MagiStream

Darien wasn’t sure what to do. He knew Elemus was still at the keep, but he wasn’t sure how many days of work he could miss. He let out a breath, looking at the ceiling. One more couldn’t hurt. Maybe Elemus would go searching somewhere else for jack.
Darien moved his feet, feeling the cobra sleeping on the covers by his toes. It was chilly in the room at night and Darien wished he had some way of making it warmer for jack. He knew that he was cold, but there was nothing that could be done.
Darien wanted to get more information about jack, but he wasn’t sure how he could get the cobra to talk. He was starting to accept the fact that he might never know anything about jack.
Darien slowly sat up, trying not to wake jack, but the second he was sitting, the cobra sat up as well.
“good morning,” Darien said quietly.
“are you heading to the keep today?” jack asked, stretching his whole body so it was as stiff as a stick for a moment.
Darien shook his head. “I'm going to take one more day off. Maybe Elemus will go somewhere else.”
Jack didn’t respond. Instead he curled up back into the spot where he had been sleeping. Darien frowned a little, looking him over. “are you sick? You’ve hardly moved from that spot since I brought you here.”
“I am cold.” He answered sharply.
Darien bit his lip, looking outside. He wished he could make it warmer. He wished he could get something to help.
Darien stood up, getting ready for the day. He went down stairs, seeing a note from his mother. She wanted him to do a little shopping. She had left him some money to get some food. Darien slipped the note and money in his pocket. He looked up the stairs, knowing that jack was just going to lie in the same spot bored all day.
Maybe he would enjoy a day out…?
Darien walked back up to the room, seeing jack lying in the sunspot. Darien walked and grabbed his jacket, going to jack. He rubbed his head, “I know your bored sitting here all day… I need to run a few errands in the town. Would… would you like to come?”
Jack looked at him, sitting up. “why would I want to go see your dirty, small town?” he muttered.
Darien sighed, rolling his eyes. “shut up and come on.” he stuck his hand out, scooping up the cobra. Jack didn’t struggle as Darien showed him the open sleeve. Jack just sighed deeply, sliding himself in it. Darien felt the cobra wrap himself around his torso.
Darien unbuttoned the jacket a little, allowing jack to have a view of where they were going without anyone seeing him. Darien walked down the stairs, pulling out the list. He felt jack coil tighter around him.

