Spirits of the Earth

Just over a month now, that was how long he'd been searching for her. His efforts thus far had proved to be in vain to catch a physical glimpse of her. He knew now, though, quite a bit more about this woman.

Doing his own digging around in the time he'd spent away from her, he'd discovered a few interesting bits of information. She was an assassin, for one. Intriguing as it was, he didn't mind so much. Caden wasn't of the sort that was easily or quickly killed. It explained her being armed, but for the life of him he hadn't figured out why she'd been with him that night. That one, fateful night.

Weeks had gone by. He'd searched all his usual spots in the hopes that she might have still been looking for him. He hadn't managed to track down the man at the door yet, no matter how much he listened for that grating voice in the night. Still, though, he went to everyone he could think of in the hopes of finding out more about her, about where she might be.

In the course of this, though, something sparked his attention. More details to that story he'd heard just over a month before were surfacing. An assassin after a murderer around these parts. That murderer, however, turned out to be none other than his own dear sister, Remina D'Andarce. The dots were not fully connected yet, though, but the lines were swirling, the clues he uncovered leading him closer and closer he just knew.

Tonight he was digging for more. He'd set up a meeting, one he'd hoped would be fruitful in his search for the illusive little miss, Tiraris Silverd'art. Only problem was, he only had a short note on hand with crude instructions as to the location such a secret thing would take place. He was heading there now, but there weren't any names he was given, nothing to obviously give the place away. Was he even headed in the right direction? He could only hope that he was.

It had been a torturous month for Tiraris. Between hunting the monstrous demon, gaining more information, and hiding for Caden, Tiraris had found little peace. The killings were on a clockwork basis, driving Tiraris insane as she came within minutes of catching Remina on more than one occasion. Many of the more recent deaths had been from a group young of pick-pockets. While no one else seemed to care, Tiraris was furious. The deaths of the innocents weighed heavy on her heart.

After kicking Caden out of the room last month, she had switched locations frequently. She never stayed in the same place twice and for more than a few days. She always made sure to stay away from the public if she could help it. She knew he was looking for her and had already had a few close calls. She slept by day and stalked the streets by night in search of her illusive prey.

Her only companion for the past month had been a stray calico cat that had taken a shine to her. The two had become inseparable despite Tiraris' attempts for otherwise. Even now as Tiraris sat on a stoop in another darkened alley, the cat had weaseled her way into the human's lap. Absentmindedly, the troubled woman ran her fingers through the thick fur of her feline companion, listening to the purring and the rain sing her a slow, sad duet.

Shuffling footsteps to her left alerted her to the sound of an approaching passerby. "What do you think Caydence?" she asked the cat. "Is the informant going to stand us up again?" She did not know why she bothered trying. The people were too scared to talk to her, afraid of being killed by either side.

But her mind was not focused on the present. Instead, it revolved around that night a month ago. She could still see the mask of hurt Caden had worn as she lashed out him. She remembered his gentle kisses, his embrace, his silken hair, his eyes. 'His ego, his lust, his toying with you. He is worthless, Tiraris. Remember he would have hurt you in the end, all men do. Men cannot be trusted, no one can.' Looking down at the purring cat in her arms, she wished it was another purring cat with dreamy purple eyes.

Grumbling at the chicken scratch on the worn piece of paper he held, Caden sighed and slowed his steps as he looked around. Well, this building could be that right here. And that alley...maybe that's where the door is, he supposed, huffing as he folded it back up for the hundredth time and tucked it away in his pocket.

He needed to know more. He just had to! He'd heard this person could tell him just about anything of her or anyone else that stuck more to the underground of the city. As he rounded the corner, though, his mind went blank to the sound of purring.

There was something down here in this darkness. Perhaps a cat? Maybe just a stray alley thing, but he did love cats. Or maybe it was just Remina, playing another one of her jokes to lure him in. Still, he found himself drawn to it, to whatever thing was down here whether he was headed the right way or not.

She came into view. He stopped, blinked, and his breath caught in his throat.

Finally! Here she was! It took all of his strength to not run to her and snatch her up in a hug and, instead, quietly stride over in a calm manner. The radiant smile, though, couldn't be quelled. "Tiraris," he spoke gently, watching her with kind eyes as he emerged from the darkness. He glanced to the cat on her lap. Animal lover?

But that didn't matter now, he'd found her! Surely she couldn't be his informant? He had no intentions of letting her slip away, though. He'd spent so much time tracking her down and whether this was an accident or not he just didn't care to know.

Tiraris was rudely startled from her thoughts when she heard a familiar voice call her name. Looking up, her breath caught and her chest squeezed painfully as mahogany met violet. Nervously, she looked down and around, anywhere that was not him.

Growling the fickle feline jumped from her lap and ran off into the dark, abandoning the desperate human. "Caydence!" she screamed after the cat, scrambling to her feet and out into the rain. "Come back here you, mangy beast!" Breathing hard she did not realize her steps had taken her within arm's length of Caden. "Well fine then! See if I let you sleep inside tonight!" she called after it angrily.

Once more aware of her surroundings, she realized her mistake. Tiraris hid her face behind a curtain of crimson locks as she faced Caden. "A good evening to you Mr. D'Andarce," she murmured before turning tail and fleeing.

Their eyes met, but only for the briefest of moments. He wanted more, craved more than just that split-second between them. As the cat sprung away from her, though, he watched it flit off into the darkness and eyed the woman with interest as she came near him to shout after the animal. She was so close, so very close, and he lifted a hesitant arm, about to touch her shoulder, but then she hung her head, uttered just a few words to him, and was off.

Mouth gaping for a moment, he was unsure of what had just happened. But his mind screamed at him to snap out of it. He couldn't let her get away again! Charging after her, hood of his cloak flying back from his face with the sudden rush of air, Caden followed until she was within arms' reach. Then, he pounced. "Tiraris, wait!"

Going off to one side a bit, he snatched her up around the waist and pulled her back to be flush against him before he spun them to have them facing a wall. "Why are you running?! What's with this 'Mr. D'Andarce?!'"

She struggled as she was caught, squirming about, trying to break free. Her breathing pattern was rapidly increasing as fear and adrenaline kicked in. Giving up, she went limp in his hold. She rested her head against against the rough sod of the building in front of them. "Release me sir, or I'll scream!"

The rain soaked into her hair, plastering it against her neck and face and plinking off her armor. She concentrated on her surroundings, trying to get her mind off of her current situation. She listened to the rain falling around them. Focusing on this she began to get distracted by his breathing in her ear, every inhale and exhale sounding like a hammer on the anvil. Blinking, she tried to find something else to distract her.

'The rain!' She counted each drop as they pressed icy kisses on her face and hands. But, as she grew colder she could not ignore the wall of fire radiating at her back and around her waist. 'Forget him!' her traitorous mind screamed. 'Flee!'

"I meant now fool!" she yelled harshly at him.

What she was asking he could not do. He only tightened his grip at her words, not afraid of her threats in the slightest. He felt her armor against him, but he didn't care. The soft skin beneath it, now that was something he was interested in. Holding her up still, he wanted so desperately to get an explanation from her.

His mind screamed at him to demand, to prod, to make her speak, but on the inside he didn't want to force her. For once, he didn't care that his precious hair was getting wet from the falling rain. His violet eyes were bright with pain and confusion, teeth clenched as it took all of his power to not reach for her, to just hold her fast.

The rough sound of her yelling only caused his face to fall more as he readjusted his arms around her, holding her even closer than before. "No...please..." he whispered against her ear as he pressed his face to the side of her head, his voice strained as he held back all the things he wanted to say.

His voice in her ear, brought memories of other words whispered into it on a night she wished to forget. Exhaling slowly she curled herself inward. Then on the inhale she firmly kicked the soles of her boots against the wall as she threw her head backwards, wrenching herself from his grasp. Her arms came up pressing into his shoulders as she used the momentum to flip over Caden's body and behind him.

Now behind him she started to back away slowly. Under the surface she could feel energy and tension building within her. If Caden was not careful she would literally not be responsible for her actions. She brought her right hand up extended in front of her, palm outward, fingers spread. "D'Andarce you need to leave. Please! Just stay away from me."

'I do not want to hurt you,' her locked up heart whispered. 'Liar. Lecher. Traitor. Murderer. Brother,' her poison mind screamed out, drowning out the other voice.

"My business is not with you on this night. Leave and I will not be forced to kill you where you stand. Do not think I cannot. I have killed far greater than your filth. You would be easy prey, pet," she sneered.

Just as fast as he had grabbed her, Tiraris had slipped away from him. Goddess save me, this won't happen again! Twirling around to face her, eyes on her outstretched hand, his rage began to build at her words, her insults.

"I am not here to hurt you, so why must I stay away?" he barked, demanding this one thing of her as he lunged forward and reached to grab at her hands. Her words rang out in his head.

Filth... I am not filth! This is nonsense! Why must she tempt me? Why must she taunt me so? ...Tiraris...... So sweet and now so unkind. What happened? What changed?

"Do what you will, you will not kill me," he warned, though his voice was not unkind, just wary. Caden would not be stepping down. He would not give up. Try as she might, he would keep pursuing. For what, even he was not sure, but he knew that there was just something about her. Somewhere behind that cold, blazing fire was the tiniest true warmth locked away. He needed it. He wanted it. A glimpse was not enough for this mischievous demon already so taken with his longing.

Tiraris lowered her head and hand, her eyes still trained on Caden. "I am tired of running boy, quit testing my patience. I have been generous up until now, but I can be cruel. You have no idea what I am capable of. Out of my sight worm! My blade should not have to suffer your caustic blood," she said to him in a low voice. Her control on the magic within was faltering. If her emotions were pushed anymore they would both pay the price.

She pulled Isilotsë from its sheath, holding it in a defensive posture, tip pointing towards the ground in a diagonal. She gave him the ultimatum, "last chance, leave or die."

His eyes lifted to meet hers as she lowered her hand. Scowling, he growled in a very inhuman manner as he bared his teeth at her. Stop it! he screamed at himself. Don't do this! Don't fight her... Not her... "You try my own patience," he snapped, feeling his claws react, the vile things shuddering beneath the tender flesh of his hands.

