|
Post by Markus Everglade on Apr 9, 2010 17:30:26 GMT -5
“Moonlight.” Raythor said, by way of explanation. Anella frowned. “But I… I remember… did I black out? Did I do something bad?” “No. What’s the last thing you remember?” “Kenetari throwing something at us.” “Kenetari? Kenetari knows we’re all still alive?” Rose said, taking a sharp breath. “She was here? Why did no one tell me this?” “She just gave me this, calm down.” Raythor held up the gemstone. “I guess she wasn’t here to kill me this time…” “Yes, not you, but remember how there are other people in the world? Other people who, say, just lost their fathers and whose wife really, really pisses off Kenetari?” “Markus?” Raythor said slowly. Rose rolled her eyes. “No, the goddess of love and beauty. Yes Markus. Do you really think Kenetari came here just to give you something non-lethal? For someone who is supposedly so smart, you’re pretty stupid.” “You think she’s going to hurt Markus?” “Oh my God.” Rose slapped her forehead. “If Kenetari has anything against Markus becoming king tomorrow, don’t you think she’s going to do something about that tonight? And, if she does, something sadistic? Like killing his wife, or maiming his face, or giving Laura another miscarriage?” “Come on.” Anella said, drawing her sword. “Let’s go.”
Chapter Five The trio of murderesses
Dasher sighed, tucking her nose into her paws. Life since Caltha had not been easy for any of them, but at the moment she was truly feeling like she was getting more than her fair share. Blade was to be married, Raythor wouldn’t speak to her and, although Markus and Anella acted cordially toward her, they held distain for her past actions. Though Anella’s reason for pulling away from Dasher and their all ready limited friendship was entirely Raythor’s fault, there wasn’t much she could do to put any blame on Markus. He had seen the very lowest, worst of her in the desert country and she hadn’t apologized for it- not to him, anyway, only Blade. She couldn’t have lived with herself if she hadn’t at least attempted to recant her words to him. Markus was trying so very hard to be civil to her that she had to give him credit but… she couldn’t help but think that she had lost another friendship, due to her own vanity and her judgmental nature. Due to her unkind tongue. One less person to count on if she needed them, and an exceptionally kind, if not intelligent, one at that. She didn’t have enough friends to lose three of them all at the same time and, possibly, four. Her relationship with Blade was going to be questionable after he was married. It hadn’t exactly been sure before. And, if all these relationships were falling away, if she had so few to begin with, maybe there was not something wrong with others, as she had assumed due to their general lack of intelligence over the years, but something wrong with her. Maybe she should change. Dasher had absolutely no idea to go about doing that. Yet, she knew she was intelligent. This was a problem that could be tackled
|
|
|
Post by Markus Everglade on Apr 9, 2010 17:30:47 GMT -5
with her mind, like any other, and if she got to work on it she could solve it. She had no doubts about that. She decided to start with Markus.
*****
“You have to cut at the neck.” Markus recognized the voice but it didn’t belong here and his hazy consciousness dismissed it. Strange images passed through his head, the kind he expected right before he fell asleep but he felt like he should be waking up. Like he had been sleeping for a very, very long time and he had to wake up now or he never would. “Are you insane? You just want us to kill him.” Another familiar voice. This one made a little more sense and a soft blue wolf like creature appeared in his mind’s eye. It was followed by a tree and a flock of birds he had never seen before, but at least he could think well enough to identify Dasher. He was so, so very tired. Just trying to concentrate was like having a fever dream. “Shouldn’t it be the fingertips? That’s where…” A very soft, very unhappy voice chimed in. The darkness before his eyes flashed pink and a large, black cat strolled by. That was his wife, he was sure of that. Laura… did she have something to do with this? And if he was awake enough to hear what was going on, if this wasn’t a still more twisted dream, shouldn’t he be able to open his eyes? No matter how hard he tried, he couldn’t. And Markus realized he had been trying for as long as he was in this state. “It should be the point of contact, but the energy has to have been transferred to him willingly. The magic temporarily in Laura’s system is not going to help Markus.” Dasher explained sounding, as always, as though she was perfectly sure and everyone else’s ideas should just be filed away. “But energy given willingly is stored in the receiver’s blood stream until it is returned. Our only hope is Anella.” There was a displeased growl from the unknown. Markus’s fingers curled inward, as though he were trying to clutch his sword. Kill the unknown, they had to die… no one in the world had to die but that voice, let it be eradicated… None of his three voices seemed to notice his movement. “Someone has to find her.” Dasher said. There was silence and Markus strained his ears for possible whispers. A silver image raced in front of him and was gone. “This means one of us has to be alone here with Kenetari, Laura.” “I’m not leaving Markus.” Laura said dully. The darkness flashed red and Markus’s fingers curled again, his wrist starting to tremble. A brighter, stronger flash made it stop. “If we let him wake up with most of the magic in his blood gone, he’ll die. Do not let him wake up.” Dasher commanded sternly. “I will return as fast as I can.” Paws scuffed against the stone floor and the four footfalls disappeared. Markus found himself staring down at him fingertips, which were glowing very faint blue. He was sitting on top of his desk in the corner. His body, unfortunately, was still on the bed. That was never a good sign. “I can’t let you wake up. You’re too great of an investment.” Mercury said simply, sitting next to him. “I am actually here this time, but the way. And no, they can’t see me.”
