Chapter 24

"You said you cared about me," The drow's voice came from the passenger's seat.

"That doesn't explain why you felt the need to kiss me," Anna huffed. Even when he was invisible Jarlaxle managed to fluster her.

"I am afraid I was overwhelmed by your concern," the drow said. Though the amusement in his voice made Anna doubt his sincerity.

Artemis leaned back against the seat. What was about the girl that caught the drow's attention? He knew that Jarlaxle loved females of all races but he had never seen the dark elf so entranced by one particular female. Artemis wondered when the drow would lose interest in her. A thought occurred to him. Perhaps Jarlaxle might transfer his attention to the girl. It wouldn't be long lasting of course, but maybe it would give him the opportunity to at finally free himself of the dark elf.

Anna rubbed her forehead and then put the ambulance into gear. The sun was starting to set and she wanted to reach Calais before nightfall. Trying to avoid jarring Jacques any more than necessary she skirted the ruts that scarred the ground. "Bovier, check your dad's stiches," she instructed ignoring the empty passenger's seat. "Do you see any new blood?" she asked.

"No," Bovier called as he carefully lifted the bandage. "But his color doesn't look good," he said. Jacques skin had taken on a grayish tint. Anna's face tightened as she silently asked Jacque to hang on a little longer.

Calais finally came into view. As Anna weaved her way through the crowded streets Jarlaxle stared at the village in fascination. Though the sun was setting it didn't affect the drow's vision in the least. For someone raised in the absolute darkness of Menzoberranzan even the darkest shadows were merely different shades of color. All manner of horse drawn carts, merchants, soldiers, and ragged refugees filled the streets. A dramatic change from the destroyed city they had taken refuge in after Anna had been shot.

Anna pulled off the side of the road and put the ambulance in neutral. "Bovier, I can't take you with us," she said not turning around. She didn't want to see the look in her young friend's eyes.

"What?" Bovier whispered in disbelief. "No! I'm not leaving him," he cried. Anna sighed and turned around, "You have to go back home. It's going to be hard enough getting your father across the channel," she said. Bovier stared at her out of desperate eyes, "No, I won't leave him," he told her.

"I'm not asking you, I telling you. I cannot take you with us. I need you to head home," Anna said trying to ignore the look on his face.

"I won't go. You can't make me," Bovier cried his eyes shining with moisture. "Besides, how would I get back? You know there's not enough gas left."

"You might be able to catch a ride from someone leaving the city," Anna suggested.

"You know as well as I do that I won't be able to get all the way home," Bovier argued.

"Then you'll have to walk," she answered.

"Please," he begged, "I can't leave him." His tormented eyes tore at Anna, but she didn't have a choice. "I'm sorry Bovier, but you can't come with us. One way or the other you have to get home. Your grandmother needs you. Can you imagine what it would do to her if neither you or your dad came back? It would kill her." she told him.

The finality in her voice made the boy bury his face in his hands. Bovier knew she was right. "Please, please don't send me away. What if he dies?" he sobbed. Anna bowed her head unable to look at him, "You have to go home. I don't have a choice. It's the only way to save your dad. He needs medical attention that he won't get at home." Anna said looking away from the boy.

Anna sighed. He wasn't going to leave willingly. Getting out of the driver's seat she walked to back of the ambulance and motioned for him join her. Bovier wiped his eyes and jumped out of the back and onto the ground. Putting her hands on his shoulder, Anna spun him around and gave him a shove. He turned towards her tears streaming down his face. He wrapped his arms around Anna and begged, "Please, please, don't make me go." Anna pushed him away and shoved him back, "You have to go. Now. Every second we waste puts your dad's life in danger," she told him ruthlessly. He started forward and she pushed him away, "Do you want you dad to die?" she demanded. Bovier looked stricken. Turning her back on him she walked towards the front of ambulance and climbed into the driver's seat. "Go home," she said as she put the motorcar in gear and pulled away. Bovier cried out and chased after the ambulance. As she pulled away a tear rolled down her check. She dashed it away and stared stonily ahead. If Jacques died it would leave Bovier an orphan. Her heart ached for him. Bovier had been so desperate because he knew his dad was dying. The boy knew what death looked like and his dad would die if they didn't get him help and even with help he still might die.

Artemis watched the boy as they pulled away. Bovier had fallen to his knees and was sobbing in the middle of the street. The assassin didn't feel pity or sorrow. It was simply the way life. The boy would learn that sooner or later. Artemis had learned that life was cruel at an early age. He looked at the boy's father. Death's shadow was on the man's face. He wasn't long for this world.

Anna struggled to hold back tears as she headed toward the coast. She felt a hand on her shoulder, and looked back thinking that it was Artemis. There was no one there. It was the elf she realized. She turned her attention back the road. She didn't want his sympathy. She had done what was necessary. It had been hard, but there was no other choice.

"You were correct. We could not bring the boy," the elf said moving his hand from her shoulder to wipe the tear from her face. Jarlaxle wondered what it was about this fragile girl that he found so interesting. He was amazed that he had not become bored with her yet. Truth be told, she fascinated him even more now which was amazing. He couldn't remember anyone else fascinating him to such a degree, except for Artemis. A smile lit the drow's invisible face.

Anna wound her way through the bustling streets until she was within a few blocks of the coast. Pulling off to the side of road she put the ambulance in neutral and turned off the engine. "Stay here I am going to scout the coast for a boat," she said smoothing some stray hairs back under her cap. Getting out of the driver's seat, she straightened her uniform and started to walk away. "One of us is going with you," Artemis said from directly behind her. Anna gasped and started. How had he crept up on her so quickly?

"No, I am wearing a uniform. No one will pay any attention to me. It's better if I go alone," she told him.

