sorry it's been a while, I've been too tired and overloaded with homework and stuff to have been physicaly able to do anything but sleep, but here's the next chapter even if it's a bit late

claimer:i own everything..yaddayaddayadda

on with the story..

33.-Departed soul

I stood there, unmoving, while he stuttered some rambled apology that I did not hear one word of, then reality came rushing back to me and I growled threateningly and he shut his mouth immediately.

"I am going to ask this nicely, what were you doing outside the door to the woman's washroom?" my voice was deadly calm which probably scared him more than if I had been yelling.

"I-well-I-I…um…I was…uh…" he took a deep breath, closing his eyes and hopefully getting his words straight. "I apologize, but I followed you, I was curious to know more about you, it is not every day that you meet a young woman of your…abilities. I will never do something as disrespectful and misrepresented again, just please do not tell anyone of this, I know it is a lot to ask after what has just occurred, but I am begging, please…" his voice was so sincere that I just couldn't bring myself to harm him in any way, and besides, when Dorran finds out about this- and he will for I doubt I have the ability to completely close my mind of the thoughts of what has occurred- the guard will be punished enough for it anyway.

I shook my head, "You know what you did is considered a federal offense right?" I saw with satisfaction the color drain from his face and would have smiled had I not been completely disgusted by him.

"I am aware of that; would you please allow me to make this up to you? Maybe a tour of the tunnels, or perhaps you would prefer if we went outside these earthy deathtraps?" I was shocked that he had the courage to ask me something like that, but then again exceedingly tempted to be above ground once more, to breathe in fresh air and fly…

I suppose it couldn't hurt taking him up on his offer, could it?

"That sounds pleasant; I would like to see more of the mountainside. Fine, I will accompany you, but do me a favor first if you will?"

He nodded "Anything."

"Allow me to get dressed first; I am sure not many people would appreciate me walking around in only a towel."

The guard blushed scarlet once again and nodded before hurrying away down the passageway, "I will meet you at your room after you are finished eating." He replied, and then he was gone.

I sighed, I was sure Dorran would not take kindly to the fact that I was going walking with a stranger. But first things first, I had to get some decent clothes, preferably something other than a dress, because when you're fighting for your life, flashing everyone within a ten-mile radius is not exactly practical.

I dressed quickly, hastily pulling layer after layer of the expensive fabric over my head, and then finally donning the silken slippers. The dress was, as I had predicted, extremely uncomfortable, but at least after spending my life in coarse woolen clothes the fine material felt like water rushing over my skin.

I walked quickly down the tunnels, hoping that I would be able to find my room again, and gasped as a detailed map flashed behind my eyelids, the route I had taken from my room to the bathing house clearly played out in my mind. I guessed that was just another fun feature to the dragon/wolf package.

I reached my room, marveling again in the fact that the mysterious sapphire-eyed snake seemed to follow me everywhere I went. I entered the doorway and my heart sunk as I recognized Dorran's tall form in the shadows in a corner by a chair and desk, his dark eyes glaring into mine. I stood there, waiting for him to speak, but after I while I realized he was waiting for me to start the conversation.

"Dorran, what do you want to say, because I am not going to wait all day, I have to find Rosalie to see if she can get me different clothes, and I am also hungry, so either talk now or I am leaving." I was aggravated by his silent behavior and also irritable from lack of food, so if he did not talk I would turn my back to him and slam the door in his face.

He growled in anger, "I am waiting for the scumbag to return so I can decapitate him with my claws, there is no excuse for what he has done, even if you seem to think so." I knew he had read my mind and that just made me even more angry, my temper rising and my eyes seeing red around the rims.

"I know what he did was wrong, but he just wanted to get to know me better AND YOU HAVE NO SAY IN MY LIFE WHATSOEVER AND I CAN DO WHATEVER I BLOODY WELL WANT TO AND THERE'S NOTHING YOU CAN DO ABOUT IT!"

I was screeching this at him now and I was more than aware that I was behaving like a five-year-old, but at that particular point I didn't care, I just wanted to get my opinion out no matter what was thought of me.