|
|
|
Post by Markus Everglade on Apr 9, 2010 17:31:23 GMT -5
“I’d like to start living some of my life in the real world.” Markus said lightly. This was all so surreal that he couldn’t bother to be worried by it anymore. “Well, sleep more and then you can control your magic.” The blue elementist answered briefly. They both watched as Laura and Kenetari stood silently, not looking at each other and also not at him. “Insomnia really seems to be a problem among you humans.” “Why is Kenetari helping me?” “She wants to defeat you in battle. It would be degrading to her honor after all this to just let you die of what looks to her like an illness. You are one of the few who has ever offered her much of a challenge. And she wants to beat that challenge on her own.” Mercury said. His tail swished behind him, rattling a bottle of ink. Laura and Kenetari’s heads turned and they stared with confusion at the desk. “They can’t see us.” “Obviously.” “What happened to me?” Markus asked with a slight tremor. It all came flashing back, everything Laura had done. Hey, I want to test something. Just really quick, I promise. Then you can go to yell at Roland. Such a sweet little smile on that beautiful face, such sad, manipulative green eyes… “She was not trying to hurt you.” Mercury said. “But the humans, who are linked to elementists by the blood in their veins, as I am to you, are open to that elementist’s power of suggestion. And it seemed tame in her head, doubtlessly. Phoenix’s words always seem harmless.” “You aren’t going to make me believe Phoenix made Laura hurt me. He has done nothing but help all of us since she first really saw him.” “Phoenix does as he likes.” Mercury said. “As do I. He must have had a reason to show how devastating the power of the vessel can be, perhaps even at the expense of your life. She is, after all, the only mortal truly important to him. I think that is clear.” “So he can control her?” “Not control. Haven’t you ever had a little voice, nagging at the back of your mind, telling you to do something you yourself know you would never think of? And what is it that possesses you to do something so out of your character?” “If there was a nagging voice in my mind, it would certainly be yours.” Markus said with a slight smirk. Mercury seemed amused, so the prince pushed ahead: “Why do you have some much power? Are you like him, are you immortal?” “No. But I am very old and with age comes a lot of things. For me it meant mastery of the gifts I was born with. All elementists cannot transfer their blood. Only the old guard.” He said. Markus waited for him to continue the explanation, but he didn’t. He sighed and focused on Laura’s face. Her expression was so scared, so devastated, so guilty. He wanted to comfort her, to tell her that this wasn’t her fault and that she should in no way blame herself. Mercury put his paw over Markus’s hand. “You may not wake up. Wait. If you die, you can never tell her and she will feel guilty for the rest of her life. Her soul will feel guilty forever because it’s immortal. Wait.” “So you hurt your precious one, huh?” Kenetari teased viciously, filling the silence. Mercury kept his paw on Markus’s hand, no longer allowing him to speak. Across the room, his right hand responded again, this time moving just a little closer to
|
|
|
Post by Markus Everglade on Apr 9, 2010 17:31:49 GMT -5
the sword on his belt. “I bet that’s eating you up inside. Guilt sure appears to be an inconvenient thing to consider.” “I’m sure living without any morals is easier.” Laura said shortly, eyes never leaving her husbands prostrate form. Kenetari smirked and took a step towards Markus. Laura’s entire body tensed. The dark girl’s fingers brushed across Markus’s cheek. The prince inhaled sharply. He could still feel it, even like this. He swallowed when his real body’s eyelids fluttered. “Don’t touch him.” “As if you scare me.” She scoffed. “Even Anella isn’t as pathetically innocent as you.” “Anella’s a virgin.” Laura shot back, losing her calm slightly. Mercury’s claws began to dig into Markus’s flesh, the pain grounding him a little more in this half sleep. They both knew that Markus was running out of time. “You really are pregnant, aren’t you? I felt sure my source was lying.” “So are you.” “What?” “I can sense it. I wish that I couldn’t, but I can.” Laura said. Kenetari’s mouth set in a line and she looked back at the future queen. She got a little closer to Markus and Mercury’s claws dug a little deeper into the back of his hand. “If you wake him up, he’s going to die. You may be the one who stopped me from killing him, but if you hurt him…” “Empty threat, fairy princess.” Kenetari bared her teeth like a dog. Then she looked down at the other royal. “He’s such a very pretty little boy. Such a sad, sad waste if he dies.” She bent and kissed Markus. Markus clapped his hand over his mouth, waves of nausea rolling through him. Laura was too stunned to move until Kenetari pulled back. Then she shoved past her and covered Markus’s eyelids with her palm. “Shh, Markus. Go back to sleep, honey. Just a bad dream. I’m right here, it’s not real. I’m right here…” Laura talked softly, stroking his cheek. She knelt, putting her free hand on her husband’s chest. Markus saw blue appearing at the edges of every inch of skin of his ghostly form and then fade in and out, just like he was. “It’s not working, Mercury.” Markus said with slight panic. Mercury shook his head, looking worried himself. Suddenly, Laura’s irises went white and she leaned forward and started kissing her husband gently and rhythmically. Slowly, the light around his false body faded and he started to appear solid again. Markus closed his eyes, resisting the urge to kiss her back. Sleep… just like his dream when he was sixteen, just like that, keep it in your head as long as you can… stay asleep…
*****
Anella kept her sword out as she followed Dasher down the hall. Raythor walked next to her, his eyes narrowed and his posture tense all ready. She didn’t want to put him through this, has tried to convince him to leave but the dark haired boy wouldn’t let her face his sister alone. Rose trailed behind them, trying not to be smug because she knew that Markus was badly hurt but she also knew she was right. The princess rarely got to be right any time she was around Raythor and she still bore a cat ate the canary expression that even her efforts to look glum could not hide.
