The Curse and the Traveler's

[RedHairedandFriendly]

Serene’s eyes filled with unshed tears as she listened to her King and she felt as if she had disappointed her father, though he wasn’t her father. He was though a man that she’d been around since she was a little girl and though he was a King he was also an uncle to her, though none of their blood mingled as far as she knew.

He spoke of banishment and her face paled, but then he continued speaking and mentioned execution; she swayed. If it had not been for one of the guards she would have fallen to the floor, but was safely held and it was the guard that she leaned upon in order to stay upright. She hadn't been given leave to speak and until she was told she could, she wouldn't.

She'd already broken so many rules in her lifetime she wasn't about to do so any longer. Serena was here to accept her fate. If David allowed the rules of their world to claim her life than it was his decision and she would accept it. Her thoughts and feelings told her he'd not do that, but she was done guessing about him.

She led the way to her room and knew when the door was shut and she was locked behind it, the two guards would stay there, not permitting anyone entrance but the royal family.

The first thing she did was lean against the door and cry the tears of relief that she was finally home. The second thing she did was grab the trunk at the foot of her bed, open it and quietly begin packing away the books that her Princes had given her. Books full of dreams that couldn’t come true had spurred her to want more, she no longer needed those dreams. She just prayed she could still serve in the castle, but if she wasn’t allowed to she hoped her parents would not be so shamed by her that the shunned her.

As she pulled books and later drawings down from her shelves and from the walls she noticed the mist for the first time and she shivered. “What’s happening?” she thought to herself, but knew she’d get no answers until someone came for her.

 

[caela]

"But now I am in love, and I have someone who loves me. Not because I am the prince, or by fate was born into their family, but someone who loves me for me. Now that I have something to lose... Skye. I love you, but I will still go out and fight, I will fight all the harder knowing it might save you as well. But if David had died it would have been a meaningless battle. I would go out there knowing I was fighting for nothing. Nothing but a worthless lesson, to a dead girl."

Dead girl? She didn't know what he was talking about but he'd hammered back quite a few shots in a short period of time and she wasn't going to ask him now. She'd ask in the morning when he was sober once more. For now she had to deal with him.

Reaching out she took the last shot from his hand and downed it herself before signaling the bartender that he wasn't to bring anymore over. Reaching up she cupped Max's cheek tenderly, her eyes locking on his.

"I love you too Max and you are not going to fight alone. I won't lose you, and we didn't lose David so our fight won't be meaningless. For now though I think that's enough alcohol...I don't want you passing out before I can show you how much I love you tonight."

Sliding her fingertips down his cheek and along his neck they trailed down his arm until her fingers could thread with his.

"I need you tonight Max, and this time there will be no holding back."

 

[only_more_so]

"I need you tonight Max, and this time there will be no holding back."

Max looked at her fondly, wishing he were half as drunk as she thought he was. He knew that his otherworldly metabolism would burn the fumes from his body in an hour or two at the most.

"There is going to be no tonight. I am sorry princess, but we have to leave this place today. It won't take long for that Mr. Davis to backtrack my story, and if he is half the reporter he seems to be he will know it is a fraud. It should take him most of the day to do that, but by this evening, it is likely men in suits and dark glasses will be surrounding the casino looking for me."

Max stood and swayed a little from the effects of the alcohol. Maybe he was more drunk than he thought. He put his arm around Skye's waist and started walking back to the elevators. "I think I have indulged myself enough, let's check on my mother and let her know of the change in plans. Then we're going shopping for supplies."

 

[caela]

"I think I have indulged myself enough, let's check on my mother and let her know of the change in plans. Then we're going shopping for supplies."

Seeing him sway from the alcohol Skye let a slow smile curve her lips. Rising slowly from the barstool she pressed close against him, her arms twining up around his neck, fingers sinking into his hair to draw his head down to hers. She captured his lips in a lingering kiss that made no secret of her desire for him while the soft curves of her body molded to his begging to be touched.

Finally stepping back her gaze held his, eyes dark and smoldering, "In your world or mine there will be a tonight. If we go to fight the fog tomorrow I won't let it be without having known you fully Maxamillian."

