Ethereal

~Charlotte~

I raised a hand to Haiga Grebon and Lida, who were both now only dark spots on the horizon. Grebon had wanted to come with, but I had insisted he stay. His family needed him now that he was no longer plagued with insanity.

As we trekked through the soft grey and black dirt of the road I allowed to let my mind wander, to my spat with Marcie. It bothered me that she was becoming so closed minded. She hated Sub-Terra, and I couldn't help wondering if those feelings contributed to her and Dominiv. I didn't trust the red prince, not in the slightest.

He strode easily next to Marcie, talking seamlessly and ignoring all her efforts to ignore him. Tennin and Ashan wales side by side, conversing in low tones. My ever vigilant Tennin, glanced here and there with guarded eyes and a harden expression. As we were on the move, his years of government training was kicking in and he had gone to soldier mode. Ashan on the other hand looked almost down cast. He kept his eyes fixed on the road but you could tell that they were just slightly out of focus.

We eventually made camp a ways off the path well into the dead forest. Company remained quite the same. Tennin stayed with Ashan still talking amongst themselves quietly. I couldn't help but notice how Tennin was looking at Ashan with worried eyes and I wondered what the matter could be. Dominiv still wouldn't leave Marcie alone. They also sat quietly talking but Marcie's expression was one of exasperated tolerance. And I had my cat.

The kitty in question mewed and I stopped to pick him up, stroking him automatically. Marcie glanced back at me, but I wouldn't meet her eyes. I was still fuming from her behavior. I had an open dislike of Dominiv, and considering he had tried to kidnap me more than once, I figured it was well deserved. But then again she was still all I had. I mean there was Tennin sure, but she was my best friend down here and I needed her.

"Marcie!" I called to her. She looked back and excused herself from Dominiv, obviously glad to have a reason to get away from him.

"Hey." she said sitting down next to me.

"look," I kept my voice low so the others-- well, so Dominiv wouldn't overhear.
"I get it, you don't feel like you can trust any of them because, yeah it's true, they've all taken their turn in kidnapping us. But let's remember they've ALL taken their turn. And I don't see how you can put more faith in Dominiv, the guy who tried to kill us, then the two people who have saved our asses plenty of times. Dominiv still has his own agenda. Even a blind man could figure that one. He wants me the same way the order does. So snap out of this delusion"

"It's not a delusion it's-"

"I haven't finished" she returned to silence. I hadn't meant my tone to be so angry but. And I felt a pang of regret when I saw her hurt expression.
" and even though," I continued " I know, I KNOW, you don't want it, and I know you won't have it, and don't like it, Ashan cared for you. And even if you can't reciprocate those feelings, you might want to consider being just a bit more sensitive." Marcie opened her mouth to argue but I stopped her.
"look I don't want to fight, I really don't. You and I, we can't fight. We are all we have."

There was silence for a little while.

"your right. About fighting. But concerning Dominiv.... I don't know what it is but I trust him. He's honest. He's a jack ass, but he's honest. And those two... Well they aren't exactly pure. I mean their opinions are so tainted by the order."

"what and Dominiv's aren't tainted by his own kingdom? He's a prince remember?"

"You don't know anything! Stop pretending you know what's going on!" her tone was defensive and angry. I stopped and stared.

"Marcie, you know his opinions are bias right? It's only logical"

"I... I-- I don't know."

"what did he do to you?"

"he didn't do anything!" she hissed "i don't understand why people keep saying that!"

"because you aren't acting like yourself!"

There was a pause. The silence screamed at us. She wouldn't meet my eyes.

"Whatever" she said abruptly "Your right. Let's not fight" she stood up and walked away standing alone on the far end of the camp.

"What is her problem?" I whispered to Fear. He cocked his head at me questioningly.

"never mind"

"Talking to cats again are we?"

I jumped inwardly as Diminiv spoke. I hadn't seen him approach

"May I help you with something?" I asked attempting to cover my surprise.

" You don't trust me."

"No, no I don't." I said mater of factly

"May I ask why?"

"I haven't been given a reason to trust you. The first time I met you, you tried to feed me to a monster. The second time, you helped my kidnappers keep me locked up. Given all that, tell me, why should I trust you?"

He chuckled softly.

"Feisty."

"Always."

"Charlotte" Tennin's voice filtered into our conversation. He came over to us glaring at Dominiv and put himself decisively between the two of us.

"I don't want you talking to her" his hazel eyes burned into Dominiv's multi colored ones and I have to say, he looked pretty intimidating.

"Oh here we go, and the brooding boyfriend comes into protect the young innocent girl." he yawned and stretched out like a cat. " You could stand to be a bit more original"
 

"Tennin, I'm fine."

"You saw what he's done to Marcie. I don't want the same thing happening to you. I forbid you to talk to him."

Dominive let out a snort, but I ignored him.

I stood up then and looked Tennin right in the eye. "You forbid it? Tennin you can't 'forbid me' to do anything. That whole soldier command thing might work in sub terra but honey, it doesn't work on me. Now like I said, I'm fine." Tennin looked taken aback,

"It's your funeral" he said and he stalked back to Ashan.


I turned back to Dominiv

"What did you do to Marcie?" I asked

"Do? Me?" he pointed at himself "I've done nothing. She chose to enter my persuasion I just... encouraged it."

"Chose? How could she choose?"

"Let's just say I can be quite persuasive when I want to be." he smiled and I shuddered at the implication but continued to press him.

"Let her go."

"I'm not holding her. But the further she falls, the harder it will be for her to come out of it."

"How do I get her out of it?"

"Nice try sweetheart, but I'm not on your side remember? Having control over her could prove useful."

"Bastard."

He grimaced

"You don't realize how unattractive it is when a woman swears. You should learn your place."

Usually I would've been able to restrain myself, it wasn't the worst insult I'd ever heard. But his eyes were so condescending, and well he already wasn't in my best graces. He just made me so angry.

So I decked him.