Disclaimer: If I owned Rebel Angels, don't you think I would be doing something a tad bit more constructive then writing fanfiction? Like, maybe, writing the third book?

A/N: Well here it is! The second installment of Divine Torment! Just a small warning; I have no idea how good or bad I am at romance. In my opinion, this chapter is extremely cheesy, and it makes me gag. But it also makes me laugh. Kartik makes me laugh. I made him very dramatic (and incredibly horny), so you could call him OOC if you want. I know I read between the lines a bit more than usual, but that was just to add to the story, so it wouldn't be so boring. And that's why I like it, despite its corniness. So review and tell me what you think! Now, onto the story!

Note: The following chapter occurs in Rebel Angels, pages 108-115 (hardback).

oOoOoOo

I examined my surroundings, careful not to disturb anything. Her room was just as I had remembered it; dank, small, and crowded. It mirrored the very icon of a girl's boarding room. It was boring and mediocre, and I couldn't help but think that she would have deserved a room much better than her current accommodations. It seemed too ordinary for her.

I shook my head, clearing my mind of such pitiable thoughts. I was being childish. Childish. Was that the right word? Is there a word to describe such behavior as scaling a wall, forcing the lock of a window open, and then standing in the middle of a lady's room with no apparent reason for being there?

What was I being? Foolish? Delusional? …Lovesick?

No, I convinced myself firmly. Of course not.

I sat down on her bed, my lungs inhaling a strange scent wafting from her sheets. Was it jasmine? It smelled heavenly.

I shook my head again, this time harder. Stop.

I focused my thoughts instead on why I had come here. Was it to see her? Was I thirsting for human company so badly that I would steal into a girl's dormitory during the night? Pathetic.

Maybe that was it, I decided. I debated, weighing my options; go or stay? Well, I mused wearily. Since I'm here, I might as well make the most out of it. I would wait for her to come, ask her about the realms, and be on my way. No harm done, no suspicions to be had. But where to wait?

I gazed around the room, searching for a satisfactory place to hide myself until she came. I spotted her dressing screen and I quickly concealed myself behind it, settling into a comfortable position. I thought I might be there a while.

As it turned out I was right; one minute turned into fifteen minutes, and fifteen minutes turned into an hour. And still, she had not retired to her quarters. Where could she be?

I felt my eyes drooping dangerously as the night wore on. Had it been another ten minutes, or another hour? I was too tired to tell. I found myself immensely comfortable, even on the hard floor. Compared to the cold and prickly grounds that were the floors of the forest, the floor behind her dressing screen was incredibly cozy. The smell of jasmine wafted across my hiding place, soothing me. And before I knew it, I had drifted off to a deep sleep…

oOoOoOo

I woke up to the sound of rustling fabric. I stirred, my eyes still shut tight. I was reluctant to awake from my peaceful sleep and my angelic dreams. But a second later I realized where I was, and my eyes snapped open. She was here. I could hear her.

The rustling sound continued and I wondered if I should reveal myself or not. A few minutes of dazed pondering led me to the conception that she might be getting dressed, and I should either announce my presence or peek around the dressing screen and see if it was safe.

My better judgment told me to announce myself, but the small, manipulating part of my mind advised me to have a look and see she was doing. I knew I shouldn't, that it was stupid thing to do. What if she was…naked? No, I told myself firmly. I won't look. I will not look.

I opened my mouth, preparing to announce my incidental presence, but something stopped me. I was in a girl's room, and I wondered; what did girls do in their rooms? I would never admit it to anyone, but I had little experience with females. I was curious, and the temptation to steal a look was just too great.

I slowly sat up and inched toward the edge of the screen. And, bringing my face as close as possible to the edge, I peeked around, making sure that only the top of my head and my eyes were revealed. An entrancing sight met my eyes, and I could feel my heartbeat quicken.

She was taking off her boots, her fingers fumbling slightly from either excitement or fear, neither of which made much sense to me. She quickly slipped her feet out of her stockings, exposing pale, delicate ankles. She removed her dress slowly, and I would have believed she was teasing me were it not for the fact that she didn't know I was there. Her corset went off next, leaving only her chemise, and the sight of her nearly sent my head reeling.

