From her vantage point, Theodosia sat a few yards from Poppy's tent. She hadn't seen the soldier for that afternoon. She felt a little comforted, thinking that maybe he'd been sent out into action earlier. She was more than glad for the fact that he was not around, as tailing Poppy was getting harder, as Poppy had quickly come to realize that Theodosia was always around, even far off. She had grown upset, had questioned her as to why she was being followed like an adolescent. Theodosia hadn't liked her position, hadn't liked coming up with excuses for her presence.

Sighing, Theodosia cast a glance at the tent, making sure that through the flap, she could still see Poppy's still form, resting for the first time since they'd come to be in Egypt. Satisfied that Poppy was still there, was safely asleep, Theodosia breathed easier as she reached for her canteen. As tired and as frustrated as she was, it didn't register to her that her canteen just barely felt different as she downed three large gulps of what most certainly did not taste like water. Whatever it was that she had drunk was fast acting. So fast that before she could sputter, scream for help, or move, her heart felt heavy, vision blurring, and eyes closing of their own accord, as if something heavier than a lead weight were pressing down on her eyelids.

What is this? Am I dying? Please, Merlin, let it just be sleep and not death. Oh, Merlin, he'll hurt her!

Theodosia was out, slumping in her seat before faint laughter was heard not too far from her.

Aurelius smiled at how easy it had been to distract the little bloodhound. What better way than to switch her water for a sleeping potion, particularly one that is fast acting and very potent. She'd not be waking for another hour or two at most. He also couldn't help but laugh at her simplicity. She'd been keeping watch for the soldier with the scar. As the disguise had no longer suited his purpose, he merely donned a new one. He had even given her the canteen of water earlier that day, and she had smiled and thanked him, not knowing he'd been the threat she was to watch for.

Chuckling as he went, he ducked into Poppy's tent, knowing he had precious time before she woke and before someone else spotted him. He, however, took a moment to watch Poppy in her splendor, splayed out on the cot, her hair a fanned out mass on her pillow, her curvaceous womanly body hidden beneath the layers of khaki seducing him with teasing hints and whispers.

He breathed and new the time for reveling in the golden goddess's form was over, and that he had to act now or never, he withdrew took up one of her books, enchanting it to act as a portkey before he took her hand, plunging the two in a whirl of colors, that momentary feeling of off balance dissipating seconds later.

By then, Poppy was awake, leaping to her feet only to look hastily around at her surroundings. He knew what she was seeing: a beautiful open courtyard, a fountain with lilies and lotus flowers floating in it, ivy vines, various flowers and shrubs growing around the walls, acting as a wall itself. There was a willow tree and a pond at one end of the courtyard, too. The villa surrounding the courtyard was wide and expansive, and it barely hinted at its real size.

After she'd quickly taken in her surroundings she whirled to face him, neither backing away nor moving forward. "Where are we?" Poppy asked, her voice taking on a steely edge, which he admitted, he never saw coming. Somehow, he instinctively knew this was not the pushover Poppy of the past. "We are in my villa, and as to our locale in a broader sense, that you'll have to discover for yourself," he told her, smiling enigmatically as he watched her, noting her expression and every movement she made, however small.

She turned her eyes to his; surprising him with the clear loathing he saw blazing in her eyes. "Why have you done this?" Poppy asked him, crossing her arm across her breasts, her whole body tense. "You'll not have me. You'll be found out in the end and you'll be taken down as the bastard you are," she continued to glare at him, her forearm twitching just barely as she dropped her arms, most likely in nervous fashion, though it did leave him with a clear view of her ample bosom, as the top two buttons of her crème colored blouse were undone.

He moved closer to her, coming to stand before her, lifting a hand to finger the undone button. He realized his mistake in underestimating her yet again, as her arm flew up, delivering a quick painful jab to his jaw before she spun and did a wide kick, propelling him down with a hard and abrupt landing onto the ground. He was completely stunned by her quick ferocity, her momentarily disabling him like that.

No longer the nightingale, but the tigress. This does pose a challenge, but I've always loved a good one, in any case.

She didn't get far. He found her running down the north hall. Withdrawing his wand he aimed a stunner for her, but apparently she'd honed her reflexes to, as she dodged completely, whipping around to send a hex his way. When he'd seen her dodge he'd immediately expected such and was able to block it. "Well, I applaud your valiant effort, but you'll not be getting away my dear. We've so much to catch up on," he informed her as he continued his progress toward her, blocking and sending out stunners with each step.

Aurelius really did admire her effort. She was on fire, never letting up, not giving an inch. However, she had run into a dead end, one of many in the specifically designed villa of his. He meant it when he'd told her she'd not escape. There was no way she would find a way out, as there was none, save for a secret, which only he was privy to. He couldn't help smiling a Cheshire cat smile as he aimed two successive stunners one after another, which she was still able to dodge, though she'd almost acted too slowly, having been trying to run and find that elusive exit.

As they neared wall, Poppy suddenly spun on her heels and charged at him, sending a hex straight at his face, which he blocked but it had distracted him from being able to defend himself against the swift high kick she aimed right to his eyes. He only barely was able to grab her ankle and turn it, though; the force of her attack propelled him back to the ground, taking her with him as they went.

She moved to run, but he held fast, twisting her ankle and rendering it useless for the moment. Aurelius was surprised that she didn't cry out, though he did hear the sharp intake of breath, saw the pain wash over her face, and wish he hadn't had to be the one to put it there. Taking the moment in which she was disabled and caught off guard, he threw his weight over her, pinning her down, training his wand to her forehead.

"I thank you for giving me the exercise, my dear, but really, highly unnecessary," he mocked her, staring down into her eyes just before he muttered the incantation for steady sedated sleep, watching her body shut down and her eyes close under the power of the spell.

Now, to get sleeping beauty to her chambers...