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Into the Icy Darkness: The Great Demon War
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<blockquote data-quote="Emperor Valerian" data-source="post: 1352753" data-attributes="member: 15043"><p><strong>Of Confessions and Redemptions</strong></p><p></p><p>Siabrey slowly walked through the halls of the Temple... the same halls that she’d walked, her heart ablaze only a few days earlier to spend her first time with Lucius. Now she walked with a feeling of dread that hung heavy from her soul.</p><p></p><p><em>What do I say to him... what </em>can <em>I say to him? </em></p><p><em></em></p><p><em>I love you, so I must leave you all alone?</em></p><p></p><p>As her lonely footfalls echoed in the marbled and colonnaded halls, her mind reflected on the young man she was heading to meet. He was only removed a little over three weeks from his entire world being destroyed, a noble’s title and responsibility shoved on his shoulders, while he watched as his former life, friends, and family now became his bitter enemies.</p><p></p><p><em>Siabrey! You’re the closest thing to a family he has left!</em> part of her mind argued as she turned another corner slowly.</p><p></p><p><em>Yes... and I love him. But loving someone means having to put him above yourself! You want to be with him, but you’ll only hurt him!</em> the same voices that had cautioned against having a relationship called, louder and stronger. <em>If you’re too close to him and they kill you... he’ll become the very thing he hate...evil…</em></p><p></p><p><em>If you leave him, alone and frightened, he will lose himself!</em> the first part of her mind interrupted her thoughts. <em>He’s going to break down if you cut things off... he’s young, and he’s scared... you’ve seen it in his eyes, Siabrey...</em></p><p></p><p>The mental image of his green eyes, large, pregnant with the tears of confusion, shame and fear that fell to the ground in Kulloden filled her mind as she rounded the last corner, and walked across the small alcove towards the room where she knew he was.</p><p></p><p><em>But you need to protect him, Siabrey... even if it means protecting him from yourself!</em> her protective mind called. <em>You want a relationship with him! But it’s vulnerability! It’s a weakness he cannot have at this time! You are his friend, and his </em>bodyguard! </p><p></p><p><em>I am his lover too!</em> the other part of her mind shot back.</p><p></p><p>Her mind went back as she slowly, carefully turned the knob, to a phrase she had uttered seemingly so long ago, when she’d cradled him in her arms after their first kiss:</p><p></p><p><em> I love you. I am here to protect you. You are safe with me. I shall never hurt you or leave you alone…</em></p><p></p><p>The door swung open silently, and the light from the hallway filtered into a partially lit room. Lucius stood in the center of the dreary light, his back to the door. He was stripped down to the waist, and she could see the sweat glistening on his muscles as he held his bastard sword over his head, a soft <em>whoosh</em> coming through the air as it danced against an unseen foe, as if he was trying to conjure up the demons within himself to slash them out of his life.</p><p></p><p><em>Step left, heft down with right stroke</em> her subconscious martial mind recorded. <em>Up thrust, backspin slash.</em> The moves slowly seemed more and more familiar, until she recognized them.</p><p></p><p>They were her combat moves with her own sword.</p><p></p><p>They were slower, yes. They were less precise, yes. But they were <em>hers.</em> To the steps, the thrusts, and the slashes. She stood for a few seconds, watching as the blade danced slowly, gracefully at times.</p><p></p><p>“Lucius?” Siabrey said quietly as the sword’s whispering song continued. The slow slash halted in midair, and the blade’s dance fell towards the ground as he turned around. His eyes had a run of red in them, and while tears had coursed his cheeks, they now clung only barely within his eyelids.</p><p></p><p>“Oh, hi,” his voice came, wavering slightly on the first word, before stiffening at the greeting. His blade found its scabbard, and he turned to face her. She could tell his shoulders were slouched, and his face was a mere facade that was brittle enough to crack at the slightest touch. Conflicting thoughts thundered through Siabrey’s head, as she opened her mouth, and finally spoke.