A/N: I'm not going to post anymore disclaimers. I despise redundancy. There's actually going to be a little bit of action in this chapter. I'm not too great at it, so don't get your hopes up!
****************************Chapter Six****************************
Tori stopped dead as she walked into the kitchen and found a very large looking person bustling around the kitchen, snapping out an occasional order to her assistant. When she turned sharply to go get potatoes to prepare for the dinner casserole that evening, her eyes fell on Tori.
"What are you doing in here?!" the woman demanded, putting her hands on her hips and glaring at her.
"Getting breakfast?" Tori asked, suddenly unsure about her intentions under the hot glare.
The glare softened. "I take it you're going out to the practice field today," she said in a less harsh tone. "Well, there's some biscuits just out of the oven. But you'll have to wait for the rest until I've cooked it."
"What are you making?" Tori asked curiously, heading over to take a slice of bread.
"Eggs," Mrs. Beale replied promptly. "Sausage. Steak. And some kind of gravy, maybe."
"You could do a sausage gravy," Tori suggested, nibbling on her bread.
"You cook?" She asked ominously.
Tori nodded. "Talia and I lived alone, and everything she touches burns. I had to learn just to survive."
"And you say a sausage gravy?" Mrs. Beale repeated, gesturing to the cookware. "I've never heard of it."
Tori shrugged. "It's not that hard. You mainly use scraps. Like excess flour from the bread." The woman plumped a can of flour in front of her. "Milk. Sausage, of course."
"Cooked before hand?" She wanted to know.
Tori nodded. "Yes. Um…if it's already been cooked, I need the pan it was made it."
Mrs. Beale set the raw meat down in front of her. "I want to see your gravy. It will be a few hours, yet, before Lucivar and the others are awake. Now, cook!"
Shrugging, Tori pushed up her sleeves and got to work. She spoke with Mrs. Beale off and on, since the woman had other things to do, and eventually found herself deeply immersed in cooking the entire breakfast.
When she finally finished the gravy, even Mrs. Beale was sniffing the air appreciatively. Hearing others stirring and coming downstairs, Tori wiped her hands clean and gave the floor back to the assistant, who had fallen asleep in the corner.
"Oh," Tori said, pausing before she left. "And if a little girl comes in here, saying I told her she could have some gravy, ignore her. Its just Talia."
Mrs. Beale actually smiled. "Of course, dear. Now, if you get up this early again, feel free to come on down and help me out. I'm getting too old for this."
Tori nodded and promised, raising the apple to her in a salute. She headed to the dinning room, grabbed a seat, and bit into her breakfast. She didn't wait but fifteen minutes before Lucivar stumbled in, moaning about coffee. He didn't even see her until he had drunk half his cup.
"You're up," Lucivar said, sounding surprised.
"I said I would be," Tori returned mildly.
Lucivar grunted, sitting down across from her. Tori watched as he sniffed the air, licking his lips hungrily.
"Smells new," he mumbled, still wiping sleep from his eyes.
"Pardon?" Tori asked, not sure she heard him correctly.
"Breakfast," Lucivar elaborated, becoming more alert with each passing second, and mouthful of coffee. "I can smell the eggs, and biscuits, and steak, but there's something else."
"Tori, it's not fair!" Talia cried stomping in.
Tori regarded her sister blankly. "What? Life?"
Talia growled. "Mrs. Beale wont let me have any gravy," she pouted. She shot her sister a misty-eyed, hopeful glance. "You could get me some, since you made it."
"No." Tori gave Talia a good, hard glare. "You'll wait for the others, or until Mrs. Beale brings it out."
Sighing, Talia dropped the spoiled brat routine and noticed Lucivar. "Good morning, Prince Yaslana."
"You can call me Lucivar," he said in a tone that said he'd had this conversation many a times before.
"You don't like your title?" Talia asked, wide-eyed and innocent.
