Muhahaha! Well my faithful readers, the holidays are almost over. Sad I know. But I have decided to give my faithful reviewers teasers from now on. For ever review I get, I shall send you a teaser. If I forget, yell at me and throw a monkey at my head and I'll fix it. Chao! - A4J
*Throws monkey at head just for the heck of it* Don't worry, I'll make sure she does =P. Things get a bit more serious in this chapter, quite more serious - Sine
Hoe! Not nice! -Jane
A/N: I, Jane, will be in cosmetology school as of Jan. 10, 2011 and it is full time schooling. Updates will be far in between. I can only write with my mobile phone, so some of the format may be different. I am sorry for the inconvience and I hope to be closer to a computer soon.
Much love!
Ulyesses gripped the chair's arm as tight as he could, eyes never leaving his bed and who's nude figure was sprawled on it. Horror over took him as his memory regained its consciences. The golden woman on the bed would wake up and look at him with those eyes. But the emotion that would be in them would be a mystery till they opened. Damn his weakness. Damn her for caring.
If he had just kept his space, had told her to leave, forced her to leave, he wouldn't be staring at the naked hawk princess who was laying completely exposed to him, rays of sun hitting her golden body, making her glow.
Gods she was beautiful. More than beautiful, she looked like a goddess, and that night she had been his goddess. His deity and he had worshiped her as long as the night had permitted it and as long as she worshiped him back.
But this was a Shardae. An avian. And things like this didn't happen unless they were mated for life. Other than it was dirty and looked down upon more than publicly touching. He was prepared for tears when she woke up, that or the same emotion as last night. He closed his eyes and let the memory replay, as to see where he had fallen into that woman's arms.
The day before at sunset
Ulyesses had finally made it home and had locked himself inside of his house since then ignoring his sister's and mother's pleas to try to draw him out. He refused, shame still strong for acting like a child at the tombs. His beautiful mate. His wonderful, beautiful, caring mate was in a stone box forever, because he had failed as her mate.
When Sadira began to cry and had turned on the royal families, declaring they had failed, Ulyesses felt the failure of keeping Sisal and their child alive. He could have locked her in her room like had threatened that morning, he could have stayed that day. She was upset about her young brother Carson, and wanted revenge. But he had left and she had escaped and followed, fury driving her to her death. And the death of their unborn child.
He opened a cupboard and removed a large bottle or strong liquor which he had bought from a human merchant. He twisted the cork and the smell of alcohol stung his nostrils. He didn't drink, it blurred the mind and when you where a soldier on the battle field, a blurry mind was the last thing you needed. He took a good sized swallow and grimaced at its strength.
It was good, but the burn was unbearable. But that was what he needed. He continued to drink untill he felt the affects of it come over him. He set the bottle down and opened a chest where he had kept most of her things. Her dress she wore while dancing, a necklace he made her when they first met; she wore it quite often. And the melos she had given him back when gave her his. He sighed. It had been almost 3 to 4 years, if not longer. He didn't know any more.
A knock on the door made his shut the trunk and growl. "Go away, for the last time mama, I'm not hungry." He set the bottle down and peaked out the window to see what his mother wanted now. But she was not alone. "For the sake of the Cobriana, why mama..." He sighed, resting his head against the door.
"Open up. You have a guest." She said with demand. She was no little old serpent! He was her son after all, so it was only natural to check up on him often. She had been making the sweet biscuits that Sadira had taken a liking to when Araie walked in, a nervous Sadira following into the home. A jar of hibiscus sugar in hand. Like before when she came with Sorrell, she was greeted warmly and even received and comforting embrace from Mara. Sadira had felt like she belonged here and maybe she was born to the wrong woman.
When they sat for tea, Araie said Ulyesses went home quickly and told her to go play nice with the birdies, referring to Sorrell. Still angry about it, Araie said it was best, but Mara was concerned and said she was going to check on him one last time. Sadira offered to go, surprised that Ulyesses had a home to himself. According to Mara it was enough to house three. Now she stood waiting for the angry man to open the door. It had only been half a day, but her eyes craved the sight of him.
