The Curse and the Traveler's

[only_more_so]

Max knew that he was being unfair, talking to Skye while playing with her. But he enjoyed the way her eyes kept losing concentration, letting him know his motions felt good to her.

"Right now I need you,"

Max took Skye's guidance on where to rub to maximize her pleasure, and continued the motion. He felt her hand on his erection before he even realized how hard he had become. For a second he lost the rhythm he had gotten with his hands. He tried to concentrate on what he was doing to her, but what she was doing to him kept distracting him.

He placed the shell on the table, so that he could take that hand and wrap it in her hair. He pulled her head towards him, so that he could kiss her. As his tongue probed her mouth, his finger probed her sex. He slid his finger out of her slowly, keeping the length of the digit tight against her flesh as it pulled out. As his finger pulled out of Skye, he slid another down in the valley between her cheeks until it was tight against the other that was slick with her juices. Before she could protest too much, he was sliding both fingers into her. Trying to find the spot that Skye seemed to love.

Max also started humping his hips against Skye and her hand. He could feel his penis becoming lubricated by the precum, and feel her hand sliding along his shaft.

 

[caela]

A low groan filled her throat when Max's hand slid into her hair. She loved the feel of his taking control and pulling her in for a lingering kiss. His lips were warm and firm against her own and only made her long for him even more. Her grip around his cock tightened slightly and she purred feeling his precum leaking out against her hand, making her strokes slide easier on his flesh.

Feeling his finger leave her body she stared up at him, her eyes dark and needy, until she felt the added pressure of two fingers sliding into her. Gasping her pleasure she moved against his hand, rocking on his fingers while she stroked his length in her palm.

Nearing the release she knew he could bring her she growled savagly when a voice broke through her conciousness, "Skye! Are you here Skye?!" she heard Quint calling for her and hissed softly as she rolled away from Max with a regretful look.

"His sense of timing leaves much to be desired," she muttered so low that only Max could hear her.

 

[only_more_so]

Max groaned in disappointment as Skye rolled away from him and released her grip on him. Even though he tried not to, his fingers slipped from inside of her as she turned. Max did make sure to grab her hair and pull her to him for one last kiss before getting out of bed.

Looking out the bedroom window, Max realized that it was still early. Much too early for even an eager new squire to be knocking on a prince's door unless it was for something important. Not an emergency, since it sounded like Quint was calling from just outside the door to Max's apartment. Except for an emergency, no one except the prince's personal man-servant would enter a prince's apartment without permission. But Quint had learned to push open the door and call from the hallway when knocking didn't seem to work.

Max grabbed a robe from his closet and put it on. He turned to Skye and said, "I have another robe, or you can use your dress from yesterday." She was still on the bed, although sitting up as Max approached. He dropped the extra robe on the bed and kissed Skye tenderly, reaching over and lightly caressing a nipple as he did so.

"I'll see what's so important that Quint dared ruin a prince's and a princess'es... er.. sleep." Max said as he headed down the stairs.

Max saw Quint with his feet firmly planted in the hall, but the rest of his body learning into the room. He was hanging onto the doorknob, so he could look around Max's rooms, he appeared anxious. "Quint, what is it?"

 

[caela]

"I'll see what's so important that Quint dared ruin a prince's and a princess'es... er.. sleep."

Skye's laughter followed Max down the stairs while she rose from the bed. She chose to put on the robe he'd given her and sighed softly as she belted it on, it carried the scent of his skin still and that made her purr softly. It wasn't as good as being wrapped in his arms but it ran a decent second place. If she couldn't have him wrapped around her at least his scent was.

She started down the stair just in time to see Quint leaning precariously in the doorway while very deliberatly keeping his feet in the hall. It was a comical sight and it made her laugh once more. Obviously Quint took his duties - and how they should be performed - seriously but even Skye was curious as to what could have brought him out so early. He couldn't have even eaten breakfast yet.

"Quint, what is it?"

Reaching Max's side as he asked Quint what the problem was she also reached out and drew her Squire into the room while shutting the door behind them. If there was a problem she didn't want him announcing it to whoever might be passing by at the same time.

