A/N: Metropolis Dream, romance takes a turn here...first time writing
somethin' like this, tell me what ya think...but be warned: TOTAL SAP.
Chapter Four: Dark Sirens
In the Training Center, Irvine found that there was much more to Tryphaena than looks. Since a rifle against a bull whip was unfair, they fought without weapons. But before long it was Irvine covered in bruises and Tryphaena had not a scratch on her flawless skin. Irvine lunged for her with his fists, but she swept her slender leg under his, knocking him off his feet. It seemed almost effortless, her movements were like some very complicated dance she had mastered. As he stumbled up, he gasped as something lashed tightly around him. Her bullwhip had made its way back into her hand, and its length wrapped around him like a hungry boa constrictor. "Give up, cowboy?" she mused, smirking. Irvine panted, smiling wearily as he struggled in the whips grasp. ::Ah, just let her win,:: he thought. "You've got me, Tryphaena. You're really good." She grinned, her eyes flashing seductively into his. "I know I do, Irvine, and yes, I know I am." "Yeah. Hey listen, ya wanna loosen this whip now?" he grunted. It was wrapped around his upper body, pinning his arms firmly to his sides. She put on a look of mock confusion. "Why? I've got you right where I want you." She began to pull him toward her slowly, like an angler reeling in a fish. When he was mere centimeters away from her, her hands reached up to caress his face and she forced his lips apart with her own. "Mmphh..." Irvine was at first shocked, feeling Tryphaena's lips coaxing his apart hungrily, her tongue forcing its way into his mouth. He knew she'd been hitting on him, but Hyne! But soon enough his eyes closed and he leaned against her, responding to the kiss with dire need he didn't know existed. He forgot about their surroundings, his friends, Laurena, even what his own name was. When they parted, she smiled dangerously. "I knew you had some fire in you," she commented, looking into his eyes. She seemed to be searching for something, and seemed slightly confused when she didn't see it. But then she smirked and pushed him backward. Without the help of his arms he fell easily on his back with a thud and a small groan. She turned around momentarily to make sure that no one was around. Irvine saw a pair of black wings tattooed on her shoulder blades, the same design as Rinoa's and Laurena's only black. Tryphaena climbed on top of him, agile as a cat. She straddled him and leaned down to kiss him hungrily again, and once more that blissful feeling came over him and that feeling of not knowing what to do, or caring. "Mmm..." He parted from her lips and kissed her neck, making her purr loudly. "What is that tattoo on your back?" he murmured. "Just my trademark, little cowboy. Just my trademark." She traveled down his own neck, nibbling as she did. He felt the whips grasp loosen, and his hands traveled down to her scantily clad chest. He fingered the pendant around her neck. "And this?" he whispered. "Oh, that? My necklace." She grasped it in her own hand, still kissing his neck. "It's a family heirloom. It's called the Ankh of Souls. It's supposed to exract the soul from any person its wearer wills it to. It was a pair with another, the Ankh of Life, but that one went missing years ago..." She pinned his arms to the ground, kneeling over to meet his face. "You are a very curious little cowboy, Irvine. But that is all right. I like curious men." Her tone and eyes played seductively with his senses. "Is there anything else on my body you would like me to identify for you?" "Oh, no," he breathed. "I wouldn't want to pry..." "Pry all you want." She nibbled at his earlobe, her voice sultry. "You can pry at me...then I can pry at you, if you like...then me, then you...then me again..." Irvine suddenly came to his senses when he felt Tryphaena tugging at his pants. He shot up and she tumbled to the ground. "Whoa there, girl!" he cried frantically, closing up his trenchcoat. "Not so fast, okay?" She pouted. "You don't want me?" He bit his lip. He wanted to say he didn't, but he couldn't. He wasn't even sure himself now. "Uh, well...this really isn't the place, Tryphaena, and the Garden's got rules about this kinda thing...we'd get in serious trouble if we were caught." "Oh. I understand," she said lightly, no longer disappointed. "You're the kind who prefers privacy. That's perfectly all right." She stepped forward and pressed herself against him, draping an elegant arm over his shoulder. "I'll be waiting in my room then if you're still interested. All right?" He gulped. "Okay." "Good. I'll have my whip ready," she whispered, then left. Irvine smoothed back his reddish hair and picked up his hat. His breath still caught in his chest, blushing furiously at what had happened...or, _almost_ happened. Tryphaena had the Ankh of Souls, or whatever it was called, and Laurena the one of Life. It was Tryphaena's family heirloom, which meant... Tryphaena was a Siren?! He shuddered. First, he needed a cold shower. Then, he needed to go to Laurena. ~~~~~~~~
