Cruel Fates

Book II: Chapter 3

By: Lily no Anrui—mailto:FrostKitty@aol.com (aka. IQ)

LnA: Hi, minna! –waves- I'm back…ish. Some of you may be asking why was I away for so long. Well, I was originally taking a break to further my own ambitions, but that fell through. After that, I saw what was happening to ff.net and it depressed me. I just didn't want to write anymore. BUT, I've decided it's high time I finish some of these fics I've got uploaded on here, just to provide some sort of finality. I am reformed, rejuvenated, and ready to write. With my new Jrocker muses by my side I will finish what I have started!

Mana: Jrocker muses…? –sigh- Lily, you're such a geek.

LnA: Quiet, you. Anyway, I guess I'd better introduce them to ya'll since they'll probably be influencing my writing a lot now. This is Mana…-points to Gothic Lolita-geared crossdresser- and this is Kami, otherwise known as the Kami Bunny. –points to reincarnated drummer with bunny ears-

Kami: -ears perk up- Hi, everyone! It's nice to meet you all! –bows-

LnA: I hope you'll grow to love my muses as much as you loved my writing, and I hope this turns out to your satisfaction after such a long leave of absence. Mana, you get to do the disclaimer since you were so rude during your introduction.

Mana: Why do I have to? –sighs- Fine, whatever. Lily-chan—

LnA: -kicks Mana- Ahem!

Mana: Fine! Lily no Anrui does not own nor is she associated with The Black Jewels Trilogy by Anne Bishop. All new characters, like myself, Kami Bunny, Silvara, Damien, etc., are copyrighted by Lily no Anrui and any infringement will be noticed….I guarantee it. –gives scary foreboding glare to readers-

Kami: -giggle- Now, on to the story! –smile-

The world was silent and still, a distant memory lying in wait beyond the thick stone walls of SaDiablo Hall. We had been there for approximately one week. I was content for the first time in a long time within those safe stone walls. Everything I loved was there, within them; my friends, my guardians, and my memories were all finally in one place. It was there an ease filled me that had never been there.

I remembered as a child wandering through these very halls, daydreaming that all this splendor were mine, that I was one of the greatest witches of the Realm. I wished for hope against hope that love would fine me, greater than any the world had known, and fill my heart with a sweetness I'd never tasted from another. Those were but childish dreams though, but here within these walls, I could feel them clear as day rising to pull me under once again.

Still, the romance of my surroundings did not completely erase the reality of my situation.

I was here to heal my mother, nothing more. Once she was fine I planned the leave again, returning to my vagabond ways with my Circuit. Kaeleer was no longer my home for I had no home, not anymore. I had forsaken it to live my own life in the manner which I dictated. In a way I was like Jade, homeless and without purpose in my life, contenting myself to do menial tasks which would take me nowhere in life.

On that fateful day when the ground shifted under my feet, I was in the library with Damien. How he had managed to get me to come there was beyond me. We were poring over ancient texts with scholarly diligence. Surprisingly enough, Damien had a thirst for knowledge that surpassed even my own. I was tempted to show him some of the things my Circuit had collected while on its travels, but before opening my mouth to say anything, thought of the repercussions it might have. That more than anything caused me to halt. My internal debate was ended when our midday snack appeared.

Sweeping an errant tendril of silver hair from my eyes, I pointed this out to Damien. He was so engrossed in his book that he had failed to notice even the arrival of food. "Damien, the food's here," I said gently, interrupting whatever his train of thought had been. He looked up, a pair of sleek wire-framed glasses perched on his nose, and finally noticed what I was talking about. "Oh, so it is." He smiled sheepishly, and set the text aside, marking the page.

I poured myself a cup of tea from the teapot, watching Damien from the corner of my eye. It had surprised me when he called in the glasses and placed them on his nose. I wouldn't think that such an attractive male would have need of them. When I asked, he explained to me laughingly that in his later teenage years he had studied so much it had ruined his eyes. He only needed them for seeing things up close though, much like his grandfather although he was much too young to be compared with Saetan.

