Lover

[MissCellaFane]

Roden could not have prepared himself for the blow. It was upon him, his cheek throbbing, before he had even realized what happened. It shocked him and he took a step backwards, his eyes wide beneath a furrowed brow.

"Where is it you make your bed, Roden? Who do you serve?" He met her eyes again and could almost see a fire raging within them. "I can guarantee it isn't any man worthy of such devotion. Not even from slime like you!"

And suddenly it made sense. Even though she had just slapped him, something he had never imagined she would do to him, he understood why. Somehow she had found out he was in the king's employ. "Wh-who do I serve?" Roden repeated, his wits slowly coming back to him, desperate to redeem himself. "If you are referring to the king, yes I am his healer. But that does not mean he is my master!" His voice grew stronger. Yes, she had been his father's favorite; yes, she had followed his father's footsteps into the darkest areas of magic despite Roden's pleas; yes, she had abandoned him by getting caught; but he did not hate her. Entering into her half-brother's court as his healer was a greater betrayel to her than all of her wrongs against him combined. "I have been living in a prison since the day I entered his 'service'. One of which you are not aware." He said, eyeing her closely in case she decided to strike him again.

 

[Nella Fantasia]

Eve allowed her thoughts to come together. She swerved around, facing the wall, trying to keep her temper under control. Taking a leather strap tied around her wrist, she bit the edge of it, thinking. Think, think, think. She'd let her emotions get the best of her and she knew it. And she knew Roden knew it, too. she had always been a spitfire, one of which had never hit a childhood friend before though.

Not that she cared too much about that. He deserved it. She only regretted letting Roden see how vulnerable she might actually be. It was a flaw she despised.

After a few moments she turned back around to face him, her appearance no longer thriving on revenge or anger. Though also not on the innocent qualities of a child he had known before. She took the leather strap from her mouth, wrapping it back around her wrist as she studied him. There were two men she didn't trust to not see right through her; Samir and Roden. Samir because of what he knew now and Roden because of what he knew then. Now she was stuck in between both of them.

Eve decided to not address the conversation of his loyalty with the king. It actually made sense to her. He disliked the king, maybe not as much as she, but still enough and all out of jealous rage.

"I think we might be able to help each other, Roden," Eve said. Now that she was more calm her voice wasn't as harsh. In fact, she was already starting to get into the playful spirit again. "What do you say? Do you wish to hear me out?"

 

[MissCellaFane]

When she turned away from him, Roden thought his heart was going to burst it was pumping so fast, so sure was he that his body was about to be turned into a fiery pillar. But when she turned to face him, her eyes were clearer. The rage was still there, but controlled. Apparently, there was something on her mind more important than her anger at him.

"I think we might be able to help each other, Roden," She said, her voice considerably calmer. Roden blinked in surprise but kept silent. Help eachother? After she'd just slapped him? The turn-around was so quick that Roden wasn't sure he'd heard her correctly. "What do you say? Do you wish to hear me out?"

Did he have a choice? If he said "no", he was pretty sure he wouldn't be leaving this alleyway alive. But if he said "yes", what in the world could she possibly help him with? And what could she possibly want from him? "I'm listening." he said slowly. He didn't trust himself to say more than that.

**********

Samir watched the scene play out before him like some bizarre stage-act. Even though Samir and Eve had grown close in their travels and in their common goal, he was aware she hadn't told him everything about her past. It seemed her connection with this man was one of the things she had withheld. It was obviously a deep emotional connection for her to have lashed out at him with such violence. He'd never known her to be physically violent before. Cast fireballs at enemies? Yes. Reanimated fallen corpses to hunt down their former allies? Yes. Sent people's own swords plunging into their chests with a wave of her hand? Yes. But to actually slap someone? It was a purely emotional response and Samir knew it. He almost thought he would have to intervene to keep her from attacking the man. What could possibly have happened between the two?

His blood began to boil at the possibilities. A deep dislike of the man in front of him grew inside Samir's chest. That was, until Eve calmed down. He knew it was about to happen when she turned away and started biting that leather strap. Samir's lip twitched in a half-smile. She always did that when she was frustrated. He folded his arms across his chest and leaned his shoulder against one wall, crossing his feet at the ankles as he shifted all his weight to one foot. It would be all right now.

