Disclaimer: Anne Bishop's world my story.
Dorothea growled at the stupid priestess, even though she knew what the priestess said was true. Slipping into a comfy chair, she let a sigh rumble from her as she waved her hand in dismissal. When the priestess left she summoned a bottle of yarbarah, warmed it, and drank deeply. She liked it better straight through the vein, so that she could taste the terror, but right now she was just too tired.
A week had past since Zalean arrived, and it seemed that, even though many priestesses had tried, the Gate would not open. Not only would the Gate not open to Earth, it would not open at all. The old priestess must have meddled with the Alter, must have corrupted the Gate so it would stay closed. Well the priestess had accomplished what she wanted, but she had also invoked the High Priestess's rage.
The bottle of yarbarah broke into many shiny pieces that cut deep into Dorothea's hand. Great pools of blood spilled through the cuts as Dorothea laughed to the Darkness.
(Break)
Jolouque had always hated Dorothea, but as the saying went; 'Keep your friends close, and your enemies closer'. Now he was traveling from shadow to shadow, looking for the newest of Dorothea's victim's. He was smart enough to know that this all had to do with Zalean, but he didn't understand why.
The scent he was following grew stronger as he got closer to his prey, and his pace increased as well. The priestess he would give to Dorothea gladly, but Zalean was another story. Until he found out just how important Zalean was, and how best to use her for his needs, he'd keep her safe. Jolouque meant war.
(Break)
Zalean, swept up in dreamland, saw her street corner where she worked; saw the familiar faces of her "coworkers", and smelled the scent of sex. Then she saw another face, a face she barely recognized, her mom's. Her mom was telling her something she couldn't understand and then water, so much water. A bang and then a scream and Zalean was flung awake, sweating.
This dream had never occurred before; had never slipped beyond her subconscious to become grasped by her psyche. The reason behind it must be relevant to her journey into Terrielle; and yet the reason was just as illusive as the meaning behind the dream. Zalean gazed outside her floor to ceiling length window, trying to decipher the images. It was dark and quiet outside, the few shadows only cast by trees. Through her inquires, she had learned that there were no need for guards around the east wing, where she resided, because a Gray jeweled grid covered the whole fortress.
As she thought about this, a shadow slipped beyond a tree into the moon soaked courtyard. It slinked and withered, never fulfilling a shape but always resembling a human. Breath caught in her throat, knotting in her lungs. A stalker in the night could be a harmful, villainous fiend.
Making a decision Zalean walked across the room and slid out her door. It was better to go into a battle head on, than wait around scared for nothing. As she scampered through the corridors she remembered her jewel, forgotten under the bed. If she turned back for it that would waste time, and the person may be gone by then. She grabbed a candlestick holder, determined that, if it was a villain, she could scream and someone would save her. If they got there in time.
(Break)
Jolouque gazed into the fountain, at the water always in a flurry of motion, remembering the first time Earn brought him to Dorothea's court. He had been so young and discontent that the only thing that would sedate him was this fountain; it reminded him of home. This place he ventured to often through out the years, bathing in the melody it made and forgetting about anything but home.
At this time, in this place he had other reasons; he wanted to think of court life, needed to. Tracking down the priestess hadn't been hard. Hoping for more time, she had only made her way to an inn on the outskirts of Hayll, where she rested. Dorothea though wouldn't be so kind as to let the priestess's energy restore.
When Jolouque first saw the old woman's hunched frame and gray head, that came with the short lived race over time, he could only wonder why Dorothea sought her. So instead of pouncing on his prey he chose a seat, in viewing distance of the priestess, and waited to find out more. With the bar at her full attention, she quickly became intoxicated and started talking about Lorn- the dragon of legends. It interested Jolouque that Dorothea would waste her time on such a fanatical woman. After a bit of jabbering she said something of significance.
"And he said to me 'when she comes again there will be consequences. Be prepared and when she comes, bring her to Me.' and I've been waiting all this time and now she is here."
At first Jolouque hadn't made the connection, he hadn't considered Zalean, but then it all made sense; in an off sort of way. So with that information he left her alone, at least for today.
There was a rustle behind him that delved through his thoughts. The hair along his neck bristled as he searched along the jewel threads down to the Opal, his color; there was nothing, no reply among the lighter jewels leaving only the darker. With a sight shield wrapped about him, Jolouque skirted the fountain and crouched down behind the fluorescent pool, ready to pounce. Since it had to be a darker jeweled Blood, he'd have no chance unless he gained the upper hand with surprise.
