The Five Times Valek KO'ed Yelena

Thanks to all the people who have reviewed, or read this story!

Part 2:

"Valek! Valek!" Yelena called excitedly from across the room. "Guess what?"

Valek grinned at her silliness and went over. "Yes, love?"

Yelena sobered instantly and scowled. "I'm BORED!"

"It's already night-time," Valek reasoned. "8pm. Most people are in their rooms."

Banging on their door made Yelena smile. "Not them!"

"Hi, Janco! Hi, Ari!" Yelena greeted them the moment she opened the door.

Janco gaped. "How did you know it was us?"

"Magic!" Yelena sang happily, sobering again. "Janco, I'm bored."

"So am I," he declared. "Fortunately, I have an idea."

"I'm getting a bit worried about them," Valek confided in Ari. Ari grinned, and shook his head.

"You'll get used to it."

"WE'RE GOING OUT!" Janco bellowed. He dragged Yelena and Ari out of the room, leaving Valek to follow.

"By the way, Janco, where exactly are we going?" Valek asked, amused at his friends.

"To.. the…" Janco paused for effect, then shouted, "TO THE MOVIES!"

"What's a movie?"

"It's a kind of new invention thingy," Janco explained. "Similar to TV, except for lots of people. And on a big, big screen.""

"Interesting," Valek remarked.

"WE'RE GOING TO SEE THE MOVIES!" Yelena yelled happily, dancing down the silent hallway.

"Liaison Yelena, what is this?" Commander Ambrose stuck his head out of his office and glared at said liaison.

"Um, I was excited to go the movies?" Yelena shrugged her slender shoulders. "Want to come?"

"No thank you," said the Commander, looking at Yelena with a wow-she's-crazy look, then at Valek with an is-she-alright look. Valek shrugged, and mouthed the words 'I don't know'. Ambrose shrugged in return, and shut the door.

"Yay! We're going to see the movies!" Yelena repeated softly, and the four headed towards the night market.

"SEE THE LATEST INVENTION IN IXIA!" A man boomed into a microphone. "THE ONE AND ONLY CINEMA IN IXIA!"

"Over there," Janco said unnecessarily. "Oh, they're showing a horror movie today!"

"What's a horror movie?" Yelena asked.

"It's a really, really scary movie."

"Compared to what we've seen, I doubt it's that scary," Valek scoffed.

"Just wait and see," Janco answered. "Let's get some drinks! And popcorn!"

"Ooh, popcorn," Yelena said. They went over to the food and drinks stand, buying their popcorn.

"Could I please have some water?" Yelena smiled at the seller.

"No water here, missy," he replied. "We've only got alcoholic drinks, miss."

"Do you know where we can get water?" Yelena asked again.

"No water around here, miss."

"Beer it is," Janco interrupted, and paid for several cans. "Here you go." He handed the cans out, 3 per person.

"Movies!" Yelena said again.

After the movie...

"Sunshine, lollipops and rainbows, everything that's wonderful, it's what I feel when…" Yelena sang softly.

"Ok, Janco," Valek said. "That was really, really scary."

"Told you!" Janco grinned. "You owe me, Ari."

"Damn."

The fun-filled mood died down, terror and paranoia filling its place. "Did you hear that?" Janco whispered, terrified. The wind was whistling, rustling leaves in what seemed like a threatening way.

"Hear what?" Ari whispered back, glancing from side to side.

An owl hooted. "That's just an owl, Janco." Valek sighed with relief.

"No, it wasn't!" Janco defended himself. "I heard something else." They quieted, listening for any weird noises. A strange squeaking sound grew louder and louder, and the four huddled together.

"Hello, bat!" Yelena said cheerfully. The bat flew to Yelena and hung on her arm. Ari, Valek and Janco all sighed with relief – it seemed that Yelena was the only one unaffected by the movie, and the alcohol had only enhanced her hyperness. Just great.

"Oof!" Yelena skipped ahead of them, then promptly tripped into a puddle of...Valek didn't even want to think about it.

"Eeeew." Yelena winced as she stood up, taking in her mud-and-who-knows-what-else ruined uniform.

"Come on, let's go the castle," Ari declared, and they headed to the safety of the Commander's castle.

"Looks like you need a bath," Janco taunted.

"Shut up," Yelena muttered, sobering temporarily. "Valek, gonna go take a bath." She wandered off in the general direction of said baths, humming happily.