"It's those sisters Prince Max, the ones that thought for sure one of them would manage to be Queen and the other would marry you. One of them saw Skye come here late last night and they're already spreading viscious gossip through their servants and no doubt among whicever of the nobles they saw last night. Skye's reputation is going to be shredded by breakfast if they have their way," the boy said quickly and breathlessly, he'd run from the squire's quarters to Skye's room and then here when he hadn't found her there.

Skye growled softly in her throat as she listened to Quint speak. She was going to have those bitches heads on a plate! Moving she began to pace the room like tiger, caged but just waiting pensively for the door to open so she could pounce. She didn't know how to deal with this, gossip of this sort was beyond her, it was something she'd never had to deal with in her world.

"How do we handle this Max? You know these people better than I do...how do you deal with the gossips...please tell me I can cut their tongues out."

 

[only_more_so]

"How do we handle this Max? You know these people better than I do...how do you deal with the gossips...please tell me I can cut their tongues out."

Max looked at Skye with some degree of pity. He knew this was going to happen, but was so blinded by love and lust that he didn't do anything to stop it. He didn't worry about himself, because in a few days he would either be dead, or have broken the curse, either way he would be a hero to the kingdom. But unless they managed to break the curse, Skye would be in a terrible position.

"Well, I could always have sex with both of them, and let that rumor spread. Then in three or four months when they are both pregnant and you are not, it will be clear who was lying and who was chaste." Max couldn't remember if he had mentioned to Skye one of the reason there were so many royal bastards was because the men in the family were incredibly even magically virile, so that even sterile women off their cycle were known to become pregnant.

Max couldn't tell if Skye were more shocked by that or poor Quint. They both stood gaping at him, although Skye seemed to have more fire in her eyes. "I think they would enjoy that too much though, since that would get them what they wanted in the first place."

"No, there is very little we can do today, even if there were something to be done. I just can't figure out how they would have seen you coming here. There is nothing in this hallway except my room, David's room, our man servants' rooms, and our maid's room. My man servant wouldn't even open the door to them, David's is pretending to be out of town with David on the ficticious errand that covers David's absence. So unless they were following you, which I know Quint would have noticed, they must have been in Lily's room. But that makes no sense either."

"The only thing to be done now is damage control." Max squared his shoulders and walked over to Quint, grabbing the boy's shoulders. "Quint, I need you to check the hall carefully, and make sure that no one is watching between here and David's room." With a bit of a shove he sent the boy from the room.

Turning to Skye, Max said, "There is a secret passage known only to David and me, and perhaps the King and Queen, that connects David's room to the Chosen One's room. We will sneak you from David's room back to your room. Quint will head down the stairs and make a big fuss to one of the maids that he couldn't find me, and that you had asked me to join you for breakfast. The maid will come up here and find that I am here alone. Meanwhile Quint will have breakfast for two sent to your room, and when it is delivered they will find you there with only Quint. It will not explain you visiting me last night, but it cast doubts since it was clear you didn't spend the night."

"And no, you can't cut out their tongues!"

 

[caela]

"Well, I could always have sex with both of them, and let that rumor spread. Then in three or four months when they are both pregnant and you are not, it will be clear who was lying and who was chaste."

That suggestion went over like a lead balloon with Skye. She could see the shock on Quint's face as well but her eyes were flashing. If Max touched either of those she-wolves they wouldn't be the only one's whose tongues she cut out.

She listened as Max talked about his plan for at least minimizing the damage and nodded her understanding. It made sense but the fact was she hated lying. She didn't really care if everyone in the palace knew she loved Max and had spent the night with him. After all the Queen already knew...well knew that she loved Max and Skye knew she'd been suspicious of where Skye would end up last night.

"And no, you can't cut out their tongues!"

That made Skye pout, "Why not? They certainly deserve it. As you said they'd have to have been following me to see me come here last night, or have been hiding out in the maids room which makes no sense. They were looking for something to damage me...." Skye's voice trailed off and a small smile suddenly curved her lips.

