I stared at him lost for words, all this time I had automatically presumed it would be Taleik who opened the well. I scowled at him yanking my hand free from his forgetting about the mistwraiths that surrounded us. He looked down at me a slight smile on his lips, his dark eyes like black holes sucking me in I averted my gaze and proceeded to scowl at the floor. He grabbed my chin quite forcefully and moved my head so I had to look at him and his other hand claimed my hand back.
"Let me explain and all will become clear" he said to me his face inches from mine.
"Did you know what would happen if you opened the well? Were you aware that those creatures..." I spat indicating to the mistwraiths "would kill people and that the mists would consume the city and spread like a plague throughout my kingdom?" I snarled aggressively.
"Yes, but..."
"I gave you my trust, my teams trust, when all along you were the cause of this" I said struggling to free myself but to no avail, I drew power and projected it to a nearby willow, the tree whipped its long trailing branches, flailing them, one cracked against Vex's cheek leaving a bloody gash. He shoved me to the ground breaking my concentration and stilling the tree, he traced the gash with his finger blood covering the digit. He rolled his eyes at me and lent down to pull me up, I tired to bat him away but he ignored me and pulled me to my feet, keeping a firm grip on my arm he marched me over to Minx.
"We don't have time for you to play Miss Morally Right and I would appreciate it if you listened to what I had to say before you send assassin trees after me. Up" he said giving me a boost up onto Minx's back. I said nothing and allowed myself to be placed on my mare's back, Vex hopped up behind me taking control of the reins, his arms either side of me boxing me in. This guy had dominance issues he always had to take the lead, be in charge and I couldn't see it going down very well with my friends and I struggled with that trait of his immensely as I loved to feel in control. Vex however had a subtle manipulative way of getting people to do what he wanted and when it didn't work he resorted to his rather strong magic.
He spurred Minx forward and she didn't even seem to care about the stranger on her back giving her orders, she lurched forwards in a gallop speeding towards the town. The mist seemed to part to allow us through warped by our speedy passing, curling madly in the air around us. Minx moved fluidly and with purpose and before I knew it we were rounding the back of the Swordfish inn where the stables reside. Vex dismounted and held a hand out to help me down, I sneered rejecting his hand and climbing down myself, he huffed in amusement. I ensured that Minx was safely back in her stable before making my way back to vex, we walked round to the front of the building the mists cool dew clinging to my skin it was oddly refreshing, I inhaled the crisp night air.
Vex entered the Inn first holding the door open for me bowing mockingly as I entered and as he had expected I scowled at him causing him to chuckle, he was enjoying this way too much. We found Gyn and Blake sitting in a secluded booth at the back of the bar they stiffened as we approached most likely tension at having Vex so near, they had a bottle of liquor on the table and 5 glasses. Vex grabbed the bottle and poured himself a drink and then filled a second for was no sign of Jet.
"Where is moody pants?" I asked my companions. Gyn screwed her face up, what was that expression?
"He is sulking in his room, perhaps you should go talk to him" Gyn replied. I nodded, Vex had made himself comfortable and blew me a kiss as I left I rolled my eyes and he laughed.
"So..." I heard his say as I left the room.
I made my way to our room, the door remained unlocked and I slipped inside. The men's bedroom door was shut; I knocked softly and heard a muffled 'go away' from the other side. Ignoring the request I opened the door and walked right in, Jet was sat on the edge of his bed head in his hands. He looked up at me as I entered, anguish written all over his face. I smiled gently and sat next to him on the bed.
"Gyn said that I should come and talk to you, is everything ok?" I asked placing a hand on his shoulder. He shook his head looking pitiful.
"No everything's not ok" he said flatly turning to face me "I was ok you know, just waiting patiently until you were ready, then that shadow mage came along and messed everything up with his suave words and cool swagger..."
"Jet what are you talking about?" I demanded in confusion.
"I'm talking about the fact I'm in love with you Keera and have been since the first day I saw you when you walked in late to Vectors seminar, your hair a mess because you had slept in and panicked to get there in time." He said staring at me intently.
