Clarke took a deep breath before submerging her head in the shallow bed of surprisingly warm water. She looked up and watched as a distorted vision of Octavia placed her hands to the gently rippling liquid, closing her eyes to concentrate.
At first nothing happened and Clarke wondered if O even remembered how to use this ability, or if she had ever used it. Clarke began to freak out a bit, imagining this process going completely wrong because O got distracted by something shiny, and finding herself flung into a void of nothingness, between planes, where she would be lost and forever stuck, going mad just like the nymph they were trying to help.
But then the water rippled more fiercely, almost like a boil, though there was no additional heat perceived, and she found herself in another place as seamlessly as the travel agent had managed. She looked around the sparsely kept cabin, noticing there was a fire crackling in the hearth.
"Hello?" she called out a little hesitantly. "Is anybody there?"
When no one responded she walked into another room, which turned out to be the bedroom, and peered inside, squinting against the dark. No one was slumbering away. The bathroom was clear too.
There wasn't anywhere else to hide, so she exited the cabin. It was located on a small piece of towering rock, so as to be somewhat precarious, with nothing to be seen in every direction except for blackness. Even though she was an air nymph, she still felt a flutter of fear at the sheer drop into a seemingly endless chasm all around.
"Hello?" she called again, this time down. Her voice echoed for ages until she could no longer hear it. But she still felt the vibrations in this too thick, fairly suffocating atmosphere.
Feeling a little bit stupid she nevertheless hurried up and spoke her peace. Raven would soon pull her out whether or not she had contacted an elemental nymph.
"I'm sorry to bother you, but one of your sisters is causing a bit of an emergency back in my dimension! And we were wondering if you could help us out!"
She used a bit of her breath to send her words as far out into the smothering void as she could, but instantly regretted it as she became incredibly light headed. Though she was just a projection here, her lungs started to constrict painfully, and she knew she was almost out of oxygen. Sending out a final plea of please, she ran out of air altogether and the next thing she knew, she was coughing and sputtering in Raven's arms.
"You're okay now," comforted Raven into her ear. "You're safe. Just breath."
Having disrobed except for her underthings, she was glad for the cover Raven's body was providing. Clarke was far from a prude, but that didn't mean she liked being mostly naked in front of people she hadn't seen in decades...one of which made her stomach flip unpleasantly every time their eyes met.
The Ash held out a towel and Clarke took it, turning away slightly as she rubbed herself down, knowing full well Lexa was still watching her, and hating herself for secretly enjoying the attention.
As she dressed, Octavia asked, "Well? Did they agree to help us?"
Clarke pulled on her top and glanced over, giving her, and then Lexa, an apologetic look. "I didn't even manage to contact them."
A crestfallen Octavia murmured, "Oh," and then just stood there dejectedly, realizing she would now have to put herself into harms way, or be labeled a coward, a label Clarke herself had internally struggled with for most of her life.
"It was a long shot," said Lexa. Switching gears, "Now then, we must prepare ourselves quickly if there is to be any hope of saving the rest of the colony...and possibly others as well. Follow me," she said, briskly taking off across the root strewn floor and through the large doors she had slammed shut earlier. Less accustomed to the chaotic ground, it took them longer to cross, and so it was that Lexa was already opening a crudely hewn and ancient looking chest, thrusting various pieces of armour into their hands as soon as they approached.
"You can't expect me to wear this," said Octavia without thought, as she eyed the dully gleaming breastplate. "I mean, just because I did that gladiator shoot once doesn't mean-"
"If this thing goes sideways," interrupted Clarke before Indra could lose her temper again, "I think you're going to want some protection." She scooped up a particularly ugly and dented great helm from the middle ages and held it out to her. "Some assurance for you face."
Most of the mismatched armour was Elf made and therefore quite beautifully crafted and light, but some of the pieces not so much. The helm was one of them, and Octavia staggered slightly under the weight when it transferred hands. Clarke hadn't found it heavy at all, but - and she definitely wasn't bragging - her blood was simply stronger.
As she helped Raven into some pretty rose decaled greaves, Clarke looked to Lexa who had removed her sword and long coat, revealing her toned biceps. She was hunched over, fastening some armour to the tops of her boots. That's when she took a closer look at the golden chain, which was now dangling instead of descending into her bosom...and for once Clarke didn't have a dirty thought. Instead she stiffened in surprise as she recognized a slight (and familiar) imperfection with her enhanced vision.
