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SONIC CHAOS 3: UNDERGROUND ARC - ALEENA
(A/N: May be disturbing to some readers, though the attempt is unsuccessful, so be warned. There's a reason this story is rated T. Might even bump the rating up later, given the tone of Drago's dark intensions, but that depends.)
Drugged
Charles watched intently as Sleet and Aleena sparred at their next lesson, the two completely focused on one another. The fight was riveting, he had to admit. Not because Aleena stood a chance - she didn't - but because of how beautiful, for lack of a better word, it was to watch. Aleena learned quickly and was determined, using her speed to its fullest capacity. Sleet struck fast, quick in his own right, and was good at teaching through practice, gradually increasing how hard he was fighting and allowing her time to adjust and get a feel for what he was doing. The gradual increase in skill encouraged Aleena to hone her abilities further in turn. They were altogether beautiful to watch, a whirling blur of speed and grace dancing around the training room.
"When will I learn to use a blaster?" Aleena questioned her tutor.
"When you've learned the basics of swordplay," Sleet replied.
"I'm holding my own," she replied. A few quick motions had her on the ground, staring up at him in wide-eyed disbelief.
"You were saying?" he asked.
She frowned a bit and rose. "Sometimes it's good to take a break and try something new for a while, so you may properly process the previously learned information," she said.
"A week of swords, a week of guns," Sleet said.
"Very well," she relented. She took pause a moment to consider how to breach the topic of Drago. Dingo's words were branded in her mind, and she fully intended to get to the bottom of the matter one way or another.
"Have you caught your breath?" he asked. She frowned at him, eyes narrowed. He smirked. "What do you want me to teach you?" he asked.
She couldn't help the small smile that spread across her lips. "Teach me to defeat you," she replied, straightening up and cutting her sword through the air. He chuckled darkly and raised his own blade in preparation for another go around. Before they could begin, though, the door was suddenly knocked on. Curious, Aleena, Sleet, and Charles looked over.
"Who is it?!" Charles called out.
The door was pushed open and Argus peered in. "Princess Aleena, Sir Charles, your father is summoning you," the Captain of the Guard said.
"In the middle of a lesson?" Aleena asked in mild surprise.
"It must be important," Chuck said, coming up alongside his sister in a measure of concern.
Aleena couldn't deny the wave of disappointment that washed through her. She glanced at Sleet, who looked mildly perturbed as well, and shifted a bit. "I'm afraid our training will have to be cut short today," she said to him. Inwardly she cursed her luck.
"Afraid? Here I thought the less time spent with each other the better," he answered.
She frowned, a bit put out. "How right you are," she coldly replied, turning and marching agitatedly out. Charles blinked blankly after her, looked at Sleet who glared at Aleena's back, then grimaced and followed his little sister out.
SU
"You summoned us father?" Charles asked, entering the throne room with Aleena. Bernadette and Jules were already there, they saw, and Aleena frowned in some concern.
"Yes son," the King said. He looked at Jules and Bernadette. "Bernie and Jules have just returned from Knothole with not much for good news, I'm afraid. For one, the civilian population is becoming agitated and angry, restless with the war going on. Not long after they arrived in Knothole, Commander Jules was attacked by the bereaved father of a soldier killed in battle."
"Attacked?" Aleena said in concern. She looked quickly at the Commander. Charles looked equally horrified. "Jules, are you alright?" she asked the man.
"I'm fine, Aleena. Bernie was able to pacify him," he said.
"We both were," Bernie corrected.
"Their next stop after that was the palace to speak with King Max and Queen Alicia," the King continued. "A summit has been arranged in Knothole to discuss the happenings with the war. Troops may be mobilized sooner than we thought they would be, so Commander Jules will have to double his training efforts. Goodness knows when we could be attacked next."
"In a week or two your father and I will be travelling to Knothole to attend that summit. In our absence, you are to serve as acting regent Aleena. Your father and I trust that you will be an excellent one," the Queen said.
"Yes mother," Aleena answered, bowing her head to them.
"Your brother and your cousin have also been trained in royal practices and duties, so don't hesitate to go to them for council if you feel you need it," the Queen said.
"Nuh uh. Keep me outta that ruling nonsense, sissy," Chuck said, rolling his eyes and putting his hands up in front of him. "I don't want no part of it. I did my time for a good long while before Bernie and you came into the picture."
"Really Charles, it wasn't so bad," his father chastised, frowning at him.
"Point is it's little Ally's turn now," Charles replied.
"Aleena ready for it," Bernadette said with a smirk.
"Good," Sonya said. She looked to her daughter and smiled. "We wish you the best of luck, darling. You have a week to prepare yourself, so it shouldn't be sprung on you too fast." She looked over all four of them. "Now off you all go. Jules and Aleena, I think, have some quality time to spend together," she said, smiling teasingly at Jules. Jules blushed brightly. Bernie bowed her head and looked away.
Jules, noticing, winced a bit. "Tomorrow we can begin lessons again while Aleena is having hers with Sleet," he said, giving Bernie a smile.
"I look forward to it," Bernie replied, smiling at him in turn. He nodded and grinned at Aleena, approaching her. Aleena, smiling, took his hand and left the room. Charles looked back at Bernadette in a measure of concern, eyes sympathetic. The Queen noticed too. The King of course was oblivious. He had never been all that quick on the uptake in matters like this. Charles and Queen Sonya, though, exchanged worried looks.
SU
"I was quite disappointed when I learned you'd left with my cousin," Aleena said to Jules as they walked hand in hand. "I'd been looking forward to spending time with you."
"Well, you have me uninterrupted now," Jules replied, smiling at her softly and relaxing a bit, feelings of guilt washing away with her beautiful smile.
"And am all the richer for it," she answered with a grin.
"You'll be richer for many days to come then. I don't intend to leave for some time after this," he said. "I enjoy being here. It feels... right somehow."
As they walked passed a bush, he plucked a flower from it and offered it to her. She smiled a bit in amusement and took it, tucking it into her heir. "Cliched," she teased.
"But romantic," he replied. "There's a reason it's cliched." She giggled a bit. He had a point. "How have your lessons with Sleet been?" he asked.
She frowned a bit in mild annoyance. "Eventful," she dryly replied.
"Still as much a pain as he was the night of the masquerade?" Jules asked.
