Chapter Four - Teague

Wow, sorry for the gap in updates guys (I nearly referred to you all as Teague, lol)! I feel super bad. So, I hope I can make it up to you guys by posting the next chapter of Forgotten as soon as I can, for those of you that read it. c: Hopefully I won't disappoint!

Also, you guys may notice a lot of these chapters are from Teague's perspective. That would be because this story is focused more around Teague than Mina, but there will be Mina's perspectives here and there, along with a few from possible others..

Since I saw Mina get dragged off in the garden, I've been avoiding her at this absolutely ridiculous dance. It's stupid to even have dances these days. It's not like anyone cares anyways.

I've never made eye contact, but I've seen her out of the corner of my eye. 'Ellie' has been casting looks of anguish at me, and been trying to edge closer the entire time. At one point, she managed to slip away from Edward and was making her way over, but he quickly reeled her back. I'm sure she wants to be with him though. Jared keeps trying to say otherwise, but I just ignore him. After all, she's a good actor. I can't believe a single word she says.

"Time to blow this popsicle stand." I mutter under my breathe, turning towards the exit.

I walk towards it at a moderate pace, so as not to seem like I'm rushing to leave. Can't offend any of these "important Fae" as my parents say. Bah. As if I care what they think of me. They're all terrified anyways!

Teague, wait! The other half has decided to start talking.

What do you want now? I snap. You always come at the most inconvenient times.

Inconvenient to you, maybe. Convenient for me. Yup, still as annoying as ever.

What do you even want?

Just stop and listen.

Why?

Don't ask why! Just press against the wall and listen!

I sigh inwardly, but I know he won't shut up till I do. Normally I'd try to block him out, but he's gotten better at fighting that. Right now, I don't feel like arguing, so I do as he asks. I press against the wall, listening closely.

I don't hear anything.

Shut up or you won't! And he's still rude.

That's when I catch it. Crying. Not just crying though. The whimpering of...a girl? That intrigues me, but I stay silent. Who on earth is crying at this party? It doesn't seem like an event that could make someone cry. Unless the hostess or some other girl was insulted. But that doesn't explain why Jared cares. Unless...

I peer out from behind the wall, enough so that I can see but not be seen. There's Mina, with her tear-streaked cheeks. But what I don't expect is what I see. Edward has one arm keeping her neck pinned against the wall, and the other hand pushes on her wrist.

"Sir, please! That hurts!" Her voice is quieter, but she's struggling against him.

"Wilhelmina." She tenses the moment he says her name. "You should've seen this coming.

"It hurts!" The pain filling her voice proves the point. I somehow doubt that's faked. She's not the kind of girl that can fake tears...According to Jared. I can't remember if she was crying when she betrayed me. I was too busy tossing her out a window.

"Maybe if you hadn't been so desperate to get to the Dark Prince, I wouldn't be punishing you. Just admit it, he's abandoned you. He doesn't care. Why would he? You're nothing but a useless girl. You can't even act properly. I wanted you to be uninterested in him! Of course, you still got the end result that I wanted. He believes you want to be here." He smirks. "It's a shame that your pretty face can't do anything more. If you were good, I was considering giving you a better cell. I guess not anymore."

She kicks her legs, trying to get him to drop her. "Please, sir, let go!"

"Wilhelmina, stop squirming!" The effect is immidiate, and she stops. I stare in utter horror. What just happened? "Wilhelmina, I want you to go out to the carriage and sit there to wait for me."

She doesn't move a muscle at all till Edward lets her back on the ground, and then she walks to the door past me She doesn't even acknowledge me, and then I get a good look at her eyes. They aren't brown. They're...silver? What did he just do? She makes no noise at all as she walks outside, and I can only guess that was some Fae enchantment there. But...what?

I stare after her, before straightening up quickly. I can't look like I was spying. So, I stand there, and glare at Edward as he walks past.

"Ah, Teague!" He grins when he sees me. "Are you leaving?"

"Yes." I try to keep myself under control, but I admit that I'm angry. He doesn't seem to notice, or he doesn't care.

"Well then, I guess I'll see you around." He walks right past me, and after he's gone I slam my fist into the wall.

Stupid! I'm so stupid! I hiss.

Yes, you are! Jared's even angrier then I am. All along she was trying to get your help! There's no doubt Edward threatened her though!

Mina never cares about threats, Jared. I snort. She ignores them.

That's not true. Besides, didn't you get a look at her wrist?

Honesty, anything about her wrist has slipped my mind. But I don't want Jared to know that. Of course I did. What about her wrist is so special.

Ugh, you didn't look at it. Or you don't remember. Either way, there's a rose on it!

A rose? What does a rose...Wait, you mean-

Yes, his mark, idiot! Can't your brain work any faster?

So, when she walked out there...

He'd used that on her! It's no wonder she was afraid to get your help!

Why my help though? Because of you?

No! Why are you such an idiot? He huffs, and I wish I could slap him. Does he have to insult me like this? I hate being mentally berated by...Well, by myself I guess. She wanted your help getting away! She wanted you to save her!

Why on earth would she expect me to help?

Isn't it obvious? Me. Now comes his cockiness. This is unbearable. I forgot about how much I hated Jared, because normally he would shut up.

Well, I can't help her.

Of course you can! You must have been exchanged with some nincompoop, because normally your brain works a little bit better than this! Look, think about it. Your a royal, a son of the fates, and the Story. Surely you could've done something! But you were being stupid instead.

That hits me straight in the gut. So basically you're saying this is all my fault.

Exactly.

Ouch. That hurts. I don't like the guilt knotting up in my stomach. So I shove it away, blaming it on Jared. But if I ever want any peace of mind, I'm going to have to get Mina out of this mess so I can make Jared shut up.

There we go! Like I said, I hope I didn't disappoint! Now, off I go to work on Forgotten, before I forget! (I need to stop having so much fun doing those puns. They're not even funny.)

~ Dagger