Neo

When I stepped out into the evening my brother was waiting for me impatiently. When he saw me go to tuck the vile into my vest he instinctively snatched it.

"What's this for?" He questioned, holding it up in the moonlight.

"It's to help hold back the changes, till a get a cure." I said quietly, as I grabbed it and tucked it into my pocket.

"Hold back the changes?" He queried, eyebrows furrowing. "So she knows what's happening to you?"

"It appeared that way." I proffesed, looking down at my shoes.

"And what do you mean, till you get a cure?" Kier commented angrily. "The whole reason we risked seeing her was so we could cure you."

"I will be cured, that I'm sure of." I growled in retort. "She even gave me the name of the item and where to find it."

"Where would that be?" Kier inquired throwing his hands up. "Are we just going to go on whatever wild quest she sends us on?"

"I can assure you your brother will not be partaking in any 'wild' quest." Donovan voiced, stepping between us as my hand clenched. "His safety is of the utmost importance. The cure is surely not worth the risk of losing his life."

"No it's definitely not." My brother sighed, as he pinched the bridge of his nose. "We will find another way then."

"Why do you just automatically assume whatever place the cute is will be full of danger?" I asked, glancing between them.

"Is it not?"

"Not the kind you worry about, Kier." I took a deep breath before I continued. "The cure is a pearl locked in the vaults of the castle on the cliff."

Kier let out a heartily laugh as Donovan  sighed and shook his head in dismay.

"You always were such the joker brother." Keir said, a smile pulled across his face. "Now tell me where it really is."

I crossed my arms, offended that I would joke about the one item that could save my life. Donovan took one look at my expression and froze, realizing my brother had quickly, and quite falsely missinterpreted.

"You are joking, right Neo?" My brother asked, wiping away a tear of laughter. "Neo?"

"I don't believe he is." Donovan replied, tightening his grip on his sword. Kier looked at me in disbelief.

"You can't be serious Neo!" Kier yelled. "We're in enough trouble as it is. If father caught us not only trying to steal a magic artifact to use it plus the fact you clearly tried to use magic before, there would be no saving us from death."

"I know." I huffed. "All the more reason I need your help."

"Before I agree to help you commit treason against our father and the throne you're suppose to inherit, is there anything else she told you that I should know?" Kier questioned, looking me in the eyes.

"I suppose you might want to know about the second item." I sighed, as I showed him the stone carving the seer had given me. "The only clue she gave me on what to do with it was that I'd know when the time was right."

"So basic unclear seer instructions," My brother quipped. "Which is not what I was hoping for."

He sighed and leaned back against the carriage, as he rubbed the bridge of his nose

"Well, it's better than nothing." He admitted after a minute. "Anything else I should know?"

"There is, though it's pretty much as vague as the rest." I answered, as Kier looked at me expectantly. I paused for a moment before I spoke again.

"How do you feel about being robbed?"