"More of one," she answered. "Still, he's an excellent tutor. I like that he's so hands-on in his training."
"Hands on, huh? As long as he doesn't get too hands on," Jules replied, smirking teasingly.
"He won't make that mistake again," she answered dryly. "And if you meant a more intimate sort of hands on, I assure you he wouldn't be bothered. We tolerate one another's presence at best. Flirtations are the furthest thing from his mind. The same can be said of me."
"I'm glad to hear it. With all the time you two have been spending together, I'm starting to get nervous," he said.
"Are you really, or are you just saying that?" she asked.
Jules smiled a bit. "He's not a bad looking man, and certainly he has wit and cunning. If he could be bothered with romance, he'd probably prove himself as formidable an opponent in love as he is in battle."
"Not with his demeanor and personality," she dryly replied. "If he was anyone other than himself, perhaps I could agree with that."
"Fair enough," Jules said with a laugh. "You were summoned from your training. Aren't you going to go back to it?"
"We cut it short," she replied. "The rest of my day is free."
"Then I hope you'll spend it in my company," he replied.
"That is my whole intention," Aleena answered with a smile.
SU
The day passed by wonderfully, Aleena thought. Most of it was spent in companionable conversation, and to be honest she felt more comfortable with him than she'd felt with any man before, with exception to her father and brother. Jules was kind, empathetic, an excellent listener… He seemed to have everything she found desirable in a man. So why did what she felt for him seem so platonic? She supposed it was still early on, so that could change in future, but still.
They leaned on the castle walls, overlooking the city. "Thank you for today, Aleena. It was amazing to be able to have some time with you at last," he said.
"The feeling is mutual," Aleena replied with a smile. As of this moment she hadn't asked about how things had gone with her cousin. She wasn't sure she wanted to know. She grappled with asking even now. "How did things go in Knothole?" she soon asked. "With Bernadette?"
He was quiet, and she began to regret taking the plunge. "They went well," he soon answered with a smile. "Your cousin is pleasant company, to be sure. Smart, passionate, fiery…" He trailed off. Frankly, it seemed he knew more about Bernie than Aleena, he noted to himself.
"She is indeed all those things," Aleena said, not looking at him.
"And what are you?" he asked, turning around and leaning back on the parapet.
Aleena blinked then smiled. "Smart, passionate, but more… laid back I'll say. It doesn't take much to get Bernadette riled up. I have a cooler head than she, and it takes more to agitate me."
"She's certainly hot-tempered," he said with a laugh. "Not that that's always a bad thing, but, well, loose your cool at the wrong time and things may not end well for you."
"She is good at judging that. Me not so much," Aleena ruefully said. "It's gotten me into trouble before."
"You in trouble?" he teased with a smile.
Aleena smiled a bit. "My problem is that I never back down from a challenge, no matter how overwhelming the odds may seem. Not if I feel the cause is just enough. Bernie, though, will. She's never been one to take on odds she's not sure she can face."
"She's older so probably has overall better judgement about things like that," he said. "Backing away from fights you can't win solo is smart. If you don't, you could get in the kind of trouble you can't get out of. Then it forces your loved ones to go in after you, and maybe they die or get hurt," he said.
"What else can you do, though, if you're the only one who can help?" she asked. "If you fail, then maybe your loved ones in their grief and anger will rally and succeed where you could not."
"Or they give up instead. That's what tends to happen when you make yourself everyone else's hope," Jules answered. She was quiet. He had a point, she knew. Jules winced a bit, feeling like he'd put a downer on things, so he tried to change the subject to lighten the mood again. "So, tell me troublemaker. What irks your parents most? In regards to both you and your cousin?" he asked with a smile.
Aleena smiled a bit in turn. "Our ambitions," she said. "Bernie's greatest desire is to escape the bustle of palace life and settle in a nice, quiet place. Marry, perhaps have a family, pursue her career dreams... Be free of the crushing responsibility of royalty. My greatest desire is to travel the world. Explore. Visit other places and cultures. Needless to say, Father is unimpressed. He has already born one child who has rejected the throne. He hates that a part of me wants to abandon it too… Argus teases me by calling me a free spirit. Father calls me flighty. Mother tells him there is a big difference between flighty and adventurous. She does agree, though, that in some ways I am flighty. That's something you can grow out of as you mature, however."
"I know that Charles disdains the throne and royal life. What of you?" he asked.
She was quiet. "I don't know," she at last answered. "Not that I'll have much choice. Charles is unwed and childless, so no heir of his will take over in his stead. Bernadette is only my cousin, not even one on the King's side, so she can't inherit the throne. Nor can any of her offspring. Only I remain, and I'm not sure how I feel about any of it…"
"You'll endure, Aleena," he promised, taking her hand and gently squeezing it. "I mean if I can, then you must certainly be able to." She smiled a bit. "I should go," he said. "It's getting late." She nodded and leaned forward, pecking his cheek. He smiled at her, squeezed her hand again, and walked away, leaving her alone on the parapet.
Her smile slowly fell and she looked out over the garden. Her eyes caught sight of a figure wandering below, assumedly on guard patrol. She frowned a little. Sleet. A smirk slowly crossed her lips. She had told him they would perhaps continue their lesson later…
SU
Aleena crept into the garden, climbing over the walls. Her father, she knew, would have had a heart attack to see her doing so. She dropped to the other side and looked behind her at the tree line. Her tutor had been going down a path that led to a small pond fed by a waterfall. She moved quietly through the tamed woods, carefully muffling her every step as best she could. Her hair blew in the wind, showing her the direction it was blowing. As long as she stayed downwind of her tutor, perhaps he wouldn't catch her scent.
As she crept through the trees, the pond came into sight bathed in moonlight. The wolf seemed intently interested in the astral body, watching it closely as if it were the most fascinating thing he had ever beheld. That meant he was distracted. If he was distracted and upwind of her, then perhaps it was possible for her to pull this off after all. She gripped her sword tightly, preparing herself as she inched ever closer to the unsuspecting man. She crouched down, getting ready to spring. One, two… His ears cocked in her direction and turned his head warily. She froze, tensing up. She didn't know what noise she had made, nor did she care. She just knew that her window had now become much more limited.
