Chapter 26

While Raine spent most of her time in bed recuperating, the Renegade base experienced an explosion of activity. Soldiers were busy running field operations, and even the cooks and lowly ranked privates were busy accommodating a growing population of half-elf refugees. But despite the quadrupled workload, the Renegades took on their duties with an extra spring to their step.

Unknown to the self-made scholar was that her reputation had grown from tragic heroine to legend in less than a fortnight. The Renegade soldiers, much to the chagrin of their commander, wasted no time in retelling every grueling detail in the aftermath of Raine's one-woman battle royal. This led to wild speculations of the battle itself, but to the newly freed scholars and other half-elf refugees it elevated Raine's status to a veritable goddess.

And now since a living legend was in residence, a sense of half-elf solidarity and kinship swept the Renegade base inhabitants. And while this newfound solidarity would help the cause for half-elf acceptance in the future, the current collective goal was a bit different. The motivation that got soldiers up before the crack of dawn, and willowy scholars in basic training was simply…

Revenge.

There was a new generation of Raine Sage devotees, and they were out for blood.

As a result the incorrigible Lloyd Irving had long ago succumbed to the fever that gripped the oceanside base. And he was eager to join in on the action.

The excitable teen shifted restlessly as a tank-like elevator descended a seemingly fathomless dark sea. However, the elevator's other occupant was as still and silent as a statue, waiting patiently to reach the separate prison block on the ocean floor.

Lloyd's eyes settled on the eerily silent ocean through a small circular window. Different hues of blue cast wavering refractions of light over the elevator's occupants. Quickly growing board, Lloyd's eyes drifted to Kratos.

The man, no, his father looked as calm as the waters outside. Lloyd may have been a little slow, but stupid he was not. He was certain that Kratos had feelings for the professor. He wasn't quite sure to the extent of those feelings, but Genis' overall annoyance with Kratos had the lethargic gears in Lloyd's head turning in a certain direction. Either way, Lloyd was hoping to see a little more excitement from his dad at the prospect to dealing some much-deserved justice to a bunch of bad guys.

Kratos' sharp eyes shifted to catch Lloyd's searching gaze. Shocked, the young dual swordsman offered a weak smile and quickly looked away. Even though the lingering awkwardness between them had abated over time, Lloyd tended to become alarmingly self-conscious when alone with Kratos.

Clasping his hands behind his back and rocking on his heels, Lloyd's eyes not-so-subtly traveling to Kratos again. Despite that small sense of unease, a wave of pride washed over the young warrior. For Kratos was by far the coolest man alive, it was a fact Lloyd was willing to argue with anyone.

Within days of their arrival at the Renegade base, Kratos had seamlessly stepped up to take charge. Now, he practically ran the base and watching him in action never failed to impress Lloyd.

Minutes later the heavy air lock to the elevator worked itself open with deep echoing clicks. The base's prison opened up into an expansive corridor that branched off into numerous hallways. The steel blue color of the walls and ceiling reminded Lloyd of the ocean depths they traveled to get here; it was kind of intimidating.

Lloyd followed behind Kratos closely, his soulful brown eyes scrambled to keep track of the flurry of activity.

Circus carnivals weren't this crazy. Prisoners were filed here and there. Guards rushed about, jangling loudly with keys and handcuffs swinging from their belts. Holding cells made of thick glass held dozens screaming mercenaries that yelled obscenities at each passing half-elf.

It was insane.

The young swordsman did a double take when a nurse, dressed entirely in pink, merrily wheeled one bleeding prisoner out of a room singing apologies every time she purposely rammed the gurney into a wall. Kratos didn't even so much as blink at the prisoner's cries of pain disappeared down the hall. Lloyd on the other hand was failing miserably at suppressing a deep bone-jarring shiver.

"I knew this was going to happen," Kratos muttered to himself. It was only by chance that Lloyd picked up the statement. Lloyd could only follow mutely as Kratos turned a sharp corner and trod down an adjacent hall lined with numbered doors.

