So I think i'm doing pretty good with the updates, considering I am also working on another fanfic at the same time. Hope you guys are enjoying this so far... I don't really know where this is going though. I was not intending on this being an epic or anything, I have commitment issues. Haha...

Anyways, Onward.

The Dark Side of Me: Chapter 3

DG had awoken about an hour before dawn. She continued to lay in her overly plush bed and watch the sun come through the crack that was left in the curtains. She didn't feel like moving, but the grumble in her stomach had finally forced her out of bed and down to the kitchens. She sat alone at one of the staff tables with a cup of coffee and some sweet bread reading a tome she brought with her from her room. She was alone, as no one else had yet awoken at the ungodly hour that it was.

On a normal day, the kitchen staff would already be awake and prepping all the meals for the day, however, because this was an unofficial trip, the staff was limited. DG and Az has both insisted that they did not need a full entourage to cater to their every whim. Dg was grateful for the quite. She had decided to use this "vacation" as a time to relax and get herself together. The library here was extensive, and she was hoping there was at least something in there to help her with her problems.

It wasn't that she minded being the all powerful DG, but she did have a problem with keeping it hidden from the rest of the world. Had there ever been a queen of darkness in the past? If there what happened to her? These were the things she needed to find out before she presented her dilemma to her mother and the others. It was assumed that Az had been the "princess drawn towards darkness" due to the previous situation, however she found that was not the case.

It wasn't that the magic within DG was evil... She had discovered that only the user's heart could determine where the tendency of their magic lie, but it pulled at her. It was hungry, it wanted to be used and wanted to be noticed. She sighed and took another sip of her coffee and noticed it had gone cold, she conjured a small ball of fire in her hand and flicked it into the coffee where it fizzled for a few seconds, stopped, and the coffee was steaming again. She was quite satisfied with the way that she had developed her magic over the past 2 years. Most people had to work at it their entire lives, but she was able to be in control of herself in under 2 years...

She could hear the 'click'-'click' of heels coming down the hall behind her. She assumed it was Az, as she was the only person who always insisted on wearing heels and dressing like the "proper princess." Dg on the other hand had materialized herself some jeans, an AC/DC t-shirt, and a pair of black chucks. DG was on vacation and she'd be damned if she was going to be stuck in frumpy girly outfits she hated so much.

AZ took a seat across the table from DG and grabbed a piece of sweet bread off DG's plate. Dg didn't look up from her book, but flicked her hand and a cup of hot tea materialized in front of Az.

"Dg, you shouldn't use your magic so carelessly... You become too reliant on it..." Az said disapprovingly.

Dg finally looked up from her book and raised her eyebrow at her sister, "Fine" She pointed her finger at the cup, "You can go make it yous-"

Az quickly wrapped her hands around the cup, "No-No! It's fine, this one time..." She looked at DG Coyly, "I'm just saying..." She grumbled.

Dg smiled and she continued reading. Out of the corner of her eye she could see Az trying to glance over the table at DG's reading selection, "It's a history book..." Dg said lamely.

"Oh-" Az sat up straight and took a sip of her tea, "Glad to see you are finally taking your studies seriously." DG rolled her eyes and slammed the book closed.

"Don't think too much on it... It was the first book I grabbed off the shelf in my room." Dg gave her sister the best stink-eye she could muster and Az smirked.

"I knew it was too good to be true" As sighed with fake distress, "I suppose you'll be a delinquent even after you are queen."

This made Dg smile finally, "That's right... The OZ won't even know what to think... all those stuff shirts will probably die from ALL the impropriety that i resonate with... " Dg said proudly. Az giggled. DG pushed her book aside and leaned her arms on the table, "So what do you have planned today dear sister?"

Az thought on this a moment, "I am not sure... Ambrose said that he would try and join us mid afternoon." DG groaned inwardly at this... Az and Ambrose, whom she still referred to as glitch, much to his dismay, had this unresolved sexual tension that always made DG uncomfortable. Even with the reconnection of his brain, she still and always would, see him a Glitch.

"Oh good," DG started, "That means I get to sit here and watch you two make googly eyes at each other." Dg said disgustedly.

