Danalia stood in the door frame of Echo's room. Angry heat was radiating off of her in waves. Her scarlet cheeks grew yet more red as she shouted over her shoulder.
"Guards! Guards!"
"Danalia. what are you doing?" Dymetri questioned, authority thick in his voice.
One of the gards showed up. He was clad in studded black leather and had a long sword on his right hip, a hand ax looped on his left hip and the tops of his boots were dazzling with the hilts of many daggers and knifes.
Echo looked suspiciously at the guard. If those were all his visible weapons, he must have many many more.
"Take her to the dungons." Danalia sneared, pointing a long manicured finger at Echo.
Instantly, a deep growl issued from Dymetri as he rose to his feet. It was almost a comforting growl to Echo. A familiar growl. An animal growl. Dymetri tightened his hold on Echo and she did likewise. Echo wrapped her arms around Dymetri's neck, facing the door, but tensed incase she needed to shift. She didn't want to hurt him in the process.
Echo also knew that if she did it right, with the bond she and Dymetri had, she would be able to change him into a cat form as well. But it took a lot of energy and she wouldnt be able to hold both their shapes for long. More or less it was an illusion to anyone outside the body but the both the transformed could move and act and sound like animals.
"My Prince? What is to be done?" The guard looked alarmed at the sound that came from his Prince, but he didn't dare disobay a direct order from another royal.
"Danalia if you ever try to send Lady Echo into the dungons I will have you hung from the dungon walls by your ankles. Do you understand?" Dymetri's voice was full of malice and his vicious promise would hold true.
"Stefen. Escort Princess Danalia to her rooms and make sure she doesnt leave until dinner. Once dinner is over, make sure she returns to her room and doesnt exit until next day." Dymetri was being rather cruel about this Echo thought.
Danalia screached as the guard, Stefen, grabbed her upper arm. "You cant do this. I'm a princess and your future bride!"
Echo let out a ferl hiss and turned to bury her face in Dymetri's chest. He stroked her hair, whispering comforting words into her ear.
Danalia was staring at them, eyes wide. "Dymetri you cant be doing this to me. You can not disobay your father either."
The elf holding Echo smirked. "Watch me." Then Dymetri looked pointedly at the guard and nodded.
Without any warning, Dymetri lifted Echo into his arms and carried her over to the bed, her face still hidden in the dip between his neck and shoulder. He laid her gently on top of the cotton blankets.
When he pulled away and looked at Echo, her eyes again held the deep pain and hurt. He smiled slightly but it didn't touch his eyes. "You should get some sleep. " He glanced out the window that portrayed a dark sky as he began walking towards the door. 'How long did we sit there?-
Echo started to go into a panick. "Don't leave, please." She whispered when he was standing at the threshold.
"I need to speak with my father about Danalia, but when I'm done, I'll come back." The smile he gave was her favorite, a crooked kind of grin that made his eyes sparkle with stars.
"Promise?"
"Promise." He chuckled.
She nodded and settled down to wait. Dymetri exited the room, closing the door behind him. Echo heard his footsteps fading down the hall way until another door opened.
"Father?!" Dymetri's voice was distant, but even from this far, Echo could hear the contempt in his tone. "We need to talk. Now."
Tuesday, April 28, 2009
Sunday, April 26, 2009
Chapter Two (part 8)
Dymetri slowly sank onto the floor underneath the window with Echo still in his arms. She wasnt crying but every now and again her breathing would become uneven. Instantly when this happened, the elf would hold her tighter to him and whisper into her ear until she calmed.
Dymetri knew that if she broke down enough, that there would be a possibility of her jumping out the window and running away again. And if she did, he didn't know if he'd find her and he couldnt lose her.
When they were both sitting under the window's edge the sun warming the tops of their heads, Echo spoke.
Her voice cracked. "Why?"
Dymetri was confused. "Why what?" His voice was soft and gentle.
"Why choose me? Why over the other girls, princesses, thay would be so much better for you. I'm a freak." She gestured at herself. "And they're normal." Her tone was pained.
He blinked and finally understood. That's why she doubted his promise. She was afraid that if she let herself in too far that he would just throw her aside for another woman, a princess to be exact.
"You're worried about that?" He asked.
"Well, why not? I'm not right for anyone. I was born to be alone. It's what I get for being what I am. There has to be a person suffering in the world so everyone knows that what they have in life is good. It gives everyone someone to pitty but never do anything about it. I was chosen to be that someone.
"The one who is on the very bottem. Barely gets by. Hides the pain but yet everyone realizes that their life is so much better. The one who everyone makes fun of and curses at just because they dont really understand anything except that, that one doesnt belong in the world.
"I should even exist. My existance was a total accident. I shouldnt even be here. I should be six feet under or my ashes spread over the world. I should have died when I was little. My parents shouldn't have saved me from them. Princess Danalia would be so much better off with you. You would be better off with her. Not someone who shouldnt even be alive."
Dymetri's heart sank. If she hadn't been saved...he didn't want to think. He couldnt imagine what life would be like without this beautiful woman who lay in his arms now. He turned her around so that she faced him where she sat in his lap.
"Echo. You are here for a reason. Fate brought you to me and I'm not about to let you get away." He gave her a stern look. Echo stared into his eyes. The gold was molten, boiling with and intense light. She lost herself in his eyes. In the warmth of his heart. She nodded, unable to speak.
The intesity grew the longer she looked. The liquid gold was drowning her, but she was still alive.
"Echo. I love you. And I'm not letting my father's demands stop that. All I need to know is if you love me too and it will be enough." He lifted his hand and gently pulled her face towards his.
His breath was warm on her face and Echo didn't pull away. When his lips touched hers, fire bound them together.
An ancient rhyme rang through her head, spoken almost like it was to be a curse.
Love is like fire. Fire is like love.
You can choose what it does.
It can burn you alive.
Or cleanse your soul well.
It can send you to heaven.
Or throw you in hell!
Echo knew there wasnt a way to escape now.
She leaned into the kiss. Dymetri pulled her closer to him. Her fingers tangled into his black hair as he asked for entry. Echo smiled as she gave in, sighing as he deepened the kiss. Time stopped and they were lost.
However, all good things must end. Everything must end somehow.
The door flew open with a loud bang. Both jump in startlement and Echo let out a quiet scream. Both elf and werecat looked up from where they sat below the window into the furious face of the royal at the door.
Dymetri knew that if she broke down enough, that there would be a possibility of her jumping out the window and running away again. And if she did, he didn't know if he'd find her and he couldnt lose her.
When they were both sitting under the window's edge the sun warming the tops of their heads, Echo spoke.
Her voice cracked. "Why?"
Dymetri was confused. "Why what?" His voice was soft and gentle.
"Why choose me? Why over the other girls, princesses, thay would be so much better for you. I'm a freak." She gestured at herself. "And they're normal." Her tone was pained.
He blinked and finally understood. That's why she doubted his promise. She was afraid that if she let herself in too far that he would just throw her aside for another woman, a princess to be exact.
"You're worried about that?" He asked.
"Well, why not? I'm not right for anyone. I was born to be alone. It's what I get for being what I am. There has to be a person suffering in the world so everyone knows that what they have in life is good. It gives everyone someone to pitty but never do anything about it. I was chosen to be that someone.
"The one who is on the very bottem. Barely gets by. Hides the pain but yet everyone realizes that their life is so much better. The one who everyone makes fun of and curses at just because they dont really understand anything except that, that one doesnt belong in the world.
"I should even exist. My existance was a total accident. I shouldnt even be here. I should be six feet under or my ashes spread over the world. I should have died when I was little. My parents shouldn't have saved me from them. Princess Danalia would be so much better off with you. You would be better off with her. Not someone who shouldnt even be alive."
Dymetri's heart sank. If she hadn't been saved...he didn't want to think. He couldnt imagine what life would be like without this beautiful woman who lay in his arms now. He turned her around so that she faced him where she sat in his lap.
"Echo. You are here for a reason. Fate brought you to me and I'm not about to let you get away." He gave her a stern look. Echo stared into his eyes. The gold was molten, boiling with and intense light. She lost herself in his eyes. In the warmth of his heart. She nodded, unable to speak.
The intesity grew the longer she looked. The liquid gold was drowning her, but she was still alive.
"Echo. I love you. And I'm not letting my father's demands stop that. All I need to know is if you love me too and it will be enough." He lifted his hand and gently pulled her face towards his.
His breath was warm on her face and Echo didn't pull away. When his lips touched hers, fire bound them together.
An ancient rhyme rang through her head, spoken almost like it was to be a curse.
Love is like fire. Fire is like love.
You can choose what it does.
It can burn you alive.
Or cleanse your soul well.
It can send you to heaven.
Or throw you in hell!
Echo knew there wasnt a way to escape now.
She leaned into the kiss. Dymetri pulled her closer to him. Her fingers tangled into his black hair as he asked for entry. Echo smiled as she gave in, sighing as he deepened the kiss. Time stopped and they were lost.
However, all good things must end. Everything must end somehow.
The door flew open with a loud bang. Both jump in startlement and Echo let out a quiet scream. Both elf and werecat looked up from where they sat below the window into the furious face of the royal at the door.
Saturday, April 25, 2009
Chapter Two (part 7)
Echo looked down at Dymetri. Instantly, regret filled his beautiful eyes. "Dymetri? What is going on." Her voice was firm and held an intolerant tone. The prince new that her patience was already thin.
"Echo, you look...amazing." His voice was quiet, but it still traveled up the staircase. A blush reached Echo's cheeks but quickly disappeared. 'How much had she heard?'
Guilt flooded his face and finally Echo gave up, she couldnt take it anymore. Somewhere inside her mind she knew that he could never be able to keep his promise, no matter how much she wanted to believe.
Dymetri started to walk towards the stairs, but Echo shook her head. Anguish crossed her features as she turned away. She walked without haste, held proud to hide the hurt; back to her rooms.
"Echo?" Dymetri called after her. His answer was the slam of a door and a faint whimper. "No!" He whispered. Dymetri wheeled on his father who was standing motionless, staring at the place the girl had been standing. "THIS IS ALL YOUR FAULT!!" He shouted. "And now I've just...lost her."
The Elvin Prince tore the cape from his shoulders that had completed the robes. An unnatural breeze caused the cape to linger longer in the air as it fell to the floor. He was gone.
Dymetri sprinted in a blurring speed up the stairs. He stopped at Echo's door. There wasn't a single sound within the chamber. 'She didn't jump again did sh--'
He heard a soft sob as something thudded on the floor. She was still there. Dymetri banged on the door, calling her name. "Echo? Echo, please. I need to talk to you. " He paused. And then, knowing she would still hear, whispered. "I need you to stay. I made you a promise. I need to explain."
Something was thrown at the door and Dymetri jumped back in alarm. Her sweet voice floated through the door, thick of pain, but reasonable. "I will stay. No leave!" She hissed.
He obayed. Echo heard him leave, dragging his feet to his room. She heard him open his door and he gave a startled cry. The shock vanished from his voice as he growled. "Get OUT!"
