Cruel Fates

Chapter 4

By: IceQueen

AN: Thanks to all of you who reviewed.

Disclaimer: I don't own the Black Jewels Trilogy or any characters, settings, or dates taken out of there. That belongs to Anne Bishop. I do own Silvara, and all new characters, so don't steal.



Silvara awoke the next morning with a blinding headache. She had apparently partied a bit too hardy. She yawned and looked at the clock next to her. Eleven o' clock, odd that no one came to wake me up, she thought while getting out of bed.

Quickly she took a shower and dressed in black leather pants, a sheer blue shirt, and a dark blue tank top beneath it. To top off the ensemble she wore thick-heeled boots, a break from the traditional sturdy boots. Today was the day she went to the Circuit's party.

Silvara took a deep breath and walked out of her room, preparing to be yelled at for being so late to breakfast. She took the steps down two at a time, and went to the dining room. It was empty except for a piece of torn paper. On it her father had written that he'd let her sleep late and he and her mother would be at Morghann and Khary's house all day. She was free to join them. Think not, Silvara thought jovially. She left the note on the table and went to the kitchen.

After searching thoroughly and discovering no ready-made food she frowned. Oh, well, I'll just have to hunt for my meat today. She smiled. It had been awhile since she had hunted last. She ran up to her room and grabbed her bow with a quiver of arrows.

She paused to admire the fine craftsmanship. The bow had been carved out of the eldest tree within their forest. Strong but flexible it was. It had been made to be quite large. Most were surprised she could handle such a weapon. They thought she was too tiny for such a bow. They were right, without her training she would be too tiny to handle the weapon. She'd taken years to learn how to aim and shoot just right, practicing until her arms ached and felt like they were on fire. Shaking her head, she left the room.



She stalked quietly, a huntress in the trees. Her prey was just below her now. The little thing had no idea she was up there, just waiting for the right moment. She smirked. It would taste good going down.

Silvara moved from one branch to the next. Leaves rustled. Damn, she thought. The rabbit froze at the noise, sensing now that it was being followed. Silvara nocked an arrow. She would not even let her prey get the chance to escape. The rabbit was paralyzed with its own fear. It was going to die. It knew that much. She pulled back the arrow and paused to make sure her aim was perfect. Through the line of her gaze she could see the rabbit's middle, quivering with terror. She relished it and let loose her arrow.

It slashed right through the rabbit's middle, impaling it, and going straight through into the ground. Silvara jumped down from the tree she'd been in. Red sticky liquid was leaking from the dead animal's wound, staining the ground a beautiful crimson color. She smiled, walked over to its carcass, and removed the arrow from it. She picked it up cautiously and walked away triumphantly to cook her breakfast.



After breakfast Silvara lounged about lazily. She read a play she'd been wanting to read entitled The Politician. Did her nails. Sharpened and polished her daggers. By two in the afternoon she was getting quite bored.

"La la la, I am bored," Silvara sang repeatedly. She paced the hallways, brushed her hair... twice, and still she was bored. Suddenly there was a knock at the door. Freezing mid-stride, she listened again. It came again, persistent.

She called in her jewels and prepared to send a bolt of power the instant she opened the door. If the person knocking wasn't friendly, that is. She cautiously unlocked the door, at the same time sharpening her nails. The knock came again, more urgently. Silvara yanked open the door.........................

(Should I stop here??? Hm... maybe...)

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only to reveal Damien, looking quite flustered. "Hell's fire! You scared me, you lousy little shit," She cried. He ducked his head sheepishly. "Sorry. I didn't mean to. I just wanted to stop by," Damien said apologetically. She shook her head. "Come in," she said, exasperated, and stepped aside. Damien stepped in, observed her with interest, then smirked.

That annoying smirk that made you want to pound him to a bloody pulp. "Expecting a fight?" he asked, noting her jewels powered and ready to strike and her lengthened nails that could pierce flesh easily. "Oh, shut your trap," she snapped while putting her nails back to normal and lowering her power. "What do you want anyway?" Silvara asked. "Eh, was in town. Thought I'd stop by," Damien answered vaguely. "Uh huh," she replied skeptically. "Well, since you're here you want something to drink?" "I'd like that very much," he answered. "Make yourself comfortable then. I'll be back in a bit," she said while exiting the room.

Silvara walked to the kitchen and heated up some water. She got out two mugs, one for Damien and one for herself, and set then on the counter. While the water was boiling she prepared two herbal bags, both with chamomile inside. Chamomile and dried honey with a bit of vanilla. The water whistled, signaling it was done. Sighing she pulled it off the burner, turned the stove off and poured steaming hot water into both cups. Instantly the liquid turned a golden color, like the sun. She picked up the mugs and returned to Damien.