"Quit baiting him, Li," Tori grumbled. "I have to face him on the field soon."
"Okay," Talia said.
Lucivar glared at Talia without heat. "You were playing?" He asked with exaggerated patience.
Talia grinned at him. "Yep. You were more fun than Uncle Daemon, because he figured it out after the first three times. It took you all day!"
Lucivar made a choking noise that could either have been a growl or a laugh. He left too quickly for Tori to find out which it was. Tori shook her head despairingly at her little sister.
"You never know when to call it quits, do you?"
The only response she got was lighthearted laughter. Others started coming in soon after, sitting down for a quick chat with Tori, before heading off to do whatever it was they had planned that day. When the other girls came in, Talia took it upon herself to introduce them to her sister.
"Good morning," a little girl greeted them softly.
Tori looked down, her face an expressionless mask. The girl, though young and still undeveloped, was slender, with long silver hair that just touched the back of her knees. Large forest-blue eyes looked cautiously up at her, not knowing if Tori would yell at her, or return her greeting. But Tori looked deeper into those innocent eyes and saw a dark power swirling, and the deadly knowledge of how to defend herself if the occasion called.
Tori nodded to the girl. "Morning," she said shortly.
"This is Dejan of the Dea al Mon," Talia said, beaming at Tori for being polite. "Dejan, this is my sister, Tori."
Dejan held up her hands. "It is very nice to meet you, Lady Tori," she said, her voice never rising far above a whisper.
Tori slipped her hands under them. "Tori will be fine, Dejan." She sat back, skimming for something appropriate to say, since it seemed to mean so much to Talia that she like the small child in front of her. "Didn't Surreal say something about you having brothers?" She asked, nodding to an empty seat.
Dejan took the chair, making a wry face. "Yes. Rine and Sathe are my older brothers. They're nineteen," she said in an aggrieved tone only a younger sister could accurately pull off.
They spoke casually for another minute before breakfast was served and everyone suddenly materialized. Talia and Dejan politely excused themselves to go sit with the other children. Lucifer and Daemonar came in soon after breakfast was set up, and Tori stiffened, expecting glares and vulgar words. Once again, the males here seemed to be ruled by a completely different logic.
"You can't be still mad," Lucifer said, plopping down on her left, where he sat last time. Daemonar silently took his seat on her right.
"No," Tori said cautiously, looking back and forth between the two men. "I suppose I did overreact a little."
Daemonar snorted softly. "Now she says that."
Tori's eyes narrowed at the Eyrien. "Watch it," she growled.
"Oh, not again!" Lucia laughed, plopping down across from Tori. "Don't you two ever give it a rest?"
"We weren't arguing," Tori and Daemonar snapped as one.
"And here I thought Lu and I were the only ones, with the obvious exception of the twins, that did that," Lucia chuckled, looking suggestive.
Tori hissed, surprising the witch into leaning back. Taking a deep breath, Tori firmly pushed away the beginnings of cold anger, taking a few slices of fruit from the basket. She shot Lucifer a warning glance when it looked like he would add more.
"I'm warming up with Lucivar this morning," she said.
Lucia grimaced. "Ouch. How'd you managed that? I've got to suffer through that to, this morning."
"I asked," Tori replied with a shrug. "Although I don't know what I'm going to do the rest of the day."
"Lick your wounds?" Daemonar suggested maliciously.
Tori glared at him. "Why? Will I be fighting someone hard after I finish with Lucivar?"
"If you survive my father," Daemonar stressed, "I'll finish you off."
Tori flashed him a sharp smile. "Sounds fun."
Breakfast finished quickly, and soon Talia and Dejan were standing at her side, each shooting her pleading, begging looks. Tori finished her water and turned to face them, completely unaffected by the puppy-eyes.
"What do you want?" She asked, crossing her arms.
"Dejan, Melivian, and Auroran are going riding with the Kindred," Talia explained, "and invited me to come with them. Can I go?"