"Well, I'm heading off," Ari said into the somewhat awkward silence.

"Me too," Janco added, and the power twins headed to their rooms. Leaving Valek to walk alone – alone! – to his suite. A small, barely noticeable shudder ran through Valek's body.

Just a movie, just a movie, Valek chanted silently in his head. Just a really scary movie. He mentally glared at the irrational part of himself, and ignored it easily – years of practice.

An eerie creak filled the hallway, and only years of ninja training prevented him from running back to his room. Maybe I could spider-walk back to the room, Valek thought hopefully, but cursed when he realised he didn't have any equipment on him – only his darts.

A door slammed. "Eep!" Valek squealed softly, and covered his mouth. He, Valek, was a master assassin. He had killed and seen many people die, horrible painful deaths. He had seen the gruesomeness of the Kirawaka ritual, of blood magic. But all this seemed oh-so insignificant compared to a scary movie. The effects hadn't even been that good. More cursing filled Valek's thoughts.

"Valek?"The Commander popped his head out of his room. "I heard someone scream. Did you see anyone?"

"No, Sir," Valek choked out. "Goodnight." He nodded, and then rushed off to his suite. The door seemed large and threatening, but tonight the empty hallway seemed even more sinister and dangerous. Valek fumbled nervously with his keys, cursing the day when the locksmith came and installed so many locks. He could, of course, pick them, but his hands seem too shaky tonight to do anything useful.

The door swung open silently, and the room he entered was astonishingly dark – something he had never noticed before. His trained eyes could barely make out the outline of the furniture, so Valek stumbled over piles of books to light a lamp. The small flame made Valek sigh with relief – it seemed to chase away unseen monsters hiding in the shadows.

Valek was exhausted – all his energy spent on his paranoia. So exhausted he forget to check for any intruders. Oh well. He settled onto his bed, remembering having to order a bigger one for Yelena and himself. The comforting feeling of his bed sheets soothed Valek, but he kept a small light on just in case.

Five minutes later...

The wind howled outside – or was it a wolf? Valek shivered, and drew the blankets around himself like a child, hoping they would protect him from whatever was out there. The wind blew violently again, knocking a branch against the window, an ominous tapping.

The blankets grew warmer and warmer, suffocating him. Now they seemed like restrictions rather than a protective barrier. He kicked a leg free, anxiously waiting for sleep. Noises grew stranger in his mind – even a simple owl hoot threatened to send him outside with his darts.

Tick, tock. Tick, tock.

Valek felt like the very annoying clock – his nerves being winded up with every noise. His senses noticed everything – the faint lavender scent, the strange shape on the floor, the mysterious noises outside.

Tick, tock.

A soft click and a barely-there creak poured adrenaline into Valek's body – waking his terrified and exhausted mind. Soft footsteps – obviously a trained assassin – padded around the main room. The faint scraping sound of someone lighting a match made Valek sit upright, hissing in annoyance. How dare someone come into his suite? The ninja training came in handy as Valek rolled quietly out of bed, and he grabbed his always-nearby darts, dipping a few in goo-goo juice, and another in Curare. He tucked them into his belt, and crept to the door. It swung open on well oiled hinges and crept down the hallway and stairs – which creaked softly. Damnit. The intruder was still in the main room, the lamp casting a strangely shaped shadow.

Valek glared contemptuously at the stranger, who didn't suspect that he'd woken, or that he was even there. The tables had turned – Valek was no longer prey. Now he was the predator, hunting the unknown. HE took aim at the back of the stranger wearing an Ixian uniform, hoping desperately that taking out the intruder would soothe his nerves.

He put the dart to his lips, and blew. It flew in slow motion, sluggishly heading towards the stranger. The strange whirled around, as if he could hear the dart, and her – her? – eyes widened with confusion and surprise.

Valek swore as he recognised, too late, Yelena's familiar green eyes. The dart flew true, embedding itself in her leg and she collapsed, still partially facing him. Cursing filled Valek's thoughts again, aimed in the general direction of Janco's room. Stupid movie. Stupid Janco for bringing him there. Why, he asked himself, do I have to be so paranoid?

Damn Janco, driving him to knock out Yelena. He stared down at her limp form, and sighed.

"Oops."

I know I'm not writing her reaction, but I think it would just kind of ... ruin it. I like it when he ends with 'oops'. I can, however, write an ending to these stories that includes Yelena's reactions. Yes or no?