They were standing on the outskirts of their ever growing city. Finally, at eighteen years of age, she had learned how to shift. She had been beginning to fear that she would never figure it out, but then suddenly she had, just like her air abilities. Her father was so proud the first time she transformed into her namesake, even if he had had a hell of time controlling her and getting her to shift back before she destroyed their home. She apologized profusely afterwards, and all was forgiven. If only the same could have been said for what was to come.
Now, a few days later, her dad thought she was ready for flight, a prospect that made her insides squirm in delight. To take to the air, to soar; no finer feeling was known to faekind. At least, in her mind. Before they shifted and went anywhere, her dad took one of his chains off, the one lacking adornment, something she had never seen him do before, and held it out to her.
"Do not be deceived by its plain exterior, daughter. For you now hold an astonishingly powerful article in your hands. This exceedingly coveted artifact has been secretly passed on down through the generations of griffins." He smiled his sweet smile. "And I would be honoured if you, my dear, sweet child, would wear it on this momentous occasion."
"But what is it father?" she asked, examining it closely, frowning. "What magic does it possess?"
"Can you not speculate, Clarke?" he prodded, ever the teacher.
Flight was her first thought. But that was illogical and useless for griffins. She thought hard for a few more moments before exclaiming, "It cannot be! An immortality necklace?!"
Her father beamed at her, drawing her in for a hug. "Well done, daughter, well done." She pulled away from him, making a face. "What ever is the matter?"
"Do you have so little faith in my abilities, that you predict I will be needing this priceless treasure of yours?"
He placed his hands on her shoulders."I have every faith that you will soar, Clarke, but I admit myself to feeling anxious at the prospect. It would grieve me greatly to see you injured."
She wanted to be angry with him, but couldn't. He was only doing what he had always done; protect her. "All right, father," she said softly, slipping it on over her mane of golden hair, "I will wear the necklace."
That was the first and last time.
Without a word, she stood up, grabbed Lexa by the arm (who waved Indra off) and pulled her off into the shade of a large tree.
"Where did you get that?!" she hissed between clenched teeth, openly eyeing her chest.
Lexa gave her an impassive, though measured look, before tugging on the chain, revealing the rest of the plain metal rings. "I was wondering when you would notice."
"Why do you have it?!"
"Your mother gave it to me to give to you..."
My mother?! When did she acquire it again?!
"...before she evacuated the city to tend to the wounded." Lexa went to remove it and Clarke grabbed her wrist. "She would prefer that you do not number among them."
"I don't want it." I don't deserve it. "You keep it."
It was then that she realized just how close they were standing. Lexa smelled just as delectable as she always did. Her traitorous eyes fell to Lexa's lips, something that she was sure wasn't missed by the ever watchful eyes. Clarke hastily put some distance between them before her body could be further unfaithful.
"It is not mine to keep, Clarke," replied Lexa quietly. "You are one of the last griffins..."
Don't remind me. My mother does often enough...
"...By rights, it belongs to you."
"What do you, uh, know about it?" she casually asked, even as her heart rate soared ever higher.
"Enough," was the cryptic reply, though it was heavy with insinuation.
Lexa turned to leave, but Clarke again grabbed her arm, keeping her in place, asking something she had been dying to know ever since Lexa popped into her life again.
"Why did you choose me?"
Lexa raised an eyebrow as if to say, really, you want to do this right now?
"I don't mean back then," she clarified, knowing full well that reason. "There are plenty of other nymphs out there. Why did you choose any of us?" Octavia in particular, she thought uncharitably. "And why did you personally come to collect me and Raven?"
"I came myself because there was no one else to send," she said, even as she glanced at Indra, who Clarke suspected was a Fury. Had Lexa been worried the volatile woman would be overly rough in bringing them here? Had she been worried for Clarke's sanity...and safety? That was ludicrous of course. If that were true, they wouldn't be here, about to battle a freaking monster tornado. Then she remembered the necklace, and it became a possibility again.
She looked back to Clarke. "And I chose you, Clarke, because you are the tie that binds."
"Come again?" she said, utterly confused.
Lexa hesitated a moment before saying, "We are all emotionally connected to you. It will make our magic that much stronger."
Clarke was so stunned by the admission that she didn't try to stop Lexa when she went back to the chest.
Strong and sure hands that had existed since before The Third Crusade handled her with great care and surprising gentleness, and Clarke came all the harder for it...for what seemed like the thousandth time, or was it still the first? Lexa did things to her that she had never experienced before, giving her an intense and nearly constant pleasure; something heretofore deemed impossible. In her more coherent states of mind, she supposed this only made sense. Lexa had had a long time to hone her craft, and doubtless she still employed some undocumented and long forgotten methods of sexual gratification.