 

[only_more_so]

"In your world or mine there will be a tonight. If we go to fight the fog tomorrow I won't let it be without having known you fully Maxamillian."

Max didn't think she really understood the situation, but he couldn't bring himself to explain. He doubted there would be any time for any privacy once they returned. Max was tempted to use the elevator on the ride up. He could feel her need and it was funneling into his own needs.

As they rode the elevator up, Max pressed her against the wall and kissed her deeply. His hands running along her sides, as his body held hers to the wall. The door opened suddenly and Max reluctantly broke the kiss and led her back to the room where his mother was.

He knocked before entering and said, "Mother, there has been a change in plans. You need to pack your things, we are leaving now."

Beatrix ran across the room and hugged Max tightly. "Oh Max, I'm so sorry I yelled at you. I don't want you to die, or David. You just seem so intent on dying, that I worry so."

She pulled back a bit and looked at him sternly. "Maximillian, promise me that you have every intention of living through this. Promise me, or I won't let you go back."

 

[caela]

Skye groaned softly as he pressed her against the wall of the elevator and seriously considered hitting the emergency stop button. Her need for him was raging through her and she knew she wouldn't be satisfied until she could feel him inside of her. Beatrix had been right...everything they'd done had been a long sort of foreplay and Skye was now burning for completion.

Before they could do more that kiss the elevator door opened and Skye growled softly as if they machine had done it just to spite her.

Following Max to Beatrix room she sighed as he told her to pack and at the desperate look in the Queen's eyes as she spoke to her son.

"Maximillian, promise me that you have every intention of living through this. Promise me, or I won't let you go back."

Reaching out she hugged Beatrix gently and whispered in the older woman's ear, "He's not going to die Beatrix, I simply will not allow it."

 

[poohlive]

"I think it should be known," David said as soon as she had left, "She came back of her own accord. I told her what the consequences would be, I told her, and she decided to come back anyway. If that accounts for anything..."

He let that thought trail off, and then went on with what had happened during the stay in Las Vegas. How he had found out someone was inside his room, stealing maps and seeds. He found it was Serena, and went to confront her only to have her run away.

They were in Vegas before anything could be done. He let her believe they had no resources and had to make due with scraps and whatnot. After that, he showed her the better side of life. She had gone there to be alone and find love, until she met Andrew Wellington.

Then, the incident in Vegas, and later in Europe with the mansion, before finally being safe once more back with her.

"She went through a lot, and I think learned a thing or two. I asked if she wanted to forget what happened, swipe it from her memory. She said no, she wanted to learn from it."

 

[only_more_so]

"He's not going to die Beatrix, I simply will not allow it."

Max wasn't surprised at what Skye said, but it did make him a trifle meloncholy. He wished that her intent was enough, and he hoped that intent wouldn't prevent him from his duty. "Mother, I have no intention of dying. But what I intend to do has proven to be incredibly dangerous."

"Now let's pack our bags and go shopping for supplies. I want to be out of this world before evening."

* * *

"She went through a lot, and I think learned a thing or two. I asked if she wanted to forget what happened, swipe it from her memory. She said no, she wanted to learn from it."

"David, have you looked outside? Noticed how close the fog has encrouched? Already the village is consummed, and the villagers are holding up in the castle. By this evening the outer grounds will be consummed as well. If your brother, mother and fiancee don't return by then, they might return to find themselves in the middle of the fog."

The king sat back on his throne. Trying to let the gravity of the situation sink in for his son. The girl he seemed so intent on saving might have brought about the end of the kingdom.

Sighing the king said, "David, if Skye doesn't return by nightfall, you will have to marry someone else. Someone from within the kingdom. If your brother doesn't return by then, I will have to go out to hold off the fog while you wed. I am not your twin, but it is the only chance we have. So think about who you will choose."

With that King Charles stood as if the weight of the world were on his shoulders. He walked toward the door but stopped before he left. Looking back he added, "I have not passed sentence on the girl. Tomorrow you may be King and it will be your choice."

