The Curse and the Traveler's

[RedHairedandFriendly]

Serena followed behind Skye. She thought of all she had said, but she refused to believe that Skye was as heartless as she came across. Had Serena put herself above others? She did not see it that way, she wanted it for herself yes, but she wanted it for her people more. She would give up everything for them.

She hurried to catch up, “You will have to ask the brothers of the curse, because I am not allowed to tell the tale. Only the royal family is allowed to explain it. They know all the details, I only know what was handed down to me and even that I'm not allowed to share.“

“I'm sorry that you were taken from this ohhh, so grand life you have lived here,“ she let the sarcasm roll off her tongue. ”We have never taken someone who lived a perfect life of bliss and happiness, so I doubt you left a rosy haven.“

Kicking stones that were littered the roadway, Serena stopped as a large noise began coming up from behind them. She stopped and stared, then grabbed Serena's arm.

“Serena! OH MY!!!” She pointed at the twin glowing orbs that had been coming towards them. She stood there rooted to the ground as the giant creature came to a stop. Its bright eyes glowed over them. Serena gasped as the creature suddenly opened its sides, one on each half.

“What is it?” Serena asked Skye, as the two figures began walking towards them.

 

[caela]

Skye rolled her eyes at the sarcasm in Serena's voice and turned to look at the other woman. "I never said life her was rosy and sweet, or even happy did I? But it was MY like and MY choices and your people took me without so much as asking if I'd like to leave. For all anyone in your world knew I had plans, dreams, hopes, wishes of my own and all of that was snatched from me and for reasons that no one will explain to me.

You know how you feel now? Trapped in a world you don't know or understand and filled with things that the people around you simply take for granted? Now toss in the fact that you're there unwillingly, have someone tell you your supposed to save an entire world, and toss a husband you've never met into the mix. It's not fun."

Shaking her head she simply shut up. What was the point of arguing with Serena? All it did was serve to make them both cranky when they were already tense and shaken as it was.

"Look, lets not..." her voice trailed off as Serena shrieked.

“Skye! OH MY!!!”

Turning to look where Serena pointed, SKye saw the headlights of a car approaching and cursed softly. This late at night it could be anyone but it most likely meant trouble for them.

“What is it?” Serena asked Skye, as the two figures began walking towards them.

"It's a car. A way to travel in my world," she said. Her voice was distracted as she watched the two approaching figured warily and quickly realized it wasn't as bad as it could have been. Just a couple of drunk teenagers out on a friday night.

"Now why would two pretty ladies be out walking this late at night?" the boy on the right asked. He was tall and blonde with a mean look in his eyes but Skye was less than impressed. She knew this fool and knew how to take care of him if needed.

"I'd watch who you accost under a full moon Clayton Thomas. Or haven't you heard the rumors of witches and spirits that haunt the woods at night?" Skye asked. Her voice was calm and the boy had nearly jumped when she used his name. Instead of looking mean now she looked slightly afraid. "And what a pretty date. Emma Sutter what would your Mama say about you being out so late at night?"

The girl gasped hearing her own name on a strangers lips.

"What we're doing is of no cocern of your so why don't you head out unless you want to end up like old Tommy Walker," the last words carried the edge of a threat but were really just meant to scare the teenagers. Tommy had been driving late one night and lost control of his car, it had smashed into a tree not far from where they were and it was rumored (by the superstitious) that his ghost still haunted the woods around here.

The teenagers turned, walked quickly, and got back into their car. Clayton drove like the hounds of hell were at his heels until he got back into town and the next day told anyone that would listen that he'd seen two ghosts in the woods the night before.

