Angelz: Well here it is! The next chapter. Thanks to Loony and Agony_Ecstacy and, of course, DarkRedRoses (I told you I would have this up by the time you woke up!) on the Rath and Ruins for encouraging me to finally get this chapter up and done ^^ *huggles* This is, in my opinion, a slower chapter plot wise but next chapter will finally give some answers and you'll know exactly What Bananach has done to Leslie...until then though, enjoy. Oh, and I'll have you all know it's 2:52am. That, my friends, is dedication.
Seth had left the Crow's Nest once Keenan had insisted they left, he'd parted ways with Aislinn and made his way back to the Dark Court.
Niall had been distracted, a small smile tugged at his lips as he occasionally glanced at Seth with a vacant look in his eyes.
"You look surprisingly happy." Niall's smile grew more pronounced.
"I suppose I am." With a motion of his hand Niall led Seth down the corridor and into his bedroom. He walked over to a large mahogany desk situated against the far corner of the room, opposite the bed. With careless grace he folded himself into a chair. He gestured to a sofa at the end of the bed. Seth sat down.
"How's Leslie?" Niall's contented look darkened. Seth winced and wished he hadn't been so blunt.
"Why that's any business of yours, I'll never know." A dry voice commented from a door that seemed to lead into a bathroom. Irial sauntered into the room wearing nothing but a crisp white towel wrapped around his waist. His hair was wet, dripping water onto the floor as he moved towards a wardrobe and opened it. He clucked his tongue and glanced over at Niall, who was watching him with a strangely attentive look that bordered on affectionate.
"Would it kill you to have some variation in your clothes? We all know that darker colours look good on you but why not branch out?" Niall didn't answer, he merely rolled his eyes and allowed Irial to pluck a shirt from the wardrobe and pull it over his head.
"Leslie's fine. Shaken from her meeting with Bananach but she's trying to put it behind her. I'm giving her some time to recover before probing into any lasting effects. It's no use trying to force an answer of what went on out of her." Irial gave a soft snort, something Niall either didn't hear or chose to ignore.
Seth nodded and made a note to tell Aislinn that Leslie was still fine. He hadn't told her about the encounter with Bananach, it wasn't his place to do so, but knowing Aislinn like he did he knew she would worry about her friend. Maybe he could soothe her with saying that Niall had reassured him of Leslie's well-being.
"Good," Seth hesitated for a few moments aware of Irial's warning glare, "and Bananach?"
"She's been strangely absent, not that I expect her to turn up twice in one day. Keep a look out for her and if you do find her; stay away." Seth nodded.
"If she approaches you make sure you don't back yourself into a corner. Watch the shadows around her, if they start to move then get out of her way. If worse comes to worse and she's trapped you then don't fight. Never fight with War, you'll always lose." Both Niall and Seth were surprised at Irial's advice; it had been no secret that he wasn't exactly keen on Seth.
Seth had left Niall an hour later once it became clear that the Dark King's mind was focused on things other than Seth. Irial being the main distraction. Seth had never seen Niall be so attentive towards the former king, every so often he would throw a look at him and in turn Irial would give a knowing smile causing Niall to glance away.
It was on his way to the loft, on his way to Aislinn, that things started to go downhill.
Bananach had stepped out of the shadows and blocked his path. She watched him silently for a few moments before allowing a smile to break out over her face.
"Dearthár." She drawled, swaying towards him. He didn't ask for a translation, he merely stood there waiting for her to make her move. Irial's warning flashed through his mind. If worse comes to worse and she's trapped you; don't fight.
Bananach frowned at his silence, clearly not happy with the reaction she was getting. He decided to indulge her.
"Bananach," he acknowledged. "What brings you here?" He made sure to keep from asking her what she wanted, if he did that then who knew what answer the War faerie would give?
"You." She said simply. "I've come to claim my reward."
"Reward for what?"
"I took you to Sorcha, my dearest sister. She in turn changed you so you may be with your beloved. I did not do that for free."
Unease shifted through Seth.
"I won't give you anything. I never agreed to give you anything in return." Bananach sighed and leaned slightly to the left, toward where Seth had come from.
"You do not have a choice in the matter, I have come for my reward and you shall give it to me." She began to close the gap between them and despite the warnings he'd received Seth found himself rapidly backing away from her. Bananach's eyes flared, her pupils dilating slightly as she anticipated a chase.
"You shall not run from me." She hissed.