Eyes narrowed, he began to scan the bushes, a low growl rumbling in his throat. He lifted his head a bit and sniffed at the air. Subtly she reached down for a stick at her side and threw it away from herself. It landed. His head whipped in its direction. There was no more time to waste. She sprang up and lunged at him as quickly and quietly as she could!
He spun around the instant she began her charge, yanking out his sword and blocking her attack before he even saw in which direction it was coming from. He had relied solely on his ears to manage that feat, she knew. When he saw her, he gasped, eyes widening in shock. She smirked. She must be a sight indeed, she thought; hair loose and wild in the wind, a few leaves and twigs captured in her long tresses. He scowled at her darkly and growled, on guard for a genuine attack.
"Teach me to defeat you," she said. Immediately after she shoved him back, staggering him a step or two and stepping away quickly.
It took him a moment to process her words, his eyes wide, but when he came to the realization that she had not come at him with malicious intent, he relaxed a little and smiled in amusement. Immediately he went at her and she nimbly blocked his opening strikes without difficulty. He reached out, though, and grabbed her arm, whipping her around so she was pinned with her back to his front. Quickly he held his blade at her throat. "Persistent, aren't we princess? Very well. When trying to defeat me, never rely on stealth. It won't ever work." He shoved her forward and she stumbled a bit, but quickly recovered, turning fast. "My sense of smell is uncanny, my hearing more acute than you can fathom, and my sight keen, optimized to detect movement in either light or darkness," he said, pacing around her.
"Then what am I to do?" she asked.
"Of all my senses, my sight is weakest. It may be keen, but there's one glaring weakness. What that weakness is, I won't say. That, your majesty, is something you'll have to discover for yourself," he said.
"Deafen your ears, let my scent be masked, and I will discover this secret soon enough," she answered, watching him carefully.
He smirked a bit. "You won't have those luxuries in battle, princess. Come now. I can't make it too easy for you," he said. She went at him fast and sure. Easily he defended against her onslaught. She fell quickly back. "If you're trying to tire me out, you're fighting a losing battle Aleena. Exhausting an opponent is a specialty of mine," he said, smirking.
"What if you are given no chance to exhaust them?" she asked. Emphasizing her question, she immediately went at him again, attacking with a spin attack that caught him off guard and sent him flying back with a gasp. She leapt into the air, curling into a ball and homing in again. He rolled out of the way of the third such attack and recovered himself. She rose quickly and swung at his chest. He dodged the blow, scowling. She went at him again with speed. He faced her head on this time, though, catching her in his arms with a growl and swiftly wrestling her down to the ground, pinning her beneath him and trapping her arms above her head.
He looked down at her. "Then I overpower them," he answered simply. She tried to break free, but it was futile. It seemed if he pinned you, that was the end. A more powerful opponent might be able to throw him, but she couldn't. It didn't stop her from trying though, thrashing beneath him. He was visibly impressed at her tenacity, if a little mystified by it. "Why do you keep fighting when you know you've lost?" he asked incredulously.
She paused, glaring up at him. Her chest rapidly rose and fell with each quick breath. "I haven't lost until the last of my strength leaves my body. Even then I won't give up until my last breath departs it," she replied.
"Foolish and pointless," he said.
"Is it really?" she asked.
The smallest hint of a smile crossed his face. "Sometimes it's better to let the end come quickly," he said. He pushed himself off her, standing up. "There are fates worse than death." She lay still a moment before realizing she'd caught her breath. Quickly she recovered her composure and got up from the ground. "Where did you learn those attacks?" he wondered.
"My father taught my mother. My brother too. In turn my brother taught me and Bernadette as well as Jules I suspect." She turned to look at him. "What fates are worse than death?" she questioned.
The question was naïve, she knew that, but she had been very sheltered for most of her life and so her curiosity was honest. He tilted his head at her, summing her up quietly. "There's no real answer to that," he at last replied. "What I consider worse than death might not be what you do."
"What would you consider worse than death?" she questioned.
"Imprisonment," he answered dryly. "To be stripped of freedom forever."
"As long as you are alive, there's still a chance you may escape," she pointed out.
He smiled ever so slightly again. "I assume in this situation that there isn't," he said.
"What else?" she questioned.
"Torture, depending on how heinous. The upside of torture is that usually it ends in death. Then the pain stops," he bluntly replied. "But there are tortures that can be made to last for years. Maybe even the rest of your life."
"What else?" she pressed.
"Losing my senses," he answered. "Those born unable to hear or unable to see adapt and become used to it. I've had both all my life. To lose them suddenly… I would rather not think about it."
"Your other senses would become more acute," she pointed out.
"And if I lost those as well?" he challenged with a smirk.
"All at once would be devastating," she admitted.
"Being paralyzed. Another fate I consider worse than death. I like movement," he dryly said.
"You fear what you believe would trap you or cause you to become dependent. If given the choice, you would choose death over all of them," she mused out loud.
"That depends," Sleet answered.
"On what?" she asked.
"On what I feel I have to live for," he replied.
"What do you have to live for?" she asked.
"Myself. That's why I am what I am," he answered.
"What of the child?" she asked.
"An accessory," he bluntly replied. She frowned a bit, but she didn't call him out for the callous remark. He knew how heartless it was, and so telling him as much would mean nothing to him.
"Do you not have a family? Parents? Siblings?" she asked.
"No," he answered. It was clear by his tone that he would speak no more on matters of family. She wondered, in that moment, what had happened to him that caused him to react as such, but she knew better than to pry. "What of you, Aleena. What do you feel you would prefer death to?"
"Losing everyone I have ever loved," she answered.
"What of torture? Imprisonment? Someone forcing himself on you?" Sleet asked.
"Torture I can endure, imprisonment I can escape, and woe to the man who would try and succeed at such a thing. If I didn't make him pay myself, there are many more who would. Life marches on always, no matter what horrors you endure. You choose whether or not to march with it. I will never give up," she said. She paused a moment, thinking. "But… I will only march on only as long as there is something to march on for. That's why I would choose death over losing everyone I have ever loved. Because it's for them I would keep on going, and if they suddenly weren't there… what would be the point of staying?"
"Life moves on," he said, quoting her own words to her. "Love can be found again."
"Where is your love then, young man?" she wondered.
He was silent, glaring at her. "I could care less about love," he flatly answered. "It's a weakness I can do without."
