Not All is Fair in Love and War

Chapter 24

Hailey woke up even earlier than usual- she slowly and secretly made her way out of camp and broke for the surface to watch the sunrise- it was bright red- the morning was colder than usual as well, ice crystals were starting to form in her hair- her lips were turning as blue her tail- but it didn't matter to her- she just needed a moment of peace and reflection.
"Hey..." Ari said behind her.
"Hey..." Hailey said looking back at her.
"So this is where you sneak off to, it's a little cold, ok, very cold." Ari said, making small talk as she swam up to be next to her cousin and watch the sunrise herself.
"Doesn't matter- it's the colors that count. Look at them, very few things can compare to a sunrise like that." Hailey replied, watching the sunrise and feeling renewed by soaking in it's rays.
"Yeah, it's beautiful and relaxing, except for the cold part, seriously- it's literally freezing, come on- lets get back before they notice." Ari reached out and tugged her arm. Hailey took one last look at the brilliant sky- it was now turning more pink and orange but still stunning. They get back into camp and sneaked under the radar of the night watchmen. Ari brings Hailey into her tent that's right across from Hailey's.
"Whew- that was fun." Ari said while putting a blanket over her, trying to get warm again.
"Yeah, oh- sorry how rude of me." Hailey heated up the water surrounding them to warm them up.
"How come you didn't do that earlier?" Ari asked.
"Didn't think of it, sorry."
"There are times I don't know about you, it's like your body is here but your head is a million miles away." Ari noted, shaking off her chill.
"Well to tell you the truth- with Valen here I would rather be a million miles away." Hailey said under her breath.
"Don't let him get to you." Ari consoled.
"I try not to! But some how he finds his way under my skin and frays my nerves and drives me crazy with every little quip and throw down. He's the personification of a shit eating dirt bag and what he says should not matter in the least to me, in fact what he says should be considered worthless..." Hailey grumbled.
"It still hurts huh?" Ari replied softly.
"It's been 6 years and I tell myself it shouldn't hurt, I should get over it, I'm with Ishmael now and time heals all wounds and Ishmael is making leaps and bounds in helping be get over it, but...perhaps...I just heal slower than others." Hailey said as she messed with a lock of hair. Ari looked at her cousin with sadness. Even tho Ari had never had her heart ripped out of her chest and tossed to the sharks like Hailey's had been. Valen had played her bad. Even tho he had bragged about how he 'conquered' her, which was a blatant lie, she felt just as horrible and betrayed as if he had.
The sounds of someone riding into the stables broke the silence and Hailey went to investigate, for all the new arrivals were supposed to have already arrived. Hailey turned invisible and saw someone get off a black stallion that resembled her own Kalakaua. They were wearing a cloak almost exactly like her own but their tail was red. The person whispered something to the sea horse that Hailey could have sworn was very ancient form of Atlantian, then the person took off their hood, it was obvious it was a girl, she had blonde, curly hair that had the most beautiful ringlets. Then the girl turned around and stared at Hailey and smiled. Hailey immediately knew who it was. Hailey turned off her invisibility and squealed with joy. It was Alexandria- Sephira's Alexandria. Her blue swirling eyes gave her away. Hailey succeeded in knocking her over with a hug.
"Oh am I happy to see you!" Hailey said as she squeezed her friend to almost the point of breaking her.
"Likewise Hailey, can I get up now?" Alexandria asked with a giggle.
"Yeah, sorry, a little zealous." Hailey replied.
"That's an understatement." Alex said as she got up and brushed herself off.
"So have you come to help us fight?" Hailey asked with an eager smile.
"Well yes and no." Alexandria's answer confused Hailey.
"Excuse me?" Hailey replied.
"I am here to make sure you don't go into another coma. So yes I will fight by your side but my main concern is making sure you stay alive." Alexandria explained.
"Ok...that's not troubling at all..." Hailey says sarcastically.

"It's not meant to be troubling but it's meant to be comforting. Anyway, so can I bunk with you?"

"Um...well..." Hailey replied as she tried to come up with the words to explain why that wouldn't be a good idea. Alexandria looks at her curiously before seeing Hailey's engagement ring.

