Better Than This

Usually, Alia would spend her weekends at Wizard City's bars and clubs, looking for a lonely man needing a cuddle-buddy to help him through the night. As Alia glared at the reflection in her washroom mirror, she doubted she'd have the energy to make herself look up to the task, let alone seduce a man. Besides, she thought as she splashed water over her face, I already have a lonely man who needs me to help him through the night. Alia sighed, resting her hands on the sides of the washbowl. Just not the way I'd prefer.

She could hear Talon calling out to her from her bedroom, a low voice that any guests probably wouldn't be able to understand. She sighed again, dabbing her face with a towel before going to see him.

"Yes Talon?" She asked as she entered, in as calm and caring a voice as she could muster. "What is it?"

"Is… is… is Rowan…" Talon's voice was low, and his mouth barely moved as he spoke. Alia had healed the jawbone enough that he could speak coherently now, but raising his voice and excessive mouth movement still caused intense pain for the pyromancer. "Is she… alright?"

Alia moved to the bed, sitting herself beside Talon and reaching for a bowl on the nightstand. She wrung out a cloth that had been soaking in the bowl, and then rested the cloth over Talon's forehead. He'd been feverish for the last three days, and Alia hadn't the energy to do anything beyond the conventional to treat it.

"Yes," Alia lied, beginning to pat his chest with another damp cloth. She worked lightly as his ribs were still tender. Talon closed his eyes, seemingly content with her answer.

The truth was that in the week following that night, Alia had not heard anything from her sister or her 'lover'. They had not visited to check on Talon, nor had Tasha or Miguel updated her on anything concerning them. Tasha and Miguel rarely visited now, only once a day to ensure she was eating. But most of the day, she was alone with Talon either healing him or just sitting by the bed, waiting for her magic to recover so she could continue.

It gave her a lot of time to think. And her mind often wandered back to Rowan and Kane, and the then-seemingly-harmless event that started it all.

It was just a little bit of fun, a single boy-swap between Alia and Rowan, just to see how quickly the boys would notice the difference. Alia had been pleasantly (very much so) surprised by Talon's performance, and had suggested borrowing him again. Rowan had agreed, so long as Talon did.

Talon hadn't.

To add to that, Alia had figured that her suggestion implied future boy-swapping. This would mean that they would both be getting consented action. Not that Rowan would be getting weekly visits from Hercules without Alia's knowledge. It was made even worse by the fact that Rowan was doing this without Talon's knowledge, as well.

But the nail in the coffin; Rowan had suggested the first swap. Alia realized now that she had her eyes on Kane from the beginning.

The more she had thought about it, the more Alia fumed at the pair and sympathized with the man who had nearly tried to kill them. At least Talon had not been of sound mind at the time.

But those two, they most definitely were of sound mind over the months that followed the swap. Months filled, apparently, with one-sided boy-swapping action. Secretive, behind closed doors action; if it had been a legitimate swap, Alia felt Rowan would have informed her in some way. But no, she was left in the dark, just like Rowan's boyfriend, about the trysts.

She expected that sort of behavior from Kane, who had little morality in the bedroom, but Rowan was better than that. Even Alia had a moral boundary she wouldn't cross. The line was a simple one; singles only, unless consent was given by the couple. Alia never pursued someone with attachments, because the fallout –which could come days, weeks, or sometimes months later- just wasn't worth a night of fun. But also because Alia had a healthy respect for the bond of love, a bond she tried often to achieve with Kane. If she got that bond with him, she wouldn't want another woman severing it; why should she do that to another couple? Even for Alia, cheating was wrong.

Alia broke her thoughts to brush the back of her hand along Talon's cheek, feeling the warmth of his skin; he was always a little warmer than the other wizards, and it made treating his fever complicated. Was he truly feverish? He murmured at her touch, something indiscernible but likely concerning Rowan.

It had been the fifth time he'd asked about Rowan since regaining speech, each time slipping back into unconsciousness or deep sleep. Each time, Alia was baffled by his question. Had she truly eradicated his anger with her Song? Or was this the old Talon returning, the one with a heart so big and loving that even those who wronged him were cared for like family? If so, then Talon truly deserved better than the traitorous woman Rowan became.