</p><p></p><p>“I... I need to talk to you about something,” she said quietly, entering the room fully. Lucius nodded quietly, sitting on the edge of the main bed in the room. Siabrey softly closed the door, and the gloom in the room increased tenfold as her features were no lit only by the light of the few lit candles. “Its... about you... and me.”</p><p></p><p>“Somehow, I guessed it would likely be that,” Lucius said quietly, as Siabrey sat next to him. In her nervousness, she made sure there was a gap, at least six inches, between the two. Her eyes picked up from Lucius’ face that he noticed this too, and he grew more crestfallen. She extended a hand gingerly along the bed, which his own slowly covered as she looked in his eyes, searching for words.</p><p></p><p>“Lucius... I...” she started before the runway thoughts in her mind derailed whatever coherent sentence as about to be expressed.</p><p></p><p><em>Just tell him, Siabrey!</em></p><p><em></em></p><p><em>But how... how do I tell him I love him so much I can’t be near him anymore?</em></p><p><em></em></p><p><em>Maybe you should get closer to him instead? Xanadu was right... you do </em>love[/i] him, and you’re far more capable of defending yourself than most any other love he might set his heart on...[/i]</p><p></p><p>“There...” she started again, “was something... that the assassin told me. He... he said,” she said, her own voice quavering a bit, “that they were not after you... or the princess. They... were after me,” Her mind gave a mental sigh as one of the more difficult parts was passed. She visibly saw a mixed look of compassion for Siabrey coupled with fury at the would-be assassins come over Lucius’ face. As his eyes grew dangerous at the mere thought, she pressed onward in her quiet, gentle voice.</p><p></p><p>“Lucius... they thought if they killed me they could drive you insane!” she blurted out, getting up. </p><p></p><p><em>There.. it's said. Now, finish it,</em> her protective mind stormed. <em>Do it now, while you have strength...</em></p><p></p><p><em>No!</em> another part of her cried, <em>Don’t break it off so suddenly! He’s a poor young man... alone in the world without you!</em></p><p></p><p>Lucius’ hand, now without its mate, gripped the mattress cover rather tightly, before relaxing rapidly. His eyes softened, and a bit of fear seeped into them as her words sunk in, and her heart broke on seeing his breaking face. </p><p></p><p>“I’m... I’m afraid I’m too close to you Lucius... I... I want you to be safe!” <em>I would die if anything happened to you! Especially if it was on my account!</em> “I know you hate evil, and it would kill me to know that my decision turned you into something you loathe! I love you too much!”</p><p></p><p><em>There, its out,</em> her protective mind cried, yet her heart was not at ease... it broke and the tears began to well anyway.</p><p></p><p>“Siabrey,” he started to reply, his own voice wavering, as small tear beginning its plunge down his cheek.</p><p></p><p><em>Cut him off Siabrey! You’re will is breaking! You MUST do it now!</em> her protective mind called, while other parts of her mind cried for her to give him his peace. She started to open her mouth, but her own emotions choked the words before they could rise out of her throat.</p><p></p><p>“...my world... it no longer exists,” Lucius said quietly. “My mother has betrayed me, many of my friends are dead, and I cannot return home for fear for my sanity. Siabrey,” he stood up slowly, shakily, “..you’re all I have left!” Another tear, then another, slip down his cheeks, as two tears do likewise down Siabrey’s own face.</p><p></p><p><em>He’s breaking!</em> her mind plaintively called. <em>It’ll kill him if you pull away!</em></p><p></p><p><em>You must do it now!</em> her protective mind called, weaker but still strong. As her conflict raged, Lucius half walked, half fell into her, and her small frame suddenly found the taller man leaning down onto her shoulder, the tears genuine and flowing as a torrent.</p><p></p><p>“In all the darkness that has happened in the last month, I could always say that at least I had you,” Lucius’ muffled voice came from her shoulder. “I love you!” He pulled away, sniffles rising as he looked her in the face. “I don’t care who they’re after, that won’t stop me from loving you! They will never break me of that, and I love you too much to turn into that!” Her heart collapsed when she saw his face... completely broken, the cool reserve of nobility completely stripped away, and the naked soul of a scared man before her... and a man afraid of loneliness, tortured in doubt. The lights of the few candles flickered on his face, dancing in the stream of flowing tears.