Down the opposite side of the long hall an officer bearing a number of badges was quick stepping towards the father son pair.

"Warden," Kratos didn't shout, but the deep resonance of his voice rose above the loud prison.

Now in full view Lloyd could tell that the warden was a woman, and aside from the cone-shaped ears, she looked a lot like Sheena; only not so big upfront. Lloyd blushed at the thought and looked down at his feet, hoping that she hadn't caught him staring.

The warden approached Kratos with wary curiosity.

"Lord Aurion, sir," she saluted smartly, ignoring the beads of sweat that rolled down her temples; running the prison was no easy task.

"We agreed that the detainees were not to be harmed, warden," Kratos stated in measured tones.

The warden's eyes flashed briefly with confusion. "Ah. Yes, sir, that is the protocol as of last week."

"Then please explained to me why Emergency Care had to be called?"

"I wasn't aware that-"

"Warden," Kratos interrupted. "As a commanding officer…"

Lloyd didn't care catch the rest of the conversation, quickly growing bored. Kratos' lectures tended to drag on. Lloyd didn't want to stand around and talk; he was itching to be a part of this huge operation.

There was a heavy grunt as a guard unit marched some prisoners down the far side of the hall; Lloyd looked on enviously.

Could some of those guys be the ones you hurt Genis?

Lloyd balled his fist at his sides, angered. He couldn't wait to confront the spineless bastards, who dared target someone weaker to win a battle. Lloyd had a huge score to settle with those mercenaries.

Now if only Kratos would shut it, and they could get on with dealing some much-deserved justice.

"…Dismissed." Lloyd instantly perked up and turned round in time to see the warden salute and quickly disappeared around the corner.

Kratos rested a hand on his sword hilt shaking his head like the frustrated school teacher who had to put up with slow students. Lloyd would know, because he'd seen the professor with that very same expression.

"So, uhh what now?" Lloyd asked, poorly masking his impatience.

"Now that we have detained a bulk of the mercenary company, we will commence a round of interrogations," Kratos pulled a keycard from the inside of his white and blue outer jacket.

Lloyd blinked once. "What?"

"We're going to questioned the prisoners," Kratos clarified.

The seraph turned the shiny metal card between his fingers as if deep in thought. He then glanced at Lloyd with an uncertain expression falling upon his stoic features.

"Lloyd, I know how much you want to help, but…"

Lloyd blinked owlishly, nearly bouncing on the balls of his feet, "But what?"

Kratos looked into Lloyd's unassuming enthusiastic brown eyes and nearly lost his nerve. "… I'm not sure that this kind of work is suited for you."

Lloyd shook his head vigorously countered with, "What do you mean?"

Kratos suppressed a sigh, looking into the eyes of his only son. "I'm going to be honest with you, Lloyd. There are going to be things that you will not agree with during the interrogations. I can't have you interrupting if you get upset."

"How can I get upset? I won't get in the way, I promise," Lloyd nearly begged; a silly sight for a young man his size, but beg he did.

Kratos met the challenging and determined look in Lloyd's eyes, and conceded without much of a fight. "Very well, you can come along, but only to observe. Understand?"

Lloyd pumped his fist in victory, "Got it."

"Let's go, we'll start in the next hallway over."

Lloyd eagerly fell into step behind Kratos.

Exactly thirty-four minutes later Lloyd stumbled drunkenly out into the corridor. His rubbery knees barely made it to the opposite wall, before he was forced to stop and gather his scattered wits. Lloyd pressed his sweaty forehead to the cool metal wall waited to catch his breath.

He weakly looked around before plopping down on a recently vacated chair. Haunted brown eyes stared vacantly at the metal grated floor. He had not idea that Kratos could be so… so… Scary.

"Lloyd?" inquired a deep voice.

The young man in question nearly fell out of his chair, "Ah… yeah?"

"Are you alright?" Kratos questioned with little inflection to his voice.