Oh stop it, your acting like a hatchling. But the moment she saw him, she felt the fluttering in her chest intensify. He looked tired, but the smell on him gave away to what he had been doing just a minute ago. Mara seemed unfazed by it and turned and left them in peace, figuring it would be pointless to stay. His eyes settled on her and he was quiet for a moment. He didn't know how to look at her any more since her outburst changed every thing. But what really had him was that she was holding a basket, full of food.
"May I come in?" She asked calmly, not wanting to seem rude.
"No." He went to shut the door, but she held out her hand to stop it.
"Please. Just for a minute. To talk." She pleaded with the same calm.
He frowned and grunted. His grip on the door tightened. "I said no."
She sighed and then bit her lip, looking down. "Please, I-I..." She looked up at him and tried to use what was left of her reserve. "I can't go to any one else, not even Aiden. They don't understand like you do." She looked down at the basket. She held it out. "Mara asked me to give this to you." She looked up at him.
He set his jaw. He took the basket and looked in it. Bread and meat. Delicious meat. He felt the hunger come on and he silently cursed his mother for knowing him so well. He could never resist meat. Much like how Araie could not resist the sweets they sold in stalls. He sighed and stepped back a bit to let Sadira pass.
Seeing he was permitting her into his home she moved quickly before he could change his mind. But it was a shock to her. She had heard and seen, with Mara's home, that serpiente homes were highly decorated with tapestries, ornaments, and rugs. But Ulyesses's home was bare, almost shell like. It was also only 2 rooms. Not rare for serpent homes as the people who inhabited them were rarely home. All that was needed was a place to sleep.
Ulyesses pulled out a chair and motioned for her to sit as he set the basket down on the table and took a seat for himself. She sat quietly and watched and he pulled the meat that Mara had cooked for him out and began to eat it with his fingers. How typical of him.
"Talk." He demanded. The sooner she did the faster she would leave. He blinked a couple of times and sighed. The liquor was working its magic.
"Your drunk." She stated, hoping he wouldn't argue.
"Is that a problem?" He raised a brow at her. "Because I can tell you about how much I don't care." There was that snarky, mean attitude she knew.
She narrowed her eyes at him. "Well, other than it dimming you sense of judgment and making your mood worse, I do not care what you do in your time off. I'm not as pampered as you think."
She turned her head, golden hair falling over her shoulder like a golden water fall. His eyes watched the stands settle. Damn woman...damn beautiful woman. He cleared his throat and rolled his eyes. "Highly doubt it."
She scoffed. "Alright you pompous ass. I am not a sheltered little hatchling."
He tilted his head back and let out a loud laugh. "Oh no the little birdie swore!" He hit the table and she growled in frustration. She was put up with his image of her. How he thought she was fragile and stuck up.
She pushed the basket out of the way and grabbed his collar in a speed that would have put a Cobriana to shame. She pulled herself and him to meet in the middle, only an inch away from him. His eyes narrowed and his lips thinned out. "Don't even think about. You will regret it." He hissed quietly. His strong hands gripped her shoulders. He knew that the girl who had flirted with him in his mother's kitchen and who had danced on the dais fearlessly, the girl who had power over his emotions was stirring in Sadira's eyes like fire.
He knew what was going to happen if she became that girl, and he didn't have power to stop himself taking over the situation.
"Oh yeah? What could you do to me? I'm not afraid of you or any one for that matter." She said haughtily.
He stood up slowly, hands still gripping her arms, his breath fluttered against the top of her head. "I haven't been with a woman since my mate died. You do what I think your were thinking, I won't be able to hold back." He laughed bitterly. "I'd have you flying across the room to my bed, with out the use of your wings." He whispered near her ear. "So you should be terrified." She kept her eyes on his chest as his words sunk in. He wouldn't be violent, but he was giving her fair warning that he wouldn't hold back.
"What if I don't take you seriously."
"You'll hurt for the next week." She gulped back some air she had been holding. Her nerves were shaken and her emotions were still sorrowful. She shook her head. She was acting like an idiot. "This couldn't have been what you were here for, was it?" He broke the silence. They were still close together and his hands had removed themselves.
"What's it like?" She looked up and looked into to his cold blue gaze.
"I'm not following you, princess." He sat back down and ran a hand threw his auburn hair.
She longed to touch it to make him feel more relieved but she kept her hands at her sides. "To be in love. What is it like to be in love?" She asked with her mask on. She knew serpents hated reserve but she had to put up that barrier or she would lose it. She only asked him this question because she absolutely knew he had and was still in love with Sisal. She wouldn't get a straight answer from Danica.