Her slender body showed off attractive curves that her uniform had been hiding, and I found myself staring. Captivated, I watched her as she sat down and took her hair out of her bun, her angelic red curls rolling down her back. I ached to touch her hair; to feel its lustrous tresses and test the softness I was so sure it held. I would have felt like a dissolute dog, staring at her like that, but my adrenaline was rushing too fast for me to think clearly.

She sat and stared at her reflection, frowning slightly. What she was thinking about? She began to brush her coppery locks and arrange them across her shoulders, leaving me uncertain as to her intents.

Squinting her eyes at her reflection, she parted her lips slightly and I realized, with growing interest, that she was testing her expressions. Relaxing her face slightly, I noticed that she was giving rather suggestive glances at the mirror. She stopped, gingerly pushing down her shoulder straps, baring smooth, pale shoulders. She then shook her hair, making it look wild and feral. I felt the blood rush to my face, and it suddenly felt very warm in the room.

"Excuse me," she said to her reflection. I jumped slightly; alarmed that she might see me. But then she continued, unperturbed, and I realized with amusement that she was talking to herself, practicing perhaps. "I don't believe we've met. I am…"

Extraordinary.

She pinched her cheeks distractedly and adopted a new, very different voice.

"Who is it that roams my woods so freely?" she snarled, her small nose wrinkling. "Speak your name. Speak!"

Before I could stop myself, I cleared my throat, attempting to reply. "It is I," I whispered, for I had not fully gained my voice. "Kartik."

She yelped unexpectedly and leaped from her dressing table, tripping on it in the process. As she fell she lashed out her arm and grabbed her chair for support, but instead brought it down with her as she fell to the ground.

I would have vanished into a puff of smoke if I had the ability. My face reddened with embarrassment as I stepped away from the dressing screen, holding out my hands.

"Please," I croaked. "Don't scream." Idiot. Moron. Dolt.

"How dare you!" she gasped, running to her cupboard.

I couldn't bring myself to look her in the eyes, and instead I settled for my tattered shoes. "I…it wasn't my intention, I assure you. I was there, but I dozed off, and then…are you presentable?" I felt as if I could slap myself then and there, what a fool I had been. What a complete and utter fool. But I did not slap myself, seeing as it would have looked a bit strange. I continued to stare at the floor, my cheeks feeling hotter by the second.

I heard her fumbling with her robe as she answered. "Perhaps you do not know, but it is unforgivable to hide in a lady's room," she fumed. "And not to announce yourself whilst she is dressing…unforgivable." Her words were harshly truthful, and I flinched.

I looked up. "I am sorry." Pathetic. Is that all I could say?

"Unforgivable," she repeated, her expression murderous.

"Should I go and come back?"

"As you are already here, you may as well stay," she huffed. "What is it that is so urgent it requires you to scale a wall and hide behind my dressing screen?"

What on Earth was I going to tell her now? That I just wanted to see her? That I just wanted to stop by and say a quick hello? I needed an excuse fast, and I thought of the first thing that came to mind.

"Did you enter the realms?" I blurted, attempting to change the subject with out being completely obvious. My ludicrous endeavor had worked, however, because she nodded.

"Yes. But nothing seemed amiss. It was as beautiful as before." She trailed off, her expression pensive. Her eyebrows furrowed as she seemed to be deep in thought.

"What is it?" I asked curiously.

"Nothing," she said dismissively, awakening from her trance. "We have asked someone there to help us. A guide, of sorts."

I shook my head. She shouldn't trust anyone there. Didn't she hear my warning earlier? "That is not wise! I told you, nothing and no one that comes within the realms can be trusted just now."

"This is someone we can trust," she insisted stubbornly.

"How do you know?"

"It's Pippa." Her voice sounded so small, and I suddenly realized she was talking about her friend, the one who had died.