|
|
|
Post by Markus Everglade on Apr 9, 2010 17:32:40 GMT -5
Anella just wanted to save Markus and get Kenetari out of Imperia. No matter what it took, Kenetari was going to be removed from here if Anella had to do it by force. Imperia felt like their sanctuary now, the one place that that monster’s darkness could not touch them. Raythor had spent almost all of their relationship trying to protect her. She was going to find a way to repay the favor. “Thank God,” Laura said, when her friends came in the room. She was holding Markus’s hand tightly and Anella felt her stomach drop. This was harder to see then she thought it would be. Markus’s face was pale and drawn and his hair and a strange reddish sheen to it. He looked very, very sick. Anella sheathed her sword and pulled back her sleeve. “Just tell me what you need me to do.” Anella said. “Well, we’ve all ready done this once and we have all the same players. Just reversed.” Dasher said briskly, taking charge. “Anella, we need you kneeling by Markus right next to his arm. Raythor, would you cut again?” “It’s what I live for.” Raythor said hostilely, watching his sister. Anella did her best to ignore her future sister-in-law. “How are we going to manipulate the blood into her system without Markus?” Laura asked suddenly. Anella looked up with slight confusion, wondering just what had happened last time. All she has really been told was that they had all done it for her and Raythor needed to cut her arm again. The blood manipulation part of it was new to her. “Could you draw it back into him like a magnet?” Dasher suggested. “I could try but what if it doesn’t work? We’re cutting Anella’s major vein, she’s going to bleed out pretty quickly.” “Hopefully what ever amount of blood comes out from this will be enough for a second try if we can’t manage this one. We should only have to cut her open once.” The elementist princess said. They both looked at Anella, who was smiling nervously. “I’m kind of g-glad I slept t-through this before.” She stuttered. Dasher just shook her head. “Oh you weren’t asleep. You were in a coma.” “Let’s do this now.” Raythor interrupted, pulling out a dagger and kneeling next to his fiancée. “Are you going to be able to do this to Anella when she’s awake, Raythor? This is a killing blow.” Dasher said, jumping up on the bed next to Markus so that she could see more clearly. Kenetari was watching from the back of the room, her arms crossed and her expression only very slightly interested. Anella could feel the dark girl’s eyes on her back. “I have more practice doing it on live victims now, don’t I?” Raythor said pointedly, meeting her eyes. Dasher, cowed, refocused herself. Anella bit down on her lip, hard. She hated it when he said things like that. She tried to place all of her attention on her exposed wrist. Goosebumps prickled across her skin and her hand sat palm up, limp but shivering a little in the cold. Anella really wanted to get this over with now. The more they talked about it, the more uncomfortable it sounded and the more grateful she was to Markus to having submitted to it the first time around. Raythor leaned over her and grabbed Markus’s wrist, lifting his dagger. “Are you sure you want me to cut the fingertips, Dash?” “We need the point of entry.” Dasher said.
|
|
|
Post by Markus Everglade on Apr 9, 2010 17:33:25 GMT -5
“Exit.” Laura said unhappily. “But you want Anella’s energy. He gave it to her through the vein. Shouldn’t I use that?” Raythor said, raising an eyebrow. Dasher, ears back, became even more flustered. “Of… of course. I misspoke.” “Of course.” He smirked. “Laura, get ready because you’re right. They’re going to bleed out fast, so try the magnet thing.” Laura nodded. Raythor took his hand away and Laura held Markus’s arm so that none of her fingers were covering his vein. Raythor lowered the dagger and calmly slit Markus’s wrist. The prince stirred and Laura quickly kissed her husband again. Raythor gripped Anella’s wrist a little tightly. “Stay still, all right, honey?” “All right.” Anella said, meeting his eyes for the flash of an instant. Raythor gave her a smile and then dropped his head again. She winced as his blade traced a river down her arm. Then there was a sharp pain when the cold, night air hit the warm blood that just kept pulsing and pulsing out of her. She began to feel a little faint but she held her head while Laura gathered dark energy and pulled Anella’s blood into Markus’s body. Dasher worked quickly and healed both bleeders. “Ew.” Rose said, nose wrinkling. “That was even more disgusting the second time.” “At least it worked.” Dasher said with a shrug. Anella watched as the prince’s wrist lit up briefly. She stood, covering her own and nearly backed right into Kenetari. “Careful, ‘honey’.” Kenetari said with a smirk so reminiscent of her brother’s that Anella shivered. She moved a little closer to the door. Dasher’s ears perked immediately. “How about the two of you head back to your rooms? Laura and I can watch her and Markus on our own.” “Uh huh.” Laura agreed, holding Markus’s hand again. She was on her knees, almost like she was praying. “Probably a good idea.” Raythor said, death glaring his sister one more time before he left the room. Anella followed him, barely catching Dasher’s demand of “I really see no reason for you to remain here, Kenetari”, as the door shut behind her. Before she could catch her bearings she was in Raythor’s arms. “I’m so, so sorry.” Raythor said, voice muffled, into her shoulder. Anella still had her arms at her side and really only had a view of the wall. He had her in a pretty tight hug, like he was trying to shield her from something. Her heart pounded in her chest and she put her arms around him shakily. “I didn’t mean to hurt you, I didn’t, and I think I cut too deep…” “Raythor, it’s all right. I barely felt anything.” Anella promised. “I’m really sorry you had to do that again, but we saved Markus. That’s something, right?” “I’m glad he’s going to be ok…” He said, swallowing hard. “But that was so much harder with your eyes open…” “But I knew you wouldn’t really hurt me because I know that you love me. And even if you didn’t, you aren’t like that Raythor. You would never hurt someone or kill someone for no reason. Especially someone you care about.” Anella soothed, feeling a little shaky herself after even being in a room with someone she loathed as much as she loathed Kenetari.
