Manticora

She never thought it would be as submissive as it was. Sex. Kel had thought it was the equilibrium of a relationship for so long, but now she wasn't sure what it was. All she knew was that she liked it. Liked it a lot. It had hurt yes, but there was something fulfilling about it. She felt whole in a way. When she opened her eyes to Dom's sleeping face the next morning she didn't move. Unlike before she wasn't terrified by the feeling of skin against skin. Rather relaxed by it. A tranquil feeling filled her and she closed her eyes again, resting her forehead against his.

"No nightmares?" She hadn't known he was awake. Kel pulled back and Dom stared at her groggily, his eyes hazed with sleep. She shook her head. There were no nightmares, but there hadn't been a dream either. Dom grinned. "Good." He said and pulled her closer to him, kissing her first of the forehead before pecking her brow and the tip of her nose. She thought he might have moved to her lips but he stopped there, pulling his mouth back to burry his face in her hair. "Are you going to get up?" He asked, referring to her early morning glaive practices.

Kel shook her head. "Too tired." She moaned and hid her face in his warm shoulder. His fingers danced down her spine making her every nerve skip.

"Then go back to sleep." He advised and pulled the blanket up higher on them, partly covering their heads. She smiled and nodded before closing her eyes to let the sleep wash over her again.

When Dom was sure she was asleep he pulled his head from her hair and scooted back some to see her face. She was tired, he could tell, and her body would be sore. She couldn't have timed it better for their night together. It would be a day of rest after the night before, and work would begin again tomorrow. Her body needed to repair itself from the new use, the irreversible tare he had put in her needed to rest undisturbed. Dom knew he should have regretted taking her virginity, but with her next to him he couldn't.

He thought of the things he had wished to say to her, contemplating the comforting phrases he longed to whisper to make the moment pass more memorably. He wanted to tell her she was everything to him, would be for life. She had been such a good friend to him and he wanted to tell her how it had progressed into something more. This is a bitter sweet moment, he thought as her slumbering breath warmed his cheek. I have what I wanted, I thought I would be somewhat satisfied, but I'm not. He looked at Kel as she slept and the vacant feeling in his chest ripped open further. He cringed at the feeling and reached out to her, placing a hand on her hip gently and pulled her closer still. She was warm against him, but it felt like she was laminated in a seal of glass, separated from him still. He watched her mouth murmur something in her sleep. He wanted to hear what she had to say, know what she was thinking, but most of all he wanted her mouth itself. The territory was for a lover and a boundary he couldn't bring himself to pass. He longed for it more then anything in the realm, but he would leave her lips to be marked by her true lover, not just whatever he was.

Maybe, in time, he would become her lover, an actual lover, a proper one. It was a far fetched thought, but Dom couldn't help but think it. Desperately he held on to the fantasy as he closed his eyes. Maybe he could change her mind. Maybe he could get her to see him.

Kel opened her eyes again hours later but this time not to the tangle of limbs and warm breaths, rather to the nipping cold at her bare toes. The comforter was rumpled over her and Kel moved her hand to reach out to Dom. Turning her head when her fingers didn't make contact with anything she saw nothing at her side.

Lead shot up her spine and she sat up on the bed, holding the blanket to cover her. Dom was gone, his clothes, his boots all gone. It was as if he had never been there, but he had to have been. She could still smell him, his scent lingering in the blanket.

Kel pulled herself from the bed and gasped in shock and pain. She was so tender. She leaned against the edge of the bed for a bit before pushing herself to her feet. Standing she swayed and closed her eyes as the corners began to fuzz in. Opening them again she saw the mess that was she sheets. Her mouth slipped open slightly. Blood was…everywhere. She didn't think she could ever get it out again.

Looking down she saw she herself was smeared with blood, her inner thighs coated with it. She hadn't known it would be that awful! Sure she knew there was pain involved, but blood? Was she hurt? Would she need a healer?

No! She shook her head, banishing the thought. She would never tell anyone.

Her heart fell in her chest. He was gone. He had just gotten up and left, not waking her up or leaving a note. Kel crossed her arms over her chest when she was run through with the familiar frozen sword. She wouldn't think about it. She couldn't fall apart over a man.

"And last night…," she forced her eyes to stay open. Tears slithered down her cheeks. "Last night meant nothing."

