Chapter Seventeen: A venomous smile

So this chapter will be a bit longer, the last chapter was just a teaser! I'm still a bit shaky with my writing but anyway…continue.

After all that you put me through,
You think I'd despise you,
But in the end I wanna thank you,
'Cause you've made me that much stronger

Plastering on a false smile was nothing new to Aya. Her face would automatically assume that expression when necessary. A smile reminded her of a lie, really. It was like a declaration of love. It could be made without even liking the person. Even hating them, despising them.

She knew all too well how someone could say that they loved you when they were completely and utterly in love with destroying everything you stand for. She was a liar too then, she supposed. That lie of happiness had been plastered over her face for longer than she cared to remember. Why stop now? There was no sleeping anymore. She needed to start her rebellion.

Taking in a deep breath, her lips curved bitterly to position and she placed a now icy-cold hand on the door knob. The cool metal turned under her fingers and readied herself for the final act. A ragged looking Benn was startled to see Aya appearing with what must look like a comical grin on her face. Staring into one of her dearest friend's guilty eyes left her struggling to keep the smile from turning into a grimace. Benn frowned briefly at the look on her face and she shook herself silently. Walter had since disappeared and she swallowed her pride like a bitter pill as she closed the door behind her and stepped into the hallway.

'Princess?' he queried, his voice rough. Aya could see his hand hovering next to his sword and she felt her heart twist harshly. Pushing her emotions aside she twisted her hands in front of her and cleared her throat.

'I was wondering if I could go downstairs to get some food,' she whispered, eyes dropping to the floor in what she hoped looked like an innocently hungry movement. She could almost hear him arguing with himself and hastened to continue, 'You can follow me, Finn.' She added icily, struggling to reign herself in. He sighed and seemed to gather himself,

'Of course, princess,' he confirmed, leading her down the stairs towards the bar. She let him hold onto her arm tightly, when she wished she could break away and run out of this place. Taking calming breaths, she took in her surroundings that she had failed to notice on the way in. The bar was teaming with drunkards, maids and gamblers. Someone would be talking.

Seating herself at the bar, Benn stood close by and gained the bartender's attention. Glancing away, she tried to catch on to a shred of conversation that may assist her once she returned to the castle.

'That Logan has no idea what he's got himself into!' A particularly drunk man to her right roared. 'I'll march up there right now and show him!'

Sighing she stopped listening to his dribble and tried again. Benn still had a tight grip on her arm, but she had long forgotten. A particular statement drew her attention so fast that she nearly gave herself away. Turning more discreetly, she stretched and kept her eyes focused just over Benn's shoulder.

'Well at least Bowerstone has settled down,' A barmaid sighed sweetly to a group of men, 'It seems whatever upset them has been taken care of.'

Aya leaned as close as she dared, ignoring the food Benn placed in front of her. The woman's voice became somewhat muffled and she closed her eyes to focus.

'Yes, Logan's right hand man was right in the midst of it all!' The barmaid continued. 'The say he-'

Her voice was abruptly cut off when she felt a sharp pull on her arm that startled her out of her daze. 'What do you think you are doing Finn?' A dangerous voice warned. Aya clenched her jaw and pulled her arm out of Elliot's grip.

'I'm not a rag doll, commander,' she hissed as they received some wary stares. 'I do require food and water on occasion.'

She did not even turn towards him, but rather searched for the bar maid and ignored his arguing with Benn. She saw the bar maid had moved on and was talking avidly to another group of men, too far away to hear.

'We can't let the poor girl starve, Elliot-'

'Then send her back to the room with a piece of bread!'

'That is not meal for a princess!'

Sighing in irritation she stood up abruptly, 'Will you two shut up and go away or let me sit here in peace,' she ground out harshly and pushed away from Benn, 'For such clever traitors you sound like irritating little children.'

Benn's mouth snapped shut and visibly swallowed as his eyes flicked to Elliot. 'Watch yourself princess,' he said quietly, but dangerously. 'If it were up to me, you would be dragged back to the castle as we speak.'

Aya let out a small smile as a retort began in her head. What more damage could they do to her, why not antagonise them.

'So you don't make the decisions?' she queried politely. 'I guess Finn does have more balls than you-' she began but was cut off by a loud throat clearing by Benn himself.

Elliot grabbed her arm roughly and spun her towards him, 'Don't start these petty insults again Aya, there is only so many times I can let it slide.'