"Be reasonable." Someone snapped at him.
"No!" He raged back. "It's his damn fault that he's oblivious and impacient. Now, GET OUT!"
"You don't talk to me that way!"
"I'll talk to you however I want."
Echo had enough arguing. She stormed out of her room and stood in the doorway of Dymetri's. He was standing with his back turned, facing whoever was in the room. He was shaking with fury. She smacked him upside the head.
"Shut the hell up!" Echo snapped. Silence reigned as the prince turned to face her.
"Echo?" He reached out for her, wanting to hold her in his arms. But a growl erupted from deep in her chest. A simple but powerful warning.
He changed his tactics. "Then let me explain everything. Please?"
She turned, answering with only the flick of a finger. Follow. He did so. When they were in the safty of her room, she turned on him, face composed. "You have sixty seconds." She snarled.
Echo turned to face the window, looking out at the forest.
Dymetri rushed into his explination. "There's a Ball the night after next. My father wants me to marry. He found a princess that he thought apropriate for me. But I dont want to marry Danalia. I don't even know her. But my father wants me to get to know her these next couple days and I can make a desicion at the Ball. If I show up at the Ball with her, she's the one I marry. But if I show up empty handed, then I can choose a Princess from within the croud.
"But I don't want that either. Echo?" He walked over to the window where she stood motionless. Her head hung. He followed the pull of the unknown connection to her. He wapped her in his arms.
She collapsed against him. "Dymetri. I cant take this. I'm falling too fast. And even though you promised, I have a feeling that you wont catch me."
Echo was facing him now, the pain clear in her eyes. Instead of the baby blue, her eyes were a vacent gray. She closed her eyes.
Dymetri brushed a thumb over her eyelids and then kissed them both. "I made a promise. I don't make promises I can't keep. And it's you I want. Not any of them. Just you." He ended on a whisper, wrapping her to his heart.
"Echo, you look...amazing." His voice was quiet, but it still traveled up the staircase. A blush reached Echo's cheeks but quickly disappeared. 'How much had she heard?'
Guilt flooded his face and finally Echo gave up, she couldnt take it anymore. Somewhere inside her mind she knew that he could never be able to keep his promise, no matter how much she wanted to believe.
Dymetri started to walk towards the stairs, but Echo shook her head. Anguish crossed her features as she turned away. She walked without haste, held proud to hide the hurt; back to her rooms.
"Echo?" Dymetri called after her. His answer was the slam of a door and a faint whimper. "No!" He whispered. Dymetri wheeled on his father who was standing motionless, staring at the place the girl had been standing. "THIS IS ALL YOUR FAULT!!" He shouted. "And now I've just...lost her."
The Elvin Prince tore the cape from his shoulders that had completed the robes. An unnatural breeze caused the cape to linger longer in the air as it fell to the floor. He was gone.
Dymetri sprinted in a blurring speed up the stairs. He stopped at Echo's door. There wasn't a single sound within the chamber. 'She didn't jump again did sh--'
He heard a soft sob as something thudded on the floor. She was still there. Dymetri banged on the door, calling her name. "Echo? Echo, please. I need to talk to you. " He paused. And then, knowing she would still hear, whispered. "I need you to stay. I made you a promise. I need to explain."
Something was thrown at the door and Dymetri jumped back in alarm. Her sweet voice floated through the door, thick of pain, but reasonable. "I will stay. No leave!" She hissed.
He obayed. Echo heard him leave, dragging his feet to his room. She heard him open his door and he gave a startled cry. The shock vanished from his voice as he growled. "Get OUT!"
"Be reasonable." Someone snapped at him.
"No!" He raged back. "It's his damn fault that he's oblivious and impacient. Now, GET OUT!"
"You don't talk to me that way!"
"I'll talk to you however I want."
Echo had enough arguing. She stormed out of her room and stood in the doorway of Dymetri's. He was standing with his back turned, facing whoever was in the room. He was shaking with fury. She smacked him upside the head.
"Shut the hell up!" Echo snapped. Silence reigned as the prince turned to face her.
"Echo?" He reached out for her, wanting to hold her in his arms. But a growl erupted from deep in her chest. A simple but powerful warning.
He changed his tactics. "Then let me explain everything. Please?"
She turned, answering with only the flick of a finger. Follow. He did so. When they were in the safty of her room, she turned on him, face composed. "You have sixty seconds." She snarled.
Echo turned to face the window, looking out at the forest.
Dymetri rushed into his explination. "There's a Ball the night after next. My father wants me to marry. He found a princess that he thought apropriate for me. But I dont want to marry Danalia. I don't even know her. But my father wants me to get to know her these next couple days and I can make a desicion at the Ball. If I show up at the Ball with her, she's the one I marry. But if I show up empty handed, then I can choose a Princess from within the croud.
"But I don't want that either. Echo?" He walked over to the window where she stood motionless. Her head hung. He followed the pull of the unknown connection to her. He wapped her in his arms.
She collapsed against him. "Dymetri. I cant take this. I'm falling too fast. And even though you promised, I have a feeling that you wont catch me."
Echo was facing him now, the pain clear in her eyes. Instead of the baby blue, her eyes were a vacent gray. She closed her eyes.
Dymetri brushed a thumb over her eyelids and then kissed them both. "I made a promise. I don't make promises I can't keep. And it's you I want. Not any of them. Just you." He ended on a whisper, wrapping her to his heart.
Wednesday, April 22, 2009
Chapter Two (part 6)
(this is skipping back in time a bit just after Dymetri is cleaned and got his robes on)
Dymetri seathed as he flew down the castle steps to the main floor and to the cerimonial hall. He loathed, absolutly loathed, wearing his formal robes. "What's the point?" He snapped quietly under his breath as he felt them billow out behind him.
The robes were completely black except for the dark green silk undershirt. The fir and tassals hanging from his shoulders were the same color green as his shirt. To him, it was annoying as hell to wear the robes, especially so close to summer.
He let out a steady stream of oaths underneath his breath as he reached for the ornate handle on the huge oak doors leading into the cerimonial hall. But the door swung open before he managed to get a grip on the gold ring. Startlement flashed through him before it was quenched again by dull anger.
The room was more full than he was expecting. At the most he expected it to be his mother, father, and sister. He wasn't counting on the guests who paused to inspect him with their eyes.
'Damn!'
There were five other people in the room besides his parents and his sister. Dymetri analized the elves in the room. Two were young boys, twins, who were whispering quietly in a corner. It was obvious that they had no real reason to be here except the fact that they couldnt be without their parents at their own home.
The two oldest were a woman and a man. No doubt, the father and mother of the young twin elves. All four of them, the boys and parents, were wearing gold robes. The wife had straight light brown hair that reached her shoulders. Her hazel gaze scrutinized Dymetri where he stood. The father had shortly cropped hair, the color of rich charcol. His muddy brown eyes were doing just the same as his wife, judging the Prince's appearance.
Dymetri's eyes rested finally on a young girl, looking around the age of nineteen. Not that much younger than himself. She wore a vivid red satin, simple, evening dress with cream colored gloves reaching above her elbows. She had an array of roses and white daisys in her hair, intertwined in the tightly wrapped bun that was pinned just above the nape of her neck. Her glowing hazel eyes were wide as they searched for his gaze.
Quickly, Dymetri guarded his eyes and his posture became stiff, demanding, one that a king might wear in front of his subjects. He thought he knew what was going on.
The girl began to walk towards him in earnest, raising her and as she went. "I am Princess Danalia." Her voice was high and way too sugary, like she was attempting to impress him.
Dymetri took her hand in his, suddenly realizing that he wished it was Echo's he was holding. He bent over her hand and brushed his lips on the heal of her opened, gloved hand, welcoming her to his castle and lands. "Prince Dymetri. Pleased to meet you." His voice was even more guarded than his eyes, careful not to betray any of his emotions.
"Dymetri." His father, Jarel spoke. "Princess Danalia has come upon my request. It is about time that you took a bride." Dymetri's temper flared suddenly and he struggled desperatly to fight it back. He hated this topic that his father and brought up a lot recently in every conversation that was held between father and son, King and Prince.
"This is the woman we have chosen for you. She is to be your wife. If you do not accept, you have three weeks to find one of your own. There will be a wedding either way, in a fifty days." His father continued. Dymetri watched as his mother glided over to Jarel's side and placed a cautious hand on his shoulder.
The elvin Prince turned to look at Danalia again and instantly he ached for Echo to be in his arms.
"The ball is in the evening two days from now. You have till then to get to know Princess Danalia and make a decision. At the ball, if you are not with the Princess, then you will search for someone eligable at the dance. Do you understand?" His father scrutinized Dymetri's face.
Dymetri was losing it. He couldn't contain his anger much longer.
"Dymetri!?" His father snapped at him, impacient. And that broke it.
"How could you do this!" Dymetri roared. "You and Mother were never set up! Why me?!" Dymetri looked at Danalia, her expression shocked, a last time before striding furiously out of the hall. Calling over his shoulder as he did. "I will not do this. I will find someone in my own time. Understood?" He mocked his father's controling tone as he slammed the heavy door behind him.
Profanity streamed from his perfect lips as he attempted to rein in his rage. He could feel his eyes burning in earnest, the anger fueling the fire that was no doubt spitting sparks in the gold.
Dymetri took in a deep breath and counted to ten before releasing it. It didnt do much to help.
So he listened for Echo in her room. Using his keen hearing, he searched for her voice. There it was, a laugh mingled in with those of the ladies in waiting asigned to her for her stay. It was light and unknowing of what had gone on right below her feet. The trouble seemed gone from her tone, but he knew she was simply extremely good at hiding it.
Her laugh just made him more angry. She could remain oblivious to this all and when she was ready to leave, she could just run out whenever she please. He envied her and her ability, and then guilt filled him. He had promised that he wouldnt leave her, that she would never again be hurt; that he wouldnt hurt her. Anger flared even higher and he punched the stone wall, spliting a brick in the process.
Jarel opened the door and stared at his son angrily. In an attempt to control his own temper, the king spoked in a hushed tone but the fury still bubbled through. "What is wrong with you? Defying my orders. Have I taught you NOTHING!?"
"YOU CANT SET ME UP LIKE THIS! IT ISNT FAIR!" The prince didn't bother keeping his voice down.
Now Jarel was shouting. "LIFE ISN'T FAIR! YOU HAVE NO IDEA! YOU WATCH YOUR MOUTH OR I'LL HAVE YOU WHIPPED!"
Dymetri let out a feral snarl, his upper lip raising, showing his perfect teeth. "ID LIKE TO SEE YOU TRY!" He spun around and abruptly stopped short.
His gaze was stuck at the top of the staircase, horror filling him quickly, and the sight taking away his breath.
'Ahw. SHIT!'
Dymetri seathed as he flew down the castle steps to the main floor and to the cerimonial hall. He loathed, absolutly loathed, wearing his formal robes. "What's the point?" He snapped quietly under his breath as he felt them billow out behind him.
The robes were completely black except for the dark green silk undershirt. The fir and tassals hanging from his shoulders were the same color green as his shirt. To him, it was annoying as hell to wear the robes, especially so close to summer.
