A/N: Hey. Has it really been a year or more? oh boy. No wonder I'm rusted all to heck and back. Please don't kill me if this is crap. I haven't written much in the past year. I guess grieving is different for everyone. Then as soon as I actually start writing again, my computer dies. *SIGH* But thanks to my amazing repair shop that salvaged all of my stories (Even though my notes are gone at least I'm not starting from scratch. I could kiss them.) I'm back! And hopefully wrapping up this story soon!

I'm still looking for a Beta, so please forgive my mistakes and rather rough chapters. I'm trying to smooth out again but more than a year of rust will take time and a stubborn beta to wear off. (There aren't many decent beta's that will put up with my "moods." I'm generally a very nice and responsive person, but I understand their issues with my drier than the sahara writing spell.)

Anyway,

Much love to everyone that is still here with me, and to all those who sent their amazingly kind love and support in my HOURS of need. You are truly fantastic and awe inspiring people and fans.

Now on with the show!

Chapter 10

Recap:

Startled he pulled away, pushing her quickly back to her seat. "I'll call the Brownies to help you dress." Without another word he fled the room, shamed with his behavior. Which part of his behavior that caused him shame, he wasn't quite sure. She still heated his blood. Her kiss, even in retrospect, tasted intoxicating on his lips and tongue. Her body against and on his made him ache with need. After nearly a centuries absence, maybe it was time to visit the brothel again.

East End of the Brooklyn Bridge: Troll Market

Kai ears were assaulted by the halting thunder of some instrument that resembled a piano, as she wandered through the market. It reverberated off the walls and sent market patrons running covering their ears, or at least what Kai assumed were ears. She strode through the deluge of people toward the bedlam, as vendors called to the running patrons, trying desperately not too loose their business.

She held herself feeling pain she couldn't describe lanced through her back making her heart ache. She knew it was part of a premonition but that didn't help her stem the flood of tears that threatened to fall as she made her way through the rushing crowd. Kai wiped her eyes with the back of her hand, forcing her mind to the task at hand. There was a job to do. If she had any hope of preventing the holocaust she saw, there was a lot to do. She sighed softly, dropping her arms to her sides, it was time to kick things into high gear. It was time, and she had a mountain of work ahead.

Upon reaching the source of the barrage of sound she saw a large leprechaun, his eyes red and blood shot, pounding on the instrument, the loud twang of the strings making him wince in pain. Kai tapped him no the shoulder. "Gabh mo leithsceal a dhuine uasail. Bealtaine me?" She pointed to the instrument and he shrugged jumping off the stool. Blessed silence flooded the market when he stopped playing. And for a few moments it was as if the marketplace sighed in relief.

Kai slid onto the stool and began pressing the keys tentatively letting the almost unearthly notes float in the air. Then gaining confidence, she strung the notes together, rising and falling like waves on a smooth, glassy sea. She closed her eyes and felt the music flow through her veins and out into the air, as easy as breathing even though she never played an instrument before in her life. She felt the crowd gather around, their breaths caught in their throat, their heart beats slowing as she added her voice to the melody. Kai swayed back and forth as her hands flew over the keys, pulling the array of beings with her.

Elsewhere in the marketplace

Nuada stalked through the market on the way to the brothel with knots forming in his shoulders. It was exasperating how easily she, he refused to use her name out of spite, had heated his blood.

Cobblestone passed under his feet in a blur, patrons of the market skittering away from the ill tempered prince, until he reached the faded red door that hid his destination from the public. His hand raised to rap quickly on the aged wood, only to have it give way before he made contact. Two giggling females ran past, barely sparing him a look in their flight to the street. Nuada stared after them in shock, his hand still raised to knock on the door.

"We're closed!" A voice he recognized as being owned by the madam called to him, calling Nuada back to the purpose of his visit.

"Surely you can make time for your best customer." He objected to the empty entrance way.

"Haven't you heard prince?" The madam asked entering the richly appointed hall, brushing strands of her hair into place. "The festivals have begun again. You know the laws. We cannot continue our business during a festival. The gods would strike us if we did." She snapped a silver clip into the waves of her black tresses. Soft berry red fabric clung to her well rounded curves, leaving no doubt as to how she became the madam in charge.

"Not even you would spare me some of your time, madam?" The prince asked, his voice dropping an octave to the tone few females had ever resisted.