"DG!" Az screeched.

"What!? Don't even act like you don't know what I'm talking about!" DG laughed, "I wish you two would just get it overwith and get it on!"

Az gasped, "DG, I don't exactly know what 'getting it on' is, but if you are inferring what I THINK you are- " Dg stopped her.

"Oh, I am inferring EXACTLY what you think I am..." She said as-matter-of-factly.

Az rolled her eyes, "That is highly inappropriate... and also not any of your business..." She said blushing.

DG laughed at this, "It's definitely my business if I am stuck as the third wheel..." She clicked her tongue and a silence fell over them, "When do you think we'll be going back to Central City?" Dg finally asked quietly.

Az shrugged, "I don't know... they sure were in a hurry to get rid of us..." She said sadly looking into her tea, "Do you think we'll ever just be able to live peacefully, without any worry about people trying to kill us?"

Dg sighed, "I suppose it just comes with the titles" She smiled sadly.

Az nodded, "I suppose so..."

Dg chewed on the end of her fingernail observing her sister for a moment. She could tell that Az felt that she was responsible for the current upheaval of the kingdom. Nothing had been the same since the witch... But in reality, DG knew that this was her fault... she was the one who let the witch go, she was to blame for all of this mess. She had tried to get over it, but she constantly found herself feeling guilty whenever someone brought up the time of the witch.

It suddenly dawned on DG that she now had the power to make things right. She could protect herself, her sister, and her entire kingdom with the power in her pinky. She could find anyone who was causing trouble and take them out before they even had a chance to act. The possibilities were endless...

The power within her hummed at the thought of this causing DG to shiver. She was beginning to understand why darkness was frowned upon amongst the small community of mages that existed in the oz. Any user could easily be seduced by the power in which they possessed.

Dark mages were rare, it was even rarer that someone possessed the power of both light and dark, in fact, it was pretty much unheard of. DG found that it was her light that kept her at a fair balance within... Lately though, it was becoming harder for her to find her light.

"So..." DG said changing the subject, "I'm surprised that mother allowed Glitch away from central city to be with us out here..."

Az Immediately perked back up, "Yes, well I assume it will be mostly to keep us out of trouble. Plus, council session is not for another 5 cycles, so he's not really needed by mother. The laboratory facilities here are more than equipped for his research... He deserves a vacation too..." Az winked.

Dg was glad that her sister had Glitch. She, on the other hand, did not think that she would ever find someone who wasn't forced upon her by her mother playing match maker. Her awkwardness and "other-side tendencies" scared off most potential suitors, fortunately, however it also scared away people who might genuinely want to get to know her. She was constantly being berated by her mother and other castel staff for her foul language, and un princess like exploits.

She always wondered why her mother trusted her to be queen.

It was that moment when the few kitchen workers arrived. A portly woman with green eyes and bright fire red hair looked very surprised to find the two princesses already dress and sitting in the staff kitchen.

"Good morning!" Az and Dg said at the exact same time.

The woman bowed, "Good morning your highnesses! My apologies for my late arrival, I was not aware you took your morning meal so early."

DG stood gathering her book and her cup of coffee, "Please don't apologize. We are more than capable of taking care of ourselves." She smiled at the woman and turned to Az, "I'm going for a ride, care to join me?"

Az shook her head, "I think I will stay in today, its already quite warm out, and I have some studies I can catch up on..."

DG rolled her eyes and turned, sometimes her sister could be such a girly-girl, "Right, you just don't wanna get all stinky before you see Ambrose this afternoon!" She said walking out of the kitchens before she could hear her sisters response.

Dg's interaction with her sister put her in a much better mood than when she initially awoke that morning. Unfortunately when she got to the stables, she found that the horses were getting their morning feed. Instead of returning to the place she decided to head out on foot.

Finaqua was quite beautiful, and this was the first time she was actually able to enjoy it since she first got back to the OZ. There was nothing like this in Kansas... As she walked down the lake path, the morning sun reflected brightly off the lake illuminating the fields of techno-colored wild flowers behind it. Dg stopped to observe the scenery before her and wished she had her paints with her. She decided that she would come back in the morning and hope for the same scene.