She moved, ignoring the pain, to the bathing tub and stopped in shock. It was full, the water still creating a steam in the cold air. Kel didn't ask, she didn't have the voice, and slipped into the water. She leaned her head back and the tears slid down her cheeks, running into her hair and making dark streaks to the back of her head. Kel didn't feel them, she didn't feel anything. Her body was numb and silently she rubbed the blood from her body, tinting the water pink.

I'm such an idiot. She couldn't control her self disgust. She should have known he wouldn't stick around for long. Last night was just what it was. One night. She should have known it would all end the next morning. The soft caresses, the sad and friendly eyes, they were as good as a dream now.

How could I have let myself do this? She looked at her hands. They were trembling, streams of water sliding between her fingers. She'd let him get to her. Dom had been a weak spot for a while, for years, and now she had given way to him. How would she look at him tomorrow? Would he even take her seriously after last night? Kel held back a sob. She didn't want to blubber over it, over him, so she suppressed it in hope the feeling would fade.

When she stood drops of water ran torrents down her body, getting the floor wet. She ignored it, drying herself with a towel and finding a shirt to slip into. She looked at herself in the bit of mirror on the wall. Her eyes were red and raw, tears still trickled down her cheeks, and her skin was pale. She brushed her hair and teased it, but primping herself wasn't a distraction in anyway. She felt something rip, not like it had last night or in her nightmares, but something ripped in her chest and she slumped. At the moment she thought she was going to cry till her face collapsed, but she shook her head and busied herself.

Tugging the sheets off the bed she piled them on the floor. Looking them over it was obvious they were un-repairable. With a heavy sigh she kicked them aside and pulled out she extra set from under the bed. She has just pulled on the mattress protector when the door opened. "You're up!"

Kel's shoulders went ridged and she slowly turned to see Dom closing the door with his foot. He turned back to her, grinning and holding something. It was a plate full of food from the wedding. "No one's moving out." He said, setting the plate down on the small table in the corner. Kel watched him, not moving. "I'm glad you bathed. How're you feeling?"

He turned to look at her and Kel turned back to the bed, pulling on a fresh sheet. "I'm fine." Great Mother he was sweet. She glanced over her shoulder at him. "You drew the bath?"

He nodded. "Figured you'd want one pretty badly, that and you'd be hungry." He grinned and pointed to the food. "The cooks aren't even out. I was able to sneak in and take what I wanted." Kel looked at the food, seeing that there was a large pile of the caramel rolls on it with other sweets.

Kel looked away and back at the bed, pulling on the comforter. She didn't deserve this, she didn't deserve him. Just a moment ago she thought he had just abandoned her when really he had just gone to get her food. She bit her lip, thinking of him leaving her. The thought surged a choked sob that she couldn't hold in and the ripping in her chest began to burn. She gasped, her hands shaking and she dropped the comforter. She sat on the edge of the bed, her head ducked as she tried to control herself.

Dom was on his knees in front of her before she could get a handle on the tears and pain. She saw him hold out a hand when one of her tears rolled off her nose and he caught it on his broad palm. "What's wrong?" His voice was tender, almost hurt in itself. The tarring intensified, stinging like salt was thrown on the whole created. It hurt more for him to be upset, especially if she was the cause.

Dom put a fist under her chin and forced her to look at him. Morbid as it was part of him didn't want her to stop crying. The moisture shimmering on her cheeks made her seem human. Attainable. Real. When she snuffled he couldn't help but let the corner of his lips curl up. So maybe she still didn't seem completely human, to him at least. He had never heard Neal mention her seeming godly. At the moment Dom thought the sky would open up in sympathy for the tearful girl, shedding its own tears for her grief. He thought the ground would break out in tremors to match her trembling lips. She sure was having that affect on him, his eyes filling with their own moisture at her crumbling frame. Kel didn't brake down. If she did there was no hope for a man like him.

"Please don't cry Kel." He brushed back a tear but another just took it's place. "Did you have a nightmare when you fell back asleep? I thought this would work. I thought I could stop-"

"I did-didn't have a nightmare Dom." Her voice was strangled with held back cries.