 

[RedHairedandFriendly]

Serena watched the car run away, “I'm so amazed at everything you have here. You handle it so wonderfully, all these exciting things.“

She smiled at Skye and took her hand. “I'm sorry I have been so difficult, and so taxing on your feelings. I will try and be a better friend.“

Serena grinned, “You will make a fine Queen, if you chose to. If you choose not to marry David, I can't tell you what will happen. No one has ever chosen not to, or if they have I have no story of it happening.“

Then she thought for a moment, “No, I'm wrong, there was once a marriage that did not take place. The chosen one had died. She was found to be with child from one of the royal guards. She died giving birth. The Prince at that time, opted to find another bride from another world. Though everyone knew that she wouldn't be the chosen one, they still needed heirs for the throne. But this was many years prior to the Kings and Queens that my family has served under.“

Releasing the other woman's hand she, looked back towards the road then the woods, “Should we perhaps, try and rest or at least continue onward, but away from this road in case another one of your cars come by?“

 

[poohlive]

"Yeah, her name is Serena. She would be wearing just simple jeans and a shirt of some kind," He gave as best a description as he could. The officer nodded, writing down ths information. It didn't look hopeful though, no one had seen her, or Skye tonight.

"She might be... I don't know how to put it. Weird? She would ask strange questions, not know a lot about this place."

"This place?"

David smiled, looking down at his sweaty hands.

"Ummm, she's Canadian."

"Ohhhh." It seemed to explain most of their behavior on this world. They didn't quite understand, and would ask the oddest questions. David had done it himself on more than one occasion. The excuse of Canadian had come in handy a lot.

"Well... there was one report," He moved to grab a small piece of yellow sticky paper from his desk, looking at it odd.

"A woman came into a bar, and asked about a Fairy ring. Someone thought she was a little too drunk, but we couldn't find her."

Fairy ring? Oh, she's trying to get home. Good girl, Serena. David nodded, smiling and thanking the man as much as he could.

"With any luck they made it to the bookstore..."

 

[only_more_so]

He followed the pull. The pain remained, and seemed to grow stronger as he struggled forward. Things started coming to him... He hadn't failed yet. There was still time.

The queen was asleep in the chair in Serena's room. Max lay still on the bed, with a maid replacing the damp towels periodically.

"My queen! He's awakening!" The maid suddenly exclaimed. Noticing Max's eyes fluttering and a moan eminating from his throat.

The queen was quickly awake and to Max's side. "Max, can you hear me?"

Max managed a croaking sound. His eyes fluttered halfway open before closing again. His breathing quickened as he struggled weakly.

"Don't move Max. You must rest. David will be back with medicine soon."

Panic! The murmuring voice was back and he started to make out words. Even though he didn't understand the words, he knew something was wrong with what she said.

"Get the doctor!" The queen said, grabbing the girl's arm. "Please hurry" she added more calmly than she felt.

When the girl disappeared the Queen returned her attention to Max. "I know... I wouldn't have let him go, but those impulsive girls!" She paused to calm herself before continuing, "Max you must rest. We need you to come back to us. Especially now."

 

[caela]

Skye smiled gently at Serena and squeezed her friends hand. "You aren't difficult and there's no need to try and be a better friend. You're a good friend just as you are. I'm being cranky and I'm sorry Serena. None of this is your fault and I'm taking my frustration out on you."

Looking around she thought about Serena's last question before nodding toward the woods, "We'll rest in there for a bit. It's quiet and welcoming most nights and tonight I could use it's soothing influence. I wonder...do you think anyone's realized we're gone yet?"

Leading Serena into the forest she quickly found one of her favorite places - when she wasn't climbing the cliffs down by the water anyway. It was a clearing that was nearly a perfect circle and filled with lavender and violets. With the bright light of the full moon shining down it could almost be another world and it was easy for Skye to believe it had once been a place of worship for those that revered nature. It always filled her with a sense of calm and peace and she happily let herself drop into the grass and stretch out with her gaze on the moon that was starting to sink toward the horizon.

"Perhaps we shouldn't go to far, if they send someone after us we want them to be able to find us."

 

[RedHairedandFriendly]

Serena followed Skye into the woods, and rested beside her. Her fingers played with the tiny flowers. "These resemble the ones of the Fairy Rings, perhaps." she closed her eyes and held Skye's hand. Her thoughts of home filled everything inside her. She thought of her mother and father, of David and Maximillion, everything she had known. She waited for the swirl of air, and the falling pit that would consume them.

She opened her eyes, and looked to Skye, "Well, it was worth a try." She shrugged and released Skye's hand. "Oh look," she dug through the bag from the rattle bottle store and found the bag she was looking for.