After a She found herself at the gazebo they spent time at as a child. It was one of the fondest memories she had.

Her mother was reading to her as she laid in her lap, and her sister was off playing with stones by the water... Unfortunately, that was also the same day- Dg stopped herself before she came to this thought...

She sighed and sat down. She often daydreamed about what life would have been like if things hadn't happened as they did. She would be a completely different person all the way down to her personality. She would be liked and respected, and Az would be queen. She would have been able to be free to do as she pleased as a princess of the OZ, not the future queen... DG propped her feet up on the hanging swing and leaned back. She sat her book her her lap, but continued to stare off into the far fields of flowers.

Around her birds and other animals were noisily singing their morning songs. DG was content to just sit here the rest of the day, but she knew she would eventually be disturbed by someone looking for her. She leaned her head on the back of the seat and closed her eyes. She knew that she should cherish this time while she had it...

As she laid there, the swing gently drifting back and forwarth with the lake breeze she was startled when a hand brushed against the nape of her next. She almost fell off the swing. There was a deep chuckle from behind her and her heart stopped. Cain...

She turned slowly and upon looking, her suspicions were confirmed... There was the TinMan himself staring down at her with an amused grin on his face. She was speechless, what the hell was he doing here?

"Cain?" She stood up, the swing still between, "What are you doing here?" Her chest was tight and her stomach lurched with butterflies. She felt like she was going to faint.

"I'm here to protect you." He said seriously. He stepped around the swing coming to stand in front of her. Her face scrunched up in confusion.

"But how? Why?" She asked biting her lip.

"Because, I guess it's just what I do." He smiled gently and plucked the hat off the top of his head, holding it to his chest, "I missed you so much Deeg..." He said. His eyes were full of apology. Dg wanted to melt.

This was not right, she should be furious with him! How dare he just ASSUME he can come back into her life like this after such an abrupt departure. But she couldn't voice her frustration and her body betrayed her...

She threw herself into his arms, wrapping her arms tightly around his neck. He returned the embrace, burying his face into her neck, "Please don't ever leave me again..." She whispered.

He pulled back slightly looking into her eyes, "I promise..." and before DG could react his lips were on hers. This was an entirely new sensation... She felt like she was on fire. Something deep within her hummed to life. She tightened her grip around his neck deepening the kiss.

His hands slipped up the back of her shirt and she moan when he brushed the sensitive skin. Cain took this as a sign to continue and backed her up against the post of the gazebo. He broke contact with her lips, but before she could protest, his lips were on her neck, gently biting and sucking the skin of her shoulder.

"Oh god, Cain..." She moaned, her fingers tangling themselves into his blonde hair.

He merely growled continuing his assault. She leaned her head back giving him better access. She was in heaven. She had always imagined what it would be to kiss Wyatt Cain, but never dreamed that the reality of the situation could be such as this...

He pulled away, "Dg?"

She looked at him frustrated for the interruption "Yeah?" She asked breathlessly.

"Wake up..." He said sternly...

"What?"

"Wake up, DG!" Cain's voice turned into Azkadellia's and suddenly DG jarred away. Her sister stood in front of her hands on her hips. Dg rubbed her eyes furiously and looked around.

"What the hell..." She looked to the book that had fallen on the ground and back to her sister. It was just a dream...

"You fell asleep, silly..." Her sister teased.

Dg was not, however, pleased. Why in the world was she dreaming about Wyatt Cain... She would just sooner forget about him... How random!

"What's wrong?" Az asked sensing her sisters frustration...

DG shook her head, "Nothing..." Her voice was scratchy. Her stomach was still full of butterflies and her magic buzzed within her delightfully. What the hell was wrong with her?

"What time is it?" Standing up and picking the book up off the ground.

"Sometime after noon, I've been looking everywhere for you..." DG could see that Az was looking off in the distance. She turned and followed her gaze...

"What?" DG asked suspiciously.

"I just got word from the guards that Ambrose is here... and he brought a friend..." Az's face was what at all happy as it should have been...

Dg was going to ask... But part of her already knew. Her magic only reacted this way around one other person...

Cain.

Whew... that was pretty long...

Hope you like it!

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