Okay, here's where we find out what actually happened. Enjoy!

Chapter 12: Hidden Danger in the Midst

Lyn woke up groggily. Last night had been a blur. Slowly, memories started to flow back in. She didn't remember what happened after Mark started to advance on her but he wouldn't do anything bad. Would he?

Add to that, her clothes were slightly ruffled. Lyn started to freak out. No, no, Mark was honorable. He would never take advantage of a woman, especially if she was unconscious. He would take her to a bed of some sort, make sure that she is comfortable, and then wander off to do whatever he does until she awakens.

But then again… Mark has been acting weird lately. Perhaps being an incubus changed him. After all, he can barely control his bloodlust, how is he supposed to control his lust.

Lyn was pondering these thoughts throughout the whole day. The entire camp was noticing something strange going on between Lyn and Mark. They were both avoiding each other and would look up at the other before blushing and looking away. By now, everyone knows about Mark's condition. The thought that ran through everyone's heads was "Did they really do it?"

Several of the girls became all giggly, well except for Nino because she didn't know what was going on and was fishing with Jaffar, and they all went up to Lyn to ask her cryptic questions like, "So Lyn, how did it go?" and other stuff like that. They guys on the other hand would go up to Mark and slap him on the back. Some, like Hector, used this excuse to slap him exceptionally hard and Matthew kept on coming back to slap him repeatedly.

Lyn was confused because cryptic messages weren't really her specialty. It was more of something to ask Mark but she couldn't do that at the moment, after all, what would he think? Mark wasn't faring so much better because he, despite what he seems, is clueless at slang or other hip actions. It wasn't until Lucius came up to him and congratulated him that he understood.

"Mark, wait up one moment please."

"Ah, Lucius what do you want to talk to me about? Don't tell me you also want to hit me. PLEASE DON'T DO IT! IT HURTS!" Mark yelled and cringed at the last part.

Lucius stared at him wide eyed for a moment before remembering that this was Mark he was talking to and that Mark will often go off on a tangent for no reason. "Um, no Mark. I was not going to hit you. I just wanted to congratulate you and Lyn on your newfound relationship. I just want you to know that you have my blessings and my full support. May St. Elimmine's blessings be with you too." Lucius started to leave before Mark stops him.

"Hold on there a moment Lucius. What do you mean 'relationship'? Me and Lyn don't have a-… oh… I see… Well that's interesting…"

"Mark, are you alright? Should I get a healer?"

Mark snapped out of his reverie. "No Lucius, but you can go gather everyone and bring them to the conference area. Make sure that Lyn gets there."

Lucius nodded and ran off. Mark, meanwhile, went to his tent and prepared for his speech. This was going to be important and big. This day as well. Mark just had a feeling about that. Even without his ring, his sixteenth sense told him about stuff like this.

Mark went to the conference area a few minutes later to see that everyone had came in, including Lyn. Mark walked up to the makeshift podium and cleared his throat to get everyone's attention.

A murmur passed through the army as they awaited his speech.

"Now then, I suppose that I should explain why such a quick meeting was assembled. The reason is that I have reasons to believe that there are some rumors floating around regarding me and Lyn."

Another murmur passed through the crowd but no one dared to speak out because they knew that Mark would decapitate them and put their heads on a pike to show as an example to others. Lyn was trying to get away, but Hector grabbed her by the scruff of her shirt. He was really enjoying this.

"Let me just get one thing straight," Mark's eyes narrowed dangerously and a chill passed over the crowd. "There is nothing going on between me and Lyn so keep to yourself. Even if there was something going on, it would be our business, not yours, so butt out. Thank you."

As Mark left the stage, many of the members looked down in shame and others in shock (they didn't think about that). They hadn't meant to pry but they agree that Mark and Lyn need some sort of love life. They weren't prying into their love life; they were prying into their lack of a love life. Then again, they can't really argue that Mark had a point and that they were meddling with something that they shouldn't. After all, some of them got the person they loved most and if someone interfered, that may have never happened.

After shaking themselves out of their stupor, they went back to their duties before the meeting was called. Lyn, on the other hand, headed for Mark. She wanted to know what really happened.

She found Mark lying on his stomach by the side of the river. He had one finger swirling in the river, playing with the fishies that happened to swim by. His face was of utmost serenity and full of childhood whimsical and he was humming a senseless tune. It was strange how he can be of one personality one moment and the extreme opposite in the next. But then again it was Mark, so anything's possible.

