Chapter 21- Long Hidden
The next morning:
"You look dressed for travel," Maggie commented as she ran into Delos in the stables.
"Well," Delos replied, "That's what I mean to do- travel, that is."
"Oh," Maggie nodded and gave a small smile. "Where to?"
"A friend," Delos answered simply. He studied Maggie's face intently, "Have you been crying?"
"No," Maggie answered. "Why would I cry?"
Delos shrugged, "I heard your brother went missing."
Maggie's smile vanished. "Yes, oh, I miss him terribly. I hope he's alright."
Delos felt his heart clench when he realized he was the one that made her cry. He was the one who made her worry. He was- wait. Why should he care?
"I'm sure he will be found," Delos said reassuringly, knowing he probably wouldn't.
-0-
"Oh, he's absolutely…" Jade couldn't find the words. "He's everything I'd ever hoped for! Sensitive and adorable and funny." Jade frowned down at her audience. "But human. He's also human."
Tiggy, her cat, looked extremely uninterested and instead of meowing as a polite cat would, he continued to groom himself.
"I just don't get it, how could fate be so cruel? I finally meet someone I even remotely like, and it's impossible for us to be together." Jade sighed and stroked Tiggy, grabbing his tail and twisting it nervously. "You won't tell anyone- will you?"
Tiggy meowed angrily and yanked his tail from her grasp. "Of course not," Jade smiled at her own foolishness. "I can tell you anything."
Tiggy continued to lick his paws and Jade leaned back on the bed. "Oh, what am I doing? Talking to a cat when there are plenty of perfectly trustworthy girls out in the academy I could be pouring myself out to." Jade shot a glance at Tiggy, "But I trust you the most."
"Talking to your cat again?" A voice said from the doorway and Jade jumped- surprised to see her sister standing in the doorway.
"How much did you hear?" Jade asked anxiously.
"Not much," Kestrel shrugged, "Just you inflating Tiggy's already huge ego. I swear, you spoil that cat to no end."
"I love him," Jade said defensively, relieved Kestrel hadn't been there to hear the part about Mark.
Kestrel rolled her eyes, "Well, if you feel like talking to someone who can talk back I'll be in town- so go to Rowan or Ash or something."
Jade shrugged, "Feed the horses before you go, they looked hungry last I saw them."
Kestrel pushed away from the door, "I don't take care of the horses, that's the stable boy's job. And besides, I'm weak at the moment. I need a snack."
"You should just feed on the students and teachers like the rest of us," Jade suggested, knowing her advice would not be taken to heart.
"Nah," Kestrel said, true to Jade's prediction. "There's something too… musty about the blood here. It must be something in the food."
"I think the food is fine," Jade scratched Tiggy on the nose and the cat sneezed, and then glared at Jade.
"Well, it's better in the city, which means better blood," Kestrel began to back away and into the hall. "I won't be back until sunset. Try not to get into too much trouble, and keep that cat away from my suitcase. I don't want hair over all of my garments."
-0-
"Have you been here the whole time?" Claire shot an accusing glare at Mary- Lynnette.
"Ummmm…" Mare shifted uncomfortably. "Yes."
"Relax," Ash rolled his eyes. "Mary- Lynnette isn't breaking any rules, she has the day off."
"Hmph," Claire grunted unhappily. "I see you've already tidied the place."
"Yeah," Mare said, awkwardly. It was always this way when a working maid ran into an off duty maid. Uncomfortable.
Of course, it didn't help that Mare was usually the one who cleaned this hallway of dorms. Claire was probably working overtime because of her.
"I could carry that," Mare said, nodding at a dirty clothes hamper, "If you need any hel-"
"No," Ash ordered firmly. "You're taking the day off. We've been over this."
Mare gave Ash a withering look, but didn't jump to her feet to help Claire.
"It's alright," Claire assured her friend. "Really, I'm fine."
Claire began to walk back out, but a command from Ash stopped her.
"What?" She asked, anxious to get out of the awkward atmosphere.
"Mare said you thought Jez might be your cousin," Ash stated. "Do you really think that?"