"Never mind, I'll see if I can bunk with Ari." Alex replied with a chuckle. Hailey blushes deeply but nods in agreement.
"Hello?" A voice came from one end of the barn, Hailey turned her head invisible to peek out for a second. It was Lomi. She ducks in and tells Alexandria who it is. Alexandria tilts her head to the side and repeated his name a few times as she was trying to remember something.
"Have you ever met him?" Hailey asks while whispering low.
"Perhaps, but there is just something about that name that just is..." Alex replies as if trying to remember something from a long time ago.
"Well you should meet him then cause...you just need to meet him. He's such a great guy and he has a face and a body to match." Hailey replied.
"Well that does it then huh?" The girls straiten up for a second before coming out of their stall. Lomi jolted slightly at the two girls seeming to appear out of nowhere. He just stood there staring at them, well Hailey he recognized, but the other girl seemed to come out of a dream. Even at a distance he could see she was different but not in a negative way, it was actually drawing him in. They got a little closer and Lomi and Alexandria just stared at each other for the longest time. Hailey was a bit confused by this, but she excused herself, not that either one of them noticed or even cared.

It was as if time stood still and the two of them just stood there, half smiling but just staring at each other, like coming face to face with something from the past, the future, a fantasy perhaps all at the same time. It wasn't till Kalakaua whinnied and broke the silence that they broke from their trance like state. Alexandria held out her hand to shake his.
"Alexandria" Alexandria said- introducing herself.
"Lomi" Lomi said shaking her hand.
"Nice to meet you." 'Again' she added in her head.
"Nice to meet you too, where are you coming from?" Lomi asked.
"Sephira." Alexandria answered.
"That would explain the eyes." Lomi quickly replied before thinking how it would come across.
"Yes, I get that a lot." Alexandria replied with a chuckle.
"Sorry, didn't mean it like...ugh" Lomi replied, slapping his palm to his face for sounding like an awkward teenager.
"No, it's ok, I'm used to it."
"But they are...gorgeous." Lomi replies, trying to recover.
"My eyes?"
"Yes, well- all of you..."
"Thanks, you are...uh... too kind." Alexandria replies, trying to be gracious.

Both of them blushed as red as her tail and the moment turned awkward again. Alexandria excused herself and got her satchel- almost an exact replica of Hailey's. She swam out of the barn and went to Ari's tent where Hailey and Ari were waiting.
"Oh my god..." Alexandria said, her eyes becoming brighter and flowing faster.
"Told you he was awesome." Hailey said while she leaned against a support beam.
"Wait, what?" Ari cut in.
"Ari- this is Alexandria, Sephira's Alexandria." Hailey said, effectively introducing the two of them.
"Sweet! Oh it will be so awesome to fight by your side." Ari replied with giddiness.
"Likewise." Alexandria said regaining her composure.
"So- let me show you to the bedroom section of the tent." Ari said going to the back of the tent. They set up another bunk for her and got her settled in.
"So why did you say 'oh my god' when you came in?" Ari asked.
"Maybe it's none of your business Ari." Hailey countered.
"No- you're fine Ari- it's just that you fight with some really handsome soldiers." Alexandria replied.
"Oh- which one did you meet?" Ari asked.
"Lomi?" Alexandria said almost like a question, like she's getting used to saying the name.
"Oh yeah- he's gorgeous, like GORGEOUS, his brother is even more handsome in my opinion but really full of himself which makes him less attractive in the long run." Ari explained.
"I completely agree." Alexandria said with a grin and blushing lightly.
"Plus you're red probably complements his green really well." Ari added with a wink.
"Huh- never thought of that." Alexandria noted.

After that Ari and Alexandria got into a very intense conversation about fighting styles and strength training and blah blah blah. Hailey watched the two of them go back and forth and felt her mind grow numb. She wondered if Ishmael had woken up yet.
"Excuse me" Hailey said abruptly and went outside to breathe. Ishmael was just coming out of his tent that he had just sneaked back into and smiled at her. She went over to him and asked if they could speak privately. He was barely in his tent with the tent door closed before Hailey had her arms around him and her lips pressed firmly into his. It was as if she had been set fire again, she allowed her heart to become fully engulfed in the love she felt for him. He was pleasantly surprised at this but that didn't stop him from matching her fervor and holding her so close he was almost afraid he would crush her.
"What brought that on?" Ishmael asked with a bright smile.
"I wanted to thank you." Hailey explained, a bit out of breath.
"For what? I haven't done anything special. Unless it's a thank you for last night and in that case, there is no thanks needed." Ishmael replied, his sexy smile across his face.
"The thanks is for loving me, even when I didn't love myself."

"I will always love you. No matter what." He affirmed.

"Same here." Hailey replied before claiming his lips again.

"Oh and Alexandria, Sephira's Alexandria is here..." Hailey said as she broke away.

"Why?"

"She said it was to keep me from going into another coma, but who knows with her..." Hailey replied with a shrug.

"Should I be worried?" Ishmael asks.

"She said I should be comforted but that doesn't keep me from being a bit suspicious." Hailey answered.