</p><p></p><p>“I love you Lucius... that’s...” her protective mind coaxed her into starting again before she succumbed to the urge to grab him and pull him tight, close, to smother his fear, crush his doubts. Siabrey’s crying was genuine now as well, as her mantra to him repeated in his head. </p><p></p><p><em> I love you. I am here to protect you. You are safe with me.</em> The first part of her mantra repeated again in her head, as her mind fought the deepest emotional fight it had faced in her 25 years of life. </p><p></p><p><em>But he’s not safe with you!</em> her protective mind called. <em>They will use you to drive him to the edge, to turn him into what he loathes, what he hates!</em></p><p></p><p><em>But I LOVE him! And he LOVES me! I can’t push him away! I can’t leave him like this!</em> other parts of her mind screamed, thundering now far louder than her protective side.</p><p></p><p> <em>I shall never hurt you...</em></p><p></p><p><em>Staying will only hurt him horribly in the end, Siabrey!</em></p><p></p><p><em>Leaving will tear him apart! Look at him! YOU ARE WHAT HE HAS LEFT, SIABREY! He has vested his trust, his mind... indeed, his heart and soul into you! There is no greater wound... the wound of death doesn’t even approach that in depth and horror!</em> Her protective side’s grip loosened even more, as the mantra continued.</p><p></p><p> <em>...or leave you alone…</em> </p><p></p><p><em>I shall never leave him!</em> her mind called, the protective side now very faint.</p><p></p><p><em>It might hurt him in the end! It might hurt him more, Siabrey...</em> Siabrey’s protective mind called as a final cry.</p><p></p><p><em>Not as much as leaving him to face this world alone! I love him!</em></p><p></p><p>A sudden rushing relief passed through her as her protective side finally broke, and with one last whisper gave in. <em>Then protect him by loving him more than anything in this world...</em></p><p></p><p>“I love you,” she said firmly into his chest, her mind made up. “...that’s why I’m here to protect you.” It was her turn to pull away slightly, and look deep into his eyes, “You’re safe with me! I will never hurt you, and I’ll never leave you alone! Never!” She then gripped him tightly. “No matter what comes, I will be by your side... as your protector... your lover ...your friend! I love you!”</p><p></p><p>As the last utterings of the soft phrase, “I love you,” echoed in the still room, the line in Siabrey’s mind changed.</p><p></p><p><em>I love you Lucius! I will never leave you! No one will tear us apart! I shall be at your side, protecting you through my love, forever. </em></p><p></p><p>The hug he pulled her into was almost crushing, but she tugged hard as well, as if trying to bring his heart and hers as close to each other as possible. She leaned up, and a brief, fleeting kiss broke between her lips, one she conveyed all of her love and emotion through, receiving an outpouring of the same from him. Their embraces tightened as they stood in the middle of the candle-lit room. Time passed very slowly, and Siabrey’s eyes felt heavy from exhaustion. The long night, the battle, the spending hours in the library reading…</p><p></p><p>Pulling back slightly, Siabrey felt that small string of worry creep back into her head. “That reminds me. Lucius, you heard what the princess said about my heritage... about my father being a ‘desert demon?’” Lucius pulled away slightly, and a thin smile crossed his lips. </p><p></p><p>“Siabrey, anyone that gave you your haunting eyes or your beautiful wings can be no demon, but a saint in my eyes.” Siabrey blushed, her face going a deep crimson, but she pressed onwards.</p><p></p><p>“In all seriousness, Lucius... what if it were true?” </p><p></p><p>“Is it?” Lucius asked looking down on her, his eyebrows arched more in curiousity than alarm. Siabrey’s heart felt no rush of relief at his demeanor, as she saw a tinge of concern in his eyes.</p><p></p><p><em>What if he drops </em>you, <em>after you bared your soul to him?</em> her mind panicked. Nervousness in her body sooner became tinged with a small dose of fear. </p><p></p><p><em>Its probably he’s worried </em>for<em> you, not about you! He wants you to be happy, and he sees you are panicking!</em></p><p></p><p><em>What if he’s worried that its true? What then?</em></p><p></p><p> <em>Explain, it fully... concisely... quickly.