Claire shifted. "She definitely looks like my aunt, I mean, the portrait of my aunt. And I looked into the schools archives and, well, there's just too much evidence. So, yes, I do think she's my cousin."
Ash looked troubled. "Oh." Was all he said. "Well, thank you for your time."
Claire, taking that as a dismissal, closed the door behind her.
As soon as she was gone, Ash turned to Mare and inquired, "Do you think you can get me those records Claire was talking about?"
"I can try."
-0-
"Keller," Galen called. When no one answered, he pounded on the door again. "I've apologized about a hundred times, I've sent flowers, what else can I do to make it clear I'm sorry?"
"You can go away," Keller yelled out to him. "It's Wednesday, remember?"
"Keller," Galen's voice faltered- remembering the agreement they'd reached at the beginning of his stay. "I'm not asking you to protect me, I just want to talk."
"Well," Keller's voice was getting louder, "I don't."
Galen starred at the hard wood door and sighed. He was miserable.
Keller was, needless to say, still angry. About what?, Galen asked himself, and the answers came in hordes, Everything. Iliana's clinginess and his unwillingness to shake her off, him looking at the note, the strange connection they'd discovered, everything.
Wait- Iliana. If anyone knew about girls, she did.
Galen backed away from the door and scurried down the hall.
-0-
"Wait," Iliana shook her head. "Let me get this straight. You accidentally snooped, made this mystery girl angry, and now you want me to tell you how to make things right."
"Yes." Galen nodded.
"Well," Iliana said slowly. "It would help if I knew who this girl was, and what it is you know about her that she didn't want known."
Galen shook his head. "I can't tell you who she is, and it would just make things worse if I told anyone what I saw. I can only say it was a painful part of her past."
Iliana nodded, trying to figure out how to go off of what she had, "If you can't give me a name, can you at least describe what she's like?"
"She's fiercely protective," Galen started, saying the first thing that came to mind. "She has a strong sense of right and wrong and honor. She never backs down, no matter how hard things get. She's persuasive and tough; she can take anything life throws her way, no doubt about it."
Iliana despaired. The way Galen talked about her… he was obviously in love. It was plain to see he wanted to make things right with whoever this woman was and it pained him to have upset her.
But you have the power, she reminded herself. He turned to you, he trusts you, you can lead him in whatever direction you want. Your word is law. He'll do anything you say to get her back. Iliana started to feel less depressed. You can lead him in whichever direction you want, good or bad.
Immediately, Iliana felt guilty. Who was she to destroy someone's happiness just to feel happy herself? Besides, she wanted Galen to love her truly- not because the one he really wanted to be with didn't want to be with him.
Then, an exceedingly pleasing thought entered her mind. What if he falls in love with me while trying to win back the heart of this mystery girl? How romantic would that be?
Iliana smiled. "So, you've apologized and sent flowers… anything else?"
"I can't think of anything else," Galen sighed. "She isn't easy to please."
"What are you good at?" Iliana urged.
Galen shrugged. "Well… I like poetry."
"There you go," Iliana smiled. "Write her a poem."
Galen froze than a small smile twitched to life upon his lips. "Iliana, you are an angel from above."
Iliana blushed, and was about to respond, but it was too late. Galen had already hurried out the door- off to woe that girl.
Why does he need her? Can't he see he already has me?
-0-
"I just don't know," Morgead groaned.
"What is there to be confused about?" Maggie asked. "She's going through a hard time, she didn't want your help, and you kissed her. Not the kind of thing she needs right now, it's only natural that she ran."
"But I can help her," Morgead sighed. "I told her I would help her and she refused. She even told me to go home."
"Maybe this is something she has to fix by herself." Maggie shrugged.
"You're taking this too lightly," Morgead scowled. "You weren't there. She pretty much told me to get lost."
"Just lay low for a while, she'll come back around." Maggie took a shirt off the clothes line. "She just needs a little time and space, so what? Everyone does once in a while."
"But-"
"Stop," Maggie ordered. "You're over thinking things. Jez will resolve her problems eventually and when she does she'll welcome you back with open arms."
-0-
No matter how many times Gill told herself to forget about it, Thea's words just kept coming back to her.