"Then what's wrong? What happened?" He cupped her face, his palms becoming slippery and he cradled her head in his hands. He held her in such a dominant position, being able to turn her head sharply at any moment and snap her neck, and she felt so fragile to him. He didn't want to have such a leading pose. He wanted to touch her in a way that wasn't dangerous, but he couldn't think of one. She seemed so breakable. Anyway that he touched her Dom felt like he would snap her. Kel wasn't breakable. This wasn't right. "Please Kel," he begged. "Don't cry. What happened?"

"You left."

Dom's heart shattered. He gathered Kel in a hug and she folded into him gratefully, tucking her head under his chin. Her body shook as she continued to weep. He stroked her hair, rocking back and forth slightly like she was nothing more then a child. "I'm so sorry." He murmured. Dom pulled her back and looked at her face. Her eyes held their sweet sadness rather then the void of emotion she blocked him out with. His eyes slipped from hers, passed her pink nose, and settled on her lips. He could feel her leaning closer to him, see her lips part willingly for him. Dom couldn't resist her wish and his need.

Hands holding her shoulders firmly he pulled her to him, his lips sliding over hers. Senses heightened. He felt his pulse increase rapidly. The nerve endings of his lips burned and the world stopped its rotation. Everything narrowed down to Dom and the woman sagging against him. His body rippled with her soft moan, trembled as she slid her hands under his shirt and they balled into fists on his chest. A fire ignited in the back of his mind when his mouth opened against hers and they slid together to be met. He was at a loss for breath after a moment of warm interrogation of the new territory, but it was Kel who broke away first with a gasp for breath.

"I'll never leave you." He barely got the words out before her mouth was on his again. Their lips moved quickly against one another, but still not seemingly fast enough. Her hands slid over to his back while his fisted in her hair. A moment ago it had been only them, now it was just Kel. Her smell. Her taste. Her feel against his palms burned through him. He felt nothing but her. Only when she began pushing up the hem of his shirt did he pull back.

"So soon?" He questioned. Dom couldn't solidify his voice to more then an uneven whisper. Her lips tickled against his while he spoke. Kel nodded eagerly and pulled him back to her.

It wasn't till three days later did Aiden's and Osbern's squads with Kel and Raoul meet up with the centaurs. Kel, mounted now on Peachblossom, looked sidelong at her silent riding companion. Ezhno was looking forward without regard for her presence. His steely features were lit by the little light bouncing off the snow. His brow shadowed his already dark eyes, his lips were shut seamlessly, and he never twitched.

Some of the centaurs wore beaded necklaces; a filly had given her one, and sashes around their shoulders to block their bare skin from the wind. Ezhno had a sash of deep purple over his shoulder, but not to protect him from the cold. Kel saw a dagger imprint under the cloth. He already had a bow over his shoulder, a long knife in his belt, and a Scimitar attached to his hip. Why would he need another weapon?

It was just then did she realize that he was looking back at her. "It's rather rude to stare." His voice was clipping and Kel had to fight not to let him see her distain.

"I was just wondering where you got the sword."

"Yes, I did steal it." He answered, confirming her suspicion to that part. Ezhno looked forward again, staring at the hollow darkness before them. They had been at this all day, but still he didn't seem tired. His eyes were sharp and flicked from shadow to shadow. Kel saw as his hand slipped to rest under his sash, like he was trying to get warmth from it, and watched as his fingers curled around the blade. "We raided towns." He continued. "There were, on occasion, soldiers there for your silly war. Never very many since most of the towns were small, so they were an easy enemy."

"Seems a bit harsh," Kel mumbled as she looked out at the darkness as well. "Taking a dead mans weapon, that and killing him in the first place." Dark shapes danced before her sight. Confused weather they were real or not she wrapped her hand around Phoenix's hilt and squinted. Maybe she should have Neal check to see if her eyes were alright.

"I had every right to kill him." His words were tight like a vice. "He followed us from leaving the town and caught a colt in a bear trap. Planned to sell him at auction," he slid the dagger out of his sash slowly. "I killed him before he could put a lead on the kit. Blackhoof insisted I take the sword to use the next time-"

He was cut off when one of the shadows leapt forward, coming towards Kel. She unsheathed Phoenix but it made no difference. Ezhno was in front of her before she could blink. A strangled scream came form the creature that had pounced and Kel shuttered; her stomach knotting. The scream had sounded like a man's.