Eyes never leaving hers, even as she drew her sword, Caden felt that darker side of him fighting to break the surface. He would not let it yet, though. No, not quite.

"This man that has not wronged you? This wretched man so enamored with you, body and soul? Fine, then, come fell me! Slay my heart, Tiraris!" He thumped a fist at his chest, a challenge. His eyes glowing with both passion and the swirling rage within, Caden stood ready for her.

'Enamored? Soul? What does he know of my soul? What could he possibly know about me? Nothing! Filth! Scum! Monster! Demon! Murderer!'

"Liar!" she screamed blindly going in for the kill. Her blade swung up towards his throat, her eyes warily watching his hands. Her hair fanned out around her, a silken halo of crimson. 'All that they ever do is stab you in the heart. You are doing the right thing. Safe yourself before he destroys you. All men are the same. All that you love, all that you trust, all that you know is FALSE!'

His face fell at her singular, screamed word. She thinks I'm lying to her...how sad...

Caden didn't react in time, though, because of this distraction. Jumping back as he heard the sword moving, he felt the sting of metal slicing up his chest. Crying out, both startled by it and in great pain for the good space of skin she'd separated, he stared at her with a mixture of hurt and his own confusions. "Is that all?" He challenged, not daring to reach for her yet. Figuring she wouldn't answer any questions he asked, seeing as she'd refused to so much, already, he kept at her. "Must I say it in some other way, woman?! Don't you see?! You haunt my dreams! You haunt my every thought, you-you stubborn thing!!"

He looked unaffected by the cut, gushing forth his blood as it was; the adrenaline was taking over even more.

Her eyes widened as she realized he was not going to move out of the way. She hesitated for a moment, the blade twisting in her grasp causing more damage than she intended. They pulled away from each other, her stance returning to what it was before she lashed out. "Just getting started," she bit back at him, beginning a slow circle around him. Her eyes constantly looking for weaknesses, anything to use to her advantage.

She listened intently to his questions, each one piercing her deeply. 'How can I trust you? How can I be with you? I have to kill your sister. Would you still love me then? If you knew what it is I go to do would you still profess these things to me? No. You will turn on me and kill me. So I must beat you to it.'

"Haunting your dreams, what about you haunting my steps! I can nowhere without you breathing down my neck. Are you so blind, you do not see you are nothing to me? You were a toy for a night's amusement. And what a night it was. A worthless waste of time! How can you claim to care about me after a few hours? Is your brain so addled you stupid animal that you do not see I am not interested? Why can you not leave me be?"

He mirrored her every step as they circled as he tried so desperately to keep himself under control. Indeed, how to explain. How to explain when he knew not the reasoning behind it himself. All he knew was that it had been torture to not see her, to not be near her. Even now, he would've traded any of those times to be like they are now. Trying to kill him or not, he wanted her there.

Her words stung beyond what he'd thought they could, physically wincing at her calling him an animal. "You of anyone should know that one does not simply run from 'nothing!' If I am truly nothing, if I am worthless, then say it to my face! Without your weapon, without all this screaming at each other! Just tell me honestly that you don't want anything more of me! Tell me! Tell me and I'll leave you! I'll stop trying! I'll stop searching!"

The deadly claws, the sharp fangs and all the rest were bubbling, ready to burst in his fury. Caden knew he couldn't take much more of this, but he also knew he would turn tail and run before he ever gave a thought to harming her with any of it.

Tiraris sheathed her sword before taking the necessary steps towards him. She stood toe to toe with him her hands flying up to grab him. One latched onto his throat and the other interlaced itself in his long hair. Roughly tugging his head to the side she moved her lips to his ear. "Now this is familiar," she whispered licking rain droplets off the lobe. "You are nothing!" She pulled away from him releasing his throat, her eyes locked on his. "And you are everything." She pulled him down to her level brutally kissing him.

After what seemed like an eternity she pulled away and released him. "I do not want to fight you. Why? Why do you make me do this? Why do you have to push, to complicate things?" She collapsed to her knees before him. Her head fell, chin to chest as the silent tears coursed down her face, intermingling and hiding in the rain. "If you only knew," she whispered.

He felt his heart pounding in his chest as she approached him, his eyes trained on her warily until she grabbed at him roughly. Instinctively, he raised his arms around her, reaching to put hands to her arms. The contact of her tongue, even through the falling rain, was not missed. Caden shivered. Her initial words, though, made his heart skip a beat. No...

He didn't want to admit that it was over and watched her with glazed eyes as she pulled away. I can't...I've lied to her, I can't do it, I- Wait...wait, what?! Gasping as he felt himself pulled down, Caden eagerly locked lips with her. It was rough, full of longing, full of passion and lust, too.

Snaking his arms around her, he held her close for that moment. That one, sweet moment he'd spent so long craving. As he expected, it still wasn't enough.

Loosening his hold as she pulled away, Caden blinked in surprise at her following words. "Tiraris, I..." She'd collapsed, though, falling hard to her knees before him. No, he couldn't let her be like this, alone. Following her down, he draped a soaked arm around her, leaning close to press his forehead to hers. "'Knew' what?" His voice became quite a bit more desperate now, but he tried so very hard to keep it gentle through his confusion. "Knew what?"

His forehead pressed into her placing his eyes so close to her own that all she saw was violet. "Dreamy purple eyes," she whispered smiling. She shook her head. "Forget it. Nothing for you to worry about." She sat back looking at his chest sadly before realizing she was watching blood run down him.

Giving a soft gasp she blinked and reached forward to place her hand on the wound. Her fingers nearly touched him before she paused. Her hand curled up into a loose fist before dropping between them defeated. She began shaking her head side to side slowly and then faster and faster. "What have I done?" she murmured horrified dropping her head into her hands, the tears now free-flowing.

Ah, a smile. It was enough to ease some of his tension. He didn't want to push her too much right now, he'd already seen her so distressed tonight.

Noticing her eyes moving away from his own, he tucked his chin to his chest to watch as she hesitated in touching the still-bleeding cut on his chest. The blasted thing stung, what with the water from the rain zapping at his flesh. He could see that the droplets easily diluted some of the red stuff, but it was still going to stain his shirt, wet as it was. Tiraris looked so hurt, though.

Snapping his head back up as her hands lifted to hide her face, Caden's own expression twisted to one of concern as he realized she was crying. "Tiraris! Please don't cry, I'm fine, really! Here," he looked around desperately, lifting his head to look behind over his shoulder. "let's get inside. Can we do that? Can we just get out of the rain?" He reached for her, placing one of his much larger hands over her own, trying to get her to give one up for him so he might lead them away.

Tiraris still felt the energy crackling beneath the surface. It was shifting, changing as her emotions rose and fell. The ability to channel it had never been something she was capable of unless it was healing direction directed at herself. On one occasion she had managed to heal a bird with a broken neck, but that had been minor spontaneous magic spurred by extreme fear.

She did not feel such fear now. 'I can fix this. I must fix this and then I must end this.' Quickly before she lost her nerve she slammed her palm into his chest at the deepest part of the slash. Her face scrunched together in concentration as she forced the magic out. It painfully tore through her as she tried to control the channel. It burned through her nerve-endings sending waves of stabbing pain through her as it tried to find release. Her hand became hot as the energy began to slowly bit by bit mend torn flesh back together again.

Her breathing became ragged as she was drained in the effort to heal a wrong. She listened to the rain as it began to increase pour down on them. 'One. Two. Three. Four. His arrogant. Five. Six. Seven. He kisses like I am the only one. Eight. Nine. Ten. I am going to kill his sister. Eleven. I do not feel so good. Twel- what am I counting again?' She was gasping for breath when the energy finally stopped flowing, leaving a ragged scar behind. Every cell of her being shrieked in pain. She swayed dizzily her eyes half closed. "Going to castrate you," she stated before falling forward onto Caden.

Surprised that she finally reached out to him, Caden just stayed where he was beside her in a crouch. He felt the tingling, the heat, heard the odd change in her breathing. Something was changing.

Looking down at her hand, he felt something surge and winced at the strange jolt. It wasn't pain, but it was definitely shocking. When she began to fall over, he snapped his hands out to hug her around her shoulders. Bringing her close, he just shook his head at the statement. Pah. I'd like to see her try...wait, no I wouldn't!

"What am I going to do with you?" Caden smiled and turned her limp body over so he could scoop her up as he stood. The rain was coming harder now. With a quick glance down at the scar now present on his skin, he realized he'd have plenty of questions for her whenever she awoke. For now, though, he needed to get them under cover and dry again.

Carrying her, Caden searched through the storm for an inn for them for the night. It didn't take long to secure a room, but as he took her down the hall he realized a flaw in his plans. I can't have her getting sick...She's human after all.

Wincing, he looked down at her face as he set her atop the bed. What to do about this... Taking off his cloak, he draped the soaked thing over a chair before toeing off his boots. Eyeing her warily, he finally made his decision. I feel like I'm going to regret this...

Leaning over her, he carefully lifted her sheathed sword and leaned the thing up against the wall before beginning the process of peeling away her armor and whatever underclothes remained. Draping her things wherever he could manage about the room, Caden sighed as his eyes wandered over to her again. Absolutely beautiful...just stunning...so...- NO! Don't look!

Tearing his eyes away, Caden frowned at his predicament. Be freezing all night or snuggle up with her. Easy enough...oh, if only it truly were that simple... After peeling off his own clothing and hanging things up where he could, he cautiously returned to her. He paced. He couldn't do this! Oh, but he would.

Succumbing to the temptation, he carefully scooped her up again, pulled back the covers for the bed, and settled down beside her for the night. Sure, there would be consequences in the morning, no doubt, but now? Oh, it was too sweet to pass up. "Tiraris...you're warm." And with that, he snaked his arms around her more firmly for the night, relishing in the warmth of her bare skin as he drifted off to sleep.

Tiraris woke to a strange high-pitched keening noise. Then, the pain hit her and she realized she was the one making the sound. Her first reaction was to jerk to escape whatever was hurting her. She nearly threw up from the added pain that caused. Every miniscule movement, every heartbeat, every breathe sent waves of pain crashing onto the shores of insanity.