Tori frowned. "Who is going with you four?"
"Just us," Talia replied reluctantly. She nibbled on her lip before adding desperately, "But we're perfectly safe here! And I can look after them!"
Tori hesitated. "Alright. You know what to do if you need me."
Talia cheered, kissed her cheek happily, and turned to run off and find little Rorian.
"What is this I hear about a trip to the stables?" A little girl asked snootily, coming up behind the group.
Tori leaned back, regarding the small one that stood before them. She remembered her from last night, when Surreal had pointed her out. This was her namesake, Surreal. Jaenelle's second youngest. And now she realized that the blush hadn't been from pleasure, but embarrassment. The child was obviously spoiled.
"It's none of your business," Melivian growled, her small wings opening and snapping shut in irritation.
"I don't believe I was talking to you," the spoiled brat hummed, looking straight at Dejan. "Well?"
"We were going to ride with the Kindred," Dejan murmured softly, looking away from the girl.
Surreal smiled, flicking a lock of hair over her shoulder. "Well, then. We should be going. Mother told me to look after you." Her bright blue eyes fell on Talia and she smirked. "She said nothing, however, about your little friend. Torlia, was it? Your not a part of us. You-"
Surreal broke off as a wave of cold washed over her, and Talia looked up from studying the floor. "I belong wherever I wish to be," she said, glaring hard at the girl in front of her. "And I wish to be with Dejan and Melivian and Auroran."
Tori smiled fiercely at her sister, proud that she was standing up for herself. No, she thought, seeing the way she stood. Not just for herself. They way she had shifted slightly in front of the other girls said she was defending them as well.
"F-Fine! See if I care that you tag along," Surreal said, her voice quivering slightly. She reached out to grab Dejan. "Come on!"
Surreal never touched the little Dea al Mon. Talia's hand moved fast, almost faster than even Tori could follow, and gripped the little snot's wrist in a vice-like hold. When Surreal tried to pull away, Talia tightened her grip until she winced.
"Leave them alone," Talia warned, her green jewel flashing.
Surreal turned her nose up, called in her Birthright Sapphire, and used it to break Talia's hold. "A Green. How pathetic. Don't get in the way, Torlia, I'm much stronger than you."
Deciding enough was enough, Tori stood, calling in her Ebon-Gray necklace. "As I am to you, youngling," she said, staring the little witch down.
"This isn't your concern," Surreal said, looking very intimidated by Tori.
Talia, noticing this, jumped at the weakness. "Oh, didn't you know, Surreal? This is Tori. My sister."
Surreal paled a little bit. "S-Sister?"
Talia's smile became predatory. "Yes," she hissed softly.
Surreal gulped before turning on her heal and stalking out of the room, snapping for them to follow. Talia and Tori exchanged contemptuous glances before Talia led her group outside.
*Talia,* Tori called after her on a female to female thread. *Don't kill her. It wouldn't be fair for you to be able to, and not me.*
Talia's giggles could be heard as they left hearing range. *I promise, Tori!*
"Nothing like post breakfast drama to jump-start the digestion," Lucia commented dryly, staring after the girls. She sighed. "I'm beginning to think Surreal will never outgrow the brat stage."
"Has she always been like that?" Tori asked as they headed out to the field.
Lucifer walked directly behind his twin, bracing his forearms on her shoulders. "Yeah. It's all because Jaenelle yielded to Cassandra's constant nagging about teaching Craft to one of her children. When Surreal came back three months later, she was what you see now."
Tori smiled, baring her teeth. "I could get Surreal past her brat stage very quickly, if you want."
"Oh, we want," Lucia said eagerly. "Grandpa Saetan, Uncle Lucivar, Daddy, and every other Warlord Prince volunteered the same thing, along with most of the coven, but Jaenelle says that Surreal needs to find her own way." Her face darkened for a moment. "What she said to Tal, though. That was wrong."