 

[Nella Fantasia]

"I'm listening," Roden said though Eve noticed he was hesitant.

She took in a deep breath and let it out slowly through her nostrils. She decided it would be best just to be blunt and say everything. No reason to draw it out. "You've come upon a very frustrating time in your life, Roden. I honestly never would have thought you'd give way to love and let it wreak havoc on your better judgment, but I have been wrong about many things, as sad as it is." She paused, crossing her arms over her chest and smirked. "I can give her to you, you know. I can make her fall right into your arms. I can make sure she desires you with all of her heart. It's not impossible. Not at all."

 

[MissCellaFane]

Roden's mouth grew dry with each word that now came from Eve's lips. How does she know!? His mind began to spin. Not only was his banished childhood friend here now before him in the flesh; not only had she somehow found out that he was working for King Jadir; but she had discovered what he had kept secret for over a decade....his love for Kaira. Of who else could she be speaking? There was no one else for whom his heart longed. And he knew that smirk on Eve's face all too well. The one that told him she knew she'd won.

Roden took a deep breath and let it out. "I don't know how you know about her and I'm not going to ask you." He said, speaking so softly now that the words barely escaped his lips. "But what you speak of is treason. Even if it is possible that she could care for me as I do her, she cannot come to me and you know it. It would mean death for us both."

 

[Nella Fantasia]

Eve laughed softly. "Only if Jadir is still alive." Again, she let her words sink in, but only for a moment. Her eyes flashed and stared intently into his. His eyes, unlike hers, hadn't changed one bit, and but a second, and only for a second, Eve felt a spark of pity for this man.

"That is where you come in. You're his healer, no? You must know his weaknesses, his ailments. You must know of remedies...and poisons." She began to fiddle with her hair, twirling it around her fingers. "And I have my own type of potions. I may be experienced in destruction, but this spell book isn't just for destroying things. Like I said, the king could be dead and the queen in your arms before the sun rises in the morning."

 

[MissCellaFane]

Roden wasn't sure he liked where this was leading. Having the queen to himself was one thing. Murdering someone was entirely another. And yet....hadn't he been contemplating that very act earlier in the day? He looked down at the ground as she talked, his face going hot. Not from embarrassment, but from being called out. She couldn't have known, of course, what he had been plotting earlier in the day. But still, her words fell like sharp lashes upon his conscience. He may be committing adulterous acts in his heart for the way he loved a married woman, but he wasn't a murderer.

And yet even though her words scared him, they also brought with them a hope he thought had been shattered with the queen's dismissal of him on the garden bench. A hope that he might just have a chance after all. He licked his lips absentmindedly. "You're suggesting I kill the king?" He paused, knowing full well that was exactly what she was suggesting. He looked up to meet her gaze again, unsettled by the excitement that now shone in her eyes. "How would I ever get away with it? And how would the queen ever love me afterwards?"

 

[Nella Fantasia]

Eve sighed. He wasn't being very bright at the moment, but maybe because it was still taking him awhile to digest everything being said. "How do you think you'll get away with it? Be discreet. People die all the time; just don't kill him right off. Let it last for awhile, making him sick. And if all else fails, you forgot about me. The biggest mistake Namor ever did was banishing the practice of black magic. Not only did that give their enemies a huge advantage, but left them without a powerful weapon."

Eve glanced over at Samir. He was still there, waiting patiently in the shadows until they were done. Her eyes went back to Roden. "And as for your last question, haven't you been listening? I have powers, strong enough to change her heart. Within moments I can entrance her in a spell that will have her falling desperately in love with you." Saying the last words actually made her slightly sick, and she wrinkled her nose.

"Understand now?"

 

[MissCellaFane]

He did. What she said made sense. And even though the thought of taking someone's life nauseated him, he knew she was right. This was the perfect way, the only way, that he would be able to have what he desired. Roden looked down at the ground again, thinking very hard. The idea of the king out of the picture was indeed inviting. But her suggestion of bewitching Kaira didn't settle well with him.