Tryphaena walked down the hallway, laughing lightly to herself. She had loved the look on Irvine's face, how he had reacted emotionally...and physically...to her touch. She hadn't lost her charm yet. "Hmm...Irvine Kinneas," she said softly to herself, walking down the hall with a thoughtful look on her face. "Cowboy, ladies man, sharpshooter...a God of masculine beauty. What a gorgeous, curious creature he is...but my what a strong will!" She chuckled. "But what the hell, hm? I'm up to the challenge, and after all I've easily broken stronger wills." She approached three young women dressed in candidate uniforms, looking slightly battered and bruised. As she neared, they stopped and smiled with the same mean smirk she had on. "Did you pass? All of you?" she demanded them. "Yes, your Majesty," one said, her dark brown eyes savage looking. "We all passed quite easily. No need to wonder of your results." "Of course." The SeeD exam the other day had been a breeze, and another had been held today, in which her three finest warriors had participated. "Now that we're all SeeDs, no one will be too quick to suspect us. Very good. Now go and cleanse yourselves. You have a ball to go to." They bowed to her. "Oh, and Sucrecia?" The brown eyed one looked back. "Yes, your Majesty?" Tryphaena smirked. "There is going to be a bash at the Fisherman's Harbor tomorrow night. Let's give them a show." Sucrecia's eyes lit up in dark joy. "With pleasure, my Queen." ~~~~~~~~~~~ Laurena watched as the last of the sun's light disappeared beneath the trees. Soon she was encased in darkness. Loneliness. Solitude. The last two days had been so wonderful, with Irvine to talk to. The sun shined a little brighter through the willows and the breeze was crisper when he was around. His laugh was like bells of salvation, his smile a beacon of light guiding her soul to shore. But sadly, the night always brought back the same despair, the same fear. The same loneliness. Especially since she had met Irvine. He had his own friends, his own life at his Garden. Every night he left she was afraid she would never see him again, that he wouldn't come back. She sighed. Maybe it was a side effect of being exiled from the world so long. Now that she made a tie with the outside she didn't want to let go. Laurena couldn't explain it, and it seemed so silly, but she missed him. She missed Irvine when he wasn't here. But she'd only known him for two days! It was all so strange... And that kiss. Such a modest, innocent kiss on the cheek, and yet it had turned her world upside down in a second. Then suddenly she been terrified of it, scared of the feelings it might have stirred. But like a gentleman, Irvine relented when she said no and apologized. He respected her. But only if he knew...would he respect her then? ~~~~~~~~~~
Irvine peered in the darkness of the trees, trying to spot her. "Laurena?" With caution he gripped a couple of branches and hauled himself up into the tree. He saw her slim figure on the topmost branch, which was smart because monsters roamed at this time of night. "Laurena!" he whispered loudly, climbing up. "Lau-" His foot rested on a branch that was not sturdy, and it snapped under his weight. With a short scream he fell backwards to the ground below and landed hard on the soft moss. "Ooww! Ah..." "Who's there?" an alert voice came from above. "Ugh...my back..." "Irvine?" With swift agilty she had climbed down from the tree like an acrobat, kneeling beside him and looking him over worriedly. "Oh, Irvine...are you all right? Can you move?" "Yeah, I...whoa no!" he said, sitting up, then crying out in pain as his back spasmed with torture and he writhed back to the ground. He felt paralyzed, he couldn't move without feeling extreme pain. "Oh, no...stay still..." she soothed, rubbing his shoulder and neck gently. "For the gods' sake, Irvine, why did you try something like that? Why are you here so late?" "I needed to tell you something," he grunted. "You weren't answering me." "I was sleeping. Oh, you poor thing. H-hold on a moment. _Don't_ move." "Don't worry." She ran out of sight for a moment, and came back with a bowl of liquid. She paused for a moment and chuckled at him. "What's so funny?" he asked. He really didn't think this was very funny. "Oh...you just look so much like a little kid." She set the bowl down and knelt beside him again. She paused again and