He let out a steady stream of oaths underneath his breath as he reached for the ornate handle on the huge oak doors leading into the cerimonial hall. But the door swung open before he managed to get a grip on the gold ring. Startlement flashed through him before it was quenched again by dull anger.
The room was more full than he was expecting. At the most he expected it to be his mother, father, and sister. He wasn't counting on the guests who paused to inspect him with their eyes.
'Damn!'
There were five other people in the room besides his parents and his sister. Dymetri analized the elves in the room. Two were young boys, twins, who were whispering quietly in a corner. It was obvious that they had no real reason to be here except the fact that they couldnt be without their parents at their own home.
The two oldest were a woman and a man. No doubt, the father and mother of the young twin elves. All four of them, the boys and parents, were wearing gold robes. The wife had straight light brown hair that reached her shoulders. Her hazel gaze scrutinized Dymetri where he stood. The father had shortly cropped hair, the color of rich charcol. His muddy brown eyes were doing just the same as his wife, judging the Prince's appearance.
Dymetri's eyes rested finally on a young girl, looking around the age of nineteen. Not that much younger than himself. She wore a vivid red satin, simple, evening dress with cream colored gloves reaching above her elbows. She had an array of roses and white daisys in her hair, intertwined in the tightly wrapped bun that was pinned just above the nape of her neck. Her glowing hazel eyes were wide as they searched for his gaze.
Quickly, Dymetri guarded his eyes and his posture became stiff, demanding, one that a king might wear in front of his subjects. He thought he knew what was going on.
The girl began to walk towards him in earnest, raising her and as she went. "I am Princess Danalia." Her voice was high and way too sugary, like she was attempting to impress him.
Dymetri took her hand in his, suddenly realizing that he wished it was Echo's he was holding. He bent over her hand and brushed his lips on the heal of her opened, gloved hand, welcoming her to his castle and lands. "Prince Dymetri. Pleased to meet you." His voice was even more guarded than his eyes, careful not to betray any of his emotions.
"Dymetri." His father, Jarel spoke. "Princess Danalia has come upon my request. It is about time that you took a bride." Dymetri's temper flared suddenly and he struggled desperatly to fight it back. He hated this topic that his father and brought up a lot recently in every conversation that was held between father and son, King and Prince.
"This is the woman we have chosen for you. She is to be your wife. If you do not accept, you have three weeks to find one of your own. There will be a wedding either way, in a fifty days." His father continued. Dymetri watched as his mother glided over to Jarel's side and placed a cautious hand on his shoulder.
The elvin Prince turned to look at Danalia again and instantly he ached for Echo to be in his arms.
"The ball is in the evening two days from now. You have till then to get to know Princess Danalia and make a decision. At the ball, if you are not with the Princess, then you will search for someone eligable at the dance. Do you understand?" His father scrutinized Dymetri's face.
Dymetri was losing it. He couldn't contain his anger much longer.
"Dymetri!?" His father snapped at him, impacient. And that broke it.
"How could you do this!" Dymetri roared. "You and Mother were never set up! Why me?!" Dymetri looked at Danalia, her expression shocked, a last time before striding furiously out of the hall. Calling over his shoulder as he did. "I will not do this. I will find someone in my own time. Understood?" He mocked his father's controling tone as he slammed the heavy door behind him.
Profanity streamed from his perfect lips as he attempted to rein in his rage. He could feel his eyes burning in earnest, the anger fueling the fire that was no doubt spitting sparks in the gold.
Dymetri took in a deep breath and counted to ten before releasing it. It didnt do much to help.
So he listened for Echo in her room. Using his keen hearing, he searched for her voice. There it was, a laugh mingled in with those of the ladies in waiting asigned to her for her stay. It was light and unknowing of what had gone on right below her feet. The trouble seemed gone from her tone, but he knew she was simply extremely good at hiding it.
Her laugh just made him more angry. She could remain oblivious to this all and when she was ready to leave, she could just run out whenever she please. He envied her and her ability, and then guilt filled him. He had promised that he wouldnt leave her, that she would never again be hurt; that he wouldnt hurt her. Anger flared even higher and he punched the stone wall, spliting a brick in the process.
Jarel opened the door and stared at his son angrily. In an attempt to control his own temper, the king spoked in a hushed tone but the fury still bubbled through. "What is wrong with you? Defying my orders. Have I taught you NOTHING!?"
"YOU CANT SET ME UP LIKE THIS! IT ISNT FAIR!" The prince didn't bother keeping his voice down.
Now Jarel was shouting. "LIFE ISN'T FAIR! YOU HAVE NO IDEA! YOU WATCH YOUR MOUTH OR I'LL HAVE YOU WHIPPED!"
Dymetri let out a feral snarl, his upper lip raising, showing his perfect teeth. "ID LIKE TO SEE YOU TRY!" He spun around and abruptly stopped short.
His gaze was stuck at the top of the staircase, horror filling him quickly, and the sight taking away his breath.
'Ahw. SHIT!'
Monday, April 20, 2009
Chapter Two (part 5)
"My father?" Dymetri questioned his face clouding over with worry and then his expression suddenly became guarded. "I'll be up in my quarters in a minute to bathe and change. I'd like a fresh set of.....wait that's why Kalei was wearing her robes...damn I cant believe I missed that!"
He muttered uninteligably under his breath for a moment. Then he looked at his servant. "Just get my robes. I dont care which ones." He started walking and then stopped, looking back at Echo.
His expression softened. "Sorry. I'm being rude. I'll show you where your room is before I go to mine." He walked carefully over, leaving the anger out of his face and stride but it was still in his eyes.
He held out his hand, waiting. Echo took it, his hand dwarfing hers. He offered a warm smile, but it didn't reach his eyes. Echo looked down, not smiling, but frowning. What could his father want? All kinds of images ran through her mind.
He interupted her thinking by stopping at a door. "This is your room. Mine is just one door down to the left. You'll be okay?" She nodded, still not looking up into his eyes where she new the golden sparks were still flying.
Dymetri leaned down and kissed her on the cheek, his lips lingering. Before he pulled away he whispered in her ear. "I'd do anything for you. Remember." Echo nodded sadly and walked into her room, unseeingly.
The prince sighed and left for his rooms to change into his robes. He cursed under his breath.
Echo wasn't paying attention as she closed the door, so the squeel from the other side of the room by the vanity mirror made her jump. She looked up. Three lady's in maid's outfits made of a soft looking cotton were looking at her.
All three of them began to talk to eachother in latin, scrutinizing Echo's appearance.
"Darlin, how could you wear a nightgown that entire time?" One of them, the taller and darker one, tisked.
"Find a gown for her to wear Evane will you?" She spoke to a smaller, more pixie like elf, who skipped towards the closit.
"I dont think that's neces--"
"Hush! We need to get you cleaned. Off into the bathing room. Chop-chop" She clapped her hands impaciently and ushered Echo into a room leading off of the main bed chamber.
This room was very similar to the bed room. The tiles were the same soft green as the bed spread. The shelves were a startling white, that contrasted with the dark, olive green wall mostly covered by three mirrors.
One mirror was full length, stretching from ceiling to floor and three feet wide. The second was enough to show from the waist up. And the third was a small mirror the was only enough to show you're face. The bath was like a small pool in the floor. It was a good five feet deep and just as much wide. The walling of the tub was also tiled only with black tiles.
Echo leaned against one of the walls and closed her eyes, listening to the bath water flowing from the tap, filling the tub. And it wasnt long until a sharp voice called her from her peace. "Come on, get undressed." The first lady snapped.
She clicked her tongue in impatience as she turned off the squeaky taps. She added a couple spoonfulls of some aromatic oil and came over to help undress the unmoving teenager.
Echo felt slightly uncomfortable walking to the tub completely naked, but the floral scent was calling her to the warm water. It seemed so welcoming that she all but forgot that she had an audiance of women watching her put one delecate foot into the hot bath water.
Echo sighed as she submerged herself in the hot water. The oils in the water began to remove the grit and grime from her skin as she rubbed her muscles, working out some knots in her shoulders.
Evane walked into the room. "Wet your hair, please, Miss." She held a bottle in her hand.
Echo did as she was told, and when she came up, Evane was at the tub's edge, pouring some of the cream into her hands. "Over here." She said quietly, not looking up from her hands. Echo swam over and faced away from the maid.
Evane set to work massaging the cream into Echo's long black hair. She chatted mindlessly for a while, but Echo wasnt really listening. The delicate fingers that were detangling her hair was doing as much help to her hair as to her mind. The aroma from the cream helped Echo detangle her thoughts and seperate them into groups that she could think over later.
Suddenly a bucket of hot water being poured on her head, woke Echo from her reverie. The girl caughed and spluttered as the water again splashed onto her head and ran down her face.
"Okay. Out." The bossy lady was back, weilding a towel in the air. "Lets get you dried and changed into a clean evening gown.
Echo stepped out of the tub, amazingly, without slipping, and walked into the towel. She yelped as she was suddenly attacked by two other towels. One made was drying her hair while the other two were quickly drying the rest of her body.
"Did you get the dress, Evane?" Echo's head emerged from beneith the towel in time to see Evane nod. Echo groaned. She hated dresses. All the women laughed.
***
By the time the ladies in waiting were finished with her, Echo had a light dusting of minerals to bring out the natural colors of her face, the dress was on with a corset beneith it, she was in heals that made her certain that she would eventually have a broken ankle, and her hair was made up in wavy curls pinned back with a floral clip. And Echo hated it. She felt like a dress up doll.
The dress was a lavender color made of a heavy silk. It was a slightly low cut and the skirt flowed out from the bodice. Intricate stitch work was done in white thread. And bows were pinned to her hips. Matching gloves that reached above her elbow provided an annoyance and discomfort every time she tried to grip something. But still, it was reletivly pretty in her eyes, Echo didn't like the feel of it though.
Echo suddenly jumped, along with the other women in the room. A loud voice was booming from somewhere downstairs and eventually more voices were added in, a comotion that would give anyone a headache. Echo sighed as she stood up from the vanity stool to see what it was all about. The dress was pretty, and Echo didn't want to end up shifting improperly and tearing it.
This was going to be difficult.
The dress:
He muttered uninteligably under his breath for a moment. Then he looked at his servant. "Just get my robes. I dont care which ones." He started walking and then stopped, looking back at Echo.
His expression softened. "Sorry. I'm being rude. I'll show you where your room is before I go to mine." He walked carefully over, leaving the anger out of his face and stride but it was still in his eyes.
He held out his hand, waiting. Echo took it, his hand dwarfing hers. He offered a warm smile, but it didn't reach his eyes. Echo looked down, not smiling, but frowning. What could his father want? All kinds of images ran through her mind.
He interupted her thinking by stopping at a door. "This is your room. Mine is just one door down to the left. You'll be okay?" She nodded, still not looking up into his eyes where she new the golden sparks were still flying.