The screaming died and men surged forward. Kel felt Raoul place a hand on her shoulder, steadying her. She looked up at him and nodded, telling him silently she was all right. Dismounting she moved to stand next to Ezhno to see what it was he had attacked.

Torches were lit and passed around. In the flickering light Kel saw the creature and gasped. Around her she heard men equally surprised and disgusted. A creation between a man and lion was capped with red blood at her feet. Kel crouched down next to it. The creatures jaws had hinges that let it hang open completely, its mouth going from one side of its face to the other to pass through large amounts of food. Its teeth were broad and pointed at the tips. They didn't look like metal or human teeth like she had seen on other immortals. Instead they looked like bleached bone, completely white and strong. The rest of the head was completely human and by the look of it male.

Kel looked over the finer details. The fur was a golden color, stained bronze from the blood, and was thick around the chest. The body was well muscled yet slender. At the end of the long tail there was a stinger like a scorpion. Lifting a paw she carefully looked at the nails and blanched.

"Raoul," she called. He hunkered down next to her and she pulled the paw out for him to see. "The claws aren't silver. Neither are the teeth."

"What does it matter?" Ezhno sounded uninterested in the discovery.

"Silver nails and teeth are the sign of an immortal from the Realm of the Gods." Raoul told the group. "This thing has neither. Either he was a mage experiment gone wrong or something else." He looked up and nodded to one of the men. "Bag it. They'll want to look at it at the University where they have the drake."

The next morning Kel stumbled into the mess with purple bruises under her eyes. Taking a seat next to Alanna she accepted a plate of food from Merric. "It should be at the university in a few days or so. Hopefully it won't start to decay as quickly as it would in hotter weather."

"You look tired." Faleron told her in concern. Domitan was sitting on the table next to Alanna and mowed.

Kel pull down her fork and rubbed her eyes. "I stayed up last night writing reports. The King wants one, Wyldon wants one, and even Numair wants to know what happened. By time I finished them it was light out." She scowled down at her food. "I need to go back and speak with Ezhno to find out what he saw then rewrite them."

"Why didn't you just wait till you spoke with him so you wouldn't have to write them twice?" Neal asked.

"That's not the way I do things Neal." Kel muttered darkly into her plate. Finishing up her food Kel quickly and silently dumped her plate and left the mess.

The snow was soft under her booted feet as she padded her way to the stables. A low wind whistled a hollow tune in her ear as it ruffled her hair. Kel wrinkled her noses as a rouge strand tickled her face. "I'm going to have to get it cut soon." She mused to herself.

"I wish you wouldn't." A voice floated to her ear.

Kel stopped and turned, peering through the light flurry of snow that had started earlier that morning. A dark shadow swiftly collected her in an embrace and familiar lips tugged on hers for a response. She obliged them gladly, allowing herself be led to a more sheltered corner. "Why not?" she managed to ask when they broke apart.

Dom rested his head on her chest. Above my heart, she thought. He'll be able to hear it beating, that's for sure.

Dom reached up a hand and cupped her neck, feeling her pulse against his fingers. Another sign she was real. "I like it longer. Frames your face, plus," he tweaked a strand that fell on top of his hand, "it's soft. Fun to play with."

"I have to go." She murmured when he slid his hand under her open jacket and looped his arm around her waist. "I need to catch up with the centaur herd."

Dom's head had been rested on her shoulder, nose nuzzling against her neck. He pulled back to look her in the eyes. "Alone?" She nodded. Dom shook his head. "No, I don't like it. You should have a squad or someone to ride with you."

"I'm only going to be gone for a while. Five minutes to find them, maybe an hour or two to talk with Ezhno, then ride back. With Hoshi it'll be no problem." She slipped out from in between him and the wall, tugging her hair back into place.

Dom reached out, taking her hand in his and spun her around. Kel looked surprised as she faced him, her mouth slightly parted. Taking advantage of that Dom kissed her deeply, pulling her close. His hands trembled, but he worked to hide that by locking them in her hair. He didn't want to admit that he was hurt. He had fallen sleep in her room the other night, curled up in the blankets alone and waking up to her face in the morning, but she hadn't said a word. She never mentioned being attacked by some creature. He had already known, the men wouldn't stop talking about it, but she never went into detail. Kel had never said a word about it even while he leaned against her desk, petting Domitan, and watching her write up the reports.