"Normally yes." She sighed looking into the hall mirror at her perfectly painted features. "But can't you feel the life back in the market? I want to see who or what caused the air of death to be brushed away. Maybe afterward, my prince." And with that blunt dismissal, she shooed him out the door and locked it behind the both of then and hurried, as quickly decorum allowed, to the source of the new, throbbing center of vitality, leaving a confused and frustrated prince in her wake.

Festival center

Beriothien looked on silently, watching his charge, his hand almost permanently attached to the sword at his side, as the crowd swayed with the rising and falling music. Held in thrall by Kai's voice until the last note cried, no sound was heard in the vicinity. But each could feel their life's blood pumping harder and faster, could see colors becoming more vibrant, as she poured life into them through the song.

Auberon made his way quietly through the crowd, his personage hidden underneath a large dark cape. Making his way way to the much younger drow elf, he tapped his shoulder. Beriothien knew who it tapped his shoulder, trying not to call attention away from the singing female. "A ligean ar thabhairt doibh seo, deanfaidh muid?" He asked pointing toward the giant drums that sat in the music makers stall.

Beriothien nodded, a grin creeping across his lips. He had seen many of the gypsy festival dances and more than a few at the summer kingdom festival, if nothing else got the vital juices flowing in each and every fae in the market, that would. He looked around the market, catching sight of the incubus who's eyes never left his charge. He growled softly, pointing Auberon's attention to him.

Auberon smirked pointing too the young prince from the winter kingdom as he entered this section of the market, looking dazed and mildly confused at the crowd.

Beriothien laughed darkly, nodding to the dozen or so large drums. He was more than ready to give the pampered palace brat something else to worry about. At his waist he waved, catching Kai's eye, letting her know what was going to happen, despite the fact he would be willing to bet she already knew. Kai nodded slightly as she crooned the last note of her song, a small smile tugging at her lips.

As the last note faded away, King Auberon, still hidden under his heavy cowl, moved through the crowd to the drums, followed closely by his dark companion. Auberon, taking his place behind one of the drums hitting the drum sticks to draw the attention of the crowd as Kai took her place in the center of the open floor.

No sooner did they begin hammering the stretched taunt skin of the drums, than they were joined by the djinn raising their voices in their seductive chorus as Kai began to dance. Her hips enticing the watching beings as she danced through the throng. Raising and falling, back and forth, around in circles, faster and faster as the music gained speed and intensity, until her skin became moist, droplets glittering like diamonds in the low light. Unknown to the crowd they swallowed in one accord, tasting her skin on their lips. Salty and sweet, just spicy enough to make them want more.

The candle and lantern light flickered their warm inviting glow in time with the thudding drums, rolling across her skin like a lovers caress, with almost nothing hidden behind her leather shirt. The prince growled softly, picking up on every beings thoughts around him, causing both Auberon and Beriothien to grin wickedly from their place in the shadows. If Kai heard the dark cloud growing in his mind, she didn't react as she twined her arms sinuously around "Jersey's" neck. He laughed pulling her closer with a hand twinging itself into her hair, before she was torn from him.

The angered royal spun her behind him, almost hissing and spitting with molten rage. Kai merely grinned and continued her dance, as if that was her plan as she captured him, circling his muscled waist with a single one of her legs, pulling against him and rubbing like a cat in heat. Barely a hairsbreadth of space separated them from one another, her heat permeating his cool exterior, as her own hands skimmed over his clothed arms. The prince's arms fell about her trim waist, feeling her shiver under his touch. The honesty of her reaction declared in her eyes, hidden from the staring legion that surrounded them by the waves of her hair the fell about her face.

Unconscious of his actions, Prince Nuada's free hand came up to brush her hair away from shielding her vivid eyes. But it was not to be. Kai ducked under the raised hand, slipping away. She moved away with the beat, crooking a finger in his direction, beckoning him forward, a bewitching smile gracing her lips, the rest of her moving like water. Hips rocking, forming circles, rising and falling like waves caused the mouths of those around her to suddenly have an unquenchable thirst, one that only the beaded sweat on her skin would satisfy.

Breathing grew harder, even as Nuada's blood began pounding hard within his veins. First one step, then another, his boots making no sound above the roar of the drums.