Dymetri leaned down and kissed her on the cheek, his lips lingering. Before he pulled away he whispered in her ear. "I'd do anything for you. Remember." Echo nodded sadly and walked into her room, unseeingly.
The prince sighed and left for his rooms to change into his robes. He cursed under his breath.
Echo wasn't paying attention as she closed the door, so the squeel from the other side of the room by the vanity mirror made her jump. She looked up. Three lady's in maid's outfits made of a soft looking cotton were looking at her.
All three of them began to talk to eachother in latin, scrutinizing Echo's appearance.
"Darlin, how could you wear a nightgown that entire time?" One of them, the taller and darker one, tisked.
"Find a gown for her to wear Evane will you?" She spoke to a smaller, more pixie like elf, who skipped towards the closit.
"I dont think that's neces--"
"Hush! We need to get you cleaned. Off into the bathing room. Chop-chop" She clapped her hands impaciently and ushered Echo into a room leading off of the main bed chamber.
This room was very similar to the bed room. The tiles were the same soft green as the bed spread. The shelves were a startling white, that contrasted with the dark, olive green wall mostly covered by three mirrors.
One mirror was full length, stretching from ceiling to floor and three feet wide. The second was enough to show from the waist up. And the third was a small mirror the was only enough to show you're face. The bath was like a small pool in the floor. It was a good five feet deep and just as much wide. The walling of the tub was also tiled only with black tiles.
Echo leaned against one of the walls and closed her eyes, listening to the bath water flowing from the tap, filling the tub. And it wasnt long until a sharp voice called her from her peace. "Come on, get undressed." The first lady snapped.
She clicked her tongue in impatience as she turned off the squeaky taps. She added a couple spoonfulls of some aromatic oil and came over to help undress the unmoving teenager.
Echo felt slightly uncomfortable walking to the tub completely naked, but the floral scent was calling her to the warm water. It seemed so welcoming that she all but forgot that she had an audiance of women watching her put one delecate foot into the hot bath water.
Echo sighed as she submerged herself in the hot water. The oils in the water began to remove the grit and grime from her skin as she rubbed her muscles, working out some knots in her shoulders.
Evane walked into the room. "Wet your hair, please, Miss." She held a bottle in her hand.
Echo did as she was told, and when she came up, Evane was at the tub's edge, pouring some of the cream into her hands. "Over here." She said quietly, not looking up from her hands. Echo swam over and faced away from the maid.
Evane set to work massaging the cream into Echo's long black hair. She chatted mindlessly for a while, but Echo wasnt really listening. The delicate fingers that were detangling her hair was doing as much help to her hair as to her mind. The aroma from the cream helped Echo detangle her thoughts and seperate them into groups that she could think over later.
Suddenly a bucket of hot water being poured on her head, woke Echo from her reverie. The girl caughed and spluttered as the water again splashed onto her head and ran down her face.
"Okay. Out." The bossy lady was back, weilding a towel in the air. "Lets get you dried and changed into a clean evening gown.
Echo stepped out of the tub, amazingly, without slipping, and walked into the towel. She yelped as she was suddenly attacked by two other towels. One made was drying her hair while the other two were quickly drying the rest of her body.
"Did you get the dress, Evane?" Echo's head emerged from beneith the towel in time to see Evane nod. Echo groaned. She hated dresses. All the women laughed.
***
By the time the ladies in waiting were finished with her, Echo had a light dusting of minerals to bring out the natural colors of her face, the dress was on with a corset beneith it, she was in heals that made her certain that she would eventually have a broken ankle, and her hair was made up in wavy curls pinned back with a floral clip. And Echo hated it. She felt like a dress up doll.
The dress was a lavender color made of a heavy silk. It was a slightly low cut and the skirt flowed out from the bodice. Intricate stitch work was done in white thread. And bows were pinned to her hips. Matching gloves that reached above her elbow provided an annoyance and discomfort every time she tried to grip something. But still, it was reletivly pretty in her eyes, Echo didn't like the feel of it though.
Echo suddenly jumped, along with the other women in the room. A loud voice was booming from somewhere downstairs and eventually more voices were added in, a comotion that would give anyone a headache. Echo sighed as she stood up from the vanity stool to see what it was all about. The dress was pretty, and Echo didn't want to end up shifting improperly and tearing it.
This was going to be difficult.
The dress:
Sunday, April 19, 2009
Chapter Two (part 4)
Echo looked behind her to see a girl in flowing aquamarine robes. She giggled as she ran down the steps. "Dymetri! Echo!" She called out to them. Her eyes were a deep russet color and they glowed with life. "Mama's inside. She'll whip you both if you dont go see her now."
Dymetri chuckled and Echo let out a nervous laugh. Echo looked down at the girl who was standing by Atnela's neck, stroking the soft, black fur. "Who are you? And how did you know my name?" She tried to make her tone gentle and curious.
Dymetri spoke first. "This is my little sister, Kalei. Human years she's only twelve. Elf years she's a hundred and seven. Each elf matures at different rates and different times depending on how old their souls are. Kalei is an old soul. I was still physically five when I was a hundred years. Also males don't mature as fast." He laughed, leaning over to ruffle Kalei's hair.
As Kalei's hair settled back into place, Echo caught tiny silver ribbons intwined with the wavy blond hair. It made her look inocent, younger even. Echo found her voice. "Wow...but how did she know my name?"
The Prince smiled down at his sister with pride. "Kalei is a very special girl. She aquired a gift when she was born. Not many elves recieve magical powers, it is rare. Kalei has the ability to see into the near future. I'm guessing she saw us coming."
The teen stared down at the young elf in awe. "Really? Wow!" She sighed. "Wait...Dymetri? Isn't your mother waiting for you?"
Kalei twittered. "Actually, Echo, she is waiting for you. She's used to Dymetri leaving, but she was waiting for you to come back. She'll be so happy to see you." Then she turned and skipped up the stairs, counting each step in latin.
"Come on. We'd better go." Dymetri swung his leg over and landed on the ground without a sound. He raised a hand to lift Echo out of the saddle. As his hands wrapped around her waist her heart fluttered again. Then he pulled her from the saddle, but instead of setting her on her feet, he spun her.
She laughed, the youth coming back to her voice. Again, like when she was running, she felt like she was flying. The feeling of euphoria filled her up and gave her that freedom that she craved. With him, she was still free.
Both laughing, Dymetri set Echo on her feet. "Nothing to fear." His face lit up as he smiled down at her.
"I told you, I believed you." She answered, the corners of her mouth lifting.
"Good." He turned to his horse. "Atnela, stay here, and I'll take care of you after I've spoken with my mother." He released the bit from her mouth so she could graze on the grass near the steps. Atnela snorted and lowered her nose to the ground.
"Come on." Dymetri grabbed Echo's hand and pulled her towards the stairs. "I'll race you." He flashed a grin at her. "There's only seventy-seven steps."
"You're on." Her answering smile was challenging. She shifted silently into tiger form and started up the stairs.
He called after her. "Hey no cheating!" He ran after her, using his inhuman speed.
"And you call me a cheater?" Echo laughed as Dymetri passed her. She sped up. They were neck and neck now. Echo let a growl slip from her lips as she darted forward and slightly to the right, now in Dymetri's path. He slowed down to avoid a colision when she spun to face him. She threw herself into the air, changing back into human form as she went.
Dymetri's eyes widened as she colided with him, wrapping her arms around his neck and her legs around his torso. "What...was that for?" He smiled.
She looked towards the castle doors. "They cant know I'm a werecat. I have to pretend to be normal, therefore I need to be in human form. Stoping you was just a bonus. And if you carried me we would tie. So..go. You've only got ten steps left." Her grin was mischevious.
"Okay." He made his way slowly up the steps, human speed. Once he was on the ninth step, Echo jumped off of him, landing on the top platform.
"I win." She chirped and skipped inside. Dymetri ran in and swept her up, spinning her around.
"You little --" He was cut off.
"Your Prince?" A servant in a dark green tunic was standing a couple feet away. "Your mother wishes for you to be cleaned up before going to council."
"Council?" Confusion flitted across his features.
The servant nodded sadly. "It's your father..."
Dymetri chuckled and Echo let out a nervous laugh. Echo looked down at the girl who was standing by Atnela's neck, stroking the soft, black fur. "Who are you? And how did you know my name?" She tried to make her tone gentle and curious.
Dymetri spoke first. "This is my little sister, Kalei. Human years she's only twelve. Elf years she's a hundred and seven. Each elf matures at different rates and different times depending on how old their souls are. Kalei is an old soul. I was still physically five when I was a hundred years. Also males don't mature as fast." He laughed, leaning over to ruffle Kalei's hair.
As Kalei's hair settled back into place, Echo caught tiny silver ribbons intwined with the wavy blond hair. It made her look inocent, younger even. Echo found her voice. "Wow...but how did she know my name?"
The Prince smiled down at his sister with pride. "Kalei is a very special girl. She aquired a gift when she was born. Not many elves recieve magical powers, it is rare. Kalei has the ability to see into the near future. I'm guessing she saw us coming."
The teen stared down at the young elf in awe. "Really? Wow!" She sighed. "Wait...Dymetri? Isn't your mother waiting for you?"
Kalei twittered. "Actually, Echo, she is waiting for you. She's used to Dymetri leaving, but she was waiting for you to come back. She'll be so happy to see you." Then she turned and skipped up the stairs, counting each step in latin.
"Come on. We'd better go." Dymetri swung his leg over and landed on the ground without a sound. He raised a hand to lift Echo out of the saddle. As his hands wrapped around her waist her heart fluttered again. Then he pulled her from the saddle, but instead of setting her on her feet, he spun her.
She laughed, the youth coming back to her voice. Again, like when she was running, she felt like she was flying. The feeling of euphoria filled her up and gave her that freedom that she craved. With him, she was still free.
Both laughing, Dymetri set Echo on her feet. "Nothing to fear." His face lit up as he smiled down at her.
"I told you, I believed you." She answered, the corners of her mouth lifting.
"Good." He turned to his horse. "Atnela, stay here, and I'll take care of you after I've spoken with my mother." He released the bit from her mouth so she could graze on the grass near the steps. Atnela snorted and lowered her nose to the ground.
"Come on." Dymetri grabbed Echo's hand and pulled her towards the stairs. "I'll race you." He flashed a grin at her. "There's only seventy-seven steps."
"You're on." Her answering smile was challenging. She shifted silently into tiger form and started up the stairs.
He called after her. "Hey no cheating!" He ran after her, using his inhuman speed.
"And you call me a cheater?" Echo laughed as Dymetri passed her. She sped up. They were neck and neck now. Echo let a growl slip from her lips as she darted forward and slightly to the right, now in Dymetri's path. He slowed down to avoid a colision when she spun to face him. She threw herself into the air, changing back into human form as she went.
Dymetri's eyes widened as she colided with him, wrapping her arms around his neck and her legs around his torso. "What...was that for?" He smiled.
She looked towards the castle doors. "They cant know I'm a werecat. I have to pretend to be normal, therefore I need to be in human form. Stoping you was just a bonus. And if you carried me we would tie. So..go. You've only got ten steps left." Her grin was mischevious.