Her pained whining tripled in volume with each passing moment. She flailed her arm back hitting something soft and warm. Struggling to open her eyes, she found that she was temporarily blind. She knew from past experience it had taken her a week to even heal enough to wake up followed by another month of bed-rest after a forced healing.

Slowly she ran her hand down the surface she was in contact with. Smooth hard planes of flesh yielded under fingertips. When her fingers encountered the jagged scar, she realized who she was touching. 'I did it.'

"Caden," she whimpered. Her hand fell limply, brushing against him as it did. Tiraris tensed as she realized her hand had touched his lower abdomen and thighs without encountering anything besides warm flesh. Her entire body tensed in anger and she screamed in pain her hands coming back to curl in on herself. That was when she realized she was also naked.

Trying to take short even breaths and not cause herself anymore severe outbursts of pain she growled, "Now I am going to castrate you."

The whining was missed on him, dead to the world in his exhaustion. It was her hands that stirred him, though. Grumbling, twisting his face in confusion as his eyes snapped open for the grating noises she was making, Caden looked entirely at a loss. Hearing her whisper his name, though, was so priceless.

Smiling, he closed his eyes and gathered her up into a hug even as her hands swept across his body. Waggling his eyebrows as she dipped down to his thighs, Caden chuckled, amused by her. At least, until she started screaming and mentioned such a terrible thing. Still doing his best to hold her fast even as she recoiled, he frowned.

"No, you aren't. I helped you, how could you even think of doing such a thing? So cruel..." It was all mock hurt, though. He was smiling, reaching closer to nuzzle against her hair. He didn't realize she was in such pain, though. At least, not yet.

He was touching her head, moving strands of hair that sent rapid impulses of pain down throughout her entire body. She mewled in pain, sobbing as she caused her more and more pain and distress. She was frozen with the pain, blind and unable to move. Her throat was hoarse from all her screaming and crying. "Let me go. Let me go," she chanted over and over to him unintelligibly before swinging her arm down hard towards his nether regions.

Now that was certainly a surprise. Hearing her cry out, it hurt in more ways than one. Trying to soothe her, he started a gentle rub along her back and shoulders, but then she was telling him to let her go. "Well...are you- ACK!"

He'd seen her arm move, and jumped for being startled. Frantically, he turned his hips sharply to the side to have her just barely miss her mark. He felt the hard thunk of her fist against  the top of his thigh. That had been way too close. I....almost......died.

"Tiraris," he whispered, wary as he went to grab her hand. "What...what's wrong?"

Pain fired through her again as she was jostled by Caden's antics. She cried out again, arching her body. The pale column of her throat strained back and away, her chest thrust up by her straining shoulders, she hung like that upside down, hoping that it would all just end. She wished desperately to pass out again or to wake from this blind nightmare and be far away from all the pain and Caden's complications. She cursed her mother for driving her into becoming an assassin, her employer for hiring her, Remina for being Caden's brother, and Caden, she cursed Caden for being an incompetent individual. Then she mentally started the cursing all over again.

"Hurting me," she hissed out to him, praying he could figure it out on his own and could she go back to the dark lifeless world of sleep.

Eyes widening for the scene before him, Caden loosened his hold simply for the sheer confusion surrounding this. He was clueless to what was happening, but when she told him he was hurting her...well, he felt quite horrible for that. Letting her go, he leaned up to sit properly, just watching her for a time.

"Um...what hurts?" he asked cautiously, voice almost a whisper.

Tiraris shakily exhaled as she was released back onto the bed. For several minutes she just lay there, her body giving off slight spasms as the nerves resettled. Her breathe gradually evened out again and she felt herself fading into sleep. As her body relaxed the pain began to dull. Only deeper breaths disturbed her and caused her pain if she was careful to not move.

Weakly she began to speak to him, her voice no louder than a whisper. "No touch....pain touch...huuuurt....heal you....pay pain price....your fault...your fault....Remina." Each set of words was broken up by long pauses where she just lay there trying to breathe as painlessly as possible. After the last word she fell completely silent once more. Sleep had claimed her once more.

Wary of her as she settled down again, Caden laid back down beside her to listen as she spoke, taking the chance to nuzzle his head close to hers again. Too irresistible. Heal me and a price to pay? Now isn't that adorable...so kind even when you put up such an angry face...wait, Remina? He'd been about to ask what Remina had to do with any of this, and just who this Remina was, but she'd fallen asleep again. Well, I'll be damned if I disturb her...she said not to touch....but that doesn't mean you can't admire.

He wondered if her Remina was also his Remina. Ironically, even knowing what he did about Tiraris, he had no suspicions yet. Instead, he propped his head up with one curled hand as his eyes swept over her. In her fits, she'd gotten the covers away, strewn randomly about the foot of the bed, but Caden didn't mind it. At all. Taking in her curves appreciatively, he couldn't help the mischievous grin that appeared. Lucky I care so much...beautiful creature. No, but he would let her sleep and not let it be known that he watched her with kind eyes.

For once, her face seemed entirely gentle. There was no scowl, and only a twitch of a frown appeared every so often, as far as he could see. That gorgeous hair he so loved was fanned out around her head. With a view like this, he could definitely wait on her.

When Tiraris woke again it was the middle of the night. The pain had lessened greatly to an overall dull ache. She only felt severe instead of excruciating pain as she tested moving her limbs. She lay there peacefully opening and closing her eyes slowly adjusting to sight once more. She vision was still not back to normal but she could make out some blurry shapes.

Beside her the still naked Caden cuddled close, sharing his warmth with her. For a while she just watched his chest rise and fall. Then, when she realized what she was doing she sat up and pushed him off the bed. "Clothes!" she shouted pulling the blankets up over her. "What in your right mind thought it would be fine to undress an unconscious armed woman and cuddle up naked with her? Need I remind you how well I can use said weapons?"

It was so peaceful. He'd fallen back asleep and was only had thoughts of warmth, calm and the sheltered state of them at the moment. Unconsciously, he wrapped himself around her further, tightening his grip as she stirred. He was comfortable like this, as unused to it as he was, but he could definitely get used to this every day.

All of a sudden, though, he felt himself flying, or as close as this demon would ever come to it. Eyes snapping open as he felt not the warm bed, but air beneath him, Caden let out a yelp of surprise as he dropped to the floor. Hard. "Oww! Why'd you have to-?!" Poking his head up over the edge, eyeing the woman huddled there as she was, a slow grin overtook his face at the realization of her words.

Draping an arm up on the bed, reaching lazily for her, he glanced behind himself to their things still hanging about the room. His grin widened. "I thought it would be fine if you didn't catch cold and were comfortable at least. You showed me that well enough yesterday..." He gestured to the scar on his chest that had definitely not been there before. "And...who said all we did was cuddle?" For this, he gave a mischievous waggle of his eyebrows.

Slowly and painfully she rose from the bed her back to him as she picked up her now dry shift. She struggled for a moment getting it on, her arms still not following all her brain's commands. Looking at the condition of her things and finding it suitable she turned back to Caden.

Seeing him still naked she yelled, "You ego-centric thing put some clothes on! You are not that impressive to look at!" She marched over to him and thumped him on his newly healed chest, her hand tightening around the dagger she had picked up and was hiding. Moving closer she leaned against him, as much as she could without causing herself another seizure. Her knife came between them, lightly grazing against Caden's exposed skin between his legs. "Now what was that about doing more than cuddling," she crooned in his ear.

Her yelling was nothing short of amusing, at least for now. He made no move to listen, though he did intend to after watching the last of that glorious skin disappear behind her clothes. What a pity that was. He sighed for the loss.

Grinning as she hit him, he just shook his head and dropped his arm from the bed, ready to move away and do as she demanded now. That was when he felt that horrible, sinking feeling. "Tiraris!" he hissed, not daring to move at first lest she do so herself. He certainly did not want this to be happening. Not now. Not ever.

The smile entirely gone, he pouted now as he answered her. "Fine, fine...you got me... You make it hardly worth the fun at all. Now move that thing away?"

"Now why would I do that? I did tell you twice that I was going to castrate you. I do not make idle threats," she informed him very seriously. "Put some clothes on before my sanity returns," she said standing and moving away from him.

A scratching at the door drew her attention away Caden and his state of apparel, or lack thereof. Opening the door, she was attacked by a very familiar purring ball of fur. "Caydence!" she cried. "You blasted thing! How dare you abandon me like that and expect me to just welcome you back." Moving over to the bed, Tiraris threw the cat onto it, albeit gently.

Affronted the cat gave her its backside, flicked its tail, and then sauntered over to Caden. "If I did not any better I would say that you are trying to seduce him." She snorted watching the feline's antics. "I would not waste my time if I were you. He is all talk and no action," she told that cat smirking as she sat down on her edge of the bed.

Finally moving away from her and getting to his feet, Caden went about the room to retrieve his clothes. He decided only to don what was necessary indoors, though, not wanting to give any impression that he wanted them to leave.  Distracted, he missed the purring and the scratching until Tiraris began berating the animal.

Curious, he looked over. It was the same calico from the previous night. Amused as the animal came over to him, he reached a hand to pet and scratch at her head for her. Smirking for the woman's words, Caden shot her a knowing look as she sat down. "Caydence...what a lovely name. I quite like it, so fitting for a cat." All in a rush, though, he'd crawled back up to the bed, crouched just behind her even though he knew well enough she was armed once again. He reached a hand up to run fingers gently through her hair.

"Sounds like someone wants a bit more...action." He was grinning now, he couldn't help himself. This was just too good, too easy.

"You like the name? I named her after someone she reminded me of. A very annoying and useless individual who falls too easily for ego-stroking praises." She raised her brow at him. "Quit touching! Did you learn nothing from earlier? Physical touch is painful right now."

She lowered her head into her hands. "Even my hair hurts," she grumbled. On cue Caydence slunk over to the pair and raised her paw to bat at Tiraris locks. "Do not even think about it," Tiraris hissed back not looking up. The cat paused giving her a look before batting the swaying strands anyway and running into Caden's lap. "You live a charmed life fuzz-ass."

