Author's Note: I went a good while without one of these, didn't I? XD Anyway... these next few chapters are based loosely on a Role Play that's taking place at theslytherindormsdotcom/hprp. cough XD So a large bit of the text- mainly in future chapters and not this one- is based on Moros' reactions and posts in that particular RP... so I owe him huge credit for that! For those of you who've read the RP... this story is a bit different from the one you remember. But I hope you enjoy it... Plus, this chapter is a bit shorter than I would have liked, but eh. XD What can you do.

And where have all my reviewers gone? OO;


From Dawn To Dusk
Chapter 5 : Tornado

Malanda sensed it. She knew someone was watching them, even before she glanced over Antony's shoulder to the doorway, her lips still on his. Her blue eyes locked onto a familiar pair- Moros was gazing out at her and Antony from the shadows. Malanda quickly pulled away from Antony, much to his dismay, and shoved him away.

"Mal..." he protested, moving to kiss her once more. But she pushed him off irritatedly.

"No, Antony." She too her new wand out of the box, sliding it in her pocket as Antony rose, glaring at her.

"I spend weeks making you a one-of-a-kind gift and this is how you repay me?!"

Back at the doorway, Moros' eyes narrowed. He continued to watch angrily, waiting for the right moment to make his entrance. Meanwhile, Malanda narrowed her own eyes on Antony.

"It's not a gift, coming from you. It's nothing but bribery. I like it all the same, but..."

"But what?!" Antony was yelling, now, holding his arms out to the side convictedly. "But you're ungrateful? Lying to yourself? But you're still going to act like a bitch?"

That was the final straw for Moros. He stepped into the light, much to Antony's surprise, and spoke up. "Well aren't you just so cheerful today, Antony." Malanda let out a sigh of relief, despite her worry that Moros would just piss Antony off further. As predicted, the wandcrafter's reaction wasn't kind at all, instead he glared daggers at Moros with eyes laced of pure loathing.

"Didn't you ever learn how to knock?" Antony took a step forward boldly. "We were having a private conversation."

"No, we weren't." Malanda snapped. Though she was thankful that Moros had come to her rescue, she was still bothered by the fact that Antony now had even more of an excuse to act like a jerk.

It was no secret that Antony and Moros hated each other. They would put up appearances for Malanda, but still she knew how much the two truly despised each other. They could be nice when on Îmblânzitor business, but usually they were two polar opposites swirling against each other in a deadly tornado that they pulled Malanda into the center of. She was, essentially, one of the few reasons they even associated at all, and she regretted that more than anything.

There was a stiff silence that followed her short outburst. The seconds passed like hours as Moros and Antony glared into each other's eyes, each trying to intimidate the other. Malanda looked on nervously, her only comfort came as Moros gently rested his hand on the back of her neck. No one dared speak, no one dared move.

And then, the girl spoke.

"Antony..." she spoke up quietly at first, afraid of what might happen if she dared contradict him. "Could you just, for a minute, stop being such an asshole and-"

It all happened in an instant.

Malanda's words were cut off abruptly as Antony brought the black of his hand hard against her soft cheek. In a flash, Moros had Antony by the throat in midair, his eyes burning red despite his icy glare.

"Don't. Lay. A hand on her..." Moros' voice was as cold as his stare, and he kept a firm grip on Antony's throat.

Malanda shrank into the background pathetically as Antony responded. Though he was clearly having trouble breathing, he somehow managed to laugh. He did so a good, long moment, too, before speaking up in a raspy voice.

"I can do whatever the hell I want, Blackspell-" If he was going to say something else, he never got the chance. Moros shoved him up against a bookshelf, unblinking.

"You may be able to control everyone else, but keep your hands the hell off of Malanda." Antony laughed even more, obviously showing the more sadistic side of himself. He was a tough fighter, to, so he still managed to keep a level head despite the pain Moros was inflicting on him.

"She likes me, vampire. I can do whatever. The hell. I want." Antony's wicked grin only lasted a moment, for Moros threw him down to the ground, a few of the books that Antony's back had pinned in place tumbled after him. Moros caught one of them, flipping it over and reading the title. After glaring at Antony a moment, he actually smirked.

"Clearly you havn't been reading any of these books, Antony." He threw the novel at him roughly, though Antony caught it in one hand. "If you had, you'd know what happens to the lovers in the end..." After one last glare at Antony, Moros turned and disappeared.

Malanda then shifted her gaze to Antony sadly, a hurtful expression about her. "Why...?" Her voice was soft with an air of innocence, but pained all the same.

Antony chuckled slightly, as if he found the whole thing a joke, and held the book in his lap. "Oh, come on babe..."

"You son of a bitch..." Malanda glared at him, obviously more hurt than she could begin to let on, before rising and running out after Moros. Antony rolled his eyes at her, sighing exasperatedly before he turned the book over.

"...You'd know what happens to the lovers in the end..."

Antony scowled as he read the title. It was Romeo and Juliet.