Aya actually laughed out right at this. 'Let it slide?' she whispered incredulously. 'That is your excuse for being too scared of me to back up your words?'

She knew the taunting would wind Elliot up. Hopefully enough for him to storm off so she could get back to what she was doing. She still had the bar maid in sight, and could probably convince Benn that she wanted to sit somewhere near.

'Too scared?' he ground out angrily, 'You push and push and I am on the verge of making sure you're petulant mouth is speechless.'

'I'm fairly sure you had your chance at that Elliot, and I was less than impressed,' she taunted and the bridge of Elliot's was triggered into a snarl.

Benn choked on his ale and Elliot grabbed the front of her dress and drew her so close she could see every angry line of his scowl.

'You know what happens when you make these accusations princess,' his voice only loud enough for her to hear. 'I am not that boy you can taunt and tease any longer.'

She shook inside, but was the picture of stability on the outside. 'I know exactly what happens,' she did not bother to lower her voice. 'You attempt to finish what you started, but each time I'm left wondering if you are not a man at all. Simply a traitorous, bitter, little boy,' she said angrily, seeing something dangerous enter Elliot's eyes. Aya knew she had over stepped his patience. Elliot's hands shook as they let her go.

'Tell Page and Walter we are leaving,' Elliot said quietly, almost calmly. Turning away swiftly, he disappeared up the stairs and she felt a small feeling of both triumph and panic filter through her.

'Aya,' Benn whispered urgently, 'Please don't do this to yourself, there are things you don't understand.' Aya ignored him and searched urgently for the bar maid who was now behind the bar. Aya motioned to her and she waddled over as Benn tried to gain Walter's attention.

'Good news I hear?' Aya said quietly, careful to avoid Benn hearing. The bar maid smiled broadly,

'Oh indeed, I see you were congratulating the commander,' she replied with wink. Aya frowned slightly but played along.

'Oh of course, what a good man he is,' Aya sighed and noticed that Benn had managed to get Walter's attention. Time was running out.

'Aye,' the bar maid agreed, 'Managing to save Bowerstone like that with only peaceful words. I hear he recruited many more for the rebellion too.' She dropped her voice to a whisper.

'You'd do well to keep that information to yourself,' she heard Benn mutter to the maid as he heard her last statement. But Aya did not move.

'What does she mean Benn?' she whispered as the bar maid scoffed and walked away. Benn grabbed her arm and pulled her to the side as Walter and Page started towards them.

'I can't-' Benn started to say, but looked so conflicted as he gazed into Aya's eyes.

'You are my oldest friend Benn Finn. If you can't then no one ever will,' she whispered softly, almost defeated. Running a hand through his hair, he let out a ragged sigh and grabbed her by the shoulders.

'We are the rebellion, Aya,' he stated simply as Page and Walter drew nearer. 'I should not be telling you this. Page thinks you are incompetent, Elliot thinks you are not ready, he forced me not to tell you, to lie.' He pleaded with her to understand. 'I know you are ready Aya, you always have been.'

She barely felt the squeeze of her shoulders as he shook her lightly and drew her into a hug. 'He only tried to protect you-' he whispered and she pushed him away firmly. It was all starting to make sense.

Her mind drifted back to finding Page and Elliot in the garden. Page was pleading with Elliot to tell her something…back then she had thought it something as trivial as an affair. How utterly stupid, she really was incompetent.

And then there was Elliot.

He had pushed her so far that she nearly killed him. Taunted her with the past so that she would gather her magic through anger. He had turned her best friends into liars, made her feel desolate and alone. Felt that she did not belong to a rebellion she had worked so hard to create. Nearly made her murder the man she loved – used to love.

A fury like she had not felt in as long as she could remember rippled through her. She could no longer see anything around her except a blurry haze. A black band wrapped around her like a suffocating rage. She felt like her heart would push out of her rib cage with the intensity of its beat and she knew she was about to lose control.

She felt Benn lead her quickly out of the tavern and into the street. She silently thanked him as she felt her whole arms burn with the need to release. She would not hurt anyone that did not deserve to be hurt. But those that did…

'What is going on Benn?' she heard a female voice curse through the haze. 'Can you not even control her petty temper for one night?'

Aya felt herself begin to shake, her jaw set so tightly she thought it might snap. Fists so tightly clenched that they turned white and anger so deep within her it consumed her.