blushed in the dim light. "Um...I'm going to have to...do you mind?" She looked at his shirt hesitantly. He glanced down and understood. "Not at all, Laurena." "Okay." She tentatively reached down to his shirt, gently undoing the buttons and exposing his chest. She dipped her hand in the bowl and rubbed it soothingly over the skin. Irvine shivered. "Geez, that's cold. It feels like water..." "It's a potion." She continued to caress his chest gently, spreading the potion. Then, with her hand still placed firmly on his smooth chest, he felt the pain sooth. A warm feeling washed over his body, easing his muscles, seeming to come from Laurena's own fingertips. He felt his very skin glowing. Irvine closed his eyes and moaned, the feeling overwhelming him. "Shh...." As the glowing warm feeling faded, the feeling in his legs and arms and back returned. He was cured. Laurena looked at him in the light of the moon. He was moving slightly now, testing his muscles. His beautiful eyes were closed halfway, his hair a little disheveled from his fall. His breathing was a little irregular, overwhelmed by the power of the healing. He was so beautiful. She leaned forward, brushing his hair out of his face. "Does that feel better?" she whispered. "Yeah...yeah." Irvine looked up at her and smiled. "Thanks." She hovered over his face, staring into his eyes. Irvine quivered, feeling how her fingertips lingered on his hair. He rose upward slowly to reach her lips but then she stood up. "Could ya help me up? I'm a little stiff," he said, smiling weakly. She willingly bent over and grasped his wrists, pulling him to his feet. Her hands stayed on his wrists for a moment, her thumbs feeling his lively pulse. Then she turned away. "So what did you want to tell me?" she said shortly. "Huh?" he said, almost forgetting why he came. "Oh yeah. Laurena...do you know anything about the Ankh of Souls?" She stopped and turned to him. "How do you know about the Ankh of Souls?" "Cause I was training with this girl today, and she had it around her neck," he explained. "And she had somethin' on her back just like you do, only black...her name was Tryphaena." Laurena went wide eyed and swooned, falling. Irvine rushed over and helped her. "My gosh, Laurena! You okay?" She looked around, sighing. "I'm okay. For a moment there I thought you said Tryphaena." "I did say Tryphaena." He watched as Laurena's face went white and she collapsed again, this time in his arms. He shook her to her senses. "Laurena! What's wrong?" She looked at him, her face still white. "She's the one who's after me, Irvine. Sh-she's one of the bad ones--the Dark Sirens." She took a deep breath, looking into his eyes. Her own widened. "Did she kiss you?" "Uh--" he blushed, averting from her gaze and question. She'd tried to do much more than that. "Irvine, if she kissed you tell me. It's important." He looked at her. "Yeah. I'm sorry." "No!" Her face was full of concern, not anger. "That's how they lure their victims! They kiss them. And they keep kissing them until their victims are mindless slaves. Or worse." She hugged him tightly. "I'm so glad she didn't...do you feel all right?" "Yeah, I'm fine." "Good." She didn't let go of him. "The Dark Sirens are the most dangerous and heartless of them all. You can tell them apart from others by the marks on their backs..." Irvine had been hugging her, but realized something at her words. His hand went up to touch her shoulder blades. "Laurena...? What about...?" "What? Oh...these?" She turned around and parted her hair, exposing her 'wings'. She smiled sheepishly. "I got these tattooed on me when I was a teenager, while I was going through Esthar. It was kind of stupid, but..." she looked at his slightly suspicious gaze and frowned. "I'm _not_ a Siren, Irvine." She came closer, boring through his soul with her emerald eyes. "Trust me...I wouldn't lie to you." He paused for a moment, then nodded. "I believe you, Laurena. I trust you." Her smile returned. "Good." But just as quickly her look of anxiousness returned. "I--I'm going to have to run for it---no, she'd expect that--but if I stay here she'll find me...oh..."She sat down on the boulder, her head in her hands. "It's useless..." "Hey, now don't say that," Irvine said. "Why don't you sleep on it? That's what I do when I'm in a spot." "Sleep? Yes, that seems like a very good idea..." With these words Irvine suddenly realized how weary she looked. "I'll figure out something, I'm sure," she resolved with a soft grin. "I'm glad. Now get a good sleep and I'll see ya tomorrow," he said, waving. "Irvine, wait!" "Yeah?" He turned around to face her, and she looked at him hesitantly, her hands folded behind her back. She looked like a child. "Well, it's just...it's really