Thomas was lying on the firm stiff bed in Logan's palace but he was far from sleepy. Ever since he had been left alone to his own thoughts, he couldn't sleep. He was just wide awake. Rolling over, the 'human' stared at the stone wall before clambering out of bed and walking up to the window, opening it. Thomas let the cold air rush in and cool him down, and he sighed softly.

Looking out across Logan's forest, he heard something moving on the ground far below him and he looked down, wondering whether he'd see a guard patrol of trolls shuffling around. He didn't.

Instead, Thomas saw a blueish-purple figure making their way almost silently across the forest floor. It was Virgil, obviously, and Thomas stared down with wide eyes. What on earth was Virgil doing up?

Maybe he couldn't get to sleep. That was probably quite likely. He had been staying in a freshwater lake near Logan's palace and he had often mentioned how the lack of salt irritated him. But Thomas couldn't buy that. He had had a nagging suspicion whenever it came to Virgil ever since a few days ago when he knew the shapeshifters' name.

Thomas knew he hadn't told Virgil his name, no matter what the Water King said. Logan had told Thomas that he had probably forgotten since he was in a moment of emotional distress, and Virgil always insisted that he had but Thomas just wasn't sure. He still talked to Virgil a lot and it was fun to chat with him, but he just couldn't feel safe.

Besides, any innocent explanation for Virgil's strange presence was gone the moment the King shredded down into his water form and soaked through the cracks of Logans' palace walls. Thomas quickly jumped away from his window and, as quietly as he could, slipped over to Logan's' bedroom. He opened the door and saw Logan hunched over several scrolls, passed out.

He shuffled up to him and saw the scrolls printed with the prophecy that Logan had believed they were a part of. Thomas swallowed nervously, then nudged Logan awake.

The Earth King rolled over and looked up at Thomas's bright brown eyes, glowing in the dark, and he sighed. "If you're going to apologise again, I've already told you, I'm not upset anymore."

"I-It's not about that," Thomas whispered. "It's about Virgil."

Logan sat up, more alert. "Is he okay?"

"He's sneaking in."

"What is that supposed to mean?"

Thomas swallowed nervously. "I think he's going to talk to the shapeshifter."

Logan stared. "Thomas, I know that the whole name thing is putting you on edge but everything is okay-"

"So it wouldn't make a difference if we just looked, right?" Pressed Thomas urgently. "I know something's up, Logan, I just know it!"

There was a grudging reluctance in Logans' voice when he sighed but he nodded. "Fine. If you're so worried. I'll get fetch Roman and Patton."

"I'll go watch!" Thomas said and he hugged Logan tightly. "Thank you."

The kitchen boy darted out of the kings' room and edged his way around the bookshelf. Logan had gotten a ladder installed since the other Kings started to stay there and Thomas climbed down it silently, lying hidden, waiting in pitch-black shadows.

Logan's walls were thicker than he had originally thought because Virgil hadn't turned up yet and the shapeshifter prisoner was still trapped in the cage. He could hear Patton and Roman moving down next to him, Patton floating in silently and Roman creeping up, almost like a ninja.

"Logan is watching from the wall," Patton whispered. "Are you sure something's up, kiddo?"

"Yes, there is!" Thomas hissed back. "Something's wrong, I know it."

"Watch the wall," Roman interrupted and the three looked over to the wall on the far end of the hall.

Slowly, it seemed to dampen, then water splashed out of it and started to take the solid, upright form of King Virgil, looking a little bit muddy with dust in his hair.

"Hey, Virgie," Cooed the shapeshifter, opening his glowing, green eyes. "Have you come to save me?"

"I told you not to call me that," Virgil said back. "And be quiet, you don't know who could be awake."

Thomas could feel Roman's breathing stop and he knew that this probably hurt him. He and Virgil had gotten very close very quickly and now Virgil was talking to the crazed creature, that was supposed to be extinct, like they were friends.

Remus grinned. "Woah, you're grumpy."

"Maybe it's because I have to wake up at a stupid hour to get you out," Virgil said and Patton covered his mouth to mute his gasp. "Besides, this'll mean Janus owes me one for saving his boyfriend."

"I can't believe you're actually helping," Remus commented with a sigh, as Virgil examined the stone shards that pinned the shapeshifter in place. "You usually don't care."

The Water King sighed. "Yeah, well, this is what friends do, right? I'm saving your ass, Rem, so don't insult me."

"You're in a bad mood, Virgie," Remus added.

"If I get caught, this whole plan of ours is gonna go and fuck itself up," Virgil said. "And I'm starving. Like, Logan's being nice and all, but I'm nearly starving to death here. There's barely any red meat, it's just small birds and stuff."

Remus hummed. "Next time you check in with us, I'll make sure there's something for ya."

Virgil stopped examining the shards and focused intently. "I'm gonna try to melt them, so be prepared."

"You got it, boss," Remus said, bracing himself.

With a steady, calming breath, Virgil glared intently at the stone walls and they slowly began to trickle with water, getting thinner and thinner until they crashed to the floor in puddles of grey water. Remus landed on the ground with a loud thump and hopped out of the way. Virgil quickly forced the water back up and let it settle into hard stone.

"It's crazy how powerful you are, Virgie," Remus commented. "Like, you could be a one-man army if you wanted to."

"Well, I don't want to," Virgil answered. "I'm happy with my kingdom and you guys."

Remus grinned and hugged him tightly. "Thanks, Virgie! You're so-"

"So what?"

The shapeshifter didn't say anything back. He was too busy, staring straight into Thomas's eyes.

"Shit," Remus whispered.