He felt Kel respond and that helped a little. The touches, the caresses, made it seem like she would tell him if anything like it happened again. For a while it made it seem like she knew he cared.

What if she cared? What if he told her the truth about him? How he felt for her and what he really wanted.

She drew back slowly and his hands lingered in her hair before sliding down to rest at his sides. Dom studied her face. Her eyes were lidded, her lips supple and bruised from kisses. Something burned in her eyes. Something that made his stomach twist and churn.

"Kel…Kel I-"

"I'm sorry Dom." She cut him off. Dom visibly slumped. "I have to leave now." She leaned forward and gave him a quick peck on the lips. "I promise I'll talk to you later, but I have to leave." She hesitated for a long moment. "I'm…I'm sorry about last night."

Dom looked at her flustered. Had she noticed? "What about last night?" He asked stupidly.

Kel fidgeted, inching further away from him and looking at the battlements. "Nothing. Just that my thoughts were elsewhere." She fiddled with a riding glove she pulled from her belt. "I just want to figure this out." She looked up at him and gave a weak grin. "I'm sorry. I don't mean to trouble you with my burdens."

"No trouble at all." Dom waved her off, though, her last statement troubled him. Did she think he did not care? He looked her in the eyes seriously. When she tried to look away he caught her face between his hands and held her, meeting her eyes squarely. "I've told you this before Kel. You can talk to me. I know you know you can. Upset, angry, scared, any reason. Don't shut me out. You don't need to."

"I'm alright-"

"No you're not!" There was a sudden firmness in his tone. "You wouldn't be having these nightmares if you were fine." He looked at her and Kel though t for a moment he looked bemused. "You won't tell me what really happens in them, either." He dropped her face and took a step back. "Why not?"

Kel's head began to pound. "They're my prob-"

"Problem?" The confused look was gone, replaced by irritation maybe even fury. "That's just the thing Kel. If it's your problem it's mine as well. I-I'm your friend." The word made his throat itch. "I just want to help."

"You're being ridiculous." Kel waved him off. "Dom, you're starting to sound like Neal."

"Then Neal is finally starting to sound smart!" Dom burst. "Do you think I'm the only one who's noticed? They all know, even the people who haven't been around you in awhile. They can sense the change!"

Kel pursed her lips. "What?"

"Merric, Faleron, Yuki, Raoul, Buri, Neal, even Seaver who was here for no more then two days!" He looked at her incredibly. "You said before that you dreamed of memories with the Own? Of Scanra?"

She nodded mutely.

"Maybe you should ask for leave. Take a break; go back to Mindelan for a while. Maybe make some good memories to cover up the bad ones."

I was only a suggestion, but Kel still buckled at the thought. "No."

"Just think about it-"

"No, Dom." Kel said determinedly. "I'm not leaving New Hope till I'm ordered."

"You can't possibly live like this!" Dom sputtered. "I can help you forget for a night and morning at best, but the thoughts that are causing the nightmares are still there. Kel, even I've had to take leave for a while because I couldn't cop-"

"I'm not having trouble coping!"

"Then what is this!" Dom's temper went off like a bomb of Blazebalm. He threw him arms over his head in a very Neal-like gesture. "Why else would this be happening? Why-"

"Dom?" They both turned. Fulcher was standing no more then five feet from them looking dazed. "Dom, Milord would like a word with you." Dom paled uncontrollably. The thought of Raoul knowing anything about Kel and his relationship was terrifying though Dom was well aware that he wasn't. The closest Raoul thought of them was as friends or maybe Neal got to him and told him of his interest in the Lady Knight tough Dom was sure Raoul wouldn't mind.

"We're not through here." Dom replied tersely.

"Dom," He looked to Kel. She was staring at him forbiddingly and dropped her voice to a curt whisper. "Just because Milord says he would like to have a word with you doesn't mean you have a choice."

He wanted to scream in frustration. She was right and he hated the fact. Not because she was right just what she was right about. "Fine." He huffed. "We'll talk later." He met Kel's eyes and saw her resentment. "You promised," he whispered. It came out as more of a hiss.

Reluctantly Kel nodded. Dom lingered for a moment before turning and leaving with Fulcher.

