As a week passed Anna continually trained and meditated with Joleena from early morning to midafternoon. But then after lunch, Joleena let her roam around the palace and the convention freely. Most of that time she spent with either Damien or Cecilia or both of them. Especially Damien. Anna hated to admit it, but she couldn't stop thinking about him. Or fighting with him. Or both. There was just something about his stoic way, his slow steady smile, and even the way he scoffed at her that just made her heart flutter in her chest. But there's no way she'd go out with him. Damien was just too rude or impassive sometimes for her to deal with.
After a pretty intense work out with Joleena, Anna ended up covered with sweat she took a quick shower. But when she stepped out and checked the time she saw that she was running ten minutes late to meet Damien.
"Oh crap, I'm late." Anna mumbled, quickly tugging on a pair of jeans. "Damien's going to give me an earful."
Damien was sitting in one of the chairs with a book, but set it down when she came up to him.
"You're late." He said dryly before she had a chance to say anything.
"I know, I know." She sighed. "No need to lecture me. Again."
"It's not like you listen anyway." He chuckled. "Anywhere specific you want to go today?"
Anna smiled and felt herself grow warm from his laugh. "Anywhere you want to go."
"Awesome. There's a book store that I've been wanting to take you to."
"Another one?" Anna felt her smile fade a little. "You sure like books a lot."
Damien's smile also faded and he looked evasive. "I like reading. Losing myself in a story or history is better than dreary reality."
"Are you hungry?" Anna said brightly. "Because I'm starving. Let's get something to eat before we head to that bookstore."
Before he had a chance to respond, she quickly grabbed his hand and led him out of the inn. The longer she got to know Damien the more he seemed to open up to her and yet still remained largely secretive. Anna did learn though that when Damien started became invasive, it was best to tug him back to earth before he drifted away.
As they walked outside into warm air, Anna realized that she was still holding Damien's hand and felt her cheeks flush a little. She started to pull away, he threaded his fingers through hers and held on tightly.
"Thanks." He said simply.
"No problem."
After a particularly brutal training session with San-Li, Joe felt absolutely exhausted. That and he had been up late last night studying with Fina. Magic laws and time travel regulations were crowding together in his mind and he kept mixing them up. It was a good thing that Fina was both patient and persistent, otherwise Joe would have given up a long time ago.
When he reached his and Joleena's room, he heard the shower running and a wide grin spread across his face. If there was one thing that could make Joe feel better, it was Joleena. So Joe quickly shed his clothes and decided to join her. He slowly opened the bathroom door and drew in a sharp breath of amazement.
Joleena was standing under the spray of water completely and wonderfully naked. Her chocolate brown hair tumbled down her back with the weight of the water. Her head was tilted upwards to feel the full spray of the hot water and her full lips were parted in a contented sigh.
Trying to be as quiet as possible Joe snuck up behind her and wrapped his arms around her waist. She gave a small gasp of surprise but then relaxed in his arms, leaning her head back against his shoulder.
"Hey," She giggled breathlessly. "I didn't even hear you come in."
"That's because you're standing right under the spray." Joe carefully maneuvered himself so he could get under the spray as well. Unfortunately, sharing a shower wasn't as sexy as he thought it would be. Half of him was freezing without direct contact with the hot water. Joleena chuckled and playfully elbowed him.
"Excuse-moi but I believe I was here first. Get your own shower."
"Excuse-toi but this is my bathroom too remember?" Joe laughed. "So how was training with Anna?"
"Bien. How was your training with Fina?"
"Ca-va. We stayed up late last night studying the current magic laws and time travel regulations." Joe cracked a huge yawn. "Then I had a sparring session with San-Li."
Joleena jumped with a small shriek when the water turned cold, but with a small flick of his wrist Joe reversed time so that the water remained hot.
"Few more minutes." He pleaded. "We don't get to do stuff like this too often."
"That's because it's half freezing." Joleena gave a small laugh and stepped out of the shower anyway.
Joe gave a mock sigh of disappointment and followed her out. "You're no fun."
"I know."
They wrapped themselves in a couple of towels and stepped out into their room to get dressed. As he put on his clothes, Joe watched Joleena carefully. Her usual graceful and confident movements were slightly sluggish and her eyes looked a little unfocused.
"So," He said slowly. "Did you ever talk to your mom again? You never did tell me what you guys talked about the first time."
Joleena visibly stiffened. "I did tell you. She was pretty busy so we kept things short. She's been busy ever since so we haven't spoken since."
"And your dad? Did you ever find out what was up with him?"
"No Joe I haven't!" Joleena snapped and turned to him with an annoyed look. "I haven't spoken or seen either of my parents in this past week so can you please just drop it!?"
Joe took in her tone behind her angry words and went over to her. He drew her into his arms and kept his voice soft and supportive. "Calmer ma cherie. I was only trying to help. Please don't snap at me okay?"
"I'm sorry," Joleena sighed, nestling into his chest. "It's just…worried. I haven't seen or heard from my dad all week and no one will tell me where he is. And to be perfectly honest my mother scares me a little."
"Well I'm sure your dad is just busy and your mom is a pretty intimidating woman."
"Ugh, sometimes I wish we could just warp back to New York and leave everyone else here."
Joe smirked. "We still could."
Joleena giggled and pulled away from him. "My father would bring me back in a heartbeat. Come on, let's head to the convention. The others are probably already there."
"Doubt it." Joe shrugged. "San-Li is paranoid about the Tenebrosi Sanction. Something about having a price on her head. Sam's been working nonstop on his inventions, and Fred and Fina are hanging out. So it's just going to be me and you I guess."