And then she disappeared, melting into the crowd as two beautiful female fae took her place. But their movements, instead of being full of fluidity and grace, were jerky and dry by comparison. As they began their dances, twisting around him, attempting of hold him fast, more began the dances around them, he caught sight of the minx slinking away in the shadows, her work being done for the day.

Nuada's Bedchamber. Storage tunnel.

Kai combed through her sweat tangled hair, humming softly the song from the markets. A rough cloth and a bowl of water at her knee ready to wipe away the moisture from her skin. Her eyes shining from the feelings dancing in within her heart, her mind floating onto soft future memories. Things the way the future was to be if things flowed down the path they were now. She could feel soft fingers tracing down her exposed spine, still yet to come. Ghost like, vanishing just like a spring time breeze over her heated flesh.

She pushed the cloths down into the water, dampening its woven strands, as the memories yet to come showed her two small faces. A male and female. She heard them laugh, as the cool water ran in rivets taking with them the dust and sweat that clung to her skin.

Her eyes glazed as she fell deeper into the vision, gentle as a summer breeze, blocking out the tunnel around her. It's sounds and smells as far from her as spring is from autumn. Rats that scurried through the darkness, avoided her, hugging the walls keeping as much of the trash strewn floor between themselves and her as possible. Warmth and heat twisted around her as the garbage strewn floor began transforming around her. Her hands swept out from her sides, water dripping from the cloth in her hands, the drops feeding the moss that crept out from her sides, sending new tendrils out as the vision continued. Trash became covered mounds of rich green, vibrant and alive in the moist darkness even as rain clouds gathered in the sky far above, thundering with power and life giving showers.

Seeds, long forgotten in the gloom, found roots and sprang into being, at the outer-edge of a wide circle with Kai at the center. Pulses pushed out from her rolling through the vegetation like a shot of growth caffeine. The moss and plants crept up the walls of the tunnel, sending their roots down into the mortar holding the bricks in place. The tunnel became green and verdant, alive and growing stronger with each passing moment.

Painfully Kai was wrenched to her feet and shoved against the plant covered wall, fern leaves brushing her face, moss cushioning her body from banging her head on the stone. "What are you!" A voice yelled in her ear, sounding to her as if it were miles away. The smile that tugged at her lips didn't move even as she was slammed into the wall again. "Kai!" Her heavy eyes searched for the distant voice.

Nuada forced her face toward what little light there was in the shadows, and what he saw made his heart clench in the unfamiliar sensation of worry. Her eyes were the same as those humans he had seen huddled into corners, stoned out of their minds, but her face was serene and when he bent to smell her skin he caught nothing but her own scent, no noxious odor of the drugs that clouded their minds.

"Kai..." he breathed, more gently guiding her back against the wall. "Why did the gods see fit to inflict you on me?" Nuada brushed her hair back, off the leaves that tugged at her strands. "Why can't you see what I'm trying to do?" He looked down the hallway to each side. Seeing no one to watch, he kissed her forehead as softly as a butterfly landing without knowing why. "I wish someone would." He bent and picked her up, cradling her to his chest, gently returning her to the bed in his chambers.

He carefully slid one of his pillows under her head and pulled his quilt over her. "I understand Nuada." She breathed, her eyes closing as her vision tired mind began the process of shutting down for sleep. "But you're wrong."

Translations, Links, and notes:

All vids on Youtube. Add youtube . com (without spaces) before the watch? cause they won't let me.

Gabh mo leithsceal a dhuine uasail. Bealtaine me? (Elven/ Irish Gaelic)= Excuse me sir. May I?

The first song is Kindred by Super Metroid.= watch?v=xLNCZuvBHHw

A ligean ar thabhairt doibh seo, deanfaidh muid? (Elven/ I.G.) = Let's give them a show, shall we?

The second song is Ojos Asi by Shakira.= watch?v=5BzkbSq7pww&feature=relmfu (Please ignore the hair.)

Kai dances like... think Shakira with a warrior's deadly grace and a heck of a lot faster... with a few other advantages. These links are just examples because I'm really terrible at describing passionate dance. watch?v=jkM_DHQEvAE (Shakira bellydancing live in Morocco) & watch?v=8C6xDjQ66wM (Objection by Shakira)

A/N: Okay... Let me have it. What'd you think? *winces* I can take it.