Disclaimer: Roses are red, violets are blue, I'm not Libba Bray, and believe me that's true.

A/N: Eh, I find this chapter a bit boring. But if you like it, then hurrah! The next chapter will be more interesting, promise!

Note: The following chapter occurs in Rebel Angels, pages 205-209 (hardback).

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The new coachman. Her new coachman.

Oh yes, the Rakshana had secured employment for me indeed; as her new coachman!

I knew I was being unreasonable, and not to mention childish. I was extremely lucky to have a new job as a coachman; for it could have been far worse. But did it have to be her coachman?

Every time she would go out-every time-I would be degrading myself as her coachman. Every time she would go out I would have to tolerate the constant reminder that she was far above me in social status, and that I was nothing but a lowly messenger for the Rakshana. A coachman. A thief. A murderer…

But I was also a member of the noble Brotherhood of the Rakshana, I reminded myself. And someday I would have a powerful position in the Rakshana. Someday, I would be worthy enough. That is, if I completed my task…

I shuddered at the thought as I wiped the carriage clean with a dirty rag. I stopped to dip the filthy rag into a nearby bucket of water, all the while wondering how I was going to kill her. By sword, or by poison? Should I suffocate her, or drown her?

I had never killed anyone before in my life, and such thoughts made me nauseous. I continued my cleaning, pushing the disturbing thoughts from my mind. I would worry about that later…

I heard the sound of a clearing throat, and I sharply turned around to see who had made the sound. It was her. Speak of the devil…

Nevertheless I found my mood improving as I saw her. And I could feel my face form a grin, despite my mortifying encounter with her last time we met. And, regardless of my own feelings toward my new job, I was very curious as to how she would react to this new development.

"How do you do?" she said formally, and I assumed that she was using this tone because of the nearby groom. Who, incidentally, was watching us…I thought it best get rid of him.

"Good evening, miss," I said formally, almost teasingly. "Willie!"

Willie, the groom who was spying on us, answered me at once. "Yes, Mr. Kartik?"

"Be a good lad and stretch Ginger's legs, will you?"

He obeyed reluctantly, leading Ginger from the horse stable.

Once he was gone I asked "What do you think of my new suit?" I hoped she was impressed; I even had to oil my hair down, a rather messy and tedious business.

She ignored this, however, getting right to the point. "Don't you think it's rather bold of you to take a job as our coachman?"

It wasn't my fault; I wouldn't have chosen it as my new occupation. "I said that I would be close."

"So you did. How ever did you arrange it?"

So she assumes I arranged this. Think again. "The Rakshana have their ways." They also get their way. Or else.

There were a few minutes of an awkward silence between us. I was completely at a loss of what to say. She looked very beautiful, standing there in the moonlight, in her crimson dinner dress. She bit her lip, a habit I noticed she did when she was nervous.

"Well," she said uncomfortably.

"Well," I parroted.

"Here we are."

"Yes. It was good of you to come see me. You look well." You look more than that…

"I've brought your supper," she responded, offering me a plate of food.

"Thank you." I pulled out a stool for her and removed my book, The Odyssey, from it. "I suppose Emily isn't coming, then." It was the only thing I could think to say.

"Who is Emily?"

"The maid. She was to bring my dinner. She seems a most congenial girl." That much was true, but although Emily was kind, she was also rather talkative and tactless, character traits I could do without.

"And you have decided her character after knowing her but a day," she questioned stiffly. My ears perked up at this; was that a hint of jealousy I heard in her voice?

Don't be a fool, Kartik, I told myself. I was being immature. "Yes," I replied simply. She probably didn't want her maid associating with a thief such as myself.

"Have you any news about the Temple?" I inquired, absentmindedly peeling an orange Emily had given me.

"We visited a place today called the Forest of Lights. I met a creature called Philon. It did not know where to find the Temple, but it offered help."

"What sort of help?" This didn't sound so good…

"Weapons."

My blood went cold at this as I realized that the beast somehow knew that she might need them. Needless to say, this frightened me. "It felt you would need them?"

"Yes. Philon gave us magic arrows. I'm useless with them, but Feli-Miss Worthington is rather skilled. She-"

"What did it ask in return?" I asked sharply, cutting her off.

"A share of the magic when we find the Temple," she replied uneasily.

"You refused, of course." Please say yes...

She did not answer, however, and I threw my orange onto my plate, disgusted. Of course she did, the dignified, stuck-up little…

The Rakshana would not be pleased with this. "You made an alliance with the creatures from the realms?" Does this girl ever listen? I told her not to trust anything

"I didn't say that!" she snapped. "If I'm not doing this to your liking, why don't you go?"

"You know we cannot enter the realms."