While he couldn't argue with her on the pain, it wasn't exactly easy for slip his hand away from being so close again. Sighing, he sat down and watched the cat, amused. "Definitely of a shared mind...so mischievous," he praised her, giving her lots of petting and attention even as Tiraris muttered on.

"How long does it take...exactly?" he wondered, lifting his bright, violet eyes to watch the woman before him. "I mean, for you not to be in such...pain." Caden frowned a bit for this, not liking that she was hurting because of him. Even though it was her fault that she'd hurt him in the first place. He figured it was sort of...a transfer. A transfer of hurt. Fair enough, but still so cruel.

"I do not exactly know. This has only happened once before." She nudged him over so she could lay back. "I was a child the last time it happened. Then it was an accident. This is the first time I have ever forced the healing to occur on anything other than myself, which is very different. I was not even sure it would work this time. Something could have gone wrong, that kind of energy is not meant to be channeled into such a constructive force. Last time I was eight I think; I was in a coma for a week and on bedrest for a month. It was a whole year before I stopped aching from a single touch."

She reached her hand out and ran the pads of her fingers along the ragged scar. "I can officially say that there is now nothing in this world that is perfect. For I have destroyed the last perfect thing," she teased him. "How did you find me last night? I have spent all this time avoiding you and," she smacked her lips together making a popping sound, "you are there."

Her story caused a chill to run through him to his very bones. The thought of her being that knocked out, over healing something, made him feel terribly guilty. And the pain. He felt horrible for the pain still.

His eyes twinkling, he smirked for her teasing. Her question, though, made him look away for a moment. Should he lie? Should he just be honest? Would she find the truth troubling? "I, uh, was meeting someone...I wanted to find out where you were and I guess I went the right...wrong...right-wrong way.

"Why did you do it, though? For me, I mean...it would have healed in time," he pointed out.

"The right-wrong way, that is always-not the best-worst way to do anything," she teased crinkling her nose and closing her eyes.

'Why did I do it? Because you felt guilty. What did I have to be guilty about? That you hurt the man you lo-that you have to kill his sister.' She inhaled sharply 'I forgot about her. Should I play with him again? I am getting nowhere with these informants. You got nowhere with him. I ran out of time, besides I will not have to run this time. You risk your heart.' The last thought jolted her back into reality, forcing into a decision that kept her from getting hurt again.

"I did it because I wanted to know if I could. I did not think I would succeed. The fact you did is just an unfortunate side effect," she replied coldly. 'Back to this old game again. Now to leave.'

"If you could be so kind to watch Caydence for me I have somewhere to be," she said sitting up once more and beginning to put her armor on. 'This is a very bad idea. I am going to be dead from pain before I even make it a full three steps out the door. At least I will make it three steps out the door.'

He wasn't very amused by this, not at all. She'd been so...well, sweet in her sleep. Perhaps because she wasn't talking and wasn't angry and wasn't threatening such terrible things.

Her answer had not been what he expected, but then again what did he really expect from her? Sincerity? Rare. Honesty? Hardly. What she said got him quite curious, though, and he gently lifted the cat from his lap as he stood.

"What, you're going to yell and scream that I'm hurting you if I so much as touch you and then you're going to try and walk out of here? On your own? Where do you need to be?" The last question was a gentle demand as he quickly went to the door, wanting to block her from it.

"Caden," she sighed, watching him move to the door. "Please, do not start this again. I am begging you." She really was. She had no energy to fight him now. She was just too weary from it all, the job, the running, the twisting words, the hiding, him. Something inside her snapped, she was not going to stand for this, again.

"Yes Caden!" She yelled, aggravated now. "On my own! What I do and who I see is none of your concern. You have no authority over me, no ties to me. Stop acting like a spoiled brat who has had his toy taken away from him. I am not what you think I am. It is better for your sake if you just stay away from me." She was still standing by the bed but, was fully dressed now.

'Why do I feel so defeated, so helpless? Why is it his concern tears me to pieces? It was one night! Nothing even happened? Is this what guilt feels like? This gnawing, crushing feeling is going to be the death of me.' She bowed her head feeling tears of weariness burn at her eyes. 'I need to end this. I need to kill this Remina and then I need to get as far away from here as possible. He is just going to hurt me like everyone else before.'

"Please move Caden. I have work to do. You would not understand."

It bothered him that she felt such...duty, even when she was in so much pain. Hearing her yell at him over it was equally as bad, though, and he winced for her words but still stood in front of the door. "Please, Tiraris?"

His eyes were pleading as he stood there, looking quite helpless as she put up such a front against him. "Work? Are you out of your mind? You're going to go after someone when you're like this? TIraris...I don't want you getting hurt! Why don't you just...stay? Stay in bed? Get some more rest? Please, don't push yourself for this...money isn't worth it if that's what you're after..." Caden's voice was becoming strained with emotions as the demon was at a loss for just how he was going to find a way to protect her and keep her safe, healthy and...relatively happy.

She sighed, running her hand through her hair before wincing at the jolt of pain it brought. "It is not about the money Caden. It is something more. I told you will not understand. Can you just let it go? Why do you persist? Why do you even care? I am not going to go do anything rash. If I was a rash person I would have died a long time ago."

Now she was in his face again, her finger jabbing into his chest as she got angrier. "You expect me to listen to you, to obey you even, after only knowing you for one night, yet you cannot find it within yourself to trust in me. Your expectations are ridiculous and unrealistic. I am not that kind of girl to just fall so easily. Stop treating me as such!"

She was feeling light-headed again, her breath whistling as it entered and left her nose quickly. Throwing up her hands she looked away from him. "Fine! Congratulations, you win! Get some clothes on, you are coming with me."

"No, I'm not letting it go! And you know...you know why I care!" he whined, a frustrated sigh escaping him as she got in his face.

"It wasn't just one, it's two now! And I put up with your ridiculousness, I put up with you cutting me! I put up with you just...passing out in the alley! You would be dead if it weren't for me! And Tiraris..." He tried desperately to calm himself, but her being in his face was really not helping at all.

"I don't think I'm being unrealistic at all, asking you to keep yourself safe and not strain yourself! I care, dammit! I fucking care about you, okay?! I don't know why, I know we haven't known each other for long, but I honestly do...I want to help...I want to be...to be...-- Wait, you're letting me go?" Blinking, his frown slowly disappeared and was replaced by a gentler smile.

"Thank you," was all he said as he flew across the room to finish getting his boots and cloak on. He was back in a flash, though, and swooped down to press the softest brush of a kiss he could manage to her cheek. "You're special to me, is what I'm saying... Now let's get going, just...be careful."

She ignored his replies not wishing to continue the argument. It already took so much more out of her than it should have. 'He is lying you know. He does not care, no one cares about you! You are worthless. You are a murderer! He is just like all the others. Once he has you, he will throw you back into the gutter. Play the game Tiraris. Beat him at his own game and it will be you walking away laughing. Use him and lose him.' After listening to the same thoughts filled with years worth of regret and pain nonstop for over a month, Tiraris was very immersed in the lies. It would not be long before she would believe nothing but them. 'You always destroy that which is yours. Do not be a fool and let it happen again, her heart cried to her faintly.

She grunted at his thanks before flinching as he moved to kiss her. When his back was turned to her again she looked at him surprise. The barest trace of a smile graced her features before disappearing again. 'He did not hurt me. Maybe he really does care.'

"Come Caydence," she called to the cat as she walked out the door into the humid night.

As they left, Caden trailed along after her. He was dedicated to acting as her bodyguard tonight, he wanted no mishaps and no nonsense. When they hit the main streets, though, he immediately sensed something was amiss.

Narrowing his brows, he looked all around them. Nothing, nothing, nothing, nothing. Not a thing that he could tell. Was he just imagining it? Oh, but there was something... Off in the distance, many blocks over, he heard the faintest cries, whimpers, and sobs. "Tiraris," he started cautiously, wondering if she heard it too.

The noises were picking up and he was able to pinpoint them now, just off at the edge of town ahead of them. "Tiraris...there's something wrong..."

Shuffling, sniffles, chatter and outrage. Sobbing, and then comforting voices.

"Baby brother..."

The voice laughed, amused as she kept herself just far enough away. Just enough, but still close.

Remina... What had she done? He suspected the worst, but was almost afraid of going to see what was happening. He hated seeing death. The absolute gore of his sister's killings were horrendous and vile.

"Tiraris...let's not go this way," he pleaded.

Tiraris moved swiftly through the streets listening intently for any sounds that indicated trouble. It was when they reached the main roads that she heard it. The sobs and cries were a common sound to her ears, especially recently. 'Not another death. Please not now,' she begged taking off at run.

Her ears led her to the spot and she almost sobbed at what she saw. The tiny body of the little girl was unrecognizable. It was hard to even imagine it as once being human. A woman, 'the mother, her mind supplied, was sobbing hysterically as neighbors tried to calm her. Tiraris stood on the outskirts of the circle just watching stoically. 'I was too late.  Again I fail to end this. Another innocent gone.'

She was numb to the gore, it was the loss of innocence that bothered her. 'Would it kill her to give respect to the kill? No, animals do not know anything of honor and respect!' Caydence began to mewl and pace in front of one of the alleys. "Hush Caydence," she called after the cat not understanding what the cat was trying to tell her. Her voice startled the crowd and they parted revealing her form to the distraught mother. "I am sorry for your loss, madam."

Furious the woman began screaming. "How dare you! How dare you show your face here. For a month now we have heard your apologies and you have done nothing to stop them from having to be given. You are as much a monster as the one that killed my baby." At the mention of her child, the mother began sobbing anew.

Tiraris lowered he head in shame. Sorrow consumed her so much, she never heard the woman stand. She never heard the running feet and she most certainly did not see the fist headed right for her face.

Even with his urgings, she'd gone off to see. I'm sorry, Tiraris...please don't look. He knew she would, though. Caden, though, wandered a bit toward the unmistakeable voice of his sister. "I'll be just a minute," he'd mumbled.

It wasn't long before he saw a shimmer of that those black and gold locks in the moonlight from a distance. "Stop playing, just come out."

"No, let's play, come find me..."