It was cute though, I admitted silently, seeing a different facet to him than most saw. Almost every other woman he had come across had only seen the side of him I described to Jade as "the man-whore", who's not necessarily a whore, but more like an insanely desirable male who knew he was hot enough to get what he wanted to satisfy his needs. Does that make sense? I think I preferred the scholarly side of him better than the guarded womanizer though.

You may ask why I talked to Jade about all that and not Sarai, who would have understood better. The truth is that Sarai is quite a gossip and somehow I know that anything I tell her will make its way around the Circuit. Jade is silent, offers sound advice, and quite understanding despite any misgivings she may have about the opposite sex. Also she and Damien got along.

They had met early in the morning, out on the practice fields. Jade was doing her usual grueling routine even though Sarai and I had both opted out of exercising while we were visiting the SaDiablo household. Damien meandered out there with his father and Uncle Lucivar, and the three males went about practicing with the Sticks. Jade had become interested enough to watch. When Lucivar asked if she'd like to spar Jade was surprised, but jumped at the chance to try her skill against any male. Damien volunteered. To make a long battle short, both participants went at each other until they were too tired to continue; it ended in a draw. Damien had earned Jade's respect through that match, and from then on the two got along famously in my opinion.

Shaking myself out of a fond imaginary sparring match between two of my favorite people, I bit into a cookie filled to the brim with delicious orange marmalade jelly. Mother Night, I loved Mrs. Beale. Just as I was musing how one of my other favorite people made such wondrous pastries the door to the library burst open and was slammed against the wall. Startled, I jumped in my seat and swung to face the door.

There I found my mother, standing calm and cool, a slab of ice amidst the rich red fire of the carpet that lined the floor. Her eyes scanned the room, passing over dozens of books and Damien, until they landed on me. "So it's true," she said. Her voice was filled with wonder, and her eyes filled with drops of melted ice. I hadn't been aware she had woken. Sarai said she would let me know immediately. Just then Sarai rushed in behind Gabrielle, her short blond hair flapping wildly around her. "I'm sorry," she panted out, "your mother rushed out before I had the chance to warn you."

"It's okay, Sarai," I replied with an easy smile.

"I'll leave you alone then," my friend told me, and spun on her heel to give us privacy she had deemed necessary. Damien rose discreetly from his seat and took the textbook he'd been studying with him, going into the recesses of the SaDiablo library.

"So, I see your feeling better," I said lightly, rising from my chair to be on an equal level with the woman who once intimidated me. Now that I thought about it, she was actually a few inches shorter than I was. "Yes, much," Gabrielle responded, "Thank you for what you did. Sarai explained it all to me."

"It's no big deal. Besides, what would the Dea al Mon say if they knew I let their Queen die? Nothing, that's what. They'd just get their weapons and divide into hunting parties," I told her tartly, making my own attempt at a joke.

My efforts paid off and Gabrielle chuckled, just a little. "Yes, I suppose they would." She paused, and seemed to find the steel in her backbone. Walking up to me, she took my hands. "I know I have much to make up to you, for the way I treated you. I would like to if you'll give me the chance. Even if you don't want to, I still apologize deeply. That can never make up for it alone, I'm sure, but it's a start."

I clutched her hands back, marveling that this was the same woman who had once despised me for being who I was and was now asking that I forgive her transgressions. "It's a start," I agreed. I looked into her Dea al Mon features, so like mine, and saw for the first time that I had her nose and high cheekbones. We were Blood, always tied together no matter how far we ran. It was time we learned to deal with it.