Tori nodded. "It hit a little bit too close to the truth, in Talia's mind," she said staring up at the sky. "That's why she reacted like that. What was wrong between the Brat and Melivian?"
Daemonar growled deep in his throat. "She doesn't like those who aren't 'pure' Blood."
"Blood that isn't mixed with other races of Blood," Lucia elaborated coldly. "Never mind that her own parents are of 'mixed' Blood!"
Tori glanced over to see Lucivar walking over to them with a small group of people behind him, and wished very much that she hadn't told Talia to keep away from the Brat.
"About time you graced us with your presence," Tori growled to Lucivar, taking her anger out on him.
Lucivar, ignoring her biting remarks after a glance at the other three, turned to introduce the ones behind him. He pointed a thumb at the girl closest to him, tall with white-blond hair cut short to her head, ice-blue eyes that gleamed wickedly, Tori was instantly able to make the connection about who's kid she was.
"This is Narla, the second terror from Glacia," Lucivar said, shaking his head. "It's like Karla all over again."
Narla laughed throatily. "Oh, come now, Uncle Lucivar. I'm not that bad."
Lucivar ignored her and turned to the next person. Or pair of person. Two young men who looked like exact copies of the other stood side by side. Both with long silver hair pulled back exactly the same way and forest-blue eyes, although the one on the left looked as though his were a bit more blue. Both had the same fighting uniforms on, worn exactly the same way. Both had excited smirks on their lips, anticipating her mixing them up. And, somehow, they had managed to make their Jewel patterns identical as well.
"I take it you are the big brothers Dejan was complaining about," Tori said dryly.
The act ended there. Their patterns separated and Tori locked them away in her memory before they could restart their little confusion game. The one on the left frowned, put out that their trick didn't work, while the other one looked a little hurt. He spoke first.
"Why was Dej complaining about us?" He asked, "We haven't done anything to her lately."
Tori shrugged. "Do I get names?"
"Oh, yeah," the man laughed. "I'm Sathe. He's Rine. But don't bother trying to keep us straight."
"Only our parents, Dejan, and Jaenelle," the other one picked up, his mood shifting, "can tell us apart."
Tori nodded, not bothering to tell them she already had them figured.
"I'm Kalush," one of the women with long, curly brown hair and snapping green eyes said pleasantly, coming forward. "I think Arahn, my brother, said you have met."
Tori nodded. "Morghann and Kardeen's children. You were named after Queen Kalush of Nharkava, Surreal said."
Kalush blushed. "Yes, I am. You must have a good memory."
"I should hope so," Tori muttered darkly. She nodded shortly to Prothivar. "Hello, Prothivar."
"Tori," Prothivar answered, as cautious as Lucifer had been that morning.
There were other women there, and they nodded polite hellos, but looked a little of frightened or intimidated by her to come up and exchange pleasantries. In all, the class totaled eleven women, five men, and seven Kindred shadows that came to watch after their self-appointed charges.
*He thinks you're still mad.*
Tori managed not to jump, and turned to glare at Kaelin as he came out of the bushes to lie in the shade of a tree. *I'm not mad at him.*
Kaelin gave a huff, which could be interpreted as a sigh. *Who is it this time?*
*Surreal,* Tori growled softly. *The child Surreal.*
Kaelin lifted his lips from his teeth in a soundless snarl. *No one likes her. She pulls on Wolf-Kin's fur. Belittles the Unicorns and Horse-Kin.*
*She had better watch her step around my sister, or I'll teach her the meaning of humility. Jaenelle's daughter or not.*
Kaelin sent approval at Tori's protectiveness towards her fellow den-cub. Then the lessons began and Tori broke contact with Kaelin to concentrate. They warmed up with stretches for a few minutes, everyone falling into rows. Tori ended up at the front of her row with Lucia to her left and Daemonar on her right. Lucifer stretched behind Daemonar.
