Chapter 6:

"Are you going to be alright Mayala?" Elena held her friend as she tried to even out her breathing.

"He was doing something to me. He was... using some sort of death ray eyes...."

"Mayala... he was simply staring."

"Yes! Well, death ray eyes... same thing!"

"You are over-exaggerating."

"I am not! I am afraid he knows! Elena... if he finds out I can be killed! For not knowing my place!"

"I'd hate to say I told you so."

"Then don't!" Mayala held Elena by the arms tightly and stared at her with widened and frightened eyes.

"Listen Elena... you were right. Ok? You were completely and utterly correct about knowing my place. But for that one moment, for those minutes when I danced, when he spoke to me, when he held me in his arms... I felt... like I belonged just as much as he. You cannot tell me you did not feel the same."

"No, I cannot."

"Then you must agree that the gods have bigger plans for us. All of us. Our parents died Ellie... I feel quite strongly that we will be compensated for it." Mayala hugged her friend and walked out into the cabin. Elena shrugged and walked back to the dance room. Mayala went into the cabin and closed the door behind her. She turned around and felt strong hands on her arms, pinning her against the door. She gasped and was suddenly panicking at the eyes that met her own.

"Tell me it was not you whom I saw at last night's feast."

"It was not I."

"You lie?"

"I do not." Her eyes looked away and he pulled her even closer.

"My senses do not lie."

"Perhaps it is not your senses."

"You dare challenge me?"

"I do not appreciate your accusing me Sir. I had been here all evening, tending and cleaning the cabin along with Elena."

"You speak to me in such a condescending tone. I am not one to be made a mockery of."

"Then I suggest you do not go around attacking servant girls." The words had flown out of her mouth so quickly she had not even noticed she'd said them. His smile curled up in a wicked fashion. He knew.

"Soleil?"

"I do not know what you speak of."

"Or Mayala?"

"My name is and has always been Mayala sir." Rath let go of her arms and leaned up against the door on top of her.

"Even if you tried to lie your way out of this I could not forget the feel of her lips. And I am sure that you would agree that it would be quite an honor to aid me in my discovery." He leaned in and attacked her lips with his own, an obnoxious and demanding in his kiss, knowing now that he had an upper hand in the situation that he so desperately tried to control just the night before. She pushed away but he simply kissed harder and finally she gave in and wrapped her arms around his neck.

"Who is Soleil?"

"My perfume." He laughed, her bright personality making his heart melt in ways he never wanted it to.

"I need for you to know that this cannot happen. I've been hurt before and I do not intend to have you play with my heart."

"I do not intend for this to happen because I will not die on your account." They said these words as they kissed and finally they pulled away for several minutes.

"Meet me tonight. In the palace. After sunset." His words were cut short as he tried to control the passion raging inside of him. Who was this servant girl? Would he risk everything just to spend another night with her? He could always say that he was simply demanding her presence. But he knew it would be hard to hide his actual feelings for her. He was beginning to become attached.

"I cannot. We cannot...." Mayala pulled away for a moment, their eyes simply staring, their emotions completely out of control.

"I am second only to the King, I can do as I please."

"But I am but a servant. I cannot risk my life and your position. Not unless there is something I'm risking it for." She pulled away from him to be at perfect eye level, and his knees went weak at the determination in her blue eyes.

"I cannot make promises because I am not good at keeping them."

"I'm afraid that nights of passion sound nice, however, I have to preserve my heart. I do not want to get attached and then dropped."

"You cannot demand any sort of commitment on my part. We shouldn't even be speaking."

"Then perhaps you should leave."

"Goodbye." He pulled out of her warm grasp and walked out the door in a rage. She closed the door and seconds later she felt the knock. Her anger was flaring and she tried to control herself. Who did he think he was? She was not some object! She opened the door and he rammed in and slammed it closed behind him.

"You are really something making demands when just seconds ago you were denying to even be the woman I searched for!"

"I am not making demands! Simply suggestions! I cannot get involved unless I know it is worth something!"

"I am royalty! Of course it would be worth something!"

"It is not that simple!"

"You are so aggravating!"

"And you are an obnoxious tyrant!" They stood in complete silence for a second and the chemical attraction took over so quickly that he didn't even notice how they ended up on the couch. This woman was dangerous in every sense. He needed to be careful not to let himself get too involved. But inside he knew it was too late.

BY THE WAY: Thanks sooooo much for all of the great feedback guys! This is the only story that seems to be kinda popular amongst the crowd. I'm glad you like it! Keep reviewing cause it keeps me going! Next chapter up soon….