I sat there dumbfounded lost for words, how come I had no idea his sudden revelation had me stunned. Cogs whirled in my head could I be with Jet? I looked at the man in front of me his shaggy light blond hair and silver eyes then Vex's image floated into my head his black hair falling into onyx eyes which seemed to have a never ending depth. One man who was almost innocent he could be kind and considerate and valued his friends although had the tendency to huff like a child and sometimes had the mentality of one, he had a pure serene essence. The other man was dark he had an alluring wickedness to him he was dominant and sure of himself, sexy. But at the same time he was the enemy wreaking havoc in my kingdom he was deceitful, right? Good and bad, black and white, what did I do? Jet was my friend it had been that way for years and I had never had any other feelings for him, Vex on the other hand I was drawn to like a magnet and no matter how I tried to repel him I was always pulled back to him. I shook my head.
"No please don't" he said beside me reacting to my shaking head. I looked up at him, sorrow etched onto his fine features, he knew my decision. In one last desperate attempt to sway me he gently cupped my face bringing it to his until our lips met, he kissed me gently, tenderly unlike Vex and his fierceness. He pulled back still holding my face and stared into my eyes with his silver ones, I averted my gaze looking down. He sighed and let me go his body drooping.
"I never stood a chance against him did I?" he said dejectedly "your drawn to him, you deny it yet deep down you crave his attention and love it when you get it, when he touches you your skin sizzles and he occupies most of your thoughts whether they be good or bad, believe me I know the feeling"
I shook my head in denial I didn't feel that way about Vex I refuse to especially after what I had learned tonight every time I find my opinion of him swaying he goes and shoots it back down again in style of course. Jet just gave me a sad smile as though he understood my torment.
"Jet I'm sorry" I said.
"Don't be its not your fault, you feel how you feel"
"You are a great guy and will find a girl who is perfect for you and can give you the love you deserve but that girl is not me, I'm sorry jet but this way I am setting you free and you can move on with your life, get yourself back out there" I said smiling at the last part, he smiled back.
"Thanks for being honest with me, I needed it."
"Hey that's what friends are for right" I said standing "come on we have a mission to discuss" I held my hand out, Jet grasped it and I pulled him up.
We made our way back to the bar to join the others. They were sat where we had left them, Vex had his feet up on one of the empty chairs and sipped nonchalantly on his liquor, he smiled and dropped his feet when he saw me approach tapping the chair next to him winking. I sat down and Jet took the seat on the other side of me, I picked up my glass and took a sip.
"Okies now we are all gathered I shall get straight to it as I am pressed for time, so it would be great if you did not interrupt me till I'm done." He said sitting forward and grinning at each of us pointedly. "I am in thane because I was sent on a mission by my farther the King of Karox..." I spat out my drink, he was the bloody prince of Karox! I looked at my friends their chins had hit the floor. Vex paused for impact smirking at our expressions. "It was my Shadow trial to enter Thane and fine, bless and bring him the Vency stone. So yes I opened the Avias Well" again he paused gauging our responses, I clenched my teeth and I could see Gyns expression harden, Blake and Jet remained impassive, impressive for Jet. "My farther is a good king and since he has been on the throne of Karox he has left Thane alone, he wanted to stone so he could rule eternally. Now I have no urge to become king the problem however occurred when my brother informed me that he had no intention of letting me give the stone to farther. He said that it was his turn to rule and he was going to claim the stone for himself and rule Karox after disposing of our farther. Once my brother has blessed the stone there is..."
"No way we can kill him" Blake said.
"Well not quite" Vex said frowning "another item was forged when the stone was enchanted it's a dagger and it is the only thing that can kill the holder of the stone. The dagger also needs to be blessed at the temples and once blessed it can be used to take down the holder of the stone if you stab them through the heart. My brother now seeks to claim the dagger too, only by having both items can he be truly unbeatable as he is unlikely to stab himself. Now the good news is that he has no idea where the dagger is hidden but neither do I if we can't get the stone off him we had better get the dagger before he does. I suggest that while you are waiting for me to return, you do some serious research, I have other matters I need to take care of and I will scour the Avias temple for any clues to the daggers whereabouts. Please excuse me" he said abruptly, he lent and kissed me on the cheek before departing.
We sat in stunned silence.
"He is a prince of Karox!" Jet squeaked.
"You know I can't help but think that we did the right thing trusting him, he obviously thinks a lot of his farther and he was correct when he said that the king is not a threat to Thane but I will bet my life's savings that Taleik will be if he claims the throne" Blake said logically and I couldn't help but whole heartedly agree with him.
"We still need to be careful" Gyn said "it seems to me that his loyalty is to his farther before anyone else".
We finished our drinks in silence Vex's speech swirling in each of our minds, one thing was crystal clear. Taleik had to be stopped one way or another.