Once they had finished, Lucivar brought out the fighting sticks, tossing a bundle to the leaders in each row. Moans could be heard behind Tori, but she ignored them as she slipped hers free and passed the others back.
She ran her hands along the length of the wood, testing for flaws and finding none. Unable to help it, she smiled slightly as she found the balance was almost as good as her personal staff. It had been a long time since she had been through the sticks, and she was eager to see just how rusty she was.
"You will be drilling against the posts today," Lucivar barked out, his sharp gold eyes scanning the crowd before settling on Tori. He lifted his stick and pointed it at her, and Tori shifted her grip on her stick minutely, ready in case he decided on a surprise attack. "You will spar with me, first, though."
Taking a step forward, Tori knocked his stick out of the way with a flick of her wrist. "Any time you're ready," she growled, adrenaline rushing through her veins, supplying the familiar rush of energy.
"Daemonar," Lucivar growled, backing up to the center of the field with Tori following closely. "Call time."
One of the girls whimpered softly. "She'll never make it."
"I'm not so sure," Lucifer murmured, half to himself. "The way she moves… It's like she's almost Eyrien."
Lucia made no move to join the subtle betting on the side, watching as Tori and the Warlord Prince circled and gauged each other's strengths and weaknesses. She shivered at the tension that hung in the air between them. Whatever happened, it would be a close battle.
Tori shifted her weight a little more onto her right foot as Lucivar looked as if he would move left. He noticed, and they began moving, beginning the dangerous and intricate dance. She delighted in facing so perceptive an opponent; every other adversary she had come again being weak and brainless.
Then Lucivar had rushed in, and they met with the sharp crack of wood against wood. The dance had begun. Sticks whirled, and the onlookers were forced to reevaluate this new Queen. No one but Jaenelle had ever made Lucivar work for the upper hand like he was now, and even then, he was giving ground to her.
Tori flashed him a feral smile and he fell back another step, looking frustrated. She had quickly learned that her strength was nothing against him, and at the beginning of the match she had made the solemn vow to herself not to use her Jewels to enhance her strength. She would win this by skill, or she would concede al together. The latter, however, was looking more and more unlikely.
"You can give up anytime you want," Tori laughed, blocking another attack and rewarding him with a sharp blow to his unguarded stomach.
Her only answer was an enraged growl and she had to begin to really work to keep her advantage over him. Okay, she thought to herself. Making Lucivar angry did not hamper his ability to fight.
Getting a little tired of the battle, Tori moved in, intent of disarming him and knocking him to the ground. She made her move, slipping under his guard, when suddenly waves of pain-honed fury swept through her mind in a wash of cold Green.
Gasping a little, Tori stumbled back from Lucivar, her stick falling from her numb fingers. She whipped her head to the left, staring through the other students, through the huge gray-stoned Hall, and directly at the source of the Green Jeweled fury. Talia.
"I was wondering how long she would last," Tori muttered to herself, regaining her balance quickly. She turned to "I have to go," Tori stated shortly, then vanished in a snap of Gray, leaving the others to stare in awe where she used to be.
She sent herself to stand as close to her sister as she could with the cold rage whirling around her. A tight shield had formed around the group, blocking the noise from the Hall, so no one came looking. Examining the situation, Tori scowled. Melivian sat, crumpled on the ground with two wet trails down her cheeks, at Talia's feet, looking incredibly vulnerable. Dejan was holding a little girl, obviously Auroran, close to her side, looking at Talia with a mixture of awe, fear, and respect.
Apart from the small quartet, in the air, hung Surreal, her legs kicking wildly as she clawed at the invisible hand that was slowly choking the life out of her. The silly twit hadn't even the presence of mind to remember that she outranked Talia.
"You will apologize to her!" Talia yelled, her eyes flashing.
Surreal choked and the hand seemed to loosen its hold for a moment. "I…don't… apologize…to half-breeds!" She wheezed out defiantly.