Jade sighed, resting her head in her hands. So bored, she thought to herself. She had already been to the practice field that day and spent most of the morning there. Lucivar had been running through his own exercise routine, and for a change of pace, offered to work with her. Now was not the time of year when Lucivar had dozens of pupils to attend to from his Eyrie. They had a friendly spar together, stopping occasionally so Lucivar could give her pointers on how to wield the Eyrien Sticks. He was a good teacher, patient but pushy. He reminded her of her mother long ago, remembering long training sessions in the grueling sunlight and in the fierce cold darkness of night.

She remembered once asking Kiana Darkk why it was necessary for her to learn such things as how to wield sixty different weapons well enough to kill. Kaeleer, Terielle, and Hell were in a time of peace. There was no need for self-defense and murder. Kiana had replied that it was her niche in life to fill even if she was not yet aware of it. The deadly arts were their legacy, the only thing of home they had left to call their own. Jade had said quietly, "No, not our only legacy."

It was true though. The more wicked facets of life were still abundant in the world, and now that Jade was aware of that she had decided the long days of training were worth it to be able to kick anyone's butt. It fact she agreed wholeheartedly to the point where she devoted herself to it obsessively. After all, it was the only thing she had left.

Life could not be wholly consumed by the martial arts though, and soon boredom found Jade in the kitchen, snacking on some celery sticks Mrs. Beale had kindly cut up for her. The cook was a tough-as-nails woman, but underneath was an understanding soul. Still, no one could possibly understand Jade's boredom. To the occupants of SaDiablo Hall the place was a haven. It was warm and lushly furnished with all the niceties of life. For Jade it was a tedious prison with nothing to alleviate the comfort which had stolen itself into her bones. She often found herself debating silently the merits of clawing one's eyes out simply for something to do.

Jade had talked to Sarai moments before, but the girl had brushed her off in favor of other company. So Sarai had left SaDiablo Hall, claiming to Jaenelle that she had a few things she needed to pick up in town. Upon further interrogation Jade had discovered that Sarai was really meeting Alex and Keely there, and the happy family was going to spend some time together. It seemed that Jade had no place in either world.

Feeling dejected about her current situation, Jade finished eating in the silence with which she did everything else and returned to her room. Dropping the shields she had placed on it, Jade stepped into the room and froze. The dusk that had claimed her room left most of it in shadow, but something was off. Then she caught a whiff of the lingering psychic scent which still permeated strongly. Male…strong…her territorial instincts rose up and she growled softly into the open air. She summoned her favorite knife made of black metal. It didn't reflect the light as much and made it better for nighttime attacks. Stalking into the middle of the room, she growled out, "Show yourself."

Jade looked around, inspecting every nook and cranny, when from the shadows stepped a most unexpected surprise. "Nathaniel!" She cried, clutching her heart. There stood her redheaded companion, looking somewhat miffed. "Jady, you spoiled my surprise," he admonished, fixing the buttons on his shirt.

"How in Hell did you get in here?" Jade cried, knowing on instinct that Beale would not have let him in the front door without first discussing it with Saetan. Nathaniel's smile was a flash of white in the darkness, and he nodded to the terrace. It was then she noticed that the door was just slightly ajar. Damn, she'd been spending too much time enjoying all that luxury it was going to her head. "So what are you doing here?"

"I don't know," Nathaniel replied easily, settling himself on the bed, "Just thought I'd check up on you."

Jade rolled her eyes, "Nathaniel, I don't need a babysitter."

"Alright, alright," the redhead burst out in confession, "So I missed my friend. Sue me." He flopped on the bed melodramatically, an arm shielding his eyes. His burgundy hair splayed out on the black bedclothes with the movement, making a bright contrast against the black bedclothes. Jade smiled before responding tartly, "Perhaps I will."

"You will not!" Nathaniel dared, sitting up to glare and make his challenge look fiercer than it was.

"Do not order me around!" Jade said heatedly.

Nathaniel smiled before saying mockingly, "Perhaps I will."

Outraged, Jade gave a fierce cry and tackled him. The two tumbled onto the bed, wrestling like two jungle cats playacting fierceness. Between cries of pain there were insane giggles and pleas for mercy, and Jade thought to herself, 'Perhaps this is where I belong.'