"Hmm…" she murmured, starting to pace around him. He watched her warily, eyes focused on her. She was observing him carefully in turn. What was she looking at, he suspiciously wondered? "Your peripheral vision," she suddenly said. He stiffened up, eyes widening ever so slightly. "You have none," she declared. He felt himself bristling, hackles raising as he tried frantically to figure out what had given as much away. "If you have it, you have precious little. Your vision is tunneled. Optimized to focus and watch and spy every movement… But not to detect anything that may come from the sides to attack you. After all, what hunts a predator? How often is a hunter hunted?"
"How did you…?" he began.
"You turn your head to watch me. Every step. You won't let me out of your sight. I come up beside you, and your whole head turns to keep me in your sight," she said.
"Everyone's does," he bluntly replied.
"But not like this," she said. She moved towards him. He was utterly still. She moved up to his side. He turned his head to watch her. "Look ahead of you," she said. He was still. "Do it," she said. She heard him growl low in his throat, but nonetheless he looked straight ahead. "You cannot see me, can you?" she said close to his ear. He started, whipping his head quickly around to her. She moved swiftly out of the way. "There is your weakness. Or one of them," she said with a triumphant smile. "But I suppose that weakness doesn't account for much when you have both hearing and scent on your side."
"No. It doesn't," he bluntly answered.
"Hmm…" she replied before replacing her sword and waking away.
"Where are you going?" he asked warily.
"Back to the castle," she answered. "It's late." She turned to him. "You should rest too."
"I'll rest whenever I please to," he bluntly answered. She shrugged and walked on, soon disappearing into the garden. He glared in the direction she had gone icily.
"Hmm… Interesting," a voice said from the side.
Sleet bared his teeth darkly and turned, eyes cold. From the shadows of some rocks emerged Drago, fur practically glowing in the moonlight. "What are you babbling about you muffin brain?" Sleet asked.
"I think you know," Drago answered. Sleet was quiet. "I thought she wouldn't become a threat, Sleet. Not under your training. Now she knows about our weakness."
"Hardly a weakness at all," he answered. "More a red herring. I have everything under control. I always do."
"Really? We'll see about that," Drago said, turning and leaving. Sleet glared darkly after him, suspicious now. That seemed entirely too easy…
One Week Later
Aleena and Bernadette watched as the King and Queen flew off to Knothole. Chuck was there to see them off too, as was Jules. "Well, looks like the palace is all yours, girls," Charles said, smiling at his sister and Bernie after the King and Queen had disappeared.
"The week went by fast," Bernie replied. "I'm glad it's over. It's been hectic. I think we all deserve a break. Who wants to throw a little dinner party for the palace occupants?"
"Bernie!" Aleena exclaimed.
"It's only a dinner party dear, and just for those who might happen to be in the castle or on its grounds at the time. Maybe a few outside friends, depending. It's not going to be large! Tell me you aren't tempted," Bernadette said.
Aleena was quiet. If everyone residing in the castle or living on its grounds would be present, it meant Sleet would be too. The night she'd gone to him in the garden, she had forgotten all about her original purpose in going to meet him. Namely to quiz him about Drago. They'd gotten… caught up in other matters. The rest of the week it had slipped her mind. If they did have a moderate dinner party, she would get another chance.
"Perhaps," she at last said, though she still sounded unconvinced.
"There you go cuz. Hey, everything will be fine," Bernie said, bumping her playfully. "How about I do the planning and you, oh I don't know, look after the throne for a bit?"
"Aleena has lessons to go to," Charles pointed out.
"She can miss one day, Chuck," Bernie said, clinging to his arm. "Come on. Help me plan. You too Jules! Aleena, you as well if you'd like. Court isn't mandatory today after all."
"It's alright. I may spend some time on other things instead," Aleena said. She'd been sorely neglecting her music as of late, but first she needed to read through her parents' instructions to her. Bernadette waved and left with Chuck. Jules hesitated. Aleena smiled at him. "Go on," she said. "Perhaps I'll join you all later."
"If you're sure," he answered.
"I am," she said. He nodded and followed Chuck and Bernie out.
Left alone, Aleena sighed and returned to the throne room. She went towards her mother's throne, where the Queen had left the instructions. She picked them up and began to quietly scan through. There were a good number of them, as well as a book of laws she knew she needed to brush up on before she even attempted to hold court. Her mother had left it out for a reason. Studies were something else she knew she had been neglecting lately. Sighing, she picked up the book and began to flip through it.
SU
It wasn't long before the princess lost track of time, consumed with her reading and pacing. When she heard a footfall, though, she gasped and looked quickly up and over. There, standing in the doorway, was Sleet.
"Sleet," she said in surprise. "Oh, our lessons! It slipped my mind. I'm sorry. It's just mother and father…"
"I could care less about excuses," he deadpanned.
She blinked and frowned at him a bit. "If you would like, we can do it this afternoon," she coldly said.
He looked around the empty, imposing throne room and back at her. "Why wait?" he asked. She blinked, mildly surprised. "Why bother using the training room when we only ever go up against one another?" He pulled out a sword and tossed it to her. She caught it in her hand in surprise, looking at it, then back at him. He held his blade towards her. "Today is the last day we practice with blades. Tomorrow we start with blasters. It's best we get in as much practice now as we can. With luck, you don't conveniently forget how to wield a sword over the next week."
"I won't," she coldly answered, placing the instructions and laws to the side and approaching him. "Don't bleed on the floors."
"Aleena, have you ever made me bleed?" he asked, giving her a condescending smile. "Not counting our little dance of course."
"There's a first time for everything," she replied. He chuckled. Immediately the two went at each other in a flurry, battling all throughout the throne room undisturbed, swords singing as they danced through the throne room to the tune of metallic clashing. They spun quickly, locking blades, their bodies close together. She grinned up at him beaming, thrilled by the challenge. He grinned down at her boastfully in turn, eyes glittering competitively.
Just then the doors to the throne were thrown open. Sleet turned quickly, startled. Aleena noticed immediately that she was out of his field of vision and wasted no time in acting. Immediately she leapt up on his back with a shout, crossing her sword over his neck. He gasped in surprise and blinked, taken aback. Recovering quickly from the surprise, though, shock fast gave way to a look of approval. "Well, well, impressive. You finally got the upper hand. Perhaps ranged practice couldn't have come along at a better time after all," he said, looking back with a grin. She grinned back.