For a moment, Tori stood there, smirking as Talia sent more power into the hand she had constructed and the Brat turned a distinct blue. Then, with a sigh, she remembered that Talia wanted to be welcome there, and Jaenelle probably wouldn't like it if she killed off one of her children.
*Talia, that's enough.* Tori sent, firm but soothing. *Put her down.*
*She made fun of Mel,* Talia snapped in a wave of Green anger. *She's prejudice! She doesn't like half-breeds! She needs to learn!*
Tori caught her meaning a little bit too late, and she watched as Talia raised Surreal higher and drew on more power from her Jewel, sending it out to the girl in a tight, controlled whip. It lashed across her skin, and Surreal arched her back, screaming.
Thinking quickly, Tori flung a Gray shield over the girl, blocking the next volley of whipping assaults. Turning her attention to Talia, she threw a light blast her way, just enough to knock her back from the killing edge.
Talia stumbled back, tripped, and fell. She looked up, confused, then worried when she saw Tori carefully lowering Surreal to the ground. There was a tense silence as Tori looked her over.
"The Brat will be fine," she grunted. "She has a tougher hide than I would have thought."
Auroran giggled, squirming free of Dejan's grip to run clumsily over to Tori. Tori stared down at the small child, raising an eyebrow in question. The girl reached up, straining her arms.
"Up! Up!" She cried joyfully.
When Tori did nothing, Dejan looked up from her conversation with Talia and Melivian. "If you don't hold her, she'll start to cry," she warned softly.
Tori frowned down at the girl, but when her face started to screw up and she was about to cry, she leaned down, grabbed the front of her shirt, and lifted. Auroran, thinking this great fun, squealed with delight and planted a big, wet kiss on Tori's cheek. Grimacing and wiping the slobber, Tori shifted her hold on her, trapping her between her waist and her arm.
"Rori doesn't take to too may people like that," Dejan commented, pleased. "Now you're stuck with her."
Tori scowled fiercely. "I have practice to get back to. I can't look after a kid."
"I don't think you have a choice," Melivian giggled softly, wiping at her cheeks as she pointed to the child.
Auroran had snuggled closer and had tucked her head into the crook of Tori's neck, sighing contentedly. Tori growled softly, not really wanting to wake the little one. It might start crying.
"Lets go back and start our Craft lessons!" Talia said, a bit too eagerly, noticing her sister's gaze.
"Hold it," Tori said, freezing them in their escape. "I want to know what happened."
She twitched a finger, and Surreal's unconscious body floated up and followed them as they made their way down the hill and to the Hall. Talia squirmed under Tori's piercing glare.
"I told you already," she said softly, not meeting her eyes. "Surreal was making fun of Mel. Calling her names and such."
"What our dear sister is leaving out," Melivian added saucily, seemingly fully recovered from the fight, "is that Surreal had originally targeted her. Calling her all kinds of nasty names and saying bad things about Lady Lyra. It got her mad, but she kept her cool until she turned on me."
"I didn't mean to take it that far," Talia whispered, hunching her shoulders. "I don't want her dead. I just…" Tears sprung to her eyes. "I tired of people hating others for no good reason! It's not right!"
With a pang, Tori realized Talia was talking about their father. And Tori's treatment of their mother, as well. She sighed, knowing she would have to swallow her pride and anger and get at least on talking terms with the woman who had sent her to her own personal hell.
Melivian and Dejan each grabbed a hand, adding their support and reassurances, even if they didn't know what was going on. Talia sighed, brushed off the upsetting emotions, and grinned at them, saying she was fine.
"I'll talk with Jaenelle," Tori promised. "This isn't the time for fighting amongst the ranks, so to speak."
Talia's eyes sharpened. "Why?"
"We'll talk about this later," Tori said as they arrived at the back door. Jaenelle sat calmly on the back step, rising when they stopped beside her. Her lip quirked in not quite a smile at the sleeping girl nestled in one arm.