dark, and the monsters are roaming the forest, and...well, you might not be in condition to fight, because of your fall..." He furrowed his eyebrows, not sure what she was getting at. "...You can stay the night, _here_, if you want." Irvine took a closer look at her in the moonlight. He knew she was indeed worried about him, but something told him that the real reason was because she was afraid to be left alone now, now that she knew her pursuer was close. And to be honest, he was afraid to leave her alone by herself. She wasn't like him--she had no weapons, no skills in fighting at all--she was helpless. She was resolved to sleep in a tree so she wouldn't be attacked in the night. And Tryphaena _could_ fight... "Okay." "All right." She looked relieved. "Um...do you need help climbing up?" "What? Oh, no thank you ma'am." He tipped his hat. "I think I've had enough trees for tonight. I'll sleep down here, if it makes no mind to you." "Very well." She looked back at him shyly. "Good night." "Good night." Laurena retreated into the willow tree and Irvine rested at the trunk, pulling his hat over his face. About an hour went by, and Laurena was still awake. Worries and insecurities filled her troubled mind. The fact that Tryphaena was near made her tremble. The fact that she'd tried to seduce Irvine made her shiver. The thought that Irvine cared for her enough to stay here made her want to cry. Quietly she climbed down the thick branches, onto the mossy earth. Irvine was sleeping soundly his hat pulled over his face and his rifle leaning against the trunk. She rested on the ground close beside him, not wanting to wake him. Then slowly and carefully, she lifted his arm and placed herself underneath it, resting her head on his chest. He stirred quietly and she froze. But a moment later he stilled, his arm holding her close. He was still asleep. Reluctantly she embraced him lightly, closing her eyes. The faint scent of aftershave and leather held onto his clothes, but it was a welcome fragrance and she relaxed against his lax body. His chest moved slowly up and down with his slow, subconscious breaths. She listened for his steady heart beat, thinking about that heart and what he held inside it. "One day I'll tell you everything," she whispered, barely a breath. "I promise..." He said nothing, still asleep. Falling silent, she nuzzled against his chest and fell asleep.
A/N:How's _that_ for sappy romance, huh? Please Review!
Chapter Four: Dark Sirens
In the Training Center, Irvine found that there was much more to Tryphaena than looks. Since a rifle against a bull whip was unfair, they fought without weapons. But before long it was Irvine covered in bruises and Tryphaena had not a scratch on her flawless skin. Irvine lunged for her with his fists, but she swept her slender leg under his, knocking him off his feet. It seemed almost effortless, her movements were like some very complicated dance she had mastered. As he stumbled up, he gasped as something lashed tightly around him. Her bullwhip had made its way back into her hand, and its length wrapped around him like a hungry boa constrictor. "Give up, cowboy?" she mused, smirking. Irvine panted, smiling wearily as he struggled in the whips grasp. ::Ah, just let her win,:: he thought. "You've got me, Tryphaena. You're really good." She grinned, her eyes flashing seductively into his. "I know I do, Irvine, and yes, I know I am." "Yeah. Hey listen, ya wanna loosen this whip now?" he grunted. It was wrapped around his upper body, pinning his arms firmly to his sides. She put on a look of mock confusion. "Why? I've got you right where I want you." She began to pull him toward her slowly, like an angler reeling in a fish. When he was mere centimeters away from her, her hands reached up to caress his face and she forced his lips apart with her own. "Mmphh..." Irvine was at first shocked, feeling Tryphaena's lips coaxing his apart hungrily, her tongue forcing its way into his mouth. He knew she'd been hitting on him, but Hyne! But soon enough his eyes closed and he leaned against her, responding to the kiss with dire need he didn't know existed. He forgot about their surroundings, his friends, Laurena, even what his own name was. When they parted, she smiled dangerously. "I knew you had some fire in you," she commented, looking into his eyes. She seemed to be searching for something, and seemed slightly confused when she didn't see it. But then she smirked and pushed him backward. Without the help of his arms he fell easily on his back with a thud and a small groan. She turned around momentarily to make sure that no one was around. Irvine saw a pair of black wings tattooed on her shoulder blades, the same design as Rinoa's and Laurena's only black. Tryphaena