They were coming.

The wolf at her feet reared up with a snarl, lips peeling back over sharp white canines. She glanced at him, gently lowering her boline so the white handle was level with her waist.

"Already? They shouldn't be here this early." Her voice, smoothed with a soft, lilting accent, sharpened ever so slightly. "Bloody hell." Sitting the knife next to the bistort she had been dicing to sprinkle over her front door, Aria of Garion whirled toward the window, small hands placed on the ledge as she leaned forward to watch the approaching army of knights.

"They shouldn't be here," she repeated. "They were still supposed to be near Brokline Swamp. That's two days ride from here. Damn." Her eyes, a blue so light they were almost white, narrowed at the splash of blood red darting across the violet sky. "They used the dragons to get here. Impatient, aren't we," she snapped and ripped her body around to scan her small home.

Samhain, named after the Wiccan festival of the beginning of winter, butted his head against her thigh. Unconsciously, she threaded her fingers through his silver fur. "I wasn't ready for this." She glanced at her cauldron with a frown. "Scrying would be useless now, I suppose, seeing as he is already here."

Aria moved back to the table, hands reaching for her boline, the pearl handle gleaming softly in the flickering candlelight. "Why can't he understand?" She murmured as she set back to cutting the bistort. "I can't marry Damrious. I won't. My power is not for him to use. It's…meant for him."

The wolf at her feet turned his massive head from her as the light from their torches threw macabre shadows across her wall. To keep her heart steady and her mind sharp, she asked her companion, "It's not stupid to love a man I've only seen in visions, is it?"

The silver Samhain regarded her with a slight cock of his head before his eyes traveled to the door. This had not been the first time she had mentioned her visionary lover to him. He was probably getting tired of her constant droning. Aria sighed as she idly reached down to comb her fingers through his silver mane. "I know, I know. But…there's just something about those dreams that call to me. I tell myself that I need to let go of the thought of him, but I can't. My heart refuses to forget him. It's pathetic, really, that I would fall in love with the one man whom I may never have. Roarke is the last person who I should set my sight on, hmm, Samhain? He is the heir to the Garion throne, if he were to ever return, that is. It is too bad that Kaen is only sixteen. He would be the best ruler. I'm surprised that Damrious hasn't killed him yet, seeing as he is the next full-blooded heir."

Her hands were steady on the knife as her front door burst open. The warm summer breeze lifted her midnight hair from her neck, tossing it softly over her slim shoulders. The beginning of her birthmark marring her snow white neck seemed to glisten as she turned slightly. Her eyes were calm as they landed on the next line to the throne.

"Damrious."

The Ruler's bastard son smiled, flashing straight white teeth. "Aria." He reached out for her hand, but she deftly moved it to her wolf, long tapered fingers curling around his long hair.

"What do you want?"

Damrious frowned, eyes briefly flashing black before he managed to tame his temper. His wide mouth lifted in a soft, patient smile. She saw the falter in his aura, knew without grabbing the crystal around her neck that his soul was tainted with hatred and envy. The knowledge had her chin slipping up haughtily. "Whatever you want," she said, voice uncharacteristically hard, "you won't find it here. There is nothing of mine that you can get your hands on."

Samhain let out a low, deadly growl as testimony to her statement. Damrious merely snorted at the wolf, brushing off his threat as if he were a mere puppy with new claws. It sent the wolf's hackles rising.

"Now, now, Aria, let's not got nasty." He moved toward her, pace slow and steady. His knights loitered outside her demur cottage in case she decided to defend herself with witchcraft. She knew it was a case that Damrious would not risk, not with his future as ruler hanging in the balance. Getting killed by a mere woman would not be allowed. "I merely wish to ask a favor of you."

She jerked her head away when he reached for her, but his large hands grabbed onto her stubborn chin, tilting her head until she was forced to stare into cruel green eyes. The wolf leapt, but with a slight jerk of his wrist, crackling energy swept her beloved companion into her cauldron. He let out a pained yelp as he tumbled over, the water in which she used to scry bathing his silken fur like blood.

She cried out to him, dropping her guard for the smallest of seconds. It was enough time for him to back her against the table. Her boline pressed uncomfortably against her back as she tried to lean away from him.

He clicked his tongue against the roof of his mouth. "I come for a favor, Aria." He ran a long fingernail against her collarbone, a sadistic grin twisting his features when she flinched. "As you know, my father is dying and with Roarke missing and Kaen being so young, I am to take the throne."

When she could no longer lean from him, she set her chin up, white-blue eyes frosty. "If Roarke were not missing, you would never take the throne. Had he of not disappeared a year ago, this kingdom would not be in such disarray. You will be a worthless king—"

He cracked his hand against her cheek, eyes dark with fury. He leaned into her, body pressed tightly against hers. Blood smeared across her full bottom lip as she glared at him. "Never disregard my ability as ruler, witch. When my no good father dies, I will rule this kingdom. You will bow down to me, and I swear on the grave of my half-brother, you will submit to me, willing or not."

Despite the fact that she had lived on her own since she was thirteen, Aria knew what he was threatening. Years of making potions for expecting mother or incapable men unable to perform in bed had taught her about the ways between man and woman. Though she was no exactly sure of how things went about, his threat was as clear as the hatred in his voice when he spoke of her prince.

He leaned back far enough to run his fingers across the swell of her breasts. She tried to rip away from him, heart pounding against her ribs, but he was stronger. He grabbed her chin once again, fingers tightening over her skin until he made sure she bruised. "You will be mine, Aria. Your power, your skill, your body will all belong to me. I might not have the pure Wiccan blood that flows through your veins, but my power will defeat yours, and when it does, you are mine."

Gently, he swept his thumb across her swollen lip and slid the bloody digit between his lips. "There is nothing I desire more than a Wiccan virgin."

Damrious smirked as he shoved away from her, turning around to shove the stack of books and bottled herbs littering a nearby table to the ground. "Do not forget my power, witch."

And he left her there, body numb and vision wavering as she slid down the table. With a few muffled commands, the Ruler's army beat away from her small cottage with no backward glances, the dragon's roaring their distain at being used so uselessly.

She pressed a trembling hand to her mouth to wipe off the blood. "Damn him," she cursed, eyeing the smear of red across her palm. "Damn him."

She stumbled to her feet, angrily marching out of her house. "I will never submit to a coward such as you, Damrious! Never!" With that said, she slammed her wooden door shut, disturbing the angelica roots dangling from her windows in white drawstring bags. "Protection against evil my arse," she muttered, yet reached down to replace one that had fallen. "I guess the roots have lost its touch. Then again, only so much can protect me from his evil magic."

A small, harsh growl sounded to her left. She whirled, breath catching when she remembered her wolf being tossed by Damrious. "Samhain," she cooed, gently kneeling down to stroke his fur. He had come to her only months before, but since then her world had revolved around him. He was her only companion in this cruel world, and without him, she was nothing.

"Come on, Samhain. Don't do this to me." She pushed back a wet strand of fur from his right eye. "I know you would never allow something as miniscule as Damrious to keep you down." When he barely even stirred, Aria frowned. "So this is what I put my hope in? Well, then, obviously I'm in serious danger."

She smiled when his gold eyes fluttered open, only to turn them to her in one of the most human glares she had ever seen. She chuckled. "There's my good boy. Now get up so I can clean up your mess."

She grinned when he threw her a look that clearly said 'Well thanks for being so worried about me'. She leaned over to brush her lips against his nose as he stumbled to his feet. "Thank you, Samhain," she murmured, all joking aside. "I know I can always count on you to protect me."

She turned away from him, hands on hips, regarding the sad scene before her. "Well," she sighed. "At least I now have a reason to clean this place."

---

If she were to name one thing about Garion that she hated most, it was the village market. She stood on the hill overlooking the ragged home of the Garionian commoners with something akin to dread weighing down her blood. The breeze, laced with the faint perfume of rain, threw her white cloak around her frame as she frowned down at the scene before her.

Samhain plopped down next to her when she sighed. "I hate coming here. I get so tired of people turning away from me in disgust or fear. It's not my fault my parents were Wiccan, is it?"

His gold eyes scanned over the rooftops, almost as if searching for potential danger. "If I didn't need the supplies, I would never come here." She reached down to pat his head. "Here goes nothing."

The winding dirt road leading to the village was clogged with human and demon alike. Vendors called out to pedestrians to purchase their wares while children ran down the streets in their daily games. Their parents called out to them before giving up with a huff and an idle wave of their hand. From the belly of the crowd, a vendor cursed as grubby children ran off with his merchandise and was lost inside the throng of people.

Demons loitered around the streets in hopes to snatch wallets from unsuspecting pockets while others weaved into normal human lives by selling dragon's blood and scales from the legendary creatures. Unicorn horns were placed inside glass boxes to preserve their magical potential and as she passed, a purveyor called out to her.

"Hey little missy! You look like someone who would need a unicorn horn." His ears, sharpened at the tips like spears, twitched slightly as someone near him screamed profanities as more children plucked products from their stands. He looked to be her age, no more than seventeen or eighteen, his voice still coated with a faint tinge of youth. He leaned toward her, crimson eyes sparkling with mischief as he awaited her coins.

Her eyes scanned his wares idly. Beneath her hood, she smirked. "Thank you, but I have no need for counterfeit horns. I prefer for mine to come for the source."

The demon scowled at her, adorable face twisting in anger. "These are real, missy. I got 'em first hand. Who are you to say they aren't?"

She bowed at the waist. "Forgive me, sir. I have no right to say so. It is just that your horns have no magical power to them." Beside her, Samhain watched the vendor with bored apathy.

"No magical…how the hell would you know? No one can see the magical value of merchandise unless they're…" Suddenly, his large eyes went wide. "You're a witch."

"I prefer Wiccan, but yes, I am a witch. No if you'll excuse me." She turned away from the vendor, eyes scanning the crowd. No one had sensed her presences yet, thankfully. They were to busy scurrying on with their own life to even notice she was the only one hooded.

"You're Aria. You're the one he makes sure everyone is so afraid of."

She paused, slowly turning her face around to him. His eyebrows were drawn together as his eyes roamed over her pure white cloak. Samhain jerked to attention, eyes hot on the young demon. Aria leaned toward him carefully, making sure her power licked across his skin. "Say nothing," she murmured. "I wish to gather my supplies with no distractions."

He glanced down at his clawed hand where her white powers danced across his fingers. He lifted his eyes to her, but they showed no trace of fear. It was such a surprising shock that her spine straightened.

Samhain growled low in his throat when the demon leaned toward her, so close, in fact, that she could smell the faint tang of cinnamon from the food he had snacked on earlier. Her heart pounded against her ribs. "They're talking," he whispered, reaching out his hand to tug at her cloak to pull her closer so his mouth nearly brushed hers. Her breath stopped in her chest as chills crawled down her skin, but she found them to be surprisingly enticing.

"Talking?"

The vendor glanced around at the people watching them with avid interest. Suddenly, he pulled back with a painted scowl. "So never think that these are fake, you damn woman. These here are as pure as rain, so don't go talking about what you don't know."

Aria's eyebrow jerked up as the demon started to toss the fake horns into a box beneath his stand. "Stay there," he mumbled, holding up one long finger. He swept his entire arm over the stand so his merchandise tumbled to the ground. Her eyebrow danced higher when she heard no sound. He snapped his fingers and with barely a tremble of the wind, his stand disappeared. People never glanced once at his use of magic.

"Demon magic," she mused, eyeing him with muted appraisal. "Most demons are unable to tap into their magic, especially at your age."

He waved his hand as he slipped a large bag over his shoulder. "Yeah, well, I've had time to practice." He walked toward her, causing Samhain to snarl at him. The demon glanced at him before shocked registered over his face. "Well that's interesting."

Aria glanced down at her companion. "What is?"

The boy, who she now realized was a dog demon of sorts, jerked his eyes to her. "You mean you don't know?"

Samhain gave a warning growl. The demon waved his hands airily and Aria found that it was probably a mannerism he did quite frequently. "Yeah, yeah, I get it." He started out into the sea of people before he skidded to a stop and turned to face her. His eyebrows rose. "Well? You coming or not?"

Aria glanced down at Samhain, a refusal hot in her tongue. Why should she follow this boy? What would it offer her other than a chance of him being part of Damrious's army? How was she to know he wasn't walking her straight into a trap? Aria frowned at him, unconsciously raising her hand to her crystal.

The demon sighed, scrubbing his hands over his face before plowing them into his long hair, bound at the nape of is neck by a dark leather band. "Look, sweetheart, I know you're antsy about this whole thing, considering I knew who you were with just a few words. You're voice isn't something you hear everyday, you know. But if you want to know what Damrious is planning, I suggest you follow me." He waved a hand at Samhain. "Your wolf can bite my ass if I get you into trouble. Better?"

She bit her lip slightly, eyes searching his crimson orbs. She found no hidden darkness lurking within them, and a quick glance at his aura showed him to be nothing more than an average, honest boy, if not a bit of a con artist. She tightened her fingers around her crystal before hesitantly following the demon.

When he found her pace to be too slow, he turned around and grabbed her hand, jerking her to his side with barely a glance at the snarls rumbling in Samhain's throat. "Yeah, yeah, you're scary. Now back off, mutt. This is between people, not people and wolves."

Aria opened her mouth to chastise the demon for saying such things to her wolf, but he beat her to it, instead saying, "The names Dmitri, by the way."

Her full mouth twitched. "Ferocious puppy?"

He scowled at her. "Yeah, yeah, make fun of my name. Yours means pure song, which is stupid, by the way, because, uh, hello? Pure song? What are you, a virgin lyric?"

She made a sound of anger in the back of her throat. "You're rude, you know that?"

He glanced back at her with a wiry grin. "So I've been told."

Aria could do nothing more than follow behind him as he weaved skillfully through the crowd, Samhain keeping a steady pace with them while seemingly glaring at the back of Dmitri's head.

"So, Aria, got a man at home?"

She choked, twisting her slim body to avoid sideswiping a breastfeeding mother. "W-what?"

He glanced back at her as if she were stupid. "A man. You know, a lover or husband or toy or something like that?"

Samhain made to snap his jaws around Dmitri's foot, but the demon moved away just in time. "Ah, watch it, mutt. I don't know where those canines of your have been. Royal trash, maybe?"

"Dmitri, leave him alone."

Dmitri's hand fluttered. "Yeah, whatever. But you best watch it mutt. If you're not careful, you might not be the only man in her life."

Samhain growled his eyes fiery on the demon. Aria opened her mouth to retort that he was definitely not going to be in her life much longer, but before she could so much as utter a single syllable, Dmitri jerked her into a dark alley, shoving his body roughly against hers.

Her eyes went wide, breathing shallow at being so close to a man, before she panicked. She opened her mouth to snap a meager protective spell before he clasped a hand over her, smothering anything she could say. Samhain snapped, teeth sinking into the demon's calf. Dmitri cursed, waving his leg wildly to get the wolf to remove his teeth from his skin.

"Damn you dog, let go! He's here!"

Aria managed a quick glance toward the light, breath coming out in a whoosh against Dmitri's hand. Damrious's men loitered around outside, carefully asking questions about seeing a white-eyed girl with black hair and scar on the back of her neck. She cursed and jerked her head to the side to dislodge his hand.

"Dmitri," she hissed, eyes brimming with anger. "You could have gone about that another way."

Dmitri glanced down at Samhain with a withering glare before smirking, fangs bright against the dark shadows of the alley. "But it gave me a chance to get close to you."

Samhain snarled and made another move to sink his teeth into the demon once again, but he moved back, hands held up in surrender. "Okay, okay, you damn wolf. She's off limits. I get it, I get it. No more pointing out how attracted I am to your master."

Samhain seemed to simmer with rage as Aria fought down a blush, jerking her wide white hood further down over her face. She wasn't used to being appraised so openly, for most people feared everything she was. It was…nice for a change, she admitted, glancing down at the ground when her skin heated. Samhain snarled at her before trotting off in a pout.

She blinked at him. "Samhain…"The wolf ignored her, instead watching the gentle flow of Ruler soldiers badger demon and human alike about her whereabouts. Obviously they had been to her cottage in search for her.

"I take it your wolf boy doesn't cope well with men taking a liking to you."

Aria blushed. "He's never had reason to."

There was a deadly glint in Samhain's eyes as he plopped down before his master, briefly pushing aside his anger at the both of them, his large head cocked in her direction but gaze steady on Dmitri, as if challenging him to come forth and try something to Aria.

Dmitri grunted. "Ah, cool your hackles, wolf boy. I ain't gonna bit her. I don't do virgins, especially when they're part of the prophecy. Besides, she has Wiccan blood flowing through their veins. She's safe," he sighed. "Well, until I get over my phobia of innocent witches. Then you might have something to worry about."

Samhain gave a soft warning growl as Aria settled a hand against his head. "Dmitri," she said softly, causing the boy to turn around.

She was a rare sight, he admitted, tucking his hands into his pockets. The white cloak draped over her, obscuring every inch of her body. The hood was long and wide, almost like the Reaper that prayed on the dead souls of Garion. That damn wolf, his body so large that when he stood his back grazed her waist, actually added to her almost ethereal appearance. It was strange, he decided, that he had been drawn to her without even seeing her face or the shape of her body. Dmitri sighed. That wasn't a normal occurance for him."What?"