The elf sighed dramatically causing Anna to turn towards him only to find herself staring into empty space. She was getting tired of the elf being invisible. It was unnerving to hear his voice when she couldn't see him. "Alas that was not a question. You will not travel alone," the drow's voice informed her. There was a pause and Anna could almost picture him tapping a finger to his lips. "Though the question of drawing unwanted attention will not be a problem if I go with you," Jarlaxle said.

Anna opened her mouth to say no and then closed it. She didn't like it but as long as he didn't talk it should be alright. "Do think you can refrain from speaking that long?" she asked. Anna had her doubts about how long the elf could remain silent. Artemis' burst of laughter took her by surprise.

"Ah but you wound me," cried the invisible elf. Anna glared at the space where the elf should be, "You will have to not talk the entire time," she warned him. She felt his warm breath brush across her ear as he whispered, "I shall be as silent as a shadow."

"Don't do that!" Anna exclaimed backing away. The elf's laughter made her uneasy. Suddenly she felt Jarlaxle's hands slide down her arms. "Though I do wonder if I am the one that will have trouble being silent," he murmured,

"Artemis! Do something!" Anna yelped.

"You're the one who told him you cared about him," Artemis reminded her. What did she think would happen after telling the drow she was worried about him? You couldn't say something like that to Jarlaxle without getting a reaction. He didn't know what the drow's response would be, but whatever it was it would be memorable. Artemis suspected that behind Jarlaxle's amusement was irritation. Unlike other races, drow considered kindness a weakness. If a drow was foolish enough to show kindness they almost always met an untimely death.

Anna growled at Artemis in frustration and then addressed the empty space where the drow should be standing, "No talking and no touching me," she clarified.

"But if I can't talk how am I to communicate with you?" the drow teased from behind her. Anna jumped and spun around. How did he get behind her so quickly? Between him and Artemis she was going to end up stark raving mad. "You don't need to communicate with me," she informed him in her sternest tone. The elf laughed. "I beg to disagree with you," he said.

"Alright, that's it! Artemis you can come with me," Anna exclaimed. Jarlaxle was having fun and had no intention of letting her go anywhere without him.

Artemis turned his back on her and climbed back into the ambulance. If she thought he was going to save her from her own stupidity she was sadly mistaken. She would just have to learn from her mistakes. Perhaps if she had to deal with a playful Jarlaxle she would think before speaking next time. He had been on the receiving end of the drow's amusement in the past and the only one amused had been the dark elf.

Anna stared as Artemis turned his back on her. Moving over to him she exclaimed, "Hey! This was your suggestion." When he didn't answer, "Stop pretending you don't hear me," she cried.

Artemis' cold dark eyes met hers. "Maybe next time you will think before you speak," he grated. Anna stared back at in confusion.

"I don't understand," she said. He gave her a cold smile, "You will," he answered.

Anna couldn't believe it. He really wasn't going to come with her. "Fine," she hissed stomping away.

Jarlaxle fell into step behind her a wide smile on his face. Anna looked like she was fit to be tied. He waited until they were in the middle of a crowded street before draping an arm around her shoulders. She immediately stiffened.

"Stop it," she whispered furiously. An invisible finger guided her chin forward. "I believe we were to remain silent," he reminded her softly, too low for anyone else to hear. Anna gritted her teeth and tried to ignore the arm.

Trying to ignore the amused elf was impossible. He played with her hair, untied her apron, and even flicked her cap causing it slid down her nose. Anna decided she was going to kill him. Of course she would need to wait until Jacques was safely in a hospital.

Before she realized it they were at the coast. Absently brushing the pesky hand away from her hair, she scanned the area looking for a boat they could steal. A small smile crossed her lips. A sailboat was sitting by itself a little ways down the coast. Anna's family loved to sail and she would be comfortable handling the small boat. There were row boats that would be easier to take but they would be too small to get them across the channel. Moving away from the fisherman working near the row boats she whispered to the drow, "Over there. Do you see the sailboat?"

"Indeed," answered the drow. He had finally grown tired of teasing her and turned his attention to the boat. It was a slender craft with a tall mast. "Do you know how to sail one of those?" he asked. Anna smiled, "Yes, my family has a similar boat," she answered.

Walking towards the sailboat Anna looked around to see if it's owner was nearby. There were a lot of fisherman around them but she didn't see anyone working near the sailboat. Maybe they were in luck. Weaving her way back into the village she moved as far from the crowded streets as she could and studied the surrounding area. They would need food, water, and a tarp as well.

Jarlaxle watched her in amusement. He could almost see the wheels in her head turning. He wondered what kind of plan she would devise. Noticing that they were hidden from view he decided to take advantage of the darkness. The sun had set and the moon was barely visible through the thick clouds. He hadn't kissed her since they had left Faerun, far too long in his opinion.

Anna was busy trying to figure out how to steal the things they would need when she felt the feather on the elf's hat brush against her cheek. She looked at the empty space in front of her wondering what he wanted. His fingers curled behind her neck and his mouth covered hers. Anna stiffened in disbelief and she started to protest. She felt him laugh softly against her lips and whisper, "I wouldn't struggle if I were you." It was incredibly strange to be kissed by someone you couldn't see. She closed her eyes as Jarlaxle kissed her again, slowly this time. His free hand slid down her arm to encircle her waist.

As the drow kissed her, Anna slowly became aware of shocked voices. She opened her eyes. Jarlaxle's huge purple hat hid the street from view. Her eyes widened. "I can see you," she whispered.

Jarlaxle lifted his head, "Well, this is inconvenient," he sighed glancing at the growing circle of people staring at them.

Author's Note: Almost out of France! Hmmm…I wonder if I should feel sorry for the US?

Sonra: Feel sorry for Anna's grandparents or maybe you should feel sorry for Artemis. I have plans for that poor soul. :p