Rowan had wronged both of them; she knew Kane was Alia's quarry, knew she was abusing Talon's trust, yet she frequently seduced the Conjurer. Alia had begun to forgive them as the weeks passed following this discovery, assuming it was nothing more than fun. But Talon had revealed the truth that night he attacked them; he showed Alia that she had it all wrong.

Kane could have used his amulet to shield himself and Alia from the meteors without endangering himself, and Rowan said herself that she could handle her situation fine. Instead, Kane sacrificed his own safety to ensure that Rowan would not be harmed. It was an act of love straight out of the bedtime stories of her youth.

It had been more than just a tryst. It had been what Alia had always wanted.

Tears welled up in her eyes as she contemplated it all. These were thoughts that plagued her every day now since the incident with Talon, and her anger and sorrow grew every time. But tonight, something was different.

Tonight, Talon could survive for an hour or two without her vigilance. Tonight, she could finally give that heartless bastard a piece of her mind. It had taken her a few days to mull over it, but tonight she made her decision; she deserved a better man than him.

Kane sat up swiftly, the covers of his bed falling into his lap in a crumbled mess. He was sweating profusely and breathing so erratically his cheeks were as red as the flames that still burned in his mind. Without closing his eyes, he tried to slow his breathing and collect himself.

After a long time, he pushed the covers away, placing his feet on the cold sandstone floor of his underground villa. The villa that was not known for its warmth; he could feel the chill of the cavern biting into his skin. Briefly, violet eyes glanced at the fireplace on one side of his bedchamber.

The conjurer noticeably shuddered before turning away, walking around his bed to the other side of the room where there was an open wardrobe with robes hanging at the ready. He selected a naval blue robe and wrapped it around himself, tying the waist knot to secure it and heading down the rope bridge to the remainder of the villa. He had no idea what time it was, but he didn't care.

He wasn't going to be able to sleep again tonight anyways.

It had been a week now since Talon had placed that draconian dagger upon his throat, but Kane still couldn't shake it from his mind. Every night he woke in a cold sweat, having just relived his moment of pseudo-death. It had been a moment of total powerlessness for Kane. It was getting steadily worse, too; tonight, Kane had felt the bite of the blade as it slid across his throat, the cold steel dividing muscle, vessel, and nerve to spill his life upon his chest. All while fire crackled over his naked flesh, eating away at his existence.

Kane grabbed random items from his kitchen, gathering them in a bowl before returning to his dinning hall to consume whatever it was. He sat there for some time, completely alone, swamped by his thoughts and fears.

He was better than this, and he knew it; a simpleton pyromancer should not be able to overcome all of Kane's mental training from his youth and fill him with such terror. He should not have allowed Talon an opening with which to strike. He should have let Rowan handle herself.

The thought of Rowan made him wince, as he recalled how Talon had manipulated him through her. It had been easy, like trapping a wild beast. It was why he loathed emotional connections, why he had sought to distance himself from others when he came to Wizard City years ago. If it hadn't been for Talon, he wouldn't have any friends that could be used against him.

That's my problem, Kane decided, munching on a carrot. I've grown too attached to them, and it has made me lose sight of my goals. He'd come to Ravenwood to learn to control his magic, not make friends. Had he not succeeded? Had he not learned enough now? Was there any further purpose in him staying with this group of hazards?

No, there isn't, he decided, rising from his chair and tossing the vegetable over the villa wall into the cavernous pit below. He went to the armory, stopping in front of the stand holding his paladin armor. "I think it's time I return to my sensei to continue my training. Ravenwood has taught me all that it can," he said to the villa. Stella, his Dark Sprite pet, awoke at the sound of his voice, fluttering over after a moment of grogginess to help him don the armor.

When he was all suited up, he went to his weapon racks to retrieve his sword when Brutus, his blood bat alarm system, began to screech.

"Shut up you stupid winged rat!" A familiar female voice crackled in response to the screeches. Kane groaned. "You know who I am!"