 

[poohlive]

David waved the guards away, knowing they were useless now. Two heavily armed men to keep track of a little girl crying in her room. How senseless. There was no reason for that.

"Serena," He said, opening the door, "It's been decided."

David went over to the foot of her bed, sitting down, "You're not going to be banished, or executed, or any silly thing like that. I'm to be king, as early as tonight. Even though I do not have a wife, and my power will be all throughout the kingdom. So, it all comes down to me."

He shrugged his shoulders, "Father says I am to wed tonight... to anyone. The first person I can find. There is no one besides Skye though. She is the only one with magic to lift the curse. Skye has not even come back yet, nor has my brother. I don't know, they even sounded weird. If the curse was speeding up, why did they still insist on doing a supply run?"

He didn't know what to do.

"A mad dash to find some woman for me to marry, to lift the curse... but it won't be lifted. It took me all my life to convince me that Skye was the one who could life it, and now in a few hours I have to mad dash and find some replacement? It's impossible. I just wish it was already over, good or bad. I mean, it was fun, wasn't it? Before, in Vegas, we just had fun."

 

[caela]

"Now let's pack our bags and go shopping for supplies. I want to be out of this world before evening."

Hugging Beatrix once more Skye sighed softly and left the Queens room. There wasn't much to pack in the room she was sharing with Max and she had it all stowed in under five minutes. Unsure what to do now she simply sat on the bed and tried to make sense of what was happening.

If Serena's traveling sped up the curse why were they still here at all? Granted There was no way to know by just how much it would have been sped up and Max's world needed the supplies they would bring but what would happen to them if they came through the circle and the fog was already there?

 

[RedHairedandFriendly]

Serena looked at David, a look of confusion on her face. “Wed? Why? Skye’s the chosen one. You have to wed her. The curse won’t lift unless it is a chosen one.”

She pushed off the bed and tried to run what he was saying through her head. He was going to be married. Just like that. Even her parents would have allowed her to have a week to know her betrothed before wedding him. The thought of her parents returned to her and she hurried to the window. “David? Will they make it home in time? Will my parents arrive with my husband to be?” she asked.

She looked at him and went back to his side. “I’m sorry. If you are to wed someone then the last thing you need to worry about is my problems. I’m sure my parents will return before the fog closes.”

“I’m not sure why you must marry. It makes no sense. Have you talked to your father? Made him explain the rush?”

Serena was at a loss really. Fear, curiosity, perhaps even a quest for something she could never have had sent her to Las Vegas and now it looked as if she’d ruined so many lives she wasn’t sure if she could help her friend and her people.

There was a rippling felt throughout the Kingdom and for a moment she was a bit unsteady. She fell against David, quickly apologizing and then her face glowed brightly. “David,” she sighed with happiness, throwing her arms around his neck and kissing his cheek. “They are home. They made it back.” She jerked back as she remembered her place. “I’m sorry,” she told him.

"Your prospects for a wife? If your father forces this upon you. . . who will you chose? You have devoted all your life to knowing and loving Skye?"

 

[only_more_so]

Max made sure his mother was packed and picked up her bag and headed into the hall. He checked in on Skye and found she was already done. She looked anxious however, "What's the matter Skye? We could stay here another day and we would still return only a moment after we left. That is how the magic works. We'll be fine, but we need to make sure to bring back the essentials for life in the kingdom."

Grabbing the other bags, Max headed for the lobby, with his mother and Skye in tow. Checking out was quickly taken care of and they grabbed a cab. Before Max could tell the cabby to drive to the nearest truck rental location, Beatrix told the cabby to return to the address from which they arrived.

"Mother, I told you, we have time. We don't need to rush."

Beatrix looked sternly at his son, "Maximillian, you know there is something wrong. We never travelled on the full moon when someone else was out travelling. How do you know the magic still works the same in those conditions?"

Max looked at Beatrix in shock. "Why shouldn't it work?"

Beatrix turned to Skye with growing frustration, "Skye, maybe you can convince Max that we need to get back."

 

[poohlive]

"If worse comes to worse, perhaps I'll just join my father in the fog," He said, laying down upon the bed. The world seemed too big all of a sudden, too heavy. He had let it lift from his shoulders, and now it was bearing down the moment he was back on this world.