He noted that her fingers curled against the wolf's fur, almost as if she were seeking comfort from that small touch. No wonder that damn wolf is so protective, he mused. That wolf was her comfort, her world, it seemed, and just touching him eased her soul.

So corny.

"Who is talking?"

He gnawed on the inside of his lip. "Ah. I forgot." Dmitri cocked a finger at her. "Come. We still haven't reached our destination."

Samhain seemed to roll his eyes as Dmitri strutted farther down the alley, pose lazy and almost cocky. It was then that Aria noted he had a tail. She paused, head titled, and watched the steady sway of a thick, floor length tail that curled upward to keep from scraping the dirty cobblestones. When he turned around, he lifted the red-blonde tail and curled it around his right shoulder.

"You've a tail."

He blinked slowly at her. "Yes," he said, eyebrow cocked slightly. "And you've a jealous wolf. Why point out the obvious?"

"You're adorable," she blurted out before she could help herself. Samhain reached back to sink his teeth lightly into her hip, causing her to hiss. Dmitri stared at her, before a slight blush graced his feature.

He turned around, idly running his fingers through the fur draped across his chest. "Hey wolf boy," he called out after they had started moving again. "You might want to start watching your back. I think I finally got over my phobia."

---

Dmitri brushed aside a thick cluster of foliage, courteously letting Aria dip beneath the branch. When she was out of harms way, the dog demon let the branch snap back into place, smacking the unsuspecting wolf across the chest. Dmitri snickered as he threw an arm around the girl's shoulders.

"When will you tell me?" She asked, eyes on his hand loosely draping across her. It was awfully close to her chest, she noted, and shrugged from his grasp. Samhain stalked toward them, occasionally jerking his head back to rip a leaf from his fur, eyes promising the demon serious pain. Dmitri ignored him as he placed his hand on the small of Aria's back, gently coaxing her farther down the worn grassy road.

"Where are we going?" She asked, raising her hands to push the hood back from her face. There were no pedestrians here, so she could afford to show her face to the world.

Dmitri studied her face, his eyes belaying a hint of shocked surprise. She turned away with a blush, instead glancing down to Samhain. Idly, she picked a small twig from his coat.

"They were kidding when they said you're different from us."

She let her eyes slip to him, the white-blue depths turning stony. "What do you mean?"

"You don't look human."

Her dark brows shot up at that, gaze seeking out Samhain's. He turned away from her, almost as if he could give her no consolation about Dmitri's comment. "Not human? I'm as human as anyone, I suppose. The only thing different is that I have Wiccan powers."

Dmitri regarded her with gentle appreciation. "Sweetheart, even the most beautiful humans don't look like you. You're features are more godlike than human. There's no way you can be only Wiccan with a face like that."

Her jaw tightened as Samhain seemed to grin. "So Wicca's can't be attractive, hmm? What, was I supposed to have a beaked nose and warts? Maybe have a hunched back and an old black familiar cat that can barely see two feet in front of him, much less help protect me? Tell me, should I also ride my broom across the skies when I can just as easily astral project to where I want?"

Dmitri held up his hands in amused surrender. "Whoa, there, sweetheart, I was just saying—"

"And do not call me sweetheart. I am nothing like that to you. Now, tell me what I need or I will leave here and hope to be rid of you as soon as I can."

Samhain smirked at him, turning briefly to eye his master with muted approval. "Look, I was merely stating a fact. There's no possible way you're human looking like that. You're too beautiful to be of this cruddy place we call Garion. It just proves that the prophecy is true."

Aria sighed and raked her slim fingers through her midnight hair. She had pulled it from her cape so it tumbled down her white cloak in thick curls, the ends grazing just above her hips. "Why do you keep speaking of a prophecy? And why did you tell me people were talking? Are you just leading me on? I need to know incase I need to protect myself."

Dmitri frowned, his eyes dropping to Samhain. Aria watched the two with a slight downward curve of her mouth. For a long moment, the two stared each other down, Dmitri's facial appearance changing ever so slightly. It was then she realized they were talking.

Aria turned away from them in muted jealously. She had been with Samhain for nearly a year, yet every time she had tried to make a physic connection with him, he would block her from his mind. She had given up long ago on allowing Samhain to become her complete familiar, but now he was talking with the demon as easily as he pleased. Why had he forbidden her to connect with him when he was chatting with Dmitri, whom he had taken a serious dislike to, like it was the most natural thing in the world?

Aria made a silent sound of hurt understanding as she turned away from them, unearthly eyes skimming over the flora. Since they were so chummy, she might as well gather herbs for her potions. Dmitri did prevent her from gathering her supplies at the village, so this was better than brooding over Samhain's obvious doubt in becoming her familiar.

She spotted a cluster of acacia flowers and a thick draping bush of honeysuckle, so as they continued their chat, she plucked the flowers from their home and sat them in her pale wooden basket. She deserved a good soap, she decided as she added more of the sweet smelling herbs to her basket. How long had it been since she had taken the time to make an aromatic potions for herself and not others?

When she got her fill of the perfumed flowers, she eased between towering trees, eyes heavy on the ground. She paused when she spotted lavender. "Hmm. Bishop Merriweather did say he needed a sexual stimulant. And, lavender does smell good when placed in bathwater…mine as well," she mused to herself, and proceeded to drop to her knees to gather the plant.

"Aria!" Dmitri snapped, stomping through the woods like an ogre. He skidded to a stop beside her, hands on hips. "Is that damn wolf allowing you to make a physic connection with him?"

She lifted to her feet and turned away from him, her basket held in front of her idly. "No, he is not."

She heard Dmitri curse hotly, but she ignored him, instead reaching down to pluck hyssop from the ground. Just what she needed to tap into dragon energy. Maybe then she could help keep Damrious from her home. If she could get a stable connection with the dragons, they could possibly help aid her when it came time to defeat Damrious. It was no secret in her mind that there would be a war between Damrious and the Magicals. She had seen it many a time in her visions, just as she had seen Roarke come to her when she needed him most.

"That stupid mutt," Dmitri muttered. "Why won't he let you?"

She gave a simple shrug. "Obviously he has no desire to forge a connection between us. I can do nothing if he does not wish to be one with my mind."

Samhain walked into the forest with them, eyes almost calm as he plopped down to watch them. Aria ignored him.

"You do realize that it means there's a higher chance of you being hurt or killed without his knowledge if you were to ever separate."

She grabbed a handful of horsetail as she shrugged once again. "That is not my problem. He doesn't see that as a good enough reason to connect with me."

Dmitri threw a withering glare at the wolf. "Well, witches—I mean Wiccan's," he added when she sent him an arched look, "need a familiar. I don't care what excuses that stupid mutt has for not doing it, but if things ever got bad and you needed him, he wouldn't be there to help you."

"Like I said, he must not be too worried about that."

Dmitri plucked the basket from her hands when she reached down to grab another herb, skillfully backing her up against a tree. She scowled at him, but it died on her face when he slammed both hands on either side of her face and leaned closer.

She heard Samhain growl, but she could do nothing as Dmitri forced a leg between hers, cutting off any chance she had to protect herself. He slid his hand down her neck, fingers dancing over the clasp of her cloak. Her heart stammered in her chest.

Samhain tried to leap forward to protect her, but Dmitri set up a demonic barrier between them. Samhain crashed against it, body skidding back at the force of the demon's magic "No, mutt. There is nothing you can do. You see, this is what happens to witches who have no connection with their familiars. She could allow you pass my barrier if your mind were in tune with hers, for when a familiar and witch become one, she can bless you with a portion of her magic, so if the time ever came where she was in danger, you could use it to free her. Without it, she's as good as dead, and you are the only one to blame."

Aria jerked when her cloak slipped down her shoulders to pool at her feet in a white puddle of silk. "Dmitri, stop—"

She lifted her hands to push him away, but he quickly reached down to pin both wrist above her head, his entire hand engulfing them. She tried to pull them free, body bucking against him as fear set in, but his grip was too strong. "Stop it, Dmitri! This is not the way to prove a point—," but her sentence died in her throat when he trailed a hand down the front of her bodice and started to rip at the laces holding her dress together.

"I will not stop," he snapped as the corset holding her dress together loosened enough for him to jerk it down her body. "Samhain needs to know what he's done to you, and if is the only way to prove it, then so be it."

She cried out when he yanked her simple white dress down to her waist, leaving her in nothing more than her breast bindings. "Stop, please, Dmitri. I can't…don't do this." She had never heard herself sound so pathetic, but she had never before been in a situation like this before. Not even Damrious has ever tried to go this far in his quest to scare her into submission.

"Are you watching, Samhain?" He asked hatefully, glancing back to the wolf. Samhain was still trying to crash his body into the barrier to get to her, but it was to no avail. The first trace of despair clutched at her heart when Dmitri fisted his hands in her skirt and jerked it up so it rode high on her thighs.

"Come on, wolf boy. Are you really going to let me rape her all because you won't allow yourself to become one with her? Are you that cowardly? Will you run away and leave her here alone? I will not stop, not even for her sake. I do not wish to do this, but dammit, mutt, you're punishing her for your own pride."

His clawed hands trailed up her slim thigh to fist against her drawers. He leaned against her, forehead pressed to hers and guilt drowning his voice. "I am so sorry, Aria." She closed her eyes as he prepared to rip her last barrier from her, wishing desperately that demon magic did not thrived on fear, skillfully blocking her from using her own against him.

It happened quickly then. There was bright flash of pain inside her mind as Samhain ripped into her head, into her heart as he connected their souls into one. She gasped at the pain, hands fisting against Dmitri's. But as quickly as it came, the hurt vanished, leaving her weak and drained.

Let me in, Samhain snarled, his voice deep and heavy with a lilting accent that bordered on Gaelic. Do not let him do this to you. You can fight him, Aria. If not, then let me help you.

Her eyes, swimming with shocked tears, found Samhain's. The gold depths of his eyes were so human that she gasped softly, breathing catching in her throat. I need you to close your eyes and concentrate on my aura. Can you do that?

She nodded, unaware that Dmitri has stopped his assault and watched her patiently. Her eyes fluttered closed as she brushed aside everything clogging her senses, instead concentrating on Samhain alone. She found him, his body crackling with a gold field that licked at his body like flames.

Good. Now think farther than that. I need you to see my soul, not just my aura. It's hard, I know, but you have to do this if you want us to be one.

But why? She asked him. Why would you want to do this? You've never wanted to before, so why now?

That damn dog has a point. I can't let you go through anything like this and not be able to help you. He wouldn't go through with it, despite his words. But someone else will, and I refuse to leave you alone because of my stubborn pride. But Aria, you have to realize, once we do this, we are one. There is no going back. Our minds will always be connected, less death separate us. If you do this, you will be mine forever. Not even your lover will be able to be this close to your soul. Only I can be. Can you handle that? Having a wolf demon being your soul mate of sorts?

Yes, she murmured, giving no thought to her answer. Samhain was her life and she would give anything to be connected with him. But she had never known that it was so close with familiar and partners. Normally, all it was between the two was a physic connection. Was their something different with him that caused their connection to run deeper? Why was he so different from other familiars?

Concentrate, Aria. Stop thinking about nonsense and get to it. We don't have much time.

An eyebrow rose at that, her stubborn mind trying to ponder deeper into that, but Samhain gave an impatience growl. Her mouth twitched slightly, body and mind completely forgetting about Dmitri. She felt her hands drop to her side, felt Dmitri almost shyly pull her dress back to rights, but when she opened her eyes, all she saw was Samhain.

She couldn't see the forest that surrounded them, couldn't feel the breeze combing soft fingers through her hair or Dmitri fumbling with her corset to keep her dress in place around her.

Samhain stood a few feet from her, his human soul towering over her demure height until she was forced to crane her neck to look at him. "You're human," she said, voice calm and a tad bit betrayed.

"Yes. It was why I was so hesitant about us becoming one."

Aria frowned slightly. "Why are you with me, then?"

Samhain lifted his chin, embedded with a shallow cleft, and smiled, fangs flashing in a mocking smile. "Because I have to protect you."

She studied his face, but could not take in any feature save the cleft or his amazing beautiful mouth, for his face from nose up was covered in a wolf-like mask worn by Roarke's own militia. His tunic was pitch black, the collar lined by thick tuft of blonde fur. The sleeves were long, extending past his hands and draping over his palm like gloves. His fingers, clawed like Roarke and most of his wolf brethren, were sheathed in a black leather, the knuckles cased by silver metal. His legs were covered by a lighter shade of black leggings, tight against his muscles. His feet sported thick black boots, only worn by armies of great wealth. "You're part of his army, aren't you?"

He blinked slowly, golden eyes regarding her with amusement. "Yes, you could say that."

She opened her mouth to say something witty to cover up all the tales she had told him about her dreams, but instead turned her head away with a flush. "Damn," she murmured. "No use in hiding it, I guess." She bit her lip as she glanced up at him shyly. It was no wonder she had always felt so close to Samhain. He was a man with wolf qualities, but boy was he a man. Her eyes drifted down his form before she could help herself. When she glanced up at his face, he was smirking.

"Why couldn't you tell me?" She murmured softly, turning her eyes from his muscled form to pick at her cloak, which she just realized Dmitri must have slipped on while she was talking with Samhain.

"Things would have been harder on you," he said, taking a step toward her. Her heart leapt into her throat. "You would have acted differently around me. Damrious would have known something was wrong, and would have looked deeper into it. He would have had one of his warlocks find the sources of your behavior and find that it was I who made you act so differently."

Her eyebrows drew together, marring her perfect features until she seemed to be a breathtaking human instead of looking like an untouchable being. "If Damrious could have one of his lackeys find out about your…human form, then why could I not see that you were a—"

And suddenly she gasped, hands rising to her throat. "I changed in front of you," she managed to squeak. "I-I did all sorts of things around you because you were a wolf, but your not a wolf, you're a man in a wolf's body and—oh bloody hell."

She fell to her knees. "You saw me naked." She hissed, anger boiling. "And you didn't even turn away! You—you, oh, you lecher!"

Samhain—could she still call him that knowing that he was a human?—had the gall to look flustered. "I…can't defend myself, but it was hard to turn away." He gave a rough, careless shrug.

"Oh! I should beat you into oblivion! But this is not the time," she scowled at him as she scrambled to her feet. A red hue bled into her cheeks as she tried to block all the times she had dropped her clothes when in his presences. She bathed with him in the same room, going on and on about Roarke and the last vision—oh, and she had told him about her steamy dream, too!—she had of the prince…

Speaking of.

"You're part of his army," she murmured, deciding to forgive him for just a little while longer. "Do you know where he is?"

Samhain looked uncomfortable for a moment before his shoulders straightened. "Yes. In fact, he was the one who sent me here to you. He is currently rounding up an army for the war we are prone to have."

Her heart galloped in her chest. "H-he sent you? Does that mean that—"

"He knows of his brother's plan to take you as his bride to rip away your powers. He also knows that your first lover will be the one who will be granted with a portion of your powers, just as I will be given a sample of it. He wanted me to watch over you, to make sure that Damrious did not try to rape you in hopes of getting a hold of your Wiccan gift."

"So…has he had…I mean, does he know—"

"He's had the same visions as you, I suspect. Otherwise, I doubt he would send me to you. I think he knows that you have some part in his life, whether he wants to admit it or not."

She felt a fist clench in her stomach at the thought of her prince seeing her vision. "But those visions showed us…" She turned away with a blush, hands twisting against the folds of her cloak.

"As lovers? Maybe. You do realize that your being with Roarke may not be sexually involved. He is a prince, where you are—"

She frowned, hopes dashed. "A measly commoner."

"Aria—"

But she held up a hand. "No, I understand. It was just a silly dream, right? I'm probably no use to him—"

"But you are. You see, you're the answer to our victory in this war."

Aria's eyebrow jumped at this. "Me? But that can't be right. How can I be the answer to this? I'm nothing more than a common witch who can do no more than cast a few protective charms and make a variety of potions. I can't…do anything other than that."

Samhain shook his head, his long, thick silver braid falling down over his shoulder to rest against his hip. She realized that his hair was almost longer than hers. "You're wrong. You are young, yet, Aria. You have never had a chance to expand who you are. You've been surrounded by four walls your entire life. You've taught yourself potions and a few spells from your mother's Book of Shadows, but you are meant for better things."

Something changed between them, she noted as her mind seemed to become hazy and he stepped forward, his body lined against hers. This wasn't like before, when Samhain had been nothing more than her companion. Now, she felt the tug of something different, and realized it to be the pull of attraction between man and woman. So this is what they feel when they come to me wanting love potions, she mused softly as he wrapped his calloused hands against her chin, mindful of the slight bruise left by Damrious the night before.

Either he seemed oblivious or guarded to the sharp yank, for when he leaned down to lock their eyes together, his tone was calm and patient. "Aria, you are made for so much more than to be an herbalist to the villagers. You are meant for power, for victory, for greatness that Roarke or I can never hold a candle to. You are our salvation and nothing anyone has said to you before can change that."

"But…" she stared meekly, but he cut her off by placing a long clawed finger against her mouth. The simple touch has her heart stuttering in her chest before tumbling into her stomach at the shock of the sudden fire that licked at her skin.

