Chapter Four - Check Out Who is Back!

Wow, look at that! Dagger actually kept her word to update another one of these stories! What a shocker. :o Not only that, but activity is picking up again in this archive! That is super exciting. :D Sorry this took me so long to get to you guys! I was deciding between this and Trouble, but since this one was the one I had inspiration for, I decided on this one. c: Hopefully you guys will like it!

Evx : If you hate Willa now, just wait. Oh the things I have planned with her! xp Teehee. And yes, poor Mina is becoming very broken. We'll just have to see if it even can be fixed. After all, we - well, you - don't know what ending I finally decided on for this ending. Because I did finally choose one, and I am super excited for it. (Also, I swear I will get the next chapter of Playing With Fates to you! I have been brainstorming on it, but I've been a bit distracted with other stories.)

Anyways, since Evx was the only reviewer, that means we can get right to the story! Hurrah! :D This update is especially for you, my friend, especially after that awesome update for Forever I'll Serve. c;

Mina's Point of View

After what feels like forever, the final tortured soul behind us stops screaming, finally dead and freed from their suffering. It's then and only then that I pull myself from Nix's embrace, shaking as I do. I can't come up with any way to get the blood of those Fae I just murdered off my hands, despite the fact that I know they deserved that. I'm a murderer now. How am I supposed to deal with that?

"Nix." I whimper the red head's name, beginning to turn to look at the dead only for him to cover my eyes with one hand. The other he wraps around me, holding me close as he carefully begins to move us.

"Don't worry, Mina." He says, obviously doing his best to comfort me. "Take deep breathes. I'll get you away from here. You don't have to see it."

Why go for the Dark Prince when you've got this sweetheart right next to you? Willa pipes up from in my head, and once again I have to ignore my overwhelming wish that I could punch her. She still can't seem to realize that I never meant to kiss Teague. Accident or no accident, I personally think it'd be much better to kiss the boy beside you right now. He's much better.

She better not be getting any ideas. The last thing I need is for her to take over and make me kiss Nix. I don't need him to run away on me too. Besides, Nix is practically a brother to me. Even if I could entertain the idea of dating him, it at least would never work in here. I would never want to start a relationship with him while fighting this curse. Not to mention I have to figure out what the heck I'm going to do about Teague.

Slowly, our steady movement stops, and the hand over my eyes slides off. I turn to look right into Nix's green eyes, feeling myself grow hot as I realize how close our faces are. I would back away, growing more and more flustered, but he hasn't let me go with his other hand. Instead we just stare at each other, and I watch his face also go red. How awkward are we? Why are we still in this position? Both of us don't seem to have an answer.

"My my, am I interrupting something?" The voice that comes out of nowhere shocks us both to action, and Nix drops his hand from my waist as I sidestep around him, face growing even hotter as I turn to see the speaker.

When I do, I have to stop cold. I'm so shocked that I'm almost surprised that my jaw doesn't drop and hang open as I look at the speaker. He leans against a tree, looking quite unconcerned with life and almost amused by what he just saw, although if I didn't know any better I might say he looks a little angry.

You're just trying to push what you want to see on him. Willa comments from in my head, but I ignore her.

Instead, I finish examining the boy intently looking over Nix and me. His black hair is a mess like always, yet still looks incredibly attractive. His outfit matches his hair in color as it normally does, and his mouth is quirked into its signature smirk. Cold blue eyes bore into mine as their owner chuckles in amusement at my examination of him. He looks completely unchanged.

He raises an eyebrow and asks, "Looking for something, Kitten?" Despite the amused tone, I still sense some hidden irritation in it as well. Is he still mad at me for that kiss? What made him come back?

I finally manage to say one work, but it's rather pathetic and shocked. "Teague."

Nix stiffens beside me, and a protective tone enters his voice as he asks, "What are you doing here?"

"I'm here to run this curse properly. Is that a problem?" The Dark Prince shoots back in response, and Nix backs down as the prince turns his attention back to me. "Did you miss me, Princess?"

"I-ah-I-I-I-" I stutter, not sure what to do now that he's suddenly back. All the embarrassment from what I did in our previous encounter comes rushing back at full force, and I think I might be sick.

"Cat got your tongue?" He supplies, no doubt making a pun off the nickname he has given me, but what I really need him to stop asking me questions.

I shake my head and mumble a practically unintelligible, "I think I'm going to be sick," before spinning and stumbling to a bush a few feet away that I proceed to puke into.

Seeing as I haven't really eaten anything recently, it's basically all liquid, and I'm not sure if that makes it more or less disgusting. Wiping my mouth with a disgusted groan, I get the crap off my hand by wiping it on my pants, since there's no where better to wipe it. Now sure that is is off, I sigh and force myself to turn back towards the two boys I just fled from.