Long story short: she was a sex demon from hell, and Clarke hoped to burn for all eternity.
Satiated beyond belief, they finally took a moment to regain their senses that day, and just hold one another. Clarke couldn't remember the last time she had felt so content, so at peace with the world. Unfortunately, that peace would soon be shattered by unwanted questions.
Lexa's head rested on her glistening chest and Clarke gently stroked up and down her silky, muscled back, fingers skirting over eons worth of accumulated bumps and scars. Lexa also had a large, intricate, somewhat faded tattoo of interlocking symbols in long dead languages she didn't recognize.
"Elizabeth," Lexa said slowly, hesitantly, "do you trust me?"
"I'm not sure," she said, just as hesitantly, wondering where this was going. They had already done plenty of 'unusual' things to each other, Lexa more so than herself. What more could there be? "We haven't known each other that long." And yet it felt like ages.
After a pause. "I know, and I'm sorry, but I can't help asking any longer. I have to know who you are."
What she really meant was what are you?
Immediately Clarke's entire embrace stiffened and her fingers stopped their movement. Her heart raced, all but giving her away. "Why would you ask me such a strange question, Lexa?"
There was silence for a time before Lexa shifted positions, so that they were looking at one another. As was often the case in Lexa's presence, she felt like her mind was being probed. It didn't take long after they had fallen into bed together for Lexa to discover she was not the claimed human she had pretended to be. Lexa had apparently been pleasantly surprised by the discovery and hadn't brought up Clarke's deception in the slightest. Still, Clarke had foolishly hoped the ingrained politeness in all fae would be enough to halt Lexa's tongue forever...at least in that regard.
"You don't have to keep secrets from me any longer. I promise I won't tell anyone." Lexa took her hand, staring at her sincerely. "I only want to know the real you."
Clarke pulled away. "You mean, I can't keep secrets from you, is that it?" she shot back unfairly, her defense mechanism kicking in. "All you'd have to do is touch me and I would tell you everything."
Lexa grimaced at the accusation. "I would never force you to divulge your secrets."
"No, you only use your abilities to get unsuspecting women into bed."
She regretted her words as soon as they had come out. While accurate, it wasn't as though Lexa had kept her there against her will.
Lexa's face became hard, a strange mask Clarke had never seen before. An unpleasant chill crept up her exposed flesh, raising goosebumps.
"We are what we are," said Lexa coldly, "I must feed. I will not apologize for using my abilities to help me accomplish this goal. Perhaps if you did not deny your own true nature, you would not give off such strong sexual energy and I would never have bothered you in the first place."
"What do you mean?" she asked nervously.
Lexa scoffed. "You are obviously much more than a human, Elizabeth," she said with a pointed look towards her own back, where the small, yet perceptible tattoo resided. "You are obviously much more than a nymph. Same as me. If you weren't, I would have killed you long ago."
Clarke didn't know how to respond.
Lexa sighed at her silence and then rolled off the bed, gathering her clothing up and getting dressed. "I am going to go out for a few hours. If you feel you may one day wish to share your true identity with me, stay. If you do not, then I would prefer we take this no further and that you are gone when I return."
Lexa finished dressing, looked at her with a hint of sadness, and exited the hotel room.
And that was the last time they had seen each other. Clarke had runaway before Lexa had returned. More than Lexa finding out her true identity, Clarke had ironically been afraid of getting what she had so desperately wanted. Of falling in love. She didn't deserve to, not after what she had done. So she had fled before her attachment could grow too strong.
She had deluded herself into believing that Lexa hadn't truly cared for her either, that a succubus wasn't capable of real love, that all they had been to each other was an epic lay.
When Lexa confessed she had formed an emotional connection to her during their two weeks together, this illusion was thoroughly shattered, and the guilt gnawed at her with a vengeance, like it hadn't done in quite some time.
"What was that about?" said Raven when she finally came out of her daze and returned to her curious and increasingly suspicious girlfriend. Raven was under the impression that they had no secrets between them, and for the most part that was accurate. Clarke had told Raven a great deal about her time in exile...everything except for those two weeks. She dreaded the inevitable conversation, and shamelessly used the current disaster as an excuse to postpone once more.
"I'll explain later," she muttered, grabbing some armour for herself.
"You better," Raven murmured darkly under her breath.
Trouble in paradise? Could be the Ash is gonna get burned after all...hmm...
Next chapter should be pretty epic. Adventure time!