"I… I'm fine," Lloyd assured shakily. His eyes fell to the hand Kratos braced against the door to keep it open. Lloyd shivered, because only moments before that same hand called forth weak offensive spells to make the prisoner more talkative. "I, ah, just got a little hot in there. I think I'll just sit out here a cool off a bit."

Kratos did not push the issue, knowing full well what ailed his son. Instead he said, "I see. Perhaps you can visit Geins, I hear his bandages will be removed today. I'm sure he'd appreciate some company."

Lloyd latched on to the offered escape like a lifeline, and suddenly jumped to his feet in an uncharacteristically gangly fashion. "You're right I almost forgot."

As Lloyd waited for the elevator he berated himself. As much as he hated to admit it, Kratos was right, nothing that went on in that room agreed with him.

Collette had been easy embarrassingly easy. All he had to do was mention the Renegade K-9 unit and the blonde was zipping across the base on translucent red wings.

Now Raine… Raine was whole other story.

As of now, Genis was reduced to closing his eyes and desperately wishing his older sister would just disappear. It was bad enough that these blasted examination tables were so damn cold. Then with annoyed resignation, Genis slowly opened his eyes and glared at Raine through his unruly bangs.

Leaning heavily on a walking cane Raine stood unblinkingly as the doctor set out his instruments. Though most of her cuts and bruises were healed, her body still had a ways to go in terms of recovery.

Genis quickly suppressed the feeling of jealously the blossomed in his chest. While Raine was not likely have much physical scarring from her ordeal, Genis wasn't so lucky. He would be forever reminded of his moment of weakness.

The last thing Genis wanted was for Raine to share in his shame. That and the fact that she brought overreacting to the level of an art form. The embarrassment alone just might kill him.

"Let's see how well you've healed up Genis, shall we?" The old half-elf doctor said jovially while taking a pair of blunt scissors in one hand. "Now hold still."

Genis shivered as the cool metal slid underneath the head bandage against his skin. The sound of cut fabric was so loud in his ears it made the poor boy want to cringe.

'Any minute now.'

Soon the tightly wound gauze was slowly loosened from around his head and with each pass the young mage's dread would grow.

Genis gulped when a piece of gauze fell from his head and into his lap. Silently he initiated a countdown till Raine's proverbial meltdown. Because there was not a doubt in his mind that the second she laid eyes on his mutilated ear she was going to, as Zelos once so eloquently put it, 'flip the shit'.

"Almost done, Genis," the doctor chimed in merrily, unaware of the impending doom.

'3…2…1…' All too quickly Genis's head wrappings lay in a ruined pile around him.

Genis braced himself for the emotional explosion.

'Heh?'

Where was the big cataclysmic ka-boom?

"Ah-um, Ms. Sage?" the elderly half-elf called out, confused.

Genis turned to the sound of the automatic door sliding shut, and briefly caught the tail end of his sister's orange coat as she quickly hobbled out into the hall.

'What the…?'

Dozens of Renegade officers scrambled over themselves to salute their quickly passing commander. The surprise visit rattled Yuan's soldiers to the point that no one noticed the bright red hue that graced his cone shaped ears.

"Captain!" Yuan barked at a nearby soldier. "Where is Aurion."

"I-I don't know commander, but-"

"For get it," Yuan turned around in disgust. His intense teal eyes landed on another officer coming down the hall.

"You," he pointed.

The soldier, obviously a green private fumbled with his salute.

"Where's Aurion!"

The younger half-elf's mouth fell open and closed, and beads of sweat trickled from beneath his helmet.

"No, need to shout. I'm right here."

Yuan whirled on a voice that was utterly too calm, his cape flaring ominously about his legs. His jade eyes landed accusingly on the other seraph.

"Yes?" Kratos asked impassively.

Yuan frowned at Kratos complete indifference; two could play this game. He took a second to calm his features before speaking. "Pray tell… Who exactly do you think the commander of this base is?"