"He doesn't do that just because he doesn't know someone," Kane called out, knowing there was no escaping Alia's presence. "He does it because there is someone." Kane walked across a small rope bridge to his entry hall, folding his arms and leaning against the wall. "What do you want?"

"You look like you haven't slept in days," Alia commented, giving him an once-over. His eyes were bloodshot and baggy, and his skin notably paled. "Everything alright?"

"Why and whether I do or do not sleep is not your business," Kane snapped back harshly, before returning the once over, "especially since you're hardly one to criticize my sleep patterns, by the look of you." Alia had not prepped herself much beyond gathering her hair in a ponytail.

"Yeah, well that's because I've been healing Talon most of the week. Somebody broke several bones in his body," Alia snapped back, folding her arms. "He's doing well, by the way. Thanks for asking," she added sarcastically. Kane shrugged his shoulders nonchalantly, and Alia's hair crackled, but she forced herself to stay calm.

"That's not why I'm here, though," she continued in a more cordial tone, though it didn't seem to help her acquire his attention. "We need to talk."

"Get out."

"Excuse me?"

"Get. OUT." Kane repeated with a snarl. "I have no interest in conversation tonight. I've got more important things to do." Alia's hair crackled again.

"And this, THIS is precisely why I'm here!" She snapped, pointing at him. "This better-than-you, unfeeling attitude of yours has drained every ounce of my patience for the last month."

Kane rolled his eyes, turning away from her to walk back to his armory and retrieve his broadsword with the dark violet, fanged hilt. He had heard it all before, in the many fights they had over the course of their 'relationship', and usually it ended with bouncing bed-springs. But he had already decided that Alia was part of his problem, which he needed to distance himself from if he were to regain the control he once had over himself.

"I am finished dealing with you! I've given up! Clearly you prefer the company of my cold-hearted sister anyways!" Alia shouted, random small sparks of lightning arcing off her body to run up the sandstone walls. Oh, that last remark is new, Kane contemplated, turning to look at her briefly before inspecting his sword for nicks.

"I don't prefer anyone's company, Alia. I want nothing more than to be left alone, in fact."

"Well good, because we are over," Alia announced. Kane whipped around and shoved her against the wall, pressing his lips against hers as he'd done so many times before. At first Alia was stunned, but her mind collected itself quickly. Not this time, Darksword. This time I mean it. Alia forced her anger at Kane into a spark of energy, releasing it as a surge of electricity that coursed through her flesh and into his, sending him flying into the opposite wall.

"I told you we are over!" Alia howled, a storm cloud beginning to condense over her head.

"I heard you, woman," Kane replied coolly. "Just making sure you actually mean it this time."

"So… you don't care that I'm quitting you?"

"You were nothing but a good lay that kept coming back for more," Kane explained, rising to his feet and dusting off. "Beyond that, I can't stand you. You're like Talon, but with breasts. So please, give up on me. Leave me alone."

Alia frowned, not expecting the conversation to take this turn. "But… I thought… why did you?"

"I made the first move on you because I wanted a piece of that ass, why else? It was nothing more than that. It was you who decided to make a conquest out of it." Kane sheathed his blade at his waist. "Now if you'll excuse me, I have more important things to take care of." He walked past her, heading for the entrance to the cavern.

"What about Rowan?" Alia asked softly. Kane stopped and sighed, his shoulders heaving, but kept his back to her. When he finally answered, it was with an aloofness that was icier than Wintertusk's blizzards.

"Just another notch in the bedpost… nothing more."

"You are the worst man I have ever had the misfortune to have met," Alia growled, the storm cloud emitting sparks.

"It was my pleasure," Kane replied sarcastically over his shoulder before leaving the villa. Alia stood there for a while longer, unsure what to do now. She had just distanced herself from the man she had been pursuing ever since she had an interest in men, only to find out he'd been distancing himself from her the entire time.

"Well, I guess now I'll just have to find someone better," she reasoned to herself, folding her arms. But first, I should make sure Talon's okay.