Kel stood there for a moment before she noticed the sun had moved in the sky. It was already noon and she needed to get the reports updated by the end of the night to be taken by the next messenger. Shaking off the thoughts of Dom she trotted to get Hoshi.

It didn't take long to find the herd. When she dismounted Ezhno was moving through the herd to meet her, Blackhoof trying to draw the attention away form the solitary human. "Let's do this fast." Ezhno huffed. Kel was fed up of dealing with piqued men. "The younglings always get riled up when there's a human around."

Ezhno seemed annoyed with her questions. Like they weren't worth the effort. When she asked him how he detected the creature as a threat he practically snorted out loud. "The way it moved." He sighed when he look said she needed more then that. "The creature kept repositioning itself. Bending over to get a good look, hunkering down to hide from sight, lifting its rear to spring. It…he…," Ezhno seemed flustered on what to properly call it. He snarled, surprising Kel. Surly he wasn't that confused. "He had the characteristics of a predator, not a prey." He amended. "And by all points the quarry was chosen to be you." He wrinkled his nose. "Though I don't know why. He probably wouldn't get any meat off of you."

Kel looked at him oddly. Most people would describe her as muscled. She shrugged it off. It was most likely different for centaurs who were wrapped in both human and horse strength. "Do you have any thought on what he might have been? Where he came from?" She asked as she jot down what he said.

"We have or suspicions."

Kel glanced up from her paper. "And?"

He sneered at her. "Wouldn't you like to know?" he pestered.

Kel's face was smooth as she took on her Yamani Lump stature. "The crown would."

She saw his lips twist and Ezhno looked away. "I doubt the crown would have much interest, but," he sighed heavily and turned back to her, "as the lady wishes." He said it mockingly, but didn't get any satisfaction from her calm face. "There is a beast," he went on glumly, "said to be bred by the water in the River Drell. The beast," he corrected himself. "The monster is pictured in old legends to have a treble row of teeth beneath and above." He indicated on himself. "It's said to have the greatness, the roughness, and the feet of a lion. His face and ears are of a man; his eyes grey, skin red, and with a tail of a scorpion casting forth sharp pointed quills."

Kel thought back to the creature now on its way to the university. At first sight the skin and eye color wasn't apparent and she hadn't the chance to get another look. The sharp teeth she had seen lined up with his story as well as the lion's body. Myth it may be, but it seemed possible that they could be the same creature. "What is it called?" she asked, waiting with her quill.

Ezhno looked surprised that she wanted to hear more and in his dark eyes she could almost see that he was also pleased. "Manticore." He told her. "It is called a manticore. The legend speaks of their fondness of flesh. 'Although the realms are full of divers ravening breasts, yet none of them are tilted with a title of man-eaters: except only the Manticore.'" He seemed to quote from the old tale.

Kel wrote quickly and looked back at him. "Do you think it's possible?" she asked. "Maybe a mage summoned it or made one to resemble the myth."

Ezhno shrugged. "Very possible. The creature doesn't match the tale perfectly. By how the story goes you can tame them by bruising their buttocks." He sounded amused by the thought. "It's so they can't work with the stinger. That was the first thing that I tried and he nearly got me in the face with it." He rubbed his nose, for the first time looking his age. His eyes sharpened and he dropped his hand. "Are we done here?" he asked crudely.

Kel nodded and blew on her paper, drying it. She didn't waste her time getting back to New Hope. Kel wanted to finish her reports before supper and the sun had moved again. She shared a few quick words with Blackhoof before mounting up.

The old centaur looked up at her with amused and aged light eyes. "He likes you. An oddity."

Kel looked at the centaur in confusion. "What? He likes me?" She glanced over at Ezhno who had rejoined the herd and making an effort to not look their way. "You're mistaken. Ezhno if anything detests me."

Blackhoof shook his head, smiling. "I know Ezhno and he's akin to you. He's an odd stallion. Doesn't like to admit when something isn't appalling or awful. He would rather think of all humans as bloody monsters." He saw Kel's still disbelieving look. "I know Ezhno." He repeated. "I raised him as my son when we found him. He's fond of you."

Kel's ears missed the last sentence. "Found him?" she asked. "He wasn't part of the herd?"

Blackhoof just smiled and waved her off, moving to join the herd again. "Till next time Protector."