"So then I suppose you will have to trust that I am doing all I can," she sniffed.

I do. "I trust you."

She didn't answer, but only gave me a surprised glance. I could hear the creatures of the night around us, insects, frogs, and even an owl or two. But despite these noises the silence once again between her and I was deafening.

"Did you know that the Rakshana and the Order were once lovers?" she asked suddenly.

"No, I didn't," I said, genuinely surprised. "How…interesting." I wasn't sure of what to make of this.

"Yes. It is."

I offered her a piece of my orange, and she accepted, mumbling a thank you and placing it on her tongue.

"You're welcome," I replied, smiling as I saw her lips pucker around the orange. I sat silent for a moment, and my thoughts wandered over to Amar. I often wondered if she had ever seen Amar there, if he'd crossed over or not. But I was hesitant to ask her, for I found myself afraid that I might be showing weakness. Nevertheless, I had to know. I took a deep breath and began my question. "Do you ever…" I trailed off, suddenly afraid of the answer.

"What?"

What if he was still there, and had become one of the wicked spirits that now plagued the realms? She stared at me, waiting for an answer. I have to know…

"I wondered if you have ever seen Amar there in the realms?" I held my breath, waiting.

"No, I've never seen him."

I exhaled with relief. He was alright…"He must have already crossed over then, don't you think?"

"Yes, I suppose so."

I was suddenly curious as I contemplated the realms and their mysterious ways, and, swept up in my bravery, I asked, "What are the realms like?"

She stared at the ground, her eyes suddenly glazed over, and she seemed to consider the question carefully before answering. "Some of it is beautiful. So beautiful you don't ever want to leave it. In the garden, you can turn stones to butterflies or have a gown of silver thread that sings or…or whatever you wish."

I smiled. Whatever I wished…

I watched her as she looked off into the distance; her golden red curls gently sweeping about her face as the wind breezed by, her eyes still alight with the excitement she seemed to have when she talked about the realms.

"Go on," I said.

"There is a ship," she continued. "Like a Viking vessel, with a gorgon's head attached. She took us through a wall of golden water that left sparkles of gold all over our skin."

"Like the gold in you hair?" I blurted unthinkingly. I felt my face flush and I cursed myself for blurting out such ridiculous things.

"Much finer," she said, blushing slightly. "There are some parts that are not as nice. Strange creatures-horrid things. I suppose that's why I must bind the magic, so that they cannot wield it."

"Yes," I said, my heart sinking. "I suppose so." I was once again reminded of what I was to do once she had bound the magic. If only there was a way for her to hide…

Comprehension hit me as I realized: the Rakshana could not enter the realms! That meant that I, Kartik, member of the Rakshana, could not go after her and murder her if she stayed there, in the realms! "Miss Doyle?"

"Yes?"

"Do you think-that is, what if you were to stay there, in the realms once you'd found the Temple?"

"What do you mean?" she questioned, her eyebrows furrowing.

I rubbed the orange juice off my fingers, stalling. What was I going to tell her?

"It seems like a very fine place to hide."

"That's an odd thing to say," she said, casting me a strange look.

Fool. "I meant live," I said quickly, trying to cover up my slip-up. "A fine place to live, don't you think?" My tongue was betraying me mercilessly tonight.

The yellow light of a lantern invaded the darkness and I looked up to see Emily, her expression incredulous. "Beggin' your pardon, miss. I forgot to bring Mr. Kartik his coffee."

"I was just leaving," she said, jumping to her feet as if something had burned her. "Thank you for that, um, most, most informative, ah, instruction in…in…"

"Carriage safety?" I suggested.

"Yes. One cannot be too careful about such things. Good night to you."

"Good night."

She turned and strode toward the house, leaving me with Emily. Blast, I hope she didn't hear anything…

"Good evening," I told her weakly.

Emily giggled girlishly as she sat down on the stool, previously occupied by her.

"Er, how are you?" I asked uncomfortably.

She giggled harder.

I sighed. "Doing well, I see."

She stopped laughing, by way of stuffing her fist into her mouth.

"I am sorry, Mr. Kartik" she said breathlessly. "I had just…just heard something rather amusing earlier. How are you?"

"I am well," I replied.

"That's wonderful," Emily said, beaming at me.

"Yes, it is."

Emily giggled at this, and I had the peculiar feeling that I was being laughed at.

She offered me a cup of bitter coffee, laughing all the while. I accepted and asked her about her day, immediately regretting my decision moments later.

I sighed as Emily droned on about her daily routine. It would be a long night.

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A/N: Of course I just had to make Emily a giggling idiot. Sorry if you like her, she's a bimbo now!

Anyway, back to business: review, review, review!