"Here," she said while setting it down on a coffee table. "So how come you decided to grace me with your presence today?" Silvara asked curiously. "Thought it would be a nice surprise," he said from his spot on a comfortable couch.

"Hm," Silvara said, moving to sit on the couch, for it was her favorite spot, but decided otherwise and sat in a nearby chair. "You look dressed up," Damien noted. "Not really. Just thought I'd wear something different today," she said a bit too casually. "I see," he replied.

Damien pondered to himself why she would be dressed so nicely when not required to be. He'd seen Silvara in every-day attire and this wasn't it. Usually it consisted of fairly nice breeches, a long sleeved shirt, and her favorite boots. Today was different though. He wondered what she was up to.

"So how are you?" Silvara asked suddenly. "I'm okay. How're you?" Damien replied. "Same. Nothing new's occurred in the past twenty-four hours," she replied.

They talked for a bit longer about mundane things. The two lingered on the topic of Titian and Daemonar. "So do'ya think....?" Silvara asked, trailing off before she could make a complete sentence. "I do think he likes her, if that's what you're asking," Damien replied, "However, being Eyrien, I'm sure it'll be a long time before he'll admit to it." Silvara threw back her head and laughed, "Yes, I'm quite positive it will be much the same situation for Titian."

"Probably, after all Titian's stubborn as he is," he agreed, smiling wryly.

They moved on, switching from topic to topic. Gossiping, as most who have barely any social life of their own do. The time flew by until it was late evening. When the clock's hands were resting gently upon the eight Damien stood up. "Well, see you later," Damien said with a bow. "Sure," Silvara agreed, and stood up, leading him to the door. "Bye, Damien," She called out and waved as he walked away.

Slamming the door she quickly ran upstairs to get her coat, then hopped out the door. Silvara ran all the way to the Webs, excited to be going to yet another party. This time she wasn't the excuse though, so she was happy. She flew quickly to the same little town she'd been to just the day before. It seemed light years.

Silvara scanned street signs, until finding the one she needed, then turned, and began scanning numbers. Finally she found number 382, and looked at it speculatively. It didn't look like there was a party going on inside. The only visible person was some kid, sitting outside on the stairs. She walked up to him.

"You got an invitation?" the guy asked. "Um.. yeah," she replied, flashing the piece of napkin that Sarai had wrote on, "Sarai told me I'm just supposed to tell you she sent me."

"Oh, alright. Go on in," the kid replied before attending to someone else who had walked up behind Silvara.

She walked up to the door and yanked it open. Now she could hear music, quite loudly in fact. Silvara walked into the large building and into a throng of bumping and grinding people. Really, it looked like they were planning to have a massive orgy right there. Silvara looked around for Sarai.

Sarai noticed Silvara first and came down from the upper level, grinning. "Hey!" She yelled and waved her arms. "Hey!" Silvara called back. Sarai made it to her but not before getting beer splashed all over her shirt. "Dammit," the girl muttered. "So this is the Circuit?" Silvara asked, speaking loudly in order to be heard over the music. "Yeah! We're all here somewhere, but most of the dancers and drinkers are just visitors," came the reply. "Huh," she said quietly. "C'mon," Sarai said and yanked her to the dance floor. Not again, Silvara thought.



After the party Sarai and Silvara sat cross-legged on top of the bar, each having a beer. "So what did you think?" Sarai asked suddenly. "It was um-- interesting. A bit overwhelming at first, but cool afterwards," she replied. "Yeah, that's what everybody says the first time," Sarai informed her.

After Sarai had dragged Silvara off to dance they'd each had a few drinks, talked, socialized. You know, the norm. The norm for a Circuit party anyway. Silvara had been hesitant at first, but quickly opened up to the warmth and friendliness that seemed to surround them all.

"Is this what it's always like?" she asked. "Huh- oh, not always. Only when we need cash. There's a fee for most people to get in. Otherwise we're pretty low-key," Sarai explained. "Oh," Silvara answered. Just then the back door burst open and in came a black haired girl, rubbing her bloody knuckles.

"Hey, Jade, what happened to you? I haven't seen you all night," Sarai said. The girl looked up, exposing extraordinary green eyes to the light. "I'm fine. Just had to take out a little trash, if ya know what I mean," the girl- Jade, replied. "Hm. I see," Sarai said with a knowing look on her features. "Oh how rude of me. Silvara, this is Jade. Jade, this is Silvara," Sarai said, indicating the respective people as she spoke. "Nice to meet you," Jade said, and walked over, holding out her unbloodied hand. "You too," Silvara replied, and shook the hand, being careful to give a firm grasp without hurting the injured girl. "Now, have a seat and tell me exactly what happened," Sarai ordered Jade. She obeyed and launched into a long detailed story.

AN: I don't feel like writing anymore. I'm lazy. lol. Anyway, that's it for this chapter. Next chapter: Some crap will happen. I can guarantee it.