Darius sobbed and cried and tossed and turned. He was having a terrible, terrible night's sleep! His belly gurgled and groaned and sloshed and wobbled with the uncomfortable and wholly unfamiliar sensation of true hunger. He knew his ruse that he had lost his appetite because of his father being sick was not going to last much longer.

What would happen when mother found out? And perhaps sent Dr. Farrier in to examine him?

Darius wasn't sure if he could tell the doctor the truth that he'd been cursed! And what would grandpapa say when he found out!? That he, Darius, had acted so atrociously rude to Draxon!?

What would happen to DRAXON when HIS grandfather found out what happened!?

Darius wanted to eat something, but he just couldn't! Even the magic cauldron wouldn't help, because its contents now tasted vile and disgusting! He sobbed and sniffled and groaned and moaned, massaging his head and rubbing his belly in agony!



In the White Castle, Draxon also had a restless night's sleep. He just couldn't doze off! He got up and lit a lamp. He sat on the edge of his bed, fiddling with his wand. He stared at a large gilded cage where his pet phoenix, Solis, slept. Grandfather had given Solis to Draxon as a present. Because Solis was a phoenix, and therefore, immortal, he'd been with the same family for centuries. Passed down from father to son, father to son.

Draxon's own father, Osric, had not wanted the bird. But Draxon was fascinated by it and Zelthran had given him the bird on his fifth birthday. Draxon remembered the first time he woke up to see the beautiful golden bird explode into flames and disintergrate into ashes at the bottom of its cage, only to be reborn as a glittering, golden baby phoenix-chick.

Zelthran told Draxon that phoenixes were graceful, elegant birds. Immortal, loyal, loving, affectionate and generous with their beautiful feathers which were extremely valuable. Such a rare and wonderful creature had to be loved, cared for and cherished.

As Draxon sat on his bed, unable to sleep, he thought about Darius.

Darius could be a terrible person. He was rich, pampered, spoilt, arrogant, bossy, selfish, self-centered...

...But he was also funny, friendly, warm, brotherly, kindly, honest, appreciative and sympathetic.

Draxon groaned. He felt terrible!

He got up, drew the cloth away from his crystal ball (another antique present from his grandfather), and rubbed the smooth, shiny surface.

Slowly, a vision of Darius's bedchamber swam into view. And Darius.

The Crown Prince lay in bed. He wasn't moving, but Draxon could tell that he wasn't asleep. Draxon gulped and sighed.

He got up, picked up his wand and vanished...



Darius groaned. His belly gurgled again and he belched loudly! Not from any food that he might have eaten, but simply from the huge amount of air that had bloated up inside his belly from the complete lack of food within it!

As his eyes finally began to roll back and his lids began to drop down, he was vaguely aware of a bright, blue flash...

Stupid lightning.

Suddenly, all the candles in Darius's room burst into flames! All the curtains around his bed flew back into their open positions and Darius suddenly felt himself awake!

"Huh...Aaaaaah!!" he gasped! He crawled back on his bed until he was sitting upright, his blankets pulled up over his chest.

Standing in front of his bed was a short, pale boy with cold blue eyes and flaxen blond hair wearing blue robes.

"Draxon?" Darius whispered.

"Hello, Darius", Draxon said.

Darius sniffed.

Then, to Draxon's shock and surprise, he burst into tears!

Draxon had NEVER seen Darius cry before!

"Darius!?" Draxon gasped. He moved to the side of Darius's bed. To his further surprise, Darius struggled to move further away from him!

"Darius what's the matter!?"

"Leave me alone!" Darius sobbed.

"Darius! I'm not here to hurt you!" said Draxon.

"R-really?" Darius asked. He tried to wipe away his tears with a chubby hand and he shifted in his bed to face Draxon.

"I promise", Draxon whispered.

"PLEASE TAKE OFF THE CURSE! I HAVEN'T EATEN ANYTHING IN THREE DAYS! I'M SO HUNGRY!!!"

Darius grabbed Draxon around the shoulders and started shaking him violently back and forth!

"Woah, woah, woah!!" Draxon gasped, pulling himself away! "Careful!! Alright, alright! Listen Darius I'm REALLY sorry I argued with you..."

Darius nodded, tears leaking down his face from his eyes.

"Do you forgive me?"

Darius gulped. "D-do y-your fo-forgive me?" he whispered back.

Draxon nodded. "It was a terrible thing to do! I was really angry! I didn't mean it! Honestly I didn't!"

"I'm sorry I was so mean, Draxon! I don't mean to be, really I don't! I just...I just thought..."

"Hey, you're ALL my friends, Darius. I'm sorry..."

Draxon pulled out his wand, waved it over Darius's head while whispering something, and tapped him smartly on the top of his head. Darius shivered.

"There", Draxon said.

For a minute, the two boys sat on the bed. Then, they hugged each other.

"I'm sorry, Darius! I promise! I won't do anything that stupid again!...Besides, Tristan would never forgive me if I did".
"I'm sorry Draxon. I know you're only trying to be nice and...tell me stuff that I should...really kinda know already..."
"Yeah..."
"...Yeah".

A door opened and Bretton entered the room.

"I thought I heard voices..." he said.

"Bretton, I'm hungry!" Darius proclaimed.

"At last!" Bretton said.

"Bring whatever leftovers and cold foods there are downstairs in the kitchens and haul them back up here! Enough for me and Draxon!"

Bretton bowed.

"At once, my lord", he said, and shuffled off to carry out his master's orders. It pleased Bretton that Darius was back to his usual elephantine eating-habits.

"Oh, I got you something", Draxon said. He pulled out a small wooden box and opened it. Inside was a beautiful gold ring.

"This is for you, Darius. In case you ever need me. It works the same way as Tristan's ring. Just rub it and call me. But PLEASE...Only when it's an emergency!"

Darius nodded.

"Right!" he said, and slipped the ring onto his finger.

Several minutes later, an exhausted Bretton returned pushing trolley after trolley of food through the doors! Darius's belly gurgled in anticipation!