"Fine." After following her for about a minute more, though, he finally saw through what trick she was trying to pull this time. Stopping, he turned right back around to go back where he'd left Tiraris. Ridiculous, I don't have time for this.

"Caden," she purred as he felt a hand on his shoulder to stop him. Of course she wanted to talk.

"Remina, what did you do?"

"Just a snack, dear brother, that's all!" she said cheerily, the tips of her claws still visible as they still retreated back beneath her skin.

"You killed."

"Go see for yourself." A grin. Those teal eyes blinking as she stared.

"Get lost, you disgust me," he finally said, shoving her away from himself as he began to jog back through the alley he'd wandered down. Distraction. Mistake.

He hadn't heard the yelling of the woman, but it was quiet now. Far too quiet. Breaking out into a full-on run, he rounded the corner to a frightful sight. Tiraris standing, a woman poised to attack, and the stench of death and another scent, that of the demon he knew so well, was there. "Tiraris!" he called out, surging forward to grab the woman's arm. "Don't you dare touch her! She has done nothing to you lot!"

Caden lifted his eyes to the body, or rather mess, of the little girl that had once been. Wincing, he forced the woman back a few steps and dragged her arm down. "She's mine, don't touch her," he hissed in warning. "I'm sorry for this, but please...don't touch her." A glance over his shoulder to Tiraris after he'd let the woman go.

"What- Nevermind, let's just go." He stepped toward her and the cat sitting beside her, gesturing for her to lead the way.

Stoically, Tiraris watched Caden defend her and claim her. 'He called me his. He claimed me as his own. He...likes...me. He cares for me. He really cares for me. He is going to hate me. He is going to really hate me when he finds out the truth. Should I tell him? Should I let it run its course? His eyes are really pretty when he is angry.' It is interesting the places the mind will go when in shock. Every thought Tiraris had was emotionless. There was no warring between her heart and mind, there was only thought. On the one hand it was a good thing, she at last was seeing things rationally. On the other, she was opening herself up for further pain and suffering if she let herself become involved with him.

When she realized he was talking to her she nodded her head vaguely not really listening. 'Do I tell him?' rang out in her head slicing through her numb state. Slowly she reached her hand out placing it in his much larger one and giving it a small squeeze, despite the pain it caused her. Refusing to let go of his hand she led him in silence to the place where she had been staying before he had found her. Breaking the silence as they entered the room she said seriously, "Caden, we need to talk."

Holding her hand as gently as an angry demon could, he followed her. As they went, his free hand was clenched into a fist, even once they were finally inside and alone again. On the inside, he was positively fuming, but he tried not to show it on his face. There was a particular fire dancing in his eyes, however.

He thought about Remina, of her showing her face to him for the first time in a long while, and then of Tiraris. He wondered why she hadn't defended herself. Is something else wrong? His eyes flickered to give her a quick once-over, but he saw no injuries or anything else of note to be out of the ordinary. Then, she spoke.

Talk? Oh no. She's mad, isn't she...about what I said. You should have known, stupid fool of a man... She doesn't want you doing things like that in public, she's mad you stepped in, or maybe it's that I went off.

"Okay," he said hesitantly, voice still a bit rough from yelling at the woman before. His hand tightened a bit on her own. He didn't want to lose this again. Not after spending so long searching for her, not after seeing just a glimpse of her feelings. Whether she was honest about why or not, he knew her healing him had been a great sacrifice on her part.

He cared. He really did. Caden just stood there, worried about all the things she might start berating him for.

She moved them over to the bed and gently nudged Caden until he sat down on it. She placed her hands on his shoulders looking over his head at the wall behind him. "We need to talk," she repeated. "Or rather I need to talk and I need you to listen. I need you to hear everything and I need you not to speak until I am done, or I will lose my nerve. There is so much that needs saying and I-gods above I am rambling!"

She blinked her eyes rapidly trying to clear them and took a deep breath. Looking back down at Caden, she could not help becoming entranced by his eyes. 'Do not lose your nerve. This has to be done before anything can proceed. Whatever anything is anyway.'

"My name is Tiraris Silverd'art and I am an assassin. Yes, I know you already know this but there is more. I am an assassin, a destroyer and taker of life bought by the highest bidder. I hold no allegiances, no loyalties, no ties to anyone or anything. My very existence is my duty. I do nothing needlessly. Not even our meeting was coincidental. I knew who and what you were before I even stepped through the door. I was using you that night. I needed you to give me information so I could do my job.

"But, we were interrupted. Which is good, really good in fact because I realized something. I did not want to hurt you, I hurt everyone whoever gets close to me and I did not want that to be you. That night I was like the old me and I liked it. But, I was frightened by it and I pushed you away to protect you, to protect us both. I am rambling again," she ran her hand through her hair as fat tears glistened in her eyes.

Pulling herself together she tried again. "I lied when I said I was hoping you would die when I healed you. At worst I would have died. You were never really at risk. I do not know why I did it, guilt maybe. Who knows?" she laughed hysterically. 'Tell him!'

"Caden I-" her voice cracked as tears raced down her cheeks. 'Gods give me strength I cannot do this to him.'

"Caden I wanted to thank you, for today and yesterday. I know you care and I...I care too," she said breaking down into sobs as she threw herself into his embrace. She clutched to him desperately not caring about the pain just that this moment did not end. "Please forgive me," she sobbed. 'Please forgive me for what I have to do.'

At her urgings, he'd sat himself down on the bed, but his eyes had taken on a concerned and worried look as she danced around even starting whatever it was she wanted to say. There's something wrong, I knew it. She's going to tell me to leave again...

Obeying, he remained quiet, if tight-lipped. He wondered what she meant by the "old her." He wondered what it was about it that she liked, that she felt bad about and didn't want to hurt him.

The tears were evident enough, even before they began to fall. Her dark eyes twinkled with the moisture and Caden fought with himself to not make a move. There was something about this that wasn't exactly...right. She was telling him things, being sincere. Usually she was just the opposite, a hoarder of her thoughts and feelings, always lashing out.

As the tears began to fall, though, he couldn't help the twitch of his hand. He placed his hands to her shoulders, trying to coax her in closer, but she managed to jump to him all by herself. What she said sounded so honest, how could he question it?

Wrapping his arms around her tightly for a moment, he turned them to the side so he could nestle her more comfortably in his lap. He stayed like this for a moment with her, but then he realized he was probably holding too hard and loosened his grip a bit, as difficult as that was for him right now. She was crying, uncontrollably so, but he still wanted to try, still wanted to soothe her.

Carefully, he lifted a hand to brush her hair back from her face a bit and began wiping at what exposed droplets of moisture he could with her clinging to him. "Tiraris, it's alright," he whispered, his voice much calmer now, less tense. "It's how you are...I'm getting used to it still, I guess, but I wanted to be there with you. It was no trouble at all, no skin off my back, please don't feel bad."

His eyes looked sad, a spark of confusion still there about why she might think he was upset with her. "I'm glad to know you care...really, I am. I was worried you might not... And there's nothing you need to be forgiven for, it's really alright, honest." His grip tightened again as he carefully placed his head atop hers, protective even though they were there alone.

"Just take deep breaths," he whispered. "Just relax... I'll be here for you, don't worry."

He was being so sweet and tender with her. 'Caden why are you breaking my heart? Why do you have to make this so difficult? I do not want you to leave me. Please do not hate me.'

"Caden you are not listening!" she growled thumping him lightly on the chest with a balled fist. "Or I am not explaining. I do not know anymore," she murmured into his hair. "Caden look at me," she said taking his face into her hands. "I am an assassin. I came to Ketra to kill someone. I am here on a job, a job I have failed thus far to complete. Can you not see? I cannot get close to you. I am only going to hurt you." She ran her hand over where the scar was. "I already have.

"Caden I have to do this. I swore I would and now I must, or die in the effort." She fell forward leaning against him again. "I told you to stay away, why would you not listen?"

"I'm not afraid of you, Tiraris," he told her, staring into her eyes even as she tried to convince him that he shouldn't be this close, that they shouldn't be doing this. What does she have to do? What is she so worried about? This is so confusing, I don't understand...

The truth was in plain sight. It was so easy, so simple, yet he'd managed to miss all the right clues. Sure, she was an assassin, but he still wasn't connecting the dots between this woman and his sister. If only he'd arrived just a few seconds earlier, been just a little closer to the scene they'd just witnessed...

As she fell forward again, though, he just nuzzled against her and pulled her in closer. She felt so good, felt so right. Why was she trying to push him away?

"I can't stay away," he whispered, closing his eyes to keep her from seeing the dread and sadness he was feeling. His voice was becoming desperate and a bit hoarse now. "I want to stay with you. It...it's like I need you. I think about you all the time. I see you in my dreams. I need you." He settled his head close to hers again, straining to try and tell her as calmly as possible.

"Please trust me...I know you don't have much to go on, but Tiraris...please... Let me stay, let me be with you. I want this. I need this. I..."

"Caden it is not a matter of trust. Or rather it is, but it is not a matter of me trusting you. It is a matter of you should not trust me. I mean you should trust me, when I say you cannot be with me."

She sighed beginning again for the third time. "The townspeople hired me to kill, that is why they are angry with me and with you. It has been a month of cat and mouse and I still have not done what I said I would do."

She pulled away from him, pacing back and forth around the room. 'Do I have to hit you over the head to make you understand? How can you not understand what I am saying? Caden I love you but you are going to hate me when I kill Remina. I do not want to have to kill you too. I know you will come after me if I live.'

She threw her hands up in the air giving off and growl of aggravation. "How thick can you be? I am going to kill you!" The blood drained from her face as she realized how that sounded. Her hand flew up to her mouth as she backed away from him. 'Gods above! What have I done?'

He was being slowly lulled into a false sense of realization as she spoke. Releasing her as she pulled away, the eyes he trained on here were full of pain. An ache in his throat was suddenly there, and his stomach was fluttering with nerves and now a twinge of fear.

Why hasn't she done it already? This doesn't make any sense... I searched for her for a whole month and she didn't find it in herself to just kill me and be done with it? She barely knew me...

