Earlier

  "Remember, you must do exactly as I say," Percy says in a hoarse whisper.

  He takes Jasmine's left hand in both of his. She stares at him with an untrusting gaze. Percy releases a heavy sigh before continuing his explanation.

  "Energy can be exchanged through the introduction of both pain...And pleasure. I do not wish to harm you. So we must take the route of pleasure. Energy from such means is more visible and distinct, anyway."

  "Pleasure? What do you mean 'pleasure'?" Jasmine inquires, a sinking feeling in the pit of her stomach.

  Percy blinks twice, very quickly. His voice becomes low and his eyelids dip even lower.

  "Pleasure."

  Jasmine yanks her hand away and retreats from Percy. She shakes her head emphatically.

  "No. No. That's not gonna happen. No."

  Percy quickly closes the gap between them. He grabs Jasmine's left elbow as she turns to flee.

  "No, you don't understand. We don't have to...Go all the way. You simply need to kiss me. Passionately. And enjoy it."

  "And enjoy it? Fat chance! You and your purple boss sicced your big cat on my poor dog. Not to mention, you kidnapped me and my husband. And I'm supposed to enjoy kissing you? After you...After you...After what you just did to me?"

  "I don't have time to fully explain everything," Percy exclaims. "I am sometimes overwhelmed by emotions I cannot control. I'm not just one person. Sometimes there are thoughts and impulses which are not mine. Sometimes, I am very confused. Sometimes, all I can think about is Alice. And these thoughts...They drive me mad. My master drives me mad...With her spells and her cruelty. I do not want to hurt you. But if you will not even try...Then, pain...It will have to be. Unless, you wish to remain here?"

  "If I hadn't seen everything I've seen today...I'd say you're completely crazy. I still think you're crazy. But...What do you mean about energy being visible? What energy?"

  "Our energy...Yours and mine. During times of pleasure...Or pain...There is an exchange of energy. It is not always an even exchange. Some beings take more than they give. Some have little to spare...Such as you."

  Percy steps closer to Jasmine and removes a few strands of hair from her damp forehead. She watches his hand warily. She tenses when he leans in, eyes riveted to her mouth.

  "The master wishes for me to participate in the test. I will do what I can...To keep from harming your husband. But I must not appear to be going too easy on him. He may get hurt...A little."

  "You hurt my husband and I'll...,"

  "You'll do what? Your husband does not believe you could hurt a fly. And neither do I. When I am in position, I will come to you again. The energy which flows through us will be visible to your husband. It will help him to locate the coin. To locate you. This is the best I can do. Anything else, and the master may become aware. She may already be aware. I am such a low level spellcaster. I guess, we will have to wait and see."

  =======================================

  Now

  "Jasmine! Jasmine wake up! It is almost time."

  Percy's voice jars Jasmine from her fitful sleep and she turns over on her cushion of soft graymatter. She pretends not to hear him, content to believe this has all been a bad dream .

  "Go away," Jasmine moans. "Just...Just...Just go away. I don't want to think about any of this anymore. I'm already dying. What does it matter? Just leave me alone."

  Jasmine's eyes shoot open as Percy slaps her across the face. She clambers to her feet and stares the purple clown down.

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  "Where do you get off slapping me like that?" Jasmine shouts in Percy's face.

  The clown is unfazed.

  "I explained it to you before. It must be pain or pleasure. If you do not choose one...It must be the other."

  "Pain or pleasure?! Ha! You just want me to kiss you."

  "I would be lying if I said I did not. But my intentions are slightly more pure...At this time. This is the only way...I could think of...That my master may not realize what is going on. The only way to ensure your husband finds the right coin. My physical body is already in position. I cannot stay with you long. We must hurry."

  Without hesitating another second, Percy grabs Jasmine and pulls her into a tight embrace. He kisses her much too roughly, soliciting a hard slap from the frustrated young woman.

  "You're not doing it right. Gerald never kisses me like that."

  Percy's eyelids lower suggestively and he places a finger under Jasmine's chin.

  "How exactly does Gerald kiss you?"