At times like this, he seems almost like a little kid. He can seem so old at times, but he really is just new to this world. Maybe this is why I like him so much. WAIT! What am I talking…err…thinking about?! I don't not like Mark. I mean I don't hate him. I mean…

"Lynnnn! Are you in there?" Mark asked knocking on her head.

Lyn quickly stepped back in shock, shaking her head to clear it of these unclean thoughts. Gathering up her courage, she gave took a deep breath.

"Mark, I want to know what happened last night. I want to know every detail."

Mark's face grew dark. "Do you really want to know?" Lyn was slightly taken back by his change in personality again but she stood fast and nodded. Then Mark's face went from dark to panic. "Are you sure you really want to know?" Lyn nodded again. "Really?"

Lyn was getting fed up. "Mark, just tell me what happened!"

"OK, OK, just making sure."

Mark took a breath before retelling what happened. "Yesterday, I found out about my other self. I'm not sure how or if he's a part of multiplicity, one of my many facets, or just part of a Jekyll-Hyde Syndrome."

Lyn looked at him confused but she let him continue.

"Any way, he must have gotten out because I was really hungry and I couldn't fight back as well. So he went around looking for potential food and… we—I—He—it… ran into you.

"He or it, because I didn't, decided that you were going to be our dinner. So he got you to come by the tent where he was planning to feast. He was going to do something really bad to you that I don't want to say because of the many innocent eyes that might read this."

Lyn opened her mouth to say something but stopped halfway, again letting him continue. When you are dealing with Mark, you have to know when to ask questions because some of what he says has nothing to do with the topic at all.

"So he moved forward and that's when you started to faint. I managed to get out before any permanent bodily harm was done to you."

"Hold on Mark, how did you get out? You said you couldn't because you were too weak from the lack of energy."

"Oh…err… he was planning on letting me feel the pleasure of what was going to happen. So he loosened up some of the control so I managed to jerk the rest of it away from him." Mark's face was beginning to blush. As soon as Lyn realized what happened, or nearly happened, she started to blush as well.

"OK," Mark said with an obvious fake yawn, "I believe that that's my cue to exit."

"Hold up a moment," Lyn cried out. "What else happened?"

Mark started to get worried again. "Come on Lyn, what else could have happened? You are not really making this any easier."

Lyn started to advance on him.

"Please Lyn, don't make me say it. I really didn't mean it."

She kept coming towards him. She was finally right in front of him.

"Fine… we… err… ah… sorta… kissed." Mark finished weakly.

Lyn's heart skipped a beat. "Wha-what?"

Mark's face was turning to a whole new shade of red that Elibe have never seen. "We kissed. Okay? And—mmph"

Mark was in total shock. Lyn had just leaned forward and kissed him. Not knowing what to do, Mark leaned forward and kissed her back. It took concentration, but Mark was determined not to let his hands roam. He didn't want to ruin the moment.

When they finally broke, they were blushing hard and panting heavily. Mark looked directly into Lyn's eyes. "Why did you kiss me?"

Lyn knew she couldn't lie her way out of this one. Mark was looking for every detail that would be given if she lied. "Why, Mark? Why else do you think?"

Mark nodded slowly and turned around to walk way. Lyn was staring at him in shock and disbelief. She was pouring her heart out to him and he was just walking away. She wanted to cry, but she knew she wouldn't. Any man that caused her to shed such petty tears were not worthy of her.

Mark paused for a little while. "I'm glad you feel the same way." He continued forward towards camp. Lyn looked up after she registered what he said. A bright smile lit up her face. She happily followed Mark back to camp.

Neither of them noticed a pair of sadden red iris eyes looking from the shadows…

You know, I realized something. My chapter titles seem to reflect more on the upcoming chapters than the current one. Oh well, just a rambling thought. So Mark and Lyn finally got together. This can only mean blackmail material. Knowing Mark, he'll find someway to counter it though.

Anyway, the action should come back in a few chapters. It might be a while because I have to make a model of Dante's Inferno. I was also thinking of writing a prequel for this story. It would be about either Mark's journey (the one that was played) or about the supposed 'bad guys' in this story. I don't plan on writing it until I've finished this story though, so people who enjoy this story won't have to worry. Please tell me what you think I should work on next.