Gabrielle left the library with an air of dignity about her. As she opened the door, Chaosti greeted her in his subdued manner. The walked off hand in hand no doubt to share a rather passionate reunion behind closed doors.

I sighed in relief. That was one more load off my shoulders, and I was one step closer to leaving. Stretching on the loveseat Gabrielle and I had occupied during out lengthy discussion, I wondered where Damien had gone to and if he planned on rejoining me anytime soon. I was quite sure our tea was cold and the snacks were no longer as good as they could have been, but surely it was not just the food he desired to be spending quality time with.

I stood up, yawning, and went to the back of the library. I found him seated on another loveseat in a little niche in the wall. A reading lamp provided a soft warm glow for Damien to read by, and he seemed quite content to do so, curled up like a cat in a corner of the couch. "This seat taken?" I asked jokingly. He looked up briefly, smiled, and extended a hand towards the empty spot. I flopped down beside him rather gracelessly, spreading my legs out in a very unfeminine manner.

"You got all your business with your mother taken care of?" Damien asked coolly, turning the page in that same ancient book. "I think so, yes. I can't find anything on what made her sick though, and its bugging the hell out of me," I confessed.

"Yeah, you and the entire coven," Damien stated wryly. He pushed his glasses up on the bridge of his nose. I let the silence hang between it, having gotten used to it from being around Jade so much. It seemed to speak clearer where words could not. "We haven't gotten all our business taken care of yet, have we Damien?" I hazarded a guess. The silence between us had been too long and uncomfortable, and I could only guess there was something on his mind.

"No, we haven't," he agreed slowly, putting his bookmark in place and closing the ancient tome. He turned to look at me, and I waited with baited breath to know what he had to say. For the longest time I hung in anticipation, until finally I sighed. "Well, just say it then," I burst out with in exasperation. I put my hands over my eyes and shook my head in frustration. Males were always so utterly confounding.

When I opened my eyes, having regained a measure of calm, I found Damien to be very close to me, and strangely observant. He opened his mouth to speak, but changed his mind. He leaned in, and I thought to myself, 'Mother Night, he's going to kiss me. What am I going to do?' Then his lips were on mine, and it was the sweetest thing I had ever tasted, better than honey or strawberries or Mrs. Beale's marmalade-filled cookies. Years of wondering made it excellent, but insecurity kept it from being a very involved kiss.

Damien pulled back, his eyes surveying me for a reaction. I'm sure my own face must have looked somewhat silly, what with me having gone into shock. I stared at his beautiful features, and felt the blood in my veins start flowing again, as rapid as the pounding drums within my ears. "Silvara?" he asked uncertainly. It was a tone I'd never heard in Damien's voice, so I had to double-check to make sure. "Yes?" I replied, blinking to get a hold of myself.

"I think now we've taken care of all our business," he stated matter-of-factly.

"Not quite," I corrected him, and grasped his chin, bringing him down for yet another kiss which he responded to wholeheartedly. This was wonderful, this was perfection, this was home, this was my place to belong.

LnA: Dun dun dun duuun!

Kami: We now conclude this portion of our drama. Please stay tuned next time for more on the adventures of the young ladies of the Black Jewels Realms.

Mana: Our drama is soon coming to an end, so be sure to pay very good attention. Remember to review! That will help Lily-chan write faster! You know…in case you wanted to read more about Damien and Silvara. –cough SEX cough-

LnA: Mana, you know I would never be so tasteless. Anyway, I know this chapter was short, but it was the best I could do right now. Next chapter…a bunch more crap will happen. ^^ Maybe if you're all good

–cough REVIEW cough- I'll put more Damien x Silvara yuminess in there as Mana said.

Kami: Until next time…go read Lily's other fics and motivate her to finish up those! –waves- Ja ne, minna!