"Okay." He made his way slowly up the steps, human speed. Once he was on the ninth step, Echo jumped off of him, landing on the top platform.
"I win." She chirped and skipped inside. Dymetri ran in and swept her up, spinning her around.
"You little --" He was cut off.
"Your Prince?" A servant in a dark green tunic was standing a couple feet away. "Your mother wishes for you to be cleaned up before going to council."
"Council?" Confusion flitted across his features.
The servant nodded sadly. "It's your father..."
Saturday, April 18, 2009
Chapter Two (part 3)
Echo didn't say anything as they slowly made their way back to the castle. Nor did Dymetri. The only sound that could be heard was the constant hoof beats of Atnela walking through the trees.
Speed wasn't needed to return home, so the black horse kept to a walk the entire way, taking in the peace of the forest and transfering energy to Echo. Atnela could still feel the girl drowning in her depression but there was nothing to do about it except for hope that the elvin prince could break down a wall and pull her to her feet.
In the silence, Echo sighed. It broke the quiet atmosphere enough that other sounds, less important sounds, entered in the little bubble. Birds could be heard from in the tops of trees, singing happily from their pearches. The girl envied them and their happiness. The wind could be heard, blowing harder now, rustling the leaves on the giant trees. But the brisk wind never touched them as they walked in the cover of the forest.
With her energy levels low and the temperature dropping in the shade of the green canopy, Echo began to shiver. Despite the warmth of the man holding her close, it wasnt enough to warm her core. She shivered.
"Are you okay?" Dymetri's worried voice sounded in the quiet. His gold gaze caught hers, eyes holding more worry than his tone.
Echo opened her mouth to speak, but the words got caught in her throat. Instead of attemting to force her voice from her, she nodded a little, eyes telling that she clearly wasnt okay, and shivered again. The golden gaze never left hers as the Dymetri pulled the blanket out of the saddle bag.
"Here." He wrapped it around them both, insuring that it would warm up quickly.
"You dont have to hold everything inside; locked up, you know. You can let go." He whispered into her ear. "You're safe now and you can just let it all go." He hugged her closer as she shivered in his arms.
Echo tore her gaze away from his molten gold orbs as she felt her eyes fill with hot tears. She shook her head, denying what he was saying.
Dymetri lifted his hand and turned her face towards him in time to see a single drop slide down her cheek. "You dont have to try so hard. Nothing will hurt you anymore. Prince's promise."
The girl found her voice, but it wavered from the sobs she was forcing back. "A promise means nothing to me. My parents promised to be there for me and protect me and look where I ended up now." She closed her eyes against the truth of his promise that shone in his eyes. "Everyone is the same. They all promise to take care of your heart, and then in the end, they shatter you. A promise doesnt mean anyth--"
Dymetri cut her off by holding a finger to her lips. "That was in the past. Things change today, change tomarrow. They wont always be the same things over and over. Just because a promise didnt mean anything yesterday, doesnt mean it cant mean something today." He leaned forward slightly.
Their faces were only an inch apart. Echo was breathing in the Prince's scent. His breath was warm on her lips. "I'd do anything for you." His voice was less than a whisper but she heard it like he had shouted.
Another tear rolled off her blue eye. Without thinking, Dymetri lifted his hand to her cheek and brushed away the drop with his thumb. He cupped her cheek in his hand, his eyes never leaving hers.
Echo closed her eyes, shutting away the baby blue, and leaned into his hand, cat like. When she opened her eyes again Dymetri was analyzing her reactions, hesitating on something. She knew exactly what he was going to do next. She wasn't ready. She drew in a breath, afraid of what he was going to do.
Dymetri pulled her in and held her close, wrapping her to his heart. "Don't be afraid. I'm not going to do anything to hurt you, remember?" He kissed her forhead. "I made a promise. And I plan to keep it."
Echo released her arms from inside the warm blanket and wrapped them around his throat, hugging him. "Thank you." She whispered.
"Always." He held her tighter.
Suddenly light flooded over them and the castle came into view. Echo gasped as she was blinded momentarily and Dymetri chuckled under his breath. "Is the big bad tiger afraid of the sunlight?"
Echo pulled back to glare at the Prince. But for some reason she was having a slight problem controling her facial expression. She laughed. He smiled at the sound, happy to see that feeling was coming back.
Suddenly she stopped laughing. It seemed foreign to her, like she hadn't laughed in years. It felt strange and her heart fluttered. She smiled. "I believe you." She whispered as Atnela made it to the bottom step leading to the castle doors.
There was a loud bang as the doors were thrown open wide and someone hurried down the steps.
Dymetri's eyes lit up at the girl's words. "I'm glad to hear it." He kissed her cheek. "Someone is waiting for you." He said, looking over her shoulder.
Speed wasn't needed to return home, so the black horse kept to a walk the entire way, taking in the peace of the forest and transfering energy to Echo. Atnela could still feel the girl drowning in her depression but there was nothing to do about it except for hope that the elvin prince could break down a wall and pull her to her feet.
In the silence, Echo sighed. It broke the quiet atmosphere enough that other sounds, less important sounds, entered in the little bubble. Birds could be heard from in the tops of trees, singing happily from their pearches. The girl envied them and their happiness. The wind could be heard, blowing harder now, rustling the leaves on the giant trees. But the brisk wind never touched them as they walked in the cover of the forest.
With her energy levels low and the temperature dropping in the shade of the green canopy, Echo began to shiver. Despite the warmth of the man holding her close, it wasnt enough to warm her core. She shivered.
"Are you okay?" Dymetri's worried voice sounded in the quiet. His gold gaze caught hers, eyes holding more worry than his tone.
Echo opened her mouth to speak, but the words got caught in her throat. Instead of attemting to force her voice from her, she nodded a little, eyes telling that she clearly wasnt okay, and shivered again. The golden gaze never left hers as the Dymetri pulled the blanket out of the saddle bag.
"Here." He wrapped it around them both, insuring that it would warm up quickly.
"You dont have to hold everything inside; locked up, you know. You can let go." He whispered into her ear. "You're safe now and you can just let it all go." He hugged her closer as she shivered in his arms.
Echo tore her gaze away from his molten gold orbs as she felt her eyes fill with hot tears. She shook her head, denying what he was saying.
Dymetri lifted his hand and turned her face towards him in time to see a single drop slide down her cheek. "You dont have to try so hard. Nothing will hurt you anymore. Prince's promise."
The girl found her voice, but it wavered from the sobs she was forcing back. "A promise means nothing to me. My parents promised to be there for me and protect me and look where I ended up now." She closed her eyes against the truth of his promise that shone in his eyes. "Everyone is the same. They all promise to take care of your heart, and then in the end, they shatter you. A promise doesnt mean anyth--"
Dymetri cut her off by holding a finger to her lips. "That was in the past. Things change today, change tomarrow. They wont always be the same things over and over. Just because a promise didnt mean anything yesterday, doesnt mean it cant mean something today." He leaned forward slightly.
Their faces were only an inch apart. Echo was breathing in the Prince's scent. His breath was warm on her lips. "I'd do anything for you." His voice was less than a whisper but she heard it like he had shouted.
Another tear rolled off her blue eye. Without thinking, Dymetri lifted his hand to her cheek and brushed away the drop with his thumb. He cupped her cheek in his hand, his eyes never leaving hers.
Echo closed her eyes, shutting away the baby blue, and leaned into his hand, cat like. When she opened her eyes again Dymetri was analyzing her reactions, hesitating on something. She knew exactly what he was going to do next. She wasn't ready. She drew in a breath, afraid of what he was going to do.
Dymetri pulled her in and held her close, wrapping her to his heart. "Don't be afraid. I'm not going to do anything to hurt you, remember?" He kissed her forhead. "I made a promise. And I plan to keep it."
Echo released her arms from inside the warm blanket and wrapped them around his throat, hugging him. "Thank you." She whispered.
"Always." He held her tighter.
Suddenly light flooded over them and the castle came into view. Echo gasped as she was blinded momentarily and Dymetri chuckled under his breath. "Is the big bad tiger afraid of the sunlight?"
Echo pulled back to glare at the Prince. But for some reason she was having a slight problem controling her facial expression. She laughed. He smiled at the sound, happy to see that feeling was coming back.
Suddenly she stopped laughing. It seemed foreign to her, like she hadn't laughed in years. It felt strange and her heart fluttered. She smiled. "I believe you." She whispered as Atnela made it to the bottom step leading to the castle doors.
There was a loud bang as the doors were thrown open wide and someone hurried down the steps.
Dymetri's eyes lit up at the girl's words. "I'm glad to hear it." He kissed her cheek. "Someone is waiting for you." He said, looking over her shoulder.
Sunday, April 5, 2009
Chapter Two (part 2)
Dymetri's voice was quieter when he spoke again. "Echo?" He was cautious, not wanting to make her more angry.
The tiger's face still was looking away from the elf and the horse, her gaze following the trail that King Zavior and his stalion made into the trees. She was still quivering with anger as she unwillingly changed back into human form.
When she had steadied herself on human feet, Echo finally looked at Dymetri, her eyes brimming over with tears. He watched as her eyes changed from the deep red to violet and then back to their baby blue. But the tears didn't let up. The girl tried to blink away the tears, but one escaped.
Dymetri might have never noticed the tear if he hadnt seen it sparkle in the sunlight as it slid down her flushed cheeks.
Echo lost herself in the wind. She sank onto her knees, staring at her shaking hands, trying to control her breathing. The wind blew her long black hair into her face, hiding her features from Dymetri. Also hiding him from her.
She jumped slightly as she felt the elvin Prince's strong, warm arms slide around her waist. She turned in his grasp, pressing her tear stained face against his silk shirt.
"Well, since you're already crying, will you please explain everything. I'm lost and I want to help." He said, his voice almost a whisper. She pulled back to glare at him, but the tears got in the way.
"I dont want help." She choked out. "No one can help. Im just a loner that cant go anywhere or do anything in life because of what I am." She gestured at herself.
"You do need help. There are hunters who would kill everything in their path to have you as a prize. Demons look for people like you. You need to be somewhere safe. Atleast come back home with me. I swear I wont ask again about your past. You can tell me when your ready." Echo looked down.
Dymetri sighed as he lifted her chin up with his index finger, forcing her gently to look at him. "Just come home with me. That's all I ask." His breath was sweet as she breathed in.
Echo let one more tear roll off of her eye as she nodded.
"Okay we'll go now. My mother will be wanting me back. It's been a week. And she'll be happy to see you again. You scared her to death when you left." He smiled lightly, a crooked grin.
Echo just nodded. She felt numb. Every emotion was gone. Her body limp. She couldnt move.
Dymetri understood and gave her one last quick hug before picking her up bridal style and carrying her to Atnela where she stood quietly, waiting. He swung up swiftly with the girl still in his arms.
When his feet were steady in the sturrups he situated Echo so she didnt fall as they rode through the forest. She sat in front of him, facing him, legs wrapped around his waist. Her arms were around his middle, her head resting on his shoulder. She wasnt crying anymore, not since he held her.
