Ok, so I'm going to update anyways :-) This chapter was kind of hard to write so I'm sorry if it is a bit confusing... I tried! I will do my best to post the next chapter asap so you don't have to wait too long for it... I always hated to wait for anything :-P Last but not least... thanks to my reviewer for the support once again! Enough of me...enjoy!

landis icelilly

Discl: Read discl. from previous chapters.

Amalia allowed Vossler to continue pulling her out onto the crowded floor until he found a decent clearing for them. Once he found a spot, he stopped and continued to pull her forward as her body whipped around into reference in front of him. He smiled at her as he positioned himself and placed his hands in their correct placements, one hand in hers and the other one on her hip. She returned his smile with an even greater one; she saw that he had remembered their late night training escapades when she was seventeen and duplicated his previous action by placing herself in the proper stance.

A new melody sounded from the musicians and Vossler took the initiative and began to move her in exact rhythm with the fast beat. Amalia knew the dance well and fell into perfect step alongside Vossler's movements. Slightly shocked at his recollection of the dance, she questioned him, "I didn't think that you had remembered. Have you been practicing?"

Vossler let out a small laugh and replied," No sadly… I don't have anyone to practice with now. Plus how could I ever forget the countless nights that you would come down and barge into my chambers demanding that I come and be your dancing puppet for the next three hours."

"Hey, I never barged into your chambers! I was just saving you the trouble of having to answer the door," Amalia grinned innocently at him.

"Oh, so that's your excuse."

"No, my excuse was that you were the only one that would put up with me and my silly spur of the moments," she stated back as they continued to move in complete unison, executing the dance flawlessly.

They reached the part in the dance steps that required Vossler to hold her hand up above her head while she twirled and then take it back down to cause her to spin outward and then inward as she curled into his arm which pulled her tightly into his body with her backside against him. He tilted his head down near her ear as if to whisper something to her.

"I never minded putting up with you as you'd call it, I rather enjoyed the change in routine," he assured her in a hushed tone, as he continued to lower his lips closer to her ear.

"You were just an added bonus," he added as his breath tickled her ear and sent a shiver up her spine. His actions had caught her off guard and made her wonder as to why he was acting in such a manner towards her. As a matter of fact, she didn't even know why she herself, had reacted in such a way. She mentally then concluded that it was probably due to the massive quantities of alcohol and liquor that they both had been supplying themselves throughout the evening. She then suddenly remembered the next piece to the dance as the muscians played on and decided to give him a little rouse of her own to get him back for his current tease.

'Two can play at this game!' she thought to herself as a smirk adorned her facial features.

"Is that how you saw it?" she questioned as she moved back into position with her back pressed against his front side in preparation for her next move.

Meanwhile all the dancing couples that had been previously around them had slowly moved off onto either side of the floor to give the two dancers their needed space to execute their, unknown to them, performance that they were displaying. Everyone had stood and watched in awe at how fluid and synchronized their movements were with each other as they never missed a beat.

By now Vice had been rejoined by his three extremely inebriated friends at the bar and they had all been viewing the display that was playing out in front of them. He had noticed how his own Captain had been inching Amalia in to him closer and closer as the dance continued on until finally they reached the part in the dance where she had her backside pressed up against his torso. Vice had also caught the small gesture that Vossler had made when he was holding her up close to him after their series of spins that consisted within the dance. Anger started to rise up into his blood as the many ounces of ale and liquor only gave fuel to what was sure to come later if the two should ever meet again tonight.

"Hey Vice, isn't that Captain Azelas with Amalia out there?" one of his friends questioned as they looked out onto the floor.

Gripping the shot glass tighter, Vice answered," Yes, why you want to know?"

"Well wasn't it supposed to be the plan that you get the girl? Not him?"

But just before Vice could answer, Vossler looked up and as he made eye contact with him, he gave Vice a cocky grin in an effort to discourage him from trying any future moves on Amalia.

"That was how the plan was supposed to work, but it don't seem like that now, does it?" Vice shot back through gritted teeth. He continued to watch the two intermingle as they suddenly came upon a new part of the dance. With her back still tightly pressed to Vossler's front, she placed a hand on each of his upper thighs and seductively slid herself down his abdomen and pelvic areas with a slight swaying motion, making sure that when she came back up, it was as agonizingly slow as possible. As she came back up, she slid one of her hands higher up his thigh to lightly graze by his sudden tightness in his pants, which caused a barely sharp and audible inhale to escape Vossler's mouth.

'Damn her... what was that for?!' he thought as he quickly tried to recompose himself before she noticed his slight faulter.

She then returned to her stance prior with an evil smirk adorning her lips and they then began the final phase to end the quite saucy dance that they had displayed.