All day Darien was very careful not to hurt jack by accident. He had a bag to carry the food he had gotten. It had been nice to get out of the house and not have to go straight to work. He was enjoying himself and he didn’t want to go home just yet.
He decided to show jack one of his favorite places to visit. He walked through town, nodding to the people who greeted him. it was starting to warm up in the sun, but it was still a little chilly. Darien walked out of the city a little ways down the road. When he heard rushing water, he unbuttoned his jacket a little more, looking down at jack.
“you can come out now,” Darien said quietly. “there’s no one around.”
Jack slowly slithered up and out of the jacket. He stuck his head out, looking around. “where did you bring me?”
“the stream,” Darien answered, gently pulling on jack until he willingly came up and out of the clothes. Darien helped him wrap around his arm, then he went and sat by on the edge of the large stream. “this stream is very strange,” he explained. “every once in awhile, you will see an egg float by. I don’t know where the eggs come from, but magi often sit on this shore, waiting for the right ones.”
Jack looked down t the water. “why do you come here? you have no interest in the creatures.”
Darien shrugged a little. “its beautiful here. this water is crystal clear, sometimes you can even catch a glimpse of a koi swimming in it.”
Jack looked upstream, sticking out his tongue. Both he and Darien watched as an egg slowly bobbed by. It would sometimes go under, but always stay near the surface of the water.
“that is a Puvia egg,” Darien explained quietly, watching it come toward him. “you can tell because of all the colors.”
“for disliking creatures so much, you know a lot about them.” jack pointed out.
Darien shrugged. “when you work around them all day, you learn a lot.”
“so why do you hate the creatures so much?” jack looked at him. his unblinking eyes holding Dariens.
“I don’t hate the creatures,” Darien said quietly. “I hate magi.”
“why? What is the true reason you have so much anger toward them?”
Darien sighed deeply, reaching down and gently plucking the puvia egg from the water. He turned it, seeing it shimmer in the light.
“every one of those creatures that I care for have a personality. They have such character. But the magi collect them like there all items. Then they get so many in there keep that they cant truly understand each pet.”
“and that bothers you?” jack asked.
Darien nodded. “just like this egg. Its going to be picked up and hatched just to be stored at the keep. Creatures don’t want that. they don’t want to just live the rest of their lives in a building. They want to go adventuring with their magi. They want to be with them at all times. It breaks there heart when they get left behind and forgotten. So many of them don’t even have names!”
Darien shook his head, gently setting the egg back into the water. “I don’t understand it. Why hatch and raise a creature just to let them sit around bored and alone? It isn’t fair to the creatures. But the magi are too greedy to see that. they just want more.”
Jack watched the egg float away, then looked at Darien. “you don’t hate magi just for their freedom.” He said quietly.
Jack shook his head, putting his chin on his knees. “nothing they do makes any sense jack.”
Jack gave a smirk. He slithered up Dariens arm, resting part of his body on Dariens shoulder. He looked at him, only inches from Dariens face. “you might not have a brain in that head, but you have a heart in your chest. you’re a good kid.”
Darien gave a little smile, unsure what to say about that. he looked back at the stream and jack did the same. Finally he sighed, standing up. “come on,” he muttered, grabbing the bag of food. “lets get back home.”
Jack slid back into his shirt, curling around him. Darien buttoned up his jacket more, then walked away from the stream and back into town.
The two of them snuck back home without any issues. Darien had slipped the food away and went back into his room, opening the jacket and letting jack slide out. He slithered over to his spot on the bed, curling up and looked at Darien.
Darien walked over, sitting on his side of the bed, looking down at him. “ive decided something,” he said quietly.
“what is that?” jack asked.
“I'm glad that I had snuck into Elemus’ room and taken you. Even if you are a pain sometimes, its nice having someone to talk to.”
Jack laughed dryly. “don’t say too much Darien. You might regret it very soon.”
Darien shook his head. “I wont,” he muttered with a small grin. He reached out, gently rubbing jacks head and sliding his hand down his back.
Jack looked at him one last time, then lied down on the bed in the sunspot.

The night was freezing cold. Darien was warm under the thick blanket, but he looked down at jack. The cobra was curled into a tight ball at the end of his bed. Darien looked at him concerned, biting his lip. He was going to have to do something or jack was going to freeze.
He silently sat up, reaching for him. when he touched him, he found jack was stone cold. He gently lifted a coil and jack jumped up, his neck flaps were puffed out. He looked at Darien, letting out a low hiss.
“its just me,” Darien said gently. “relax.”
Jack glared at him, then looked down at the hand still touching him. Darien very carefully used his other hand and scooped the cobra up and carried him over. Jack looked at him, unsure what he was doing. Darien leaned back, placing jack on his chest.
Jack looked at him, then around the room. Darien smiled a little, running his hand down jacks body. “there’s nothing else I can do to keep you warm.”
Jack didn’t answer. He slowly put his head down and Darien placed his hand on the coiled cobra, carefully pulling up the covers.

In the morning, Darien had woken up, finding jack still sleeping on him. he was relived to feel that the snake was a much warmer temperature now. He let out a breath, looking out the window. He had to get to work today. Elemus or no Elemus. It had to happen. He gently nudged jack, trying to wake him up.
“what do you want now?” jack muttered.
“I need to get ready for work,” Darien said quietly.
Jack turned his head to him, “your going back?”
“I have no other choice,” Darien answered. “I need the money.”
Jack slid off of him, watching him as Darien stood up. He walked away, getting ready for work. When he came back, he found jack in his spot at the foot of the bed. Jack sat up, looking at him. “thank you for your help last night.”
“it’s the only thing I could think of,” he admitted. He slipped his work clothes over his regular ones. “I wish I had a better solution.”
Jack didn’t answer. He looked back at the light coming through the window.
“are you alright?” Darien asked, frowning a little. Usually this early in the day jack had said an list of comments to insult Darien. He hadn’t even ottered one yet.
“don’t you have somewhere to be?” jack muttered.
Darien cursed, knowing jack was right. He grabbed the mouse cage that he had brought jack a meal with. “I need to get going. I will be home later tonight. Stay hidden!” he said as he ran down the stairs and headed to work.