"Aria, your life is not meant to be stuck in that little cottage, doing nothing more than what people pay you to make. This kingdom needs you…Roarke needs you," he added as an afterthought, knowing full and well that she would do anything for the man she had fallen in love with in dreams.

"That's the reason he sent you to me," she said softly. He frowned when her breath caressed his finger, causing goosebumps to rise along his skin. "The only reason you're here is to talk me into aiding him in this bloody war."

Samhain frowned. "I…guess," he said slowly. "But Damrious will not think to ask. He will take."

"So that's my purpose to him," she murmured, something dark dancing across her nearly white eyes. "I am a tool in helping him win a war. Those dreams…were all of my own doing."

"Aria…"

"But I guess it was stupid to suppose that I could be of any real use to him. Like you said, I am but a commoner. And, it seems, his answer to victory." When she lifted her eyes to him, they were damp with acceptance. "But it is better than nothing, I suppose. I would give anything to help him out, and if fighting a war is what he wants, then so be it."

She pulled from him with a roll of her eyes, shoving down her hurt and burying it beneath the loneliness that had shadowed her life since her teacher had died four years before. "Besides, I can't allow Damrious to take control of this kingdom." She tapped a finger against her mouth. "By the way, does Roarke plan on returning to the throne once this has all settled?"

Samhain watched her expression carefully as he said, "He isn't sure. All he knows is that he has to stop Damrious from taking control."

"Then why doesn't he come home? I mean, if he were here, there would be no chance for Damrious to take control. He was already meant to be king, so coming home would douse any possible way for that bastard to become Ruler."

Samhain frowned. "It's…complicating, Aria. He can't just come home so easily. There are…things you wouldn't understand." He took a step back from her, putting a healthy distance between them. "Besides, Damrious would still form a coup to overthrow him if he were ruler. At least this way he doesn't know that Roarke is plotting against him, even when others think him dead."

She nodded. "I see." She glanced up at him, one eye narrowed slightly. "What am I to call you now? You must have a name, other than Samhain."

"For now, Samhain will do."

The eyebrow above her narrowed eye rose high on her forehead. "Just Samhain? Why not tell me your name? You are practically my soul mate, in one way or other. I should have a right to know your Christian name."

His chin—that cleft made him seem oh so yummy, she noted, even if she couldn't see the rest of his features—rose slightly. In wolf form, cocking his head so meant he was dead set on his decision and nothing, not even a bribe of cooked deer, could deter him away. She had tried. She gave up with a wave of her hand, idly noting she was copying Dmitri. "Okay, okay, another secret from me."

She regarded him with a slight purse of her lips. "Since you can't tell me your name, could you at least tell me your age? You will forever be in my mind and soul, so the least you could do is tell me what matter of man I will be stuck with." Her eyes wandered down his torso. He was lean, built in a way that told her of a warrior lurking behind the mask.

"Thirty?"

When he shook his head, she proceeded to walking around him, gauging his body with appreciation. She could tell he was uncomfortable, but it made it all the more enjoyable.

"No, thirty year olds don't have a butt like you." He stiffened slightly, but refused to cover said anatomy with his hands as his body wished to do.

"Twenty-five?"

"No."

She sighed. "I do so hate a guessing game." But she shrugged and continued to list out numbers.

"Twenty-three?"

When he shook his head once again, she asked, "Younger or older?"

"Younger."

"Twenty?"

He glanced at her slightly. "The next season I turn twenty."

"You're nineteen?" She stopped circling him in surprise. "You're only two years my senior!" And suddenly, she remembered all those times she had stripped in front of him, all the times she had confessed her girlish dream of being with the prince.

She made a small sound of humiliation. This was so wrong. She had been…with a nineteen year old…how did this all happen? She had never allowed anyone to see her unclothed, had thought herself protected with him watching, but to think that all along it had been one of Roarke's men!

"You bloody pervert!"

Samhain sighed. "Yes, yes, I get the point. But you didn't turn me away," he offered cockily, as if saying that brought a case to the situation.

"I didn't know!" She cried. "If I would have known, I would have shooed you out in a heartbeat!"

"Exactly."

She gasped in outrage as he fought to take back his words. "Look," he snapped when she stared to poke a long finger into his chest and ranted about how morally challenged he was, spying on an innocent, trusting girl who thought that her wolf was there to protect her, not have a free show. "Now is not the time for this. We still have not become completely connected. At the moment, I'm inside your mind, but when I pull out, that will be it, unless we finish this. Are you ready to become one?"

She shifted away from him, eyes doubtful and untrusting. "Completely? That isn't some hidden word for mating, is it?"

He was proud of himself when he didn't choke in shock. "No! No, it's not—where do you hear something like that?" At her narrowed glance, he sighed. "Fine. But no, that wasn't a hidden meaning at sex."

She nodded slightly, gently digging her white silk slippers into the ground. Her mind was awfully barren, she noticed. They were surrounded by nothing but a black whole. There were no tree, no animals, no anything but the two of them. She was surprised she even felt anything beneath her feet.

"You will not have scenery now," he said softly, catching her attention. Her eyes fluttered up to his.

"Why not?"

He smiled beneath his mask. "Because, your mind is not completely in tune with me, meaning there is little power behind out physic connection. Once we do this, you can imagine anything, any place, while speaking with me."

She bit her lip slightly; unaware that he watched her steadily. "Is this…is this the only way I can talk to you? By retreating into my mind?"

He shook his head. "No. We can talk telepathically in the real world. While I'm in wolf form, you in your own form. Then I will be your familiar."

Her eyebrows drew together slightly. "Does that mean you're not my familiar now?"

"Right now, I can be anything to you."

"Oh." So that meant that they could be…lovers here? Strange.

She turned to him, tired of keeping her eyes from him. "Will you ever show me your face?"

His chin lifted a fraction. "One day."

"Will you be able to reverse from your wolf form and into your human one in the real world?"

Samhain stepped closer to her, gazing down at her in almost a intimidating smile. "Yes, one day, I will." When he rested his large palm against her heart, she feared it would burst from her chest into his waiting hand. His lips quirked as her pulse pounded beneath his hand. "But now it not the time to discuss such matters. Are you ready?"

She nodded slightly, trying to forget that since his hand was so large it nearly cupped her inappropriately. "What do I need to do?"

Her eyes fluttered to his when he lifted her hand to press her palm against his own heart. Beneath her skin, she could feel the corded muscles and the warmth of his flesh. "Close your eyes," he murmured softly.

She did as she was commanded, breathing slightly labored. "Now, I want you to press down harder against my chest, almost as if you are trying to reach into me and grab hold of my heart." When her eyebrow jumped, he asked, "Can you do that without laughing?"

"It would have been better had you of not said that," she said, trying to smother a chuckle. She felt him sigh and straightened instantly. "Okay, I can do it."

But before she could, he laid his free hand over hers. "Whatever happens, do not jerk back, do you understand? It will feel weird at first, but if you break contact, it will be difficult for us to go any farther for a good while. This takes much of my power as it is."

She nodded, tiny lines drawing between her eyebrows when he dropped his hand. Hesitantly, she pressed forward.

And gasped when she felt her hand sink into him.

Her eyes fluttered open, only to watch her pale fingers slip past his black tunic, past his tan skin and into his heart. Something fluttered inside her as she felt his heart beat around her fingers.

"It's strange, I know, but you are touching a part of who I am. You're binding us together by grabbing hold of my heart, of my body, slipping into me so we can be connected." She trembled when her fingers brushed against the pounding organ, felt the slick slide of it around her palm.

"Are you scared?" He asked softly. "You have to know that what beats in my chest now is not what sustains my life. What you feel around you is my heart, my feeling, my soul. It's not the organ that beats blood through my veins, but what I hold dear to me. It is what makes me hurt, makes me love and hate and desire. What you hold now is me. It is everything I am."

She bit her lip until it bled, feeling his soul seem to caress her skin. "Why would you want this? Why would you want me to hold this, to know what lies within you? Why would you let me have this?"

Something danced in the gold depths of his eyes as he leaned down slightly, brushing his lips against her marred brow. "Because I am meant to protect you. My life revolves around making sure you are safe, that no one but your mate touches you. My life is yours, Aria, just as your life is mine."

She trembled when he cuffed her wrist with his large hand. "Now grab hold of me, Aria."

Her body jerked in surprise. "What?"

"Wrap your hand around my heart, Aria."

Her eyebrows, drawn together in a tight line, lowered over her white-blue eyes as she did as he commanded, her slim fingers wrapping around the beating organ. Fire danced in her stomach as he gently pulled her hand from his chest.

She stared at the white orb dancing in her palm as if unbelieving that she held a part of Samhain within her grasp. "Samhain…"

"What you hold is a part of who I am. That is my heart's fire, and if I were to ever die, it would die as well. You would know if I were killed in battle, for when it goes out, it feels as if a part of you dies."

And suddenly, the hand against her chest pressed forward against her, his hand sliding into her just as she did to him. She could feel his calloused hands against her entire being and trembled. Something ignited with in her, causing her knees to turn to mush. She nearly collapsed against him when he pulled from her, withdrawing her own heart's fire from her. She now felt slightly empty, as if a part of her soul had been taken from her.

She stared at him, mouth slightly parted in shock, as he lifted the white orb of light to his chest, right above his heart. She watched in avid fascination as it burst around him in a bright flash before sinking into him. He shifted slightly. "What I took from you is now a part of me. That part of your soul is now mine, and when you replace my light with yours, there is no obstacle between us."

He stepped up to her; body pressed against her, and lifted her hand so the orb beat between them. "Do you trust me?" He asked softly, his words a caress against her ears.

And as she looked up at him, eyes searching his, she found the answer easily. Her mouth drew back in a smirk. "With my soul."

Samhain smiled down at her, fangs flashing, and gently pressed her hand against her chest. The orb flashed hotly, sinking into her skin with the steady thrum of a heart beat. She gasped slightly, hand fisting beneath his, as the part of her soul that had felt empty burst to life, leaving her weak and trembling.

She collapsed against him, confused at the emotions working their way through her system. "Samhain," she murmured, silently asking him what was happening to her.

He shook his head. "We need to return," he said softly, and before she could so much as utter a word, he pressed two fingers to her forehead.

Aria jerked awake, breathing coming out in short pants as the world bled around her, the sounds pounding against her ears, the bright gray of the clouds blinding her and the breeze skimming over her skin like icy fingers.

She glanced hurriedly around her, eyebrows drawing together when she found she was flat on her back, pillowed by what had to be Dmitri's thighs. She scrambled up to a sitting position, her senses surging back into normal.

And found herself eye to eye with Samhain.

She blinked at his calm state, his eyes almost smug. "Samhain," she said softly.

Feel better after your nap? You've been out for about thirty minutes.

Her eyebrows jerked up as his deep voice bounced around her head. "Thirty…but I was with you the entire time!" She glanced back a Dmitri. His eyes were wide, the crimson depth turning almost pink in his surprise.

Yes, but you see, your mind was completely trained on me, causing your body to collapse. Dmitri thinks what he did to you caused you to faint. It's why he looks like he's about to hit the floor and beg forgiveness. Samhain paused slightly. I would give my canines to see that…

"Samhain," she snapped, eyeing him with a narrowed glance. "If I passed out, then why didn't you? You were in my mind."

His cocked his head slightly. I've done this before, Aria. Communicating through souls is an easy task for me. I can keep my mind on reality while still being within your head.

For some reason, this made her scowl. "Other women, I suppose?"

Samhain's eyes glinted with amusement. I wish, but no. My master taught me the ways of communicating through the mind, heart, and soul. I've been at this for ten years. You've just begun. You should feel privileged. You are the first woman I have ever been connected to. Well, other than my mother.

She couldn't help the rise of her eyebrows that screamed of cockiness. "Hmm. I think you should be the one to feel privileged."

"Umm…"

Aria turned to see Dmitri wringing his hands, eyebrows drawn together in confusion. "I take it you are psychically connected now? I mean, you are holding a conversation with someone, unless you just happen to like talking to yourself." Dmitri bit his lip, eyes clouded over with guilt.

Aria rose to her feet, dusting off her cloak that he had slipped on her after she collapsed. "Yes, we are."

Samhain's voice was amused as he said I'll teach you how to speak within your head instead of talking to thin air. It will come in handy if we are ever split apart. No one will be able to tell when we speak to one another. That is, he added when she nodded, if you can school your features so they don't give you away. You do hold your heart on your sleeve.

She frowned at him slightly before sticking out her tongue. Samhain's mental chuckle seemed to skim across her skin, but at the moment, she had other business to attend to.

Aria whirled, fury making her eyes a solid white when they landed upon Dmitri. He yelped at the retribution her eyes guaranteed, stumbling backwards until his back hit a tree. She blocked him in, mimicking his earlier position by slamming her palms on either side of him despite their large height difference.

"You," she snarled, "are you so dead."

His eyes were painfully wide. "I-I kinda f-figured that much," he stammered, flinching when Samhain seemed to grin smugly at him.

Aria's eyes narrowed, tiny finger digging into his chest hard enough to bruise. "If you ever do anything like that again, I will not hesitate in making sure you are sterile in every possible aspect. Understood?"

"Yes ma'am," he squeaked, hands twisting against the hem of his dark green tunic. "I understand perfectly."

Her eyebrow rose in challenge before she pulled away from him, snapping up her cloak hood so it hid her face from view. "Good," she said calmly, and to Dmitri, it was scarier than any snarl she could throw his way. "Now, tell me about those who are talking."

Dmitri, his respect for this tiny girl rising to amazing heights, stammered, "Umm, well, you see, I-I can't tell you."

He watched her spine stiffen, saw her reach for her hood, and quickly added, "You have to come with me! You have to come with me to see her."

"Who are you speaking of?" She asked, glancing down slightly when Samhain plopped down beside her.

Dmitri's face twisted in annoyance, all fear towards Aria's anger dissipating. "That damn cat's teacher. She's knows everything about what Damrious has planned. You see, she's a gypsy."

Aria opened her mouth in a slight 'o'. "A gypsy?"

"Yeah. She's teaching this bratty cat about scrying and seeing into the future and reading palms and crap like that." Dmitri frowned as if thinking of something unpleasant. "That stupid cat was the one who told me about the old woman's vision."

"You'll take me to her, right?"

Dmitri opened his mouth before closing it with a heavy sigh. He waved his hand. "Yeah, yeah, I'll take you to her. I don't want to see that damn Emma, but yeah, whatever. Since this does deal with you, I think I can put up with Emma for awhile."

Dmitri turned on his heel to plow back to the road, hands shoved within his pockets. "Vala lives just on the edge of the forest," he called back, "near the dragon roost. She's quite taken with them, though I don't know why. Grouchy creatures," he muttered beneath his breath. "Always wanting to roast you to a crisp for no apparent reason other than to show their fire abilities."

Aria jogged up to him, fisting her cloak in her hands to keep from tripping over the long length. "But gypsies are nomads, right? Shouldn't she be, I don't know, with her family?"

"Emma is her family."

"But you said she was a cat demon."

Dmitri glanced over at her, unconsciously slowing his pace so she could keep up with him. "She is. In a way," he added with a slightly frown. "You see, she's a half breed. Her mother, a gypsy, was raped by a full-blooded cat demon one day while resting from a performance. So, she's a mixture of both. She looks like a cat, but in reality, there is more gypsy in her than any demon blood. She rarely admits that she's even a half-demon."

"Oh. So is this woman her grandmother?"

Dmitri clicked his tongue against the roof of his mouth as he pondered on how to answer her question. "No, not by blood. It's…difficult. Emma's mother died during child birth. Her father attacked their camp, killing off every member of their tribe, only leaving Vala, who had, at the time, been delivering his child. He swept into the tent, saw his victim writhing in pain whilst she delivered his child, and froze. He had an idea that when he raped her she was pregnant, but he didn't expect to barge in on her birthing the child then. He had planned on killing both woman and child. So, a few minutes later, Emma was born—unfortunately—and the cat demon decided that he would raise her as his own, seeing as she was his blood, though only part of it flowed through her veins. But Emma's mother wouldn't have it. She had come to love her unborn daughter as she grew within her, and letting him take her away was unforgivable. So, when he tried to rip Emma away from Vala, she used what little strength she had to curse him.

"Gypsies, as you know, are like witches, in a way. Only a certain few have the power to cast spells and curses. Emma mother was a chovihanis, meaning she dabbled in that sort of thing. She was big into tea reading and crystals and such, so she had seen this day coming. She went to a wizard before hand, had him give her the spell that would curse him, and laid it on him. Problem was, once she said those words, the curse backfired. Not only was he cursed, but she as well. They both died there in that tent, leaving Emma and Vala alone. Vala was already old and decrepit then, so raising a whelp wasn't exactly what she had in mind. So, Emma became her apprentice. The old woman swears up and down that Emma is nothing more to her than her servant, but we all know that isn't the case. She's head over heels in love with her, though I can completely understand why she would be weary of it. That damn half-breed is all fire and bite. There ain't anything about her that isn't annoying."

He sighed. "But yeah, since their entire bandwagon was killed, and she was too old to cart around an infant with her, she made homage here, in these woods. The dragons, believe it or not, help her out. They protect anyone who might have a dislike toward Emma or Vala."

Aria glanced down to make sure Samhain kept pace with them before she managed to keep equal stride with the demon. "So…this Emma…are you in love with her?"