"I'm rather busy at the moment," Kratos tilted his head to the left where an opened door revealed a man wracked with fierce sobs. "So, if you would please get to the point."

Yuan's jade eyes flashed dangerously. "The point," he clipped. "Is that you circumvented my authority and ordered the movements of Raine Sage to be restricted."

Without any hint of apology, Kratos answered, "That is because I don't want her down here. She is still healing and I do not wish for her to come under any undo stress."

"Undo stress?" Yuan suppressed a manic chuckle. "Undo Stress…" he repeated slowly and then through clenched teeth added. "That woman has been causing all kind of 'undo stress' for the past thirty minutes."

"Something happened?" Kratos' blank façade had yet to change, which only served to infuriate Yuan even more.

Yuan had to check himself before answering Kratos' question, and in a voice dripping with derision, "No, not much. Not if you count an invalid woman, hobbling into a confidential meeting with my top officers. Said invalid woman then proceeds to, in less than flattering terms, lecture me about my role as a commander. In front of my subordinates no less."

Kratos forced the grin tugging at the corners of his mouth into hiding; that was so very much like Raine.

"Raine is probably reacting to her brother's injury. She's been through a lot both physically and emotionally. I suspected that today would be the day she might act out," Kratos commented absently.

"Act out?" Yuan sneered impatiently. Recalling how having a face full of a livid Raine Sage was uncomfortable on levels he would not allow himself to dwell on. "I should jail you for making such an understatement."

"You won't, and regardless it would hamper the interrogation efforts," Kratos stated dismissively.

"Says who?" Yuan glared, folding his arms. "If those creatures," he pointed to the holding cells, "went through what I had to go through we'd have the life story of every human here!"

Kratos finally addressed Yuan fully, eyes narrowing in annoyance. "If the situation upstairs is as bad as you claim, then having her down here would be even more counterproductive. These prisoners break too easily. They need a gentler hand in order to extract information."

"Gentle?" Yuan scoffed, pointing to the door behind Kratos. "I hardly call leaving every room soaked in sweat and piss, a gentle hand."

"They don't make mercenaries like they used to," Kratos muttered vaguely.

Yuan started, as a realization struck him. "Why are we even having this conversation?" he asked, talking more to himself than Kratos.

"Yuan…"

Ignoring his old comrade, Yuan stepped over to an intercom system. He made a brief show of pressing a large yellow button.

"A-level control room," the intercom speakers crackled to life.

Kratos' clipboard fell to his side as he took a cautious step towards the other seraph.

Yuan muttered a litany of code and after a brief pause the speakers crackled to life once again, this time at twice the volume.

"Commander, Sir! Your orders" shouted the male voice on the other end.

Kratos, fully annoyed, uttered warningly, "Yuan this is not a good idea. Don't-"

"Escort Raine Sage to the D-block prison, immediately."

Kratos was now in front of his old friend, treating him to a hard gaze the spoke volumes of his objections.

Yuan answered the look with one of bored displeasure. "Let me remind you that you are not in charge here."

"Evidently neither are you. You've given her exactly what she wanted." Kratos retorted.

Yuan's face only faltered a little, but he merely shrugged. "What harm can it do?"

Chaos.

Sirens blared an unholy din and seizure inducing red lights flashed angrily. She could barely hear. She could hardly breathe, and panic seeped out of her pores in a cold sweat.

Raine was in the midst of a futile struggle against wave upon wave of rushing soldiers and prison guards. With each bump and jostle to her body, Raine felt that she would quickly lose herself in this raging tide of madness.

The loud speaker boomed the whereabouts of the escaped prisoners creating such a din that Raine momentarily became deaf. But she had to move and quickly. It was only moments ago that Yuan rushed down the hall barking orders to lockdown the prison sector, and the professor was determined to escape this chaos before she was trapped in this underwater tomb.

Raine's body refused to obey her, and with sluggish and awkward movements she was nearly helpless against the mad rush. She was suffocating and there was nothing she could do; it was like a nightmare come true.