He ran a hand across his forehead, hundreds of different scenarios crowding his head. He sighed. "I don't need you to make the queen fall in love with me. I can place myself in a position where she is dependent upon me. But you still haven't told me what you want of me in return. Or..." he paused, eyeing her now as it came to him. "You want the king's death. That is your goal. What happens then, Eve? Will you take his place as ruler?" He wasn't sure he wanted to hear the answer to that.

**********

Samir caught Eve's glance, the first time she had acknowledged his presence since he had shoved the man named Roden into the alleyway. While he didn't particularly like being ignored, he understood her reasoning. Her plan needed her undivided attention to be brought about in the right way. He admired her for discovering it so quickly. Someone from Eve's past who just happened to be in love with the king's wife. Samir had to suppress a chuckle. It was perfect. Flawless. All they needed now was to get this Roden on board. And Samir had a feeling that if anyone could do it, Eve could.

 

[Nella Fantasia]

Eve stared at him, twirling a long strand of blonde hair around her finger before letting it fall. Her look was mischievous. Before Roden asked, she knew he already knew. Whether or not he liked the idea, she couldn't tell.

"Well, I think it stands to reason that I deserve it, don't you think, Roden? After all, Jadir wasn't the only child born. And he's had enough blessings in his life; having everything handed to him, getting what he wanted when he wanted it. Leaving us, you and I, to look after what we both deserve yet can't have because of his greedy little fingers." If only she could make him understand.

"Besides, he's going to die whether you help me or not. I just prefer it this way as I can remain invisible much longer. And if you think you can get the queen to fall for you without my help then be my guest. But I can pretty much guarantee you'll be back asking for help."

 

[StarSplitter87]

((Wow....if only CF let me rep you two more! You two are amazing! It's just so amazing!!))

 

[MissCellaFane]

((Heehee. We just got whipped up into a kind of creative frenzy last night cuz we were both up so late. lol.))

Roden's jaw clenched at her somewhat insulting remark. So, she thought he would never be enough for the queen without her interference. We'll see about that. Roden thought to himself. As for her reasoning behind wanting to take the throne, he completely understood. She had always been the one left out, the one cast aside, the one looked down upon simply because of the nature of her conception. It wasn't her fault her parents committed a sinful act. And yet she paid for it just as much, if not more, than they did.

At first the idea of Eve becoming queen was a little frightening, to say the least. He would have enjoyed having his long-lost childhood friend in that position of power, but the menacing, and yet strikingly beautiful, woman now standing before him was no longer that girl. Then again, if he was able to help her in her plan and become her friend again, a regime under her command may not be such a bad thing.

Making his decision, Roden stood to his full height, bringing his shoulders back importantly. "I will help you, Eve." He said, a plan forming in his mind. "I have discovered a poison that causes organs to fail, at least in the small rodents I have allowed to previously succumb to it. However, it works entirely too quickly and the king would be dead within hours. I shall need your assistance in correcting that timeline. I could do it myself, of course, but it might take days for me to isolate the compounds, create the necessary alchemical equations and put the poison back together with the added ingredients needed to obtain a proper outcome. Your dealings in black magic may be able to come up with a solution more quickly." He paused, his mind racing. "But I cannot leave the castle again. It would be suspicious. You must come to me."

At these words, the dark figure standing behind Roden spoke for the first time since they had entered the alley. "I'll retrieve the poison, My Lady." He shoved himself off the wall and came around to stand next to Eve, facing Roden. Then he spoke to Eve again, "You must not be seen in the castle. It would put the complete success of your plan in jeopardy."

Roden eyed him suspiciously, not entirely convinced that this dark ghost should be anywhere near the castle either. But he nodded his consent nevertheless. He then met Eve's eyes. "I will take care of the king. Your task will be to ensure that Queen Kaira never finds out about my involvement, even if you have to modify her memory should she see or hear something she shouldn't. Do we have an agreement?" He asked, holding out his right hand.

 

[Nella Fantasia]

((Dawww...<flush> And Cella, I still have yet to go to sleep o_o))

Eve waited patiently while he thought. At least on the outside. On the inside her heart was beating more rapidly than she would have liked, and that peek of thrill had reached its limits in the pit of her stomach. He was going to break. She already knew that before he spoke a word, only because, in certain aspects, he had hardly changed from the boy she once knew.