Dmitri stumbled to a halt, causing Samhain to trot around him to make sure he didn't crash into him. "L-love her?" He squeaked. "How can you ever think I would love that…that…thing?!"

Aria blinked. "You just…it's in your eyes, when you talk about her. Nevermind. You should know better to listen to me. I'm not exactly an expert in love. The only thing I know about it is the physical aspects of it. Nothing more."

Dmitri regarded her with a scowl. "Huh. Don't ever think that half breed and I have anything going on." He shivered, as if disgusted. "I'd throw myself to the dragons before I ever thought of…loving her."

"Oh…well then. Shall we proceed?"

Dmitri frowned. "Yeah. Follow me."

---

Aria blinked, eyebrows shooting up into her hairline as she got a good look at Vala's home. Dmitri stepped beside her, reluctance dragging his mouth down into a frown. "Let's get this over with, shall we?"

But Aria still couldn't seem to digest the placement of Vala's quarters. "Umm, Dmitri," she said slowly. "Why didn't you tell me she lived inside the dragon's cave?"

The red-blonde demon shrugged. "You didn't ask." He ignored her scowl as he stepped toward the yawning mouth of the cave, shoulders slumped. "Hey, Furball! We're here. I know you were expecting us so stop jacking around and let us through."

Aria jumped when a heaving roar thundered past the rocky entrance. The dragons, it seemed, were not pleased with Dmitri's tone. "Awh, look what you've done, Dmitri. You've made my babies upset."

The voice was unlike anything Aria had expected from the cat girl. She had expected a high pitched giggle to float to her ears, but the soft, purring lilt coming from the shadows threw all those ideas out the window. This was the girl that Dmitri found annoying?

"Yeah, well, tell them to back down. Last time I was here they nearly burned all the hair off my tail."

There was a deep chuckle that had Samhain jerking at the shiver it caused. Not even Dmitri could hold it back. He scowled. "Dammit, Emma, let us in. She's here."

There was a slight pause, as if the woman were processing the information. "She's here?" She asked softly, the humor gone from her voice to be replaced with something akin to dejection. "Oh. Well then."

Emma stepped from the shadows hesitantly, eyes lifting to the sky as a frown tugged at a mouth that seemed too wide and full for a girl no older than sixteen. Her hair, the color of the sun, was tied up into a high ponytail that tangled around her knees, a thick wing of it jutting forward from her forehead before draping over her right bright emerald eye. The pupil was a mere slash against the startling iris. Her eyes, unsurprisingly, were curved like a feline, the lashes so long and thick that it seemed she had painted kohl over them. Her fangs flashed when she sunk her teeth into her lip, small nose wrinkling slightly when landing on Dmitri. He scowled at her.

She sighed softly before giving a rough shrug, arms folding over her small chest. Aria nearly gawked at how muck skin the girl was showing. A sarong was wrapped around her chest in bright, vibrant colors of greens and blues, one side draping over her shoulder. The other was bare, dipping low enough that the curve of her breast was exposed. Her collarbone was exposed as well, the cloth covering her opposite shoulder hanging low enough to leave her entire neck and skin above her breasts visible. The ocean-colored sarong ended at her waist—which was so tight it outlined ever possible curve the girl had (Aria fought down a pang of jealousy, glancing down at her own meager shape)—and was tied back with a purple ribbon wide enough to be one of the biggest bows Aria had ever seen. Jangles lined her wrist up to her elbows in a variety of colors. Ropes of beads, in the same array of colors as the bracelets, curved around her neck. Her skirt, now bleeding into a different hue of colors, was a surprising mixture of reds, pink, and oranges. It was shorter than what most women of Garion wore, but what made it downright shocking was the long slit up both sides that stopped at the beginning of her thighs. A string of white and red beads were roped around her ankle.

Aria blinked at the girl, wondering if she had ever seen so many colors in her life, completely oblivious to the fact that she was being studied as thoroughly as she was with Emma. "So this is the famous Aria, huh?" She asked softly, head titled downward. A huge white bow, almost as big as the one around her waist, tied her amazingly long hair back.

"The rumors don't do her justice, do they, dog boy?"

Dmitri glared. "No. They don't."

Emma stepped forward, arms still crossed over her chest, and started to walk around her in slow circles. She reached up, clawed hands curving over her hood, and jerked it down. Aria opened her mouth to snap a comment about invasion of personal space before Emma stepped before her.

Aria tilted her chin up at the tall demon, eyebrow twitching slightly. Emma frowned before she sighed. "Yeah, yeah, go ahead and laugh. I know you want to."

Aria giggled as the two cat ears perched on the top of her head. They were black, covered in a fur that looked like silk. Emma watched her as she laugh, ears twitching ever so slightly. "Done yet?" She asked, yet her tone was patient, as if she were used to being laughed at.

It sobered Aria immediately. Her smile was soft as she said, "They're adorable."

Emma cocked her head, the tip of her thick ponytail grazing her ankles. "Thanks. You're the first to say that."

Dmitri frowned as she whirled around and stalked to the cave. Aria leaned back when her hair threatened to whip at her face. "Let's get this over with," she said, pausing only long enough to wait for them to catch up. "Vala's been waiting for you all morning. She should have no better, considering Dmitri led you here."

"Why you damn—" Dmitri balled his hands into fits that ached to wipe the smirk from her face.

"She's disappointed in what you did," she added, but there was no bite to her voice now. "She saw what you nearly did to the witch."

He growled at her, folding his arms over his chest. "I did what was necessary."

Emma skimmed her tongue over her mouth. "Vala said that what you did was an insult to women and that you're not worthy of even gracing my shadow, but we all know that's already the case."

Aria flinched when Dmitri stormed up to the half-demon, his face so close to hers that for a moment, it almost looked as if they were kissing. She heard Samhain sigh inside her head. He's an idiot.

Aria mimicked his sigh as Dmitri snapped, "Look here, you no good half-breed, what I do is not any of you or Vala's business, so stop trying to weasel your way into my life, got it? It's bad enough that I have to see you at all, or that I even have to socialize with that wrinkled old hag, but I'll be damned if you two have any part in what I do. Got it?"

Emma's stricken expression had him backing down, apology dancing on his tongue, but she was already walking away. Aria flinched. "Let's go. This half-breed doesn't want to be in your company anymore than she has to."

Hands wringing, Aria passed by Dmitri without so much as a second glance, following behind the torn demon. Her back was ramrod straight, shoulders appearing so tense that it looked painful.

"The dragons won't bother you if you don't bother them. They're gentle creatures, so there is no need to keep looking over your shoulder." Her tone was professional, a clear turn from the carefree sarcasm that had previously inhabited it before.

Aria refrained from doing just so when they passed one of the enormous creatures. They watched them with cautious eyes, thick tails whiping to and fro incase of danger. Aria tried not to choke at the heady scent of fire and charred animals as she carefully sidestepped a baby dragon. She nearly yelped when it bobbed its head against her calf in greeting.

She crashed into the wall, all but tripping over Samhain in the process. The dragon's roared at her sudden movement, the sound bouncing painfully off her ears. From in front of them, Emma laughed, all hurt vanishing. "Calm down. He's just greeting you. He's a friendly tyke, aren't'cha?"

Hand pressed over her racing heart, Aria watched as the blue and gold dragon trotted over to Emma and licked at her fingers. "He means no harm. He prefers humans over dragons and demons, for some reason."

She watched as the baby ran to Aria's side, and proceeded to weave around her feet like a playful cat. "Well," she said in a voice coated with amusement. "Seems you found yourself a new pet."

Aria flinched at the hot golden eyes of the baby's mother raking down her form as she hurriedly followed after Emma, the baby still leaping around her feet. "Watch out," Emma advised. "Don't step on his tail; else his mother will get a mite upset."

Aria slowed her pace, eyes on the dragon. He cooed up at her, almost like a bear's throaty yelp, and had her hands itching to pick him up and cuddle him to her chest. "You can, you know." Emma stopped and turned, hands tracing over the cragged walls of the cave. "He's not that heavy. It's the reason he's dancing around you now. To get your attention."

Aria glanced down at the baby, who plopped in front of her to glue pitiful eyes on her. He gave a soft mewl. Aria, with a hesitant glance back at the mother, reached down to pick up the baby dragon. He met her half way, leaping into her arms and curling there, tail draped over her arm and swinging in joy. Aria nearly toppled at the weight. "Not heavy?" She managed to croak, and adjusted the dragon in her arms so his head was nestled beneath her chin.

Emma scratched the back of her head sheepishly. "Oh. Right. I keep forgetting that you only have the strength of a human. You want me to take him?"

The dragon gave her no such choice, however, and crawled up her until he was sprawled over her shoulders, spiked tail roping around her neck. She really hoped he didn't make any sudden movements.

Emma laughed. "Nevermind then."

They continued walking on, staying to the side of the dragons (Dmitri was practically plastered to the cave wall). The baby dragon was asleep on her shoulder; his head nestled against her jaw, and made tiny coos when she reached up to scratch his pointed ears.

"Emma, can you tell me about those that are talking?" She risked a glance back at Dmitri to find his gaze resting on the cat girl. "Dmitri said that they were talking, and that's why I'm here."

"No, that's not. You're here for more than just that. But for those who are talking? It merely means that people are finally realizing that the prophecy is within their reach. They know of the war to come, and are thinking of ways to help fight or run. Those talking are the ones on Damrious's side. The ones who are hired to bring you to him."

"Hired? What do you mean?"

Emma sighed. "He wants your powers quickly, before Roarke rises with his coup. He knows that the prince is not dead, and is gathering an army that can take him down with little fight. He knows that if he gets you on his side, Roarke's damned. So he will do everything in his power to get to you. He wants you married and bedded to him before the dawn of our war."

Aria stepped over a long tail as she hurried to catch up to the demon. "So you're saying that the first man to have me, even if I'm willing or not, gets a part of who I am?"

Emma stopped, causing Aria to follow suit. She pulled her hair over her shoulder and started to pluck at stray hairs. "Look, Aria, I'm only supposed to give you minor details of what is to happen. If I leak too much information to you, I could screw up fate. I can't tell you any more than I already have. That is Vala's choice, and hers only. You can ask me about the war, about your place in it, but the rest, I can't say."

"So you know what my fate is?" Her voice was soft with doubt, eyebrows drawn together.

Emma shook her head. "You future can only be decided by you, but yes, I have seen what your future might be. I know how all of your futures might end up, but I won't say."

Emma turned around to lead them to Vala, but Aria's next question had her stiffening. "Have you seen your own?"

Emma tinkered with her bracelets. "Yeah. I have, unfortunately." But she turned to smile over her shoulder. "My fate's been sealed since I was born, and I can't change it. I am cursed, after all."

Aria's eyebrows snapped together as Dmitri managed to slide next to her. "Cursed?" She glanced at Dmitri, seeking his countenance for a sign of understanding, but he shook his head. "I don't know. Vala's never told me that much. That's one thing they won't say is what lies ahead for Emma."

She turned to them now, cat eyes narrowed. "Believe me, Dmitri, my fate is one you would be proud of. Now, are you ready? We don't have all day."

Dmitri frowned at her back as they weaved through the tunnels of the cave. They stopped when they came across a forked path that branched off into four different tunnels. "If you ever need to come here, and I'm not with you to show you where to go, you need to know which path to take." She pointed a long, clawed finger at the farthest tunnel. "That leads to the herb room, where we keep potions and magical weapons. It's father down, and takes at least an hour to get there. The path weaves and braches off, but if you need to get to it, always follow the right path. Never go left or straight when you have a choice to go right.

"The one next to it is forbidden. The king and queen of the dragons reside there, and no matter which direction you walk there, you will end up in their lair, and they will kill you, no questions asked. Vala made a deal with them, that if she could build her home here, she would warn them of potential danger. Damrious can, after all, control the dragons against their will. He's already broken into here once."

"The one we're standing in front of leads to our home. If you want Vala, you follow this path. The last one leads to my room, so never enter there, unless I'm with you. That is very unlikely, because no one but me has ever seen it. Understood?"

Aria nodded, eyeing the second tunnel worriedly. "Good. Aria, you realize that you won't be able to get rid of that dragon. He's chosen you as his partner."

Her blinked in confusion. "What?"

Emma wrapped her arms beneath her chest as she leaned against the cave leading to Vala's home, a smirk dancing over her mouth. "Dragons don't associate with demons or humans unless there's a connection between them. He chose you, out of all of us, and it's expected of you to keep him. If you don't, then he won't be able to survive. He was born for you, and you only. His mother has no say in it." She titled her head slightly. "It's rare, for a dragon to choose a human mother. This hasn't happened since Roarke's mother was still alive, and she died giving birth to Kaen sixteen years ago."

Aria glanced down at the slumbering baby. "He's…mine?"

"Yep. You do seem to attract animals, don't you?" She grinned down at Samhain. "Now, we've wasted enough time. Vala's already steaming about Dmitri waiting so long to bring you here and she won't be pleased that I've kept you longer than necessary. Come," she said, cocking her head toward the cave.

Torches lined the wall like solders, the light causing their shadows to twist into ghoulish beings. Aria watched Emma's shadow, jerking when it seemed that her silhouette seemed to form into a long, sleek cat. She rubbed at her eyes and when she glanced back, a somewhat human shadow danced along the walls. Aria sighed.

"So," she stared slowly. "Vala…knows we're coming?"

"Hmm? Oh. Oh, yeah. She expected you a few days ago, but things became hectic, what with Damrious scouting out prospective Wiccan's and demons to take the front lines to watch his back."

"He came here?" Dmitri shoved past Aria, nearly causing her to crash into the walls, the dragon's added weight dragging her down when she tried to gain footing. She glared at the back of his blonde head when Samhain thankfully darted toward her so she could use his spine as leverage to stay steady.

"When? Did he talk to you personally?"

Emma raised an eyebrow at him before turning her nose up daintily. "Yes, he did. Personally. He said that a demon, even a half breed, can hold more power for his army. He said that I would be useful to him."

Aria crept closer to watch the shocked emotions skitter across his face. "He knows where you live? Wait, Emma, what did you tell him? You're not…"

Emma sighed as they started down a curved seam of stairs. Aria peeked over her shoulder, mouth forming an 'o' of shock at how far down it seemed to go. "That's…far…"

Yes. Vala likes to separate herself from others in anyway possible. Most people are smart enough to forgo the stairs and turn tail. Those who do come down here must be in shape.

Aria sighed again. "In other words, this is going to be hell for me." To get her mind off the trek that lay ahead, Aria decided to listen onto the demons' conversation.

"Dmitri," Emma said, her tone coated with aspiration, "do you really think I would go to him? I might be a half breed, but that doesn't mean I have to immediately grovel to a higher power. I'd appreciate it, even if you can't stand me, to have a little more faith in me."

Aria cocked a brow when Dmitri lowered his head. "Emma, I don't…it's not that I…well, hell, I just wondered. There's no telling what that woman will get herself into."

Emma scowled at him, shoulders squared. "Are you calling Vala a traitor?"

"What? Why do you always have to twist my words, huh? I just meant that there's always a chance she'll get herself into trouble and then have you scrap her out of it."

She plopped her hands on her slim hips. "Oh?" She asked coyly, leaning down closer to him when he trotted down a few stairs and made them eyelevel. "Since when do you care what I have to do?"

He sputtered. "I don't. In fact, I don't care if you go to him. Suits me better, anyway."

"Really? You wouldn't care if I switched sides, and that he promised to make me his mistress, once he got a hold of Aria and bedded her that one time?"

Dmitri blanched, body freezing as she moved down the spiral of stairs. The torches dwindled in number, and before Aria knew it, there was nearly no light at all. "He…offered you that?"

Emma shrugged, stopping momentarily to pull the last flickering torch from the wall. "Yes, in a way. He offered 'the greatest possible pleasure I could ever want'." She blinked. "I didn't understand what he meant by it, or what he meant by mistress either, or bedding now that you mention it, but it sounded good."

Dmitri nearly tripped over his own feet. "You don't know what a mistress is? Or bedding?"

Emma lifted the torch above her head, the fire's flame bathing the stairs in an orange glow. "No. Vala says that things like that aren't meant for me to know. I asked her."

"So she would have just let you go and be that bastard's mistress?" Aria watched in amusement as Dmitri simmered, face flushed and tail standing erect above him.

"Well…I wouldn't have gone anyway. I didn't like the way he looked at me, so I didn't go. Besides, Vala said that if I went, I'd be throwing away my future. Or…more or less what little time I have."

"Vala doesn't tell you anything, does she?" Aria asked, wondering how the girl didn't know what a mistress was when even she knew, and she had never had anyone to teach her about it.

"Umm, no. What is a mistress?"

While Dmitri turned an interesting shade of red, Aria trotted over to the demon, frowning when she realized she was at least six inches taller than her. "Do you know…about, umm…things between a…" Aria flushed. "Things between a man and woman?"

Emma blinked. "What about them?"

"Well, first off, do you know the difference between them?"

"Of course." Emma glanced down at her with an arched look. "Men are bumbling cowards and women are the tie that keeps them in line."

Aria felt her head drop forward in shock. "No, no, Emma, that's not what I meant. I meant…oh, what's the word…"

"Are you talking about sex?" Dmitri's voice cracked on the last word, causing him to blush and clear his throat.