Handing it to Skye she said, "We can enjoy these Kisses from a man named Hershey. Though he must be quite handsome to bag his kisses in silver paper."

Watching the stars flicker, she gazed back to the woods. "We should stay here for a few hours, then perhaps, someone will find us. You did say David was not fully injured, so perhaps he'll come or send someone that will."

Sighing she wrapped her arms around her knees. "I do want to get home, I found Maximillion a wonderful gift, and I wish to share it with him." Serena had meant to keep the gift a secret, but she wanted to share it with Skye. Searching in the bag once more, she handed the soft package to her friend. "Look it even has his name on the package, 'Maxi'." Serena placed the package back and looked happily at Skye, "He'll be so surprised, you won't tell him will you?"

 

[caela]

Skye paused as Serena closed her eyes. She knew that her friend was trying to get them back to her home and she hoped it would work but she wasn't surprised when it didn't. Giving a shrug she nodded her agreement that it had been worth a try.

Grinning at the chocolate Serena then offered Skye hastily tore the wrapper off one of the sweet candies and popped it into her mouth. Sucking on the chocolate she gave a low groan of pleasure and smiled, "I'm a chocolate junky." She didn't bother explaining that Hersey was a brand name owned by a large company and not a handsome man. She liked Serena's imaginings better than the truth and saw no reason to disabuse her of them.

She agreed that staying where they were for a time would be a good idea. David really hadn't been terribly hurt so she thought it likely he'd come looking for them. She wondered if he'd be mad at them? He'd have every right to be considering they'd simply taken off without telling anyone where they'd gone or what they were doing. She hoped he wouldn't yell at them though, she hated being yelled at.

Hearing the excitement in Serena's voice she turned her head to see what she'd gotten for Max and couldn't help but bursting out into laughter. She laughed so hard and long that tears came into her eyes and it was a long time before she could catch her breath enough to explain to her friend, "Serena, you are the most thoughtful person I know but you don't want to give those to Max trust me. They're...well um they're what we use here when a woman has her monthly cycle."

 

[RedHairedandFriendly]

Serena's jaw dropped, "Oh my! Maximillion will not be happy if he knows he is being used for such a thing, or at least his name is." Serena took the package back out and tore the paper open, just as she had seen Skye open Mr. Hershey's kisses.

She squeaked as little pouches wrapped in white flew out everywhere. "Holy fairy wings!" Quickly she covered her mouth, "Excuse me, for my outburst." Serena gathered the little packages, and saw there was a slit in each one. She pushed her finger into the package, and soon it to was ripped open.

As she opened it her face to on a quizzical expression. The item was long, and thin, "I have a feeling we would find these more comfortable then the strips of linen we use. Perhaps, with guidance from a more experienced traveler, we can come back and get many of these."

She peeled the long strip off of the plastic covering, and her fingers suddenly became stuck to the offensive item. She flicked it vigorously, and eventually freed herself. Looking at Skye, she smiled. "I may not know everything, but I bet the sticky side goes on ones underclothes and facing up towards our bodies." She winked at Skye, "At least that is what I'm hoping!"

 

[caela]

Skye giggled watching Serena flagging around with the pad stuck to her fingers and finally nodded her head. "You got it right on the first guess. They're really pretty comfortable once you're used to them and since they're sticky you don't have to worry about them sliding out of place," blinking suddenly she glanced at Serena with a startled look on her face. "Did you just say you use strips of linen? Oh good lord no, we have to take back lots of these!"

It was one more thing to remind her just how different things in Serena's world were. For Skye being there often felt simply like she'd walked into a story of some sort. Most of what they had was recognizeable in a history book sort of way so she rarely felt that sudden burst of excitement at a new discovery that Serena felt here in Skye's world but now and then something would just hit her and she'd realize how far from anything she truly knew, that Serena's world was.

 

[RedHairedandFriendly]

Serena layed back on the grassy ground, covered in purple flowers. She plucked a few and began weaving them into a long chain. She was quite bored, and soon found herself thinking of David and Maximillion. As she lay on her back, the breeze blowing over the two women, she asked Skye more questions.

