OKAY everybody, this is going to be a shocker! You'll absolutely love it! I know it will be a little freaky, but you'll enjoy it. It brings a lot more excitement into the story, other than the last tow BORING chapters, and I hope this makes up for it. HAVE FUN!

Abiona Marchand

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Following a short, stubby messenger man wasn't the best. He was so little that around corners, he dissapeared and was hard to find afterwards, and he was especially fast, so it was even worse. Kaden lost him a few times around corners, up stairs, through doorways and behind furniture. He wasn't much taller than a large chair, so he constantly got lost behind them in dining rooms, conference rooms or hallways. Kaden sometimes wondered if he hid purposely to make her angry.

When they finally arrived at the King's office, which Kaden had gone to more than enough times to be able to find her own way there, the knome-like messenger bowed and opened the door for her. She thanked him and stepped inside, where she found the King sitting by the fire in a big velvet chair, watching the flames dance.

"Ah, Kaden, come and sit." He used his formal manner until the messenger had closed the door and his footsteps had reverberated down the hall and out of earshot. Then he shot a blue protective spell around the room so that anybody trying to eavesdrop wouldn't be able to hear anything in the room. "Do you have anything to report?"

"Already onto the business? Da, I thought we could talk for a while. I mean, I haven't seen you in a while."

"Sorry, Kaden, I've got a lot on my hands today. I'm just up to hearing what you have to report." He glanced at the fire again for a second, and then looked at her with the look that said 'I'm waiting'.

"No."

"'No' what?"

"I don't have anything to report. I already told you last time I didn't want to spy on him. I love him! You should get someone else to do your dirty work! Not your daughter!" She got out of the chair, ready to storm out of the room, and he grabbed her arm, standing now.

"Kaden, don't do this to me. I don't want to fight with you."

"Well then, leave me alone."

"You know the reason I wanted you to spy on him was because you were close to him!" He closed his eyes and took a deep breath. "You would tell me if there was something going on with him, wouldn't you?" Kaden looked away, ashamed that she had become a liar and that her father, whom she loved, was depending on her to do something that she wouldn't do. He lifted her head by the chin and looked deep in her eyes, which for some reason she couldn't close and instead making her look straight into his eyes. "What's going on in your life, Kaden? What is it you're not telling me?"

"I have to go. I have plans." She turned her back to her father and left the room. The remnants of her voice lingered in the air after her running figure down the hall.

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The next few days were a blurr to Kaden, not knowing what day, what hour and nonetheless what minute of the day it was. She couldn't even remember what she did in those lonely hours. The only thing she remembered was that night.

She woke in the middle of the night after a nightmare, and got out of bed, unconciously putting her robe on over her nightgown. She rubbed her small bump of a stomach and went intentionally for a walk, which she never got around to doing.

Immediately she was awake as she roamed the halls. She knew what she was doing now; it wasn't all a blurr. Voices sounded down the hall, and she moved towards them, finding out who was making such a racket at such a late time.

By the stairs was a young couple, laughing and having fun. Kaden smiled at them as she got closer. It reminded her about her and Eadulf. She missed him and hoped he was home soon.

The couple stood up and began coming upstairs. The man had his arm around the woman's shoulders and she woman was holding his other hand. They kissed as they passed the stairwell they were sitting in.

As they got closer, though, Kaden began to realize something. Who was that man? He looked so familiar. When they were right in front of her, she remembered.

"Eadulf?" The man turned his red head away from the woman he was with into the darkness of the hallway, seeing Kaden. He blushed slightly, though it couldn't be seen in the darkness.

"Kaden." There was silence for the longest time, and as Kaden felt like she would burst, the woman Eadulf was with felt uncomfortable and Eadulf felt embarrassed.

"What..." -was all she could manage to say before her mind went crazy with thoughts. Why was Eadulf with another woman? Who was this other woman? Why didn't he tell her he was home yet? What were they doing up so late? What were they planning on doing that night?

"Kaden," Eadulf began, clearing his throat. "This is my sister, Jemma."

"No, Eadulf, no. I saw you two together, and that is definately not your sister. Would you kiss your sister?"

"Yes, on the cheek."

"This wasn't just a kiss on the cheek, Eadulf. Who is she?" Eadulf was silent; she had beaten him and he had nothing else to say.

"I think I should go now, honey." The woman said, getting out of Eadulf's grip.

"Oh, you're not going anywhere!" Kaden said angrily. She ran towards the woman, and right at the attack, Eadulf pushed her back. He took one look at her, and then looked sweetly at the other woman.

"Goodbye." He kissed her swiftly and sweetly, and it was almost strange for Kaden, who was on the floor, her arm aching, to see her man kiss another. And as quickly as she came, she was gone, and before Kaden had gotten up. When she had finally gotten off the ground, she stepped up to Eadulf.

"What was that?"

"You have too much control over me, Kaden, I need my space."

"Space, is that what you call it? Because I'd call it cheating!" She spit in his face, and started to walk away, intending on going on that walk of hers to cool down and rto think about what had just happened.

"Hey, hey, wait a minute!" Eadulf ran after her.

"I'm not waiting anymore, Eadulf. You've hurt me, bruised me, scarred me, and torn me away, and I can't stand it anymore! Let me go!" He had her arm, and she was kicking and punching, using her Shang moves against him, which weren't seeming to work.

"If you talk to me one more time like that, I swear by the Gods, I'll..." Eadulf started.

"I don't want to be here anymore! Leave me alone!" Kaden sobbed. She fought in his grip, but he wouldn't let her go.

"Shut the hell up!" He pushed her away from him, making her stumble, and then fly from the ground down the flight of stairs, tumbling and falling. She fell so fast it felt like she was going to give in and turn into a deflated balloon, and when she finally stopped falling, she gave a sound of her lungs emptying. Blood trickled from her mouth and she became unconcious. Eadulf was nowhere in sight.

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Take a breather. That was harsh. Now, don't forget to review, and make it good! I worked my butt off for this chapter! It's the greatest thing in the world! Why don't you wait till chapter 13... hehehe, that'll be a shocker too!