climbed on top of him, agile as a cat. She straddled him and leaned down to kiss him hungrily again, and once more that blissful feeling came over him and that feeling of not knowing what to do, or caring. "Mmm..." He parted from her lips and kissed her neck, making her purr loudly. "What is that tattoo on your back?" he murmured. "Just my trademark, little cowboy. Just my trademark." She traveled down his own neck, nibbling as she did. He felt the whips grasp loosen, and his hands traveled down to her scantily clad chest. He fingered the pendant around her neck. "And this?" he whispered. "Oh, that? My necklace." She grasped it in her own hand, still kissing his neck. "It's a family heirloom. It's called the Ankh of Souls. It's supposed to exract the soul from any person its wearer wills it to. It was a pair with another, the Ankh of Life, but that one went missing years ago..." She pinned his arms to the ground, kneeling over to meet his face. "You are a very curious little cowboy, Irvine. But that is all right. I like curious men." Her tone and eyes played seductively with his senses. "Is there anything else on my body you would like me to identify for you?" "Oh, no," he breathed. "I wouldn't want to pry..." "Pry all you want." She nibbled at his earlobe, her voice sultry. "You can pry at me...then I can pry at you, if you like...then me, then you...then me again..." Irvine suddenly came to his senses when he felt Tryphaena tugging at his pants. He shot up and she tumbled to the ground. "Whoa there, girl!" he cried frantically, closing up his trenchcoat. "Not so fast, okay?" She pouted. "You don't want me?" He bit his lip. He wanted to say he didn't, but he couldn't. He wasn't even sure himself now. "Uh, well...this really isn't the place, Tryphaena, and the Garden's got rules about this kinda thing...we'd get in serious trouble if we were caught." "Oh. I understand," she said lightly, no longer disappointed. "You're the kind who prefers privacy. That's perfectly all right." She stepped forward and pressed herself against him, draping an elegant arm over his shoulder. "I'll be waiting in my room then if you're still interested. All right?" He gulped. "Okay." "Good. I'll have my whip ready," she whispered, then left. Irvine smoothed back his reddish hair and picked up his hat. His breath still caught in his chest, blushing furiously at what had happened...or, _almost_ happened. Tryphaena had the Ankh of Souls, or whatever it was called, and Laurena the one of Life. It was Tryphaena's family heirloom, which meant... Tryphaena was a Siren?! He shuddered. First, he needed a cold shower. Then, he needed to go to Laurena. ~~~~~~~~
Tryphaena walked down the hallway, laughing lightly to herself. She had loved the look on Irvine's face, how he had reacted emotionally...and physically...to her touch. She hadn't lost her charm yet. "Hmm...Irvine Kinneas," she said softly to herself, walking down the hall with a thoughtful look on her face. "Cowboy, ladies man, sharpshooter...a God of masculine beauty. What a gorgeous, curious creature he is...but my what a strong will!" She chuckled. "But what the hell, hm? I'm up to the challenge, and after all I've easily broken stronger wills." She approached three young women dressed in candidate uniforms, looking slightly battered and bruised. As she neared, they stopped and smiled with the same mean smirk she had on. "Did you pass? All of you?" she demanded them. "Yes, your Majesty," one said, her dark brown eyes savage looking. "We all passed quite easily. No need to wonder of your results." "Of course." The SeeD exam the other day had been a breeze, and another had been held today, in which her three finest warriors had participated. "Now that we're all SeeDs, no one will be too quick to suspect us. Very good. Now go and cleanse yourselves. You have a ball to go to." They bowed to her. "Oh, and Sucrecia?" The brown eyed one looked back. "Yes, your Majesty?" Tryphaena smirked. "There is going to be a bash at the Fisherman's Harbor tomorrow night. Let's give them a show." Sucrecia's eyes lit up in dark joy. "With pleasure, my Queen." ~~~~~~~~~~~ Laurena watched as the last of the sun's light disappeared beneath the trees. Soon she was encased in darkness. Loneliness. Solitude. The last two days had been so wonderful, with Irvine to talk to. The sun shined a little brighter through the willows and the breeze was crisper when he was around. His laugh was like bells of salvation, his smile a beacon of light guiding her soul to shore. But sadly, the night always brought back the same despair, the same fear. The same loneliness. Especially since she had met Irvine. He had his own friends, his own life at his Garden. Every night he left she was afraid she would