  Jasmine inhales sharply and swallows the lump rising in her throat. If kissing this crazed purple clown is the only way she can see Gerald again, the only way they can go home, then she will do what is expected of her. She will kiss the scatterbrained fool. And pretend she actually enjoys it.

  Tilting her head, Jasmine allows her lips to partially open. Percy's eyes drop to her mouth and stay there, anticipating the exact moment when their lips will touch. He does not have to wait long.

  Jasmine presses her mouth to Percy's and kisses him tenderly. Percy places a hand at the nape of her neck, slowly running his hand up through her shoulder-length hair. He closely follows Jasmine's lead. Before long, energy tendrils of every color dance along the parts of their bodies most in contact.

  As energy drains from Percy to Jasmine, he finds himself growing weak. He needs to sever this mental connection, if he wishes to continue fighting as the dragon creature. Otherwise, it will all have been for nothing.

  "Call to him, Jasmine. Call to him," Percy says. "That is all the energy I can give. Hopefully that is enough. I must go."

  =====================================

  Later

  The dragon swipes at Gerald with a taloned claw. Gerald ducks under the swipe, and rolls toward the spot where he saw the energy tendrils flow to. He uses both hands to shovel coins out of the way.

  The dragon's tail swoops down again and Gerald lowers his head just in time. A voice filters up from the coins lying on the ground in front of him. Jasmine? It can't be. Coins don't freaking talk. Gerald scrunches up his face, remembering everything that has transpired that day. Yep. Coins can probably talk down here.

  Flattening himself to the ground, Gerald listens very closely. This low to the ground, he is able to see the remnants of energy ribbons hovering near the surface of the coins. Jasmine is definitely in this area.

  Between rolling away from the dragon's talons, and diving for safety, Gerald listens out for the tiny screams. Eventually, he swipes loose a particularly large mound and Jasmine's voice gets louder.

  "Here, Gerald. I'm here. Find me. I'm here. Please hurry."

  The dragon stomps down hard, throwing coins into the air. Jasmine's voice becomes even louder. Gerald watches as one coin flips in the air close to his face.

  "Gerald!"

  Gerald snatches the coin midair. Energy ribbons circle the coin and ripple along its smooth surface. Jasmine's voice reaches his ears loud and clear. This is the coin. This is Jasmine.

  Gerald closes his hand around the coin and glances up. Just in time to get a stomach full of dragon tail. Gerald's breath is knocked from him but he maintains his grip on the coin. Crashing to the ground and rolling, Gerald half expects to be flattened by the dragon's feet.

  He is not prepared when the ground of the chamber opens up. Gold coins, pieces of rock, and anything not fastened down slide toward the gaping hole. The ground shakes violently, a purple haze filling the chamber. Shoving the Jasmine coin in his pocket, Gerald slides toward his fate.

  =====================================

  Percy grins slyly at Jasmine, his eyes narrowing to match his crafty mood. Jasmine backs away from him, not enjoying the expression on the silly clown's visage one little bit.

  "I think...That's enough. The test is over, Percy. I appreciate what you did for me, but I don't want to stay. I can't stay. I want to be with my family. I want a chance to say goodbye. There may even be something the doctors can do. I can't join you. I'm sorry, Percy. I hope you find Alice. I truly do."

  Percy advances on Jasmine and places a finger under her chin. Lifting her head, and tilting his own, Percy follows Jasmine's previous example. He kisses her ever so gently, only drawing apart long enough to rip the red nose from his face. Resuming their kiss immediately after. He recites every love spell his addled brain can remember. It is not too late. Not yet.

  "You are not my Alice, but I will miss you all the same. That is...If the master does not scramble my thoughts again. She does not like for me to remember."

  "Why don't you leave, Percy?"

  "I cannot. I am bound to her by spells more powerful than I know how to break. And with...I cannot."

  "You should try, Percy."

  "I have...Before. Now, I must go. Enjoy the rest of your life, Jasmine. Live."

  Jasmine's jaw clenches, as she considers her next move. Standing up on tiptoe, Jasmine kisses Percy again.

  "Goodbye, Percy. I hope...You won't be punished for what you've done. For saving me and my husband."

  "That is my hope as well."

  To be continued.......