Kalina stood staring at the rosebush in the gardens. Everything around her was either dead or dying. She hated it here and though she had finally been fed after her bath a few days ago she ate very little. Sighing she reached out and touched the wilted bud lamenting its bad luck to not have blossomed. She was a firm believer that even stones and plants had some sort of sentient presence…a spirit of sorts. She was also an idiot she thought bitterly. Throwing her life, her loyalty, away to save two men who have caused her nothing but pain. Through pure defiance she hadn't slept since her bath. Kalina refused to sleep in the same room let alone the same building as Cavan. But she was getting tired despite her using every trick in the book to stay awake. So tired…she wavered on her feet then jolted back to reality. Damn it she would have to sleep soon. Panoki appeared then and she scowled. "What is it now? I wish you-"
"Ah ah ah," Panoki said, "watch your words girl." Kalina narrowed her eyes then doubled over in a coughing fit. She wasn't used to this place that reeked of death and decay. She was used to the vibrant Labyrinth and the lively creatures that lived in it. "Don't worry, you'll grow accustomed to my domain soon enough," he continued talking as he walked over to her and placed his hand on her shoulder. Intense pain erupted behind her eyes and she shoved him away trying to see beyond the spots that appeared in her vision. Fighting down panic as her world faded to black she quieted her breathing and concentrated. A slight breeze to her right alerted her to someone nearby and she unsheathed her sword and swung. There was a clang of metal and a curse.
"Watch what you're doing woman."
Hearing Xavier's voice only made her swing again and her sword jarred when he blocked her again. She felt Xavier step back and she waited for the rustle of clothing or the crunch of a leaf. Holding her sword at the ready she strained her hearing trying to get a sense of where he was. Then she heard a whistling and spun around bringing up her sword. Her whole body rattled from the force of the impact as she blocked the attack. She heard Panoki grumble behind her and felt his presence disappear. Again Xavier retreated and she waited for another attack. It was then that she noticed the cold that came and went in pulses. Tilting her head she tried to concentrate on it.
"What is it you feel?" asked Xavier, "You act as if you're blind." There…the cold intensified when Xavier spoke to her.
"Close your eyes," she told him. When she felt more cold than ever she snapped, "Do as I say…now!" It receded slightly and she took a deep breath remembering what Panoki had said about her eyes burning him.
"You are blind." Xavier said, "How did this come about? Did you anger Panoki?"
Kalina didn't answer his questions instead she asked her own. "Is it true what Memanti said? That my father, you and I are the only three Warriors to be trained by the Underground himself? What makes us so special?"
She sensed Xavier grimacing as he said, "We have the ability to endure heartache. However, you dared to fall in love and go through with obtaining your desires. A Warrior has no personal desires…he or she desires what the Underground desires."
"I am not a robot!" Kalina shot back heatedly, "I am…" She faltered not knowing what to say…human? Only half…growling she said, "I've enough of this conversation." Turning she smacked into someone's chest and she could tell by the loving warmth of the gaze that it was Cavan.
Jareth stared at the manticore king Glishuff trying not to let his unease show through. He never realized how much security Kalina provided when she always insisted on accompanying him to his meetings. Her presence told others to back off and her gaze challenged anyone to do otherwise.
"It will be hard to get her back," Glishuff was saying, "Andros is not one to give what he considers his so easily. If she has surrendered herself he has most likely made her bow down to him and call him master."
Jareth tensed at this. Kalina called no one master…to make her do so would erode her spirit. He was also worried about her encountering Panoki. The Labyrinth's brother had a reputation of not being so kind to Warriors other than his own who wandered into his domain. No doubt Andros has claimed Kalina as his own Warrior so she should be safe from Panoki. At least that's what he hoped.
"If Andros has made her his Warrior, what about Xavier?" Jareth asked, "What will happen to him?"
The manticore pressed his lips together then said, "There will be a duel. Whoever is left standing will take the position. When this will happen I have no clue."
"We have to get to her soon," Evan said, "I hate to say it but do you think the vampires will help?"
Jareth rubbed his face wearily. The vampires were neutral in the affairs of the Underground…the only creatures to be so. Though they did have a Warrior they preferred to mind their own business rather than choose a side. He waved his hand and summoned a goblin. "Find Vernier. Tell him to go to the vampires and say that we request their presence."
The goblin bowed and hurried to complete the task. Venith shook his head and said, "We tried to send Behome to ask Andros to meet with Kalina in private. He refused…and he still sticks to his story."
Scowling Jareth stood and started to pace. "Bring him to me. I want Kalina back here so that I can bring my wife and children back as well. I'll not feel that they will be safe here until MY Warrior is back in this castle."
Cavan caught Kalina by the shoulders as she crashed into his chest. Stepping away from his touch she stepped around him and started to walk away but he reached out and stopped her. "You will avoid me no longer. Tonight you will come to my bed. Then you will sleep."
She bristled in anger and shoved him away. "I will do no such thing. I'd rather sleep in a thorn bush then share a bed with you." Though it shouldn't have, her words angered him and he gripped her arm and pulled her close to him. "You will do as I say," he hissed, "and if you ever shame me in front of another man again you will find yourself in a world of pain."
"Ha!" was her only response and he noticed that her eyes didn't seem focused. Xavier snickered and said, "Well at this point I'll leave you to sort your trouble Cavan." When he left Cavan released Kalina who stepped away and started to rub her arm.
"I will not come to your bed and I will not sleep," she said, "I do not take orders from you." He stared at her and she said, "Don't stare at me." Looking closer he still thought something was wrong with her eyes. Though she stood there looking at him furiously it was as if she wasn't truly looking at him. "How many fingers am I holding up?" he asked holding up three fingers and she automatically responded, "Three." Pressing his lips together he kept his hands to his side and said, "And now?" There was a pause then she said, "You're not holding any up." He was still suspicious but knew if he pressed the issue it would only anger her and he had done enough of that. "Is that all?" she asked lifting her chin.
"No," he said, "you're to stay by my side. I thought I made myself clear when I released you from the cell yet you have done everything in your power to defy me." Was it him or did she lift her chin slightly higher in pride? "Now you will accompany me to dinner. This time you will eat what is set before you in its entirety."
"No."
"No?" he responded surprised at the simple refusal. She narrowed her eyes and asked, "Did I stutter?" Cavan very nearly slapped her but stopped himself. He had to get away from this place before he ended up doing something he regretted. Walking up to her he watched as she stiffened and turned her head slightly to the side. Lifting a hand he went to stroke her cheek but she slapped it away. "Don't touch me. How many times do I have to tell you that?"
"You are my wife! I should be allowed to touch if you if I wish!"
She stepped back and scowled, "I do not want to be touched…by you or anyone else. I want to be left alone. I wish…I wish…" She cursed then spun around and started to walk away.
"I wish for you to always be near me," Cavan said and watched as Kalina seemed to strain against an invisible string then get pulled slowly back toward him. When she was within arm's length she stopped moving. Whirling around she called him every name in the book while telling him to take back the wish. "No," he said. She remained silent while she tried to go in every direction to get away. Every time she was pulled closer and closer to him until she was right next to him. At that point she couldn't move further than a step or two. "It's time for dinner," he said and started to walk back inside. Though she dug her feet into the ground, she was dragged behind him.