Looking up at Max she leaned up and pressed a small kiss to his cheek, "Nevermind I think I have an idea of my own on how to handle those walking hyenas."

Before she could say more Quint returned and told them that the hallway was clear and they quickly bustled her off to David's room. Giving Max one more lingering kiss she could see the shock on Quint's face once more but the boy only nodded as Max told him his part in the plan and Quint simply nodded and ran off to do as he was told.

Giving Max a grin she slipped off down the tunnel he showed her and was glad when she came out in her own room. She had just enought time to hang up Max's robe and put on the one in her closet, as well as quickly rumpling the bed and pulling back the blankets as if she'd just gotten up, before a maid was knocking on her door.

"Good morning," Skye said cheerily and couldn't help but smile at the shocked expression on the maid's face. It was clear the young woman hadn't expected to find Skye here. Holding the door open for her she could see the suprise spread on the young girls face when she saw the rumpled bed as evidence that Skye had slept in it and not where gossip claimed she'd slept.

Skye knew that this evidence would at least restore her reputation among the servants and cast doubt with many of the nobles.

"You do look suprised to see me here my dear, I suppose you've heard the gossip my Squire tells me is spreading like wildfire through the palace," she said while moving to the opposite side of the bed and helping the maid make it up properly. She knew she would be sending the poor child into shock but she'd leave the room with only good things to say about Skye.

"Yes Princess, I had heard the rumors," the maid admitted quietly and looked ashamed for it.

"Come now, none of this Princess stuff. I'm Skye and there's no reason to cast your eyes down just because you heard a rumor my dear. I'm new here and you've no reason yet to know my character and disbelieve a rumor that sounds as if it could be plausible. Especially one concerning Prince Max who most of the women in the palace seem to throw themselves at."

Seeing the maid look up as if checking to see if Skye was serious she offered the girl a friendly smile and shrugged her shoulders lightly, "I've been expecting such a thing since the ball the other night honestly. Those two didn't seem happy that Max and I were getting along well. Though why anyone should begrudge Max a friend considering where his fate lies is beyond me. It's such a shame that the heart of a viper can be enfolded in beauty such as theres.

My only question though is how would they have known if I was down that hallway last night or not? After all, all that's there is David and Max's rooms and those of their servants. The only way to have seen me if I was there would be to have been spying on me or to have been there for their own ulterior motives."

Skye spoke the last as if she were talking quietly to herself but she could see the idea take root in the maids mind. Combined with the knowledge of the sisters designs on Max's person - a well known fact around the palace - she knew that a new rumor would quickly burn it's way through the palace. That the sisters themselves had gone to tempt Max and when they'd been rebuffed they sought to hurt him by hurting Skye since he was relatively unreachable.

She was quite certain that by the end of the day their reputations would be in much more trouble than hers.

 

[only_more_so]

Max took a quick shower when he returned to his room. He knew a maid would be knocking on his door soon and that would explain why he hadn't heard Quint's knocking. One of the perks of being in the royal family was having real plumbing.

Max was walking out of his bathroom with a towel around his waist pretending to get some water out of his ear when the door opened and a young maid peeked her head in calling, "Prince Maximillian?"

"What is it Rhona?" Max said as he continued walking. The poor girl was beside herself, she hadn't expected to find Max nearly naked. She cast her eyes down, started pulling her head back from the door.

Finally she decided to look directly at Max's face and said rather quickly, "Squire Quint was looking for you, he seemed worried, so I came up to check. Apparently you've been invited to have breakfast with Princess Skye."

Max pretended to be entirely indifferent to the young lady's stares. He said, "Oh? That'd be delightful. Could you run along and tell her that I will be glad to join her? Oh, and on your way could you send in Lily and tell her my rooms need cleaning?"

Max headed back upstairs to his bedchamber and proceeded to dress quickly. Before he was finished he heard a very timid knocking at his door and an even more timid voice calling his name.

He came back downstairs while buttoning his shirt and opened the door to find Lily standing there. She looked as if she were ready to run away. "Hello Lilly, are you feeling alright?"

"I'm fine, prince. I just..." She peeked around the door, and seemed uncertain. "Rhona said you needed your rooms cleaned?"