He stilled himself and stared at his hands. What was it like to be in love? Hell, it hurt, it was painful, but it was also sweet and comforting to know that your heart belonged to someone. It was beautiful to know that they were the one could trust always and rely on in troubling times.
"Painful. Very painful. But it's also bittersweet." He looked up at her. "If your in love with someone who does not love you back then you're just in for a world of hurt." He looked away.
He looked like he was tired and off some where Sisal was still with him. That confirmed it. That was what she needed to know. Her reserve cracked and she laughed bitterly. Damn, damn, damn. She spoke in a broken whisper. "Then I'm in love."
It was his turn to laugh. "Oh? Don't even try Sorrell is smitten for my sister. Damn bastard." He shook his head. Surprised about his words she shook her head. Aiden smitten for Araie? Well, I guess it wasn't unheard of. Sorrell's eyes were soft around Araie and her anger at him, the reason she didn't know, seemed to hurt him. But saying Sorrell was her love interest made her laugh.
She bit her lip as she continued to chuckle. "No, no. Aiden and I will never be. He's not the one." She felt the tears.(Italics) Don't cry Shardae, don't you dare.
He fell silent. She didn't need to say it. Her face said it all, said the things her voice couldn't. He shook his head and scoffed. "Your joking." He stood up. "Gods Sadira, what are you doing." He covered his face.
She turned on him mouth open in shock. "Yes Ulyesses I did it on purpose. I am in tears because even I can't handle it!" She threw arms out. "What do you want me to do about it?"
He closed his eyes and tilted his head back and swallowed. "Leave, get out. I can't do this. I'll resign, I don't care, just go." He walked away from her into his room, cursing the whole way. She loved him? Him? Was her brains full of feathers? He wasn't eve over his first love. But it had been years. To many years. And he was more than alone.
"Leave? You want me to leave? Am I that vile? Is it because I'm an avian?" She followed him. She was loosing it.
"No, its because your the avian princess, its because your an avian, its because your so young, and its because I can't love you back, so I feel guilt." He rambled back at her as he searched for the bottle. He wasn't drunk enough to handle this. She stood there, watching him scramble around his room looking for that bottle. He was panicking. What hurt was the last few words he had said to her. (Italic) I can't love you back, so I feel guilt.
"Why?" She sounded like a child. So small and helpless. He turned around and stared at her. She was just standing there, unknown tears falling off her face, looking like he had struck her.
"I just can't. I won't be able love you like I did Sisal. I couldn't give you the life you deserved, and I can't promise you that I'd stay true to you." He walked toward her slowly. "I can't be someone I'm not to give you the love and compassion you need and deserve as a woman." He took a deep breath. "And as a Shardae; I can't Sadira."
She stared up into the blue gaze that seemed to hold her forever. She shook her head and let out a whimper helplessly. "Who in the skies told you I wanted to be treated like the avian princess Sadira? Who said I was demanding all those things from you?" She reached up and grabbed his shirt and pulled him closer. "So, what are going to do?"
He grabbed her hand. "Remember what I said about flying?" His eyes roamed over her face, waiting for her word. "I have a sense its going to happen." She entangled her fingers in his hair and smashed her mouth against his. Just like the rest of him, his kisses were hard and rough, and when she yelped from surprise when he took over the kiss, he went feral. She was soft and fragile and right now she was all his.
Present
Gods, he could have shoved her out the door and told her to never come back. He had to resign, he couldn't keep protecting her if he couldn't protect her from himself. He stood up and grabbed her clothes and laid them on the chair, then proceeded to pull the blanket up to her chin and smoothed her hair back. How he wished he could lay with her and not feel guilt or sadness. To not be ashamed of what he had done. He made himself look presentable and grabbed a shirt for himself. He needed to eat first and then tell his mother. She would know what to do, after she beat him.
"Ugh, of all the mornings she could have had me go for errands, she chose the hottest one." Araie moaned, shifting uncomfortably in her dress. She wished for the dancer's uniform, she wouldn't have been so hot. But she would have been embarrassed and conscience all the time about what people thought. Why though? Why should she? It was clear that she didn't have to worry about anyone else's opinion other than her mother and Ulyesses's. And he would be too drunk right now to care...
