Sean's dream took a strange turn as the darkness cleared up into a hazy scene. He was sitting astride a white stallion that was adorned in shiny white steel and green lined armor. He wore white clothes with an emerald green sash over his chest with a golden broach at the shoulder that had the same design as the one on the Ring of Wonderland. The center had a circular red diamond with four symbols around it and two knights standing off the sides that pinned the broach to the sash with the vorpal swords. Sean's horse shifted beneath him, snorting with an uneasiness. Across from him, a man dressed in black clothes like his own, except he had a purple sash, sat upon a beautiful black horse in shiny black steel with purple lined armor. On top of the man's head was a gothic looking black crown with Amethyst jewels. Sean nodded to him, and the man nodded back respectfully. Turning their horses to ride together down the road, the Dark King told him in a familiar voice. "Have you heard from the King of Wonderland? Did he tell you why he's summoned us?" Sean shook his head, answering in a voice that was far more regal than he was used to speaking in now. "Afraid not. He's always been elusive, but I fear the worst. Have you heard from the King of Cards?"

The Dark King nodded, telling him discreetly. "Yes. I fear something is wrong with him... He's been spending a lot of time with the Looking Glass. Him and Marvin. Their obsessed with it. If we get the chance... We should destroy it." Sean pulled his horse to a stop, blurting out in shock. "Destroy it? But Wonderland needs Dreamers. The Looking Glass has kept us thriving." The Dark King turned his horse a little to face him, retorting firmly. "Wonderland has survived thousands of years without it. I fear the mirror will destroy Wonderland. It allows Dreamers to visit here physically... but at what cost? The last time we used it... We almost forgot who we were! And now... I'm seeing shadows. Something haunts Tulgey Wood... I feel something dark in Wonderland. The mirror can't stay." Sean inhaled deeply, then rode on, telling the Dark King calmly. "Let's just see why we were summoned." The Dark King reached out to touch his hand, telling him seriously. "Are you taking your Vorpal Sword with you?" Sean chuckled, answering promptly. "Of course. I always do." The Dark King shook his head, pleading with him in warning. "I don't think you should take it this time. Sean, please trust me... Something is wrong. When has the King of Cards EVER summoned us and not the High King of Wonderland himself?"

Sean rolled his eyes, chuckling out. "You worry too much, Nathan. Mark is our friend." Sean watched his vision blur and darken as jumbled distant memories leaked in. He heard screams and explosions. He heard laughter that sounded like Anti and Phantom. He even heard a deep voice growl out. "Don't let them escape." Sean's heart raced wildly, and he felt like he was running for his life but couldn't see anything. It was all just blurry colors that swirled by. He stumbled, falling across a red carpet that shook his vision back to being clear. From a dark hallway, Nathan rushed out covered in blood and yelling something that Sean couldn't hear. Nathan grabbed the collar of his shirt, yanking him upright and shoving him forward. Sean staggered forward, when his eyes were drawn to a faint glow in the dark hallway behind Nathan. He could feel the heavy vibrations beneath his feet and backed up against the wall. Then from the darkness, something big struck out fast to knock Nathan off his feet and into the wall beside him. The beast had a head like that of a dragon but with less horns and far more snake-like, with sharp bucktoothed fangs and large bulging reptilian eyes that glowed. The beasts skin rippled with shades of dark purples as its gangly long arm and finger like claws lashed out to grab Nathan's leg.

Something father down the hallway with the beast, snapped and sparked with lightning, before the beast quickly retreated into the darkness. Dragging Nathan in with him. Nathan yelled something at him, but it was muffled and distant. Sean's ears started to ring, and he began to run. Turning around a corner, a shadow shot up from the floor and slammed him against the wall. Sean brief saw bright green eyes and heard Anti's laugh, but Sean jerked awake with a sharp cry. Sean tried to push himself up on all fours, only to hit something that kept him from doing so. The low light wire that lined the coffin brought back where he was, and he began to panic. He was in a coffin! Was he trapped?! Buried alive?! Sean tried to push up the coffin lid with his back with a startled scream, until a set of warm hands grabbed his face and pleaded out. "Sean? SEAN! It's ok!" Sean gasped for air like it was in short supply, completely caught off guard that someone else was in here with him. Sean stilled a little, staring at Illinois in disbelief. Blinking, Sean asked him in a distressed breathless voice. "I'm I dead?" Illinois's hands stroked his cheeks, calmly telling him in a soothing tone. "No. We're ok. We're just... safer here."