Vice, once again, caught Vossler staring straight at him but only this time he wore an unreadable expression and that same arrogant smirk he had worn earlier. Finally, something snapped inside of Vice and his rage began to flow free through his body. He turned fully around to face the bar and grabbed the bottle that they had been emptying; now only a fourth of its contents remained, and poured himself another shot. His three friends sat there in curiosity and observed him as he quickly gulped down the liquid and continued this for three more glassfuls until the bottle of spirits was completely consumed. Almost slamming the shot glass onto the bar top he turned back around as he heard the music start to draw to a close and caught sight of Amalia and Vossler as they brought the performance to a close. The final measure was carried out by Amalia being spun into Vossler's embrace which caused them to have there noses barely an inch apart from each other and then he leaned her backwards over his arm that held her securely at the waist. As he had continued this action, his lips had ever so lightly skimmed down her lips to her chin and then down to the lower region of her neck where they finally stopped and she could feel the hot sensation on her skin as he breathed her in.

After witnessing his Captain practically pawing all over the woman that in the beginning he had had his eyes set on, Vice quickly stood up from the bar stool and felt the sudden rush that surged through his entire body from his anger and the alcohol that was catching up to him. Turning to his buddies he had a sudden idea that entered his head that could possibly bring or, more likely, force Amalia back to him.

"Hey you guys, I've got an idea that I want to try. I'm going to need you three to help me though," Vice started knowing that his plan that he was going to try and play out was a bit insane and most likely would cause some trouble. But he didn't really care, all he knew was that he was out for revenge now, which was brought on by the sight of her with Vossler and the extreme amounts of alcohol that was coursing through his veins right now.

"Sure Vice, what you got in mind?"

"Well I'm going to need one of you to act like you don't know where I am and somehow convince her that I might be out in the back alleyway sick or something to that matter. Then suggest to her that maybe she should go and check on me to see if I'm alright or not. Then I will take it over from there… alright?"

"Alright," they replied at the same time.

"Got it?"

The three of them all shook their head and answered, "Got it!"

"Great, I'll be out back then. Later," Vice said as he walked away from the bar slightly swaying back and forth as he walked and headed toward the back entrance that lead out into the dark alleyway behind the tavern.

The music finally faded into another melody that was much slower than the previous one and the taverns people all began to clap and cheer loudly as their phantom performance was over. Amalia jumped at the sudden loud uproar, as she had not noticed the crowd that had formed around them, and realized the position that they were in. She quickly became aware of the growing heat that was blowing on her neck and looked down best she could to find Vossler's lips lingering there. She immediately pulled herself out of his grasp and walked away from him and toward the bar that they had been at earlier.

Standing straight again, Vossler watched her walk away from him and toward what looked like to be some of Vice's friends with curiosity and confusion. He honestly didn't know what he had done wrong to upset her and had quietly decided to take off after her to find out.

"Amalia," he called out to her as he trotted closer.

She didn't hear him.

"Amalia!" he called once more but this time she surprised him when she stopped suddenly and luckily he was able to halt his movement just in time or he would have collided into her and knocked her down to the floor with his momentum.

"What do you want Vossler?" she asked coldly, which confused him even more.

He tried to look her in the eyes but she kept her gaze focused to the floor to avoid his eyes. He didn't understand why her sudden change in attitude and placed his hands comfortingly onto each of her upper arms and said gently, "Look at me, please."

Her pained eyes remained glued to the floor and he could feel the slightest trembling sensation being emitted from her body, which caught him off guard.

"Amalia, Look at me!" he demanded this time and she finally fulfilled his request by looking him straight in the eyes. Vossler was taken aback by all the emotion that he could see in her eyes yet her face prevailed no emotion at all.

"What is wrong? Did I do something to upset you?" he questioned as his eyes continued to search hers for some sign of anything to clue him in to what she was feeling at the moment.

Assuredly Amalia let a small smile grace her lips, thought it was forced, and she replied with a slightly shaky voice, "Nothing is wrong…I was just feeling a bit dizzy that's all. It wasn't you." She lied but thankfully he couldn't tell that she had. He just gave her a confused glance and had started to open is mouth to say something but quickly thought against it, closing it in defeat knowing that something bigger was plaguing her thoughts.

"I think I'm going to retire for the night," she added

"I will escort you back to the barracks," Vossler asserted.

"No that will not be necessary, I can handle it myself," she retorted back making him remember their earlier altercation on the subject.

"But—" he tried to protest but was stopped short.

"I said that I can manage for myself, thank you!" she shot back heatedly

Letting a long sigh escape his mouth, he replied, "Yes, very well then. I will see you in the next training session tomorrow. Goodnight Amalia."

"Yes. Goodnight Vossler," she nodded and started to walk away from him when he quickly tightened his grip on her upper arms, forcing her to look back at him annoyed.

"Please, do be careful," he pleaded with her as he slackened his grasp on her arms and she pulled away, leaving him to stand alone in the sea of people crowding the main level.

"Don't worry about me," she huffed as she advanced her way toward the entrance of the tavern. But just before she could reach the thick wooded doors that lead out into the streets of Rabanastre, she was roughly grabbed by the arm and yanked around to find that the three jokers that Vice called his friends staggered before her.