"Yes. I'm travelling tonight and you know how I like coming back to a freshly cleaned room. I'm on my way to Skye's room for breakfast, and have a busy day ahead, so you can take your time." Max watched her reaction to the news and when she flinched at hearing Skye's name he knew that she was somehow involved in the rumors. But she would never have gossiped since she was particularly chosen for her loyalty and tight lips.

Max walked out and was soon on his way to Skye's. He got some surreptious glances from some of the maids, but didn't let it worry him. Soon he was knocking on Skye's door, and could smell the scents of breakfast coming from within.

 

[caela]

Skye smiled as she helped the maid finish tidying her room. The girls name it turned out was Jenna and she was very sweet. By the time she left Skye knew she had an ally in the maids quarters. As the girl left another servant showed up with the breakfast Quint had ordered for them and with Quint in tow.

Quint's gaze was accusatory but he held his tongue as the servants set up the breakfast dishes and before he could say anything Max appeared in the door washed and dressed. He looked so handsome there in her doorway that for a moment she couldn't breathe and she realized that while he was fully dressed she was still wrapped in her robe.

"I expected to have to send Quint to wake you up Max. Pardon me for just a moment," she said with a nonchalance that she didn't really feel. Heading to her closet she groaned softly at all the fancy dresses that she knew would simply trip her up. Toward the back she found a dress similar in cut to the one that Max had brought her yesterday.

Changing was easy enough and she purred at the feel of the amythyst silk that brought out her eyes. A silver dragon was embroidered into the material and wrapped around her body accentuating her waist and the curve of her hip while giving the impression that it might fly off the dress at her defense at the same time.

Returning to the table she settled across from Max and motioned for Quint to join them while the servants quietly withdrew after she thanked them for their help.

 

[poohlive]

"Her name is Serena, and Andrew has him."

David had no other choice, this was the only person willing to listen to him, and he had nothing else to give. The truth was the only card left up his sleeve. He'd run out of lies, run out of tricks, run out of magic from his own world to save his ass. The truth, half shitty and as impossible as it was, would have to do.

"We were in Vegas, winning way too much money. He invited us up, and then gave us something to drink. I passed out, woke up to some guys wanting to cut me open and sell off my organs to the highest bidder. I escaped, and found out where he was going. I had to jump on a plane, the soonest and fastest I could. It was the only way I could catch up to Serena, and save her. He has her, he took her. You don't understand, she's just some naive girl, she can't handle what they're doing to her, what they want to do. I almost had her, I saw her coming off the tarmac. If your police hadn't stopped me I could have gotten her. Now he has her. I need to get her back. Once I do, I'll leave. We'll both leave, we'll go back to America, or wherever you want us to go. Just, please, let me save her."

 

[only_more_so]

When Skye re-entered the room dressed in the amethyst dress Max was struck dumb. He was positive that dress hadn't been in here closet yesterday, but what really struck him was how delicious she looked. If Quint weren't here he would... As it was he sat at the table rather more quickly that strict manners allowed, barely waiting for Skye to start to sit.

Max could tell that Quint was upset about something, but he had no idea what it could be. He hoped the boy didn't object to Skye and Max's relationship. But he would have shown something before, so Max decided it must be something else.

They began eating in silence, but it felt uncomfortable somehow. Max said, "So, Quint, have you thought about suggestions for a uniform and coat of arms? Colors, animal motif?"

Quint evidently had thought about it. "I was thinking that it should definately have purple in it, she's a princess now, and her eyes are purple, so it all works. I thought there should be an animal from Skye's world, but I don't know what they have. Is that creature on your dress from your world Skye? It sure looks scary, whatever it is!"

Max considered the creature on Skye's dress. He had seen depictions before in her world, he thought it might be called a "dragon", but how had it gotten on her dress?

 

[caela]

"I was thinking that it should definately have purple in it, she's a princess now, and her eyes are purple, so it all works. I thought there should be an animal from Skye's world, but I don't know what they have. Is that creature on your dress from your world Skye? It sure looks scary, whatever it is!"