Pain ripped through him. A force slammed into his mind, knocking him to the ground. He rolled onto his back quickly only barely managing to avoid Bananach's next blow that crashed down where his head was only moments earlier. He scrambled onto his feet and dove to his left, avoiding another blow.
That was where his luck ran out. Another hit made contact. This one sent him to ground, where he stayed as Bananach's hand shot out and ripped into his stomach.
"Why kill me?" He choked on each word but he needed to know.
"Now, who said I will kill you?"
The last thing Seth saw was plummeting shadows and dancing abyss people in her eyes.
He woke up, his head spinning. Numbly he stood, swaying slightly, and made his way to the Loft. He knew that the Dark Court was closer, that he stood a better chance of being healed quicker if he went to Niall but even in his hazy state he remembered the fond looks the dark king had given Irial and he didn't want to interrupt the growing forgiveness of the two.
I'm really too nice, he thought with weak smile.
The trip to the Loft seemed to take hours but finally he stumbled through the door. He saw Keenan and Aislinn, her hand softly cradling his face.
That can't be good.
"Aislinn?" She turned to face him, her expression caught between the beginnings of guilt and the relief of seeing him, it quickly turned to horror.
She's seen the blood.
"Should've listened to Irial." And with those words he was dead to the world.
"Leslie, love, come here a second." Irial motioned his queen over to him with a brief wave of his hand. She stood for a second, hand on hip, and stared at him. Her message was clear; 'I am not your servant, you come to me'. He gave her a sweet smile and with a roll of her eyes she walked over to the sofa he currently lounged on.
"You really are spoilt." She grumbled, taking at seat next to him.
"No, you merely haven't mastered the arrogance of a regent. Next time, command me." The wicked glint in his eye sent delicious shudders through her.
"I'll command you," she murmured leaning into him, "but why wait for next time?" Her hand trailed down his chest, popping the buttons of his shirt as she went and when she reached the end she grabbed a handful of the material and pulled him into her. His smile stayed in place.
The door burst open, the sound causing the couple on the sofa to start, they turned in unison to see Niall storm into the room. A snarl was set onto his face, his anger rolled through the room although neither of the occupants fed off of it; their attention was fixed on the cause of the anger.
"What's wrong?" Niall barely glanced at Leslie as he started to pace.
"Gabriel." He barked. The Hound appeared moments later, sending a quick wink to Leslie in greeting.
"My King?"
"Find Bananach. Now." Irial was beside him in seconds.
"Niall, speak to me." Niall continued to pace, ignoring him. On his third pass by Irial grabbed his arms, spinning him around to face him.
"Speak." He commanded.
"She's injured him. Bananach injured Seth, he's at the Loft with Aislinn and Keenan; unconscious. I want her here, now." Orders appeared on Gabriel's arms, he nodded and turned to leave the room but before he left he gave Irial a look. Irial nodded and he left.
"Calm down. He's alive, is he not?"
"He won't wake up."
"He's recovering."
"She hurt him." Niall snarled, "He's under my courts protection and she injured him."
"She's War, do you expect anything else?" Irial winced, realizing how unsympathetic he sounded. Niall's eyes blazed and Irial contemplated trying to calm him down but hadn't he been the one to tell Niall to embrace his emotions? Suddenly telling him to calm down would be too contradicting, even for the former king.
"He's alive." He repeated, "That's better than most can say after encountering Bananach's wrath." Niall sighed, letting out a long breath.
"I offered him protection, as my brother he shouldn't come under any harm from my court. Like it or not Bananach is part of that court and she should adhere to the rules set by me."
"Do you think bringing her here is wise?" Irial inclined his head slightly towards Leslie, who had taken up the whole sofa to lay on with her eyes closed, one hand hung lazily over the edge. He dropped his voice to a low murmur, "She's finally begun to return to her normal self, an encounter with Bananach might not be the best thing."
Niall watched Leslie, his gaze softening. Irial took advantage.
"Don't tempt fate, love. Keep her away from Leslie."
"Leslie can hear you, you know." Irial flashed another charming smile in her direction.
"Of course you can. Why do you think I only whispered?" She turned her head so he could see her quirked eyebrow.
"Because if you asked to talk to Niall in private, I would get suspicious?"
"Exactly. Whispering gave you the choice to ignore me or get to involved; now that you've decided to get involved I think it's time you told us what happened with you and Bananach. Before she gets here, would be nice."
Leslie shifted so she was sat up and looked between Niall and Irial. After a few thought out moments she began to speak.