|
|
|
Post by Markus Everglade on Apr 9, 2010 17:33:49 GMT -5
“I know you’re scared of her. Kenetari. And she’s my sister, Anella. Her genes are in me.” Raythor said, going a little bit limp in her arms. “I stand by what I said the first time we kissed.” She responded firmly, taking his face in her hands. “And you’re never going to be.” “How can you marry me?” “Well, because I’m in love with you mainly.” “But I’m the only boy you ever courted. How can you know that someday the person you’re really supposed to be with won’t come along when you’ve all ready settled for me?” “Because I waited two years for the person I’m supposed to be with,” She kissed him gently, “and I never stopped loving him for a second. My crush on Markus faded when we became friends. Tallith asked me to marry him over and over again and I didn’t because every time he did I saw your face. Ross did everything he could to get me to be with him and I stayed faithful to you. Even when you weren’t here. You’re my guardian angel, Raythor. I never want to lose you.” He stayed silent for awhile, taking that in. The only sound was their breathing. “Are you…” Raythor trailed off when a maid walked behind them, hiding her smile behind her hand. “I think you’re going to suffocate that one, Richard.” She said and kept walking. Anella blushed red. “Ok, let’s go somewhere else.” Raythor said, pulling her off into a free guest room. “Well, if you really want to Richard.” Anella teased, covering her own embarrassment. Raythor made sure the door was closed behind them and made a face. “I guess if there was a random couple in the hallway and the guy had black hair and I couldn’t see his face I might assume…” Raythor shrugged. “Random couple sounds so cheap.” Anella said, making a face too. “Well I’m still broke so I hope you didn’t want to be expensive.” He said. Anella laughed, kissing his cheek affectionately. She had almost forgotten all about Kenetari. Being around him tended to make her happier pretty instantly. “So what were you saying before, Raythor?” She asked, putting her arms around his neck. “Because I am sure I want to marry you.” “That wasn’t it this time, actually.” “Oh?” Anella found that surprising. He usually managed to sneak that question in at least once a day. “It was nothing. Just something stupid.” “But now I’m curious. I’ll become depressed if you don’t tell me.” “Really?” His eyes filled with concern. Anella laughed. “No, not really. You’re so easy.” “Are you physically attracted to me?” He said quickly. Anella quickly took in breath. She wasn’t sure how he could ask that, not after they had been together for three months. “Glad I didn’t ask that in the hallway.” He added, trying to lighten the mood a little. “Are you asking because Rose said those things about your scars?” Anella managed, half reaching for his sleeves. He nodded. “Well,” She kept her eyes locked on his, “they don’t bother me at all.” She pushed his sleeve up a little and traced a scar with
|
|
|
Post by Markus Everglade on Apr 9, 2010 17:34:20 GMT -5
her finger. Raythor shivered beneath her touch and the corners of her mouth twitched. “They never have.” She traced another one. “And I think you’re handsome…” “But I mean they’re sort of… all over…” “I’ve seen you without your shirt on before, Raythor. I know what they look like. And I don’t mind them.” Anella kissed him. “And do you really think how you look is all that matters to me?” He smiled and was about to kiss her back when they both stopped. “Oh… we’ve got to go back, don’t we?” “A little.” Raythor sighed. “Can’t exactly leave our new employer alone with a sociopath and only a pregnant woman, a princess and a healer wolf as body guards.”