Watching her as she backed away, Caden lowered his head as his hands fell limp in his lap. So she really does need to kill me...maybe that's why she's been so angry...and why she attacked me...but why would she heal me? Why would she put herself through so much pain when she should've just finished me off while she had the chance...

"Tiraris," he began slowly, voice much softer now. "I'll leave town, if that's what you want... I just don't understand why people would want me dead, though... I mean, I know what I am and I know that they know, but I'm not like my sister, I don't kill like she does." Caden sighed, and picked himself up as he walked around her to go to the door.

"Unless you're going to just do it now...I suppose I should leave?"

Tiraris backed herself up against the wall and slid down, eyes clenched tightly shut. Her mind was in overdrive with self-ridicule and questioning. 'I am an idiot! How can he believe me if I tell him now that I misspoke? After all the honesty I have given up, how can I tell him that that is not true? How can he believe anything I say? How can I tell him he can live but his sister cannot? What do I do? I told him I would hurt him. I did not think it would be like this though. Oh, Caden! I am the monster here, not you. I know the good heart you have. Why did it have to come to this? Why could you not take the hints and leave before I destroyed things just as I always do.'

Opening her eyes she was horrified to watch Caden walk to the door. 'No Caden, please do not leave me! I love you! Do not go! I ruined it again. I always ruin things. I am the destroyer and taker of life, including my own.' Her mind raced trying to think of a reason to make him stay. She could find none.

'If I let him believe this then I can hurt him no more. I can kill his sister or die and he will never know. If he leaves then he lives. I am sorry Caden. I do love you, but there is no other way.'

She kept her gaze forward not daring to look at Caden's heartbroken expression. "I will not kill you Caden. I do not attack unarmed men, even if those men are demons." Her voice was monotone hiding all the emotion she kept locked inside her. Every one of his footsteps was a dagger to her heart. 'Be strong, Tiraris. You save his life by letting him go.'

She let her head fall on her knees no longer able to hold back the tears. 'I did it again. I let the best thing that has ever happened to me walk out of my life, twice. I really am a monster.'

As she sat in her self-loathing she did not notice Caydence bolting for her until the beast latched onto her wrist. Clawing and biting the cat ripped at whatever skin it could find. Crying out Tiraris managed to shake the hissing cat off and away from herself. "You stupid animal! What is your problem? I am saving his life!"

Caydence just continued to hiss and spit before running out the door after Caden. 'I envy you. I want to be the one to chase after him. I want to be the one who comforts for what I have done.'

"Remina," she spoke to the empty room. "When I find you, take me with you into death's grasp. I cannot bear this existence anymore than I have to."

So it was me after all. Here I was thinking she thought something of me, thinking she saw something special somewhere. What a fool I am, how stupid.

"Demons. Funny how they come in all shapes and sizes, isn't it?" And with that, he opened the door before he did anything more he would regret and walked down the hall, alone. As he reached the exit, though, he felt something brush against his leg. The cat.

"Ah, what was your name, again? Caydence... Caydence, go back to your owner," he urged, nudging her gently with his foot before walking back out into the night. The cat persisted, though and was now biting at his pants, looking a bit foolish as she was drug along while clinging to an ankle.

"Ouch," he said gently, stopping as he bent over to grab her up. As soon as he did, though, she went soft and cuddly on him, as if that was what she'd been waiting for.

Sighing, he pet the calico and cradled her in his arms as he continued walking. The movement, though, got the cat biting at his hands now. "Ouch!" he hissed, letting her drop. Interestingly enough, though, she didn't run away. "What a strange thing you are," he grumbled. "Go on, then, go back to her. Away with you, shoo! Come on, you belong to her, you shouldn't be out here."

As he walked along, Caden figured that if the cat wanted to go back then she would go. He on the other hand, did not have that option right now, which he greatly envied her for. "You're wasting your chances, Caydence...at least she wants you around."

The next time she opened her eyes it, was midday. 'I must have fallen asleep,' she thought stretching from her position on the hard floor. "That is two times this month I have chased him out and spent the night on the floor. If I did not know any better I would say there is a pattern forming here," she told no one. 'Of course he would have to come back for that to happen. He will never be back. I made sure of that.'

"Caydence? Caydence! Come out, I am not mad at you. I deserved what you did. Come on sweetie, I need to cuddle." The cat did not appear. After searching the room Tiraris was able to sadly conclude she had been completely abandoned. Just like what mother always said it would be. I will be alone and friendless, heartbroken by men's cruelty when death comes knocking at my door.'

"Well hold on death. I have some baggage to collect before I go willingly." She grabbed up her things and headed out. 'I have had enough of playing these games. It is time I got some real answers.' She headed to the city square, determination written on her face.

In the day she would not strike. No, save the fun for the cloak of night, she would. She sensed something, though, a stirring. Something had changed.

Remina had watched her brother carefully after he'd first separated from the woman, this "assassin" that was after her. She'd seen all. How he prowled the nights endlessly for her, searching, asking everyone he could think of, but she had not come forward. No, that would have been too easy for him.

The previous night, though, had been different. He'd been with her and then not. Now he had an adorable little kitty she quite fancied, but he had walked the night again. Searching, almost. Like he had nowhere to go, or nowhere to land.

In the light of day now, though, he was in the alley he'd found the assassin woman in, and Remina didn't really like that. He was sitting on the stoop, just as she'd seen the girl do, petting that ridiculously adorable creature who mewled for his attention. Something else, though, he looked sad. Beyond anything she'd ever seen him as before in all their years together. It was strange.

He was usually so...loose with his partners, genders both. This wasn't like him at all. From the her rooftop perch, it was easy enough to see the gold streaks in the demoness's long, tumbling hair. She swooped down on her baby brother, sitting herself beside him. "Well, good morning to you!"

"Hm..."

"Hmmmm? Did you bed her at least?"

"Stop it, Remina, this is my business...my fault..."

"Stop what? I'm just asking... Was she a good lay?"

"Stop. It. I'm serious."

"So am I."

"Why are you so curious, hm? It's never mattered to you before what I did with my life, why now?"

"Because one of us has a price on their head, dear brother... And you haven't been with anyone else since I saw you with her. How unusual for you..."

He didn't catch her wording. He was only thinking that he couldn't be with her because she would have to kill him. He'd all but forgotten that his sister was in trouble after what had happened last night. "Remina, don't pry," Caden sighed.

"Do you fancy danger? The risk? She's an assassin, you know."

"...I do know."

"Ah," she tapped at her cheek with a finger, finding his reactions all too telling. "Is there something else? Something to do with that cute little kitty you have there?"

"It's not the cat, Remmy. It's...her. Tiraris."

"So that's her name, huh?"

"Don't act like you didn't already know." He shoved her with his shoulder but she didn't move at all.

"You've never been this way before, it's my right and duty as your big sister to figure out what's wrong with you." She patted his arm, but he didn't move.

"You know what's wrong with me?"

"Do I?"

"Yes."

"Do I really?"

"YES!"

"Then what is it that I'm supposed to know that I don't know already?" She gave a toothy grin, leaning her head against Caden's shoulder.

He gave in, deciding to go ahead and give in to her as she wouldn't go away otherwise, "I love her...but she can't be with me." Caden sighed heavily for this, just petting Caydence in his lap before he got a bit more chatty. "I don't even think she feels the same way...she's always trying to get rid of me, I knew this was a mistake. Why did it have to be her of all people? She seems friendly sometimes, sure, but...she never actually wants me around. It's painful...it hurts that I can't be around her, Remmy."

Teal eyes blinked at him for a moment, letting him settle down. "But I already knew that," she said, grin widening.

"You're a bitch."

"Maybe, but Caden? Are you sure? Are you sure she's the one? You haven't even-"

"I don't need that to know. She's it. She's all I want. All I'll ever want. ...our curse is cruel, sister."

"Indeed it is..." Remina stood up finally, swiping a hand down to pet Caydence for the briefest moment before she began slinking away just as quickly as she'd joined him. "Well, good luck... If you need a home for the kitty, let me know. I'd gladly take little Caydence. Funny how she named it after you...endearing, isn't it?" And with that, she was gone.