Skye laughed softly and looked between Max and Quint with a bright smile, "Max aren't you the one that told me that Quint would want a dragon coming out of a seashell? I take it this isn't the sort of dragon you're used to seeing," she said as she ran her fingers along teh silver image of the chinese dragon twined around her body.

"This is a dragon from one of the eastern countries of my world. I don't think they were ever real but I could be wrong. Dragons of one sort or another certainly play a large role in the mythology and legends of many different cultures in my world so who knows...maybe at one time they were real.

As you say Quint they look scary but not all were...it depends on the culture whose dragons you're talking about. In some places they were thought to be fierce and evil, hoarding treasure and considering humans a tasty little snack. In other cultures they were more benevolant, helping to maintain the balance of nature and while they cuold be dangerous to humans who crossed them, they were generally seen as good and wise."

As she spoke she could see the confused look on Max's face while he eyed her dress and wondered what was on his mind so she finally asked, "What is it Max? You're looking at my dress like it's going to bite you."

 

[only_more_so]

"No, I don't think the dress is going to bite me," although, the person who is wearing it might, although nicely. "It is just that I have no idea how the dress would have gotten into your closet. It is a color that we cannot make with dyes that we make here, and I know all the uses that similar colored dyes were used for when we travel and bring them back. Also, there is no dragon mythos here. Well, we have a similar that would likely translate to dragon, but it is more like a giant flying... I believe you call them "easels"? Long skinny mammals with short limbs known for cunning and deception?"

Quint continued looking at the pattern on the dress and said, "I like it. That should definately go on your coat of arms. But the nice ones, and not the mean greedy type. Do they spit acid like ours do? Are they always silver? Or do they have different colored hair?"

Max replied, "I believe they spit fire. Right Skye?"

 

[caela]

Skye listened to Max and looked down at her gown curiously now herself. If they couldn't make such dyes and didn't have these sorts of dragons then how on earth had such a dress appeared in her closet? It wasn't likely that someone had brought it from her world. Giving her shoulders a light shrug she smoothed the silk against her skin and smiled.

"I think you mean weasels Max," she said with a grin but was stopped from saying more by Quint.

"I like it. That should definately go on your coat of arms. But the nice ones, and not the mean greedy type. Do they spit acid like ours do? Are they always silver? Or do they have different colored hair?"

His rapid fire questions made her laugh softly and she smiled at the lad that was her squire. It seemed that whatever was bothering him was either forgotten or at least put aside as he quizzed her on dragons.

"Max is right. In many cultures and stories our dragons breathed fire though there are other stories where they spit water and even wind. I don't think I've heard of them spitting acid though. And no they aren't all silver. The evil greedy ones are usually green and very lizard like while those more benevolant, like this chinese dragon, often came in a variety of shades depending on which element of nature ruled them."

Grinning at both of the males at her table she refilled their plates as they emptied them before asking Quint, "What else do you think should be on my coat of arms?"

 

[only_more_so]

Quint looked curiously at Skye, "What do you mean 'elements of nature'? What color would your dragon be? Would it breath fire? That seems better than blowing wind, anyone can do that. Plus fire is like your hair, only not as pretty. And maybe that jewel should be there somehow."

Max looked at Quint and said, "You really should only ask one question at a time. I know you are excited, but you have to let Skye have time to answer first. Or she's likely to breath fire on you!"

Max keep his face serious when he said that last part, and for a moment Quint appeared frightened that she might just breathe fire. Finally Max burst out laughing and tousseled the boy's hair.

 

[caela]

"What do you mean 'elements of nature'? What color would your dragon be? Would it breath fire? That seems better than blowing wind, anyone can do that. Plus fire is like your hair, only not as pretty. And maybe that jewel should be there somehow."

Skye blushed softly at Quint's compliments about her hair. She knew he gave it thoughtlessly but it was still a lovely sentiment and she wasn't used to compliments. She grinned as Max told him to ask only one question at a time and enjoyed the happy look on Quint's face when Max touseled his hair.