Mildly annoyed she forcefully tried to pull her arm out of his handhold but was unsuccessful and settled for staring daggers at the man that held on to her tightly causing further damage to the already bruised joint.

"Unhand me!" she demanded.

"Are you leaving already?" they questioned her, ignoring her previous request.

"What's it to you?"

"Nothing, Vice just wanted to talk to you."

Suddenly the look on her face turned from one of annoyance to one of pure shock at realizing she had totally forgotten him since Vossler had asked her to dance and she had left him behind at the bar top.

"You should at least tell him goodbye before you leave."

"Yes I should," she reasoned as she finally was able to free her arm from its human cuff, "where is he at?"

"Well he went out back into the alleyway to get some air."

She gave them a look of confusion, "The alleyway?"

"Yeah, said that he wasn't feeling so hot but if you were looking for him he wanted us to tell you where to find him," he offered as he pointed in the direction of the back doorway.

"Alright then," she said as she trudged in the direction of the back door.

Upon reaching the back corridor she started to feel the dizzying effects of the earlier drinks that she had consumed fairly quickly that night. Thinking that she shouldn't of had those last three shots, she heaved the heavy wooden postern open and noticed that her vision was becoming slightly fuzzy, but not enough to where it hindered her sight.

Amalia slowly eased her way out into the quiet darkened alleyway and was startled when she heard the back door slam shut behind her. Feeling slightly nervous she turned around and tried to push the locked door open with no success.

"Damn," she muttered to herself.

"For such a pretty lady, you have such a dirty little mouth," a familiar male voice cockily replied as he sounded like he was smirking.

"Excuse me?" she questioned quite anxiously.

"I said that for such a beautiful woman you have—"

"I understood that part… wait… Vice is that you?" she asked timidly.

She tried to scan the darkness for her unseen guest but her eyes still had yet to adjust to the lack of light. She was then suddenly overwhelmed when a cold hand began to slowly slide its way across her back. She let out a short yelp and quickly pulled herself free, away from the intruding appendage. With haste she turned a one-eighty in the direction of which her backside had been facing and found herself almost face to face with a not so happy looking Vice. She was caught off guard by his closeness and she jumped which caused her back to collide with the cool wooden door that she had found to be currently locked.

She let out a sigh of relief, "Vice! I'm glad its only you." Then her attitude quickly morphed into mild anger and she agitatedly crossed her arms. " Don't scare me like that again!" she huffed at him.

"Sorry Amalia," he replied as he hung his head in mock apology which she could just barely make out in the dark as her eyes slowly adjusted.

"No you're not! I can read you like a book and that little gesture was of pure sarcasm."

" Oh was it then?" he pushed as he took one of his cold and clammy hands and grasped her wrist rather tightly causing her to cringe just barely from the heat of pain. She shivered at his cold touch and allowed him to gently pull her closer to him until her body was brushing up against his quite muscular one.

"Vice—" she tried to say in a warning tone but was interrupted by him as he slid is free hand around the side of her hip to the exposed skin on the small of her back where he tried to encourage her to move in closer to him.

"If you say that you can read me like a book then please my dear, tell me what I plan to do next," he challenged as his breaths became shallow and he started to lean in closer to her lips.

"Vice stop this!" she demanded this time.

Not wanting any of this to go on further she quickly turned her head so that her cheek made contact with his lips instead of her own and she hurriedly tried to distance herself from him with no success. His grip around her wrist tightened fiercely sending daggers of pain shooting up her arm as her wrist let out a sickening 'crack' sound from his assault. Her eyes shot up to meet his with fury and she furiously demanded in a low menacing tone, "Let…me…go…NOW!"

He returned her stare with a much more menacing one than her own which in turn unnerved her slightly but she refused to let him see it. She continued to hold up her facade of fury so that he couldn't see the true fear that was starting to surface in the back of her mind.

"Now why should I do that?" he calmly stated but with malice in his voice now. Somewhere along the lines of this planned meeting, something had gone wrong and now it was just going from bad to worse. He mentally tried to reason with himself as his anger continued to escalate but because of the extremely strong intoxicants that he had ingested earlier and the thought of her being with Vossler, his mental battle was lost and all hope for being reasonable was out of his mind's eye.

With his grip still locked tight on her wrist he forcefully drug her to a more secluded area of the alleyway that happened to be a dead end. She tried hard to free herself from his clutches but with no such luck.

"Let me go Vice!" she screamed but was instantly answered by Vice assertively throwing her hard up against the brick wall causing the back of her head and her back to hit the wall with an explosion of sharp pain surging through her body. She tried to squirm as he forced his body on top of her trying hard to still her as she was 'much stronger than the average woman' he thought to himself. In a last ditch effort to try and escape she took her free hand and brought it hard across the right side of his jaw, hearing a satisfied 'crack' sounding from the impact. And once again she continued to try and wriggle herself free in hope of an escape.

So what ya think? Sorry that this chapter was a bit on the short side... the next one should make up for it! Please take the extra time to leave me a review :-)