"And I wouldn't have it any other way." Joleena gave him a quick kiss and grabbed his hands. "I love you mon amour."
Joe smiled and leaned his forehead against hers. "Je t'aime aussi ma cherie."
The two of them stood with their arms around each, completely happy and at peace for once in what seemed like a long while. But then there was a high pitched shrieked and several shadows zipped past the window. They jumped apart in surprise and when they went to go check it out, an aftershock of air pressure shattered the windows.
Anna and Damien were walking close to the palace walls in the shade near the food vendors. They were in the less, magically powerful area of the convention, but it was just as bustling and busy. Their hands were still laced together and his thumb was absentmindedly caressing the back of her hand, sending faint shivers up her arm.
"So are you nervous about tomorrow?" He asked. "It's your little demonstration with the high and mighty."
"The high and mighty?" Anna chuckled. "You sound like my brother's friend San-Li, and no I'm not nervous. I once survived a luncheon with the Beauchenes you know."
"Ooh scary." He shuddered teasingly.
Anna giggled. He gave a soft smile and looked down at her through his ever present dark sunglasses. Strange, in all this time she had been spending with him, Anna had never seen Damien without them.
"Hey Damien," She started. "There's something I've been meaning to ask you."
Damien face became cautious and he looked away. "But what if you don't like the answer?"
Anna blinked but before she could say anything, a shadow zoomed overhead. She looked up and suddenly, several dark shapes flew through the air. When they circled lower Anna could see they were the same large birds, black volucris, which attacked the throne room Anna's first day here.
Other people noticed the large birds and a panic broke out. Everyone starting screaming and running for shelter, and the royal defense magicians were alerted. With loud, ear shattering screeches the black volucrises opened their mouths and fired the icy black, blasts fired from their mouths and exploded everywhere. The royal magicians and guards tried to use their magic to fight back and shield people, but more and more volucrises arrived and within minutes the air seemed to be filled with them. Hundreds of them. The very air around them seemed to drop several degrees as the ground was bombarded with their cold, dark magic.
"You have to get out of here Anna, it isn't safe!" Damien yelled above the noise.
"Are you kidding me!?" Anna yelled back. "I have to help these people!"
"What!?" He grabbed her by the shoulders. "You're a time traveler and a diviner, you can't fight these things!"
"I've fought them before and I'm doing it again!"
And with that Anna yanked herself out of Damien's grip and took off, filling her hands with magic.
"Obligandi catenulis interposuit!" She yelled.
Glowing pink chains fired from her hands and managed to incapacitate several of the birds long enough for the royal magicians to destroy them. But there were so many more volucrises than they could take out. That didn't stop Anna from trying though.
"Extensum catenulis interposit!"
The magic in her hands now transformed into long, whip-like chains that she had seen Joleena use many time. A black volucris streaked towards her, its mouth opened wide in a terrifying screech. Anna managed to dodge to the side, but the very tip of its wing managed to cut her shirt. Regardless, Anna managed to get wrap one edge of the chain around the volucris's neck. Planting her feet, she barely managed to hang on as it dragged her across the ground, through the crowd of terrified people. The other chain she used to shot at the volucrises around her, killing them on impact. A wave of exhilaration went through Anna. This was so much better, and those stupid birds were being destroyed left and right. She finally felt as powerful and strong as Joleena.
Suddenly, there were several even more powerful explosions all around her in different shades and colors. Among the chaos, Anna saw the other more powerful magicians had finally come to the rescue, Joleena and her brother included. Them, plus the royal defense magicians were finally able to get most of the volucrises under control.
Without warning the volucris she was using suddenly veered upwards, yanking Anna off her feet. She jerked back on the chain in an attempt to control it, but her panic caused her to break her own magic. Now separated from the giant bird, Anna was sent falling back to earth. The volucris swerved straight into the palace wall, exploding on impact, and the breath was knocked out of Anna's lungs as she hit the ground, knocking her into a daze.
The explosion from the volucris's impact caused large pieces of concrete debris to rain down. Anna gasped and brought her arm up to protect her head, unable to move.
But then there was streak of black shadow followed by a cool gust of air and Anna found herself in Damien's arms. She gasped when she saw him. His pale skin was now tan, his features more angular, and the sunglasses were gone revealing bright orange eyes. But most shocking of all were the two black, shadowy wings protruding from his back.
"D-Damien!?" Anna stuttered.
"I'm sorry you had to find out this way Anna." He whispered.
Just before the large pieces of debris hit them, Damien thrust up his hand sending out a blast of dark magic that completely shattered the debris. Smaller fragments rained down on them but Anna couldn't stop staring at Damien. Those wings. Those eyes. Now Anna knew exactly why Damien looked so familiar.
Damien was, some way, some how, related to the shadow man and woman who kidnapped Joleena.
"Anna," Damien slowly lowered his arm and searched her face. "I know what this may look like but please-"
"A shadow mage! Arrest him immediately!"
There was a cry of outrage and Damien was suddenly swarmed by dozens of guards, Anna pulled from his arms.
"Anna!" Joe grabbed her by the shoulders and peered into her face. "Anna are you alright!? Did he hurt you?"
Anna could only shake her head mutely. She watches as Damien retracted his wings and held his arms up in a sign of surrender. That didn't stop the guards though from violently knocking him to the ground, bind him in inhibitors, and haul him away. Their eyes met for a brief moment until Damien was dragged into the palace, the doors shutting behind them with a resounding thud.
Damien was a shadow mage. A dark magic wielder. And Anna may have fallen in love with him.
A/N- Don't forget to review please