Raine was suddenly clipped by a passing soldier, the pain in her right shoulder sent her walking cane clattering to the ground where it was quickly lost in the stampede. She staggered dangerously forward unable to catch her balance. Raine felt herself being pulled under the tide of rushing bodies. So panicked, she didn't even have the mind to shout or scream as her body succumbed to the onslaught.

"I thought a told you to stay put," an angered voice hissed in her ear.

Before she new it Raine was hoisted up like a child and carried into the elevator just as the gates initiated the lockdown sequence and had begun to descend.

As the air lock clicked into place Raine's head fell limply onto the solid mass that supported her.

After minute to calm herself, Raine tilted her head to catch Kratos' profile, only to find he was already looking down at her. Raine evasively shifted her eyes to the small round window that looked out into the sea. She wasn't embarrassed (she stopped being embarrassed long ago), but for some reason whenever he looked at her, her mind became hazy and muddled.

Kratos held her securely against his body; with one arm supporting her back while the other supported her knees. He certainly was strong, for at each point of contact between them, Raine could detect hardly any muscles strain on his part. For some reason or other that conclusion sent tiny thrills through the pit of her stomach.

As the seconds dragged on those pesky little thrills showed no sign of abating. Raine partly attributed it to the fact she had just escaped a possibly fatal incident. Though on the other hand moments like these in Kratos' presence more than likely took a toll on her brain cell count.

"That was surprising," Raine started in an attempt to save her cognitive abilities, before her mind went to mush enveloped in Kratos' solid warmth.

"More ironic, I would say."

The vibrations from his deep voice sent shocks down Raine's arms, but she suppressed the urge to quiver and asked, "How so?"

Kratos looked down at Raine, with humor in his sharp auburn eyes. "Originally we had thought you would have posed more of a security risk."

Raine instantly caught onto the man's implications. "Excuse me?"

"I…we were concerned that you would bring an element heightened emotions that would impede the interrogations." Kratos admitted.

"Heightened emotions." Raine deadpanned. "What about your friend? He threw a human body through two solid walls, and a reinforced gate. What do you call that?"

It had happened so fast, Raine still had trouble comprehending to series of events that had turned the entire prison block upside-down. All she remembered was a flash of blue and a human body taking flight.

"I still can't fathom why Yuan would do that?" she added, puzzled.

"Because he got there first," Kratos answered in a dangerously low tone.

Raine looked up a little too quickly, "Pardon?"

"Nothing," Kratos quickly replied.

It was a blessing that Raine lacked his and Yuan's enhanced hearing. Somehow Raine had arranged it so she was alone to question the prisoner. Her overall argument lay in the fact that men often underestimated women.

While Raine jotted down the prisoner's terse replies and insults, Kratos and Yuan watched behind a two-way mirror. It was then that the prisoner uttered an obscenely vulgar intention to the professor beneath his breath; one that Raine did not hear amid the stricht-scratch of her pen.

However, both Kratos and Yuan heard the statement clearly. While Kratos' line of vision turned red, it was Yuan who witnessed the loosened restraints slide off the detainee's hands.

It was evident that the human prisoner had not counted on actually being overheard, which was his first and last mistake in the presence of two artificially made angels.

When the belligerent prisoner's body flew into the gate containing the holding cells, remnants of his head were thrown in every possible direction. In Kratos' opinion the man died too quickly.

Feeling uncomfortable with the dangerous shift in Kratos' mood, Raine deemed it time to change the subject. Thank you, for your help," she said in a stiff formal tone. "I believe I have recuperated enough."

Kratos only answered with a noncommittal sound as the elevator slowed to a stop.

Raine pursed her lips, wondering why this relatively smart man did not take the hint. She tried again, this time with a more direct approach. "I believe I can walk, please put me down,"

"Raine," Kratos said in a suffering tone. "We have twenty more seconds until the shaft drains and the doors open. You can either throw a fit and argue with me and create a scene or I can save your body the stress and take you to your room."