"I will help you, Eve," Roden finally said.

Eve smiled and listened to the rest of his plan. She had never been one for physics or knowledge in remedies, as he so obviously was, but altering a destructive element shouldn't be too hard for her to handle.

She was about to respond to his statement of her meeting him at the castle when Samir, her ever loyal vampire, stepped in from the shadows speaking his first words since he arrived back. "I'll retrieve the poison, My Lady." She didn't know why, but she always got a light cause of goosebumps every time she heard him call her that. "You must not be seen in the castle. It would put the complete success of your plan in jeopardy." As much as she hated to admit it, he was right. She had taken a huge risk in returning to the castle that morning. She probably would still go if it weren't for Samir's persistence. And persist he would.

Roden continued, following up on each part they played. Then he held his hand out to her. "Do we have an agreement?"

Eve stared at him. Not the way she had before; maliciously, thoughtfully, or even spacey, but softly. She slowly held out her hand, wrapped in leather straps, and gripped his own firmly. "Agreed." She dropped his hand then eyed Samir. "He will meet you this afternoon. Say...in the gardens?" She smirked.

 

[MissCellaFane]

((Yikes! Go take a nap, girl! lol))

Roden smiled slightly to show reassurance as their hands touched in agreement. Inside, however, he felt as though he were full of jellyfish,wriggling and tangling themselves around his heart and in his belly so that he felt a bit sick to his stomach. He swallowed it down as he released her hand. She turned to her henchman and said, "He will meet you this afternoon. Say...in the gardens?" She raised one eyebrow in a smirk as she returned her gaze to Roden.

So that was how she knew. She must have witnessed the scene between himself and Kaira on the bench beneath the willow tree. He let out a single chuckle, uncomfortable now. "The gardens will be fine. But not the ones where the party is being held. Too many people." Roden's presence there would go unnoticed as the people were used to seeing him. But this dusky statue of a man standing next to Eve would definitely draw a few stares and that wouldn't do. "On the northeast side there lies a smaller garden area that isn't often visited. It will do."

He saw Eve's companion nod almost imperceptibly beneath his hood and Roden took that as a "yes". He stood there for a moment, unsure of what to say. Did he say thank you? That didn't seem to fit. And neither did It was nice seeing you again. After all, she'd slapped him not two minutes into their conversation. Instead, he cleared his throat softly and said, "I should go prepare some of the poison for transport. I eagerly await your response on the matter." With that said, he gave a stiff bow and turned, striding from the alley and back to the castle, hardly daring to believe what had just taken place.

**********


Samir watched him go. He still didn't like the man. But at least he had agreed to help Eve and that earned him a few points in Samir's book. He glanced down at Eve next to him. She, too, was watching Roden disappear around the corner, heading back up to the castle. Her expression was unreadable and Samir grew concerned.

He had a hundred questions forming in his mind that he wanted answered, but he didn't voice them. He was not a man to pry. When and if she was ready, she would tell him. He could wait. The sun was beginning to set, the shadows growing longer. He had been waiting for her to speak, but when she didn't, he knew he must. Samir reached up and pushed back his hood all the way, letting it fall upon his shoulders. "My Lady, are you all right?" He asked, his deep voice soft, his eyes searching the side of her face for any clue as to what she might be thinking.

 

[Nella Fantasia]

((I...do not need this thing you call...sleep. ...Meep. <twitch>))

Eve watched Roden go, unable to tear her eyes away once the man had disappeared. He wasn't going to be as easy of a pawn as she figured, but she should have realized this! She cursed herself for being too fast in trying to snake out the man. However, it had ended in her favor, so there was very little to complain about.

It didn't occur to her how long she had been staring into the empty alley until Samir addressed her directly, and in a way he usually did not, with softness and almost worry. She turned to look up into his face, his dark eyes watching her intently. Whereas so many others feared those eyes, to Eve she found intrigue.

"I'm sorry you had to witness that. But I just had to know, had to believe, if only with my own eyes"-her eyes moved back to the dark alley from where Roden had gone-"that he had not betrayed me."