Sleet turned towards the doors once more and started when he realized who had interrupted them, smile fleeing. Curious, Aleena looked up as well and caught her breath, eyes widening when she saw who it was. "Drago," she said in surprise. Sleet glared at their guest coldly.
Drago looked from one to the other slowly, taking in the scene before him. A dark smile crept across his face. Sleet bristled ever so slightly. Aleena flushed and let go of Sleet, sliding off his back and staying behind him. Once more she found herself regretting that she had forgotten to ask about the man before them now. Drago approached slowly and wordlessly. Sleet's grip on his sword did not relax, Aleena noticed, and he stayed planted firmly in front of her. He was braced for battle, she realized with a chill, and felt suddenly very uncomfortable being here. Frowning, she moved out from behind Sleet and got between him and Drago. There would be no fighting in this throne room on her watch.
"Drago, what business have you here? My parents are away," Aleena said boldly.
"It wasn't your parents I came here for, Princess. I was searching for Sleet, actually. My, my did I find him. He's expected in the training yard for practice," Drago said, looking pointedly at his companion. "I, on the other hand, am not. Tell me, Sleet. Where are you in your lessons with her? I'll take over for you. Seems like it was really heating up."
Aleena bristled a bit at implication and looked back at Sleet in concern. He continued to glare darkly at Drago. "You'll take over will you?" her mentor replied, voice bitter.
"With pleasure," Drago answered. "Had I known it was so hands on, I may have volunteered to teach her myself. Little wonder you stick with it despite your general disdain for the girl." Sleet bared his teeth dangerously.
"How dare you?" Aleena coldly said to Drago, eyes narrowed.
"How dare I what?" Drago replied, looking at her.
"How dare you imply such things as that?" she said.
"What am I implying, princess?" Drago asked with a smirk.
She felt a hot and angry flush rise to her cheeks. "You know exactly what," she hissed.
"No. Inform me," he answered, moving closer. Sleet stepped forward to stand at Aleena's side, eyes narrowed.
Drago paused. "Oh. You have a guard dog now. How precious. Not long ago he would have ripped out your throat. Careful, Princess. He still might. He's deceitful that one. Never let your guard down around Sleet. The minute you do is the minute you'll regret it. Isn't that right Sleet? Behind your every action, there's always an ulterior motive. Now run off to training like a good dog."
"You had best accompany him, Drago. You are not welcome in here," Aleena said icily. "Not while I'm alone."
"Fine," Drago replied. Sleet huffed and marched away from Aleena to join Drago. Together the two left without saying a word. Aleena watched silently after them.
SU
"You incompetent! Are you trying to give us away?" Sleet bit sharply at Drago as they stormed through the castle towards the front doors.
"Perhaps getting a hold of her via legitimate courtship isn't so farfetched after all," Drago answered, ignoring Sleet's question.
"Remember your place, dog!" Sleet threatened icily as he spun sharply on Drago, furious at the implication.
"Remember your job, outcast!" Drago fired back. "You always warn everyone else not to be compromised, Sleet. How about you warn yourself this time?"
"The princess is a means to an end, nothing else," Sleet said with a scowl. "I'll grant you she's a refreshing wit, but she's precious little more than that."
"As long as you can get the job done, I don't care how you handle the girl," he replied.
They rounded a corner and gasped when they almost ran into Lady Bernadette and Chuck. "Oh!" Bernadette exclaimed in surprise. "C-Commander Drago, Sir Sleet, what are you doing here?"
"Training with your cousin," Sleet answered bluntly.
"Where?" Bernie asked incredulously. The training room was back the way she and Charles had come.
"In the throne room if you must know, my Lady," Sleet replied.
"For your sake she'd better be alive and well when we get there," Bernie darkly said, fishing out two invitations and handing them to them. "Here. For a little dinner party tonight. Don't make spectacles of yourselves how about?" She walked passed them with the prince, not once looking back. Sleet glared darkly after them.
"Are we attending?" Drago asked.
"Of course we are," Sleet replied. "Now while you go get ready, I have to get to training then check up on Dingo."
"Fine," Drago said. "I'll meet you at dinner." Sleet nodded and the two parted ways, Drago heading back to their base in the city.
SU
Aleena brushed out her hair, thinking about the dinner party. If everyone present on the palace grounds was welcome, that meant Drago would be there. Dingo also, with Sleet. Sleet who she had yet to confront about the Drago matter at all. She frowned bitterly at that thought and huffed, laying her brush to the side and standing up to go to the dining room. With luck, she would end up seated not far from her tutor. Then she would just need to wait for the right opportunity to question him.
She made her way down to dinner. Bernie was already there with Chuck, Jules, Argus, and some others from the palace, with more steadily filtering in. She went to her cousin and smiled at her. Bernie smiled back. "Hey cuz. Take a seat," she said. "You're right at my side. You, me, and Charles will head up the table."
"And Jules?" Aleena asked.
"Beside Charles on the side," Bernie answered.
The dining hall was filling quickly now. Aleena looked around for Sleet or Drago. It wasn't long before she saw Sleet enter with Dingo in tow, the former looking mildly perturbed. He had no patience for children, it seemed. Which only made her wonder why on earth he'd seen fit to unofficially foster one. He made her wonder many things about him, she dryly noted to herself.
"Sleet, can I pick where we sit?" Dingo asked.
"No," Sleet bluntly replied.
"I wanna sit here!" Dingo said, ignoring him and racing towards Aleena, who blinked in mild surprise.
"Dingo, get back here!" Sleet demanded, causing disdainful looks to fall his way. Accusing glares that wordlessly belittled him for his lack of control over the pup. Sleet tensed up under them and shrank in on himself a bit, sheepishly going after the boy. The poor fool had no idea what he was doing, Aleena noted to herself with a rueful shake of her head.
"G'day Princess Aleena!" Dingo greeted, hopping up on the chair that was right at her side. He gasped when Sleet caught up and dragged him off it, turning him around with a scowl.
"Dingo! What did I say?" the wolf demanded. "You'll sit where you're told to sit, now stop making a scene."
"Sit here, Dingo," Aleena said, gesturing to a chair two down from her. "You as well, Sleet," she said, gesturing to the one at her side.
"With all due respect, your majesty, no," he bitterly replied, eyes narrowing at her.