"Maybe that is what the curse really demands. Here we always thought it was about finding true love, and in the end, it is just about sacrifice. Wouldn't that be ironic? We struggle to think the curse is about finding new life, when all along it only wanted death and destruction."

He would not marry someone he didn't love, and he would not marry simply because his father demanded it. That would serve no purpose to anyone.

"And what of you, Serena? You were so scared to be killed upon coming back, and now you are only to be married off. Yet, you seem to have the same sad look on your face. There is no difference between death and marriage."

Maybe she was right, there wasn't a difference.

 

[RedHairedandFriendly]

Serena walked over to him and sat down on the edge of the bed. “David, I don’t think marriage and death are the same. I am not sad because I am to be married. I wish to be married. I long to have babes at my feet, a husband to love, someone to hold me when I am sad and make me laugh. Someone to protect me and take care of me. What hurts is that I do not love the man I am to wed now... but there will be time, perhaps I will love him, perhaps I won’t. There are to many happy marriages for me not to believe that love is possible.”

“You can not go into the fog. The fact that your father goes makes no sense to me, but then again I am but a servant. I do not know all the ins and outs of things.”

She lay down on the bed beside him, forgetting for a moment that she wasn’t supposed to be close to David. It was hard though to remember she wasn’t supposed to be his friend. “This is frustrating to me. Here I have lived in this place all my life, this castle really, more then my parents home. I have played here, wept here, laugh here and many, many nights slept in these rooms, from the study where I would fall asleep to this bed upon which we lie... I always thought of myself as family as you and Max like brothers.. Well... until later, but that isn’t important is it. I thought wrong is the point. I am not family. I overstepped myself and began to feel as a royal.”

She turned on her side and propped her head up with her elbow, nestling her hand into her hair. “I think you have been kept out of the dark too. Why? Perhaps it is because they never thought of you going into the fog to fight the curse, but Max. Perhaps they have kept things from you too. There is so much about it I don’t know and I thought I did. Whatever there is I can’t believe you just walking into it will help anyone... but David, I caused all of this... if someone were to sacrifice themselves shouldn’t it be the one that caused all the problems in the first place?”

Serena slipped back down on the bed and sighed up at the ceiling. “I don’t think I’ve talked that much since Vegas.”

 

[caela]

Beatrix turned to Skye with growing frustration, "Skye, maybe you can convince Max that we need to get back."

Looking between Beatrix and Max, Skye simply nodded her head, "Beatrix is right Max. I don't know why but we have to get back. Damnit! If I were there I could "see" what was going on. All I know is I have a bad feeling in the pit of my stomach that says we need to drop everything and haul ass back."

She shrugged slightly, there was no better way to explain it. They needed to return that was all she knew. And they needed to return NOW.

 

[only_more_so]

Max looked from Beatrix to Skye and back. He ground his teeth in frustration. The magic would work, he knew. But even the cabby seemed to agree with them, the damned cabby!

He sat silently, wondering what had gotten into them. Were they still sore about the phone call with David? Or maybe they just couldn't wait to get back. Or maybe they wasnted to go back without supplies so David would think... It was useless trying to figure out what a woman was thinking.

The cabby stopped the car a block from the exit site, and Max dutifully paid the man as the women got out of the cab. He gave the man an extra hundred dollars and told him to forget the conversation and the people in his cab. Max even pushed a little magic into the man to make sure the bribe took.

"There is a convience store right here. Surely we can take a few minutes..."

Beatrix glared at Max and grabbed his arm pulling him toward the alley. "We don't have time, Maximillian!"

As the walked toward the alley, Max saw a police car drive past. It went up the street a little ways before he saw it pulling a U-turn. Maybe the ladies were right. Could Mr. Davis have called in the police so quickly.

"We better hurry ladies." Max said, now pulling them into the alley. They were still hurrying down the alley when Max reached for the magic and created a portal back home, leaving a mystified police officer scanning the alley.