"Ah ha! Yes, that's it. Do you know what that is?"

"Never heard of it."

Aria traced her bottom lip with her index finger. "So you know about procreating?"

"Nope."

"Do you know how babies are born?"

"Vala says that since I'll never have to worry about birthing children of my own that I don't need to know how it comes to be. She says that about a lot of things."

Aria's eyebrows drew together as the stairs ended, and a long hallway followed. Here, there were no torches at all. Since Emma held all the light, Aria had no choice but to wrap her hand around the half demon's bicep. She gawked at the hard muscle beneath her fingers. "Why would she think that you'll never have children? Are you…unable to?"

Aria felt like a louse asking the question, but for the life of her she couldn't understand why this Vala woman would hide Emma from the world. "Oh, no, I'm perfectly capable, I think. But no one wants a half breed, so she says that I won't have to worry about men wanting me…whatever that means."

Aria gasped. "That's so cruel."

She felt Emma shrug. "Not really. She's just telling the truth. No one would want me. If she told me differently, then I would get my hopes up. She's just protecting me."

"But…" Aria grappled for an answer, hands dropping to twist in her cape. "There is someone out there for you! You can't go around thinking that you'll be alone forever. If I thought that way, I would have broken along time ago."

Emma stopped to slide the torch onto a metal cup on the wall. When light danced around them, she turned to Aria with a smile. "Ah, but that's what makes us so different. You believe in fairytale endings and true love. I don't. I mean, I know that love exists, in a way, but I know that it's rare to find. You'll have a chance to find it. I won't. When Vala dies, I have nothing. I am nothing. You built yourself up from the ground when you were alone. I can't."

Aria could only stare at her, hot tears swimming against her eyes. "That's a horrible way to think."

But Emma merely shrugged. "I know. But it's better than feeding myself lies."

Samhain brushed against Aria's thigh, her hands immediately falling to his head to link her fingers through his fur. Emma watched them with a raised eyebrow before turning. "We're here."

Aria turned in circles, eyeing the wall of red rock that surrounded her. There was no door she could see. She turned to Emma, question hot on her tongue, but trailed off when the half-demon lifted her thumb to her mouth and bit down hard. She flinched slightly before skimming the bloody digit against the wall in a circle. Aria watched in awed fascination as the blood started to shift, the circle closing in on itself before throbbing like a pulse. Her breath came out in a whoosh when the body of a lioness, body crouched in predatory form, took shape. Emma pushed against it, swiping blood above its head. Aria nearly yelped when the blood cat turned red eyes toward them. Seconds later, a roar filled the cavern. Red pebbles rained down on them as a slab of rock cracked from the wall, only to sweep aside to reveal a carved wooden door.

"Well…that was interesting." Aria stared at Emma's back in impressed adoration.

"Ay. That's her demon form. That's what lurks within her." Dmitri stepped beside her, a healthy distance away, and watched as Emma pushed open the door with a sunny, "We're here, you old hag!"

"But it looked like a lion, not a demon."

"I know." Dmitri sighed, plunking his hands inside his pockets. Another idiosyncrasy, she mused lightly. "It's…complicating. Something that you would have to hear from her. I can only tell you so much about Emma."

Aria peered into the home with dread coating her stomach. "So…do you believe what she says?"

"What?"

"About no one wanting her. Do you believe it?" She turned to him with a level glance, mouth set in a firm line.

Dmitri huffed and turned away from her. "Doesn't matter anyway."

Aria frowned at him, hands on hips, and was seconds away from giving him a tongue lashing when he said, voice almost too low for her to hear, "No. I don't believe it."

Aria smiled after him before glancing down at Samhain. "Shall we?"

---

"You damn brat, it took you along enough. Can't you ever do anything right? Always gallivanting off and playing around instead of doing an old woman a favor. Shame on you."

Emma ducked when Vala tried to bean her with her cane, a smile flittering over her features when the old woman's wrinkled face twisted in annoyance. "Now, now, Vala, let's be rational. Dmitri was the one who kept you waiting, remember? I was just an innocent bystander of another one of his many screw-ups."

Aria noted that Dmitri barely twitched at Emma's insult. Instead, he watched Vala wave around her cane widely at a grinning demon with something akin to amusement dancing in his eyes. There was something else, as well, a sort of calmed peace that softened his features to the point where he was almost too adorable for words.

"If you hadn't of stood there flirting with him, I wouldn't of had to wait so long." She whacked her cane across Emma's knuckles when she hesitantly reached for an apple on the table. The demon pouted as she brought her injured knuckles to her mouth.

"Flirting? With that annoying brat? Che, who are you kidding, you old windbag?" Dmitri managed to look haughty as his voice broke again. Aria giggled behind her hand.

"What's flirting?" Emma asked innocently. "Does that mean hating each other and making it obvious?"

Vala grinned devilishly, her amazingly healthy white teeth flashing. "Yes. That's flirting."

Dmitri scowled. "Damnit, old woman, she's going to be screwed when she goes out into the real world. She doesn't know anything about life."

Emma took the opportunity to snatch the green apple from the table before Vala could whirl on her with her cane. She sunk her fangs into it and gave a groan of delight before saying, "I'm never going out in the real world. I've never been out there before, and I'm not about to start now. I will only step foot out there when I have to, so long as there is no sun, of course."

"Atta girl. Now," Vala said, waddling over to the young girl with her cane waving widely above her, her hunched back creaking when she straightened ever so slightly to reprimand the girl with a scowl. "Now get me those leaves, brat."

"Say please," she chirped. Aria noted the content gleam in the old woman's hazy blue eyes as Emma tossed the apple in the air before scooping it up and sinking into it once more.

"You damn cat, get me the leaves before I whack you over that empty head of yours." Vala grumbled when Emma swooped down to kiss her wrinkled temple, swatting at her halfheartedly as she left to rummage through the other room.

"Annoying girl," she sighed, gently arching her stooped back with a grimace. "She's going to be the death of me."

"You seem to enjoy her, though." Aria sat down gingerly in the chair across from the oval table when Vala waved a hand at it. Her dragon gave a little hum of sleepy pleasure before hopping down from her shoulders to curl around Samhain. She smiled down her dragon as Samhain eyed it apprehensively. "She's an amazing girl."

Vala snorted, using gnarled fingers to pat her wild fuzz of white hair that puffed out around her shoulders as if she had been shocked by an electrical spell. "Neh, she's merely tolerable."

Aria picked at the blue tablecloth, eyeing the impressive cauldron swinging over a sputtering fire. "Yet you'd be lost without her."

Vala scowled at the girl, tapping her cane impatiently against the cobbled floor. "I guess. I've put up with the girl for sixteen years. She's the one to do all the tiresome tasks." Vala cackled. "Gives her something useful to do."

Dmitri snorted as he settled himself on the floor beside Aria's chair, but Vala ignored him as if he wasn't even there. "That damn Damrious came by the other day," she grumbled, squirming in her seat to find a comfortable position for her back. "Not only did he want to use her magic for his war, but he wanted her to spread her legs for him like some common whore. The nerve of that man."

Aria sucked on her bottom lip in contemplation as Dmitri glared at nothing in particular. "Why don't you tell her about…you know…?"

Vala raised a nonexistent eyebrow as she leaned forward. Aria's senses were assaulted with the pungent scent of peppermint and old skin. "Do you know about that, little one?"

Aria flushed when both Samhain and Dmitri glanced up at her, awaiting her answer. "Well…in a sense…"

"And because of that, when men come around, you're weary, yes? You're constantly wondering what goes through their mind when they look at you, what their plotting to do when you turn your back."

"Umm, no, not exactly—"

"But when Damrious comes, you know what he wants, and it sickens you."

"Yes, but—"

Vala leaned back in her chair with a smirk. "Well, then. Aren't there times when you wished you wouldn't have figured it out for yourself?"

Aria frowned at the old woman, blinking quickly when Vala reached over to flick her yellowed fingernail between her arched brows. "Don't do that. You'll get wrinkles on your skin."

Aria tried to straighten her features as she said, "No, actually, I don't. If I didn't know, then I wouldn't be able to protect myself if they happened to try that." She noted in amusement that Dmitri ducked his head in shame. "If I didn't know about…that, I wouldn't know what they were doing, and by the time I realized it, it might be took late. There's no victory in ignorance."

Vala sneered. "Yeah, well, then get him—," she snapped, pointing a twig like finger at Dmitri, "—to teach her. Maybe a demonstration—"

"What the hell?! You crazy old bat! How could I—why would I—what would I—argh! Damn you." Dmitri crossed his arms over his chest with a pout as Vala cackled again.

"Yeah, yeah, whatever. That's your business, not mine. Now, where are those leaves?"

"Oops." Emma walked into the room, a bowl of leaves in hand and a sheepish smile curving her eyes. "I forgot I put it up higher than usual. I take it you want me to make it?"

"You gotta do something useful in a while."

Emma rolled her eyes as she unhooked the cauldron and replaced it with the teakettle. She didn't even balk at the weight. Aria wondered if the thing was light, but when she peered over into it, she saw that it was nearly filled to the brim with some sort of stew. "Hmm."

"Strong as an ox, that girl," Vala said. "It's the demon blood. She's stronger than most full bloods, though. She's…different, I suppose. The half and half seems to make her stronger, not weaker."

"Just special," Emma supplied as she nibbled on the last of her apple before tossing the core at Dmitri. It bounded of his head with a plunk, causing the demon to glare fiercely at her back.

"Now, I need you to stir this for me." Emma plopped down a saucer sprinkled with dark, murky leaves. "Just play with it for a minute. When you're done, toss it into the kettle. We'll let it brew. Then, when it steams, you pour it into your cup…wait, I forgot the cup."

As Emma disappeared into the other room, Vala groused. "Scatterbrained little brat."

"Awh, I love you too, you old hag." She winked at Vala as she sat the cup down before Aria.

Aria studied it with pursed lips, poking at the glob of leaves with the end of the spoon Emma offered her. "Umm, why tea leaves? Can't you just tell me what's going on? I mean, Dmitri said you knew everything."

"I do. This is just to get a grip on the situation. Fate is always changing, girl. You're always shifting your future, and fate has no other choice but to follow. There are those very few who's destiny can't be changed, but it's a rare occurrence. What with the prophecy—"

"What prophecy? Why does every one keep spouting off about this bloody prophecy?"

Vala blinked at her as she rose to dump the tea leaves into the kettle. "That's quite a mouth you have for someone who has just stepped into her seventeenth birthday."

Aria flushed before she settled down. Emma gave her a comforting smile as she plopped down next to Dmitri, twisting her body so she could splay her long legs in his lap. When he sputtered, Emma asked, "You haven't heard of the prophecy?"

"No. I know nothing of this."

Emma blinked as Dmitri tried to move her legs. She pressed down harder, however, nearly hitting a very vital point in the process. Dmitri grimaced as he cuffed her ankles to keep her still. She smiled happily at her victory while he plucked at her beads with a pout.

"Well, then, that changes everything." Vala stood up slowly, her shoulders curving in as she scurried to a tall, oak shelf pilled high with dusty tomes. She mumbled unintelligibly to herself as her fingers drifted over the spines.

Emma jumped up when the tea whistled behind her, her foot grazing his stomach in her haste. "Okay," she said a bit breathless at such a quick movement. "Now, pour your tea." She smiled. "I'd be a gracious host—"

Vala snorted, but Emma's smile never faded. "—and pour it for you, but it would disrupt the readings."

Aria did as she was told, watching as the white cup filled with murky tea. She grimaced slightly. "This wouldn't be a disturbing flavor, would it?"

"Nah. It's just regular old tea leaves. There's no real flavor. Vala likes her life bland." She smiled when the old woman eyed her cane as she pulled a book from the shelf.

"You're lucky I'm busy, you damn cat."

Emma winked down at Aria. "Now that you've poured it, we have to wait until it cools. Then, when we do that, you'll have to focus on something that's been bothering you. A spell, a dream, a man, whatever."

Aria blushed as she stared into the billowing steam. "That's it? I just focus on something that's been bothering me? But how do I choose?"

"Well, what's been getting to you the most?"

"Roarke," she answered without even thinking. She sucked in a breath. "Umm, I mean, that is—"

Emma whirled, planting both hands on either side of the table as she leaned forward slightly, eyes alight. "Roarke? As in soon-to-be Ruler Roarke?"

She nodded hesitantly. "Yes." When Emma gave a bright, devious grin, she hastily added, "But it's not like that. I mean, I wish it was, but I know nothing will happen between us, because Samhain said the only thing he needs, or wants for that matter, is my power. After that I'm useless to him."

"Samhain?" She glanced down at the wolf at Aria's feet. "That Samhain?"

Aria followed her gaze, her hands wrapped around the plain white cup. "Umm, yes. He just came to me, so I decided to call him Samhain for a lack of a better name."

"Do you know?" Emma ignored the growl that bubbled in Samhain's throat, instead leaning closer to the blushing witch.

"Know what? That's he's a part of Roarke's army? Yes. I know that now."

"Are you…connected?" She said the word as if it were forbidden from being spoken aloud.

Aria arched a brow. "Yes."

Aria couldn't decode the smug grin that spread across Emma's mouth. "Interesting."

Suddenly, a cane flew out of nowhere to whack Emma across the head. She yelped, a very catlike sound that had Aria giggling, before sulking off to plop down next to Dmitri, rubbing her temple.

Vala plunked down with a large green tome with gold letters sewn onto the cover. Dust covered it like a thick blanket, almost seeming like it was a seconds skin. Vala reared back with a deep breath, causing Aria to immediately cover her tea. She coughed when Vala blew the dust off the book, raising a hand to cover her mouth when a sneeze worked its way to her nose.

"There now. This is what I wanted."

Dmitri swatted at the dust follicles that danced around the air with a cough.

Aria peered over at the book when she could see through watery eyes. "What is it?"

Vala smiled. "This, my child, is The Book of Garion."

Aria's eyebrows drew together as Vala tossed the book at her. It crashed against her chest hard enough to make the breath whoosh from her lungs and nearly cause her chair to tumble backwards. Both Emma and Dmitri dove to keep it steady. Aria coughed again as she rubbed her chest gently. "The Book of Garion? Why would I need a history book?"

Vala blinked at her like she was an idiot, smile still in place. "No. It's not a history book. This book was a gift from the sorcerer Maeheild. He gifted this book to The Light and all who she would lead."

"The Light? What's that?" Aria felt her shoulders slump. All this information was confusing her. "Is that part of the prophecy?"

"Yes. You see, there is The Light, and The Darkness. Kinda stupid, but whatever. Anyway, The Light is a group who holds the power of the light—good magic. The Darkness is the group who holds the power of darkness—black magic. Self-explanatory, but still. The Light was prophesized to be led by the daughter of Maeheild, to help bring victory to whatever side she chose. She could even hold her own army against the Ruler and Damrious, but that's not the point. Anyway, she's supposed to lead her army to victory and bring peace—or despair, if she falls to the other side—and help the Ruler rule over the kingdom. She would be like a Merlin to the Ruler, or, if it was chosen, a wife."

"So…I'm supposed to find this girl and give her the book? Is that why you're giving this to me?"

Vala scowled and mumbled something unintelligible under her breath that held the heavy air of an insult. Aria bristled as she watched the old woman pull herself from the seat. "Stand up."

Aria's eyebrows drew together. She realized she had been doing that quite frequently since meeting Dmitri and his strange companions. "What?"

Vala placed her hands on bony hips. "Get up. What, you deaf as well as stupid?"

Anger flared against her skin as her eyebrow twitched in annoyance. "Why you rotten old—" She trailed off, body stiff as she stood up like she was commanded. She would not lower herself to the old woman's place. She was better than that. Besides, she couldn't bring herself to snap at a kooky old woman, no matter how rude she was.

"Now, let's hope your eyes work." Aria's hands tightened into fists as the woman pointed to the cover of the book. "Whaddya see?"

Jaw clenched, Aria glanced down at the tome. "It's a book," she stated dryly, eyes rolling heavenward.

"No, no, no, you slow child. What do you see?"

Aria sent the old woman a smoldering glare that had Dmitri backing away slowly, for he had once been pinned with the same violent glance just hours ago. Vala ignored her, instead using her cane to whack Aria upside the head. She ducked, the movement forcing her nose to nearly touch the book. She was well on her way to rearing up and giving the woman a sound tongue lashing, but something carved into the cover of the tome had any words in her throat dying.

"Oh my."

Vala cackled, quickly loosening the girl's cape so it billowed to the floor in a pool of white silk. "You see it now, don't you?"

Aria straightened almost mechanically as Vala scooped up her mane of midnight hair to toss it over one shoulder. "You see that every morning when you wake up, every time you fall asleep. You see it in your dreams, in your visions. You see it every time you glance in a mirror, don't you? Have you ever wondered why a birthmark would resemble an object almost perfectly?"

"How can that…I don't understand."

"Cross your arms over your chest."

Aria jerked out of her shock to glace at the old woman. "What?"

Vala scowled hotly, her mouth seeming to twist into her wrinkled face and nearly disappeared. "I said," she ground out, "hold your dress to your chest unless you want me to flash the entire room. The dogs might like it, but I can assure you I wouldn't."

"Oh." She didn't fight back, couldn't find the strength to as she did as she was commanded, and Vala loosened her dress so it tumbled down to her waist. She felt the old woman run a gnarled finger over the mark that she had been cursed with since birth.