Darien walked up the entrance to the keep, seeing several servants running around as usual. He carefully made his way inside, looking for any sign that he was being watched. He looked around but no one seemed to notice him. he grinned, going to start his chores.
Darien slowly walked to his floor. He peaked around but he didn’t see Elemus. He snuck out, holding a cage of mice. He walked silently passed Elemus’ door, the stopped.
“well what do you want me to do?!” Elemus snapped. Darien frowned and leaned more into the door, listening.
“I have no idea what happened. All I know is someone had taken him from me. and this place is filled with magi who might just do that!”
Darien swallowed, feeling sick.
“I don’t think that he is hiding in the keep anymore. I have had the place ripped apart to find him. nothing has turned up. He must be hiding somewhere else.”
Darien swallowed, shuttering a little.
“understood,” Elemus said quietly. “I wont return until I find him. you have my word.”
Darien jumped up when he heard footsteps. He dashed to the cobra room, closing the door tight. He waited, listening for anyone following but he didn’t hear anything.
Elemus was going to stay until he found jack. That wasn’t good. But its not like the magi knew Darien had it, right? As long as jack stayed away from the keep, he was sure to stay safe.
Darien finished with the chores, going to make sure everything was closed up tight. He turned off the light in the cobra room, then turned and froze. Standing a few feet him was Elemus.
The magi stocked over to him. Darien held his breath as the man bent down and got level with him.
“I know you took him,” he whispered. “you’re the only one who even walks through this floor. When I find him, I'm going to wring your scrawny little neck.”
Darien went pale, swallowing. “i- I don’t know what your talking about sir,” he stuttered.
Elemus smiled wickedly, wrapping his fingers around Dariens throat. Darien froze, eyes wide. “if you tell me where he is, then all will be forgiven. You do not understand. That snake is evil. Get him away from you as soon as you can.”
“I don’t have a snake,” Darien shook. Elemus glared at him, his fingers tightening around Dariens neck for a moment, then he threw him back so hard against the wall that Darien smacked his head. He held the back of his head, cursing.
“you cant treat me like this!” he snapped. “I will tell someone!”
Elemus laughed quietly, walking away. “bring me the snake boy, or it will be more then just your head hurting when I'm through with you.”
The magi walked away, going into his room and closing the door. Darien swallowed, standing on his shaky feet. He had said that jack was evil. Had Darien been wrong this whole time?
No. jack wasn’t the bag guy. At least not out of him and Elemus. Darien glared at the magis door. He was never going to get jack.
Before he left, Darien had grabbed a few mice in the cage for jack. He walked home fast, seeing how dark it was. His parents were just sitting down for dinner when he walked in the door.