Sean swallowed, anxiously panting out. "What happened? Why are you here? Von battle...?" Illinois shushed him, pulling him down to lay down next to him. Stroking his cheek, Illinois then told him sweetly. "He's at his party. He released me to... keep you company until his return. Apparently... You did something that he liked and I'm your... reward?" Sean snorted, then winced as pain shot up his arm. Taking the weight off his arm, he noticed that it had been bandaged up. Illinois gave him a sympathetic look, then told him sweetly. "Are you ok? You were out cold. Nothing I did woke you. He said you'd be fine... but I've never trusted the word of a vampire." Sean gently rubbed his bicep, mumbling out. "I'm ok. Just... tired. And my whole arm hurts." Illinois kissed his temple, then hugged him. Feeling Illinois's warmth felt amazing on his exposed skin. The silk didn't hold heat and the loss of blood had made him feel so cold. Snuggling into him, Illinois whispered by his ear. "I was so worried. You were so pale and cold... but you're slowly recovering." Sean buried his face in Illinois's torso, mumbling out in a shaken voice. "I'm claustrophobic... It's going to effect my asthma..."

Illinois kissed his neck, whispering to him sweetly. "We're safe. You don't have to worry." Sean mumbled against his chest. "What about air...?" Illinois tapped his shoulder, then gestured up at the sides of the coffin. Unsnapping the silk sides, he revealed the small metal grating that acted like a tinted screen window around the coffin. Sean took to deep breath as fresh air circulated in. While Illinois told him sweetly. "Apparently, Vampires like the cold and coffins tend to overheat." Sean smirked, then asked him. "Have you tried to escape?" Illinois shook his head, truthfully telling him. "The place is crawling with Vampires and the Necromancer still has Bandit and Wilford. And you were in no condition to move around. Your heart might give out if you don't give yourself time to replenish what you lost." Sean curled up against Illinois's chest. Relaxing did feel like the thing to do. Illinois's hand moved down his bare shoulder and good arm, telling him in a loving tone. "You look nice." Sean rolled his eyes, grumbling out. "Thanks..." Illinois's voice came out sweetly but distant when he said. "I'm not strong enough to keep pretending..."

Sean lifted his head, his heart sinking. What was he hiding? Had he lied about something? Illinois's eyes were on his hand as he stroked a hand down Sean's covered leg. Sighing, Illinois told him a bit disappointed. "I'm jealous... I've always told people that I don't get jealous... but seeing you like this. Knowing how these guys see you. The way they touch you... It's effecting me." Sean propped his head up, watching Illinois avoid his eyes. Illinois sighed, admitting grimly. "I know you didn't want anyone to know about us... but I want to be more than a secret. I need more." Sean thought about his dream, then asked him discreetly. "Did I keep you a secret... because I'm the original White Chess King?" Illinois's eyes met his with worry that was as plan as day on his face. Sean smirked a little, telling him in a low whisper. "I had a dream about it. I was running through halls and this shadow..." Illinois finished off for him in a timid tone. "Anti grabbed you. I know. You were running to me. I knew a passage out... We made it home but..." Sean found himself answering to his own shock. "But they came for me. For the Vorpal Sword. Because of what I learned..." Illinois nodded, asking him hopefully. "Do you remember?"

Sean swallowed, answering distantly as he tried to recall more. "It's still just fragments... but it's coming back in bigger pieces, I think." Illinois smiled, purring out to him sweetly. "I'm both happy for you and concerned that you'll have to relive the pain of them." Sean put his hand over Illinois's cheek, telling him lovingly. "I'm sure you'll help me through it..." A powerful feeling of affection for Illinois filled him, until he leaned in to kiss him. Illinois kept the kiss light at first, until Sean's hand pulled him deeper into the kiss. His hand sliding up the back of Illinois's neck and up into his soft short hair. Illinois wrapped his arm around Sean's back, scooting closer to press himself against him. Tugging up his skirt a bit, Sean draped his leg over Illinois to hook his hip and to hold him against him better. Sean arched his back a little, feeling Illinois's hand run up his exposed back. His whole body shivered and tingled. Sean felt so confused. In his mind, he'd never been with a man. Yet, Illinois had clearly been with him before. Without being told, Illinois knew where to touch and how. Sean moaned into the kiss, wrapping his arms around his neck. He couldn't recall anything about what Illinois liked and felt so bad about it.