</em> the more reasoned part of her mind commanded, <em>Make sure he understands that you don’t have evil in your won veins... that your father is merely a noble of the desert...</em></p><p></p><p>“Um... well,” she started slowly, her scared mind looking for words before locking gaze dead into his eyes, “it is. Well, not my father being a demon part,” she added quickly. Words were now tumbling out of her mouth as nervous jitters coursed through her body. “He’s a desert spirit, more-so. His kind only get angry when they feel they’re threatened, or when someone harms the desert! He’s not bad! I looked up the information! Thats why I was at the library so long! He’s somewhat like... like.. like you and your nobles defending your...”</p><p></p><p>Her tumbling, hurried words were stopped with a little gasp of air when Lucius put a single finger over her mouth, a genuine smile on his lips. His hand then coursed from covering her mouth to caressing her cheek.</p><p></p><p>“Siabrey,” he grinned, idly stroking her cheek, “You are not a bad person, regardless of who or what your father is. It is <em>you</em> I love, <em>you</em> I care about... not him, not your mother, not anyone else.” Siabrey’s face of towering worry collapsed into a smile of joy... and no small share of relief as well. </p><p></p><p>“Really?” she asked has he drew her close. <em>With all the horrible things the Princess said, how can anyone be that... forgiving? He still amazes me...</em> She leaned her head into his reassuring hand, and her eyes closed. </p><p></p><p>“Remember when you found out I knew about your wings, and you were scared I thought you were a succubus?” Lucius reminesced. Siabrey nodded, and Lucius continued, “I had already accepted whatever your ancestry was <em>then</em>. Your father is your father, Siabrey... just as my mother, for all of her evil, is still... my mother. There isn’t anything either of us can do about who brought us in the world... we can only,” and his voice paused in the air for a second, as it searched for words, “... we can only change this world for the better.”</p><p></p><p>Siabrey opened her eyes, the smile on her face growing larger, as she realized the full depths to which this noble cared for her. She pulled his closer, as did he, and for what seemd an eternity, their lips were locked again. Her relief, her happiness, and her love were poured forth.</p><p></p><p><em>I love this man... completely and utterly,</em> her mind cooed. She felt a powerful urge to turn and drag him towards the still undisturbed mattress on the other side of the room, before the sterner part of her mind stopped her.</p><p></p><p><em>He’s such a pretty boy... he doesn’t need another sunburn. After what happened earlier, he needs as much reassurance as you do... hold him tight tonight, there will be other times...</em></p></blockquote><p></p>
[QUOTE="Emperor Valerian, post: 1352753, member: 15043"] [b]Of Confessions and Redemptions[/b] Siabrey slowly walked through the halls of the Temple... the same halls that she’d walked, her heart ablaze only a few days earlier to spend her first time with Lucius. Now she walked with a feeling of dread that hung heavy from her soul. [i]What do I say to him... what [/i]can [i]I say to him? I love you, so I must leave you all alone?[/i] As her lonely footfalls echoed in the marbled and colonnaded halls, her mind reflected on the young man she was heading to meet. He was only removed a little over three weeks from his entire world being destroyed, a noble’s title and responsibility shoved on his shoulders, while he watched as his former life, friends, and family now became his bitter enemies. [i]Siabrey! You’re the closest thing to a family he has left![/i] part of her mind argued as she turned another corner slowly. [i]Yes... and I love him. But loving someone means having to put him above yourself! You want to be with him, but you’ll only hurt him![/i] the same voices that had cautioned against having a relationship called, louder and stronger. [i]If you’re too close to him and they kill you... he’ll become the very thing he hate...evil…[/i] [i]If you leave him, alone and frightened, he will lose himself![/i] the first part of her mind interrupted her thoughts. [i]He’s going to break down if you cut things off... he’s young, and he’s scared... you’ve seen it in his eyes, Siabrey...