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.