"You're serious? You accept my proposal?" Aelthar asked, amazed.

"Yeah," answered Poison. Aelthar instantly got an idea.

"Then kiss me," he said. Poison would have gladly slapped him for saying this, but she did as she was told. She placed her puckered lips on Aelthar's and was pulled close to him. Aelthar slipped his tongue into Poison's mouth when he thought she was distracted enough. Poison's eyes opened up and she let out a muffled protest and tried pushing herself away from him. Did he stop? Oh no. Aelthar relished Poison's struggle and it encouraged him to tighten his grip on her. After a minute or two, Aelthar released Poison, who started spitting. "Did you not enjoy that, my wife-to-be?" he asked.

"No!" she yelled. Aelthar smirked.

"In time, you will," he said, caressing her cheek. Poison shuddered at his touch, but forced herself to be still and not pull away. "You may leave now. I'll have Oophla get you your own room next to mine." Why bother?, a part of him asked. She'll be sharing your room eventually. Better start letting her sleep in your room. Poison left Aelthar's hand and walked off. Aelthar chuckled. "I can't believe she accepted it," he said to Scriddle. He joined in the laughter.

"I know," he said. "How foolish she is!"

"She won't even expect my plans for her!" Aelthar howled with laughter.

"The stupid human won't even know we sent her sister back already!" Scriddle said. He stopped laughing again and looked at Aelthar. "What happens if she finds out about that? She might request to leave."

"I'll make her stay," the Phaerie Lord said simply.

"How?" Scriddle asked. Aelthar smirked and Scriddle knew what he was thinking. "You're not planning to-" he started.

"I am," said Aelthar plainly.

"But why?!" Scriddle cried.

"She doesn't know how long a Phaerie child takes to be born," Aelthar said. "Besides," he continued with a grin, "we'll have another half-human, half-Phaerie creature here with you." Scriddle cringed.

"I would feel better with another half-human, half-Phaerie creature here," he said, pensively. "But won't you feel guilty for giving her that kind of burden?"
"Scriddle," Aelthar sighed, "why would I pity a human?" Scriddle smirked.

"Yes, excellent point," he said with a laugh. He poured two glasses of wine for the two of them. He handed one to Aelthar and kept the second one. "To the Realm of Phaerie!" he said, holding out his glass.

"And to the fall of the Realm of Man!" cheered Aelthar. The two men clashed their glasses together and cackled. Little did they notice a little black outside the window. Andersen stood up and carefully snuck around the corner and followed after Poison.


Poison walked down the hall back to hers, Peppercorn's, and Bram's room, wiping her mouth with the back of her hand. How she hated Aelthar for doing that! What was thinking, pulling a move like that? It was disgusting! She hoped Aelthar would never kiss her like that ever again through their "marriage". She also didn't want him to touch her in any way that would seem inappropriate, despite the fact they would be legally together. Besides, they weren't going to be together forever; she'd be with him until he gave Azalea. As she opened the door, Peppercorn and Bram leapt to their feet.

"What happened?!" Peppercorn squealed.

"Did that bastard hurt you?" growled Bram.

"No, Bram," Poison began. "Nothing-"

"Then why are you wiping your mouth with the back of your hand?" he asked. Poison would have said nothing, but she felt like they had to know.

"Aelthar made out with me," she said and spat again. Bram and Peppercorn stared at her in shock. They knew there was something fishy going on with Aelthar's "proposal", but this was far from their original theory.

"Ew," Bram said. "For your sake, Poison, I hope he's not planning to harm in some way that shall remain anonymous." He gestured to Peppercorn who was giggling innocently. Poison obviously knew what he was talking about. "Still," Bram continued, "keep a close eye on him. I mean, if he made out with you, chances are that he'll try pulling other stunts."

"Bram-" Poison began, but was interrupted by the door opening.

"There she is," Aelthar said proudly. "My lovely fiancée!" He moved forward as to kiss her, but noted Peppercorn and Bram and stopped himself.

"What do you want?" snapped the middle-aged man.

"Such an ill way to address me," Aelthar said. Bram scoffed. "To answer your question," he said, "I've come to take Poison to her new temporary room. That is, until, we become married and then, we can share my room." Poison shuddered; she did not want to sleep next to this Phaerie who she would call "husband".

"Why not let her sleep here?" Bram asked. "You gave us this room."

"Yeah," Peppercorn squeaked. "What's so bad about Poison staying her with us?"

"My fiancée deserves better than to sleep in a room with an old man and a filthy little girl," Aelthar stated. Bram and Poison felt anger bubble inside them and Peppercorn just turned red, feeling ashamed of herself. Oh, how Bram and Poison would love to sock him in the nose. "Come, Poison," said the Phaerie Lord, offering his arm to her. "Let me show you to your new room." Angrily and reluctantly, Poison looped her arm through Aelthar's and walked down the hall with him and closed the door behind them. Bram let out a frustrated growl.

