Zoe could not be happier with her life. She had now been living in Galla for six months. She held a steady job at the Snake's Lair, working sometimes at the front desk, and sometimes managing the finances for Mr.Kedar. Dante visited her often during work, and continued to dote on her as if she were some kind of a goddess. She had become close with Dante's parents and his little sister, as well as some of the other young people who worked at and around the Snake's Lair. There was not one other thing Zoe could wish to have in her life. No one had identified her as the still-missing Fifth Princess of Tortall. Another six months and she would be home free. After a year, she knew her parents would announce to the public that she had never been found and must be assumed deceased. They would hold an impressive memorial service for her, and the world would continue to spin. Zoe laughed to herself at these thoughts in her head, as she did the routine end of the month finances for Mr.Kedar. I wonder what they would think if I walked in on my own memorial service? She thought with a smirk on her face. Looking up at the clock, she realized that this particular daydream had lasted her an hour longer than she usually worked. Looking back to the books, she finished the finances and locked everything up. Zoe was no longer living in the small corner room in the Snake's Lair - only a few weeks ago she had purchased a quaint, homely apartment a few blocks away. It was late, almost 12am, and the February air was very cold. She bundled herself up in a cloak and scarf, and began the short walk home.
Somewhere along the second block, a dark figure began to follow Zoe. She sensed it, and began to walk faster. The figure sped up as well. Zoe, panicking, broke out into a run. The dark figure ran, catching up with her easily. A rough hand went over her mouth, and something sharp and metallic was shoved into her side. Zoe gave a strangled cry as pain shot down her right leg, and red blossomed quickly and stained her light-coloured shirt. She fell to her knees, and the figure kicked her in the shoulder. With another cry, she fell hard onto the already injured side. The figure, now obviously a man, kicked her again, rolling her onto her back. Zoe whimpered, crying softly. The man fumbled for a moment, trying to expose her. Frustrated at not being able to do so, he jammed the heel of his boot into her stomach. Zoe gasped and retched, choking slightly. Digging through the pockets of her cloak, the man found her money purse and took off, leaving her lying on the street, only half concious and profusely bleeding.
Zoe slipped in and out of coherent thought. Around 2am, heavily aided by a wall, she managed to get to her feet. Shuffling slowly, she inched her way back a block, to the Snake's Lair. Thankfully, the man had not found her keyring, and she let herself into the inn. Trying the stairs, her body protested and she tumbled down the few she had managed to ascend, hitting solidly against the main desk. Upstairs, Dante was awake and heard a dull thudding sound. Grabbing a dagger that glinted slightly in the moonlight, he headed down the steps silently. At the bottom of the stairs, propped up against the check-in desk, he spotted the figure.
"Who are you?" He demanded fiercely. The figure whimpered slightly, and Dante's dagger clattered to the floor. "Iris.." He gasped, and flew down the steps. His arms were around her in a moment, propping her head up in the crook of his arm.
"Iris..Iris..what happened?" He stroked her hair, looking panicked. Zoe whimpered again,
"I was stabbed..it hurts..my side.." She gasped slightly, her breathing ragged. Dante gathered her up in his arms carefully, and took her to his parent's home.
"My mother is a healer, she'll help you. Please, Iris, don't leave me.." He spoke to her rapidly and softly as they walked to the house. His parents admitted them into the house quickly, and Zoe was placed upon a bed in the guest room. Dante's mother stripped her down and examined her wounds. Karana requested a small list of herbs and balms, and set to healing. Thin lines of sweat trickled down her face and she concentrated, royal blue gift streaming from her fingertips and doing her bidding. She was alone in the room, having scooted the men out and locking the door. Dante paced in front of the door, while Mr.Kedar sat on a chair, fidgeting nervously.
"She's my best worker, I could never stand to lose her.." Mr.Kedar murmured. Dante glared at his father,
"You're best worker?! Papa, she's my girlfriend! I don't give a damn if she is your best worker!" Mr.Kedar grabbed his son's wrist.
"Dante, you are upset. Sit down, *calm* down. It will not do you any good to yell at people." Ashlar Kedar stood up from his seat, and pushed his son into the chair. Dante sighed and held his head in his hands. There was silence between the two men for several minutes, before Mr.Kedar spoke up.