*****
Markus woke up in his own body with a terrible headache. It was dark all around him and it took a few seconds to register that he was in his own room as well as in his own bed. He stared down at his legs, putting his thoughts together. He had the wisps of a dream hanging in his head, of looking down on his own body as he tried to stay asleep. Of Mercury telling him things about what he was. When Markus looked down at his hand, which Laura was clutching as she slept, everything else came back to him. She was kneeling before the bed in a way that made it look like she was begging for forgiveness even in unconsciousness. Her head was resting on the mattress and he reached down to stroke her hair, noticing that the sweat formed by their joined hands was making him glow faintly blue. “Markus?” Tired light blue eyes looked up at him. “Markus, can you hear me?” “Yes, Dasher. I can hear you.” The prince promised with a smile. “And I feel fine, before you ask. Just a little headache. Is Laura…?” “Sleeping draught.” Dasher said. She stood and her star lit up. ‘Juliet’ stood before him instead. “Follow my finger with your eyes.” The elementist princess commanded. Markus nodded and complied with the instruction. “Good, that seems normal. What do you remember from the attack?” “Everything. But I know she didn’t mean to hurt me I mean, it’s not like this is…” Markus cut off abruptly. “Anyway… you’ve started to sound pretty clinical, Dash.” “I’m training to be a healer.” She said with slight suspicion. “Both human and elementist.” “Really? I didn’t know that. When did you decide to become a healer?” The prince hedged. He tried to stop the gathering energy in his sweaty palm but the light just dimmed and didn’t fade. Markus’s brow furrowed. He didn’t need less control of his magic- “No magic. Not until the new blood in you settles.” Dasher scolded. “I started when we returned from Caltha. My future husband has been teaching me, Baine. He was training in the forest near here… common in the elementist world, nothing interesting. Now what were you saying about Laura?” “I’ve always know that she had powers.” Markus said quickly. “I mean they got a lot stronger after the mirror thing but…” He shrugged. “This isn’t the first time she’s hurt someone?” She asked. Markus watched as canine ears grew on her human head and Dasher reverted to her natural form. He realized that really should be strange but it wasn’t at all, not anymore.
|
|
|
Post by Markus Everglade on Apr 9, 2010 17:34:37 GMT -5
“How strong is the sedative you gave Laura?” He asked. Dasher’s ears perked. “To put her out when you were hurt?” “Ah. Really strong. All right then.” Markus ran his hand through Laura’s hair. He had been keeping this secret for such a long time. Now that his father was gone, was there a point to hiding it from his friends? Especially since he and Laura were married now… “It’s happened twice before. Once with her mother and another time with this girl, a maid. I actually had to court the maid to keep her quiet until we could send her to my Uncle Elton’s. That was really fun telling my father.” He sighed. “That was exceptionally nice of you.” Dasher said, her ears going back slightly. “I never knew you had a girlfriend before Laura.” “I felt so terrible about how I led on that girl… she thought I was going to marry her. But… it was the only thing I could think of, she was furious… All Laura did was hand her a cleaning cloth and suddenly she was draining her energy just like she was draining mine. Poor Julie… I don’t think she was in love with me though, not really. I guess that’s something.” “You are a very sweet man, Markus. I’m not surprised that she fell for it.” “Well now I feel like a man whore.” Markus said, trying to inject some humor into his voice. Dasher laughed lightly. “Markus, everyone has used their physical attractiveness for personal gain before. Or their money, I suppose. I know I have. You were just looking out for your best friend.” Dasher said carelessly. Markus took Laura’s crown off her head and hung it on the bed post without thinking. She stirred slightly, lacing her fingers a little tighter through his. “All of it was worth it though.” He said softly. “Even if she almost killed me accidentally.” Markus kissed her forehead, yawning. He was about to go back to sleep when he felt himself wake up fully. “Was Kenetari here?” “Oh yes. She saved your life. It made absolutely no sense.” Dasher said, yawning too. She curled up on the floor. “It wasn’t even her; because we killed her… it was just another elementist. She gave us this whole speech about three of us in the room having the potential to be murderers and made us figure out which of us it was.” “Which of you was it?” Markus said with faint amusement. He wondered if he had the strength to lift Laura into bed. He really didn’t feel bad but possibly he would if he stood up. Dasher had her eyes closed. Markus pushed the sheets back and she didn’t move. “Laura, Anella and I for various complicated reasons… Laura because of what she did to you, Anella because of her silver thing, me because I was the one who chose who died in Caltha… I don’t know how she knew all of that.” Dasher yawned again. “Just her usual insanity…” “I hate to wish anyone dead, but if she was in an unexpected horse trampling accident I don’t think I’d be too upset.” Markus joked, picking up Laura carefully and setting her in the bed. “Get back in that bed, Markus.” “Right away.” Markus said, pulling the covers over himself. “I think it was the real one until she left the room… we never should have let her go, or she could be dead right now.”
|
|
|
Post by Markus Everglade on Apr 9, 2010 17:35:02 GMT -5
“Oh. So it was the real one who saved me.” He didn’t know how to feel about that or about that psychopath… Markus frowned, the corner of his eye spotting a paper clutched in Laura’s hand. He gently took it from her closed fingers and unfolded it. Markus- how was your night with the trio of murderesses?