* * *

The transition was more brutal than usual, leaving Max to stumble. He quickly realized it wasn't midnight, but closer to noon. Gaining his bearings he realized it was after noon. He also realized they were in the fringes of the fog.

"Prince Max! Is that you?" He heard a young boys voice, and could just make out the form. But he was walking in the wrong direction to come towards the prince's party.

Turning to his mother Max said, "Take Skye back to the castle. Don't trust your eyes until completely clear of the fog. Follow you sense of Father back. He should know and will act as a beacon. I will grab Quint and follow as soon as I can."

He grabbed Skye and kissed her. "Please don't argue, I will be back in the castle before you know it." He paused a moment for her to reply but kept an eye on the wandering squire, getting ready to sprint toward him.

 

[caela]

He grabbed Skye and kissed her. "Please don't argue, I will be back in the castle before you know it." He paused a moment for her to reply but kept an eye on the wandering squire, getting ready to sprint toward him.

Returning his kiss she nodded slowly and reached up to cup his cheek, "I'll go this time but get Quint and hurry back love."

Turning she took Beatrix hand and let the Queen lead her back to the castle while Max went to fetch Quint. The older woman seemed just as confused as Skye was. She thought they were supposed to return just after they'd left but they hadn't, who knew how long they had been gone here. She hoped it was merely a matter of hours and not days.

Reaching the castle she hugged the Queen tightly, "Go find your husband, I'm sure he needs to see you and knew you're safe."

Making her way through the castle she kept her eyes open for Serena but didn't see the girl anywhere. Figuring she was likely resting after her ordeal Skye made it to her own rooms and wrote a quick note for her friend.

Serena,

I'm sorry I didn't see you in my world. No doubt you're resting after everything that happened so I won't come bother you now but when you're rested I'd like to see you to know that you're all right. I've missed you my friend.

Skye

She entrusted the note to one of the servants with clear instructions that if Serena were sleeping to simply slide it under her door and not to disturb her.

 

[poohlive]

"It wasn't your fault, Serena. What you did was an accident. What happened was just a fluke. The only thing responsible is the curse, this blinding curse that comes to eat at us, forcing this marriage and sacrifice on us. Here I am, trying to make things right because my ancestors have sinned. How long must I pay for their sins?"

David took a small smile when he looked at her. If he could not help himself, then perhaps at least he could help Serena.

"I can make you a Lady of the court," He said, "Even a duchess. It is nothing more than me waving a hand or signing a paper. You think royalty is any different? The only difference between those people who hold their noses up high and you is that they were born with money, and you weren't. That's it."

David put his hand upon her shoulder, first one and then the other, "As newly appointed king and ruler of this land... for only a shot period before we all die, I now appoint you Duchess of this land."

He smiled, "You're royalty now. You don't have to marry because of what your parent say. You can marry for love. I want you to marry for love, I want you to to be happy Serena. One of us should be."

 

[RedHairedandFriendly]

Serena laughed. “Oh stop it David, your acting as if this isn’t important and it is. I’m no more a Duchess than I am a Queen or the Chosen One.” She rolled her eyes and left his side. “I don’t want to be a Duchess... a Queen... the Cho...,” she took a deep breath. “I’ll just be me.” There was knock on her door and she went to answer it. There stood a servant and they held out to her a note. “Thank you,” she said quietly and watched them walk away.

She read the note and looked up to David. “David. You don’t have to marry me at all. . . the Chosen One has returned. She wishes to speak with me, but since you are in dire need to wed and save our World then you should go to her side and insist you wed, for the good of the people.”

With a heavy sigh to her heart and an ache in her chest she stepped back and opened the door, offering it to David as a way to leave her presence and go to the woman he’d hungered for all his life. He had told her he wasn’t sure if he loved Skye or not, but he did at one time, so perhaps he would again. “Go to her David. Together you can stop the fog.”

She tucked the note in her pocket, glanced at her hand and then looked away. “I need to prepare myself before my parents come to the castle and bring my betrothed to me.”

 

[poohlive]

Skye. She was back, he could find her, see her. Everything would be allright once more. God, how close had they been, what had they done that took so long?

It didn't matter, he had to run out and see her.

