The next day, Lei was working in the mines when four draconians came up to him. “Come with us.” They instructed, “Her Dark magesty wishes to see you.”

Lei turned to look at the draconians confused and nervous. That black dragon wanted to see him?! What for he had kept to the agreement! “Fine…” He muttered, not planning to cause a fight.

The draconians nodded, prodding him along out of the mines and back into the temple. FInally he was taken to a smaller room off the main Dragon Lair, where a tall slender black draik waited. The guards left him there, and closed the door as they exited with bows. The draikess was quite beautiful, with long black hair and piercing yellow-green eyes, that Lei could easily recognize from his meeting with her in dragon form. She wore a long ebony dress studded with small diamonds that glittered as she moved. “Sit down.” She waved a hand to a couch to one side as she stood.

Lei blinked in suprise as he saw her, she might have looked different but for him the eyes were a dead give away it was the same person as before. He didn’t move for a minute before nodding slowing and going over to the couch, sitting down. Why the heck had he been brought here again?!

Onyx moved over to a table, pouring herself a glass of red wine, then turned to gaze at the silver draik. “I heard you had made friends with the little dragon… he speaks to you now, doesn’t he?” She said.

Lei watched her nervously before nodding just a little. “Yes he can….. Why does that matter?”

“My guards heard you talking the other day… that little one is not the first you’ve met, is he?” She smiled.

Lei blinked in suprise as he heard that, oh shit the guards had heard him? “T…Those guards must have… misunderstood.” He muttered quietly, not wanting to talk about Kinu and risk the little girl getting hurt by this monster.

She laughed, “You’re a horrible lier, Lei.” She said, sipping her wine. “Tell me, what of this other silver dragon do you know? Where is she?”

Lei bit his lip a little, watching her, still obviously nervous. “Not much to tell… I saw her one night. I didn’t even know she was a dragon, she just looked like an odd draik to me. I…I only realized she was a dragon after I saw Dalit and realized he looked like her.”

“Where is she now?” She asked again, “Surely you know where she was headed, and who she was with? Who else traveled with her?”

Lei was silent for a second, trying to deside what to say. “The group had come to the mountians to do something… But they kept quiet about it and I didn’t ask. There were a couple others with her… a xweetok, a weird mouse looking creature, a old ixi and a rakune…” He explained, making sure to mention Leria and Grisfam, just because those two wern’t with the group right now.

Onyx frowned, “Where were tehy headed, and who else was in that group?” She prodded.

“I don’t know where they were headed.” Lei repeated. “They stayed at my house for the night then left in the morning to continue up. And I told you who was in the group.”

Onyx scowled angrily, this was no sue to her! How would she find that silver dragon with so little information? As she was about to asks omething else, she was interrupted by a knock on the door. “What is it?” She snarled. The door opened and a guard came in, bowing. “I’m sorry to interrupt Milady, but we’ve been informed that a group is going to try and steal from your treasure.” He said.

Lei’s tail twitched a little as he heard that, a group coming here…? Was it them? But why were they coming here?! Did that path lead here?

Onyx caught the movement, glancing at Lei, then back at the guard. “What do you know of this group?” She asked. “I believe it is a small group, the ones that escaped us yesterday at the lift, a Kankiru, a Rakune, a small rodent, a wocky dressed in white robes and a small child acara.”

Lei was silent as he listened, but his heart started to pound hard as he listened. This was not good… his lie had been caught and was worried about what might happen now.

The dragon female frowned, “No silver dragon?” She asked, glancing at Lei with interest.

Lei was still quiet, not looking at Onyx. He knew Kinu wasn’t in the group right now, neither was Grisfam or Leria.

“No Milady, not that we were told.” Onyx sighed in exhasperation, “Well, perhaps the dragon has already learned to shapeshift, she could be the acara girl…” She turned back to the guard, “How do these pitiful creatures intend on gaining access to my treasure?” She asked. The guard told her, the whole plan Bast had laid out to Jing and the others.

Lei went a little pale as he listened to the plan. No… This was not good! Onyx knew about the whole plan they had made… they would all be in danger. Not onlt that… but she thought Rena might be Kinu.

Onyx nodded, “Have someone waiting to pick the rakune when she reaches the main square. Be sure to be quick and sudden, I don’t want any mistakes.  will wait for the others in my lair.” She turned to the pale draik and smiled. “Are these your friends after all?” She asked.

Lei looked at Onyx, shaking his head. “They arn’t my friends… I havn’t known them long enough…” He muttered, knowing it was best not to lie more. He didn’t like the sounds of this more and more… and there was nothing he could do!

She laughed, “But it is the group you spoke of then.” She grinned faintly, “As they are not your friends, you will not mind if I kill them all.” She smirked. “Thoug perhaps I’ll have some fun with the little acara girl.”

Lei twitched as he heard that “No! They don’t deserve to die! And don’t hurt Rena! She is just a little girl!”

“Of course they do… petty thieves who would attempt to rob me of my treasures?” She smirked, “As for the girl… we shall see.” She moved one hand and black tendrils shot out from the couch, strapping Lei in place. “I think you should just wait here.”

Lei’s eyes widened in shock as he saw the straps, struggling agenst them in panic. “H…Hey! Let me go!” He yelled. “Don’t kill them! They don’t deserve to die! And Rena… Y…Your wrong about what you said! She isn’t the dragon!” He said quickly, worried that Onyx would kill the little girl and had to think of a way to somehow save her.

The dragon sneered, “Really now?” She smirked, “You’d better behave or your own friend will not live to see another day.” She said darkly.

Lei paled at the threat, the draik growing still as he stopped struggling. “No… Please don’t hurt Dalit. I…I’ve kept my end of the deal!”

Onyx smiled, “Of course, I was just reminding you.” She waved as she went to the other door of the room, that led into her lair, closing the door behind her.

Lei watched Onyx, sighing quietly as she left. This just kept going from bad to worse, then even worse! He looked at the binds that kept him strapped to the couch before closing his eyes. He couldn’t even go warn the others of the trap.