"Just take it easy Atnela." He said quietly, wrapping one strong arm around Echo as Atnela snorted and started off at a walk. They werent in a rush. And taking it slow would give Echo a chance to get feeling back in her before she was smothered with hugs and kisses from his mother at the castle steps.
Slow was just fine.
The tiger's face still was looking away from the elf and the horse, her gaze following the trail that King Zavior and his stalion made into the trees. She was still quivering with anger as she unwillingly changed back into human form.
When she had steadied herself on human feet, Echo finally looked at Dymetri, her eyes brimming over with tears. He watched as her eyes changed from the deep red to violet and then back to their baby blue. But the tears didn't let up. The girl tried to blink away the tears, but one escaped.
Dymetri might have never noticed the tear if he hadnt seen it sparkle in the sunlight as it slid down her flushed cheeks.
Echo lost herself in the wind. She sank onto her knees, staring at her shaking hands, trying to control her breathing. The wind blew her long black hair into her face, hiding her features from Dymetri. Also hiding him from her.
She jumped slightly as she felt the elvin Prince's strong, warm arms slide around her waist. She turned in his grasp, pressing her tear stained face against his silk shirt.
"Well, since you're already crying, will you please explain everything. I'm lost and I want to help." He said, his voice almost a whisper. She pulled back to glare at him, but the tears got in the way.
"I dont want help." She choked out. "No one can help. Im just a loner that cant go anywhere or do anything in life because of what I am." She gestured at herself.
"You do need help. There are hunters who would kill everything in their path to have you as a prize. Demons look for people like you. You need to be somewhere safe. Atleast come back home with me. I swear I wont ask again about your past. You can tell me when your ready." Echo looked down.
Dymetri sighed as he lifted her chin up with his index finger, forcing her gently to look at him. "Just come home with me. That's all I ask." His breath was sweet as she breathed in.
Echo let one more tear roll off of her eye as she nodded.
"Okay we'll go now. My mother will be wanting me back. It's been a week. And she'll be happy to see you again. You scared her to death when you left." He smiled lightly, a crooked grin.
Echo just nodded. She felt numb. Every emotion was gone. Her body limp. She couldnt move.
Dymetri understood and gave her one last quick hug before picking her up bridal style and carrying her to Atnela where she stood quietly, waiting. He swung up swiftly with the girl still in his arms.
When his feet were steady in the sturrups he situated Echo so she didnt fall as they rode through the forest. She sat in front of him, facing him, legs wrapped around his waist. Her arms were around his middle, her head resting on his shoulder. She wasnt crying anymore, not since he held her.
"Just take it easy Atnela." He said quietly, wrapping one strong arm around Echo as Atnela snorted and started off at a walk. They werent in a rush. And taking it slow would give Echo a chance to get feeling back in her before she was smothered with hugs and kisses from his mother at the castle steps.
Slow was just fine.
Saturday, April 4, 2009
Chapter Two (part 1)
A breeze started to push it's way through the trees, making the soft grass sway.
"You BITCH!" He swore as Echo dragged her jaw down his forearm, changing as she went. It was a mere second before the woman was a tiger, forcing her three inch long fangs into his arm, shattering the bone with a sickening crunch.
She could almost feel Dymetri wince as she spun her body around, unbalancing the man who was holding her. She threw him onto his back, growling as she did. "Im guessing my 'father' sent you?" She put as much disgust into her voice as she was forced to claim the bastard as her father.
"No." He grunted, holding his arm . "I am your father."
In her supprise, Echo changed back into human. Contempt quickly slid across her features, but swiftly silenced it with a breath. She allowed the man to sit up, but nothing more than that while she stood, towering above him.
"I'm still your king. You have no right to have me at your feet. If anything you should be at mine. Welcoming me back." His eyes bore into hers.
"What's your name?" She asked through clenched teeth, struggling to control her emotions.
"Zavior." He said.
Echo heard the slight intake of breath from Dymetri's direction. But she ignored him. "Remind me what you said about being at people's feet, would you?" Malice laced into her tone.
"I should not be at your feet." He said simply.
"Oh really. I think quite otherwise. But it's disturbingly easy to keep you the way you are so I'd recomend not moving." She half whispered as she placed her bare foot on Zavior's chest, forcing him roughly back. He let out a light groan as the wind was knocked out of him.
"And I will no more welcome you or welcome you back. You truthfully never existed to me so you have no right to come here claiming you are my father. Even the father I had pushed me away. Right along side my mother. Why do you want me back anyways? Why did you give me up in the first place?" She hissed, ignoring Dymetri's slight growl.
The king looked at her, eyes weary. "I need to abdicate my throne. I've had to ever since you were......what were you five? I think so. But your parents hid you. Quite effectivly I'd say. I had hundreds of the greatest trackers after you. Your mother and I gave you up to protect you." Echo snorted at this.
"And may I ask what you were protecting me from?" She said with a mocking tone in her voice.
"The demons were after you. Your mother was a werecat and you obvioiusly inherited that from her." He said, slightly awed.
"Well you can thank her for me for my HELL!" She growled as she forced her foot deeper into his stomach.
"Damn girl, you've got strength." His appraising look turned to confusion as he added, "What do you mean, hell?"
Echo sighed, fighting back tears. But Dymetri spoke before she could make any other noise. "Why would she tell you? She hasnt even explained that bit to me."
Echo's temper flared higher still, her baby blue eyes changing to a deadly red. "I dont need to tell ANYONE." She spat. "And you, this is your chance to leave with all your men." Her gaze swept from where Atnela was pinned to the grassy floor and Dymetri was held captive, to all the others standing 'hiden' in the trees. Her sharp eyes were still able to pick them out between the leaves. "I wont take your place. I formally refuse. " She said, raising her voice as she did so, letting her royal blood pulse, giving her yet more power as she hissed out her commands.
She lifted half of the preasure she was enforcing on Zavior's chest. "I will know if you dont leave. This forest is mine. I've laid my scent and I've happily taken responsibility for those within my territory. I have more power than you ever will, and even on your swiftest horse, you cant outrun me if I find you within eighthundred miles of here." Zavior's eyes widened as she set her boundaries.
"You possibly cant hold that much land." He said. Awed. "Not alone." His eyes flickered to Dymetri.
"I do and will continue to hold my land by myself. It's remarkably easy to run eighthundred miles within a very short amount of time. If you think I cant, go ahead, test me!" She hissed. " I dare you!" Her voice was so quiet now, all had to strain to hear.
She quickly removed her bare foot, and with a disgusted look on her face, ran her foot through the grass. "Go." She said, finally looking up, authority and power flooding her voice. "And remove the restraints from my horse and let the elf free." She lowered her voice as her blood red eyes narrowed on the King. "Even look back, and I'll tear you limb from limb. And never call me Carus again. My name is Echo and it always has been."
Echo turned her back on him.
"It hasnt." Zavior muttered as he rose to his feet, dusting himself off and held his bleeing arm to his chest. "It was the name you were given at your birth."
"Echo was the name given to my by my parents." The sound was venom that slithered from her tongue. There was enough hatred in her voice that it covered up the little tremble of her lips and it was enough to make the King wince at her words.
"Leave." She held back a choke from escaping her throat. "NOW! " She spun around, anger lashing out.
And they were gone, all running, scattered, headlong across the field. A huge white tiger snapping at Zavior's ankles until Dymetri raised his voice. "Echo?"
Echo faultered, her furious red gaze falling on the elf, standing free, Atnela by his side. "WHAT!" She snapped at him from across the bubbling brook that had no peaceful effect on her now.
The Prince held out his hand. "Please." He begged. "Come back."
Echo shook with hatred, her eyes holding their fire, ears laid back against her skull, claws digging deep into the earth. She looked over her shoulder at the retreating men and let out threatening roar. The King jumped at the sound, picking up his pace. When he reached his horse, he practically flew into the saddle and almost slipped off the other side.
He kicked the horse into action, still cradling his shattered arm, and it shot off, away from the waves that were rolling off the pissed off, quivering tiger by the water.
"You BITCH!" He swore as Echo dragged her jaw down his forearm, changing as she went. It was a mere second before the woman was a tiger, forcing her three inch long fangs into his arm, shattering the bone with a sickening crunch.
She could almost feel Dymetri wince as she spun her body around, unbalancing the man who was holding her. She threw him onto his back, growling as she did. "Im guessing my 'father' sent you?" She put as much disgust into her voice as she was forced to claim the bastard as her father.
"No." He grunted, holding his arm . "I am your father."
In her supprise, Echo changed back into human. Contempt quickly slid across her features, but swiftly silenced it with a breath. She allowed the man to sit up, but nothing more than that while she stood, towering above him.
"I'm still your king. You have no right to have me at your feet. If anything you should be at mine. Welcoming me back." His eyes bore into hers.
"What's your name?" She asked through clenched teeth, struggling to control her emotions.
"Zavior." He said.
Echo heard the slight intake of breath from Dymetri's direction. But she ignored him. "Remind me what you said about being at people's feet, would you?" Malice laced into her tone.
"I should not be at your feet." He said simply.
"Oh really. I think quite otherwise. But it's disturbingly easy to keep you the way you are so I'd recomend not moving." She half whispered as she placed her bare foot on Zavior's chest, forcing him roughly back. He let out a light groan as the wind was knocked out of him.
"And I will no more welcome you or welcome you back. You truthfully never existed to me so you have no right to come here claiming you are my father. Even the father I had pushed me away. Right along side my mother. Why do you want me back anyways? Why did you give me up in the first place?" She hissed, ignoring Dymetri's slight growl.
The king looked at her, eyes weary. "I need to abdicate my throne. I've had to ever since you were......what were you five? I think so. But your parents hid you. Quite effectivly I'd say. I had hundreds of the greatest trackers after you. Your mother and I gave you up to protect you." Echo snorted at this.
"And may I ask what you were protecting me from?" She said with a mocking tone in her voice.
"The demons were after you. Your mother was a werecat and you obvioiusly inherited that from her." He said, slightly awed.
"Well you can thank her for me for my HELL!" She growled as she forced her foot deeper into his stomach.
"Damn girl, you've got strength." His appraising look turned to confusion as he added, "What do you mean, hell?"
Echo sighed, fighting back tears. But Dymetri spoke before she could make any other noise. "Why would she tell you? She hasnt even explained that bit to me."
Echo's temper flared higher still, her baby blue eyes changing to a deadly red. "I dont need to tell ANYONE." She spat. "And you, this is your chance to leave with all your men." Her gaze swept from where Atnela was pinned to the grassy floor and Dymetri was held captive, to all the others standing 'hiden' in the trees. Her sharp eyes were still able to pick them out between the leaves. "I wont take your place. I formally refuse. " She said, raising her voice as she did so, letting her royal blood pulse, giving her yet more power as she hissed out her commands.
She lifted half of the preasure she was enforcing on Zavior's chest. "I will know if you dont leave. This forest is mine. I've laid my scent and I've happily taken responsibility for those within my territory. I have more power than you ever will, and even on your swiftest horse, you cant outrun me if I find you within eighthundred miles of here." Zavior's eyes widened as she set her boundaries.