They made sense in a way, but Thea didn't know Angel like she did. Angel was sweet, all he'd ever done was help Gill, and although he could be a bit cryptic at times she didn't trust him any less.
What worried Gill most was the part about the body. Thea's words held a note of truth, and Angel was planning on coming back. Could angels do that? And if they could, did they really need failures like Gillian to help?
Gillian had never done anything noteworthy in her life- and had almost gotten killed by her own foolishness twice. Her parents didn't care about her, and she had very few friends. How could she be anything special?
You have so much potential, potential that is being abused by that mischievous ghost, that's what Thea had said. That's what Thea thought.
But was she right? Was Angel really just using her as a portal? Was Gillian misusing her powers?
-0-
Poppy's eyes widened as she saw James at her cell door.
"Poppy," He hissed, "don't worry; I'm going to get you out of here."
"James, the guard-"
"Taken care of," James said and slid the key into the lock. "Not dead, but not conscious either."
"Why are you here?" Poppy asked.
"I told you," James answered and inserted another key, "To get you out."
"This is dangerous," Poppy warned.
"I know," James grimaced and tried, yet another, key in the lock. "But you're worth it."
The door sprang open and James rushed in. "James," Poppy started. "I can't walk; you're going to have to carry me."
"What?" James asked, and his eyes nearly popped out of his head when he saw her leg. It was a charcoal black and Poppy was slightly surprised it hadn't crumpled into ashes by now.
"Poppy…" James trailed off. A determined expression crossed his features. "I can fix this. I will fix this-" He said that more to himself, but the next words were meant for her, "but right now we have to get out. I have a horse prepared for us. If we can just make it across town we're free. You're free."
James hoisted Poppy onto his back, as if he were giving her a piggy back ride like they did when things were simpler. Back before James started taking an interest in other girls, back when Poppy had him all to herself, before Phil became so overly protective.
Things definitely weren't simple now, and Poppy doubted they ever would be again.
-0-
James tried focusing on the task at hand, but he couldn't stop thinking about Poppy's leg.
It was burnt to a crisp, and James knew that if put to work, well, it wouldn't. It couldn't work.
But that was no matter, because he could fix this- he hoped. He desperately wished that this was an injury that could be healed with his blood. That by feeding her his blood her leg would become functional once more. But fire had the power to kill vampires.
Did that mean the seared flesh would not heal?
James fought back the surge of frustration and anxiety and moved as quickly and silently as he knew how.
Poppy hung onto him like a monkey to a tree, which was a good thing because there were several shortcuts that required ladder- climbing.
Finally, they made it out into the sunlight and Poppy blinked at the sudden brightness. James had taken the series of underground tunnels that lead him as close to the village outskirts as possible. There were not many people, but there was still the off chance they would be spotted.
A man giving a dirty, injured, red-headed woman a piggy back ride wasn't the sort of thing that went unnoticed, unfortunately, and a cry broke through the air.
James could see the horse; they were so close, and…
They made it. James helped Poppy mount the horse, then climbed on himself. Without a moment to spare they raced through the remainder of the village and into the woods.
-0-
Delos shed his cloak and entered the room.
"My prince," The witch smiled.
"Sylvia," Delos remained expressionless.
"Things have run smoothly during your absence." Sylvia jumped right in. "We even have a new slave."
"New slave?" Delos raised an eyebrow. "I wasn't aware we needed any more."
"It never hurts to be prepared." Sylvia shrugged. "And besides, I liked the boy. He was handsome."
"Sylvia, you have a bad habit of pampering the new recruits. I suggest you give the poor thing a break." Delos sighed.
"Don't worry, Miles is still chained up." Sylvia frowned. "He tried to run away, so I had to make things difficult."
"Miles?" Delos asked. The name rung a quiet bell. The name was important…he'd heard it somewhere before…
"Miles Neeley." Sylvia said. "Gentleman in the human world, and a gentleman in this one. The boy is the most polite prisoner I've ever had the pleasure of taking care of." Sylvia laughed. "That isn't to say, of course, that it's been easy. He's nearly slipped the leash several times now."
Miles Neeley. Maggie's missing brother.
Miles had been taken prisoner by Delos's own witch.