"She's an interesting girl, you know." Dante snorted,
"Of course I know, Papa."
"But even on the outside, she is interesting. The hair on her arms is blonde, have you ever noticed? I have never met a girl with dark hair on her head, and light hair on her arms. It's strange. Heh." Ashlar patted his son's shoulder. "I am going into my office, Dante. Please call me if anything should happen." Dante sighed a ran a hand through his own dark hair. Thinking about what his father had said, he arbitrarily looked down at his own arms. The hair was dark.
"Heh. I wonder if she dyes her hair.." He said to himself. He began to ponder why she would dye her hair, when Karana appeared at the doorway. There was blood on her dress and her hands. She was ghostly pale, and gripping the wall for support.
"Mama.." Dante stood up and placed a strong arm around her, and Karana leaned against her son gratefully.
"She's alright, Dante. She's sleeping, and probably will for the next day or so. Two ribs were broken - even with magick, they'll take about 4 weeks to heal. The stab wound did not seem to hit anything important, but it'll leave a scar. The rest was scratches and bruises." Karana looked up at her son. "Who would want to do this, Dante? Iris is a sweet girl." Dante sighed.
"I don't know, Mama. I truly don't." Karana smiled slightly at her son.
"Come now. Bring your mother to her bed and let me rest a while. You may sit with her, but do not disturb her, Dante, she needs her rest." Dante nodded, and after making sure his mother was resting fine in her bed, sat in with Zoe, holding her hand gently, a concerned look on his face.
Zoe slept for a full day and a half. When she finally woke from her dreamless state, confusion swamped her brain. Where was she? What exactly had happened? Dante looked down at her.
"Iris.. Iris, are you awake?" Zoe groaned and shook her head slowly, trying to clear the fog. It didn't work, and Zoe answered the first thing that came to her mind.
"Iris? I'm Zoe.. Zoe of Conte.." She mumbled. Dante sat back.
"What?"
"I'm Zoe of Conte.." She mumbled again. It was only after Dante's eyes grew wide that Zoe realized she revealed her secret. She sat up, looking at him.
"Oh, gods, Dante.." He took a slow, deliberate breath.
"I-Is that true?" Zoe swallowed, and nodded slowly.
"It is. My name is Zoe of Conte, I am the Fifth Royal Princess of Tortall. I ran away six months ago to Cria, adapting the alias of Iris Callasri. My hair is dyed."
"And your eyes? Magicked?"
"No, they're true." Dante's own pale eyes narrowed.
"How am I supposed to believe what you say is true? Everything, our entire relationship these past six months, has been built on lies!" He stood up, his eyes full of fire.
"No! Dante, that's not true! Iris or Zoe, I still love you, and you still love me, and everything we have is still true!"
"I do not love you." He spat on the floor. Zoe stuttered.
"Y-You don't?" She paused, feeling tears prick the corners of her eyes. She shook her head, forcing the pain down. "Fine! Go run to some random whore for all I care! I'll be better off without you!" Dante growled, and threw her tattered clothing at her.
"I never want to see you again." He said, in a low, growling tone. Before Zoe could respond, Dante stalked out of the room, slamming the door to her room. Zoe curled up in the center of the bed, crying softly. She had screwed her entire life up. Dante would never speak to her again, nor would his family, she assumed. Zoe stayed in that position for a long time, crying, until she eventually cried herself to sleep.
Dante was fuming. Back in his room, he punched the wall until it cracked and his knuckles bled. Wrapping his knuckles in cloth, he sat down on the bed. Why did every woman have to hurt him someone? His mind was drawn to his former girlfriend, Sylbie. Sylbie had been a sweet, loving woman. Or at least she was until Dante had found out she was a spy for the Gallan King, in charge of reporting the names of active assassins. He sighed, and ran a hand through his hair. He did love her.. but she had lied to him. Dante laid down on the bed, beginning to cry softly. He was confused of what his course of action should be. Wiping his eyes, Dante turned onto his side and blew out a candle, falling into a restless, dreamless sleep.
