Okay, due to many people begging me for more, here it is. It is NOT finished - heck, I don't even LIKE this chapter. No, I don't. I personally think it's too rushed...
Anyway, I realized that this story is 44 pages long! And it's in Palatino font, size 12, not double space. Kewl, huh?
As an answer to a review I got in Death Mark'd love: devilkitti8, I won't really be continuing it, coz, frankly, with this fic and the 101 things I have to do...*sigh* It's just gonna have to wait. Sorry. But, hey, read this fic instead!
stargirl_rebels, I decided to write an A/N for you, coz I can't be bothered logging onto my hotmail account - I'm laaazy! How do I get so many readers? Umm...how shall I put this without sounding conceited...aw, what the heck, I'll give you my opinion:
1. I get people to know me. I wrote TP fanfics for about 2 years before signing up with ff.net. Before that, I sent numerous fics to very large TP sites (like Tara's and Cathy's) and sent others to other smaller, but just as wonderful, TP sites. My biggest success, off ff.net, was Jen, Neal, Kel, and Joren - and it was a rough draft, AND and K/J fanfic!!!
2. I come up with a different/original story line. Or, I take an old story line and give it a twist (like Death Mark'd Love).
3. It's all in the advertising. You have to give it a good title and a good summary - one of my favorite stories, And I Hand My Throne To, got TWO reviews. It's my work of art (unfinished) but because it has such a blah' title and summary...well, you get the idea.
4. Grammar, spelling, vocabulary. Yeah, I know it's boring and terrible and gives people the shudders - but it makes a BIG difference. Also, tenses. I get so irritated and confused when the tense switches from 3rd person past (eg: she sat down and began to eat) to 3rd person present (eg: she sits down and begins to eat).
5. Ummm...er...listen, why don't you send your story to me? I want to read it, K? My email's bigego_13@hotmail.com

Phew. That's the longest A/N to someone I've ever written! I didn't mean to offend anybody, it's just that there are a few tricks to getting your story read...
Like I said before - I HATE this chapter. I just posted it coz you remind me like hungry puppies... =)
Happy reading,
Giovanna xoxo


Í^

Part 14

You're very quiet tonight, Ozorne informed her, fiddling with her curls. Not like last time.
Daine looked up at the ceiling. One of my friends died today, she said softly. Some sort of disease.
Oh? I'm sorry to hear that. Who was she?
Someone who worked here. Valentina My Valentine. Daine paused, willing her tears away. They couldn't heal her, and she - She choked on her misery. Ozorne, noticing this, slid an arm around her waist and hugged her tightly.
Death is natural, he whispered. It'll happen to all of us one day.
Daine closed her eyes and shook her head. It wasn't natural, she muttered. Her death was anything but natural. It was like that magical-sickness and - what's wrong?
Ozorne had stiffened. he replied, shaking his head. Magical sickness? What's that?
Daine turned her head so she could give him a suspicious look. You haven't heard of it?
lied Ozorne. Do tell me.
Last year - take or give a few months - non-Gifted people started to show signs of strange Gifts. Except...except they weren't Gifts - someone once told me that the Gift is purely academic, not supernatural. And those new powers were supernatural. Daine grinned wryly, remembering Numair's hour-long explaination. Mages from around the Eastern Lands came to visit King Trystam, but I don't think they figured out what the problem was exactly. Luckily, the sickness has disappeared.
mused Ozorne, running his finger up and down Daine's arm, making her shiver slightly. How do you know all of this?
Daine hesitated. Well -
Judging from the extensive amount of information you just gave me, it sounds as if one of those mages told you directly. A customer, perhaps?
She blushed. No, I never actually slept with him. I was just his - she paused, looking for a word other than student,
And does this friend have a name?
Curious about his curiousity, Daine rolled over in bed and caught his eye. Why do you want to know?
I like to be informed about the friends of my whore, replied Ozorne. Now, tell me his name.
It's none of your buisness, Daine told him quietly. And - she was cut off by a stinging blow to her cheek.
Ozorne had hit her.
Pale, controlled, he grabbed her by the hair and yanked her face near his. Now Daine, he began in a soft voice. I was hoping it wouldn't come to this. However, I don't like it when a common prostitute - no matter how skilled and dignified - talks back to me. I will ask you again - who is this friend of yours?
Trembling with anger and fear combined, Daine shook her head. It's my life, not yours, she muttered. Then she gasped when he hit her again.
Daine, tell me. I don't want to hurt you.
You have already, she thought furiously, trying to struggle out of his grip. I won't tell you! She didn't know why she wouldn't - but then Numair's words came back to her: There are many in this world who would use your power for their own benefit. That is why you must be careful. Tell no one you have just met about it. Tell no one you hate about it. If I tell him the name of one of the most powerful mages in the Eastern Lands, he'll ask me why we actually met. And since Numair wasn't a customer, than I have no good reason as to why a blackrobed mage would even talk to a courtesan. The only good reason for a mage like him to care about someone like me is if I have magic - and Ozorne will surely realize this.
The bitter taste of blood in her mouth, Daine declared, I won't tell you! Hit me as much as you want - you'll get no answer from me!
If that's the way you want it...
So he hit her.
Again and again.¤