Illinois's hand went up his spine to his neck, uncuffing the neck piece. The collar fell away, and Sean exposed his neck for him. Illinois kissed his throat, making Sean shiver beneath him. Even after his encounter with a Vampire... Sean clung to him like Illinois was breathing life into him. Against his neck, Illinois whispered breathlessly. "Tell me to stop... Cause I can't stop myself..." Sean unbuttoned Illinois's shirt, breathlessly whispering back. "I don't want you to stop..." Illinois kissed his throat passionately, his hand sliding up under the skirt to hold his thigh against him. Tugging on Illinois, he pulled him over him. The coffin was just high enough to let him lay over him comfortably. Sean pushed Illinois's shirt off his shoulders and captured his lips in a needy kiss. Illinois removed his shirt, then carefully tugged up Sean's dress skirt. When Illinois broke their kiss, he asked over his lips breathlessly. "How far do you want me to go?" Sean licked his dry lips, panting out softly. "All the way?" Illinois smirked, reaching between them to loosen his belt. Sean tried to raise his legs but knocked his legs against the roof. Illinois chuckled, while Sean blushed out. "Hang on... I'll turn over." Illinois moved off to let Sean turn over, then moved back.

Sean inhaled deeply, when Illinois pushed the skirt up and pulled his boxers down. Leaning over him, Illinois kissed Sean's shoulder and whispered to him beautifully. "I'll go slow." Sean chuckled a little nervously, mumbling out. "Not too slow. We don't want to get caught with our pants down." Illinois chuckled, then kissed his shoulder. Wrapping his arms around one of the coffin pillows, Sean calmed himself down to brace for it. Illinois spit on his fingers, then carefully prepped him. The sensation of being touched there had Sean biting his lip. It felt good but was strange too. Illinois kissed his shoulder as he worked to keep Sean both distracted and calm. It worked, until Illinois adjusted to slowly enter him. Sean tensed with a sharp moan, causing Illinois to ease off and kiss him between attempts. Grunting, Sean braced his arms and feet against the top and bottom of the coffin to keep from shifting too far up. Illinois muffled his moans with passionate kisses. His hand reaching under him to stroke his chest, before reaching between Sean's legs to fondle his cock. All while he slowly moved in and out of him. Moving slow really helped Sean's body relax and adjust to him. Illinois's warm breath on his neck gave Sean goosebumps. His breathless words of love and affection, making Sean's heart flutter.

Sean's reached back to grab Illinois's clothed thigh, panting out that he wanted him to go faster. Removing his hand from Sean's cock, Illinois spread his arms out to touch the walls and picked up his pace with deep moans that only turned Sean on to hear. Laying his hands on the backs of Illinois's, Sean held his wrists tightly. His pleasure was building so much that his body was subconsciously holding onto him tighter and leaning back into him. Sean's whines built up more, until he arched up into him with a loud cry of pleasure. Illinois tensed over him, unleashing a deep groan against his neck. Sean couldn't help giggling at how it tickled but had no way to escape it. Illinois then relaxed over him, panting out heavily. "You ok? I didn't hurt you?" Sean shook his head, breathlessly answering over his shoulder. "I'm good... but I think I made a mess..." Illinois chuckled, stiffly rolling off him. Illinois bit his lip, helping him pull his underwear up. As he started to pull the skirt back down, Illinois's hand moved around his garter. Sean blushed, asking him curiously. "What?" Illinois pulled the pocket watch and monocle free, telling him a bit distracted now. "Something kept hitting my leg. What the...?"

Illinois showed him the pocket watch and monocle, chuckling out. "What else are you stashing up your skirt?" Sean swatted his chest, mumbling out through a blush. "That's the watch I was telling you about back at the house. I... I didn't want to lose them." Illinois flashed him a devilish grin, saying a bit teasingly. "I'm shocked that they stayed." Sean shook his head, before biting his lip and looking away. Illinois adjusted to lay on his back, stating mostly to himself as he looked them over. "Alright. Let's find out why J.J. gave you these." To Be Continued...