"In my world Quint there are religions that revere nature and the four elements they consider making up all of like. Generally they're listed as eart, air, water and fire. If I had to choose my own dragon I think I would probably choose a water dragon actually in as many different shades of blue as water comes in and to balance out my own fiery nature and temper. Plus I've always found water to be soothing."

Reaching up she fingered the jewel at her throat lightly and smiled at the idea of incorporating it into her coat of arms. "Maybe a dragon curled around the jewel to protect it?"

 

[RedHairedandFriendly]

Marissa

Marissa stared at the young man for a while and then smiled at him. “Nice story Sweetheart, but Mr. Wellington is a Prince. I doubt he’d be concerned with your friend.” She stood up and pushed her chair back to the table.

“I think you got yourself into trouble in the states, maybe a loan shark came calling, so you found yourself a way out in a hurry, paid some high dollars to someone so your “missing” passports were no not a problem and your id becomes unimportant as well. You somehow become nothing but a figment of someone’s imagination. . . you quickly leave your debt behind, hoping not to be caught and turned into fish food.”

Marissa looked toward the wall that she knew had several of Wellington’s men behind it. She needed this young man alive not dead, alive meant he played along or he died.

“So David. . . I think you should forget about the dream you had on your way over here, chalk it up to jet lag and we’ll let you go unharmed. Otherwise. . . you’ll have to deal with Wellington himself and,” she leaned in close and whispered against his ear. “He’ll kill you,” she added.

She moved away from him and leaned against the wall and stared at the young man. “So. . . loan shark or Princely kidnaping story?” she crossed her arms and studied him. “You know. . . option one looks pretty damn nice to me.”

 

[only_more_so]

Quint sat there thinking with a look of immense concentration. He didn't appear happy either. "No, it should be a fire dragon. Blue wouldn't look right against the purple jewel. Plus there is nothing scary about shooting water at people. But if the dragon spat fire, then people wouldn't take the jewel. You could have some seashells in the corners. That would be water, and mean you came from far away. Right Prince Max?"

"That's right Quint. We'll make a scholar out of you yet. Perhaps later today, while Skye is busy helping the Queen with mannerisms from her world, you could draw something up. There is also the uniform. Skye, for that you should just pick a few colors and have the tailors design something. Unless you want to see if there is something in your magic closet?"

 

[caela]

"Unless you want to see if there is something in your magic closet?"

Skye laughed softly and grinned impishly over at Max. She liked Quint's idea for the coat of arms and told him so but when Max mentioned her closet being magic she decided to get playful and leaned in close to Quint and used a stage whisper to speak to him that she knew Max would hear.

"You know if Max actually thinks my closet is magic maybe there really is something already in there. I of course think someone simply slipped the dress in when I wasn't here but that's me being logical. Why don't you go see which of us is wrong young Squire."

Quint's face brightened at the obvious game and he hopped up from the able to fling open the closet doors while SKye playfully stuck her tongue out at Max, "Such a silly goose. Magic closet indeed."

 

[only_more_so]

Max had been joking about the closet having a uniform, although he wasn't really joking about it being there being something magic about the origins of the dress. Max watched as Quint was rooting through Skye's closet, he even climbed inside because it was too deep for him to reach the back.

Skye was too bust making fun of Max to see Quint scurry out of the closet with something in his arms. He then darted into the bathroom. Max decided he had better distract Skye, so that she wouldn't catch wind of whatever Quint had found.

"You know, you shouldn't stick out your tongue, it isn't ladylike. Plus it is a terrible tease. I know where that tongue has been." Max extended his foot under the table until it ran into Skye's, rubbing against her gently.

"And I can't believe you still don't believe in magic, after everything you have seen and even done here."

Max didn't have to stall her long before Quint came out, beaming in his new outfit. Max turned to Skye, pointed to where Quint stood and said, "Now do you believe?"

 

[caela]

"You know, you shouldn't stick out your tongue, it isn't ladylike. Plus it is a terrible tease. I know where that tongue has been." Max extended his foot under the table until it ran into Skye's, rubbing against her gently.