*****
“How the hell are we the ones stuck digging a hole for another one of Kenetari’s homicidal mutts in the middle of a blizzard? The ground is frozen solid; we’re barely making a dent!” Rose raged, throwing her shovel down. When it didn’t make a sound due to the piles of snow she looked even more irritated. “Because Laura was drugged and Dasher is the only one who can get Markus breathing again if he stops?” Raythor suggested. He was in rather a good mood; he had gotten to slit his sister’s throat even if it wasn’t his real sister. It was an excellent feeling. “Oh shut up, logic boy. Who asked you?” “I’m pretty sure you did. I don’t know, there might be another screaming redhead out here but I think it’s just you.” He shrugged. Rose raised her fist. Anella grabbed it and looked at her with flashing silver eyes. Rose backed up, swallowing. “All right… don’t hit Raythor when Anella is in scary silver mode. I’ll remember that.” “Give me the shovel.” Anella commanded. Raythor handed her his because he didn’t think Rose bending over and exposing the top of her head was a good idea right now. “Promise you won’t beat her to death with that?” He said hopefully, before letting go of the handle. Rose looked nervous. Anella smiled at him sweetly. “Of course not, darling.” She caressed his face, moving down his neck and playing with his collar. Rose snickered. Raythor slipped into his impervious mask expression. He was not going to give Rose any more satisfaction than he had to. Raythor picked up Rose’s shovel and attempted to make a hole in the ground yet again. Anella observed this for a few moments before ramming her shovel into the ground and prying up a large chunk of earth. Raythor and Rose stood back with slight amazement as Anella swiftly dug a shallow grave. “There. Now that’s over with we can concentrate on other things.” “Probably inside though, right?” Raythor said, rolling the elementist corpse into the hole. He started to fill it and made sure to make absolutely no eye contact with Anella. “Oh it doesn’t have to be.” “He’s just a boy from the desert; he’ll get cold out here.” Rose said, trying to bait Anella. Raythor swore in his head. “Not necessarily.” Anella said, with another sickly sweet smile. Raythor straightened, finished with his task and put a hand on his fiancée’s shoulder. “Why don’t we go inside, sweetheart?” Raythor suggested. Anella shook her head. “There are lots of people in there, Raythor. It could be just us out here very soon.” She nuzzled her nose into his neck and Raythor swallowed, kind of hoping her lips did not become involved. He reached behind himself and opened the door.
|
|
|
Post by Markus Everglade on Apr 9, 2010 17:35:17 GMT -5
“I’d like to apologize for this, Rose.” Raythor said. Before Rose could comment, as she was fairly busy dying of laughter, he kissed Anella and pulled her backwards. As soon as the light left her skin, she fell asleep and he picked her up. “Don’t say anything, Rose, or I swear I will hurt you.” He added, when the princess joined them. “Are you going to use Anella as a weapon?” Rose said cheerfully. “I wouldn’t push your luck.” “That was a bad one, wasn’t it?” “Yes…” Raythor started for the stairs. “Honestly, it’s been taking less time for her to get like that since we came back from Caltha.” Rose seemed to find that funny too. “But the good news is I’m going to have really strong arm muscles. I’m pretty excited.” “Maybe she’s sick. Or she really, really wants to jump you.” Rose offered. Raythor glared at her. “Probably because of the arm muscles. Not that you have any, scarecrow.” “Anella does not want that.” He said evenly. “And I don’t think she’s sick. Maybe it’s a winter thing.” He rested momentarily before continuing up the stairs. Raythor had never thought about what floor Markus’s room was on before but now he really wished it had been on the first rather than the third. “I don’t know. You are getting married soon. Her silver I-want-all-men mentality might be aware of that.” “Well it’s not like we have to sleep together on our wedding night.” He looked up at the seemingly endless flight of stairs ahead of him and considered spending the night on this particular step. “Everybody else does.” “What?” Raythor turned his head to look at her. Rose just stared at him. “Did you not know that?” “I’m not even really sure what you’re talking about, Rose.” Raythor said. Rose stopped him from going any further and he awkwardly repositioned Anella in his arms. “You know what sex is right?” She asked, looking concerned. Raythor rolled his eyes. When would he learn to keep his mouth shut? “I was in prison Rose. What do you think felons talk about all the time?” “Then how the hell do you not know that you are supposed to have some on your wedding night?” Rose asked, hands on her hips. Raythor shrugged and Anella stirred slightly. “I didn’t know you had to.” “It’s a tradition… I don’t know. Everyone knows that, that’s what the phrase wedding night is all about!” “Well if she doesn’t want to then we won’t.” He said and started walking again. “What is wrong with you? Don’t all guys think about sex all the time?” “Apparently I don’t as much as you do.” Raythor retorted. Good. They were getting close now. He could put Anella down and get out of this increasingly horrible conversation. “Ladies first.” He said when he noticed Rose wasn’t following him. “You just increasingly amaze me with your… orphanness.” “That isn’t even a word.” “How can you not know that? Saria knows that and she has the intelligence of an insect.”
|
|
|
Post by Markus Everglade on Apr 9, 2010 17:35:40 GMT -5
“Well it’s not something you discuss in the street with strangers.” Raythor said, starting to walk again. She was forced to keep step with him so he could hear her. He wondered why the fates were punishing him so today. Probably because he was happy, they never seemed to like that. “Anella definitely knows that. I’m sure she’s been thinking about it and that’s what the increased silver thing is all about. Maybe she’s scared, but she probably just can’t wait.” Rose said, appearing to be just thinking aloud now. “Not that it’s any of your business, but if she isn’t ready then we won’t.” He repeated firmly. Enough of this being honest stuff. He was going back to the insults. “Are you ready?” “Yeah, want to sleep with me?” He said, trying not to laugh. Rose turned bright red and threw him a death glare. “I need the practice.” She balled her fists. “I’m going to laugh so hard when she rapes you.” She smacked him, which he ignored. Then he smiled, retorting: “You can’t rape the willing, Rose.” He went into Markus’s room before she could answer him but he caught a glimpse of her face. It was worth it.