[/i] The mental image of his green eyes, large, pregnant with the tears of confusion, shame and fear that fell to the ground in Kulloden filled her mind as she rounded the last corner, and walked across the small alcove towards the room where she knew he was. [i]But you need to protect him, Siabrey... even if it means protecting him from yourself![/i] her protective mind called. [i]You want a relationship with him! But it’s vulnerability! It’s a weakness he cannot have at this time! You are his friend, and his [/i]bodyguard! [i]I am his lover too![/i] the other part of her mind shot back. Her mind went back as she slowly, carefully turned the knob, to a phrase she had uttered seemingly so long ago, when she’d cradled him in her arms after their first kiss: [i] I love you. I am here to protect you. You are safe with me. I shall never hurt you or leave you alone…[/i] The door swung open silently, and the light from the hallway filtered into a partially lit room. Lucius stood in the center of the dreary light, his back to the door. He was stripped down to the waist, and she could see the sweat glistening on his muscles as he held his bastard sword over his head, a soft [i]whoosh[/i] coming through the air as it danced against an unseen foe, as if he was trying to conjure up the demons within himself to slash them out of his life. [i]Step left, heft down with right stroke[/i] her subconscious martial mind recorded. [i]Up thrust, backspin slash.[/i] The moves slowly seemed more and more familiar, until she recognized them. They were her combat moves with her own sword. They were slower, yes. They were less precise, yes. But they were [i]hers.[/i] To the steps, the thrusts, and the slashes. She stood for a few seconds, watching as the blade danced slowly, gracefully at times. “Lucius?” Siabrey said quietly as the sword’s whispering song continued. The slow slash halted in midair, and the blade’s dance fell towards the ground as he turned around. His eyes had a run of red in them, and while tears had coursed his cheeks, they now clung only barely within his eyelids. “Oh, hi,” his voice came, wavering slightly on the first word, before stiffening at the greeting. His blade found its scabbard, and he turned to face her. She could tell his shoulders were slouched, and his face was a mere facade that was brittle enough to crack at the slightest touch. Conflicting thoughts thundered through Siabrey’s head, as she opened her mouth, and finally spoke. “I... I need to talk to you about something,” she said quietly, entering the room fully. Lucius nodded quietly, sitting on the edge of the main bed in the room. Siabrey softly closed the door, and the gloom in the room increased tenfold as her features were no lit only by the light of the few lit candles. “Its... about you... and me.” “Somehow, I guessed it would likely be that,” Lucius said quietly, as Siabrey sat next to him. In her nervousness, she made sure there was a gap, at least six inches, between the two. Her eyes picked up from Lucius’ face that he noticed this too, and he grew more crestfallen. She extended a hand gingerly along the bed, which his own slowly covered as she looked in his eyes, searching for words. “Lucius... I...” she started before the runway thoughts in her mind derailed whatever coherent sentence as about to be expressed. [i]Just tell him, Siabrey! But how... how do I tell him I love him so much I can’t be near him anymore? Maybe you should get closer to him instead? Xanadu was right... you do [/i]love[/i] him, and you’re far more capable of defending yourself than most any other love he might set his heart on...[/i] “There...” she started again, “was something... that the assassin told me. He... he said,” she said, her own voice quavering a bit, “that they were not after you... or the princess. They... were after me,” Her mind gave a mental sigh as one of the more difficult parts was passed. She visibly saw a mixed look of compassion for Siabrey coupled with fury at the would-be assassins come over Lucius’ face. As his eyes grew dangerous at the mere thought, she pressed onward in her quiet, gentle voice. “Lucius... they thought if they killed me they could drive you insane!” she blurted out, getting up. [i]There.. it's said. Now, finish it,[/i] her protective mind stormed. [i]Do it now, while you have strength...