When Darien had gotten home, both his parents had already started dinner. Darien opened the door, sneaking in.
“there you are Darien!” his mother exclaimed. “we were worried that you wouldn’t make it in time for dinner.”
“I will be right there mum,” he said, hiding the cage of mice beside him. “let me just go change.”
He ran up the stairs and into his room. he closed the door tightly before he looked around. For once, he didn’t see jack. Darien carefully walked around the room. “jack?” he called.
The cobra didn’t answer. Darien went over to his bed, sitting on it.
There was a loud hiss and Darien shot up. Under the covers he could see something moving. “jack?” he called, pulling them away.
“why don’t you look before you sit!” jack snapped. His neck flaps were fanned out.
“why don’t YOU answer me when I call you?!” Darien snapped back.
“I was asleep,” jack said in a matter-of-fact tone.
“why were you asleep? Isn’t it a little early?” Darien asked, frowning as he set the cage of several mice down.
“this cold makes me tired,” he muttered.
“I'm sorry, I wish I could make it warmer,” Darien said quietly. “I brought you some food. Are you too tired to eat?”
The cobra slithered to the cage, looking in. then he looked at Darien. “open the cage.”
Jack ate very quickly, swallowing the mice as fast as he could. When he was done, he moved back to his spot on the bed, curling up.
“I need to go have dinner,” Darien said quietly.
“its not like I'm going anywhere,” jack answered. “go enjoy a meal.”
Darien grinned, petting jack one last time then he ran down the stairs and found his place at the dinner table.
Darien’s parents didn’t know everything about his job. They knew he worked at the keep, but that was the extent of there knowledge. Darien didn’t talk about it much, and for good reason. But tonight, they had brought it up.
“I had heard that there is a magi in the keep who lost a pet?” his father asked.
Darien shrugged a little. “I guess so. I don’t really think that its there.”
“what was it?” his mother looked at him.
“a raza cobra.”
“MY LITTLE BOY IS WORKING IN A PLACE WITH A COBRA LOOSE?!” she exclaimed. “NO YOU DON’T!”
“mum, its alright.” Darien said quietly. “I think it ran off by now. I haven’t seen it at all. and plus what do you think I do all day? I take care of cobra all the time.”
“they would let a child risk his life?!” she demanded.
“no, I had to prove that I could handle it. It wasn’t easy and it took a very long time of hard work.”
“does James work with raza cobras?” his father asked.
“not as much.” Darien muttered.
“I also heard that this magi is causing problems for everyone. Have you seen him?”
Darien swallowed, nodding. “yeah, we have bumped into each other.” He rubbed the back of his bruised head.
“do I need to talk to someone?” his father frowned.
“no sir,” he shook his head. “he is just annoying. He will go away sooner or later.”
“well I hope he takes that horrid creature with him!” his mother snapped. “why anyone would want to own one of those slimy, disgusting, dangerous and ugly creatures is beyond me!”
Darien bit his lip, knowing it was unwise to say any different.

His room was chilly when he made it up the stairs. Darien closed his door, walking over to his bed. Jack slowly sat up, looking at him.
“Elemus is looking even harder for you,” Darien sat beside him. “he seems to know that I took you.”
“what did he say?”
Darien shrugged a little. “nothing important.”
Jack slowly moved so he was eye level with Darien. His unmoving gold eyes held Dariens.
“he threatened you, didn’t he?” jack asked quietly.
Darien looked away. “no,” he muttered.
“your lying,” he muttered. “what did he say Darien?”
“nothing!” Darien glared at him.
Jack hissed, glaring at him. “why wont you tell me?”
“because I can handle it!” Darien snapped. “I don’t need help!”
“he told you that he will kill you, didn’t he?” jack asked quietly.
Darien didn’t answer. He looked away, then threw off his shoes and rolled into bed. He pulled the covers over himself, keeping his back to jack.
Jack didn’t move for a moment, then Darien felt him slither over to his spot in the bed. The two of them curled up tightly on the opposite sides of the bed. Darien slowly opened his eyes, glancing down by his feet. He knew jack would freeze if he let him sleep there.
Darien sat up, gently reaching for jack. He tapped his back and jack sat up, looking back at him. Darien gently picked him up, carrying him over. Darien laid back and put jack on his chest. jack looked down at him as Darien covered them with the blankets.
They both laid in silence. Darien slowly closed his eyes, putting a hand on jack to help warm him up.
“why are you working so hard to protect me?” jack asked quietly.
Darien opened his eyes, sighing a little. “you trusted me,” he said quietly. “you exposed your voice to me and only me. you have not harmed me in any way. Your not just a snake, you’re my friend.”
“I'm not the friend you want to have around, Darien.” He said.
“I know that there is going to be risks with you,” Darien petted him. “and I know that I maynever have a normal relationship with you. Maybe it will just be this, you constantly telling me I'm stupid and I will just keep yelling back. But I want to keep this friendship.”
“even if it means risking your life?” he muttered. “do not be a fool.”
“I risked my life to save you, I know what I am up against now.”
“you have no idea what you are up against,” jack said quietly.
Darien slowly lifted the blanket, looking at the cobra on his chest. “then tell me, jack. Tell me what I have gotten myself into.”
Jack sighed deeply. He didn’t speak for a moment, then he sat up. “alright, I will tell you.”