"You possibly cant hold that much land." He said. Awed. "Not alone." His eyes flickered to Dymetri.
"I do and will continue to hold my land by myself. It's remarkably easy to run eighthundred miles within a very short amount of time. If you think I cant, go ahead, test me!" She hissed. " I dare you!" Her voice was so quiet now, all had to strain to hear.
She quickly removed her bare foot, and with a disgusted look on her face, ran her foot through the grass. "Go." She said, finally looking up, authority and power flooding her voice. "And remove the restraints from my horse and let the elf free." She lowered her voice as her blood red eyes narrowed on the King. "Even look back, and I'll tear you limb from limb. And never call me Carus again. My name is Echo and it always has been."
Echo turned her back on him.
"It hasnt." Zavior muttered as he rose to his feet, dusting himself off and held his bleeing arm to his chest. "It was the name you were given at your birth."
"Echo was the name given to my by my parents." The sound was venom that slithered from her tongue. There was enough hatred in her voice that it covered up the little tremble of her lips and it was enough to make the King wince at her words.
"Leave." She held back a choke from escaping her throat. "NOW! " She spun around, anger lashing out.
And they were gone, all running, scattered, headlong across the field. A huge white tiger snapping at Zavior's ankles until Dymetri raised his voice. "Echo?"
Echo faultered, her furious red gaze falling on the elf, standing free, Atnela by his side. "WHAT!" She snapped at him from across the bubbling brook that had no peaceful effect on her now.
The Prince held out his hand. "Please." He begged. "Come back."
Echo shook with hatred, her eyes holding their fire, ears laid back against her skull, claws digging deep into the earth. She looked over her shoulder at the retreating men and let out threatening roar. The King jumped at the sound, picking up his pace. When he reached his horse, he practically flew into the saddle and almost slipped off the other side.
He kicked the horse into action, still cradling his shattered arm, and it shot off, away from the waves that were rolling off the pissed off, quivering tiger by the water.
Friday, April 3, 2009
Chapter One (part 10)
Atnela took no supprise at the girl's collapse so she must have been expecting it. Echo broke down, all the way. Her body shook with sobs and she transfered all thoughts to the horse as every image flashed through her mind.
Dymetri was startled. "Echo?" He whispered in an almost frantic voice as he rushed over to her. He looked questioningly at Atnela, asking with his eyes only if it would be okay for him to pull the girl away. The horse nodded after a minute, eyes somber.
The elf gently lifted Echo off of Atnela but the girl faught to cling to the horse. "No, no let me go!" She wailed as tears streamed smoothly down her cheeks. Echo looked at the Prince, her blue eyes boiling with fury. She looked like she was going to hit him, but before he could cringe away, all anger left her and she lost all her will. She slumped in his arms where they sat.
It was the saddest thing Dymetri had ever witnessed. He knew Echo had been strong, very strong. And anger bubbled inside of him as he wondered what had happened to cause her to break. Whatever it was, it had damaged her badly.
He held her for a long time, stroking her long black hair that somehow still felt like a curtain of silk even though she had been running around for a week, and rocking her back and forth gently. They hadn't moved at all. Echo had let everything leave her, all her muscles becoming limp which caused her hand to fall into the stream.
The water flowed through her fingers and around her hand. It was oddly calming to her. The slight rocking motion was soothing and it wasnt long until crying had exausted her. She started to slip into a nightmare.
Everywhere she looked, the village was burning. People were rushing past her while she stood frozen in place.
"You need to leave!" Someone called out to her. "You're the one they're after!" And then the person was silent, falling forward. Protruding from his back was a silver knife, glinting scarlet with a mixture of blood and the reflection of the flames.
Out of the cloud of smoke, Katen walked slowly towards the tiger. Her smirk was curling into a vicious snarl. "I knew it was you. I can't believe a pathetic human outsmarted me!" She lunged and....
...the dream switched....
Echo was little again. She was looking in through the window as her parents argued loudly in the living room. They had sent her outside to play with her favorite ball, but the raised voices caught her attention.
She hated to see her parents fighting. She couldnt hear much but she did recognize her name when it was thrown into the argument.
"You leave her out of this!" My mother defended me. Her cheeks were pink with anger.
My father's face was reddening while a vain in his temple became more emmenint against his skin. "You know what she is! We can't allow her to be with us anymore. We adopted her, only wanting a daughter. And now her real parents are asking for her back! Why they gave her away in the first place, I have no idea, Lenay! But we cant PROTECT her anymore!" He was shaking now.
What was going on? They weren't my real parents?
"I know. I know..." My mother broke down into tears. "What did the King say anyways? What is he King of exactly?" She looked up at her husband with a tears streaked face, eyes pleading.
"He didnt say what he was King of, only that he wanted his daughter back so that she could take her place as heir. He called her Carus. I dont know what it means, but I think it was her name..." He trailed off.
"We can't let him take her." She clung to his shirt.
"I know." He kissed her forehead. "We can run. But not for very long."
She nodded. "What if she betrays us though. If someone got to her and she told them everything that she knew. What if she finds things out. What if she changes. That little angel turning into something we dont recognize and her leaving? After everything we're about to give up?"
"We just have to trust her."
So my parents knew nothing about me being a werecat. I was a princess though from what was being said. And my biological father had called me Carus? That word rang a bell.....
Something was behind me while I watched my father embrace my mother in the living room under the dim light. The grabbed me from behind and I screamed. My parents jumped and watched as I screamed in my capture's arms.
"ECHO!" They yelled at the same time, rushing for the door.
Echo jolted awake. "Echo! Echo! Wake up. Please, please WAKE UP!" His voice was urgent. She opened her eyes. Someone was holding her.....but it wasnt Dymetri.
Dymetri's face was still clouded over with fury and worry but a little relief showed now that he knew I was aware of everything going on.
Chaos was everywhere. Atnela was trying to rid herself of the restraints holding her back from the girl and Prince. Dymetri was being held, arms behind him, by a tall, muscular guy.
A familiar voice was whispering into my ear. "Hello, Princess Carus."
Dymetri's eyes widened, along with mine. "What did you call her?" he asked, voice full of supprise.
"Didn't you know?" The person holding me laughed. It was a deep laugh, almost sinister and dark.
"Dont you dare call me that." Echo hissed as she sank her teeth into the man's arm.
Dymetri was startled. "Echo?" He whispered in an almost frantic voice as he rushed over to her. He looked questioningly at Atnela, asking with his eyes only if it would be okay for him to pull the girl away. The horse nodded after a minute, eyes somber.
The elf gently lifted Echo off of Atnela but the girl faught to cling to the horse. "No, no let me go!" She wailed as tears streamed smoothly down her cheeks. Echo looked at the Prince, her blue eyes boiling with fury. She looked like she was going to hit him, but before he could cringe away, all anger left her and she lost all her will. She slumped in his arms where they sat.
It was the saddest thing Dymetri had ever witnessed. He knew Echo had been strong, very strong. And anger bubbled inside of him as he wondered what had happened to cause her to break. Whatever it was, it had damaged her badly.
He held her for a long time, stroking her long black hair that somehow still felt like a curtain of silk even though she had been running around for a week, and rocking her back and forth gently. They hadn't moved at all. Echo had let everything leave her, all her muscles becoming limp which caused her hand to fall into the stream.
The water flowed through her fingers and around her hand. It was oddly calming to her. The slight rocking motion was soothing and it wasnt long until crying had exausted her. She started to slip into a nightmare.
Everywhere she looked, the village was burning. People were rushing past her while she stood frozen in place.
"You need to leave!" Someone called out to her. "You're the one they're after!" And then the person was silent, falling forward. Protruding from his back was a silver knife, glinting scarlet with a mixture of blood and the reflection of the flames.
Out of the cloud of smoke, Katen walked slowly towards the tiger. Her smirk was curling into a vicious snarl. "I knew it was you. I can't believe a pathetic human outsmarted me!" She lunged and....
...the dream switched....
Echo was little again. She was looking in through the window as her parents argued loudly in the living room. They had sent her outside to play with her favorite ball, but the raised voices caught her attention.
She hated to see her parents fighting. She couldnt hear much but she did recognize her name when it was thrown into the argument.
"You leave her out of this!" My mother defended me. Her cheeks were pink with anger.
My father's face was reddening while a vain in his temple became more emmenint against his skin. "You know what she is! We can't allow her to be with us anymore. We adopted her, only wanting a daughter. And now her real parents are asking for her back! Why they gave her away in the first place, I have no idea, Lenay! But we cant PROTECT her anymore!" He was shaking now.
What was going on? They weren't my real parents?
"I know. I know..." My mother broke down into tears. "What did the King say anyways? What is he King of exactly?" She looked up at her husband with a tears streaked face, eyes pleading.
"He didnt say what he was King of, only that he wanted his daughter back so that she could take her place as heir. He called her Carus. I dont know what it means, but I think it was her name..." He trailed off.
"We can't let him take her." She clung to his shirt.
"I know." He kissed her forehead. "We can run. But not for very long."
She nodded. "What if she betrays us though. If someone got to her and she told them everything that she knew. What if she finds things out. What if she changes. That little angel turning into something we dont recognize and her leaving? After everything we're about to give up?"
"We just have to trust her."
So my parents knew nothing about me being a werecat. I was a princess though from what was being said. And my biological father had called me Carus? That word rang a bell.....
Something was behind me while I watched my father embrace my mother in the living room under the dim light. The grabbed me from behind and I screamed. My parents jumped and watched as I screamed in my capture's arms.
"ECHO!" They yelled at the same time, rushing for the door.
Echo jolted awake. "Echo! Echo! Wake up. Please, please WAKE UP!" His voice was urgent. She opened her eyes. Someone was holding her.....but it wasnt Dymetri.
Dymetri's face was still clouded over with fury and worry but a little relief showed now that he knew I was aware of everything going on.
Chaos was everywhere. Atnela was trying to rid herself of the restraints holding her back from the girl and Prince. Dymetri was being held, arms behind him, by a tall, muscular guy.
A familiar voice was whispering into my ear. "Hello, Princess Carus."
Dymetri's eyes widened, along with mine. "What did you call her?" he asked, voice full of supprise.
"Didn't you know?" The person holding me laughed. It was a deep laugh, almost sinister and dark.
"Dont you dare call me that." Echo hissed as she sank her teeth into the man's arm.
Chapter One (part 9)
"Echo?" A familiar voice sounded from somewhere to the tiger's left. She turned towards the elf and horse, snarling as she did. Her hackles were raised, fur on end, and her long fangs glinted in the gentle sunlight.
"Echo, it's okay." He whispered, a pleading hand outstreched.
The tiger growled low in her throat as she took a defencive step backwards, just back far enough for her to position herself into a low crouch. Echo analized the Prince and his weapons on him, seeing not much of a danger. She looked over his shoulder at the horse.
The horse looked oddly familiar. Like Echo had seen her in a dream before when she was young. Supprise caught on the horses features as well as in the eyes and she nodded.