[/i] [i]No![/i] another part of her cried, [i]Don’t break it off so suddenly! He’s a poor young man... alone in the world without you![/i] Lucius’ hand, now without its mate, gripped the mattress cover rather tightly, before relaxing rapidly. His eyes softened, and a bit of fear seeped into them as her words sunk in, and her heart broke on seeing his breaking face. “I’m... I’m afraid I’m too close to you Lucius... I... I want you to be safe!” [i]I would die if anything happened to you! Especially if it was on my account![/i] “I know you hate evil, and it would kill me to know that my decision turned you into something you loathe! I love you too much!” [i]There, its out,[/i] her protective mind cried, yet her heart was not at ease... it broke and the tears began to well anyway. “Siabrey,” he started to reply, his own voice wavering, as small tear beginning its plunge down his cheek. [i]Cut him off Siabrey! You’re will is breaking! You MUST do it now![/i] her protective mind called, while other parts of her mind cried for her to give him his peace. She started to open her mouth, but her own emotions choked the words before they could rise out of her throat. “...my world... it no longer exists,” Lucius said quietly. “My mother has betrayed me, many of my friends are dead, and I cannot return home for fear for my sanity. Siabrey,” he stood up slowly, shakily, “..you’re all I have left!” Another tear, then another, slip down his cheeks, as two tears do likewise down Siabrey’s own face. [i]He’s breaking![/i] her mind plaintively called. [i]It’ll kill him if you pull away![/i] [i]You must do it now![/i] her protective mind called, weaker but still strong. As her conflict raged, Lucius half walked, half fell into her, and her small frame suddenly found the taller man leaning down onto her shoulder, the tears genuine and flowing as a torrent. “In all the darkness that has happened in the last month, I could always say that at least I had you,” Lucius’ muffled voice came from her shoulder. “I love you!” He pulled away, sniffles rising as he looked her in the face. “I don’t care who they’re after, that won’t stop me from loving you! They will never break me of that, and I love you too much to turn into that!” Her heart collapsed when she saw his face... completely broken, the cool reserve of nobility completely stripped away, and the naked soul of a scared man before her... and a man afraid of loneliness, tortured in doubt. The lights of the few candles flickered on his face, dancing in the stream of flowing tears. “I love you Lucius... that’s...” her protective mind coaxed her into starting again before she succumbed to the urge to grab him and pull him tight, close, to smother his fear, crush his doubts. Siabrey’s crying was genuine now as well, as her mantra to him repeated in his head. [i] I love you. I am here to protect you. You are safe with me.[/i] The first part of her mantra repeated again in her head, as her mind fought the deepest emotional fight it had faced in her 25 years of life. [i]But he’s not safe with you![/i] her protective mind called. [i]They will use you to drive him to the edge, to turn him into what he loathes, what he hates![/i] [i]But I LOVE him! And he LOVES me! I can’t push him away! I can’t leave him like this![/i] other parts of her mind screamed, thundering now far louder than her protective side. [i]I shall never hurt you...[/i] [i]Staying will only hurt him horribly in the end, Siabrey![/i] [i]Leaving will tear him apart! Look at him! YOU ARE WHAT HE HAS LEFT, SIABREY! He has vested his trust, his mind... indeed, his heart and soul into you! There is no greater wound... the wound of death doesn’t even approach that in depth and horror![/i] Her protective side’s grip loosened even more, as the mantra continued. [i]...or leave you alone…[/i] [i]I shall never leave him![/i] her mind called, the protective side now very faint. [i]It might hurt him in the end! It might hurt him more, Siabrey...[/i] Siabrey’s protective mind called as a final cry. [i]Not as much as leaving him to face this world alone! I love him![/i] A sudden rushing relief passed through her as her protective side finally broke, and with one last whisper gave in. [i]Then protect him by loving him more than anything in this world...