"Are you okay, Mina?" Nix asks, looking torn between being concerned and being nervous about Teague's sudden appearance.

I nod my head rather pathetically. "I'm fine." My gaze lands on Teague, causing my cheeks to light up red as I find a suddenly very interesting blade of grass near my foot. "Um, Teague, I just wanted to say that I'm super sorry about what happened last time you were here. I have no idea what was going o-"

He cuts me off, sounding completely uninterested as he says, "Nothing happened. It's fine."

How carelessly he brushes it off makes me boil with rage. Nothing happened? What the heck does that even mean? I force myself to calm down, knowing that this reaction is better than him getting angry again. However, I still am incredibly upset. The kiss meant nothing to him. It's a sad fact to try and live with, knowing that a guy felt nothing when kissing you. Even if it was an accident and you don't actually want him to enjoy kissing you.

Didn't I say that he wouldn't care? Gosh, I hate Willa. I glare at her as she lurks by Teague, practically draping herself over him. It makes me sick all over again when she makes a lovesick face at him, since she makes it obvious that she is mimicking me. It's even worse because no one else can see her, but then again, that is probably a good thing. I mean honestly, what did you expect? That a Fae Dark Prince would enjoy kissing you? That you could possibly make him feel something other than his constant coldness? Don't make me laugh, Mina. He doesn't have emotions; he may look like he does, but he doesn't. My blood boils all over again. Do you realize how many girls he must have kissed before your 'accident'? He's kissed me, for one. For certain he's kissed others. He might have even kissed other Grimm girls. By choice. My heart involuntarily sinks, and I scold myself internally. Why do I care? I don't. Who cares who he has kissed? The kiss was an accident. You're nothing special.

"Get out of my head!" I snarl at her.

As you wish. She flashes me a devilish smirk before disappearing back into the recesses of my mind.

It's only then that I realize the command I shouted at her was shouted out loud. And, to make matters even worse, I was still glaring at where Willa was when I said it. And since Willa was near Teague, it looks like I just snapped at him. Crap, he must think I've already failed this challenge and gone crazy. Or even worse, he'll realize Willa is inside my head. What do I do if he realizes that? Willa has made it very clear that that can't happen, but I have no clue as to why. Should I try to tell him?

"What are you doing in her head?" Nix turns to confront the prince, and seems to regret doing so after voicing his concern.

"I'm not in her head." Teague says in response, obviously frustrated by the accusation.

"Then stop playing mind games with her!" I suppose I should be flattered by Nix's concern, but their arguing is just exhausting.

"I'm not, not right now at least. Besides, this whole thing exists for the sole purpose of messing with her head. It's the point of this test." Teague's lack of concern at how this might have affected me is quite frustrating. "It's quite possible that she is already failing to keep it from affecting her, and so in doing so is driving herself crazy. This whole thing is quite psychological."

I groan, deciding to step in now. "Can we please just get going, Nix?" The redhead nods as I turn to look at Teague. "Are you coming to actually keep your word? Or were you just coming to make some weird comments before ditching again?"

The mere idea of getting either answer makes me anxious, and I have to stop myself from visibly squirming. What's worse? Having to deal with him even more in this bubble of awkward? Or having him leave and not having any clue as to what he is thinking?

He casually shrugs. "I suppose I'll stick around for a while. Someone has to monitor you."

"What the heck is that supposed to mean?" I challenge, confused but assuming I need to be offended based on his phrasing.

"Well this is all a test, isn't it?" He raises an eyebrow in challenge.

However, I decide to just drop the argument, not interested in continuing it for the sake of knowing I outargued him. "Whatever. Let's just go."

"Whatever you say, Kitty." He smirks at me as I hold in my frustrated growl and turn away, beginning to head in a direction. I only get a few steps before he calls from behind me, "Actually, the next test is this way, across the lake."

"You know what?" I spit as I spin around, huffing. "I'm not ready for this next, stupid test. We're just going to wait out the night here."

"Sounds good to me." Nix comments, apparently done being silent. "I'll get some firewood."

"I'll come with you." I say quickly, not willing to be left alone with Teague any more than necessary. "Dark and Broody can stay here and mark our spot."

The blue-eyed prince just rolls his eyes. "Or I could just make us a fire."

Nix perks up a little. "That would save us some work." However, one glance at my expression makes him dim a bit. "Or, I mean, we could do it the old-fashioned way. It, uh, builds character, you know?"

Begrudgingly I mutter, "Fine."

"What was that?" Teague asks, raising his eyebrow once again.

I mutter the word again, not even trying to make it louder. "Fine."