"Miss Cross?" I exclaimed. "But I thought she was…" Dead. I didn't want to say this out loud, not only because it would be somewhat rude, but because her face darkened. I could see pain and guilt in her eyes, and I knew she must be missing her friend.

"Yes," she replied quietly. "So did I. But I saw her last night. She doesn't know about the Temple, but she's going to help us find it."

I stared at her. This friend of hers was not trustworthy! Why didn't she cross over? "But if she doesn't cross over, she'll become corrupted."

"She says that isn't the case."

"You cannot trust her," I argued. "She could already be corrupted." She could hurt you.

"There's nothing strange about her at all," she protested, her face flushing angrily. "She's just as…"

"She's just as what?"

"She is the same Pippa," she whispered. "And she knows more about the realms than we do at this point. She can help us. It's more that you've given me to go on."

I paced agitatedly. She wasn't going to let go of her friend, dead or not. So stubborn…

"All right," I said, rubbing my chin. "Proceed carefully. But I don't like this. The Rakshana expressly warned-"

"The Rakshana have not been there, so how can they possibly know what is to be trusted?" she snapped, cutting me off. "I know nothing about your brotherhood. Why should I trust them? Why should I trust you? Honestly, you sneak into my room and hide behind my dressing screen. You follow me about. You're constantly barking orders at me: Close your mind! No, dreadfully sorry-open your mind! Help us find the Temple! Bind the magic!"

I looked at her, her red hair so mused and wild it almost seemed to be crackling from her anger. Her words were severe, yet they were somewhat accurate. Doubt about the Rakshana seeped into my mind and I quickly brushed it off. She was wrong. Of course she was wrong. She was one of them, one of the Order. Manipulative witches who bent humanity to their will using their magic. She was wrong.

"I only told you what I know," I replied defensively.

"Then you don't know very much, do you?" she countered, her hair crackling once again. It reminded me of a blazing fire.

"I know my brother was Rakshana. I know that he died trying to protect your mother, and that she died trying to protect you."

As soon as these words left my mouth I wished I had not spoken. She hugged herself protectively and I saw pain flit across her features. The fire was out, reduced to smoldering ash. I had mentioned her mother, her dead mother. Why had I said it? It was true, yes, but nevertheless heartless and cruel. She was missing her mother. She was missing her friend. I, however, was missing my brother. We were joined by this, in a strange sort of way.

"Don't," she muttered menacingly, her voice surprisingly strong.

"Don't what?"

"Don't change the subject. I think I shall give the orders for a while. You want me to find the Temple. I want something from you."

"Are you blackmailing me?" I asked, incredulous.

"You can call it what you like. But I won't tell you anything further until you answer my questions."

She sat on the bed closest to her and I followed suit, glaring at her defiantly. She had the nerve to blackmail me!

"Ask."

"I'll ask when I'm ready," she sneered.

"Very well, don't ask," I snapped, standing up.

"Tell me about the Rakshana!"

I sighed. "The Brotherhood of the Rakshana has existed for as long as the Order. They rose in the East but were joined by others along the way. Charlemagne was Rakshana, as were many of the Knights Templar. They were the guardians of the realms and its borders, sworn to protect the Order. Their emblem is the sword and the skull." This had been pounded into my brain for as long as I could remember. The Rakshana ensured that every single member of the Rakshana had the Rakshana's origin and description memorized and understood.

"That was serviceable," she said, grudgingly.

"But informative," I added, holding up a finger.

"How did you come to be part of the Rakshana?"

"I have always been with them," I said, shrugging.

"Not always, surely. You must have had a mother and a father."

"Yes. But I never really knew them. I left them when I was six." I couldn't say it didn't hurt to say this. Even though I could barely remember either of my parents, I did recall how much I had missed them. But even though I never had a mother and father to care for me, I had Amar. But not anymore.

"Oh," she said, shock visible on her features. "I am sorry."

I avoided her eyes, thinking of Amar. "There is nothing to be sorry for. It was understood that I would be trained for the Rakshana, like my brother, Amar, before me. It was a great honor for my family. I was taken into the fold and schooled in mathematics, languages, weapons, fighting. And cricket," I added, feeling my lips form a smile. "I'm quite good at cricket."