Dymetri was looking back and forth between his beloved horse and the tiger, his expression one of utter confusion.
Echo stepped out of her stance, speaking as she did. "Atnela?"
The horse's eyes warmed as she nodded again. And Echo stood on her hind legs. A slight breeze blew past, ruffling the tiger's fur before she shrunk and shifted into a human form.
Dymetri was stunned. It was a very elegant way to change. It seemed almost too much like magic rather than something in a human's genes. He suddenly became alert as the human girl in the long green night gown rushed forward towards his horse. He side stepped so he was standing almost in front of Atnela. But Atnela bumped him with her nose and moved away from him, allowing the woman to fling her arms around the horse's neck.
"I am sooooo confused." Dymetri whined. Atnela snorted at him, a clear sign that he was annoying her. "Atnela? How do you know her?"
Atnela rolled her eyes. Sometimes she was more human than horse. But Echo was the one who answered. "She's a spirit stupid. That's why she cant die. She was my spirit guide. Havent you ever wondered where she went when she was missing? She didn't leave you too often because it isnt the easiest thing in the world to constantly change from spirit form into solid and she didn't want to leave you, but she had to attend to my weakening energies when my other spirit guides couldn't do much for me." Echo didn't continue, instead she laughed.
The Prince's face had uncertainty, confusion, anger, and doubt scrawled over his entire face. Atnela walked slowly over to him and blew in his face, reminding him he needed to conceal his emotions better. "Yeah,yeah, I know." He grumbled to her. Then he looked directly at Echo. "Why did you leave?"
Her face fell a mile. All happiness that had filled her eyes and face at the sight of Atnela faded quickly and she averted his eyes. "Why did you leave?" She asked, avoiding his initial question.
"I needed away. I've only been gone about a week. I left not long after you did." He looked down. "Will you answer my question now? Why did you leave?"
Still not meeting his eyes, she asked. "You werent looking for me were you?" He could see anger and annoyance flicker slightly behind her perfectly trained 'blank' expression.
"No, like I said, I just needed away. My parents are used to me taking off on little trips and I like to be out of that castle. Now answer, why did you leave?" His voice was rising each time she ignored his quesion.
She continued to ignore and not answer. Instead she looked down at the ground, and without seeing, grabbed hold of Atnela's reins and led her to the waterside.
Dymetri called after her. "Hey, what are you doing with my horse?" But his question was answered quickly. Echo sat at the same time Atnela laid down. Both were watching the water moving down the stream, over small pebbles and dragging a few grains of sand every now and then.
Echo was muttering quietly to Atnela, at a volume level the Prince couldn't hear. He watched her conversing quietly with the horse. Concern filled her motherly eyes as she watched the human teenager. Then without warning, Echo collapsed sideways, shaking and clinging to Atnela's neck.
"Echo, it's okay." He whispered, a pleading hand outstreched.
The tiger growled low in her throat as she took a defencive step backwards, just back far enough for her to position herself into a low crouch. Echo analized the Prince and his weapons on him, seeing not much of a danger. She looked over his shoulder at the horse.
The horse looked oddly familiar. Like Echo had seen her in a dream before when she was young. Supprise caught on the horses features as well as in the eyes and she nodded.
Dymetri was looking back and forth between his beloved horse and the tiger, his expression one of utter confusion.
Echo stepped out of her stance, speaking as she did. "Atnela?"
The horse's eyes warmed as she nodded again. And Echo stood on her hind legs. A slight breeze blew past, ruffling the tiger's fur before she shrunk and shifted into a human form.
Dymetri was stunned. It was a very elegant way to change. It seemed almost too much like magic rather than something in a human's genes. He suddenly became alert as the human girl in the long green night gown rushed forward towards his horse. He side stepped so he was standing almost in front of Atnela. But Atnela bumped him with her nose and moved away from him, allowing the woman to fling her arms around the horse's neck.
"I am sooooo confused." Dymetri whined. Atnela snorted at him, a clear sign that he was annoying her. "Atnela? How do you know her?"
Atnela rolled her eyes. Sometimes she was more human than horse. But Echo was the one who answered. "She's a spirit stupid. That's why she cant die. She was my spirit guide. Havent you ever wondered where she went when she was missing? She didn't leave you too often because it isnt the easiest thing in the world to constantly change from spirit form into solid and she didn't want to leave you, but she had to attend to my weakening energies when my other spirit guides couldn't do much for me." Echo didn't continue, instead she laughed.
The Prince's face had uncertainty, confusion, anger, and doubt scrawled over his entire face. Atnela walked slowly over to him and blew in his face, reminding him he needed to conceal his emotions better. "Yeah,yeah, I know." He grumbled to her. Then he looked directly at Echo. "Why did you leave?"
Her face fell a mile. All happiness that had filled her eyes and face at the sight of Atnela faded quickly and she averted his eyes. "Why did you leave?" She asked, avoiding his initial question.
"I needed away. I've only been gone about a week. I left not long after you did." He looked down. "Will you answer my question now? Why did you leave?"
Still not meeting his eyes, she asked. "You werent looking for me were you?" He could see anger and annoyance flicker slightly behind her perfectly trained 'blank' expression.
"No, like I said, I just needed away. My parents are used to me taking off on little trips and I like to be out of that castle. Now answer, why did you leave?" His voice was rising each time she ignored his quesion.
She continued to ignore and not answer. Instead she looked down at the ground, and without seeing, grabbed hold of Atnela's reins and led her to the waterside.
Dymetri called after her. "Hey, what are you doing with my horse?" But his question was answered quickly. Echo sat at the same time Atnela laid down. Both were watching the water moving down the stream, over small pebbles and dragging a few grains of sand every now and then.
Echo was muttering quietly to Atnela, at a volume level the Prince couldn't hear. He watched her conversing quietly with the horse. Concern filled her motherly eyes as she watched the human teenager. Then without warning, Echo collapsed sideways, shaking and clinging to Atnela's neck.
Thursday, April 2, 2009
Chapter One (part 8)
"Katen? Why isn't she attacking?" One of the smaller looking guys hissed.
"Dumb ass! It's three to one. She wont do anything." The female, Katen, snapped back.
"Wanna bet?" Echo growled. She launched herself towards the two guys who had migrated towards the tiger's back. She grabbed one the demon's arms and threw him into a tree. The other paused to a second watch Echo dismembering the first male she ran into.
"Get the HELL away from me!" Echo snarled as she searched for an opening to escape. Katen caught her gaze, smirking as she pulled a glittering knife from her belt.
Echo paused, slightly confused. "Wait don't demons have that whole magic thing goin on? Shouldn't you be trying to roast me alive along with the forest? Or did your brain disappear with your common sense? Haven't you ever heard that attacking tigers is dangerous?" Echo's jaw dropped in a sly grin.
Katen snickered. "You're not a tiger."
"How do you figure?" Echo asked, mocking politeness as she sat back, wrapping her tail around one paw and the other raised at eye level. She slowly released and pulled back her claws, inspecting her paw pad.
"Wow? How long has it been since you were in another form?" Katen asked, honestly surprised at this point.
"Other form? What on earth are you talking about?" She asked, her smile widening.
"Human form. Another cat form. You seriously cant just be a talking tiger."
"Tisk, tisk, tisk. The demon doesn't know her animals very well does she? All animals can talk as long as you know how to listen." Echo hid her amused tone.
"But white tiger's don't live in these types of forests." Now Katen was smiling.
"Yes, you'll find they do. There's a lake nearby that makes a perfect area to raise cubs by. Plenty of dens already made too." The tiger laid down, no longer 'obsessed' with her paws, and began cleaning the tip of her tail.
"So you aren't the werecat?" The demon asked, becoming quickly aggravated.
"Werecat? What the hell are you talking about?" Echo was smug where she sat, rolling over onto her back and staring up at the tops of the trees.
"Okay then, fine, I get dinner." Katen snarled.
The tiger sighed. "I want dinner too, whats you eating?"
"Well I was thinking of potato stew and....no stupid I meant you." She growled at the cat who was still laying, facing the green ceiling of leaves.
"Well, I find it hard to eat myself. How about a couple good bunnies. You know the little white ones that are fuzzy and soft...anywho, I'm terribly sorry, I can't stay for dinner as it turns out. I have to get back to my cubs." The tiger returned to her feet and trotted away from the fuming demon.
"You don't leave you little--"
"Watch me." And Echo started into a sprint, letting off a deep roar as she ran.
Echo kept running until she had jumped over the wall of ferns and into the grassy meadow. She was almost to the water's edge when she registered another presence in field.
"Dumb ass! It's three to one. She wont do anything." The female, Katen, snapped back.
"Wanna bet?" Echo growled. She launched herself towards the two guys who had migrated towards the tiger's back. She grabbed one the demon's arms and threw him into a tree. The other paused to a second watch Echo dismembering the first male she ran into.
"Get the HELL away from me!" Echo snarled as she searched for an opening to escape. Katen caught her gaze, smirking as she pulled a glittering knife from her belt.
Echo paused, slightly confused. "Wait don't demons have that whole magic thing goin on? Shouldn't you be trying to roast me alive along with the forest? Or did your brain disappear with your common sense? Haven't you ever heard that attacking tigers is dangerous?" Echo's jaw dropped in a sly grin.
Katen snickered. "You're not a tiger."
"How do you figure?" Echo asked, mocking politeness as she sat back, wrapping her tail around one paw and the other raised at eye level. She slowly released and pulled back her claws, inspecting her paw pad.
"Wow? How long has it been since you were in another form?" Katen asked, honestly surprised at this point.
"Other form? What on earth are you talking about?" She asked, her smile widening.
"Human form. Another cat form. You seriously cant just be a talking tiger."
"Tisk, tisk, tisk. The demon doesn't know her animals very well does she? All animals can talk as long as you know how to listen." Echo hid her amused tone.
"But white tiger's don't live in these types of forests." Now Katen was smiling.
"Yes, you'll find they do. There's a lake nearby that makes a perfect area to raise cubs by. Plenty of dens already made too." The tiger laid down, no longer 'obsessed' with her paws, and began cleaning the tip of her tail.
"So you aren't the werecat?" The demon asked, becoming quickly aggravated.
"Werecat? What the hell are you talking about?" Echo was smug where she sat, rolling over onto her back and staring up at the tops of the trees.
"Okay then, fine, I get dinner." Katen snarled.
The tiger sighed. "I want dinner too, whats you eating?"
"Well I was thinking of potato stew and....no stupid I meant you." She growled at the cat who was still laying, facing the green ceiling of leaves.
"Well, I find it hard to eat myself. How about a couple good bunnies. You know the little white ones that are fuzzy and soft...anywho, I'm terribly sorry, I can't stay for dinner as it turns out. I have to get back to my cubs." The tiger returned to her feet and trotted away from the fuming demon.
"You don't leave you little--"
"Watch me." And Echo started into a sprint, letting off a deep roar as she ran.
Echo kept running until she had jumped over the wall of ferns and into the grassy meadow. She was almost to the water's edge when she registered another presence in field.
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