Skye laughed softly and slid her own foot against Max's as a smile curved her lips and she leaned in to whisper softly, "I'm not worried about it being ladylike over breakfast with you and my Squire...and saying it's a tease implies that there's no follow through. For all you know my dear it was a promise."

Grinning wickedly she ran her bare foot lightly up and down his calf while her eyes held his, their violet depths filled with the promise of pleasure to come as soon as they had the chance.

Max didn't have to stall her long before Quint came out, beaming in his new outfit. Max turned to Skye, pointed to where Quint stood and said, "Now do you believe?"

Skye turned her head curiously to look at Quint and her jaw simply dropped open in surprise. The lad looked handsome in the amythyst garments that had deep blue accents. The exact coat of arms they'd discussed was embroidered just above his chest, a dragon breathing out a plume of flame wrapped protectively around the jewel she wore at her neck with seashells - replicas of the one she'd given Max - gaurded the four corners of the crest.

"I believed in magic before...I just hadn't believed it had infected my closet! Quint you look very handsome. Since the closet gave you one uniform why don't you see if it'll save the palace tailors some work and go digging to see if it will give you a couple of spare uniforms as well. If not we'll take this one down and have at least three or four extras made though I won't expect you to look so fancy most of the time.

Unless you're supposed to that is. Time to explain things to the new girl again. Is it required for a Squire to always be dressed so or can I have my coat of arms stiched onto things like the purse he carried on his belt and his knife sheath to let people know he's my Squire?"

 

[poohlive]

"You don't understand..." David felt the world come crushing down on him. He needed help, and this woman was, she was. What in the world was she doing?

"I... I..." They would kill him. Would that be possible? Was she trying to tell him something? It must be, it had to be. He wasn't getting something here. A prince, a prince had connections, just like he himself did. Of course, Andrew could find out anything, at any time.

Did that mean this girl was trying to help Andrew, or himself?"

David didn't know, but he had no other choice. He ran out of options a long time ago, and all he had left was this one woman, either out to kill him, or set him free.

"He took all my money," David said, gritting his teeth, "He took it all, on some stupid poker hand. I should have won. I just wanted to get my money back, that's all..."

He looked at her, his brow furrowing, "That's all."

 

[RedHairedandFriendly]

Serena .... Marissa

Serena’s bath had not been pleasant. The water was so hot it left her skin a soft shade of pink for several minutes after she was finally allowed out of the cascading falls of steamy liquid. She’d been taken to a room where a dress, or what she thought was supposed to be a dress was tossed at her. She’d been told to get dressed and wait until the Prince came for her.

She first thought of David, but knew that couldn’t be the Prince she needed. He was dead. The evil man called Andrew had killed him. Serena had learned during her “scrubbing” that Andrew was a Prince and she should be thrilled that he was one of the chosen ones for his special friends and acquaintances. Serena didn’t want to think about what that would imply.

She smoothed the short pink dress down and noticed her hand. Her eyes watered as she saw the wound no longer sore or hurt. The small bit of her world still buried inside her. She wondered when this world would take all of her away, she wasn’t sure how being in another land effected ones natural thoughts or actions, but she felt it took the cut to heal longer than it should have. She sat down on the chair that faced the balcony.

The servant that helped Serena... ordered Serena... to bath had told her she could look out the balcony, but she was not to go outside, and to prove her point she locked the doors and placed a guard inside the room. Serena stared outside wondering what was to become of her. She felt inside that Max and Skye would come for her, but Max would hate her for coming here and letting David die. Skye would too. After all, wasn’t Skye taken for David and now she had no one, just a man she didn’t know who would take David’s place as rightful heir.

Her fingers absently rubbed the place where her left pointer finger should have been. She got up and walked over to the bed and crawled in. Thoughts of David circled her mind and it was his face she saw in her dreams.

*************

Marissa Adams gave a sigh of relief. “I thought so,” she told him. She looked to the wall and nodded quickly and then walked over to David. “I’ll have you back in the states and you will be detained there. Once you provide proof of who you are, you can perhaps tell someone who cares what your problem is with the loan shark. Gambling is a sick disease. Can get people hurt, killed even. I’m sure your girlfriend... wouldn’t want that.”