"What makes you think it's a choice?" Aleena asked. He scowled at her a bit and looked at Dingo, who was gazing up at him hopefully.
"Fine," Sleet bitterly relented.
"Yay!" Dingo cheered, quickly sitting in his spot. Sleet rolled his eyes and sat at the princess' side sulkily.
Aleena looked around and spotted Argus. She smiled at him and waved him over. Smiling back, he approached her. "Your Majesty," he greeted, bowing to her.
"Argus, please. You know that you may call me Aleena," she said. "I would like you to sit here. Next to the dingo pup. You're part dingo, are you not?"
"I am," he confirmed. He bent over, hands on his knees. "Hey there little guy!" he cheerily said.
"Are you really part dingo?" Dingo asked.
"You bet I am. On my father's side," he answered with a wink. Dingo perked up a bit.
Sleet huffed, rolling his eyes, and scanned the table with a frown. "Who are you looking for?" Aleena asked.
"Who do you think?" he bit.
"Drago has not yet been seen," Aleena said. "But speaking of Drago, there is a matter I would discuss with you about him."
"Hold off on conversation for a bit, cuz. The last of the guests are arriving," Bernie said, interrupting her.
Aleena looked and frowned a little when she saw Drago's white fur among them, a dark and self-satisfied smirk on his lips. She eyed him warily, as did Sleet, but nonetheless she let the matter go for now, until dinner could get underway. She sat in her place, leaving Bernie and Charles to stand as the hosts of this little event, and kept a wary eye on the white wolf as her brother and cousin began their welcoming speech.
SU
While dinner went on, a thousand questions and practice conversations went through Aleena's mind as she tried to determine how best to start the conversation with Sleet. To say she was distracted was an understatement. With the wolf you had to watch your every word, and you couldn't let yourself be sidetracked. He was good at distracting you, it seemed, since thus far every attempt she'd made to have this conversation had been swept under the rug in a matter of seconds. This time there was no distracting duel, though. She lifted her drink to her lips and sipped from it, watching each of the guests in the dining hall chatting and making pleasantries.
She looked towards Argus, who was entertaining Dingo under Sleet's watchful, and perhaps somewhat jealous, eye. She couldn't help but smile a bit. Argus had always been so very good with children. Suddenly her vision blurred a bit and she wavered a little, feeling dizzy. Frowning curiously, she put a hand to her forehead. That was strange, she noted to herself. She hadn't been feeling ill lately. She shook her head, trying to shake off the sensation, and smiled again at the guests. She was starting to have trouble making sense of their conversation though.
"Aleena?" she heard her cousin ask. She blinked a few times and turned to Bernie curiously. "Are you okay?" Bernie asked.
"What?" she asked, confused. "Oh, yes, I'm fine."
"Are you sure? This is the fifth time I've said your name," Bernie replied.
"I'm sorry Bernadette. I'm just distracted," she replied.
"By what?" Bernie asked.
"It's nothing," she answered. She let out a soft, tired breath, hand going to her forehead again. She shook her head.
"Cuz, what's the matter? Talk to me," Bernadette said, worried now.
"I-I'm not sure. Suddenly I feel very tired and very groggy," Aleena replied.
"Oh dear. Maybe you're coming down with something. Maybe you've exhausted yourself with all your lessons," her cousin fretted.
"Easy Bernie. It's probably nothing a little rest won't fix. Go lie down, Ally. Sleep for a while. We'll make excuses for you," Charles promised.
"Yes. Perhaps I will. Thank you," Aleena replied as she rose, sounding mildly confused.
Sleet looked curiously at her. This was odd. Suspiciously so. As she walked away, he watched after her frowning warily. His eyes travelled to the glass she had been drinking from. The moment Bernie looked away from it to talk to Chuck and Jules, Sleet reached out and snatched it, sliding his own quickly into its place. He lifted her glass to his nose and sniffed at it. He started then scowled, placing it slowly back down so as not to catch anyone's attention. It was drugged! He looked quickly towards where he'd last seen Drago sitting and started, eyes widening. He was gone! Whispering a curse under his breath, he rose.
"Sir Sleet, where are you going?" Bernadette asked, taking note of him.
"To deal with a personal matter, Lady," he replied, bowing quickly before leaving a separate way than Aleena to avoid arousing suspicion. Puzzled, Bernie watched after him with a wary frown. What was his game, she wondered? He didn't go after Aleena at least, so her fears in that regard were assuaged, but still. She couldn't shake the feeling something was wrong. Sighing, she turned back to dinner and conversation with the guests.
SU
Aleena, making her way through the halls, suddenly had to stop and lean on the wall. She let out a tired breath and grimaced, shaking her head. Why was she suddenly so exhausted? It seemed to have come from nowhere. She didn't understand. She opened her eyes and winced a bit. Everything was blurry and seemed far too bright, fading in and out of focus.
"Your highness, you look exhausted," a voice said from behind. She recognized the voice, but couldn't quite bring it to the forefront of her mind. She just knew she wanted to get away from it.
"I'm fine," she answered. She cursed how slurred her words were. The last thing she wanted was to be mistaken for inebriated.
"No. You're not. Let me take you to your room," the man said from behind.
She felt him touch her and recoiled. "No!" she insisted, slapping his hand away. She gasped when her knees gave in, sending her to the floor. She felt arms around her and pathetically tried to struggle, but she couldn't get free. She felt him sweep her off her feet and wanted to scream for help, but her tongue was heavy in her mouth and she wasn't even certain she needed saving anyway. Perhaps he really was trying to help her. Please let him just be trying to help her. "Let me go," she whimpered. He just chuckled, carrying her towards her bedroom. She wanted to cry, but crying took strength she didn't have. Soon all she knew was numbness.
SU
Sleet stalked the corridors determinedly, following his nose. It wasn't long before he caught her scent. And Drago's. Scowling, he hurried onward, pace picking up with every step until he was running, eyes narrowed. Not here, not now, and not on his watch, he promised himself. Whatever it was that Drago intended—as if he didn't know—it wasn't happening.
SU
Aleena, drifting through various states of awareness, felt herself lain down on a bed. "No," she whimpered quietly in a lucid moment. She tried to push the man supposedly helping her off. Easily he pulled her hands away and pinned them. "No," she whispered again before she lost the ability to move once more.