"I'm sorry, I didn't hear you. Could you repeat that?" Teague asks, leaning forward.

"Fine." I growl again, only slightly louder.

"I must have missed it again." Teague grins wider as he cups a hand around his ear, leaning even further forward. "Could you say it one more time?"

I have to resist stomping my foot like a bratty toddler as I angrily snap, "Just light the stupid fire, Teague!"

He has the nerve to act offended as he says with a pout, "Well you could have just said that."

Quite the nuisance, isn't he? Willa's voice echoes inside my head, and I'm mad that I didn't even get to appreciate her silence.

"I swear if you don't light that fire, I'll-" I start to threaten, stepping towards him as my anger starts to heat up.

"You'll what?" Teague asks sweetly, smirking. "Pout at me?"

"I'm going to murder you." I say slowly in a low voice, before launching myself at the prince.

I can hear the grin on Willa's face as her voice rings loud and clear inside my head again. Finally you're going to do something sensible and interesting.

Nix throws out his arm to catch me, successfully stopping me from attacking the starter of this curse as he says, "How do you intend on doing that, Princess? I think I would kill you first. No doubts about it, actually."

Tiredly, Nix says as he pulls me backwards, "Prince Teague, please just light the fire."

Teague gives a mocking bow as he says, "Well, since you asked so nicely..." With a wave of his hand, a nice fire pit complete with a lit fire appears before us, with three fallen logs positioned around it.

He does not move to sit, instead just keeping his piercing gaze on both of us. Nix carefully drags me to the closest one - which also happens to be one of the two farthest from Teague in the triangle - and forces me to sit on it. Once he's sure that I am situated, he hesitantly releases me, looking afraid that I'll try and attack Teague again. When I don't, he nods in obvious relief before sitting beside me. We're almost shoulder to shoulder, and silence shrouds our group as his hand slowly creeps over to mine. After a moment, he grabs it, and I don't honestly mind. A part of me does wonder what I'm supposed to make of it though. Is it romantic? Platonic? Comforting? I have no idea, and I'm honestly not sure I want to.

"Can you see the shapes in the fire?" He asks suddenly, and I'm not sure if he's talking to either of us specifically, both of us, or none of us at all. "If you watch the different ways it moves, you can sometimes see shapes in it. That's especially true for Fae flame. In fact, if you examine it closely enough..." He begins to ramble on, and I can't tell if he's honestly that excited about the topic or if he is just trying to fill the empty void our silence has caused.

Eventually his voice trails off, and he turns to look at me. It's then that I realize how close we really are in proximity to each other, with his face maybe a few inches away from mine. I stare back into his green eyes, not totally sure of what I am supposed to do right now. They really are a nice shade of green. They remind me of all of our days in my tree house with the green leaves sending patterns of sunlight in as we lounged around. Those were the days, when I was yet to enter the curse I worried so much about. The anxiety I had then is nothing compared to the nightmares - both literal and figurative - that have plagued me here. And poor Nix had to get roped into it.

As I peer back at him, something forces me to move closer, and suddenly I am kissing the nixie who has been my best friend for so long.

I jerk my lips away before he can do anything, covering them with my hands as I gasp, cheeks flushing red. "I'm so sorry!" I squeak, standing up and stumbling as I try to scramble away, not trusting myself. "I didn't mean to. I don't know what came over me." That's a complete and utter lie. I know exactly what came over me. Or, more accurately, who came over me. "I-I'm going to gather some extra firewood."

I stumble away, blood boiling and barely listening as Teague makes some comment about using the bathroom. I move almost blindly to get away, only stopping after a few minutes. I don't trust being any closer, but this seems like a safe distance.

"What the heck did you do that for?" I snarl as Willa slowly materializes before me, looking quite smug and pleased with herself.

Oh please, She purrs, You can't possibly be mad at me for giving you what you want. You forget that I am in your head, so no matter what you claim, I know that there is a part of you that wanted that. It was painfully obvious to me. Besides, if you had stayed to see both of those boys' reactions, you could have found out if Nix reciprocated. Or if your Teague reciprocates your feelings. For all you know, he might be jealous.

"He's not mine." I hiss quietly, eyes narrowing. "I don't care how he feels!"

We'll see about that. Willa says with mild amusement. As I just said, you forget that I am in your head. I can see through your lies and silly claims to what you truly feel. Which isn't creepy at all.

Angrily huffing, I spin on my heel and begin to trudge back a ways, determined to grab at least a bit of wood before returning to them. However, I don't quite get the chance. Something moves in the darkness, and I back away, only to find myself pinned against a tree. I look to either side, but hands slam down on both, successfully trapping me in place. Now terrified, I look up to see blue eyes staring back at mine, looking quite frustrated.