 

[MissCellaFane]

Samir nodded once, following her gaze. It wasn't like her to show regret or apologize like this. She was showing him a side of herself she hadn't shown before. It both interested him and worried him. Whatever that Roden had done to her, it had left a mark deeper than that of her brand or the subtle scars on her face. It angered him. He'd have a nice little chat with this alchemist when he went to pick up the poison, that was certain. No way would Roden betray Eve again. Samir would see to that, regardless of how he might have to accomplish it. This woman had saved his life and given him a reason to go on living. The least he could do in return was protect her already ravaged heart from further pain. He owed her that.

"Don't apologize." Samir finally said, looking down at her again. "It is he who should be asking for forgiveness. Yours. I'm not sure of what happened in the past between you. And I don't need to know. But from what I saw today, you had every right to be angry with him." He paused, a small playful smile tugging at one corner of his mouth as his black eyes looked her up and down. "Though, in truth, it was quite entertaining watching your display of temper. Remind me never to upset you so." He finished, attempting to lighten her mood somewhat.

 

[Nella Fantasia]

Eve couldn't help but laugh as she turned her full body towards him, pushing the conversation and memories of Roden away for the time being. "Do you think I frightened him?" She gave a wink.

Then her playful nature slightly diminished as she grew more serious, her smile fading. What would she do without Samir? She'd most likely be alone now; more into her comfort zone. She wouldn't have to worry about his random hunger fits where they would have to search out his prey, kill it, have him eat it, and then dispose of it before anyone could know what was happening. She wouldn't have to prove she could take care of herself, time and time again; she just automatically would.

Yes, in a way there were a lot of good reasons to not have Samir around in her world. But still...There was always that "but still".

Eve's next words were said in a whisper; maybe even a little softer than that. "Just don't break my heart, Samir, and you have nothing to worry about."

 

[MissCellaFane]

Her smile was encouraging. Samir grinned back for a moment until she sobered once more. Her face grew serious as she looked up at him, her eyes still a bit playful but also pleading. "Just don't break my heart, Samir, and you have nothing to worry about."

He wouldn't have been able to hear her words if she wasn't standing directly before him. His brow furrowed. Did she really think he would do that? He wasn't sure how to respond so that she would not doubt him and consequently stood staring at her for a lengthy moment. Then, with his right hand, he reached for her left. When he had found it, he brought it up between them and covered it completely with both of his. Needing to impress upon her the depth of his loyalty to her and her cause, he then took a step back and knelt before her just as he had the first day they had met. He broke eye contact with her as he brought the back of her hand to his lips and then said, "My service, My Lady, and my loyalty is yours alone."

He looked back up into her eyes and then stood, releasing her hand. "I must go. I need sustenance. For I have a feeling that in the coming days, I will need my strength." He gave her a reassuring smile before reaching back and replacing his hood over his head. "And when I return, I'll have with me the poison that Roden promised." He turned and exited the alleyway, disappearing into the crowd on his way to the outskirts of town, where his prey would be easier to obtain and hide.

 

[K9Guardian]

(:runs in with hot chocolate:: ))


Jadir finished his plate and stood, stretching and flexing the knotted muscles of his chest and back. “Well, Lancir, it is time I go to see my wife.” Turning, he walked towards the door, then hesitated, looking back to Dale with midnight blue eyes. ‘Please tell Flinn to finnd me later in the day. I have an assignment I wish him to undertake.”

Moments later, he was outside in the garden, the sun turning his fair hair almost white. Slowly, he swept his gaze about, searching for Kaira.

 

[StarSplitter87]

By the time Jadir had exited the dinning hall, Kaira had already noted Roden's disappearance and had retaken her spot with the harp. Playing a new melody, hauntingly beautiful and accenting it with high tones of her voice, no words being spoken only the sound of her voice, upon the bench beneath the willow.

To Jadir the sounds would have been seemingly from no where, but it was well known where she enjoyed to sit and play. Her dress spread out around her, the blue sparkled with the light from the sun as before, she continued to play as she spotted her husband through the break in the leaves and her heart began to beat furiously with anticipation. He would find her soon and his breath be taken away at her playing, she thought, and it would be a wonderful day.