Caden decided to remain for a while, though, still caught up in his thoughts as he pet the cat.

~~~

Walking in the light of day required she keep her hood up completely so that nobody might see her face. It was dangerous, sure, but Remina was cautious about who could see her and when and how much and what they saw. Being what she was, she'd easily mastered this, though, and was so close to perfection with what she did.

Tiraris was there, she knew, and so she entered the square. Making a wide loop around her, Remina finally went in to walk just a few feet to the side of her, making sure to have a few people between them. "Tiraris," she said simply, the edge of a smile visible beneath her hood.

Once in the square she felt her resolve begin to slip. 'How do I get their attention? They have the answers I seek, but fear to give them. Say the wrong thing, do the wrong thing and I will be executed. Will I always have to be the sewer rat? Will I always be the one they call to clean up their messes and then to condemn once the job is done?'

She stood quietly in the middle of the square watching the people go about their business. Vendors squawked at each other, children played, mothers scolded. 'How simple life can be. How interesting that in the light of day we are one thing, but come dark of night we are another.' Her gaze softened as she beheld a father hold his newborn child closely to him. His smile seemed to light up the world all by itself. 'Could we have had this Caden? Would you have wanted it with me? Could we even have such a simple life? A demon and an assassin with a child. Whoever heard of such a thing!'

Her thoughts were broken by a whisper on the wind. Someone had called her by her given name. She glanced to the side trying to catch a glimpse of the person her delicate ears had detected. 'Was it just my imagination? Do I long for him so much that I am slowly being driven mad?' It was then that she saw it. Not far from her was a hooded figure.

Something inside her clicked. She could not see the face, but instinctively she just knew, this was Caden's sister, this was Remina, this was who she came to kill. "Demon," she hissed softly. She made no move to chase, the risk of passerbys being killed was too great. Tiraris had no desire for more unnecessary bloodshed. 'I have done enough of that already,' she thought painfully remembering rain and blood, the feel of his scar beneath her finger tips.

It might have been minutes or just a single moment, but her mind exploded in anger as she stared at the demoness. 'Murderer! Vile, filthy demon! Destroyer of innocence! Monster! They were just children, you sadist!' Her thoughts screamed so loudly, Tiraris was sure the whole world could hear them.

Caden was there still, hunched, brooding, and miserable. Petting this cat, her cat, was a cowardly thing, he knew. It wasn't that he was afraid, he really wasn't, but he was having a difficult time trying to justify seeing her when he thought that she would have to kill him. It would be cruel to her, to see me every day. If she knows she needs to kill me, though, why did she let me get so close? Why did she let me in? A glimpse, just enough of her, and then gone. Again and again. And it's probably just going to continue, isn't it? She'll just keep hurting herself more...like she did for the... He placed a hand to his chest, brushing against the spot where the scar would be under his shirt.

Sighing, he turned his head to look down the alley toward the street. It was bustling today, just a little ways off from his shadowed corner of the world, but he had no desire to join in. I just want her...I just want to see her, just hold her. Touch just a little...hug...maybe another kiss if she'd let me... It would be better than this. Anything would be better than feeling like this. Hell, it'd be worth the risk. It really would. Even if she'll just kill me when we're done, I want to see her...just be with her...

The hand moved up as he held onto the back of his neck, conflicted once again. "Caydence," he started, looking down to the cat purring on his lap. "You think she might...want it, too? Just once? Just to see each other... I really want that. And I don't even really know why, ya know... Strange thing for our kind...but at least I know now. At least I know that it's her. Nobody else." He was rambling and he didn't much care if the cat was paying attention, let alone understood him.

She said I was everything to her. Could it be...? Could she...? I don't know...this is really harder than I thought it would be.

---

Watching the woman, Remina hummed her satisfaction when she was finally noticed there. She stepped closer, taunting the assassin, this huntress. "It's sad to see such a powerful creature humbled like this, you know," she said, turning to look at some children playing closer to the center of the square. It was her brother, though, she was referring to. "At least for me.

"Do you have any idea what you're doing? What you're causing?" she asked, raising a brow even though it was hidden from sight.

She remained impassive, watching the demon closely, waiting for any sign of an attack. She would remain wary but unmoving like this until she had cause to fight. Despite her target being so close, she was unwilling to take rash risks that could produce such large consequences. 'If I must kill her, best to make it not so public.'

Tirais tensed at the demons words and gaze. She felt first shame followed by anger. "If I told you that I do know what I am doing you would laugh at me. If I told you that I do not, you would still laugh at me. Either way, you laugh. I see no point in this. I am tired of this game, demon. It needs to end."

The mother had now joined the father. The two were cooing over the little one as a little boy jumped around them. Tiraris' heartstrings tugged. "It is better this way. He would have died if I had not done this. You and I can both agree that is not something we want. If anything, demon, it is you and not I who is at fault here. Your insatiable greed and sadism did this. If you had not hunted children down for more than just a meal then the people would not be enraged enough to call upon my skills for help and I would not be here. I never would have met your brother. Blame yourself demon, I only did what I had to, can you say the same?"

"Don't think so little about my brother," she snapped, teeth slightly bared as she reached to tug her hood back enough to show her face but still hide that telltale hair of hers. "Would have died? He's strong, stronger than most, I'll have you know." The rest of what Tiraris said just caused her to shake her head.

"If you think that it's my fault then you truly know nothing of our kind," she said calmly, though her eyes were narrowed and glaring. "He abandoned it, sure...and we can live without it, but it is our nature. It's in our blood. But, look..." Remina sighed. Her eyes softened as she remembered her true intentions with coming over here.

"There's something you should know. About meeting him? I'd suggest that you go find him, but I know that you probably won't listen to me... He does need you, though, he's in a lot of pain...don't know how he could've managed to get himself stabbed so bad. Lots of blood involved...but I thought you might want to know that he's going to die if you don't help him." The demoness, while honest, was definitely using careful words. Her goal to exaggerate, she wanted to see what this woman's reaction might be.

---

Caden sighed heavily as he turned to lie down. The cat jumped off of him and started walking around his head before she climbed up onto his chest and curled up there, her purring starting again. "I just need to figure out how to do this," he whispered, tears beginning to fall across his cheeks and temples.. "There must be a way..."

Tiraris tensed, moving her hand to her sword hilt when Remina snapped at her. 'She is beautiful, like him. But, they do not share the same eyes.' Tiraris found herself just as entranced by the teal orbs as she was by another pair of purple ones. 'Do I really think so little of him? Or is it because I care so much, that I fight to protect him? What does she know? Nothing!'

"It is not your nature that disturbs me so demon. I too understand that we do what we must to survive. If killing and eating children is what you do then so be it," she shrugged at this. "I am paid to kill. I am no one to judge. But, what you do goes far beyond your nature. You are cruel! Even animals," she spat out, "do not behave as poorly as you."

She paused to listen. She was curious as to what made this cold-blooded killers face look so human, so sincere. As Tiraris listened her body went cold, her hands began to sweat and the blood drained from her face. 'Hurt? Pain? Blood? Die? Caden, what have you done?'

Tiraris felt the magic flow through her once more. It flared under the surface faster and stronger than anything she had ever felt before. So fast she could not remember moving, she had Remina by the throat. "You just told me not to think so little of him, you hypocrite! If you cared as much for him as he does for you, then you would not be here. "I cannot heal him, to do so would kill me."

'Is he worth dying for Tiaris? He is just one man. He loves me. Do I love him? Do I love him enough to die for him?' Squeezing harder she glared into teal eyes. "You are wasting my time demon! Where is he?"

And there it was.

The fire in Tiraris's eyes just had Remina smirking even as the other woman snatched her up by the throat. With passersby staring blatantly at the two women, she knew she was getting the scene she'd wanted. But she'd had her fun and set her bait, it was time to leave now.

"What an interesting reaction," she mused, seemingly unfazed by the constriction or the threat of her weapon. "Don't get mad at me about it, it isn't a thing I can heal, girl. It's something you need to tend to." At her question, though, the demon just smirked wickedly as she shoved the assassin away from her, taking a few steps back from her in the process.

"I think you know the spot. You were there together, at least, so you should know...and that adorable cat...she's with him still, I think." But that was all Remina offered before snatching her hood back down and dashing off to leave Tiraris to her search.

'Reaction? She was just doing that to get a rise out of me? She lied to me!'

"Get out of my sight! Next we meet you will be dead!" she screamed furiously at the fleeing form. Looking about she noticed the horrified faces of the townspeople. The little family was gone. "What are you looking at?" she barked before storming off.

'What if he really is hurt though? Oh, Caden where are you? Infuriating demon would it have killed her to tell me? Does she not want him to live?' Tiraris stopped short, trying to think. "She said it was a place we had been together. ARG! But, there are so many places!"

Tiraris let her feet lead her. "The pub! We first met at the pub." She took of running, hoping, praying she was not too late. She burst through the door, patrons looking at her startled but amused. "Winston! Is Caden here?" she asked the bartender.

"Ah, if it isn't the girl looking for a man. Sorry, but I don't know any Caden."

Tiaris rolled her eyes. "You know who I am talking about. Please, it is very important. I must find him," she begged.

"Oh! Do you mean the man with dreamy purple eyes?" he replied pretending to swoon. The other patron's all began to laugh, hooting and hollering as Tiraris blushed.

"Yes! The man with the purple eyes. Where is he?"

"Haven't seen 'im in three days. Sorry love. But, if you are lookin' for a man, I'm sure my eyes are dreamy enough for you." Winston batted his eyes at her but Tiraris was already halfway out the door.

'Caden where are you? Hold on, please! I am coming Caden. Just wait for me.' She raced from place to place trying to remember where they had been. She checked both the rooms they slept in but, was informed he was not there. She checked the streets they had traveled in their game over a month ago. She looked in the square where they had found the little girl's body. But, she could not find him.

She walked into a nearby alley. The same that Remina had been hiding in last night and Caydence had tried to point out to her. She punched the sod wall, feeling the bones in her hand shatter under the pressure. Clutching her hand she slid down the wall resting her forehand against it. She refused to heal it. 'The dead feel no pain,' she reminded herself. 'I am sorry Caden. I was not quick enough. I cannot find you, and now you will die, if you are not dead already.'

"I love you, Caden," she whispered aloud.

Oblivious to Tiraris's searching about town, Caden stayed there for hours, just staring up at the sky and occasionally petting the cat atop him. When he realized that it was almost night again, he was surprised at how much time had passed. I've been here for so long... What's wrong with me...

Suddenly, the little calico hopped down and started trotting away from him. Turning his head to watch, Caden sighed. And another one leaves...

He didn't know if he should follow the cat, she hadn't made any move to indicate she wanted to lead him somewhere. He figured, though, that she wasn't his and it wasn't really his business where she roamed.

~~~

Caydence had heard the thump a few streets over and knew what she would find there. Rounding the corner, the cat rubbed herself against the wall as she walked toward the crumpled woman. Meowing, she tilted her head back to stare up at her from the ground beside her.

Tiraris looked up when she heard the familiar meow. "Caydence? Caydence!" she cried out grabbing the cat and holding her close. "Oh, Caydence. I was so wrong. He is dead, and it is all my fault. I am so stupid. I could not see perfection when it stared me in the face! I love him, Caydence. I love him," she sobbed into the cat's fur.

If Caydence could have she would have rolled her eyes, but cats cannot do that. Instead, she began to squirm and protest the firm hold of the human. Finally, escaping she ran ahead a few steps before coming back to Tiraris. She did this several times, hissing and spitting when the human did not move.

"Caydence, what are you doing?" Tiraris shook her head. 'Cats! Who knows what goes on in their tiny heads anyways. I do not see the point of her coming to see me and then wanting to leave again so soon.'

"You should have just stayed with Caden. I am sure he was better company than me," she muttered to the cat. "Caden," she whispered mournfully. Then, suddenly realization struck in. Sputtering, she jumped to her feet, startling the cat. "Caydence! You went to Caden. Remina, she said, she said. What did she say? She said you were with him. Caydence, where is he? Gods above, hear me. Caydence if you ever understood me I need you to listen now. I need to find Caden. He is dying. Please, Caydence. I can save him I just need to know where he is."