[/i] “I love you,” she said firmly into his chest, her mind made up. “...that’s why I’m here to protect you.” It was her turn to pull away slightly, and look deep into his eyes, “You’re safe with me! I will never hurt you, and I’ll never leave you alone! Never!” She then gripped him tightly. “No matter what comes, I will be by your side... as your protector... your lover ...your friend! I love you!” As the last utterings of the soft phrase, “I love you,” echoed in the still room, the line in Siabrey’s mind changed. [i]I love you Lucius! I will never leave you! No one will tear us apart! I shall be at your side, protecting you through my love, forever. [/i] The hug he pulled her into was almost crushing, but she tugged hard as well, as if trying to bring his heart and hers as close to each other as possible. She leaned up, and a brief, fleeting kiss broke between her lips, one she conveyed all of her love and emotion through, receiving an outpouring of the same from him. Their embraces tightened as they stood in the middle of the candle-lit room. Time passed very slowly, and Siabrey’s eyes felt heavy from exhaustion. The long night, the battle, the spending hours in the library reading… Pulling back slightly, Siabrey felt that small string of worry creep back into her head. “That reminds me. Lucius, you heard what the princess said about my heritage... about my father being a ‘desert demon?’” Lucius pulled away slightly, and a thin smile crossed his lips. “Siabrey, anyone that gave you your haunting eyes or your beautiful wings can be no demon, but a saint in my eyes.” Siabrey blushed, her face going a deep crimson, but she pressed onwards. “In all seriousness, Lucius... what if it were true?” “Is it?” Lucius asked looking down on her, his eyebrows arched more in curiousity than alarm. Siabrey’s heart felt no rush of relief at his demeanor, as she saw a tinge of concern in his eyes. [i]What if he drops [/i]you, [i]after you bared your soul to him?[/i] her mind panicked. Nervousness in her body sooner became tinged with a small dose of fear. [i]Its probably he’s worried [/i]for[i] you, not about you! He wants you to be happy, and he sees you are panicking![/i] [i]What if he’s worried that its true? What then?[/i] [i]Explain, it fully... concisely... quickly.[/i] the more reasoned part of her mind commanded, [i]Make sure he understands that you don’t have evil in your won veins... that your father is merely a noble of the desert...[/i] “Um... well,” she started slowly, her scared mind looking for words before locking gaze dead into his eyes, “it is. Well, not my father being a demon part,” she added quickly. Words were now tumbling out of her mouth as nervous jitters coursed through her body. “He’s a desert spirit, more-so. His kind only get angry when they feel they’re threatened, or when someone harms the desert! He’s not bad! I looked up the information! Thats why I was at the library so long! He’s somewhat like... like.. like you and your nobles defending your...” Her tumbling, hurried words were stopped with a little gasp of air when Lucius put a single finger over her mouth, a genuine smile on his lips. His hand then coursed from covering her mouth to caressing her cheek. “Siabrey,” he grinned, idly stroking her cheek, “You are not a bad person, regardless of who or what your father is. It is [i]you[/i] I love, [i]you[/i] I care about... not him, not your mother, not anyone else.” Siabrey’s face of towering worry collapsed into a smile of joy... and no small share of relief as well. “Really?” she asked has he drew her close. [i]With all the horrible things the Princess said, how can anyone be that... forgiving? He still amazes me...[/i] She leaned her head into his reassuring hand, and her eyes closed. “Remember when you found out I knew about your wings, and you were scared I thought you were a succubus?” Lucius reminesced. Siabrey nodded, and Lucius continued, “I had already accepted whatever your ancestry was [i]then[/i]. Your father is your father, Siabrey... just as my mother, for all of her evil, is still... my mother. There isn’t anything either of us can do about who brought us in the world... we can only,” and his voice paused in the air for a second, as it searched for words, “... we can only change this world for the better.” Siabrey opened her eyes, the smile on her face growing larger, as she realized the full depths to which this noble cared for her. She pulled his closer, as did he, and for what seemd an eternity, their lips were locked again. Her relief, her happiness, and her love were poured forth. [i]I love this man... completely and utterly,[/i] her mind cooed. She felt a powerful urge to turn and drag him towards the still undisturbed mattress on the other side of the room, before the sterner part of her mind stopped her. [i]He’s such a pretty boy... he doesn’t need another sunburn. After what happened earlier, he needs as much reassurance as you do... hold him tight tonight, there will be other times...[/i] [/QUOTE]
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