He certainly did pick a funny time to be playful, Raine thought brimming with panic and irritation. She eyed the elevator door knowing full well that the main base was just as busy as the prisons below.

The doors started to slide open and the professor caught a glimpse of the silhouettes walking to and fro. "Just take me to my room," Raine said holding her hand over her face unable to look at him.

"As you wish." Kratos' solemn tone was thwarted by the upward curve of his lips.

Kratos gently sat Raine atop her bed then switched on the lights. The room was stark and simple, only a bed and small night stand served as points of interest.

Out the corner of his eye, Kratos watched Raine repeatedly try and fail to toe off her boots. He pushed up his blue and white sleeves knowing full well that she was not likely to ask for assistance.

"You should rest for today," Kratos knelt down by Raine's bed. "If you want something to eat I can bring something from the cafeteria."

"I'd appreciate that. But I can only rest for a bit. I have to track down my brother at some point this evening. For some reason he stopped speaking to me today. " Raine frowned thoughtfully. She could not fathom why Genis was so upset with her; she hadn't embarrassed him any anyway…had she?

When something warm and solid touched her left calf, Raine nearly fell out of bed. Placing a calming hand on the top of her knee, Kratos helped Raine out of her troublesome boot with a gentle twist.

"What would you like?" Kratos asked offhandedly, working on her last boot.

"I'm quite hungry," Raine said suppressing a shiver as Kratos slid the other boot from her foot. "Perhaps something on the heartier side." She gave a slight pause with the growing awareness that Kratos was still more or less kneeling between her knees.

"Of course," Kratos replied, and in one smooth motion stood to help Raine out of her orange coat.

His hand slid over her shoulders slowly working the fabric back. Raine refused to lie to herself; the warmth of his hands on her shoulders felt fabulous, and her nerve receptors tingled pleasurably.

Watching Kratos with half-lidded eyes, Raine engaged in a futile attempt to read the man.

Was this an advance or was he being overly attentive? Either way Raine's weary brain was swimming in an analytical haze that led to no conclusions.

'Hm, a little bit of both I see,' Raine leaned into the kiss that Kratos pressed to her closed lips. It was frightening how comfortable she was becoming around him.

Kratos had gladly established a tradition of kissing her ever since that fever induced session over a week ago. And as with the rest of his gradual advances, Raine failed to find much of a reason to protest.

He really was an attractive man, and his interest in her continued to stoke something basic and primal in her body.

However, as much as her body reacted and stirred to his persistent advances, there was a hesitation in Raine that she could not shake. This did not help the fact that Kratos was apt to push her boundaries more often than not.

At that moment Raine's back hit the mattress, and as the angel's kiss grew more ardent. With a nudge, Kratos deftly parted Raine's teeth. While this was in no way the first time he had slipped her his tongue, the proximity of his body mass was sending warning signals to Raine's brain. The blissful haze suddenly evaporated and Raine's eyes went wide. Within a heartbeat her hands were bracketed against Kratos' chest, pushing him with all her limited strength.

Breathless and flushed, Raine panted, "That's enough."

With arms stretched out on either side of her, Kratos let out a very soft pained groan and pulled away.

"Sorry," Kratos whispered regaining his own breath. "Your fatigue, I have forgotten."

Raine turned her head towards the plain wall to avoid those eyes of his. "This had nothing to do with fatigue and there is absolutely nothing for you to be sorry about."

Kratos sat himself on the edge of Raine's single bed, but she refused to look at him.

"Its something I have to overcome on my own," Raine explained testily, feeling both embarrassed and frustrated with herself.

Kratos frowned and then firmly said, "No."

Raine snapped to attention and turned her head to face the swordsman. "What-"

"No, you won't overcome this alone," Kratos reached out and gently pushed Raine's silver hair back over her short pointed ears; a move that always made her shiver.

"Frankly, Raine I can't believe how dense you can be sometimes," there was a playful lilt to Kratos' voice.

