Chapter Seven

Gavin woke in a daze and tried to recall why he and Angelic were sprawled out on the floor.

He sat up and looked around. The place was destroyed as if a tornado had hit the place.

He looked over at Angelic. She had a lagre bruise that was becoming an unattractive shade of purple. He decided not to wake her. She would be in pain when she woke on her own anyway.

He stood carefully and looked around. He became frustrated once he realized the red spots all around him were actually in his eyes. The boy had hit him across the temple with something heavy... He had a growing suspition that it was the chair.

The table was over turned... Angelic had gone down after him, but he was sure it was the right side up before he had been knocked out, so maybe it was Angelic's doing.

The cloud in his mind began to slowly lift (as did the spots) and he remembered the happenings of the night before.

He walked over to the untouched kitchen and poured himself a glass of water. Amethyst was on the run and the prince was with her. He forced his mind to work up a plan. If the girl was with the prince, they would have to work twice as hard on dethroning the boy to get to her.

He heard Angelic coming to in the other room. After swearing a blue streak, he heard her get up. He decided to head her off.

"That damned boy! I swear I will have his head as my greatest prize." Angelic said without preamble.

"Yes, I know. The boy caught us off gaurd, but I trust it will not happen again. Now, though, is not the time. I am thinking of a plan but we cannot act until I have."

"But Gavin..."

"No 'buts'. I don't care how angry you are, although I do understand. Now is not the time to make too many waves. They will come back on us if we do."

"Then what do we do?" Angelic's rage was growing with her increased impatience.

"If you would calm down and relax I could think of something." He said, encasing her in his arms.

"Oh, but I'm angry." She moaned.

"I know. I've got it. You can take it out on a few of the local adventurers. We need first and foremost the nest on our side."

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Mavros returned about thirty minutes after Marion left. Amethyst was sitting on the chair and Urban had put his painting back in the closet and gone to sleep. Neither of them had said another word to the other, but retreated to their respective corners.

"Are you in here?" He asked at the door. The Lamp had burned low enough to where he couldn't tell if there was anyone in the room.

"I am. Can we leave now?" Amethyst asked. She got out of the chair and stretched as she walked over to Mavros. She had sat in the chair unmoving for a long time.

"Yes we can. I have a covered carriage waiting outside." He answered.

"Okay then, let's go."

"Not until you get me the Nevermore." He said blocking her path.

"Well I can't get it for you now which is why I am staying with you at the moment. If I go to the nest they will kill me and then you won't get it." She answered.

"Fine. Hurry up and go." Amethyst walked past him to the door and glanced back to see him walk towards the lamp and put it out.

She walked as quietly as she could down the hall. She carefully pushed open the door and looked around outside before seting off for the carriage...

Only to be grabbed from behind by someone.

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Urban woke when the sun was rising above the horizon.

Mavros was sitting on the other side of the room, contemplating the floor with his head in his hands.

"Is Amethyst okay?" He asked looking at his best friend. Mavros jerked his head up, startled, then refused to meet Urban's eyes.

"Where is Amethyst?" Urban asked again.

Mavros flinched guiltily and still refused to look up.

"Mavros. Answer me." It was a direct demand this time.

"I gave her to Gavin and Angelic." Mavros said, his voice dripping with guilt.

"You did WHAT?!" Urban exclaimed. "This is the second time you've done something stupid... wait a minute... I killed them."

"So she didn't save you?" Mavros asked.

"It doesn't matter now! How long?"

"It does matter because you've just lied to the entire kingdom."

"You've just threatened the prince's fiancee! How long, Mavros?!" Urban yelled.

"Since midnight." Mavros answered.

Urban reacted immediately, going around the room, gathering whatever he would need.

"Now I have to go get her. Again. And that's only if she's not dead yet thanks to you!"