentrate on trying to get everything to work out perfectly for everyone.

He opened his eyes, running his hands down his face and swallowing the lump in his throat. “I…I don’t know if I’ll be able to kill her…”[/b][/color] the young amir admitted. Blue nodded sympathetically. His former master’s sister was one of the Time Ladies kidnapped. She’d been the only Time Lord to show him any sort of kindness… but he would kill her, too, if it were the only way to bring Mattie back.

Mattie wouldn’t want that, his mind whispered. It was true. If Mattie knew what he had to do to keep him alive… if Mattie knew what he would do for him. And what made him think that Mattie didn’t? If Iblîs was anywhere near as cruel as Blue knew he was, he would have given the poor man a very sympathetic biography of each life that Blue was about to vanquish for the human’s. I’m sorry, Mattie…[/color]

He returned his eyes to Shezaan, watching as the younger amir had a moral battle similar to his own. He could tell that the young man didn’t want any of this to be happening – and Blue agreed. He wanted to be with Mattie, curled next to the man and being surrounded by him. “I know…” he said quietly.

The door opened again, and a Shaytaan entered. The creature held open the door silently, staring between Blue and Shezaan. The rest of the Ummaar moved away from the door. “Come on. Time for our interrogations,” it said, the face splitting into a grin. The claws at the end of the demon’s fingers and the red energy surrounding the creature’s body were enough to dissuade any rebellion. “I promised the Head I wouldn’t hurt a hair on your pretty little heads until I need to…”

Blue sighed and looked over at Shezaan. “Come on,” he said quietly, sticking his hands in his pants pockets and following the Shaytaan.[/size]

[Deleted]

Blue shut his eyes once more, another sigh pushing from his lips. He was thankful that Shezaan didn’t press the matter more. He knew that many other ummaar would have. He opened his eyes, running his hands down his face and swallowing the lump in his throat. “I…I don’t know if I’ll be able to kill her…” the young amir admitted. Blue nodded sympathetically. His former master’s sister was one of the Time Ladies kidnapped. She’d been the only Time Lord to show him any sort of kindness… but he would kill her, too, if it were the only way to bring Mattie back. Mattie wouldn’t want that, his mind whispered. It was true. If Mattie knew what he had to do to keep him alive… if Mattie knew what he would do for him. And what made him think that Mattie didn’t? If Iblîs was anywhere near as cruel as Blue knew he was, he would have given the poor man a very sympathetic biography of each life that Blue was about to vanquish for the human’s. I’m sorry, Mattie…

Shezaan fidgeted with a lock of hair. Normally, he fumbled with his shirt but since that had been burned clean off of him.. His mind traveled to his dear Aixa. Where was he now? What has happening to him? Was his precious soul mate safe?? Would The Head hold true to his word, that no harm would come to Aixa if he did as he was instructed? Would he really murder The Goddess, his best friend, in cold blood to save Aixa? “It's just too cruel.. Having to choose.” Of course, he would choose Aixa over anyone.... but.. That didn’t mean he had to like the circumstances. If he physically had a heart to speak of, it would certainly be breaking.

He returned his eyes to Shezaan, watching as the younger amir had a moral battle similar to his own. He could tell that the young man didn't want any of this to be happening – and Blue agreed. He wanted to be with Mattie, curled next to the man and being surrounded by him. “I know…” he said quietly.

Shezaan smiled softly up at the older Amir. His dislike and mistrust of him was melting away.. They were in the same situation. The Head had someone dear to each of them, using them as leverage to get them to cooperate. He leaned against the wall where the door once was and shot a look to glance to Blue. He hated waiting.. Not knowing. It made his head hurt, all the worry. And here was Blue, in the same predicament, and he seemed so calm and cool. Perhaps it was a discipline he acquired with age. “Blue?.. How old a-” but he was cut off as the wall becan to change once more, it was resuming the shape of a door. Shezaan stumbled back away from it, bumping into Blue.

The door opened again, and a Shaytaan entered. The creature held open the door silently, staring between Blue and Shezaan. The rest of the Ummaar moved away from the door. “Come on. Time for our interrogations,” it said, the face splitting into a grin. The claws at the end of the demon’s fingers and the red energy surrounding the creature’s body were enough to dissuade any rebellion. “I promised the Head I wouldn’t hurt a hair on your pretty little heads until I need to…” Blue sighed and looked over at Shezaan. “Come on,” he said quietly, sticking his hands in his pants pockets and following the Shaytaan.

Shezaan looked at the Shayaan, blue eyes wide in fear. Instinct screamed for him to back away and show no signs of rebellion, but as Blue calmly walked past the Shaytaan and looked back at him, calling him over, Shezaan's eyes moved back to the dangerous Djinn and shuddered and followed after, moving around the lumbering beast of a Djinn, not wanting to come any where near him, but it was difficult as he took up most of the door way. He looked back sadly at the remaining ummaar in the room. his brothers and sisters.. He then jogged lightly to keep pace with Blue, not daring to look back at the Shaytaan behind them, only glancing to the sides hoping he would see Aixa somewhere. His heart sank when he didnt.