"Who does he think he is, verbally insulting us like that?!" he yelled. "I ought to teach him a lesson!"

"Bram!" cried Peppercorn. "Calm down!"

"Peppercorn!" shouted Bram. "How can I calm down when Aelthar might want to hurt Poison?!"

"She knows what to avoid," said Peppercorn. "She'd never let him take advantage of her." She looked around her and saw no sign of Andersen. "You haven't seen Andersen by any chance, have you?" she asked.

"No," said Bram. "In fact, I haven't seen him since Poison left to talk to Aelthar." At that moment, a soft mew came from the window. Peppercorn gasped, rushed over to the black cat, and hugged it.

"Oh, Andersen!" she squealed. She released him and held him out. "Where have you been?" The cay began to mew and meow slowly.

"Well, what's he saying?" asked Bram. There was a brief pause before Peppercorn answered.

"I-I-I don't know," she said, nervously. She hadn't had a time where she couldn't understand Andersen. Strange enough, Andersen sighed.

"I suppose I must speak in your tongue now," he said. His voice sounded smooth and had a little purr in it. Bram and Peppercorn gasped.

"He-he-he just talked!" stuttered Bram.

"Andersen!" cried Peppercorn. "You can speak?"

"Quite fluently, actually," he said. "But that's for another time. I have some terrible news."

"What?" asked Bram.

"Aelthar lied," Andersen said. "Azalea isn't here." Bram and Peppercorn stared at him in shock.

"He lied?" he asked. "But why did "propose" to Poison?"

"He wants to control her," stated Andersen. "He says if he can control her, he can control humans and if he succeeds in that, he'll control the Realm of Man." Bram felt fear and anger controlling him and Peppercorn just started crying in fear. She didn't how it would be, but she knew it would terrible.

"That bastard!" Bram yelled. "I knew he was up to something, but this is worse!" He looked back at Andersen. "What else did he say?!"

"Well," murmured Andersen, "he said he'd give her a Phaerie child." Bram didn't need to hear what he meant.

"If I ever get my hands on that monster, I'll-" began Bram.

"Excuse me, sir," called out a familiar voice. Peppercorn and Bram turned around to see Oophla standing in the doorway.

"Yes?" he said. "Did you need to tell us something?"

"Lord Aelthar wanted me to tell you that you'll have separate dinners," she said. "I'm sure you're wondering why." Peppercorn was about to say something, but Oophla ignored her. "The wedding of future Lady Poison and Lord Aelthar!" she said with a sigh and a smile. "I've always wondered when he's wed and now, that dream is coming true." She waltzed out of the door and closed it without another word.


Aelthar and Poison walked down the hall alone, which was alarming to Poison. With no one around, he could do anything at any given moment. They had let go of each other's arms already and were walking side by side. Slyly, Aelthar slipped one of his arms around Poison's waist and she shuddered at his touch. "Could you not do that?" she said through gritted teeth. Aelthar's arm dropped and he smirked.

"Want to wait after we're married?" he asked.

"Don't get too comfortable," hissed Poison. Aelthar only moved closer to the girl.

"You forget, Poison," he whispered in her ear, "you will get your sister back if you behave like a good wife should." Poison wanted to push him away, but he was right. "Now before I let you loose, kiss me." She glared at him first and then complied. Aelthar did exactly what did earlier: he pulled her close and slid his tongue in her mouth. This time, however, Poison didn't struggle for the sake of Azalea. When he was done, he released Poison. "I shall see at dinner," he said with a bow.

"Whatever," she said and slammed the door in his face. Aelthar shook off that last comment from this despicable human. She'd learn to respect him soon enough, anyway. What he would to do with her afterwards was still a mystery to him. Should he banish her to Asinastra's realm to be her child's meal when it comes? Should he make her his own servant, only to see him and him alone? So many decisions in so little time to choose. Just then, Oophla came skipping towards her master.

"Yes, Oophla?" Aelthar groaned. "What is it?"

"I heard the little girl and old man talking about what you're planning to do with your bride," she said, rather frightened. "They seemed angry with you, Sire, and I fear you are to fail if the girl finds out." Aelthar stood in his spot for a moment or two and then smirked.

"Make sure my future wife stays away from them at all times," he said. "And when we wed, banish them immediately."

"Yes, master," Oophla said. She then skipped away and took a left.

"It won't be long, Poison," said Aelthar, still smirking. "I'll claim you as my only wife and soon, your memory of your previous life will be as blank as a piece of paper. I'll gain control over you easily. Mark my words." His cackled evilly and walked off.