"Wait, what?"

He stopped in front of Serena, his eyes growng wide.

"Marry you?" He didn't understand. He never said that, but she had just told him she wanted him to marry her. She wanted to be the one he came to when Skye was gone.

"You the chosen one? Serena... I don't understand. What are you trying to say? This is about what happened in Vegas, isn't it? Listen, Serena, you know how important you are to me, don't you?"

He hugged her, keeping her close to him, "I always liked you, you were always there for me. I'm serious when I say you can become a duchess. You can have money, and never worry about getting married. I'll keep you close to me, here in the castle. Everything will be just the way you want it, I promise."

He looked at her, "Just tell me. Honestly Serena. I keep wanting to help you and you keep refusing my help, wanting to do it all on your own. But, you can't. Let me help you, let me do whatever you want."

 

[RedHairedandFriendly]

It had taken her a moment to understand what he was saying, so much so that she had to run the words back in her head as he held her close. Did she say her? Marry her? “Oh fuck,” she muttered the new word she’d heard on Earth in her head. She didn’t say it out loud, since when she’d heard it the person was angry and she didn’t want to further upset David. When he released her she stepped back and stared at him.

Her heart was in her chest and she felt her stomach rolling. Her face was again warm tot eh touch and she knew it was because he had touched her. “I’m sorry David. My words got all messed up. I meant to say you didn’t have to marry. The me was just an oops. I remember you do not like me in the same way that I thought I liked you..” she swallowed her words. “I’m okay though. I understand now and I know you are my friend and we will always be close. But I would make a horrible Duchess. I’m nothing David. If you would allow me to chose my own husband than that is all I ask. I don’t want to be flocked by men for my new title and wealth... so I will ask you not to give me such luxuries. But to wed for love would be a great gift.”

She stepped up on her toes and kissed his cheek. It was a simple kiss, but it meant volumes to Serena. “Go to Skye and talk with her. I’ll explain to my parents about the betrothal not taking place. Perhaps when the curse is lifted and things return to normal I can leave here, because I don’t think I will ever be happy... I don’t know what I want any more David.”

 

[only_more_so]

Max watched Skye leave with a heavy heart. They had been right, he shouldn't have delayed. Or he should have insisted that David join them before they travelled, or... There were always more 'or's.

"Quint! Stay where you are, the fog is played tricks on you." The boy stopped moving immediately.

"Prince Max? Where are you?" Quint called out and kept turning in circles. Max knew how confusing the fog could be, and trusted a small amount of magic to lead him unerringly to the boy.

When he finally got to the boy, he scooped him up and held him tight. "It's okay Quint, I have you now, and I'll get you back to the castle safely." Quint was snifling slightly, but to his credit he wasn't crying.

Max reached out with magic to try to find his mother, or father, but they were blocked off from him, and provided no beacon. He reached out to Skye but he couldn't find her either. As a last resort he tried David and felt a tenuous direction and proceeded at a jog. The fog was getting thinner and Max knew he was going in the right direction as he passed over familiar paths and slopes.

Soon enough the castle was looming before him. He put Quint down and let him walk the rest of the way. "That was a mighty brave thing to wait for us while the fog rolled in. But you should have stayed out of the fog. Now let's go inside. You should go find Skye, tell her I am going to consult with my father."

 

[caela]

Skye smiled when she heard a knock on her door. Thinking it was Serena she flung the door open only to be confronted by Quint who threw his arms around her and hugged her tightly. Smiling down at the lad she returned her hug and gently stroked his back.

When at last he let go of her he was grinning sheepishly at his display.

"Do I take that to mean I was missed?" she teased gently and the lad just grinned more.

"I was worried. Usually when people travel they appear right after they leave but you didn't. They tried to make me come back to the castle but I waited, I knew you and Max would return.

Oh! Max said to tell you that he went to speak with his father."

Skye's brow furrowed slightly as she wondered why Max hadn't just touched her mind himself. They were back now, it shouldn't have been difficult. Reaching up she stroked the jewel at her throat gently and reached out for him. It was difficult at first and Skye wondered why but after a moment it was like a door opened and she fell through and was suddenly there in Max's mind once more. The familiar touch of his thoughts was soothing and she slipped out of his mind after only the gentlest of caresses.