"What else?"

It felt good to tell her these things. I didn't know why, but it felt good to have someone listen, instead of being the listener, or, in my case, the abider. "I was taught how to survive in the woods. How to track things. Thievery."

She raised her eyebrows, and I explained.

"Whatever it takes to survive. One never knows when picking a man's pocket will buy a day's food or create a distraction at just the right moment."

"Didn't you miss your family terribly?" she asked softly.

"In the beginning, I looked for my mother on every street, in every market, always hoping I would see her," I whispered, my voice strangely quiet. "But I had Amar at least."

"How terrible. You had no say in it." She was pitying me. I didn't want that.

"It was my fate. I accept it. The Rakshana have been very good to me. I have trained for an elite brotherhood. What would I have done in India? Herded cows? Gone hungry? Lived in the shadow of the English, forced to smile while serving their food or grooming their horses?"

"I didn't mean to upset you…." She mumbled, her voice small. I realized my voice had had almost rose to a shout as I was speaking, trying to convince not only her, but myself, that I was not pitiable.

"You didn't upset me," I assured her quickly. "I don't think you understand how great an honor it is to be chosen for the brotherhood. Soon, I will be ready to advance to the last level of my training."

"What happens then?" she questioned curiously, cocking her head to the side. It was…endearing.

I smiled at this, I couldn't help it. "I don't know. You must swear an oath of allegiance for life. Then you are shown the eternal mysteries. No one ever speaks of it. But first, you must complete a challenge set before you, to prove your worthiness."

"What is your challenge?"

Fear gripped my heart as I understood what my challenge was. I had to kill her. In order to prove I was worthy enough for the Rakshana, I had to kill her. Could I do that? "To find the Temple," I lied.

"Your fate is joined to mine," she whispered.

I was astonished as the words left her mouth; for they were exactly the same words that she had been telling me in my dreams. "Yes," I muttered. "So it would seem."

I studied her as she stood there, her long copper hair swaying as she moved, almost in a spellbinding manner. Her bright green eyes, surrounded by thick, long lashes, never seemed more alive to me. She seemed to feel my eyes on her, for she crossed her arms protectively over her robe. I could have chuckled at this, but it might give the impression that I was a bit off, laughing at nothing.

"You should go now."

"Yes. I should," I agreed hastily, leaping up from the bed. Fool. Shouldn't have stared at her. "May I ask you a question?"

"Yes."

"Do you often talk to your mirror?" I asked slyly. "Is that something young ladies do?" I couldn't resist.

"No. Of course not," she said, her face reddening. "I was rehearsing. For a play. I-I am to perform in a chorus."

That was one of the worst lies I have ever heard. "That will certainly be a most interesting exhibition," I said, shaking my head, amused.

"I have a rather long day of traveling tomorrow and must bid you good night," she said hurriedly, still blushing slightly. "Oh, how will I contact you should I find the Temple?"

"The Rakshana have secured employment for me in London over the holiday. Somewhere close. I'll be in touch."

I turned around, unlatching the window and climbing out. The rope was easy to climb, even in the dark, and I found my way back to the forest without difficulty.

I sat on a nearby log soon once I had found my camp, poking the fire absentmindedly. What I had experienced in that small room was still drifting around my mind, poisoning my thoughts. The images of her; her wild, red golden hair, her intense, green eyes, her bare shoulders…

I knew my dreams would run rampant tonight.

I prodded the fire some more; making sure it was still burning. The flames licked the stick I was using, almost teasingly, burning the bark mercilessly.

I sighed and dropped the stick into the fire; retiring to the nest of leaves I called my bed. I closed my eyes, and visions of wild red hair and pale, smooth skin clouded my mind as I slowly drifted off into a restless sleep.

oOoOoOo

A/N: Yes folks, Kartik is indeed a regular teenage boy: extremely horny and incredibly stupid.

Just kidding Boys!

Until next time…