It was about an hour later that Marissa and her “prisoner” left the customs office. Once outside she was supposed to take him to a plane and wave goodbye to him, but instead she handed his papers to another man and that man became David, at least on paper he was. Marissa took David to her car and they both got in. After she drove for an hour she pulled the car over to a picnic spot and unbuckled her seat belt.

She turned to David and pushed back her hair. “Okay. . . Andrew Wellington is a sick fuck. Your girl has already been raped or sold, unless she put up a fight... then she’s probably dead by now. If you are positive that was her being pushed into a car then she’s got a chance, but not much of one.”

“I work undercover and Andrew Wellington is under heavy surveillance for drug trafficking, organ trafficking, as well as many other things, his biggest thing though and the most simplest to cover up is underground slavery. If this Serena is as sheltered as you lead me to believe. . . I don’t think there is a chance she’ll be around when and IF I can find her.”

“We have some agents scattered around Wellington’s close associates so I will know more once I contact them, in the meantime. I want to know everything. . . every detail that led you on this goose chase and what exactly this Serena chic looks like?”

 

[only_more_so]

"Skye, a lot of strange this have been happening since you arrived, so to have a magic closet is not so strange. Although, for all I know it could have been enchanted before. These rooms are reserved for the Chosen One, and so my mother was the last one to occupy them. Perhaps they provided her with clothing that suited her tastes more than the kingdoms."

Max regarded Quint's new outfit. It would definately cause a stir. The coloring was much bolder than most people allowed their squires to wear, for fear of being upstaged. Perhaps at a gala they might dress so well.

"As for the normal style of dress for a squire... Normally he would be expected to have something more utilitarian, that merely has your coat of arms on a patch, say the size of your hand. The coloring of the clothing is going to be consistent." Max turned to Quint and said, "I hope you like wearing purple and blue, Quint, since you are going to be wearing a lot of it."

"You might be lucky enough for the closet to provide one set of utility garments, but I wouldn't expect it to produce all the clothes you and your squire needs. If it does you will put our tailors out of business, and then there will be no one to buy the wool, so no one will raise the sheep. You could cripple our whole economy!"

 

[poohlive]

It wasn't hard to David to go over the story again, this time in more detail. His frightened tension of stress had pushed him into a fight or flight mode, but now he relaxed more, clamed down somewhat. Mostly it was due to her.

One person able to help him, move him through these rituals and legalities of this would just upped his whole situation a hundred fold. As much as David would like to think himself worldly, in truth he had little more experience than Serena herself. Many things were still new to him, still unknown.

By the time he finished, his throat was dry, and a few tears had fallen down his cheeks. They dried on the stains of others not yet wiped away.

"We need to go as fast as we can. I know you have rules and regulations, following things by the book, but I need her back now. I'll do anything. Whatever needs to be done. I have money, if that will help."

 

[caela]

Skye listened as Max spoke and chuckled softly as she glanced at Quint. His eyes had gone wide at the idea of having to wear blue and purple most of the time and she knew she couldn't ask it of the boy. Reaching out she patted his hand softly and grinned at the lad.

"No fear Quint. I won't ask you to wear blue and purple all the time. How dull that would be for you! Not to mention I'm sure you'd catch some ribbing for it and I won't have my Squire be the butt of anyone's jokes simply because of colors I like.

We'll compromise and have your shirts taken down to the tailors to have my new coat of arms embroidered on them but I don't see any reason for your current wardrobe to go to waste."

The relief on Quint's face at her words was so obvious that it made Skye laugh softly and she reached out to tousle his hair lightly, "We have to look out for each other kiddo."

Turning her gaze to Max she grinned impishly and teasingly stuck her tongue out at him, "As for breaking your economy with my closet...I don't intend to let anyone else near it but myself and my Squire so I do believe your shepherds won't have to look for new jobs just yet."

Still grinning she look between the two males at her table and her face became more serious, "So it's obvious I'm stronger today and I need to talk to the Queen about the mannerisms of my world but first I want to know what was bothering you earlier Quint?"