Which path should I walk? For so much of his short life, that question had haunted Darc. Human or Deimos? Savior or Conqueror? Vengeance or forgiveness? Lying awake at night while his mind spun wildly should have been nothing new. His was not a simple life. He was cursed, incomplete to his core. Half a Deimos, with half a Wind Stone. A body and mind stronger and faster than any other in his realm, but with a soft Human heart at its center. He sighed, staring at the ceiling of his bedchamber. Its previous resident, Densimo, had seemed content to sleep on a half rotted out cot. Darc chose the floor, having become accustomed to it in his long years of service to the unlamented Geedo. He had never felt a moment's guilt in killing either of them after they betrayed him, and yet he had let Delma live. Why Delma? Why her and not the others? Will I spare her again if she makes another attempt on me? He blew another sigh and sat up, rubbing his temples. In this too, I am alone. No other Deimos lies awake at night, wondering and worrying. Strength, power, war. That is all that they know. Sometimes, I envy their simplicity.

Realizing sleep was eluding him once again, he made his way into the town square. At this time of night, it was almost serene. They grasses shimmered with a magic all their own, and even the broken down remains of the ancient Human trains had a tragic beauty to them. They were whole once...they were someone's dream once. Are all things destined to decay, their true purpose forgotten? He clutched his birthmark, shaking his head. Some mood I'm in tonight. What the hell's wrong with me? His feet took him to the dungeons, his mind a mile away. He blinked, surprised, when he found himself on the landing overlooking Lilia's cell.

Apparently, he wasn't the only one spending a sleepless night. She stood with her back to him clad only in a short shift, the muggy air of her prison proving too thick for her brocade dress. Head bowed in concentration, her slender fingers flowed over the glowing center of her ortena, producing a sound that echoed softly through the room. This is beauty, Darc thought. He edged closer to the cell, trying not to alert the fragile Human girl to his presence. He could have just stormed in and demanded a song; she was his captive, he was in charge. Somehow, barking orders didn't seem like the best tactic with this one. It wasn't that she intimidated him, exactly. She was here at his wish, after all. She had a funny way of sidestepping his rages and twisting him around until he couldn't remember what he was yelling at or why, and then the witch would manuveur him into asking (nicely) for whatever it was he wanted. Asking! He would be King of the Deimos! He had suppressed or destroyed every Deimos he had ever met, and this slip of a girl would force him to ask for things, like a child! It was galling.

And yet...here he was, spying on her in the middle of the night. She fascinated him, on many levels. At first he assumed that his need to keep her safe was out of gratitude..she had saved his life after all. His jealous rage when he caught the group of Orcons listening to her music, however, threw him into a tailspin. How dare they stare at her like that? How dare she play for those twits, when she never played for him? He had almost choked the life out of the dungeon's guard before he caught himself and tossed the wretch to the ground like a ragdoll and stomped off alone. That was yet another sleepless night. He had searched himself long and hard, examining his feelings for the girl, finally deciding that her kisses and gentle words were false..fleeting. Perhaps it was the same womanish magic his mother had used on his poor father?

He had done his best to stay away from her since then, lest she trick him again. Until tonight, when his distracted mind had let his feet carry him to her doorstep. His mind failed him again though. When he came out of his reverie, he became aware that she had stopped tuning her ortena and was staring at him, a smile twitching at the corner of her lips.

"I thought you had forgotten about me down here, Darc. Are you still angry at me? I wasn't trying to steal away your followers, you know."

He scoffed. "I know that. Like they'd follow you, anyway. They'd have torn you apart if it wasn't for me."

She nodded, not bothering to reply. They stared at each other for a moment, and Darc looked away first. Leave, he thought. What are you looking for down here, anyway?

"Were you looking for someone down here? It's quiet, and there's no one around. It's probably pretty late. Hard to judge from down here though." She crossed her cell and stood in front of the door, peering up the stairs.

"Do you...want to come out for a walk?" he blurted, inwardly kicking himself. "It's late, it's safe to move around. Unless you're tired. Yeah..you're tired. I'm just going to go." Shut up, shut up! Why are you still talking, go!

"A walk? Sure! I'd love a chance to stretch," she beamed at him, gathering up her ortena.

He fumbled with the lock, still cursing himself silently, and led her out of Orcoth. The streets were still empty, thank the Spirits, and they were halfway to the Church Ruins before he realized where they were going, and that he had left his armor and sword propped in a corner of his room. Perfect. Why not just bind my hands and march into a Human camp blindfolded, while I'm at it? Perfect fool. He swatted at a low branch as they passed.

"What's wrong?" Lilia asked. "Did I say something wrong? I know I just chatter sometimes, I can stop if you wish. You just didn't seem too talkative, like something was on your mind."

He grunted in reply. She cocked her head, searching his eyes until he looked away. "We're almost there, hurry up," he muttered, the growl in his voice a feeble attempt to deflect more conversation.

"Where are we going, anyway? You know, I'm glad you came. It's so hard to sleep sometimes, and I find myself itching to wander off to someplace quiet to think. Usually I'm alone so it doesn't matter, but Nafia was so worried that one time! She even sent Kha--...Whoa! What is this place?" Lilia ran forward a few steps, eyes wide with excitement. "It's beautiful! What is it?"