"What has my daughter done now?" Jaenelle sighed, looking weary.
Tori glared at the woman and spoke with short, tightly controlled syllables. "Inside. You. Me. Talk."
Jaenelle turned and went inside without another word. Tori rounded on the three girls. "You three. Inside. Studying Craft. One hour."
Talia nodded and translated for her friends. "We are to go inside and study our Craft for an hour. Then Tori will come in and check our work, and we can leave."
The girls nodded, slipping by Jaenelle, and hurried upstairs. Tori followed Jaenelle to the sitting room, Surreal's body still hovering behind her. They rounded a corner and ran into Lucivar and his son.
"What happened?" Lucivar asked curiously, looking from Jaenelle, to Surreal's body, to Tori's hard expression, and finally to the child she held. He got a funny look on his face at that point. "Never mind. I don't want to know." He said, and walked away, muttering about women.
Daemonar smirked at Tori, obviously amused. "I do."
"Too bad," Tori snarled softly. She paused, then shifted Auroran in her arms. "Here. Take the kid."
Deamonar looked at the kid like she had grown fangs. "No way."
"Why not?" Tori asked, miffed.
"She kicks."
Tori glared at him. "She's a child."
Daemonar shrugged. "She uses her Birthright Red when she does."
"Coward."
"Yep."
"I'll take her," Lucia said, appearing around the corner. "She only kicks the males."
"Smart witch," Tori muttered, earning Daemonar's glare.
Once Auroran was safely with Lucia, she and Jaenelle continued their way to the room, uninterrupted. Once there, Tori set Surreal on the couch and took one of the chairs. Jaenelle sat in the other one and waited patiently.
"Your daughter," Tori said, gritting her teeth against what she really wanted to call the girl, "is out of control. I don't care what she does and or says to the other girls of your family, but she does not harm my sister. Physically, although that's almost laughable, or with her prejudice. If she pushes Talia to the edge again, I wont bring her back."
Jaenelle sighed. "Very well, Toriana. I'll tell her to keep away from the other girls."
Tori shifted forward, hearing the warning tone in Jaenelle's voice and ignoring it. "I want to take her out to go against me with the sticks."
"No." Was Jaenelle's instantaneous response. "Surreal must find her own way, Tori."
Tori nodded. "I agree. And if it were any other time, I wouldn't interfere. But you and I both know that now more than ever, we can't be divided by something this petty."
"That's a bit hypocritical, don't you think?" Witch asked angrily.
Again, Tori nodded sagely. "I'm going to speak with Ly-Mother after I finish here. Our fighting is bothering Talia more than I had thought it would."
Jaenelle frowned, looking down to think. Tori gave her a few minutes, knowing it was going to be a hard decision to make. Jaenelle had sheltered Surreal too much, let her have what she wanted whenever she wanted it. This was the result. Now it was time to fix the mistakes.
Jaenelle raised her head and nodded once. "Okay. She'll train with you once every other day for a week. Then everyday until she can beat you. Is that fair enough?"
"Yes." Tori searched for a topic, any topic, that might delay the meeting with her mother, before she sighed in defeat. "I guess it's my turn now."
Jaenelle smiled sympathetically and picked up Surreal. "She's in the study with Papa," she said helpfully.
Tori headed for the door, then paused, glancing back at Jaenelle. "Are they… together?"
"They love each other," Witch said. "Does it bother you?"
Tori considered the question, remembering how Saetan had defended her. "No. But it might mean he won't want me near her, seeing as how I didn't make a good first impression."
Jaenelle smiled, shrugging. "You'll figure it out. For Talia."
Tori sighed. "For Talia."
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A/N: A little longer than the others. For those of you who are confused or lost, everything will be explained in the next chapter or so. I might even have a little pairing between Tori and-
Now, why would I give that away? Although, if you're attentive, you will have already figured out who the dubiously lucky male is!
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