"Umm-hmm. Figured as much."

Emma gave her a pitying glance as she stood up to help arrange her hair around her chest. She winked when Aria glanced up at her. "Vala likes to humiliate people," she said softly. "You're no exception. You should feel lucky," she added offhandedly to Dmitri, who was trying—but not succeeding—to hold back a blush. She pouted at him. "Vala's not trying to humiliate you like always."

He didn't respond with an answer, merely busied himself with studying a flint of dirt on his patched brown trousers. She knew that had roles been switched and it was her, not Aria, into the spotlight, he would have already started to gag and list every possible flaw he could find. Emma glanced down at her own body barely concealed, and unconsciously folded her arms over her chest to hide away.

She stepped back when Vala gave her a rough shove to get her out of her way. "So, you wondering why the same sword on the book is a mirror image on your back?"

Emma studied the sword with a slight pucker of her lips. It looked as if it had been tattooed on with ink. The hilt, embroidered with what looked like a lion upon closer inspection, started at the nape of her neck and ended right below her shoulder blades. The blade was about three inches in width, completely covering her spine, the tip dipping onto the curve of her butt. Surrounding it was spiked vines that twisted around the blade almost like a lover. The vines, amazingly, were green. The pattern was so intricate that Emma briefly wondered if maybe it had been carved onto her, instead of being there at birth. She wanted to ask Vala about it, but kept her mouth shut. She really didn't feel like being reprimanded for her stupidity.

Dmitri, thankfully, was the one to open his loud mouth. "That is not a birthmark, you old hag. It's a tattoo. Birthmarks don't have color, or such spiffy designs. Seriously. Do you know anyone who has a birthmark that is not only shaped like a sword that covers her entire back, but is engraved with a lion? I'm not that stupid."

Vala's cane, which miraculously appeared out of nowhere once again, poked Dmitri's tan forehead. "Shush, you stupid boy." She huffed something beneath her breathe before crooking a finger at Emma. The demon blanched.

"What?"

"Come here."

Emma frowned as she slowly shuffled over to the old crone. "What?" She wouldn't show them, would she? Vala couldn't hate her that much…right?

Vala gave a liquid cough. "Get me the book." She tossed Emma a smoldering glare. "And learn some manners when talking to an elder. Haven't I taught you better, you damn brat?"

Emma smiled sweetly, her heart settling down as she plucked the book from the wooden table. "Why, your right! What a sorry excuse for a half-breed I am!"

Vala frowned as Emma started to flip through the book, all humor gone. Her slim brows drew together. "Vala, these pages are empty." She ignored Dmitri when he popped up to peer over her shoulder, his hands unconsciously settling against her bare skin. She deftly ignored the strange heat that simmered in her stomach as well. "How can this be of any help without a word written on it?" She thumbed through more pages. "Or is there a certain spell you have to say?"

"What is it with you young people and always pointing out the obvious?" Vala waddled to her to pluck the book from her clawed hands, closing the book with a solid snap that had dust particles floating in the air. Emma coughed and waved her hands before her nose to swipe them away.

"Pull up your dress, Aria," Vala said seriously, returning to her seat once more and sliding the book to the middle, "and sit down. We don't have much time. Emma, put her tea on the counter. I'll deal with that in a moment. For now, I must explain this book." Vala glanced up at Emma with heavy blue eyes. "He comes again. It is his army, but they come with a specified task."

When Emma went pale, she added, "And he will not take no for an answer this time."

Emma twisted her hands together. "Should I distract them—?"

"No. No, we can't let his army know your weakness. You must stay within the shadows for now. When it's time, you can go out, but not now. He would use it against you if he found out."

Dmitri pulled his hands from Emma's shoulders, his eyebrows drawn together as he watched Emma place the tea on the counter with trembling hands. He could smell the fear settling over the sweet scent of her skin. "Weakness? What are you talking about? Emma—?"

She dropped her mask back into place as she settled her hand on his forearm, her emerald eyes darkening with gravity. She managed a smile for him as she said softly, "There is a reason I cannot stay in the sun, Dmitri. But now is not the time to deal with my weakness. Aria is the important one."

His shoulders stiffened when she breezed past him, his eyes darkening with worry when Emma disappeared into that damn room once again. He made a move to follow her, but Vala snapped, "Leave her be. She's got things to do."

Dmitri exchanged looks with Samhain, their unspoken message hanging heavily in the air. A moment later, Samhain pulled himself from the floor and followed the cat demon inside. At momentary peace, Dmitri turned his attention to Vala and The Book of Garion.

"Aria, listen to me. This book here is not what it seems. You're father, the Wizard Maeheild, left this book to me when Damrious's mother killed him and the prophecy was born. He knew the moment you were born and the moment the prophecy was decided, that this was your path. This is what you were meant for. This book, although innocent in appearance, is your answer to The Four. If you lose this book before calling upon them, then all could be lost. You're power might not be enough to defeat The Darkness. The only way to summon The Four is to spill your blood across the sword. Only the blood of Maeheild will open up the portal. Once they are here, they cannot go back until the war has ended. Keep this in mind. If they refuse to cooperate, then you're death will only send them back. When they are here, you must try and talk them into joining your side. If Damrious gets a hold of them, this war might be lost."

Aria traced her fingers over the sword. "The Four?"

"Now is not the time. Damrious obviously tracked you here and is not a happy camper, so I must make this quick. When you need The Four, you must slice your palm diagonally and press it to the book. After that, there I nothing you can do. They will come, but the time might not be when you want it. After you escape from here, summon them. There is no spell, only your blood. I wish I could tell you more, but I cannot. My job here is done."

Aria flinched when the dragon's outside roared. Vala jerked up and pointed to the doorway where Emma had disappeared. "Go, now. They are here. If they find you, they will not hesitate to bring you to him. Emma and I will keep them—"

"What? But he'll kill you!" Something rancid burned Aria's throat as Emma walked out of the room, a sad smile playing across her mouth. Samhain walked out behind her, his head held high but his eyes forlorn.

Her eyes pleaded with him when Vala shoved the book at her. "Samhain," she asked, voice almost a plea, "we can't let them do this."

Aria, if he catches you, all will be lost. It is a sacrifice we have to make if Garion is to fall into the light—

"I will not sacrifice anyone!"

Something crashed against the door, protected by the cavern walls. The sound of rock raining against the ground had panic ripping into her stomach. Emma reached forward to grab her, hands tightening against her bicep. Dmitri stared at her in confusion; something dark dancing across his eyes when she gave Aria a forceful tug forward." Come on. We don't have much time if we're to get you out of here."

She shoved her toward the room, cautiously glancing behind her as Vala settled down to sip at the discarded tea. "Emma, no! I can't let you do this!"

She stopped momentarily to pick up the baby dragon and place him in her arms, her eyes confused. "This is what I have to do. It's not that bad," she added softly when tears danced in Aria's white-blue eyes. "I mean, there is no place for a hybrid like me. I can't even go out in the sunlight for more than ten minutes. There's no need for something like me. Besides, I won't be missed for long. You'll forget I even existed after the war—"

It happened before she could control herself. Dmitri could only stare in dumbfounded shock as Aria's hand cracked against Emma's cheek with enough force to snap the cat's head to the side. The half-demon blinked, slowly turning to the witch with something akin to angered bewilderment dancing in her emerald eyes. Despite the Garion Knights beating against the rock wall, Vala looked amused as Aria stood toe to toe with Emma. "How dare you say that?" She hissed, hands fisting at her side while tears fell down her cheeks in heavy torrents. "How can you think that your life is a sacrifice for my safety?"

Emma scowled down at the older girl, her cheek turning an angry red from Aria's palm. "Because you're life means more than mine ever will. I am a half breed." She held up a hand when Aria tried to interrupt. "I don't belong with the humans and I don't belong with demons. I can't walk out into the sunlight for more than ten minutes because my mother cursed me while trying to kill the bastard that caused her so much pain. The only reason I'm not alone is because Vala pitied me. The only reason Dmitri even comes here is so he can tear into my heart and not feel guilt when he leaves me bleeding, because half-breeds aren't even worth it. The only thing I have ever accomplished is annoying Vala. I am meant for nothing. I have no future, and dammit, I refuse to just sit here and do nothing when someone who's meant for greater things thinks she can feel sorry for me. Now get in that damn room before I shove you into it myself."

Aria gasped when Emma growled deep within her throat and dropped to her haunches to lift her over her shoulder. Aria yelped, hands flailing when she nearly dropped the book. "W-wait! Emma, what are you—"

"I'm getting you the hell out of this mess," she snarled, the sound so predatorily feline that Aria trembled in fear. She nearly screamed when Emma dumped her into a long winding corridor behind the clustered wooden shelf lined with potions and medicines. "This leads to a coven just behind the Garion Sea. From there, head east into the forest. You then need to call The Four. Damrious will be keeping an eye on your home in hopes to snatch you, so you must find a different, more secure shelter. If you ever need help, come to the dragons." Aria watched as Emma reached down to pull the red string of beads from her ankle. "Use this to get them to trust you. It might still have my scent of you need it—"

"Why can't you help?" She asked, but knew the answer before Emma told her. Her heart shattered in her chest.

"Because Damrious will kill me here. That, or take me with him in hopes to drag the truth from me. He knows you are here, but he won't be able to get past this. I've put up a barrier than only I can take down. None of his magic can get through here. But you have to hurry." She glanced behind her when the banging became louder.

Dmitri walked behind her, but before he could so much a lift his hand, she turned to him and pushed him into the tunnel. "Go. And no matter what you do, do not look back, you understand?"

She let out a shaking breath when Dmitri regained his balance and turned to her, hand reaching for her. She stepped back, tears dancing in her eyes. "I'm sorry," she said softly, voice breaking, and slid the wall back into place.

"No!" Aria lunged toward the barrier, hoping to stop her, but it was too late. She had already closed the space off. "Damnit, Emma, don't do this! I'm not worth it!" She pounded on the wall until blood wept from her skin. "We can't let her do this! I will not let her die for me."

She whirled toward Dmitri, hands fisting in his tunic. "Please, we can't let her die. I know you hate her—"

His glare was so fierce and sudden in the soft luminosity that Aria nearly took a hesitant step back. "I never hated her."

"Then don't let her die." She said with the tone of a warrior queen, her eyes twinkling in the meager light the torches provided.

Are you willing to risk everything for her, Aria? Are you willing to take the chance of Damrious getting a hold of you before you can get to Roarke? There was no condemnation in his voice, just a soft understanding, for he knew the answer before she even knew it herself.

Aria turned slowly, her eyes like liquid fire as she locked her gaze with him. "Yes, I am. Roarke can wait. I will not let an innocent girl die because of some stupid prophecy. She will not die if I have anything to do with it. Either you help me with this, or keep your loyalties to the Prince. No matter which path you take, you're going to betray one of us. I suggest you make your decision quick, Samhain."

Dmitri gawked at her. "You would be an awesome Queen."

She glared at him as she pressed her hands to the wall. "What type of magic does she use?" She asked, eye fluttering shut as she concentrated on the aura around the shelf. She tried not to flinch when she heard the deep timber of Damrious's head Knight. It seemed that Damrious had not come on this task. That made matters so much easier.

"She uses demon magic, like I do. It's not strong, but its hell to get out of. She's tricky."

Aria smirked as she opened her eyes. "I always have loved a challenge."

---

Emma angled her chin as the Knight of Garion stepped into her home, easily peeling an apple with a short knife. Vala was still sipping at the cold tea, body relaxed and mind at ease. Her cane was nestled in her lap like a pet cat.

Emma cut the apple down the middle and bit into one half. She threw the leading knight a smile as she swallowed her snack. "Can I help you?"

He regarded her with a scowl. "Where is she?"

Emma glanced around the tiny room in confusion. "Who? Vala's right there, if you can't see. Kinda hard not to miss that head of hair." She ignored the glare the old woman threw her, instead concentrating upon the sudden spike of magical heat. Damnit, she cursed inwardly. She's trying to save me. Stubborn wench.

"Don't play stupid, you disgusting half-breed. Where is Aria of Garion?"

Emma pouted slightly. "Ouch. Must you be so cruel?"

She kept her features steady as he marched up to her and wrapped his hand around her slim throat. "I have no time for games, half-breed. Tell me where you hid Aria and I'll make sure your death is quick and painless."

"Awh, you're so thoughtful. But I'm sorry. Aria's not here."

"Don't lie to me!" He reared back, his metal-gloved hand slamming against her jaw and sending her head to the side. She felt the hot slid of blood down her neck from where his armor had busted the skin. She flinched slightly. "Now that was not nice," she murmured, dabbing at her jaw with her palm. She pulled it back to study the thick smear of blood. "Not nice at all."

She met his gaze when he leaned closer to her, his eyes cold and dead beneath his snake-engraved helmet. "I will not ask you again. Where is Aria? We know she is here. We followed you here."

As Vala sipped her tea silently, Emma smirked. "She's not here so I can't really help you. You'll have to tell Damrious that he'll just have to keep on looking."

"Hey, Captain, look here." Emma felt her eyes drift close in defeat when one of the knights lifted Aria's discarded cloak. She knew that Vala sighed quietly. She opened her eyes to see the Captain smirking down at her. "Well, well, well. What do we have here?" His hand tightened around her neck, bruising her pale skin until she had to bite back the urge to whimper.

"Isn't that the witch's emblem?" The solider asked. "I mean, it has a sword on the breast, and that's her thing…right?" He blinked down at the white silk. "Unless you have a penchant for swords, madam."

Vala snorted. "The sword is too much like a man for us to like."

The captain scowled at her, his nails digging deeper into Emma's flesh. "Then how, pray tell, did it end up here?"

"That's a good question, boy. How did it get there?"

Emma smiled sheepishly as blood dribbled down her collarbone. "Ah, you have to forgive her. Old age has messed with her head. She rarely says anything worthwhile these days."

Her eyes stayed innocently on his as he leered down at her, watching a bead of blood snake down her chest to dip between the valley between her breasts. "Tell me where you hide the witch, half-breed."

Emma sighed. "I do so wish you would refrain from calling me that."

"Answer the question!" He hissed, pulling his hand back to hit her once again. This time, she felt her lip bust at the pressure. What was it with people and hitting her face today?

"I don't know."

"You lying whore!" Instead of hitting her face, he decided to plow his metal knuckles into her ribs. He gloated in the feel of her ribs cracking. Emma gasped at the pain rushing down her torso, her nails digging into the counter as she leaned over to gain her breath. The movement sent daggers of agony down her chest until she felt white dots dance before her vision.

"Ouch," she managed to gasp when the pain died down to a numb roar. "That…was painful." She coughed, cringing when a hot trail of blood slid down the side of her mouth. She wiped it away with a flinch. "Well, that's never a promising sight."

The captain leaned down so his face was nearly touched hers. "Where. Is. She?"

Emma shifted slightly to help stop the pain racing through her body. "I. Don't. Know." She ignored his grip on her neck tightening. "She could be anywhere by now, I'd figure. I mean, there are many place in Garion she could go."

The captain's eyebrow twitched. "How did she leave here, half-breed?"

Emma blinked away the black dots swimming before her eyes. "Well, I suppose she used a door."

He hit her again, harder this time, and sent her sprawling on the ground. He crouched down in front of her, fisting her now loose hair in his fist and bringing her face close to his. "I am tired of your smartass mouth, demon."

She ran her tongue over her bleeding mouth as her lips lifted in a cocky grin. "I will not tell you where she is, so I suggest you either kill me or leave, for you won't get an answer from me, Captain." She spat blood into his face and twisted her body so she could slam her wrist across the side of his head. She felt her wrist bone crack against his metal helmet but ignored it. The soldier's behind him had already ripped her to her feet, their hands pinning her arms behind her back. One of them jerked her head back by the hair while the rest dropped to their knees to keep her legs in place.

She growled a low, primal yawl that promised retribution for the pain they put her in. She knew without a doubt that she would be dead before Aria managed to break her spell, but she swore on her mother's grave she would take as many of these bastards' down as she could.

Her eyes narrowed dangerously when the captain climbed to his feet, cracking his neck loudly as he towered over her height. "You stupid half-breed whore. You will pay for your insubordination."

She kept her eyes level with his when he brought back his hand to hit her once more, but to her astonishment, he lowered it to her sarong. She was thrown off balance. What was he doing?

"Tell me, men. How do you feel about having a half-breed whore?"

She blinked rapidly. She didn't understand what he meant. She cut her eyes to the man holding onto her shoulder when he said, "She'll do. She is a woman, after all. I'm sure we could stomach the fact that she's a hybrid."

Emma jerked when several hands started to rip at her cloths, heart beat erratic. What the hell were they doing?! One of them grabbed hold of the beads around her neck, snapping the frail thread so a rainbow of pearls rained down to the floor.

"Get your slimy hands off her."

Emma gasped when Vala stood up from her seat, the tea cup empty and her hands wrapped around her cane like a sword. The captain blinked his way from his shock before bursting into laughter.