"Just some ruins. I come here sometimes, to get away." He folded his arms, wondering why he was so pleased that she seemed impressed with the spot. Why did her opinion matter so much?

Lilia gazed at him silently for a moment, then impulsively grabbed his hand. "Come on! Let's go have a look!"

Darc didn't put up much of a fight as she dragged him around. The stars winked at them through the shifting leaves, and the colored glass over his father's tomb seemed to take on a strange glow in the moonlight. After wandering off to examine the ancient carvings on the tumbled down walls, Lilia turned to say something, expecting Darc to be behind her. After a moment spotted him crouched down beside a large pile of stones, head bowed in meditation. Not wanting to interrupt him, she perched on a low wall a few feet behind him and began weaving a necklace from the morning glories and daisies that flourished in the peaceful courtyard.

"What are you doing?"

She blinked, startled. "Oh this? It's a necklace, my mother taught me to do this when I was a little girl." She held up the chain for him to see, then moved to put it around his neck.

He flinched away from her, grabbing her wrist and narrowing his eyes. "What's it for?"

"Umm..for being pretty, I guess. Here, it doesn't hurt, let me show you." She waited for him to release her wrist and then fastened the flower chain around her own neck. "See? It's just pretty, that's all. Don't you ever do anything just because it makes you happy?"

He glanced at the ground briefly, one hand finding its way to his birthmark. "No. Deimos don't do that. We have purpose, we do what we do for strength and power."

"Really? So...coming here tonight, with me...makes you stronger? How curious." She grinned up at him as he shifted his feet uncomfortably. "Perhaps you steal women away in the night all the time, no wonder everyone fears you so!"

He gawked at her. "I do not steal women at night! Err...ever! Gah, forget it," he growled, turning his back to her to look over the ocean. "They're right to be scared of me, you know. You should be, too. I didn't bring you here to mock me."

"Why did you bring me here, Darc?"

Just the sound of her voice saying my name gives me chills, what is this? "I uh...I couldn't sleep. That's all."

She nodded. "I know. Me neither, we went over that already. But why come all the way to get me, then bring me all the way out here?"

He glanced at her over his shoulder. She looked so innocent. Perched on the edge of a wall, chin propped in her hands, eyes sparkling as she waited for his response. Was I ever so young? "How old are you?" he asked, sidestepping her question.

She frowned. "Seventeen. Why? How old are you?"

"Just wondering. You look a lot younger than me, that's all." Good question inspector, get really deep and ask what her favorite color is next! "So you're my age...that's good. Ah..nevermind, forget I asked."

Lilia giggled. "You're so cute when you're tongue-tied. Now...enough dodging. Tell me why we're here, or...or I'm going to beat it out of you!"

That got his attention. He spun around to face her, eyes wide. "You what?"

"You heard me, tough guy!" She jumped down from her wall, making a fist and shaking it menacingly. The grin never left her face, though. "Don't make me embarrass you! Talk!"

"You can't be serious. What are you going to do with those little fists, tickle me to dea--Hey!" She swung wildly at him, letting out a whoop. He sidestepped easily, catching both of her hands without even thinking about it. "What the hell is wrong with you! Are you crazy?"

"Nope...gotcha right where I want you now!" She pulled hard, trying to free herself, but his grip was like iron.

"Seriously, what are you doing?" She was strong, but her whole body's strain wasn't enough to move him an inch.

"This!" she cried, and suddenly stopped struggling altogether. He wasn't prepared for it and, still tensed to hold her in place, yanked her forcefully towards him. She flew into his chest and he dropped her hands, surpised. She deftly reached up and draped the flower chain around his forehead like a crown. "All hail Darc, King of the Daisies!" She planted her fists on her hips and squinted at him appraisingly. "You know, that has a nice ring to it!"

He rolled his eyes at her and moved to yank the flowers off his head. She stopped him with a glance. "I make you a present, and you don't even say thank you. That's nice. Let me guess, 'Deimos don't say thank you!'" She growled her best imitation of Darc's gravelly voice.

He sighed, searching the sky for answers. "Thank you, Lilia." She stared at him, tapping her foot. "Now what did I do?"

"Well?"

"Well what?"

"Well, aren't you going to give me a gift now? It's only polite."

He grunted. "I don't make flowers. What kind of gift do you want? No, I'm not setting you free."

A slow smile spread across her face. She stepped forward and slipped her arms around his waist, tilting her head back to look at him. "I think I know why you brought me here. For my present, I'd like to hear you say it."

His mind raced. How could her proximity send me into such a panic! What the hell is this girl? "I uh..wanted..."

"Yes...?" Her lips were very close to his throat, her breath tickled his scales.

"A song!" he blurted out suddenly. "I was wanting to um..hear a song. That's all. Just a song."

She sighed, releasing him. "Alright. I don't believe you entirely, but alright." She played for him and the moon, casting her voice over the waves. Even the night breeze seemed to quiet for her, only barely ruffling her hair. When she was done he rose and led her back to her cell, neither saying a word. When he awoke the next morning, the tight feeling in his chest was worse, and the hours he spent punishing his lackeys in the arena didn't relieve it in the slightest. Which path? he thought, and carefully put the flower crown back into his pouch.