'You are as incompetent as she is Finn! A useless member of the team-' Page ranted as Benn tried desperately to quieten her. They had no idea what Benn had just told Aya, or the fury he had released.

'You think me incompetent?' Aya heard herself whisper. Only it wasn't her voice, it was some kind of monster within her. She laughed cruelly as Page looked somewhat shocked at the admission. The beast within her demanded vengeance. 'You think I have a temper,' she hissed, the black band tightening around her ability to control herself as she stared into Page's eyes.

'Learn to control yourself,' Page scoffed, but her voice trembled slightly as she saw the manic gaze capture her own. 'You are only proving to everyone what a spoilt child you-'

Aya's fist collided with Page's cheek before she had even realised she rose her arm. A sickening crack echoed as the girl went flying across the court yard to smash into the wall of the alchemist's building. The beast inside her roared its satisfaction as she followed the path of destruction to show Page exactly how incompetent she was. The girl had left a trail of blood when she collided with the building of the wall and Aya's heart beat impossibly faster.

She felt Walter and Benn tugging on her arms, pleading with her, but she ignored them. Picking up a barely conscious Page by her shirt, she slammed her into the wall of the building and bared her teeth at her in a snarl.

'You think me merely a child?' Aya whispered, only loud enough for Page to hear. Her fist clenched tighter and Page began to choke. Benn and Walter's cries and attempts to stop her went unnoticed as her focus narrowed in. 'You think wrong'.

Page gripped Aya's hands desperately and Aya finally was no longer angry at her. She pitied her. As she loosened her grip she was thrown back roughly. The beast that had just begun to be caged flared furiously as her head collided roughly with the gravel beneath her. She saw Benn's face come into view as her vision swam, but she pushed him away. Her battle was not with him.

Pulling herself up slowly, Aya looked for those eyes that she knew would be upon her. Elliot stood, breathing heavily as he assisted Page to her feet. She knew only he would have pushed her away like that. Only he had that hold on her.

But no more.

'You know you could never beat me Aya,' Elliot teased, his eyes twinkling as he pinned her to the ground once again.

Aya sighed, frustrated. 'You could at least pretend to let me win sometimes.'

Elliot chuckled and lay down next to her. 'Alright, fair princess,' he whispered cupping her face. 'Next time I shall fall at your feet.'

The memory intruded Aya's vision briefly and she smiled venomously. He had no idea how true his profession would be. The beast inside her knew not of the love she held for Elliot. Love would only get in the way. He had betrayed her, lied to her and hurt her beyond anybody else.

'You know,' Elliot said simply. He stood a little way in front of her, Page now safely in Walter's care. Aya tilted her head slightly,

'Know what exactly, commander?' she queried, stepping away from Benn. She did not want to hurt him. 'How I want to make you suffer as much as I? As much as my people?'

Elliot clenched his jaw and Aya laughed bitterly. 'Oh you mean how you betrayed me? How you think me too weak to join my own rebellion?' She stepped closer, the blue of her tattoo lighting up the ground as she walked. 'How you tried to make me kill you to gain these powers?' She lifted her arm and trailed a finger along the tattoo. 'Or maybe, how you tried to turn everyone against me because I am nothing. but. a. useless. CHILD!'

Elliot did not flinch when she screamed at him, nor did he move an inch. He simply stared at her, like waiting out a tantrum. This angered her further.

'Do you have nothing to say now?' Aya cried and pushed him roughly. 'No words of love to tide me over with? No sweet lies to cover your tracks with!' Her gaze trembled with unshed tears as she pushed him back further, and he once again righted himself.

He wiped a line of blood from his mouth and turned back to her, 'If you will listen.'

'No!' she cried and her palm crashed into his face, leaving a bruised, red welt across his cheek. 'No more lies! I don't want you anymore.' His amber gaze drifted slowly back to her own, but he did not move to stop her.

'You will still always have me.'

Those words almost broke hands shook as she stared into his molten gaze, unaware of anything apart from him. They stood there, not touching, but close enough to. She had to look up to see his eyes, see that tattoo mingle with the graze of her fiery hand print across his face. She wanted to fight him; she wanted him to fight her, to yell at her. Anything but this. Anything but that somewhat defeated gaze he bestowed upon her.

Anything to stop loving him.

Well there you go! Another wee bit to tide you guys over, let me know what you think! xx