"And what will you do if we refuse, old hag?" He lifted a chin as a go ahead for them men, keeping his eyes on the seething old crone. Emma cried out when they tore both her sarong and skirt from her, leaving her in nothing but her breast binding and a pair of tight, short drawers she had created from a yard of imported silk. They were on their way to ripping them from her when Vala whacked the captain over the head with her cane, quickly parrying to ram the end of it between a soldier's eyes when the leader stumbled and fell. The injured man let go of Emma with a yelp, clutching his bleeding forehead while Vala dipped down with the grace of a warrior to club a man between his thighs. He went down quickly.

Taking the hint, Emma jerked forward, taking a good number of men with her. They stumbled at the sudden movement, their hands losing their grip around her skin. She used the sudden flaw to rip herself free; throwing her body back to knock the remaining soldier's to the ground. The fell in a mass if twisted limbs, their weapons clattering to the floor. Emma cursed when a sword drove itself into her side, slicing cleanly into her. She pulled away, using elbows, knees, and fists to drag herself from the pile.

One of the soldiers's snagged out a hand, gripping onto her ankle with enough force to crack bone. Thinking quickly, Emma twisted her body to slam her opposing heel into the side of his head. The force knocked him out, giving her enough time to pull her limb from him. Unfortunately, the soldier's act led the rest to their own heroism as they pulled themselves from the pile to grab her once again. She fought with all her might, clawing and biting as they dragged her back to her feet. One twisted her hand behind her back so suddenly that she felt her shoulder pop out of place.

Hot white pain drilled into her, but she didn't stop. Even when she felt as if her arm was being ripped from her socket, she bucked against them. They cursed and held steady to her, waiting until her energy was drained and she collapsed back against them, body going limp in their grasp. Her breathing was labored, forcing her ribs to expand and explode in fireworks of raw black pain. Her shoulder throbbed painfully, head pounding in sync with her racing heart. Yet she refused to let the darkness take her.

Vala huffed as she turned to face the girl. "You stupid idiot girl! Why must you always get yourself into so much trouble?"

Emma lifted her eyes to her, eyebrows drawing together when Vala's image split into twins, then to triplets. She blinked blood out of them when it threatened to blind her. "Excuse me," she managed to choke out as their grip against her tightened. "I didn't know I was doing such a horrible job."

"Just look at you! You look like you beat yourself up with a rock!"

Emma groaned hoarsely when the pain threatened to drown her in darkness. "Thanks, you old hag. That makes me feel so special."

Vala huffed as she placed the cane back on the ground and leaned her slight weight against it. "I will not save you anymore, you here? The next time someone beats the crap out of you then tries to rape you, I'm just gonna sit back and sip my tea. Understand?"

Emma didn't understand what she meant by rape, but the taunt in her tone caused her hackles to rise. "Fine! I don't need you anyway! I can take care of my—Vala! Behind you!"

Horrified panic forced her body to move as the Captain stood behind the small old woman, sword pulled back. Emma bucked against their grip as Vala turned slowly, head cocked to the side. Emma's eyes went wide as hopelessness clutched at her breaking heart as Vala squared her shoulders, and smirked heavily as the captain plunged his sword through her chest.

"Vala!" Her scream vibrated off her ears as Vala's body slumped forward into a pool of her own blood, her milky blue eyes fading into a dull white as they landed on Emma's horrified face.

"You stupid girl," Vala said softly. "You best not make me worry anymore." And her eyes fluttered shut as she took in one final ragged breath.

And Emma broke, her heart shattering into fragments as she wept Vala's name over and over until her throat was raw, her tears mixing with blood until it seemed her body bled pink. But no matter how hard she screamed, no matter how hard she fought, Vala did not move.

The captain wiped the blood off his sword by dragging in across Vala's unmoving body, nose wrinkled as he brought it up to his face. "Disgusting," he muttered.

And something with her snapped. Her tears stopped falling as rage swept over her in hot, red waves. Her body went ridged as the pain was washed away by adrenaline, and her body thrummed with energy.

She lifted her eyes, the emerald bleeding into black, and snarled, "I'll kill you."

The captain faltered as the girl peeled back her teeth in a feline grin, her eyes sharpening into thin slits as her claws thickened and her body seemed to vibrate with power. He pasted on a scowl as fear trickled through his skin like water.

"Kill her."

But his order was never able to be put into motion. Before he could so much as try to gather his thoughts, a blur of blonde launched itself at his army, ripping into their armor and skin like knives through butter. He stumbled back as blood sprayed from their bodies like fountains, covering his spotless armor in crimson death.

A low, feral growl rumbled from behind him, followed by the roar of what had to be a baby dragon. He whirled around; all of his training floating out the window with his mind at the large, silver wolf crouched at his feet, the large body folded so he could pounce at him any moment. Beside him, a tiny blue and gold dragon snarled, spike tail swiping at the air. And there, standing between her soldiers, was Aria of Garion.

White energy cackled around her like flames, hair billowing around her as if a strong wind blew around them. Her eyes were a solid white now, with no iris, no pupil, only a frightening white that seemed to beckon him into nothingness.

"Leave," she ordered, her voice like velvet fire, "and tell Damrious that he will not win against me."

He scrambled backwards, tripping over the body of Vala and dropping down into her blood. He yelped and jerked to his feet, only to run into the chest of the blonde blur that had killed his men. In his arms was the half-demon, broken, bloody and unconscious, her bruised neck arched over the blonde boy's muscled arm. He felt a moments worth of pride at the damage he caused before he lifted his eyes to the face of the demon.

He gulped.

The demon before him, no more than seventeen, looked like an avenging god, his face hard and his eyes like blood. Every part of his body seemed to flame with rage. The bravest man in the Ruler's army yelped when Dmitri said, in a voice that held no kindness, "If I ever see you near her again, I will personally rip your head from your shoulders and mount it on my wall."

The captain managed a quick nod before he darted out of the home and up the stairs, giving no backwards glance at his dead comrades.

Aria swallowed a whimper at the body of the old woman, her eyes trained only on Emma's face. This time, she couldn't swallow the sound. "Oh, Emma." Gently, she traced her fingers over the girl's bleeding temple. "I'm so sorry we didn't get here soon enough."

Tear blinded her vision as she turned away from the sight. Samhain prodded Vala's body with his nose before lifting defeated eyes to Aria. I'm sorry, Aria. She's…there is nothing we can do, now. She's already gone.

Aria closed her eyes against the wave of pain that crashed through her system. When she opened them once again, they were bright with tears she would not shed. "If we don't hurry, Vala might not be the only one we lose."

She turned to Dmitri, still in his demonic form, and angled her head. "We need to take the tunnel back to the sea. He'll be coming back. It would be best if we let him think we left through the door."

He nodded, his eyes bleeding back into the bright red she was used to. "We need…medical supplies. Her face isn't the only thing they damaged. There's blood dripping down my arm, and it's not from her mouth." Dmitri glanced down at the girl who had been his enemy for as long as he could remember and felt his heart break.

"You're right. I think I saw some supplies in the other room." She turned and gently placed her hand on Dmitri's bloody arm. "Go ahead and start out. Take him with you," she added, cocking her head toward the dragon. "I don't want him being stuck here if Damrious is to return."

He nodded, and was halfway on his way to the room when he turned slightly, his eyes falling upon Vala. "What are we to do about her?" He asked softly, making no move to hide the grief in his voice. The old woman might have annoyed him to no end, but she shouldn't have died like this. No one deserved to die like this. "Emma…she was all Emma had." And he knew that no matter what happened he would never forget the sound of her crying Vala's name, her voice broken. It would haunt him till his death.

For that, he would kill that sordid excuse for a captain.

Aria watched him walk down the tunnel until his silhouette disappeared from sight. It was only then that she allowed herself to crumble on the floor and weep.

She felt Samhain approach her hesitantly, but she didn't care. She just helped kill an old woman because she was a part of a stupid prophecy that she wanted no part of. It was her fault that Vala was dead, her fault that Emma was beaten and tinkering on the brink of death, and it was her fault that she had to bring four innocent people into a war that could not be stopped.

Samhain gently nudged his head between her folded arms clutched tightly across her knees, forcing her to lift her head. Her eyes were flooded with guilty tears. "I can't do this, Samhain. I can't risk the lives of innocent people just to keep my own life. I just can't. I shouldn't have to do this. I can't let them protect me like this. I won't have people fight my own battles."

They wanted to protect you, Aria. They knew that you're future is filled with more than just power. You are Garion's only chance for peace. You're the one who can stop Damrious. If you die, or he gets a hold of you, people will lose hope. Without you, the chance to free Garion is hopeless.

"But why me?" She cried, swiping at her tears with an angry jerk of her wrist. "Why am I the one who people count on? I was a mere Wiccan until this afternoon. I was just a regular, orphaned witch who made potions for a living. Samhain, I can't be the one who holds all this power. I can't cast a spell to save my life. I can use potions, no problem, but real magic? I can't. I'm not like Maeheild and his wife. I'm just—"

Vala told you, Aria, that Maeheild is your father. You're parents were killed by Damrious's sorceress mother in an attempt to garner their power. Had you not of been born, Maeheild would not have been able to lock his powers and his wife's into your infant body. Vala never had a chance to tell you this, but that sword on your back is the key to an unspeakable power. You are the one who has to unlock it. You must be the one to look inside yourself and find the great Wizard whom helped the Rulers' of the past keep Garion prosperous. He guarded the Royals, the Commoners, the Light. His powers, as well as your mother's, were unlike anyone had ever seen. Together, they held the powers of the greatess Wiccan's to ever live. But now, all those powers are within you. You are Garion's savior, but if you chose to back down, then do it now. If you want to run from your destiny, be my guest. I can't stop you. I can't stop you from running and never glancing back. Most people in your situation would. But please, make your decision quickly. I fear that Emma might not last much longer in her current state.

Aria twisted her fingers in her lap, her eyes heavy on the discarded book she had dropped in her haste to save Vala and Emma. "Me, the savior of a country." She shook her head. "Doesn't seem plausible. And The Four? Portals to different worlds all through a book?" Sighing, she ran her hands through the soft fur of Samhain's neck. "This seems more fantasy than reality."

Samhain watched her as she stood up and dusted off her skirt. In a world where we coincide with demons, dragons, unicorns, goblins, fairies, witches, and giants, you think that a measly portal is strange? You're too sheltered.

She grunted as she turned back to the shelf to dig up the medical care that Emma would need. She spotted bandages, needle and thread, as well as jars of ground bistort mixed with Echinacea, myrrh, and goldenseal. She sighed, thankful that the old gypsy woman had dabbled in medical herbs, for the cream in her hands would be perfect for dressing and healing wounds. She found henbane as well, though there was very little of it, for it was poisonous if used in large amounts in a specified amount of time. For the time being, however, it would help take away the pain Emma was sure to feel if she ever woke up.

She turned to Samhain when her arms became full. "Can you find me a basket of sorts to carry all this in? We can use some of these medicines on our journey, at least until I can get my hands on more herbs and a place to work. Do you think I can conjure up enough magical power to project my home somewhere else?"

Samhain trotted off to find a basket as he said offhandedly, Yes, I'm sure you could. Wasn't there something in your mother's Book of Shadows about that? We'll sneak in while the guards are distracted and get it.

"Mmm-hmm. Sounds good." She picked up a bottle of plaintain to use to stop the bleeding, amazed at all the herbs the woman had stored. Was it Vala's doing or Emma? She would have to ask when Emma regained consciousness, she mused, for if it was Emma, then maybe she could give the girl's self-esteem a boost by helping her out. She could always gather the herbs at night, since sun seemed to be a picky subject.

Samhain returned with a basket, the one she had carried to the market. Aria raised a brow, idly swiping at her wet lashes. "Where did you get that? I can't remember brining it."

Dmitri must have brought it with him.

She nodded slightly, dumping the ingredients into the basket with a sigh. "We better get on. Emma's lost too much blood for it to be healthy." Samhain dipped his head in agreement, moving toward the tunnel slowly. He turned back to her when he reached the threshold. Are you coming?

Aria gave one last look at Vala's home, her heart rising into her throat. "Yes. I'm coming." Gently, she slid the shelf closed behind her.

---

Emma had not lied when she told the cave lead to the Garion Sea. Aria sighed softly as her eyes raked over the crystal waters. The sky above them was a dreary gray, the low clouds promising rain. It was this reason that Dmitri had situated Emma just within the mouth of the cave.

"How is she?" Aria asked quietly as she kneeled next to her, absently patting the dragon's head when he butted it against her thigh.

Dmitri leaned back against the cave wall, on arm draped over his upraised knee. "Not good. The wound on her side is deep and I think a few of her ribs are cracked, maybe even broken. Her shoulder's dislocated, too." He turned his head away to glare furiously at the sea. "They did a number on her, that's for sure. If I hadn't of taken the time to spar with her when we we're younger, she might not of been able to protect herself. They might've…" His jaw clenched, but he said no more.

She nodded softly as she rummaged through her basket in search for the jar of bistort and the needle and thread. "She did well, however."

She glanced hesitantly at Dmitri's face as she twisted off the cap to the medicine. "What do we do now?" She asked quietly, gently probing at the wound on Emma's side. She flinched when Emma gave a quite groan. It was too deep, she realized, and would have to be stitched and wrapped. Unfortunately, she did not bring any gauze with her.

"What do you mean?"

She smeared the cream across the wound, ignoring the blood that seeped across her skin. She was, after all, a healer. "I mean about Emma. Vala…Vala was all she had. With her gone…we can't just leave her now. She has nowhere to go. She has nothing now."

Dmitri watched her as she readied the needle and thread, biting back a flinch when she started to sew Emma's skin back together. "I…I don't know. I didn't think I would have to. I thought…I seriously thought that Vala would live longer. I mean…she was such an ornery old woman, but she had the energy of a twenty year old woman. She…I can't believe she's gone."

Aria refused to let the tears fall, instead concentrating fully upon tugging at the last stitch. "Damn," she muttered after tying the loose ends. "I don't have any scissors and I really don't want to use my teeth."

She mulled over her problem with a pout, glancing around the cave in search of something to snip the end of the thread. She blinked when her eyes landed on Dmitri. "Hey, do you think you can somehow cut the thread with your claws?" She glanced down at her own short, stubby nails. "I don't have any—I have a nasty habit of peeling them off when I concentrate too hard—but it might work if you did. Are your claws sharp?"

He glanced down at his hands briefly. "I guess."

She angled her head towards him, signaling him to come. He glanced at Emma's prone body hesitantly. It caused Aria to frown. "Dmitri, you can't dislike her so much that you can't even do this one thing for her—"

"It's not that," he snarled, causing her to raise an eyebrow as him. "Move over," he groused, shoving her aside to drop to his haunches to take the white thread between his fingers. He grimaced at the raw wound, his stomach lurching when he realized how close it was to hitting something vital. Pushing it aside, Dmitri set the string between his claws and pressed down hard.

The broken thread fluttered to the pale sand. He watched its decent numbly, mind playing Emma's scream over and over until he felt as if he would forever be cursed with the sound. He jerked out of his revere when Aria shoved the jar of cream into his hands without looking at him. She was instead frowning over the cuts on Emma's face. "Dress her wound," she ordered. When he blinked at her, she sighed and added, "Rub that cream on your fingers and work it across the stitches so it doesn't get infected."

He stared at the jar in his hands with a frown tugging at his mouth. Almost reluctantly, he dipped his index finger into the mix, curiously bringing it to his nose and sniffing. He gagged at the putrid stench, causing Aria to chuckle slightly as she ripped the hem of her skirt to dab at Emma's bleeding mouth.

"It's not meant to smell good," she offered with a smile. "It's meant to heal."

He glared at the concoction before hesitantly running his finger against the sewn flesh, his skin crawling at how strange it felt. Her skin was hot to the touch, still wet with warm blood.

He jerked back with a yelp when Emma gave a low hum of pain, her dulled emerald eyes fluttering open. Her eyebrows drew together as her vision waved before her, mouth drawing back in a grimace of pain. She blinked slowly and gently turned her head. The first thing she saw was him.

"Dmitri?" She asked hoarsely, eyes roving over his features until her vision stopped blurring.

He jerked his eyes away from her, a scowl tugging at his mouth as something heavy grabbed hold of his stomach and jerk downward. "Shut up, you stupid cat. You're hurt and the more you talk, the more of a pain you'll be."

Aria gawked at him as he stood up, movements jerky, and plopped down at the mouth of the cave. "Why you no good—"

"Vala? Where's…where's Vala? I…I need to go see if she's o-okay. She…he hurt her, and I have to see if she's okay. She won't be h-happy if I l-leave her alone for too long."

She tried to pull herself up, tried to wrestle herself to her feet, but the pain racing down her torso and arms had her collapsing back. She gave a soft sound of pain as Aria pushed her down softly. "Emma, please, you need to rest. You were hurt and—"

"Vala. Where's Vala? And where am I? T-this doesn't look like her home."

The tears she had tried to hard to quell fell down, curving over her jaw and staining her dress as she kept her hands on the struggling demon. "Please, Emma, don't move. You'll rip at your stitches."

She cringed slightly, good hands fisting. She shoved Aria away to sit up, nearly crying out at the pain thrumming through her system. "Answer my question, Aria. Where is Vala? And where the hell am I?"