"If you don't wish to marry David, would you be willing to marry Maximillion or would you just like to come home. Your memories have been erased from the people here, but it can all be restored." The chain became longer as she explained.

"David and Max or even another traveler all together can bring you back to the moment you were taken." Quickly she sat up.

"Oh goodness! Skye if you can get us back to where they took you, I might be able to find a fairy ring!" She touched Skye's arm, "Do you have any memory of where you were the last time you were here?" She looked hopefully into Skye's eyes. "I need to know, if you can remember it at all, it may be our way home!"

 

[caela]

"I honestly don't know if I want to marry David or Max. I don't know them and I don't love either of them and I don't think people should marry where they don't love. Who knows once I know David better I may very well fall in love with him and wish to marry him. I just don't want to be forced to marry him and end up having us hating each other and being unahppy for the rest of our lives. It wouldn't be fair to either of us and it certainly wouldn't be fair to your world to be ruled by unhappy monarchs."

Quietly she watched as Serena wove the small flowers into an ever lengthening chain. It was something she'd often seen other children do but she'd never mastered it and since she'd been a loner no one had ever showed her how. With a small sigh she realized just how much of life she'd missed out on while she reveled in her solitude.

Her thoughts would have gone further down that path but suddenly Serena seemed excited and agitated and Skye was startled at her question.

"Of course I remember where I was. I was down on the beach at the foot of the cliffs watching the tide come in. It was nearly reaching to my toes when suddenly I felt very sleepy and couldn't keep my eyes open anymore. I heard voices but I couldn't respond and one of them said they loved me I think. When I woke up I was in my room in the palace. Why?"

 

[RedHairedandFriendly]

Serena stood up, and looked to the woods, the road laid behind it. "We need to travel back to the villiage, I'll not get distracted, honest. But we should or we at least may find a fairy ring there. If David and Max found you there, then they had to have come over somehow. The ring could be there."

She waited her eyes darting around them, "If they are looking for us, would they not search the places you would be familiar with."

Placing the flower chain, that had linked tightly to form a loop, over Skye's head, she asked, "Do you wish to try this, or continue on? I'll do what you wish, and I'll not question it, you are more familiar with this world then I."

 

[caela]

Skye groaned softly at Serena's words. Wasn't every child in her world taught that if you get lost you either stay put or go to where you know you'll be looked for? Why hadn't it occured to her that they should simply go back down to the beach where she'd been taken from instead of wanding all over the place searching for a fairy ring? Lord but sometimes she was a fool.

Smiling at the crown of flowers on her head she touched it gently, amazed at how well made it was.

"We'll go back to the village and down to the beach. When we get back to your world though you have to teach me how to do this, " she said indicating the flowers. "I never learned when I was little and I find it charming."

Pushing up from the ground she helped Serena to her feet and turned back toward town. She kept them to the woods however for as long as she could because she knew that soon enough there would be townspeople in the form of police officers looking for them as well.

 

[RedHairedandFriendly]

Serena hurried with Skye the woods keeping them well hidden. A few thorns tore at her dress, but they were able to move quickly. She was amazed at how much faster it seemed to get back to the town, than it had when they were leaving it.

She held tightly to the bag that she had filled and noticed Skye holding the one she had filled with the rattle bottles of pills and the other things, she felt Maximillion would need.

The woods ended and they both had to finally move back to the road. A few of those things called cars passed them, but no one stopped them. Soon however, Serena froze as one of the car monsters came towards them. It was the same as the others, until suddenly it let out a huge scream and flashed its red and blue lights at them.

Serena covered her ears, and screamed in fright. Remembering the dagger that she had used on Maximillion's slacks from earlier, she slipped it from her pocket, and held it out at the men. "You must leave us alone!"

The two men stared at her for a moment, then they each produced something black in their hands and yelled at Serena to drop her weapon and get down on the ground. Fear ran through her, she could only picture the horrible man holding her down, she didn't want to go to the ground. She trembled, and a tear fell down her face, "I can't let them hurt you or me, Skye, please help me, tell them to go."

 

[poohlive]

"Well, that didn't work very well."

He stood outside the bookstore for the longest time, trying his hardest to look like he belonged there. Of course since it was the middle of the night, he failed miserably.