**** “You weren’t really trying to kill me, right?” Markus said teasingly, hands both behind his head as he lay back on the sheets. Laura just smiled, shaking her head. She had one arm on either side of him and she bent her head to kiss his neck, body almost touching him. Her lips hovered above his ear. “Not yet, sweetheart. I need you to live until tomorrow.” Laura whispered, starting to unbutton his tunic. “But I did lose control. We were lucky that bitch Kenetari was there.” He took hold of her wrists. “What?” “Well you have been such a good boy since the day we met. Falling in love with this persona I created, working so hard to marry me… making me regent.” She bit his ear in a very feline manner and he jumped, ripping his own skin on her teeth. “If anything were to happen to you… I would become queen on my own, without your sister or your mother being able to interfere. Not even that little brat of a brother can oppose my sovereignty now. And you kindly made sure the Glasswater’s will stay in power even after I’m gone.” Her eyes glowed and the black energy around her stomach swirled. “I am pregnant, after all, with twins. Two little heirs.” She closed her eyes, sitting up slightly and tasting his blood on her tongue. “Mm, darling. You always taste good. So handsome too. Not to mention that in bed, you are just-” “Change back,” Markus growled, pinning his wife to the bed by her wrists. Laura laughed. “I just used my vessel magic, stupid. I’m real.” “This isn’t funny.” He calmed down slightly, kissing her. She bit his tongue hard. “Mm!” Laura ran her hand through his hair and he flinched. “Now if you were just the type who held girls down more often, maybe I could have let you live. Unfortunately I married a useless pansy. And really, it isn’t even going to hurt that much when I finish draining you tomorrow so don’t get so worked up. Just
|
|
|
Post by Markus Everglade on Apr 9, 2010 17:35:57 GMT -5
accept that the love of your life played you for a sap since the day we met and lay down and die like the weakling you are.” “Stop it.” Markus said, heart beating fast. What was going on, what was wrong? She couldn’t be serious. Not his Laura, she wasn’t… Hey, I want to test something. Just really quick, I promise. Then you can go to yell at Roland. Such a sweet little smile on that beautiful face, such sad, manipulative green eyes… Doubt filled his mind. He had never imagined that he could doubt her. “Mer…Mercury, don’t mess with my head anymore please…please, I can’t take it…” “Mer-Mercury has absolutely nothing to do with this.” Laura said coldly. “So why don’t you get onto your back so we can say our little goodbye properly? After all this time, I do care slightly for you. It will be sad to lose my little bed warmer.” “If any of that were true, do you really think I’d touch you again?” “Denial isn’t pretty on you, baby. You are going to die.” Her hard, unforgiving eyes narrowed and she twisted her hands so she could sink her fingernails into his flesh. “Everglade is finally going to be mine, Markus…Markus…Markus” “Markus, are you all right honey?” Laura looked down on him, shaking his shoulders, green irises full to the brim with concern. “You were twitching and making noises in your sleep-” “Shut up.” Markus flipped her on her back and pinned her to the bed again. Laura winced. “I don’t know how the hell you got free but you won’t again, you little bitch.” She gasped. “W-what?” Shock spread across her face and she looked like she was going to cry. Markus’s grip on her wrists loosened and what she had just said sunk in. “Oh… oh Swift…” He sat up, breathing hard. “I am so, so sorry Laura I didn’t mean…” Laura covered her face with her hands. Her shoulders shook. “Do you think I was trying to kill you?” She said through her sobs. “I didn’t mean to hurt you; I could never hurt you… I’ve been in love with you since I was five years old and I’ve been here all night making sure you were ok… please believe me, Markus… I thought, because you picked me up and put me in bed with you, that maybe…” Markus’s hand reached up to his ear. No bite mark. Nothing. It had just been a nightmare. His heart rate went back down to normal and he slowed his breathing forcibly. “I don’t suppose there is anything I can do that would make up for what I just called you?” He asked, head still spinning. The dream had been so, so real, he’d actually felt everything she’d been doing to him… No blood in his mouth either, no one had bitten his tongue. No fingernail marks on his wrists… Just bad dream, of course it was. She would never say things like that, never mean them. Hey, I want to test something. Just really quick, I promise. Then you can go to yell at Roland. Such a sweet little smile on that beautiful face, such sad, manipulative green eyes… Markus shook himself. “Forgive me?” Laura said, looking up at him pleadingly. “Depends… have you ever called me baby?” Just one more check. It was stupid, but he had to. She managed a weak laugh. “No. You aren’t a baby.” “Then I forgive you for doing absolutely nothing wrong. I’m fine.” He smiled his real smile, so relieved he almost felt like crying. Markus tentatively leaned over her again and she lightly kissed him.