"Sorrell, should't you be with the Tuuli Thea?" Sorrell? Aiden was here? Why? Peeking around the corner, she spotted the familiar raven. His sandy blond hair in disarray, hazel eyes searching for something desperately. Another avian accompanied him, looking severally uncomfortable within the serpiente side of the market. Obviously his first time visiting.
He sighed, running a hand over the back of his head and brushing the feathers that resided there, "The Tuuli Thea does not need me at the moment. She's gone into labor so she under the protection of the midwife as of now. I'll be turned into stew if I step one foot into that room and I have no desire to be the Alistair's next meal." Danica was having her baby? So what was he doing here?
"And?"
"And I have some unconcluded business here. No one ever said you had to follow me here, so you may go." Go he did, the soldier shifted and took off toward the Keep so fast that Araie's eyes could hardly keep up. Since when did Aiden Sorrell have any business on this side of the market? Well whatever it was it did not concern her nor was she interested.
She went to turn away from the two when the other said something that stopped her dead in her tracks: "If I didn't know any better I'd say you where eavesdropping." She squeezed her eyes shut tight and cursed. Damn guards who were trained to pick up on things like that. She didn't turn, instead taking her red curls in her hands and combing them with her fingers nervously. She felt the heat from his body before seeing him in front of her.
"Please. If you walk away there will always be bitterness and I don't want you to feel that way." He grabbed her arm and sighed as she looked at him with venom, trying to ignore the scales going over her skin.
She was breathing calmly, but her tiny body had become as hard as steel has soon as his skin made contact with her's. She was stronger and deadlier than before. "Let me go or I'll kill you."
He clenched his jaw and his eyes searched her face for any indication of fear. She was afraid, but she was hiding it with anger. "No, please. I know I don't deserve a second chance or a new beginning, but by Alistair if I have to get down on my knees right here and now, I will do so." He dropped his reserve. "I enjoy your company to much to let you hate me forever."
She looked away and let her muscles relax. He wasn't going to hurt her. But she didn't know what to do. "You hurt me, Aiden." She looked at her feet in shame. "I know that kind of thing is not common in the Avian court, but you had no right to embarrass me or accuse me of being a harlot."
He felt his chest tighten. "Araie, I did not mean to. Gods, I am sorry, you are anything but a harlot or anything of that sort." He cupped her cheek with his hand. She kept her eyes looking down.
"Ailbhe left me because he didn't want to be spot with an outcast." She spoke quietly.
Aiden felt shocked. He had heard they had stopped pursueing eachother because Ailbhe was having trouble with his sister's death. Not because he was shallow and didn't want to be associated with an outcast, which she was not. Anger boiled with in him. How dare Ailbhe hurt her, how dare he break this fragile young girls heart. A heart he would had charished and kept safe. One he would have loved. One he did love.
He envolped her in his arms and cradled her head in his hand. He clenched his eyes shut and grit his teeth. He would protect her from them. From her brother, from Ailbhe, and from anyone else that would dare to cross her in a harmful mannor.
"Aiden?" She asked confused, bringing her hands up to his chest. "Sorrell?"
"You are not a harlot, you are not an outcast, and you are not an idiot." He pulled away from her slightly and looked into her confused emerald eyes. "Ailbhe is an idiot for letting you go and I would beat him to a nasty pulp."
Araie clutched the fabric of his shirt and shook her head. "One day your giving me glares, the next your making claims of affection, through violent words about another man, but none the less affectionate." She stepped back, smiling shyly. "Apology accepted."
He blushed slightly and he stepped back slightly. "Well, yes I was apologizing, but I was also trying to make it clear, every one else is an idiot."
She smiled downward and then grabbed his warm calloused hand with her's, lacing their fingers together. "Well, obviously." She smiled up at him. "Now escort me home, mama is expecting me back."
Ok, so I wanted to do more with it before posting but it is already so long and overdue that I decided to just post as it and next chapter, and note this, just goes back to Ulyesses, and it is happening during the Aiden/Araie thing.
I also want to poll this so during your review, tell me who your favorite couple is:
Aiden/ Araie
Araie/ Ailbhe
Ulyesses/ Sadira
If your couple wins the poll you'll get an extra teaser.
Chao!