Where in the hell would they be? They should have stayed somewhere and waited for someone to pick them up. Surely Serena would have known to stay put, someone would come after her. But then again... Serena. For all he knew she was hiding out in the woods somewhere.

If she was out there, he would never find her. He had to start looking around the city, hoping they were wandering aimlessly as well.

 

[caela]

Skye watched the police car coming toward them and prayed it would simply pass them by but she wasn't surprised when the siren wailed and simply dropped her bag and covered her ears. She didn't hear Serena's shrieking until the siren stopped once the car pulled up nearby.

"You must leave us alone!"

Turning to look at her friend her eyes grew wide at the sight of the knife in Serena's hand. Where on earth had that come from?! She didn't have time to wonder as the policemen pulled their guns and ordered the women to the ground. Normally Skye would have complied instantly but she could see the terror in Serena's eyes and knew her fear was related to what had happened to her just that night.

Deliberatly she turned her back to the policemen and stepped sideways between the aim of their guns and Serena. She deliberatly kept her voice calm and soothing, "Serena, they don't mean us any harm. They're what we call policemen and it's their job to keep the peace in my world. They feel threatened because you pulled a knife on them. If they decide you are a true threat Serena your knife won't help us. Please stay calm and hand me the knife. I promise they won't hurt us."

Holding out her hand she saw Serena waver but eventually the blade was in Skye's hand. Holding it high above her head so that the policemen could see it she turned slowly before sinking to her knees and burying the blade in the ground. Gently grabbing ahold of Serena's elbow she steered her friend away from the knife handle still visible above ground.

Seeing them move away from the knife the policemen holstered their guns and started to approach once more. Bidding Serena to stay where she was Skye approached the policemen with a rueful smile and a calmig voice, " Please, my cousin was attacked last night and you frighten her. Right now anyone but myself or my fiance scares her witless and sends her into dreadful panic attacks. Is there some way I can help you gentlemen?"

She kept her voice as calm and soothing as she would with a skittish animal, it had always helped her before and she prayed it would help her now.

 

[RedHairedandFriendly]

Serena stood there, these two men with clanging rings and long sticks that hung from their belts, kept getting closer. She sensed that Skye was uneasy, but she was also wanting to be brave. The space between the knife and the her hand, seemed like a chasm. Serena knew she couldn't retrieve it, and she kept seeing the two men coming toward them.

"Skye, I do not understand. Please tell them, we are just walking and I am sorry, and they can keep my knife." Her body shook, she had not yet had a chance to comprehend everything that had happened to her.

Then she looked at the bags of medicines and the stolen items. They would take them away, Maximillion needed them. If he didn't have the medicines he would die. She looked around, as Skye spoke to the police. She held the bag of stolen goods, and saw that Skye had dropped hers. A gesture to the men that her hands were empty.

"Skye, I'll send David back for you."

Serena grabbed the medicines and turned quickly. She ran deeper into the woods, as shouts of stop and freeze and Serena screamed back at her. She couldn't let them take the medicines. Maximillion would die and it would be her fault.

She ran deeper into the night, her skirt catching on thorns and branches. Smelling the sea air, she turned and ran toward the scent. Her side was burning, as she pushed harder.

 

[caela]

"Skye, I'll send David back for you."

Skye didn't have time to react before Serena scooped up her dropped bag and darted back into the woods. The police gave chase leaving Skye standing and watching as they ran. She could have throttled Serena except that the girl had probably ensured both their escapes. Both the men had followed her thinking her the bigger threat which left SKye alone with their car.

Quickly she opened the drivers door and pulled the keys from the ignition stranding them in the middle of nowhere. Before they came back she herself sprinted into the cover of the woods and ran toward town. She knew that Serena would head toward the beach because that's where they'd planned on heading and so Skye herself decided she would go that way as well. Hell she'd probably beat Serena there.

She hadn't run far before she heard the policemen growling angrily as they discovered their missing keys.

"Damnit now we've lost both of them!" she heard one yell and heard a sound that she suspected was him kicking the tire. Glad to hear that Serena had made good her escape she put more power into her stride and ran toward town once more.