(Break)
Zalean crept toward the fountain where she thought she had just seen the figure, but she must have been mistaken for there was no one in sight. She walked around the white marble basin, while she stared into the unicorn's eyes that flooded with water. It happened so fast she wasn't even sure what had occurred. From behind she had been grabbed. A strong fleshy palm closed around her mouth and another hand tangled in her hair, bending her so she felt the slight, threatening presence of a knee in her back. The candlestick flew through the air and connected with a resounding thud.
(Break)
Jolouque's head throbbed, causing him to release his foe. The object came again, but this time he wrenched it out of his opponent's hand and, without thought, tore into the mind; seeking to destroy.
(Break)
Zalean screamed and fell to the ground unaware of what was happening. Her body shivered with sweat as a piercing filled her. She was going to die and she knew it, the only thing she could do was prolong the agony. So in sudden desperation, she dug her teeth into the leg within her grasp.
(Break)
By the time the scream reached his ears he knew whose mind he had entered, and knew why there had been no barriers. Images flooded him, but he shook his head clearing his mind because he had to concentrate, had to pull out before he shattered her. Pulling in the reins he slowed his progress and reared upwards just before reaching her fragile Self.
The pain in his leg told him she had bitten him, but no matter he was there to protect her even from himself. He wrapped his arms about her, comforting both of them with their closeness.
"Zalean, Zalean." He sent out soothing threads and ensnared her in false security. "You'll be all right now, you're safe. Please forgive me I didn't know it was you."
Some of the images prodded his mind, images of her life and of her ways with the males. It made him burn in an unsettling way, but he pushed that aside for know he only wanted to hold her.
Zalean looked into his eyes confused about why he was there, but then she recalled the fight; it seems they had both fought false foes. Fear crawled up her spine making her stiffen, if he could do that with such ease what could he do with focused force. Jolouque wouldn't give her up easy, he sent out more tendrils to pull her to him tighter, and he felt her soften.
He ran a hand down the length of her face and relished in the olive beauty. She pursed her lips disapprovingly and he ran a finger over them. The burning return a sensational tugging, but he knew better; not tonight, not until she asked. Hoisting her in his arms, he carried her towards her room as the sun began to rise.
(Break)
In her room he sat her down on her bed, and finding the bathtub ran some warm water. What had he done? If he had killed her, which he could of, he would never have forgiven himself. The knot in his skull thundered as he remembered that she had put up quiet a fight. A smirk morphed his lips, but he knew he couldn't get too close not yet. Zalean was the key to the downfall of Dorothea, in the end if he had to kill her he would. For now she was his puppet perhaps his prize if molded correctly. Besides she was a foreigner, who couldn't yet be trusted.
Zalean let the white lace nighty slip down around her feet in a puddle. She was exhausted and if she was supposed to feel uncomfortable under the look Jolouque gave her, she no longer remembered. Breaking the smooth surface of the water with her foot, she relished the calming sensation it brought. Sinking down so that the water brimmed the top of her breasts, she let her head hang back: satisfied.
Knowing he should leave but couldn't, he brought up a chair and sat fixated on the slender hand that hung over the side of the tub. He didn't dare speak or move, for fear that she'd send him away, he just sat there stunned by his knew find.
When Zalean spoke it was no more than a whisper, which he almost mistook for the wind. "The unicorn's tears- were they for you?"
Jolouque swept up her arm with his eyes until he reached her's. The blue orbs shown and reflected the water. Now he knew the fountain in question had been around years before him, but for some reason he had always felt that it cried for him. A sigh escaped his lips and he found himself answering, "Yes."
"A long time ago, before the Blood walked this land, unicorns were assumed to exist; although it's all shrouded in myth now. When I was growing up, I lived in Kaeleer near these old ancient woods. One day there was a fire in town while I was playing in a barn, and the barn caught on fire." Jolouque hesitated not even knowing why he was telling her this, but a look into her eyes prodded him forward. "Well, a plank fell down and caught my leg as the barn filled with smoke and fire. I would have died, I suppose, but through the haze I saw the shape of a unicorn stepping forward to save me."
He stopped not wanting to say more, or share anything else.
"And…" Zalean said impatiently, not letting him get away.
A smile spread across his face and she turned a deep red. "Well truth have it, I passed out. The smoke must have gotten to me. When I woke I was in the woods, safe. I never did know for sure if it was a real unicorn or just a figment of my imagination."
"And your village- it was alright?"
"Yes, it was fine." He stood up and stretched ready to leave, "Good night."
"Night." Came a sleepy reply.
Jolouque crossed her room and entered the hall. It wasn't fine though was it? Jolouque thought to himself, it was destroyed leaving nothing but rubble and Earn to come home to. Dorothea had destroyed him and he'd destroy her.
A/n: Zalean has been at Dorothea's Court for one week. The five days that passed without detail she spent studying and gathering information from others.