The Midnight Train Crossing

It was a lazy sort of summer day and Trisanalysa Fireflyght was lounging outside of her cave, her dark wings out stretched to catch the most sunlight. She watched Eriki fly through the branches of the nearby trees through half-closed eyes. The dragon let out a contented sigh and closed her eyes all the way, enjoying the sunlight. It was nice to have a peaceful day for a change.

For once, all was peaceful in the Castle at the Center of the Labyrinth as well.
Trent was at his desk in his study, buried behind a mound of books.
His younger brother wandered into his room and shook his head with a smile, "Reading again brother?"
"Hmm?" Trent looked up, revealing a smear of ink across his high cheekbone.
Jareth laughed, "you must have read every book in here a dozen times at least."
"I have," his elder brother replied with a soft sigh, "And I wish I had more." He rubbed his hand across his face and smudged the ink even more all over his cheeks, "I am so bored with these books."
Jareth raised an eyebrow.
"Why are you looking at me like that?"
The Goblin King didn't answer, simply conjured a mirror so Trent could see his reflection.
"Damn," Trent muttered, trying to rub the ink off.
"Perhaps you might call on Tris?" Jareth suggested, "She might have a book or two you could borrow."
"That sounds like an excellent idea," Trent stood up, still trying to clean off the ink.
"And perhaps you should wash your face," his younger brother teased.
"Another good idea," Trent nudged him teasingly.

The Prince washed up and then closed his eyes, mentally reaching out for the dragon. ~ Tris? ~ He called tentatively.
Outside of her cave the dragon raised her head as she felt him call, ~* Good Morning Trent *~
They exchanged a few more pleasantries before Trent asked, and was granted permission to come by for a visit.

A few minutes later, Trent had teleported himself a respectful distance from Tris's cave, and was walking the rest of the way when Eriki dove down from the trees, swinging just past Trent's head.
"Pack it in Eriki!" Trent chuckled.
Eriki curled around a tree and grinned at Trent, "Come play."
Trent shook his head, "Not now. I've come to see Tris."
A look of disappointment crossed Eriki's face for a fraction of a second, and then he darted back up the tree.
Trent shook his head and smiled as he watched him go. Nothing kept Eriki down for long.

Tris opened her eyes and raised her head as she watched Trent walk up the path.
Trent bowed low, and then grinned cheerfully, "Good morning"
"Good morning," Tris replied , ducking her head in a manner that suggested a curtsey.
"It is!" Eriki called cheerfully from somewhere.
Tris chuckled, a low rumbling sound and flicked her tail idly. "So what brings you to visit me today?" she asked.
"I was finding it hard to keep myself out of trouble at the castle," Trent replied cheekily.
The dragon laughed again.
"I have read every book I own at least three times over..." he admitted, "I can almost recite them... I am - to be quite honest - bored."

Tris started to answer, when Eriki dove in and landed on her tail. She tossed him back into the trees before returning her attention to Trent. "So you need something new to do then?"
Trent simply nodded.

She stood up and shook out her wings before folding them neatly along her back. "Come with me." She turned and entered her cave with Trent a respectful distance behind - mindful of her tail. After a short distance she stopped and let out a short fire blast.
"Ouch..." Trent murmured, feeling the heat.
"Sorry," Tris said, moving out of the way so he could see the torch she had lit.

She brushed a hanging tapestry aside with a wing and bid Trent enter.
He stepped under and into a large cavern filled with rows and rows of shelves. Tris had been collecting books for ages, and this was where she stored them. His eyes grew wide with amazement and his mouth almost hanging open.
"I take it you are impressed?" Tris asked.
"Huh?" Trent blinked and brought himself 'back', color rising in his cheeks.
Tris laughed gently, "So, if you are at all interested in my library..."
"It's amazing!" he resumed his staring, and then a title caught his attention and he darted forward.
The dragon chuckled again and moved her tail out of the way. She watched him bury his nose in a book and she smiled. Since the psy was hardly aware of her presence any longer, she took herself back out into the sunlight.

Trent finished his book, and went on to find another one. Tris's library was extensive, and all of the books looked inviting. He walked between the shelves, running his fingers along the spines of the books gently.
Suddenly one of them sent a small jolt of... something through his fingers.
He stopped and frowned, looking at the book. It was jet black, and very odd silver figures were engraved on the spine.
His brows drew together and he touched the spine lightly running his fingertips over the engravings, trying to make sense of them. It wasn't any language he knew.

He pulled the book out and looked it over. He frowned when he saw that both covers were blank.
"What in realms?..." He opened the front cover to discover that the pages were blank. "This is strange..."

Black lines started to appear on the page, forming themselves into a complicated design - a delicate lacy pattern.
"What is this?..." Trent had never seen a book like this before. As he studied it, the lines almost seemed to glow.
He frowned and closed it, putting it under his arm and walking outside. He would ask Tris about it.

The dragon had resumed lounging, watching Eriki fondly.
"Tris?" Trent spoke up.
She turned her head to face him, "Are you enjoying my library?"
"Very much so," he replied with a smile, "But I wished to ask you about this book," he held it out for her to see.
Her green eyes turned lazily to look at the book, and then her eyes turned red. Quick as lightning she pulled the book away from him.
He stepped back a pace in surprise, a little alarmed at her reaction.

"You must not look at this book," she said.
Trent frowned slightly, mostly in puzzlement, but part annoyance at being told what to do, "Begging your pardon Tris," he said politely, "But why?"
"Because it is a very powerful book..." she said slowly.
"I see..." Although he didn't, and Trent found that he very much wanted to try and decipher the mysteries of that book.
"It is too powerful for you," Tris said, "You must trust me on this. There are plenty of other books for you to read"
"If you insist," Trent replied, his lips pressed together in a line, very annoyed that Tris didn't think he was strong enough to handle a mere book.
"Trent this is for your own good."
"Yes," he replied, trying not to show his annoyance, "I understand."
"Good," she smiled and set the book off to the side.

Trent frowned as he made his way back to the library, wondering what was so 'powerful' about this book that Tris didn't think he could handle.

About an hour later, Tris mentally called Trent, telling him she was going flying. ~* You may stay if you like *~
He thanked her and said that he would stay.

The psy waited for a moment and made his way towards the entrance of the cave, making sure she was gone. Without a thought for the consequences, Trent span on his heel and walked over to where he remembered seeing Tris put the book.
He searched for a few minutes before he spotted a corner of the book peeking out from under a rather large rock.
"Aha!" he exclaimed, and then sighed when he saw the size of the rock, "Heavens..."
He didn't have much chance of moving it, but he shoved at it anyway.
The rock shifted and fell over, freeing the book.
"Woah..." his brows drew together again and he leaned over and picked up the book, opening it.

Once again the first page was blank, but as before, the lacy pattern appeared, faster this time.
He tilted his head, trying to figure it out, completely absorbed in the book.
As he stared, colors started to fill in the pattern, bright and vibrant

He hesitantly placed his index finger on the page, and was startled to discover it was warm. Then he laughed at himself. Of course it was warm, he was sitting in the sunlight.
He took hold of the corner of the page and gently turned it.

As soon as he turned the page, Trent was assaulted by a rush of warm air, light and colors.
He gave an exclamation of surprise and closed his eyes.
The air around him hardened and suddenly gave a huge heave as if throwing him forward. The wind was knocked out of him, darkness closed in swiftly as colors and light whirled about him.
With a soft groan, he lost consciousness.