The keys she dropped somewhere in the woods so that they wouldn't be on her person should someone else stop her.

Outside of town she stopped and rested to regain her breath and straighten her hair. Her fiery locks were distinctive enough without them looking like she'd just run through the woods. Entering the town she kept her eyes open for more cop cars and was glad not to come across any. She only paused on her way to the beach when she thought she saw someone that looked an aweful lot like David!

 

[poohlive]

David was walking back from the bookstore to one of the other bars in town. Perhaps some other people saw something the bartender didn't. He doubted it though, this early in the morning those with good memories would be too drunk to remember, and everyone else will simply make up a wonderfully crafted story.

"Two girls, out on their own? Oh yeah, we went back to my place and I fucked them both, raw. You should have seen it man, intense. I don't know where they are now, probably in the back getting loose change for blowjobs."

David suppressed the urge to punch the drunk man senseless. In his own land the sense of honor would have put the blame squarely on the drunkard. Here though, there is such freedoms to protect drunken jackasses from saying what they want.

Outside, David thought to try back at the bookstore one more time. It didn't seem logical that they would just run off in no direction for absolutely no reason...

Wait, is that? David tried to get a closer look, but in the dark, all he could see was a feminine outline.

When he moved closer, a police car screetched to a halt in front of him, missing him by inches. David leapt back, eyes wide with fear.

"So, he's the guy?"

Two cops got out of the car, already looking upset and quite bemused.

"What is the problem, did you find them?"

"Find them? Damn Canadians. One of your little girls ran off into the forest to God know's where, and the other stole our keys and tried to make a run for it. If we do find them, believe me, you are not going to be the first who wants a piece of them."

"No," David shook his head, "It's all a misunderstanding. Please. They don't know the ways of this place. They are..."

"Canadian my ass. You are lucky I don't arrest your ass for just knowing them. Get in, we think we found the one girl in the coast. She made a run for it, but there isn't anywhere to go, just the beach down there. Three other units are already down combing the place."

David could feel the tension building up in his gut. God, why didn't they just behave themselve. They had to go and cause all this mess? Running away from cops? Didn't Skye have the sense enough to know to stay put, listen to authorities? Now she was in as much trouble as Serena.

Before David could say no, however, he was being rushed into the police car. With lights on, they sped off down the road.

Wait... the girl?

David turned around, seeing if he could catch another glimpse of her.

 

[RedHairedandFriendly]

Serena stumbled to the sand, and dragged in the air her lungs were craving. She rested for a moment, allowing her body to catch up with her mind. Looking around she thought of the best place a Fairy Ring would be. She had no clue, but a will and a drive to look.

Tears burned behind her lids as she refused to let them fall. Thoughts of all her failed attempts to help others assailed her, and she promised she would change. She would not be herself anymore, but mirror the actions of the upper class citizens. All she wanted was to get home.

Walking the edge of the forest and the beach she ran her eyes along the shore line and the forest entrance. She saw nothing that showed itself as a Fairy Ring, and now she was becoming exhausted. She fell to her knees and buried her hands against her face. The wail and scream of the car that had found her earlier, sounded. The blazing red and blue lights, hit her skin.

Serena leapt up as the vehicle, much larger then the last, drove on to the sand. The large tires dug into the sand as if it were piles of hard stone. Fear clenched her gut, and she turned to run. Her foot lodged itself on pieces of drift wood, and she fell hard to the ground, hearing a popping sound. Screaming in pain, she looked back and saw the noisy creature stop and the side wings opened again.

“Please, I'm sorry...”

Fear shook her, and she tried to crawl away, desperately wanting to free herself. The images from her attacked whipped through her as one of the men laid his hand on her shoulder. She bit and scratched at him, screaming, “No.”

 

[caela]

Damn! Skye cursed softly in her mind as cops pulled up and took away the man she was nearly certain was David. She stood still to see where they were headed and grumbled to herself at the necessity of having to step out under a street light in order to make sure she could tell their direction. The cops obviously didn't notice because the car didn't change course.

It was headed toward the beach. Shit!