 

[poohlive]

Nodding David left, closing the door behind him. He only went as far as the nearest wall though, leaning on it for support. For a moment, it felt as if he had once more been dragged into Serena's entire life.

He could feel her still clinging to him, still wanting his love, his kiss, everything about him. Everything he could not give her because of Sky... because of his status. He was supposed to be king tomorrow, he was supposed to marry the love of his life, and she still wanted her lifelong crush to come through.

He wished he could be that Prince Charming for her, kiss her to wake her up and live happily ever after, but he could not. All he could give Serena was money and the ability to find her own happiness.

He slammed his hand against the far wall, the pain biting hard inside him. It felt good, refreshing, different from the pain in his heart from having to leave her like that.

"If only you could understand," He wanted to tell that to her so bad, and even felt his feet moving once more to the door, but a servant passed him by, and at that moment he realized why he had left in the first place.

Sky... where was she? He had to find her.

"Once things are settled, I'll deal with you Serena. I'm sorry."

Once more, saying the important meanings to the wall, instead of her. He wanted to hit stone once more and feel the bitter pain, but could not. He had to go see Skye,

"Skye..." He came up to the door, watching her still standing there in the frame, his eyes once more catching her. She still looked beautiful, as she had done on that beach so long ago.

How long had it been? When the fog came in, time got funny. It moved in weird ways, spinning out of control, or slowing to a turtle's pace. It could have been seconds ago he held onto her body close to him, her heartbeat thrumming through his ears. Or thousands of years could have passed, them both playing Rip Van Winkle, sleeping until the dawn of ages, where they would once more find each other, and their hands would grasp tenderly.

Either way it did not matter, the moment would always be clear inside his memory. For now, he had her, and there was nothing else.

"I'm sorry, but time it short. Father has ordered us to marry... a little sooner than expected. I know this is hard to say just getting back, but... but I missed you, and I am glad you are ok."

He hugged her gently at first, but the emotions ran out on him, and he squeezed her close to him, the thought of her nearly crushing him whole.

 

[RedHairedandFriendly]

Serena watched him leave and felt an emptiness. He'd not reacted to her words or her actions, but simply left just like she'd told him to. She closed the door behind him and leaned against it. He had said she could have anything she wanted, so she assumed that meant he had agreed with her request and she would not have to wed someone she didn't love. She also would not be a Duchess. "Imagine me a Duchess," she whispered to no one and moved through her room, noting things that she had taken for granted and would and still could easily lose.

Her heart felt empty. She wanted to talk to Skye. She wanted to tell her how she felt about David, but also that she needed someone else to care for, because it was apparent to her that David didn't seem to have the same feelings for her that she did him. How did one get over such a thing as a "crush"? Already the thought of not loving him hurt her, but he simply didn't feel for her the way she did for him.

When she'd kissed his cheek, as simple an act that it was it was everything to Serena, just to breath in his essence. He however did not glance or draw back or lean in... he simply did what he always did. Nothing.

She sat down in front of her trunk and pulled out the small journal where she had confessed her deepest secrets. Her hands ran over the gold binding and she rose up on her feet. "Silly girl dreams," she told herself and promptly tossed it into the trash. No longer would she think of the feelings she had over David. He wasn't in love with her. He wasn't sure he loved Skye... but all of that no longer mattered. Serena was on her own and she would grow up and learn from the experience.

Her hands ran over the drawings that she'd done over the years and soon they too were taken down and a new home was found for them along side the journal. She took her clothing and placed it in the trunk too. Her thoughts focused on change and though she could not go back to her parents home because of the mist, she would be ready to when it was time.

A book on the table by her bed, caught her attention and she rolled her eyes. "Fantasy," she whispered, picked it up and it was added to the growing pile. She then slipped into her bed and covered up. She wasn't tired, she just simply wanted to no longer feel and what better way than to just do nothing, until Skye came to her to talk. She needed guidance. She'd never been alone.