never see him again, that he wouldn't come back. She sighed. Maybe it was a side effect of being exiled from the world so long. Now that she made a tie with the outside she didn't want to let go. Laurena couldn't explain it, and it seemed so silly, but she missed him. She missed Irvine when he wasn't here. But she'd only known him for two days! It was all so strange... And that kiss. Such a modest, innocent kiss on the cheek, and yet it had turned her world upside down in a second. Then suddenly she been terrified of it, scared of the feelings it might have stirred. But like a gentleman, Irvine relented when she said no and apologized. He respected her. But only if he knew...would he respect her then? ~~~~~~~~~~
Irvine peered in the darkness of the trees, trying to spot her. "Laurena?" With caution he gripped a couple of branches and hauled himself up into the tree. He saw her slim figure on the topmost branch, which was smart because monsters roamed at this time of night. "Laurena!" he whispered loudly, climbing up. "Lau-" His foot rested on a branch that was not sturdy, and it snapped under his weight. With a short scream he fell backwards to the ground below and landed hard on the soft moss. "Ooww! Ah..." "Who's there?" an alert voice came from above. "Ugh...my back..." "Irvine?" With swift agilty she had climbed down from the tree like an acrobat, kneeling beside him and looking him over worriedly. "Oh, Irvine...are you all right? Can you move?" "Yeah, I...whoa no!" he said, sitting up, then crying out in pain as his back spasmed with torture and he writhed back to the ground. He felt paralyzed, he couldn't move without feeling extreme pain. "Oh, no...stay still..." she soothed, rubbing his shoulder and neck gently. "For the gods' sake, Irvine, why did you try something like that? Why are you here so late?" "I needed to tell you something," he grunted. "You weren't answering me." "I was sleeping. Oh, you poor thing. H-hold on a moment. _Don't_ move." "Don't worry." She ran out of sight for a moment, and came back with a bowl of liquid. She paused for a moment and chuckled at him. "What's so funny?" he asked. He really didn't think this was very funny. "Oh...you just look so much like a little kid." She set the bowl down and knelt beside him again. She paused again and blushed in the dim light. "Um...I'm going to have to...do you mind?" She looked at his shirt hesitantly. He glanced down and understood. "Not at all, Laurena." "Okay." She tentatively reached down to his shirt, gently undoing the buttons and exposing his chest. She dipped her hand in the bowl and rubbed it soothingly over the skin. Irvine shivered. "Geez, that's cold. It feels like water..." "It's a potion." She continued to caress his chest gently, spreading the potion. Then, with her hand still placed firmly on his smooth chest, he felt the pain sooth. A warm feeling washed over his body, easing his muscles, seeming to come from Laurena's own fingertips. He felt his very skin glowing. Irvine closed his eyes and moaned, the feeling overwhelming him. "Shh...." As the glowing warm feeling faded, the feeling in his legs and arms and back returned. He was cured. Laurena looked at him in the light of the moon. He was moving slightly now, testing his muscles. His beautiful eyes were closed halfway, his hair a little disheveled from his fall. His breathing was a little irregular, overwhelmed by the power of the healing. He was so beautiful. She leaned forward, brushing his hair out of his face. "Does that feel better?" she whispered. "Yeah...yeah." Irvine looked up at her and smiled. "Thanks." She hovered over his face, staring into his eyes. Irvine quivered, feeling how her fingertips lingered on his hair. He rose upward slowly to reach her lips but then she stood up. "Could ya help me up? I'm a little stiff," he said, smiling weakly. She willingly bent over and grasped his wrists, pulling him to his feet. Her hands stayed on his wrists for a moment, her thumbs feeling his lively pulse. Then she turned away. "So what did you want to tell me?" she said shortly. "Huh?" he said, almost forgetting why he came. "Oh yeah. Laurena...do you know anything about the Ankh of Souls?" She stopped and turned to him. "How do you know about the Ankh of Souls?" "Cause I was training with this girl today, and she had it around her neck," he explained. "And she had somethin' on her back just like you do, only black...her name was Tryphaena." Laurena went wide eyed and swooned, falling. Irvine rushed over and helped her. "My gosh, Laurena! You okay?" She looked around, sighing. "I'm okay. For a moment there I thought you said Tryphaena." "I did say Tryphaena." He watched as Laurena's face went white and she collapsed again, this time in his