"We carried you to the cave, right near the sea, where the tunnel led to—"

"You brought me outside?" She gasped as her sudden exclamation forced her ribs to expand. As she bent forward in pain, Aria fluttered around her, trying to find the best place to put her hands to push her back down, but almost every inch of visible flesh was covered in bruises or whelps. "Why? I told you I can't be out in the sun—"

"We had to, Emma. If Damrious came back here—"

"It doesn't matter. How can you think to bring me out when you know I can't—"

"Because I couldn't let you die like Vala did just to save me!" Aria gasped, hands flying to her mouth as disbelief clouded Emma's eyes. "I-I m-mean, t-that is to say—"

"Dead?" Her voice was dull as her hands dropped to her side. She stopped fighting to get up as she glanced at the sea lapping gently at the sand. "Vala's not dead. Y-you're wrong. Vala wouldn't die like that. She…she might of hated me, but she wouldn't leave me alone like this. She wouldn't."

Aria didn't fight when Emma lurched to her feet, legs trembling as she tried to gain her footing. "You're lying," she growled, recoiling when pain scorched her skin. "You're as bad as the rest of them. But you won't break me. Not now."

Aria scrambled to her feet as Emma's stumbled back toward the tunnel, back to her home, where Vala would be waiting with her cane raised to smack her over the head for being late. She was going to go back to the tiny cottage where she had spent her entire life, back to where she thrived off the insults and constant badgering from the old woman. Vala wasn't dead. There was no way she could be. She was just hurt, that's all. She was going to be okay and then things would be alright again. She would have a family and a place in this world, and dammit, there was no way that stupid old crone would let a man kill her, not now, not ever. Aria was just trying to hurt her, like Dmitri did, try to make her suffer because she was a half-breed. Vala would soothe it with her catty remarks and her scowls.

"Emma, please, you're going to hurt yourself—"

"Shut up. I'm going back to Vala. She's hurt and I have to help her. She'll be made that I let her suffer for so long and—"

"Emma." Tears clogged her throat as he stepped forward hesitantly, his hand hovering over her. "Stop."

She couldn't see now. The tears were flooding over; ripping against her throat until she feared it would bleed from the pain. "She's not dead," she ground out, her voice throaty with suppressed pain. "She wouldn't leave me like this. She's not like you, Dmitri. She wouldn't leave me alone."

She ignored Aria's broken sobs as she forced herself to take the first step back to Vala. Her hands groped at the wall to help her gain some form of balance, the nails digging into the craggy walls.

"Stop it, Emma. You're making this harder than it needs to be." He followed after her, his steps quiet, almost hesitant.

"Leave me alone, Dmitri. I'm going back to her."

"She's dead, Emma. There's nothing to go back to. She…she's gone."

"No she's not! She's not gone, dammit! She can't leave me alone! She's all I have, so back off and stop pretending like you even care! She's not dead," she repeated, but her voice was breaking, and she knew, oh god, she knew, that Vala was dead, that she had left her. There was nothing now. She had nothing left, nothing to grasp on to anymore. Vala was dead and there was noting she could do.

"Damnit!" She fisted her good hand and slammed it against the wall. She felt the skin bust, but she didn't care anymore. She just didn't care.

Dmitri gently laid his hand on her skin, but she whirled, emotions crashing against each other until she couldn't tell one from the other. Her heart was breaking, shattering in her chest like glass but somehow hardening to the point where she didn't feel human, nor demon, just empty and so damn alone that it made her heart break all over again.

"You." Aria flinched at the hate in her voice, but stood her ground when Emma shoved Dmitri to the side, ignorant of the blood seeping down her side from the broken stitches to the bone pushing against her skin from her dislocated shoulder. All she could hear, see, feel was the damn girl who thought herself a hero by saving her. "This is your entire fault."

Aria recoiled, but what came from the half-demon's mouth seemed to rip away at her until she was crying again. "Why didn't you let me die? I didn't want to be saved, dammit. You took it upon yourself to pity me because you stupidly thought my life was worth it, but it's not. You should have let them killed me. Don't you see? I wanted to die. I wanted them to kill me because I am alone and worthless without Vala, and now she's gone and I'm alone. If you hadn't of decided to play hero, I wouldn't hurt anymore!"

Aria's hands fisted at her side until she felt blood pool beneath her nails. "I'm so tired of hiding in shadows because I can't be in the sun. I'm so tired of hiding inside the little hut because people hate half-breeds. I'm tired of looking at myself and seeing the pain my mother went through. I'm tired of seeing Vala, and knowing that I ruined what life she had left because she's was forced to raise me because no one else would. I'm just so tired, and there was finally a chance for it to all end, but you, you ruined it. You took away the one chance of freedom I had because you think yourself a savior. You forced me into a life a hate and pity and loneliness and so much pain that I don't think I can handle breathing, it hurts so much, because Vala was all I had and she's gone and you didn't let me free and dammit, I don't want this! You think that just because you survived being along for so long that I can too, but I can't. I'm not like you. I was never like you and I can't survive in a world like this.

"I just wanted it all to stop. Vala…Vala made the pain less noticeable. I…I could handle Dmitri hating me because she was there. I didn't feel so alone, but she's gone and I have nothing."

Something hot fell down her bloody cheek, but she ignored it, because the pain in her chest was ripping her apart and it was all she could focus on. "Did you think of that when you saved me? Did you ever pause and think of what life would be like for me after you did your heroic deed? Do you think of how I would feel, alone and beaten and broken, all to make yourself feel better by jumping into the fray to be the bloody hero of mankind? I hate to break it to you, Princess, but not everyone wants or needs to be saved. Because of you, and your sudden need to be heroic, I have nothing. I have no one, now, and don't even think you can step up and say you'll be there, just to make yourself feel better."

The pain in her chest seemed to multiply, but now, it wasn't her heart causing her pain. Her ribs throbbed like a drum as the agony in her shoulder reared to life. And suddenly, with all her words said, the pain in her body slowly started to bleed back. Emma's strength trembled now, gaze wavering as her body seemed to flame with pain unlike anything she had felt before.

And all she wanted was to go back to her home, to the one place where she didn't feel like a disgusting half-breed. She just wanted to curl into her bed and sleep until it was her time to die. She knew, if she went back, she would have to deal with Vala's dead body, but she didn't care. She just wanted the pain to stop and—

"Emma."

She shook her head. She didn't want to deal with him now. Not here, not ever. She was so tired and she didn't need him telling her how pathetic she was for thinking the way she did. "Leave me alone, Dmitri." She flinched at how dead her voice sounded, but she was too weak to even add fire to her voice when he gently wrapped his large hand around her arm.

"Emma, look at me."

She felt her body weaken against the strain of pain as she shook her head again. "No. I can't…I won't deal with you now. I just want to go home."

But Dmitri had always been stubborn, she mused, and felt her heart shatter again when he lifted her chin so she was forced to met his eyes. "Emma, just shut up and let Aria heal your wounds."

She closed her eyes against another wave of pain. Leave it to Dmitri to make her hurt even more—

Her eyes snapped open when he tugged her forward so her body collapsed against him and sank down to the floor with her nestled in his lap. "Rest and Aria will fix your wounds," he said softly. "And then, then we'll worry about everything. Until then, just sleep."

"Dmitri—"

"No," he said, glancing down at her with calm crimson eyes, "Now, you are my responsibility. You're stuck with me now, you hear? I won't be as ornery as Vala, but I will do my best. Because you're not alone. You have me, no matter how much that annoys you. Got it?"

She jerked in his grasp, but he merely pressed her back down. "Stop fighting, dammit, and do as I say."

"I don't want your pity—"

"Well ya don't got it, so shut up. Geez, you talk too much, brat." But when he glanced down at her, his eyes were soft. "Relax, Emma. I'm not going anywhere."

She could do nothing more than nod as Aria cautiously moved toward her as if waiting for her to lash out at her again. Hesitantly, Emma leaned back against him, almost fearing that he would disappear from behind her. But he never did. Instead, his arms wrapped around her like a blanket, one large hand shifting down to her side, where blood soaked through his fingers. He sighed.

"Leave it up to you to break stitches just by screaming. Troublesome girl."

And for reasons beyond her understand, she laughed.

---

Emma slept peacefully now, her body facing the crackling fire and her body covered by Dmitri's tunic. He sat across from her, arms folded over his knees and chin resting against his forearms, watching the light dance over her healing face.

"I didn't think about the demon blood in her," Aria said quietly, tracing patters in the sand with her fingers. "She's healing faster than I presumed."

Dmitri nodded. "She heals faster than most full blooded demons. She's injured herself enough times to know." A smile flittered over his mouth for his eyes became somber. "I don't know why I said it."

Aria twisted her fingers in Samhain's fur as her baby dragon curled at her feet. "Because you knew, all along, that you would be there for her when Vala passed. You just didn't admit it. Couldn't, because things would have changed between you two that you weren't ready for."

"I'm only seventeen," he said softly. "A few months older than she is. I can hardly take care of myself, much less another being. A con artist can only get so far when in the same town. That, and what am I to do when I finally get a mate? She wouldn't be too happy with Emma taking up most of my time, and would end up making me chose."

"You'll find away," she murmured. "I know you will. Because, in the end, you'll find she's worth it."

Something played across his features, momentarily pulling the boy from his face to replace it with a man. She smiled at him, tilting her head to study the sleeping girl's face. "She looks so young when she's sleeping. So innocent and pure."

Dmitri's mouth lifted slightly. "She is."

Aria rolled her eyes. "I know that, but I mean…just looking at her, like she is now, you'd never think she was so broken, so lonely. It…broke my heart, hearing her say that. I would have never known, had none of this had happened, she would feel like she's worthless." She pulled her knees to her chest, resting her cheeks against the bone and turning her head toward him. "Did you know? Did she ever tell you how she felt?"

Dmitri shook his head, a wing of blonde hair falling into his eyes. "No. She was always so happy, so carefree and such a damn smartass when I was around her. But it was because she had Vala, who would always welcome her home with open arms and a whack on the head from her cane." He chuckled slightly. "God, I'm going to miss that old hag."

Aria smiled softly, her eyes once against landing on the young girl before her. "It won't hurt so badly, if you're with her. If she knows that you're with her, she can get over the grief."

Dmitri blushed, prodding a finger at the book lying between them. "I doubt it. I'm not that good of a person. But I think," he added with a smile when she flicked sand at him, "that it might be enough, knowing that she's not alone."

"Softie." She giggled when he sputtered before leaning over to brush her lips across his cheek. Samhain growled as Dmitri went crimson, the blush seeming to spread over his shoulders and down his muscled chest. Aria was almost happy that Dmitri wore nothing beneath his tunic, but shoved the thought aside. She didn't have time to worry about shirtless men.

Gently, she traced The Book of Garion with her finger, outlining the carved sword apathetically. "He's starting," she murmured. "He's preparing for the war."

"Yeah." Dmitri gazed at the fire, his eyes briefly jumping to Emma's now healing face. Her bottom lip was still swollen and cut, but her cheek, once sliced open from the captain's glove, had healed now to a mere scratch. The bruises around her neck were still strong, but were now starting to bleed into a pallid yellow and green. The wound on her side, however, was still raw around the edges and was healing slowly, almost at a snail's pace. He knew it meant that it the wound had been serious, as he knew from personal experience that even demon blood was useless in healing a critical wound.

"He's going to kill." Dmitri said quietly. "He's killed today to get to you. And he won't stop in his pursuit to get you on his side. Innocent blood will be shed because he wants your power. Can you handle that?"

Aria sucked on her bottom in contemplation. "I…I'll have to. He'll come for me no matter what I do. If I… If I let him get me now, Vala's death and Emma's pain will be for not. I can't let Vala's death go without retribution. So yes. I'll handle it."

"This war…we'll win it for her. For Vala."

"Yes. But there will be losses. More than just Vala. We'll have to gather an army to go up against him, and those we befriend might be killed. You, Emma, me, there could all be a chance we don't survive. Can you handle that? Can you handle losing Emma? Or me? Can you handle seeing innocent people, people who you've come to trust and maybe even love, die? All to save Garion?"

Dmitri sighed, ignoring the fact that something poked aching needles at his heart at the thought of losing either Emma or Aria. "Garion is my home. I can't let Damrious destroy my home. But…I won't let you, or Emma die. I swear to that. I'll protect the both of you with my life."

Aria swallowed the emotions clogging her throat. "That means a lot, Dmitri. No one has cared enough about me to say such things."

He blushed hotly, gingerly rubbing sand between his fingers. "It's, umm, no problem."

She smiled at him while Samhain jerked on the hem of her skirt with a human glare. Nose crinkling in amusement, Aria reached over to heft the book into her lap. All amusement vanished as she once again traced the sword. "We'll need their help."

Dmitri nodded. "Without them, all we can rely on is your power." He hastily added, "And you don't know much magic, either," when she blanched. "So, they might be our last hope. We can't depend on Roarke to do anything, considering he just up and left the kingdom for no apparent reason—ouch!" He glared at Samhain, lifting his throbbing hand to his chest. "Damn dog! Don't bite me!"

Aria gently threaded her fingers through Samhain's fur. "He doesn't like for people to talk about his ruler, obviously. But…" She glanced apologetically down at Samhain. "You're right. We can't depend on Roarke to do much. He…was wrong, in leaving the kingdom, and wrong for not coming to me personally to tell me he wanted me to be his tool."

Samhain snarled at her. He has his reason, Aria. Don't think so lowly of him for something he couldn't help. He didn't choose to leave Garion. He would have come right to you had things of not gone awry. Don't agree with this damn dog when neither you nor he knows what goes on inside the kingdom. And he does not think of you as a tool, he snarled irritably in her head, jerking his head away from her to tramp to the other wide of the fire to nestle against the healing half-demon. He seemed to smirk when Dmitri growled low in his throat as he butted his way into the girl's arms. .

"Samhain," she murmured, but he ignored her, instead resting his head against his folded paws. He watched them warily when Aria gave a heavy sigh. "I need to call them," she said. "I need to bring them here so we can hopefully persuade them to follow Roarke."

"That damn prince again…you are the one they're supposed to follow, not him. Someone needs to whack him off his stupid pedestal," he groused, ignoring Samhain's annoyed grunt.

She sighed, ignoring the glaring contest that flared between the two. "What we need is The Four. We need their help if Garion is to prosper and Roarke take his rightful place as Ruler. We can't dally anymore. We have to bring them here, to us, before Damrious finds a way to steal this book. He won't give up," she added, eyes searching Dmitri's figure. He blushed hotly.

"What are you looking for?"

"A knife," she murmured. "You wouldn't have one on you, would you?"

His eyebrows jammed together as he searched through his trouser pockets. "What are you going to do?"

She took the small, handheld knife in her hand, flipping the blade open and slicing it diagonally across her palm, briefly wondering why he hadn't brought it up when she needed to cut the string on Emma's stitches. She flinched as a thick stream of blood bubbled from the shallow wound. Ignoring the stinging pain, she glanced up at Dmitri with a smirk. "I'm calling The Four to us so we can get this bloody war over and done with."

As clear understanding flittering over Dmitri's crimson orbs, Aria of Garion swept her blood over the sword.

And waited.

---

I know, I know. This chapter was ridiculously long. I have never, in my entire hobby of writing, managed to pump out this much in one chapter. Maybe two or three, but never one. And this was supposed to be a prelude. But before you run off, this will not be the length of following chapters. This was a fluke, high and simple. I probably couldn't pull off another chapter this long if I tried. So don't let this abomination scare you off, because this will never happen again. Ever. So please, don't pound me for the length, because I am highly aware of it. Blame it on an overactive imagination and too many plot possibilities. (I find it amusing that half of the reviews like long chapters, while the rest hate long chapters…)

Funny thing is I actually deleted a few pages. Eh heh…but I just couldn't take anything out without screwing up where I was heading. Beast Boy and Raven will be making an appearance in the next chapter, so that's something to look forward to…right? Oh, and for those who stayed despite the fact that this was so damn long, Robin and Starfire will be a secondary couple, since the movie clearly stated they were a couple. So yeah.

Oh, yeah, and I tried to translate The Four into Gaelic, but the stupid free translation sites wouldn't obey my command, so it's nasty, corny The Four. Ah well. Oh, and since this was so disturbing long, I didn't get it betaed. Yeah, I'm sorry, but I would read over it ever few chapters, so it shouldn't be that bad…hopefully…if it is, I'll get it corrected and reposted, just like I'm doing with But I'm Only Human. It's damn time I rewrite that sucker, so I'll be juggling this, that, and The White Rose: Petals of Blood. But hey, that's what summers for, right? Pumping out chapters like crazy—hopefully.

So did anyone take notice that the captain only had two insults prepared for Emma? Heh, shows his mind span, I think. That was intentional, by the way, for him to be slow when it comes to insulting people.

On another note, I have to say that the Internet makes me sad. Why, you ask? Because there is so little Shikamaru/Ino stuff. I mean, I type that, and what do I get? Little snippets of Shika/Temari carved into the woodwork. Dude, that sucks. I can't get away from it. It makes me so mad when I go for Ino/Shika, only to be barraged with Temari/Shika…I am so going to write something about Ino/Shika, darn it, just because the Internet has betrayed me and Shikamaru is my all time favorite. Is there no one else out there who happens to be an Ino/Shika fan? Argh…

Anyway…

So, ready to know how many pages this is?

Sixty-eight…but that's counting the author's note, which happens to be really long…ah well. And I use 'oh' a lot…I need variety…