If it weren't for the fingers stroking her ear and distracting her, Raine could have come up with cutting remark. She did not like being referred to as 'dense'.

"You still don't get it… You don't have to shoulder everything on your own. There are others more than willing to help you. And please remember that I am here for you as well."

"Aren't you the profound poet," Raine had to look away again. Sometimes his words never failed to shake her.

Kratos grinned. Raine always got a bit cantankerous when he breached her self-built barriers.

"No, I just want to understand," Kratos said patiently and then waited. "Raine?"

The sound of her name made the professor flinch, and she looked over at this hovering form. "What? You want to hear that useless tale now?"

"Yes."

Kratos met Raine's pinched look with one of infuriating patience, which he had perfected.

"Fine," Raine reluctantly conceded. "I was around thirteen, and Genis was just learning how to walk. This had to be the third… no fourth town we wandered into since the Other Worldly Gate dumped us out into Sylverant," Raine paused and reluctantly glanced at Kratos, whose steady gaze urged her to continue.

"I was so tired," She admitted. "Genis just kept growing and it was getting harder to keep the both of us fed."

Raine was silent, debating on how much detail she should divulge, and Kratos' neutral façade wasn't dropping any hints either.

"He was sixteen or so, a merchant's son." Raine did not bother with a name; he didn't deserve a name. "We met while I was bathing Genis in a nearby stream…"

Raine omitted the fact that she was practically naked when the human teenager walked in on her and her brother, which would account for the future tone of her story.

"He was kind to us, and sometimes would offer Genis and I food. Eventually he offered me a place in his household," she then added quickly, "Ahh… We were somewhat already involved at the time of his offer."

At this point Kratos was willing to forgive Raine for glossing over the details.

"That was the first time since entering through the gate that I was filled with such a sense of hope and happiness. Not only would Genis and I get food and shelter, but for me… the prospect of affection and security sparked an inexplicable need in me," Raine laughed resentfully.

"He came to me the first night Genis and I settled in. It was clumsy, awkward, and painful. I guess that was to be expected of two inexperienced teenagers," Raine muttered self-consciously.

She glanced at Kratos who waited patiently for her to continue, with not a hint of judgment or pity. Raine allowed herself to relax a little and continued.

"The days that followed…" Raine began with a sneer. "It wasn't long before he revealed himself to be forceful and pigheaded. I…" Raine pressed her lips into a thin bitter line at the memory. She would always remember that stomach-roiling stench of sweat and human musk, and the way the merchant's son pushed her down and covered her body. "Gods I hated it!" she finished harshly.

"But that didn't matter, after the first two degrading weeks his mother caught me in the kitchen feeding Genis. We were on the road that afternoon," Raine muttered bitterly.

There was an odd quirk to his lips that Raine didn't like. She couldn't place it, but it had something to do with the fact that she was laying down on her back, and that strange look in his reddish eyes oozed such confidence.

"Was that amusing?" Raine asked testily, though she was oddly relieved to have shared her story.

Kratos bent down and planted a firm kiss squire on her lips. "I hope you'll choose to soon discover that I'm far from some fumbling post-adolescent boy."

Fire spread like quicksilver through her veins as Kratos gracefully rose from the bed. "I'll return shortly with food."

Raine expelled the breath she had been holding in a loud gusty sigh. What an exhausting man.

Kratos carried a container of thick beef stew, courtesy of a kitchen staff that was more than happy to aid the professor's recovery with a good meal. He had also been able to procure a new walking cane, which was tucked securely under his arm.

Kratos spotted Mark restlessly pacing in front of the residential wing, obviously waiting for his return.

"Lord, Aurion, Sir. If I may speak with you," Mark's dark blue hair was messy and hung over his glasses. His eyes were downcast and he looked as if someone had just punched him in the gut.

"You may," Kratos conceded, curious to find out what would encourage Mark to seek him out when otherwise it had been made clear that the scholarly half-elf would rather avoid the seraph.

"It's about Kate. I... I helped with her capture…"

TBC