Disclaimer: Plot mine, characters not.
Rochelle
I come to Arkarian's chambers early enough to be the one to break up the lovey-dovey session of kissing, caressing, and exchanging warm, affectionate looks. A cynical side of me is disgusted with how cutesy and romantic they are, but the truth is, I am jealous of their relationship. Arkarian is the nicest, most supportive and caring person I've ever met, and I would love so much to have someone treat me like he treats Isabel – simultaneously like a queen and an equal.
The room is uncomfortably silent; they are both blocking their thoughts. It unnerves me, because there is no better way to tell someone you don't trust them than consciously concealing your mind from them. I know Isabel is doing it because she hates when Arkarian glimpses the random hormone-induced appraisals of his body, but it really bothers me that Arkarian does it, even though I rationally know that his thoughts are always hidden unless he wants it otherwise. It gives him an insidious vibe, as though he has something to hide, and it is completely in contrast with his trusting, friendly demeanor. I know I am being unfair – after all, I don't even want to hear their thoughts – but I am pretty paranoid, and this is just one of the things that enforce my conviction that no one in the Guard trusts me.
Eventually, they stop pecking each other on the smiley rosy faces, and Arkarian turns to me, still holding on to Isabel.
"Well, Shaun has apparently decided to be fashionably late."
I smile politely, and Isabel giggles as though his remark were actually funny. It is interesting, though, that Shaun is the only one needed here apart from us. Maybe I'm going on a mission with him. I wonder if Isabel is going too, or if she is here only to be with Arkarian. What with Matt playing father to her, she does not get to spend much time with him.
"Ah. There he is," Arkarian smiles, getting up to greet the man who just appeared in front of him.
"Arkarian," Shaun grasps his arm and slaps him on the shoulder. I wonder if men salute each other like this universally, or just in movies, books, and secret societies.
"Hi, Isabel. Hi, Rochelle," Shaun waves to us. I give him a small smile, wondering what he can possibly think of me, seeing as how I used to work for the man who killed his daughter. Arkarian's head whips in my direction, his strange purple eyes regarding me seriously. I know he has heard my thoughts, but I don't know why they would elicit such a reaction.
"Hey," Isabel tells Shaun, grinning. Arkarian relaxes, his face softening, and gives the other man his chair. "Tonight, we have a mission. It's a confusing mission..." he pauses, breathing in and out through his teeth. "The Order is after Elizabeth Bathory –"
"To kill her?" Shaun's eyebrows fly up as he laughs out loud. I understand his amusement – Elizabeth Bathory is a lunatic purported to have murdered over six hundred virgins because she saw their blood as very rejuvenating to her skin. It seems like a conflict of interest that the Order should want to eliminate her.
"Well, yes, and that is the source for our confusion. The best guess we have is that one of Elizabeth's victims would prove significant to the Order, but how they came to that conclusion is a mistery."
"A vision?" suggests Isabel. Arkarian nods. "I'd say so, but it still seems incredibly random. Why not choose something more recent? And also, why would one have a vision of something that may have happened in the past, but did not? It would seem rather pointless. I don't think anyone in the Guard ever had such a vision, at least not one that was recorded and known by the Tribunal."
"So," Isabel says loudly, getting Arkarian's attention. "Am I going?"
"Yes," he grins at her. She shouts out with happiness and jumps from her stool to give him a kiss.
"Am I going?" I ask tentatively. I have not exactly been on many missions with the Guard, but me being here tonight is surely a good sign. Right?
Arkarian smiles at me. His smile often makes me wonder how a mortal six-hundred-year-old has such perfect, snow-white teeth. "You are coordinating the mission."
"I am?" This is a surprise. I don't have much experience monitoring missions. I have always been more of an in-the-field sort of person.
"Yes. Marcus is busy tonight, unfortunately, and I can't do it. But you've done it before, so it shouldn't be a problem, and Shaun will stay to assist you."
"Wait," Isabel says, "does that mean you're going with me?"
"I am," he nods. Isabel looks ecstatic, but thankfully lets him finish. He goes over the basics with me, explaining how his equipment works. It is different from the system I used before, but I'll manage. "All good?" he asks me, and I nod, ignoring the lump of nervousness in my throat.
"Now, transport Isabel," he tells me, pulling back from the panels to give me space. I inhale deeply, reminding myself that this is not a big deal, I've done it before, and select the room of the Citadel she is to be teleported to. As the holographic picture shifts to a closer view of the chamber, I turn to a keypad and select Isabel's glowing name on the screen. Holding my breath, I press the key supposed to send Isabel to the Citadel and hope for the best.