Sleet reached her bedroom in record time. He ran to the closed door and pulled at it. Locked. He scowled darkly and began fighting to get in. "Drago! Drago, open the door!" he shouted, pounding furiously on it with a fist.
She heard her tutor's voice faint in her mind. He was calling a name. Was he the one here with her? No. If he was, he would sound closer. Wouldn't he? He was striking at her door. Someone else was here. "Pesky, isn't he?" the voice of a man nearby said lowly. "We won't let him disturb us though." She felt cold air against bare fur and let out a breath. She felt the man at her side crawl on top of her. She shuddered, feeling his hands roaming over her body. The door was slammed against and the man holding her down went quiet. The door was slammed again. "Damn fool's going to ruin everything," the man darkly said. "Fine. He wins this time." She felt the weight on her bed and body lift off, and another shaking breath escaped her lips. Then there was blackness as she drifted into unconsciousness.
SU
"Get out," Sleet ordered, pointing at the door as he scowled at Drago. Drago growled. "Get out!" Sleet shouted.
"Since you were getting nowhere, Sleet, I did the job for you," Drago replied. "I warned you to be fast."
"Have you lost your mind?!" Sleet freaked at him. "If you do anything to her now, it will sink us!"
"Look at her! She's at our mercy. All we need to do is pack her up and go. No one will even notice until tomorrow," Drago argued.
"You monumental moron! The moment they realize she's gone, they'll launch an investigation. Just who do you think will be the primary suspects, hmm? You and me! They saw you come in, they never saw you leave, they'll notice that you're missing if they haven't already, and if we take her now then they'll realize you never came back. An infant could put that one together! What about me? Lady Bernadette noticed me going! She addressed me. If I don't come back and tomorrow her cousin is gone, I'll be as finished as you are!"
"You didn't have to be," Drago said. Sleet stiffened. "Why did you come after me, Sleet?"
Sleet was quiet, glaring darkly at him. "To make sure you didn't ruin us," he at last answered.
"Ruin us or ruin her?" Drago challenged.
"Us," Sleet replied without missing a beat.
"There's no better time than tonight to steal her away. We just need to be smart," Drago argued.
Sleet looked over at the unconscious princess. Drago wasn't wrong, he knew. Establishing an alibi would be simple. Return to dinner, claim he made sure the princess was safely seen to her room, send her brother and would-be lover up to check on her, and wait for them to return. They would see Aleena was alright. It would clear both he and Drago of suspicion. All they would have to do, then, is wait until after dinner was done and most others in the castle were asleep, return for her in the dead of night, and steal her away. No one would be the wiser.
"Not yet," he found himself saying instead. "There's too much risk and too much suspicion. Too many variables are unaccounted for. I need to establish trust, and you need to either back away or stop being yourself."
Drago growled darkly. "You didn't have to follow me here," he darkly said. "She never would have known what happened to her."
"Enough! You and I are returning to the dinner. When they ask where we went, we made sure the princess got to her room safely. I'll suggest that for peace of mind they check on her for themselves. It's almost guaranteed at least two of them will. They'll see the princess alive and well, and they'll return happy. That will build trust. Trust we can use against them. If they begin to perceive me as their ally instead of their enemy, all the better for us.
"Hmm… Fine," Drago at last relented.
"Now get moving!" Sleet shot, pointing at the door. Drago growled but obeyed this time. Sleet glared after him, looked nervously back at Aleena, quickly went to her, and covered her over. He moved to the balcony, drew the curtains, then left the bedroom quietly, shutting the door behind him. That was far too close for comfort. Neither Drago nor Dingo could be counted on not to screw up, he bitterly thought to himself. Agitatedly he followed his employer back to the dining hall. He couldn't help but wonder how Drago had gotten that drug into the drink in the first place, though. If he had to guess, he'd say threat or manipulation. Which one didn't matter. It had happened, end of story, and all they could do was move on as if nothing had happened while hoping for the best.
SU
As S;eet and Drago entered and took their seats, Bernadette turned a wary, warning gaze on him. Sleet bristled under it and kept quiet. "Where did you and the white wolf go?" she darkly asked.
"I saw to it that my pupil found her room safely. He was out already and had determined to do so as well," Sleet replied. "If you don't believe me, Lady, go see for yourself. She's safe and sound."
Bernadette looked at Chuck and Jules, who were also warily watching Sleet now. Argus as well, she noted. "Chuck, take Argus and check on her. Jules and I will stay here and occupy the guests," Bernadette said.
"Alright," Charles agreed, standing up. Argus did so too, and the two left quickly.
Bernadette and Jules watched Sleet suspiciously. He seemed completely unperturbed. Bernadette glanced towards Drago as well, who also seemed unconcerned. It was only a few minutes before Chuck and Argus returned, looking vastly relieved. "Well?" Bernie asked as the prince sat next to her again, while Argus sat next to Dingo with a smile.
"She's just fine Bernie," Chuck replied with a relaxed smile. "Not a mark on her." Bernie sighed in relief. Thank goodness for that, she thought to herself.
SU
Sun streamed through Aleena's curtains, and a cool breeze brushed across her skin. Groaning, she blearily blinked a few times and lifted her head in confusion. When had she gone to bed? The last thing she remembered was sitting at the dinner party analyzing her tutor and Drago. She sat slowly up and whimpered, putting a hand to her head. Why did it hurt so much? She had never had a headache like this before. Wait… She remembered feeling unwell at the party and excusing herself. She looked around in confusion. She couldn't remember walking to her room. Had someone carried her?
"Your highness, you look exhausted."
She gasped and an uneasy feeling crept over her. She remembered wanting to get away from that voice.
"Let me take you to your room."
She let out a shaking breath and scrambled off her bed, staring at it with her head held in her hands. Whose voice had that been?
She was lain down on the bed. A man had been with her. He wouldn't let her go.
Her tutor's voice faint in her mind.
"Open the door!"