|
|
|
Post by Markus Everglade on Apr 9, 2010 17:36:16 GMT -5
“Is it all right for me to touch you? Does it hurt?” She asked. Markus started wiping away her tears. “Not even slightly. And you aren’t a… you know. I am really, really sorry I said that. I don’t even think I’ve ever used that word before.” “Who were you talking to?” Laura caressed his cheek. “Was it me?” “The one in my dream. You… she… wanted the kingdom for herself and was going to murder me after the coronation. She spent her whole life seducing me for the crown.” “Him. Really.” She took his crown and threw it on the floor. He laughed, smiling again. “Because that is a really weird reason.” Markus kissed her and he heard a loud sigh in the background. “Could you guys wait to do that until there aren’t four other people in the room?” Rose asked grouchily from the chair she was sleeping in. Laura bit her lip and Markus sat up again. “We weren’t going any farther than that, promise.” Markus said. “Because-” “Wow do I not care. Are you two always that violent?” Rose massaged the bridge of her nose. “It sounded like you held her down to the bed or something. That is so not healthy.” “Maybe you should go back to sleep, Rose. I’m sure you’re very tired.” “Yeah, like I can sleep now with all the images in my head.” “Let me help you.” Markus’s eyes flashed blue and Rose slumped forward. Laura’s mouth fell open. “I didn’t know you could do that. I didn’t know you would do that.” “I’m getting all my bad boy prince out now.” He said, moving to lie next to her. “I love you. I know you didn’t mean to hurt me.” Markus ran the backs of his fingers over her cheek. Laura curled into his side, finally relaxing herself. “Tomorrow, we are going to handle all of this together. Because I’m not going to be afraid of messing up as long as you’re next to me.” “I’ll always be next to you, promise. Always.”
***** Reaching for the gray dress at the top of her trunk actually made Rose stop for a moment and think why she was still wearing gray. Gabriel was dead, but he had been dead for almost three years. Didn’t it hurt so much less now? Not to mention that Raythor was back and she had missed him quite a bit. She was never going to admit it to him but she had. With all the taunting and tormenting that went between them, she knew that it was difficult for everyone else to understand but she also knew that they would always care for each other, always be there for each other. A grimy, dark stranger had saved her that night from Seris and his bandits but it was her brother who was waiting in the hall now to take her to the coronation. Even if they looked nothing alike. Rose changed into a gray-blue dress. There. It was a start to full color again, anyway. She looked at herself in the mirror, straightening her thin gold crown and, for the first time in a long time, fastening a flower shaped pin into her hair just above her ear. The princess has used to wear a different pin every day before all of this started and she thought it was about time to start up again. She didn’t want to hurt them anymore, but she had to. For their own sake.
|
|
|
Post by Markus Everglade on Apr 9, 2010 17:36:43 GMT -5
“Rose, you know Laura is the only princess getting crowned today right? You don’t have to be the prettiest girl in the room.” Raythor knocked on the door. He added something under his breath that she imagined was probably “not that you’re going to be anyway” before saying audibly: “Come on, even Anella didn’t take this long.” “Even Anella?” Anella voice chimed in with what Rose knew was only mock irritation. “Are you implying something, Raythor?” “Well you know sometimes you take… awhile. But today you have to make an impression on our fellow council members so it’s perfectly understandable that you took time to consider your outfit.” Rose rolled her eyes. What a very Raythor excuse that was. She tuned out the rest of their irritating little conversation and put on her shoes and dabbed a little rose petal on her cheeks. “Maybe Laura will stab a knife in his back after this is over,” Rose said spitefully. “Rose, that’s terrible.” Anella protested. The Bloodrucian opened the door regally and smirked at both of them. “I know. But I would if anyone was stupid enough to make me regent instead of his own sister. Let’s go.” “Just ignore her. Maybe she’ll go away.” Raythor said. He waited until Rose was a few steps ahead of them before taking Anella’s hand. She smiled at him. They thought Rose couldn’t see, but she could. “And she’ll feel really bad if Markus is still sick enough to fall over suddenly so it looks like he was just stabbed.” He added louder. Rose just pretended he hadn’t spoken. They walked in silence after that.
*****
Though Dasher had suggested that Markus would feel mostly normal before she had left that morning, Markus got about ten steps before he threw up more water and blood out the window of his bedroom. He shook until his legs gave out and then threw up again. Markus didn’t want anyone to see him like this and had made sure that they didn’t have to. As soon as each individual had woken up, he has assured them he was fine and told them they could go. Even his wife had been convinced into going to get ready and leaving him completely alone. Markus has walked around the room just to prove that he was ok to each and every one of them. Of course, each and every muscle in his body had been screaming at him when he did it but he hadn’t shown any of it. Overall it had been the best acting of his life. He had waited to throw up until they were all gone. Markus’s body had never hated him more than it did now. His wrist throbbed where it had been cut open with what he suspected was a phantom pain, he had spent a good twenty minutes kneeling too weak to move before a pool of his own vomit and he was only a few hours away from becoming king of a country that probably wanted nothing more than their previous monarch back. For a boy who had never been sick a day in his life, this felt like a sick joke. Eventually, though, he gripped the window sill, found a rag and cleaned up the mess he had made. Markus grimaced as he worked. Just the water and the blood managed to mix themselves together and look something like brown-red mucus. He really hoped he wasn’t going to throw up again. When his family or Laura had gotten sick, he had seen
|
|