He roared in anger, his deep voice glancing off the walls and turning into more of a dragon's bellow and I could see his entire form shaking violently, although how this was possible I didn't know because I was vibrating so hard that I could barely see.

Then his temper got the best of him and his body started morphing into a dragon's and I knew that if I did not control my mind that was what was going to happen to me too, and two dragons in one room this size would not be a good thing.

He snarled again, his snout scrunching and his lips pulling back over his glistening fangs, and charged passed me, his slashing icy talons gouging holes out the side of the wall creating an opening just big enough for a dragon to pass through, then he thundered out, his tail thrashing so forcefully that I was almost caught in the chest, and I knew a blow that hard would possibly brake a few ribs or kill me.

I regained control over myself and watched dismally as my other half exited, knowing that this could very well be the last time I ever saw him if he did not return. He had severed our mental and spiritual link completely and I felt empty without it, as if half of my body had been ripped away.

I sat on my bed, my eyes streaming with tears, the salt water dripping onto the bed sheets creating patches of darkness where they fell. Instead of the never ending torrent of questions my mind was suddenly blank, I was unable to think, my brain incapable of functioning at that moment.

But there was one though that revolved over and over in my head, would he ever come back? I did not think I would be able to live without him, he had become so much of me in these past few days it was just impossible to fathom the fact that I might never see him again.

My attention was diverted when I heard a hesitant knock at the door, the sound so soft that had I been completely human I might not have heard it.

My eyes flicked up, hopeful, but my heart fell as the face I saw was not the one I wanted to see at that moment. Rosalie's eyes were wide as she entered the room carrying the plate of steaming meat and mushrooms. The scent made my mouth water, but my stomach was churning uncomfortably and I doubted I would be able to consume anything without throwing it back up.

Her eyes were wide and her mouth was gaping at the hole in the wall, then she finally seemed to realize I was there and her face turned into a sad smile. "Man trouble?" her kind voice asked, her tone knowing and sympathetic.

I nodded in response, still keeping my eyes downcast, not wanting to talk about it. She seemed to sense this and came to sit next to me on the bed and wrapped an arm around my shoulders, resting her head atop mine.

She sighed, "Do not worry, if he does not return he is obviously not the right one for you. Most men are animals, but there is the occasional one that actually respects you and likes you for who you are and not just your looks. That is the man you must run after; other men are just not worth it. If yours is truly your soul-mate what the hell are you moping around here for? Go after him girl, you do not want to lose a man like that, the chances of coming upon another one like it is about one billion to one." And with that she shoved me off the bed and onto the floor, passing me the plate of food on the way and ushering me out of the door, into the corridors, and towards the dragon hold where I had no doubt he had exited from.

I wasn't sure I was doing the right thing, what if he ran away because he no longer cared for me and just wanted to forget all about me? Thoughts like this cascaded through my mind as I was forcefully pushed to the bottom of the skylight having food rammed down my throat the entire way.

"Bring him back with you, you will regret it your entire life if you do not, trust me, I know." Her voice was sad, yet excited at the same time and I felt for the first moment in my life what having a real mother would be like. My grandmother had been nothing more than my grandmother and tutor in healing, but having a real family, well, I just couldn't imagine how amazing that would be.

I stared into her soft, dark eyes and felt a tear slip down my cheek, she had lost someone that important to her, and she regretted it every day after, it must be unbearable.

"Thank you." I said, I could not think of anything else to say, but I knew those two words would be enough. She nodded and motioned for me to get into the sky. I smiled sadly and morphed, the vibrations coming easier with all of the grief, anger, and confusion running through my brain.

I saw the woman's eyes light up as she saw my new form and I twitched a corner of my mouth up in a humorless smile before launching myself into the sky, propelling my wings forward and rocketing through the air faster than I would have thought possible.

I had absolutely no idea where he had gone, but I was going to find out and bring him back, no matter what the cost.

k, done, hoped u liked it, i wonder if Dorran will ever come back.. i haven't decided yet, i might make him die or something, hehehe.

stay tuned to find out his fate!

PLEASE REVIEW!!!!!!!-no comment after this one today, unless this comment counts as one..hmmm

-Firesilk:D