A weight in her bed at her side. Someone climbing on top of her. Her breathing sped rapidly up, almost panicked. "No," she whispered, tears threatening her eyes. She checked herself quickly over. Her clothing was all in place, but someone had been there. Dammit, someone had been there! She let out a strangled cry and raced across her room to her mirror. Quickly she stripped off her gown, looking over her body in terror. There wasn't a mark on her. She let out a shaking breath and checked her gown for any sign of blood or anything else that wasn't supposed to be there. Clean. She swallowed nervously, looking at herself in the mirror again. What had happened to her? Tears threatened her eyes. The uncertainty terrified her. Should she tell someone? Nothing seemed to have happened though. Perhaps she should get a test just to be sure? What if she couldn't disguise herself well enough though, and word got out and gossip spread? She couldn't tell anyone her fears until she knew for certain! She just couldn't.
Just then the door was knocked on. She gasped fearfully, whipping around quickly. "Wh-who's there?" she shakily called.
"Aleena? Ally, are you okay?" Bernadette called, sounding worried.
"Bernie," Aleena gasped. "I-I'm not dressed!"
"Well hurry up. Your tutor is asking after you. You're late for your lessons," Bernie said.
"M-my…" she began before stopping and catching her breath, eyes widening. Sleet. Sleet whose voice she remembered from last night. She felt faint and had to steady herself on her dresser.
"Aleena, you're scaring me now cuz. Is something wrong?" Bernie asked.
"No," she replied quickly. "Tell him I'll be down soon."
"Are you sure you're okay little cousin?" Bernie asked.
"I'm fine! I'm-I'm fine. Only tired," she said.
"O-kay. If you need to talk about anything, I'm here," Bernie said, clearly worried.
"Of course, Bernie," Aleena replied. She was never more relieved than she was when she heard her cousin walk away…
SU
Aleena stood numbly outside the training room. Charles had not been able to accompany her, Jules was out training the men, Bernie was goodness knew where… It would only be her and him, and she was terrified of that. She willed herself to open the door, tears threatening her eyes. She sniffed, wiping at them in frustration and blinking rapidly. Suddenly the door was pulled open and she let out a little scream, leaping back and staring at the man behind it with eyes wide. Sleet!
He started when he saw her and frowned. "There you are. Is tardiness going to become a habit, Aleena?"
"I-I…" she stammered. He frowned at her curiously, raising an eyebrow. She let out a breath and spun quickly around, wrapping her arms tightly around herself. He was still, staring at her in confusion. She was trembling, she knew. He saw it too. He had to. How could he miss it?
"What's gotten into you?" Sleet incredulously asked.
Aleena drew a sharp breath, closing her eyes tightly. She willed herself to be brave, turn around, and face him. Steeling herself, she managed to do so. He hadn't moved from the doorway. She was glad for that. If he had, she wasn't sure how she would have reacted. "What did you do to me?" she heard herself whisper before she could bite her tongue.
He started, eyes widening in shock. She regretted her bluntness, but held her ground. He blinked at her, trying to sort out what she meant, and frowned, hands on his hips. "What did I do to you? Elaborate," he replied.
"Last night. The dinner party," she said. "I… I began to feel dizzy. I…" She stopped herself with a shaky breath. "I can't remember going to my room," she tightly said. "All I remember is someone speaking to me, being lain down on my bed, and… and your voice."
She almost expected him to lash out at her for her implication. To her surprise, he was just silent. After a long moment, he sighed through the nose and closed his eyes, massaging his temples. Frowning, he looked back up at her. "You were drugged," he said bluntly. "You took a sip of your drink and began acting oddly. You excused yourself. It seemed uncharacteristic, so I investigated. I smelled the drug in the glass. I pursued you. Nothing happened," he said. "The man who drugged you had other plans, but was given no opportunity to carry them out. I drove him away."
"How can you be so sure that…?" she began.
"Because I saw your bedroom door close from down the corridor. He had no time to do anything before I was there attempting to break in. He got scared and fled via the balcony. I entered shortly after," he said.
"What did you see?" she tensely asked, pale.
"You were partly undressed," he replied. "I covered you over and went to see if I could spot the man who drugged you. He was gone. I pulled up your covers and I left."
"How can I be certain of that?" she asked.
"Because I can hardly stand the sight of you clothed?" he deadpanned. She started and flushed furiously, scowling at him and punching his arm sharply. "Ouch!" he exclaimed, covering it. He rubbed the sore spot and gave her an ugly look, but to be fair he probably deserved that.
"I was led to believe men preferred the opposite," she bit.
"Oh? What other scary stories about big bad men did your daddy tell you?" Sleet mocked.
"Gods I loathe you," she said, voice shaking with anger. Relief also, though. She trusted him, she realized suddenly. She trusted him when he said he hadn't touched her.
"The feeling is mutual," he bit.
Silence a moment. "Who was the man?" she finally asked.
"I couldn't say," he answered with a shrug. "Does it matter anymore? It's over." She was quiet, head bowed in uncertainty. He frowned. "What now?" he asked in mild annoyance.
She looked off to the side, rubbing an arm. "I want to be sure," she said. "As far as you saw, as far as you know, I wasn't touched."
"Aleena, you weren't touched," he firmly said. She looked up at him in some sort of way that made him feel… He didn't know. He just knew he didn't like or trust it.
"Can you tell me that with certainty?" she asked.
"I can tell you with certainty," he answered.
"How can you be so sure?" she questioned.
He shifted uncomfortably, clearly not liking this line of questioning. "Do you really want to know?" he bluntly and somewhat awkwardly asked. She looked puzzled, then suddenly seemed to come to a conclusion, eyes widening and a deep flush springing to her cheeks, her skin heating up. His sense of hearing and smell, she realized. They would have been all he needed. He awkwardly coughed, pointedly avoiding her eyes. There was a long, uncomfortable silence between them both.
"I need to tell my brother and cousin," Aleena finally said. He was quiet. "Will you come with me?" she timidly asked. He gave her a curious and wary look. She bowed her head, looking away from him. "I don't want to do it alone, I just… I want someone there."
Sleet considered her request a moment. "Very well," he relented. It would earn him further trust, he told himself. "But shouldn't you wait for your parents to return?"
Aleena was quiet, considering this. "Perhaps you're right," she said.
He nodded. Silence again. "Maybe it's best we skip practice today," Sleet said.
Aleena nodded and turned to him. "Thank you," she said. "Not just for that, but for investigating when you sensed something was wrong. For coming after me. For stopping him… Thank you so, so much."
He shifted uncomfortably. "But of course, your highness. I am your knight, after all," he replied. She smiled a little at this, then turned and left. He watched after her until she was out of sight, then whispered a curse.