Every curse Skye knew went flashing through her mind as she sprinted through town. Being on foot made it easier for her to get down to the shore than for the cops because she could cut through yards and jump fences while they were stuck on the roads. Taking the shortest route down to the beach she lept over a barricade and landed in the sand just in time to see a cop place his hand on Serena's shoulder and hear her friend screaming in fear.

With a soft growl in the back of her throat she lunged forward knocking the cop off balance just as the car with David and the other cops pulled up. She was too focused on Serena however to notice as she growled at the office she'd pushed, "Moron! Are you too stupid to notice when a girl is in almost mortal terror of you! If you touch her again I swear to god your hand will remain on this beach!"

Stepping between Serena and the cop her hands rested on her hips and her violet eyes flashed with a look that would have dropped him dead in his tracks if she'd been able. With her fiery hair whipping around her she appeared more like some angry diety from legend than a human woman and the image was enough to make the cop step back in fear despite the fact that he had at least 50lb. of solid muscle on her and that he was well armed.

 

[RedHairedandFriendly]

Serena looked up at Skye and her heart tried to return to breathing normal. She looked then at the men from the car, and her eyes fell on one man. "David!" she cried, as she pulled herself up, her ankle sending shots of pain through her. Serena started to run to him, but she stopped. The ankle hurt dreadfully, but what had brought her up short was the reminder that he was not her intended.

David was here to take her and Skye home. She wanted to hug him, and hold on to him, while she cried, but she held back and stood there beside Skye. David and Skye were with these men, so that helped to set Serena's mind at ease. She trembled as the wind from the ocean stirred against them.

She watched the haze come in. Her eyes focused on David's palm. A small seed rested in it, and it began to glow, the mist came closer each time the seed grew in power. Her body felt thick and heavy. She watched the two police officers slowly fade away.

Her eyes grew wide as she was suddenly in her room. Skye and David stood with her. She looked around, and the seed was gone. The police were gone and the beach was gone. Her eyes blinked and she saw David grab the medicines, and tell her he'd deal with her later. He gave the medicine to Skye then left.

Serena stood there in surprise, shock and amazement. "I guess that is how we get home, next time," she told Skye.

 

[caela]

"David!"

Skye heard Serena call out and turned her head to see David striding toward them across the sand. The closer he got the stranger she felt until everything around her seemed dim and hazy and then, as if stepping out of a dream, they were back in Serena's room. David looked angry as he shoved the bag of medications into her arms and told Serena he'd deal with them later.

Skye had no clue how they'd gotten back and didn't really care. Offering Serena a wan smile she hurried over to the bed where Max lay in a fever that wracked his body. Clucking her tongue she pulled out the large bottle and offered up a silent prayer that he wasn't allergic to penicillan before placing two of the tablets on his tongue and forcing him to swallow them.

"All we can do now is wait and pray to whatever god you pray to that he's not allergic. Most people in my world aren't and I'm hoping that most in your's aren't either. He'll need two more in four hours. Not before Serena. Make sure whoever cares for him knows that if they give him too many and too soon they'll be killing him.

Actually, make it one more in four hours. His system won't be used to the medication so giving him what would be a normal dose in my world would probably be too many."

Placing the bottle in Serena's hand she smiled softly but her eyes were deadly serious. Overmedicating Max could very well kill him.

Quietly she slipped from the room and out into the hallway, her eyes scanning it for signs of David. She owed him an apology.

 

[poohlive]

"I wanted to thank you," David said as soon as he caught up with Skye. It was morning time now, and he escorted her to a wonderful breakfast in the garden. David made sure it was private, even the guards and maids needed to stay away. Skye didn't seem comfortable with all of them yet.

A rose covered gazebo held their breakfast, an assortments of breads and jams, with some eggs and delicious meat left over from last night. David sat her down, and then himself.

"Serena does not know much about other worlds. She must have been a handful."

From what David heard in thepolice car, she had been, or rather they both had been. To go up against cops, even David was not soo foolish. A 7 foot tall muscular statue of a gargoyle that is portecting a room where his friend is getting raped is one thing, but the cops?

Even David had his limits.

He devoured his breakfast with ease, "I won't keep you long. I know you want to go back to Serena's side. She is probably with Max at the moment. I just thought, it would be nice to have breakfast together."