arms. He shook her to her senses. "Laurena! What's wrong?" She looked at him, her face still white. "She's the one who's after me, Irvine. Sh-she's one of the bad ones--the Dark Sirens." She took a deep breath, looking into his eyes. Her own widened. "Did she kiss you?" "Uh--" he blushed, averting from her gaze and question. She'd tried to do much more than that. "Irvine, if she kissed you tell me. It's important." He looked at her. "Yeah. I'm sorry." "No!" Her face was full of concern, not anger. "That's how they lure their victims! They kiss them. And they keep kissing them until their victims are mindless slaves. Or worse." She hugged him tightly. "I'm so glad she didn't...do you feel all right?" "Yeah, I'm fine." "Good." She didn't let go of him. "The Dark Sirens are the most dangerous and heartless of them all. You can tell them apart from others by the marks on their backs..." Irvine had been hugging her, but realized something at her words. His hand went up to touch her shoulder blades. "Laurena...? What about...?" "What? Oh...these?" She turned around and parted her hair, exposing her 'wings'. She smiled sheepishly. "I got these tattooed on me when I was a teenager, while I was going through Esthar. It was kind of stupid, but..." she looked at his slightly suspicious gaze and frowned. "I'm _not_ a Siren, Irvine." She came closer, boring through his soul with her emerald eyes. "Trust me...I wouldn't lie to you." He paused for a moment, then nodded. "I believe you, Laurena. I trust you." Her smile returned. "Good." But just as quickly her look of anxiousness returned. "I--I'm going to have to run for it---no, she'd expect that--but if I stay here she'll find me...oh..."She sat down on the boulder, her head in her hands. "It's useless..." "Hey, now don't say that," Irvine said. "Why don't you sleep on it? That's what I do when I'm in a spot." "Sleep? Yes, that seems like a very good idea..." With these words Irvine suddenly realized how weary she looked. "I'll figure out something, I'm sure," she resolved with a soft grin. "I'm glad. Now get a good sleep and I'll see ya tomorrow," he said, waving. "Irvine, wait!" "Yeah?" He turned around to face her, and she looked at him hesitantly, her hands folded behind her back. She looked like a child. "Well, it's just...it's really dark, and the monsters are roaming the forest, and...well, you might not be in condition to fight, because of your fall..." He furrowed his eyebrows, not sure what she was getting at. "...You can stay the night, _here_, if you want." Irvine took a closer look at her in the moonlight. He knew she was indeed worried about him, but something told him that the real reason was because she was afraid to be left alone now, now that she knew her pursuer was close. And to be honest, he was afraid to leave her alone by herself. She wasn't like him--she had no weapons, no skills in fighting at all--she was helpless. She was resolved to sleep in a tree so she wouldn't be attacked in the night. And Tryphaena _could_ fight... "Okay." "All right." She looked relieved. "Um...do you need help climbing up?" "What? Oh, no thank you ma'am." He tipped his hat. "I think I've had enough trees for tonight. I'll sleep down here, if it makes no mind to you." "Very well." She looked back at him shyly. "Good night." "Good night." Laurena retreated into the willow tree and Irvine rested at the trunk, pulling his hat over his face. About an hour went by, and Laurena was still awake. Worries and insecurities filled her troubled mind. The fact that Tryphaena was near made her tremble. The fact that she'd tried to seduce Irvine made her shiver. The thought that Irvine cared for her enough to stay here made her want to cry. Quietly she climbed down the thick branches, onto the mossy earth. Irvine was sleeping soundly his hat pulled over his face and his rifle leaning against the trunk. She rested on the ground close beside him, not wanting to wake him. Then slowly and carefully, she lifted his arm and placed herself underneath it, resting her head on his chest. He stirred quietly and she froze. But a moment later he stilled, his arm holding her close. He was still asleep. Reluctantly she embraced him lightly, closing her eyes. The faint scent of aftershave and leather held onto his clothes, but it was a welcome fragrance and she relaxed against his lax body. His chest moved slowly up and down with his slow, subconscious breaths. She listened for his steady heart beat, thinking about that heart and what he held inside it. "One day I'll tell you everything," she whispered, barely a breath. "I promise..." He said nothing, still asleep. Falling silent, she nuzzled against his chest and fell asleep.
A/N:How's _that_ for sappy romance, huh? Please Review!