"What the heck was that?" The angry voice that greets my ears is quite unexpected. "Are you just kissing every boy you spend five minutes with now?"

I need to stop ending up in situations like this. Realizing our close proximity, my breath hitches, and I can feel my heart begin to pound even faster in my chest. All of my concern about what Willa made me do disappears to be replaced with even bigger concerns as a thought hits me straight in the stomach. What if that kiss with Teague was not a complete accident? The lie that I have been telling myself falls apart as I stare at his eyes, trying my hardest not to squirm at how close we are. Did I really mean to kiss Teague?

Have I fallen in love with the Dark Prince? What the heck is wrong with me?

"Teague?" I finally manage to say, voice squeaking upwards as I try to calm my breathing.

As if only just realizing what he's done, he pulls away. He takes a few steps back, looking away for a minute before looking back and running a hand through his hair. This appears to calm him down a bit, but not much.

His attention turns back to me as he says in a still frustrated tone, "Well?"

I stare at him, not sure what to say before finally mustering a pathetic, "That wasn't me."

He snorts, obviously torn between still being mad and being amused by the answer. "Oh really? And why am I supposed to believe that."

"Why does it matter to you?" I challenge in response, not sure why I am unwilling to expose the existence of Willa within my head to him. Is it because he'll think I'm crazy and failing this part of the curse already? Or am I scared of something else?

He steps closer, leaning so that our faces - and lips, although I try to not notice that - are mere inches apart again, and my breath hitches all over again. Even though I'm no longer trapped by his hands and could easily roll away and escape from being trapped in front of this tree, I can't make myself move. I'm frozen in place, unable to find a good place to stare that isn't staring at him. It's as if he's purposefully trying to make sure I have to stare at him. What the heck is he trying to accomplish here?

Then he pulls away, chuckling. "I was concerned that I'd lost some of my charm. But apparently you're just as enchanted by me as before." He doesn't even see my hand coming. Reeling backwards, he rubs his cheek and gives me a rueful look. "Yow! What was that for?"

"For being a jerk." I respond, giving him the first grin I've been able to offer him since his most recent arrival.

He snorts. "Perhaps that one was slightly deserved." Then he smirks. "At least I don't have to be concerned about losing all our progress on all of that bonding we've done in our time together."

I raise my eyebrows. "Bonding? Is that what you call it?" He nods and I shake my head, anger melting away completely, at least for now. "I happen to call it you getting angry and running away every single time you are around me for some reason or another. I didn't know you even had time to bond with my in between those."

He gapes, absolutely floored. "What about all that time with Jared?"

"When you pretended to be someone other than the Dark Prince and did what boils down to playing a rather elaborate and stupid trick on me?" Teague tries to protest my statement, but apparently comes up dry.

"You don't have to be so harsh." He pouts, folding his arms. "I'm doing my best here, Kitty."

You're letting him get to you, Mina. Willa hovers by Teague's shoulder, making me feel as if she is staring into my soul. Are you really going to fall for the enemy?

"Try harder." I say flatly, amusement sucked out of my voice. "We need to get back to Nix now."

I ignore the frustrated and puzzled look in his eyes, the pleased and almost triumphant look lighting up Willa's face, and the awkwardness left unaddressed between Teague and me as I trudge back to camp. How am I supposed to face Nix? I'll just have to hope that he's asleep when we return.

Woo! There's Chapter Four for you guys! Sorry it's not longer, but the next thing that's going to happen is something that I am determined to have wait till next chapter. Was this one good? Bad? Were you expecting Teague to be the one that interrupted Nix and Mina's somewhat tender moment? How about the commentary from Willa? How do you feel about how tense things were between Teague and Mina? Were you happy to see the tension finally somewhat break at the end there? How about Teague's return to being somewhat more like how he was in Little Black Star? Were you expecting the Nix kiss? What the heck do you think Willa was trying to pull there? How do you think Nix feels about it? What do you think of Teague's reaction? Were you expecting him to kiss Mina? Were you upset when he didn't? How about the fact that Mina totally slapped him? Did he have it coming? Where do you think their relationship is headed? Which ship are you rooting for? Please let me know your thoughts in a review!

Thanks so much for reading. Sorry this took so long to get out to you guys! I've been meaning to do it, but I was having trouble figuring out where I wanted to go. Thankfully, I now have a pretty good plan, so I think I know what I'm doing. I just need to figure out the major plot points of each chapter so that I can figure out how many chapters will be left till the end (which I am super hyped and excited to write, as I think it might be one of my best planned endings yet and it's going to be super fun to write). I promise I'll be updating Trouble : The New Generation and getting Evx my chapter of Playing Against Fates soon!

Until next time.

~ Dagger