Here's the complete version of Serena; Mad Woman, edited, chaptered, and, yes, uploaded in a no-headache-version - I finally got the computer to work! Yay!
Oh, only Serena, Teb, the Fenecian language, Dark Claw, and, er...yeah, I think that's it...belong to me.
Enjoy reading!
"H7z"H7z
Serena; Mad Woman
~ A.K.A - The Party Pooper (for lack of a better title...) ~
*H7ž
Chapter I
Gone. He was gone. He had been gone for more than a decade. Strange, only now did the regret and agony hit her. Wellperhaps that was because she had been spending the decade in the university and the school for noblewomen.
Serena rested her cheek in her palm, her eyes glazed as she remembered the man whom she loved – physically, mentally, and spiritually: tall, more than six feet; unruly black hair that fought its restraining band; dark eyes that could bore right through a person; sensuous hands. Serena would always remember the image of Arram Draper. No lover – and she'd had plenty! – could ever compete with him. No man could be so caring and considerate.
She let her heavy eyes close as she remembered the last few hours with him, before he'd been named a traitor to Orzone – before he'd run away....
(flashback)
The huge room had filled up with many people over the last few minutes. Nobles, mages, women, men, and slaves took up their duties' – the duties one did during a banquet.
Serena had been very considerate about her image. She had spent an hour in front of the mirror, using her abundant Gift to work little things, to subtly change this and that. The result was astounding!
Her ruddy brown hair – the color of pure chocolate, Arram often murmured – was pinned into a whole network of braids and curls, held together by strings of gold. Her face was only slightly painted, as her tawny skin needed no additional coloring. But her full, soft lips had an emerald sheen, as did her eyelids and cheeks.
Serena's seamstresses from the Copper Isles had been working hard on her dress. Now, it bedecked her in its glory. The dark jade-colored silk draped down Serena's figure, accenting full breasts and round hips. The overdress – Serena thought of it as an overlong corset! – was a golden material. It was drawn tightly; making the abdomen area of the gown(s) fit Serena like a second skin. Both necklines were low.
Once out in banquet, the herald had ushered her to her place; the table reserved for unwed, not-too-important noble ladies. She was placed between a tall and gangly redhead and Varice Kingsford.
Serena snickered. That blonde slut had been Arram's lover for a while, but he broke it off when Serena came to the scene. She doesn't hold a candle against me, Serena thought smugly and began eating her dinner.
The entire time, she had been on the lookout for Arram. When she finished dessert, Serena unhappily concluded that he wasn't coming. She joined the other nobles as they danced, muttering soft thank yous whenever the men complimented her appearance. She was used to them; being a princess from the Copper Isles had its pluses. For one thing, people always tried to be on your good side, not wanting to awaken the insane blood that ran in the Copper Islanders.
Serena excused herself during a slow dance. She went to the refreshments table and grabbed a glass of wine. Then she made her way to the balcony (*A/N don't all banquet rooms seem to have them?*) and leaned against the doorway' that was cushioned by drawn curtains.
Being so involved' with her drink, Serena didn't notice the arm snake out from under the velvet curtains and wrap itself around her trim waist. She swallowed a gasp of surprise when the arm pulled her outside. Then the arm's owner struggled out from the curtains, grinning.
Arram Draper! Serena huffed, pretending to be angry as she straightened her appearance. When will you grow up?
When I feel like it, Chocolate, Arram replied quietly, a wicked sparkle in his brown eyes. He pronounced the word chocolate' as shocola – it was a word in Fenecian (*A/N that's an ancient tongue I've based on French. *) that Arram called her by. It meant*no duh!* chocolate.
Serena said, you need to control yourself.
That was a mistake, she thought when Arram pushed her to the wall, holding her tightly as he covered her in kisses. Or not Her eyes closed and she moaned softly, giving herself up to pure passion. Pure animal magnetism is more like it.
Arram pulled away after a few minutes, sighing regretfully. Serena pulled her eyes opened. Why'd you stop? she demanded.
Sorry, Chocolate. One thing's about to lead to another. We can't have a coupling in the middle of the balcony during a banquet, can we? He twined a stray lock of Serena's hair through his long fingers.
Serena sighed. Where've you been, Arram? You've missed a wonderful meal! She fixed him with a glare, her brilliant blue eyes pasted on his.
he began softly; her stomach dropped a mile, hearing a nasty tone in his voice.
I'm leaving.
she yelped; Arram placed two fingers on her lips to silence her. What do you mean, Arram? she asked more civilly.
He took her to the edge of the balcony and sat down. Serena joined him, her heart thudding loudly.
Remember that spell I discovered?
Which one? You discover a dozen everyday, Serena muttered sullenly. Arram glared at her.
I'm talking about the simulacrum-weaving spell. Ozorne demanded that I give it to his Gifted assassins, so they could go to Tortall, visit Lord Sinthya without causing suspicion, blah blah blah Anyway, I refused. I think that it's positively ghastly to let Gifted killers make copies of themselves that contain a part of their Gifts. Imagine the chaos if the constructing of the copy was to go astray! Arram sighed dramatically. Serena shook her head.
So, what's the problem? she snapped impatiently.
I disobeyed Ozorne.
Serena gasped in horror. You idiot! You don't refuse the Emperor Mage anything! He gets what he wants, when he wants. She paused as a thought flew through her mind. Still, that's not so bad. You always disobey the Emperor.
I destroyed the spells. I eliminated their proof.
Here, Serena's stomach might as well have gone out of her through the heels of her feet. Not only did you disobey the Emperor, but you did away with his desire so he can never find it? She grabbed onto Arram's wrists and clutched them tightly.
Chocolate, you don't know the power of the spells-
But the Emperor does! she yelled, frightened. Arram, I thought you were smarter than this! Youyou're a mixture between a psycho and a total airhead! You're going to get yourself killed.
Arram said patiently, is why I'm leaving.
Serena stopped babbling and listened.
Ozorne has deemed me a traitor and has soldiers looking for me. That's why I didn't go to the banquet and that's why I have to go. I just came to say goodbye.
Serena's eyes widened; she threw herself at him and buried her head under his. I- take me with you!
You're a Princess from the Copper Isles; I'm just a poor mage, hunted for treason. Don't worry; I'll be back when this blows over. He kissed her. Then he stood and began to weave a complex spell – or, he tried to begin. Serena had started to babble again. Loudly.
He placed his index finger on her lips with a curt command. Serena shut up and started kissing it, working her way up his arm and finishing on his lips. After a moment, Arram pushed away, a hint of impatience in his face.
I need to go, Chocolate, he said.
Take care. Don't forget to come back. Remember that I love you. I'll always love you and-
Arram glared with her with such an expression of impatience and disgust on his face that she stopped her speaking.
I have to go, he murmured. With a last kiss, he whispered a word and disappeared.....
(end of flashback.)
Serena shook herself from the memories, but let one last thought run through her mind. That night, the soldiers caught him, imprisoned him, and then he got away. I don't know where, how, whenbut he's okay; he's going to come back now that Kaddar is Emperor of Carthak.
She got up, hearing her husband's return. She shivered and glanced at the hour-candle. It was late evening – her husband, a Scanran prince, usually awaited her in bed at this time. She dreaded it.
One day, I'm going to rid of him and get back my Arram. This I swear by Mithros. So mote it be.
*H7ž
@~@