The cat took off running again, stopping only to look over her shoulder at the human. "I understand now Caydence. I will follow you," Tiraris said hurriedly. Down the alley into another they went until they were in a familiar place. Tiraris of course did not recognize it. She was too focused on the recumbent form in the middle of the alley.

"Caden!" she screamed at the top of her lungs, running over to his side. "Oh Caden what happened?" she asked. Not waiting for answers she began to feverishly run her unbroken hand over his body, checking for injuries. Her face was red as tears freely flowed. "I am sorry Caden. This is all my fault."

He started at the sound of footsteps, jerking his head to the side as he opened his eyes. There she was, running toward him with the cat tagging along. Clever thing... But he immediately noticed the state she was in, how she screamed and panicked and fussed and cried. Startled, he sat himself up and put a hand to her face, his eyes showing puzzlement over her tears.

"Tiraris? I... What happened? Nothing happened... Was something supposed to happen?" He remembered how she'd yelled at him that she was going to kill him, but he tried to push it from his mind. Actually...a lot's wrong right now, but you're crying...

"Why...why are you crying like this? And..." Caden looked down at her broken hand, wincing a bit for the angle of it. "How did that happen? Did you get in a fight?!" He suddenly perked up, looking back down the alley where she'd emerged. He couldn't see anyone that might have been chasing her, though.

"What do you mean what happened? Just how hurt are you? Caden I was told you are dying!" she continued her flustered searching for the injury. 'Blood. She said there was lots of blood.'

"Caden stop worrying about me!" She shouted, flinging her broken right hand to the side. "I am fine, it is you I am worried about. Did you hit your head too?" Still not waiting for answers she began to run her hand through his hair, along his scalp feeling for a contusion. "I do not understand. If you are not hurt then why did she tell me you were dying? Remina sai-" Tiraris stopped as she realized what she was saying. Putting her head in her hand, she mumbled "Remina said you were dying and like a sot I believed her."

'Why did I believe her? She is a demon, a sadistic murderer of children. What is a little thing like lying to her?'

As she continued to yell and fuss over him, Caden couldn't help but admire her in that moment. Here she was with an obviously injured hand and she was worried about him being hurt? I could get used to this...as long as she won't keep hurting herself so much.

His puzzled look faded to a softer expression, his eyes taking on a look of adoration for her efforts. "Wait, Remina... Ah." He remembered their conversation all too well earlier in the day, but he had no idea she would've been that bold to go to Tiraris too. "Dying... Well, she wasn't exactly lying... She tends to exaggerate," he explained, his hand still cupping her cheek as he wiped at the droplets trailing across her skin.

Leaning forward even as she dropped her head to her good hand, he nuzzled at her for a moment before pressing soft lips to her fingers. "Thank you for coming back. Tiraris, I just...I missed you. A lot. So much. More than this, all of it." He gestured around them with his hands, but they quickly returned to her.

Suddenly, he didn't care to know the details. It could wait. He could explain later. Right now, though, he just wanted to be close again. It had made him feel ill, being away from her even for a day again. He didn't want to go back.

Carefully, he scooped her up. His hands desperate to hold onto her, he pulled her close and held her tight as he lowered his head to hers. Very gently, he pressed his lips to her cheeks, her forehead, her nose, her jaw, moving all around in a slow, but determined manner. "No more tears?" he whispered, brushing trembling lips to her own. Goddess above, I missed you... Sweet, beautiful, feisty and strong... I love you. I love you and I don't want to let you go again... If she has to kill me then so be it. Death would be sweeter than suffering without her.

Curled up once more in his embrace, Tiraris could not have felt any happier or safer. 'So tender. So sweet. Could forever have been like this? Would he even want that with me? I love him.'

She sniffled as he kissed away her tears. 'Why does he care? It is so...unconditional? Who could love me? He deserves better, not a lying, ugly assassin.' All thoughts ran out of her head the moment his lips brushed against her own. Unlike previous kisses this was neither brutal nor tender. It was gentle as she told him without words how much she loved him but also desperate as she reminded him that she also missed him. Her right hand came up caressing his head, unable to physically run her fingers through his hair she made due with just touching him.

"What did she mean? Remina, what did she mean? How are you dying?" She snuggled deeper into his embrace, hissing softly as she jostled her hand. "What did Remina mean when she said she could not help you, that only I could heal you? Caden, is this about the wound I gave you?" she questioned running the back of her broken hand against his chest.

As gentle as he tried to be with her, his lips were hungry all the same. Eager, urged on by a more deep-seated desire for her, but he stopped when she pulled away and just snuggled with him. Keeping his arms wrapped around her, he gave her a bit of space to adjust but then settled right back in with her. The moment was soon cut short, though, as she began to ask about his sister again.

Groaning, Caden sighed as he looked down with pained eyes. He didn't want to have to stop now and get to explaining, he wanted time to hug, kiss, cuddle, maybe even get that hand patched up, but she jumped right in. "Be careful," he whispered, watching as she touched him with her broken hand.

Reaching one of his own hands up, he brushed back her hair and just sat there with her for a moment in silence, just running his fingers through it even though he knew he'd been told so many times not to do that.

"Without you... I need you... Can I explain the rest later?" He wanted so desperately to take her away, to just forget about all of this and take care of this lovely creature he'd fallen so hard for. I want more...I want love... But would you want it? Would you want me there? Forever?

She mewled at him like a kitten, as he played with her hair. "You are going to put me to sleep like that," she murmured smiling faintly. "It feels nice when you do that."

Tiraris understood his reluctance to talk. She too just wanted to imbibe the moment like a fine wine, slowly and for hours at a time. She nodded her head, not daring to speak and ruin the moment as she had already done so many times before.

They just sat there in silence for awhile, cuddling, nuzzling, being content in each other's embrace. As she began to feel herself doze off Tiraris looked to Caden sleepily. "Caden, can you take me home now?" She curled in tighter, if it was possible before adding, "I want to cuddle some more, properly."

When she finally spoke again, Caden just nodded. Adjusting her on his lap first, he held on for a few moments longer to indulge in petting her hair. Then, he carefully maneuvered his legs around and stood up with her still cradled there, determined to carry her and treat her gently. "Sure thing," he finally whispered as he headed back towards the street he'd walked away from just the previous night. He remembered their fight all too clearly, but right now he just wanted to spoil her as best he could.

Entering the room, he crossed over to the bed and leaned her against it as he kicked off his boots before climbing up with her. "Do you want to maybe...get more comfortable? Can I help you get your armor off?" he offered, reaching a hand up to undo the clasp for his cloak.

Gently she caught his hand in her own and kissed the back of it. "Just give me a moment," she whispered to him. She sat up, cradling her broken hand in her good one and closed her eyes. Softly she began to hum an old lullaby, gently swaying side to side. Her hands grew warm as the healing energy flooded into them. Faint cracks and pops could be heard as the bones knit themselves back into proper order. She only stopped when the warmth bled from her hands, cooling them down.

Slowly she experimentally flexed her hand and fingers, testing for lingering pain. Finding none except a little stiffness, she turned to Caden and smiled. "All better," she whispered.

She took off most of the armor herself, knowing that the laces were in odd places so that she could dress without assistance. But, stopped when she was done to her chainmail. "Help me?" she asked raising her arms above her head like a little girl.

Hesitant but trusting, Caden watched as she moved away and listened as she began to hum. He heard the crackling and pops and his eyes flickered to her injured hand. In a matter of a few moments, though, she was moving it about as it wasn't broken at all. "Did you just...?" Just smiling right back at her, he watched still as she took off her armor.

Nodding and giving a quick "sure," he leaned closer and lifted it up and off of her. Setting it down on the floor, not unkindly, he then leaned closer to give her a quick peck on the cheek as he curled his arms around her once more, feeling that purring rising up in his throat again. "Now get back over here."

Her eyes lit up as she heard him starting to purr. Smiling playfully she gave him a shove backwards before crawling on top of him. Her fingers tangled in his long hair and she leaned down over him rubbing their noses together. Leisurely, she rained chaste kisses all over his face and neck, just enjoying the warmth and comfort he brought her.

She teased him, making like she was going to kiss his lips before pulling away and kissing or nipping somewhere else. Tiraris was quickly finding that she really liked teasing and playing with him. It was innocent and sweet, both things she had locked away and forgotten about. "Did I ever tell you, I like it when you purr?" she asked nipping him on the throat again.

She pulled herself above him again, her hair falling about them like a red sheet of silk. She kissed hit forehead, then each of his eyes. She kissed his nose before hovering over his lips. "I love you," she whispered against them, before claiming them as her own.

Caden went along with her, enjoying the simple playfulness she showed as she crawled to lean over him. His purr surged a bit for the feel of her hands in his hair, and his face gradually turned to one of sheepish helplessness as he knew he could hardly do a damned thing about it. Her kisses, though. Ah, her kisses.

It was such a tease, having her there showering him with affection. "You like it?" he asked slowly after giving a soft hiss for the light, fluttery nipping at his neck. So she does like it, he concluded, smiling in his amusement.

Looking up at her, he lowered his hands down along her back until they rested at her waist. So beautiful... I wish every day could be like this. Closing his eyes as she pressed gentler, slower kisses to his face, Caden felt very relaxed with her. It was nice. Simple. She felt like home.

His purring persisted in a steady, rolling rumble over and over again as he opened his eyes again to meet her own. Wait, what was that?! His wild eyes widening as she swooped down to kiss him, Caden made a quick decision to roll them over. After a time, their lips finally separating for a brief moment, he leaned over her with all the hope of a child in his eyes. "What did you say?" he whispered, brushing lips cautiously again as a redness rose against his neck and face.

Tiraris did not fight him as he rolled them both over. A blush warmed her cheeks at the look he was giving her, though. Unable to contain herself she began to giggle. "You look a little boy on his birthday," she told him. "Come here," she beckoned pulling him closer until they were forehead to forehead and nose to nose.

She stared at him, becoming entranced by his eyes again. Mahogany and violet shared a moment of anticipation and hope. Not answering, Tiraris lovingly kissed Caden again. She kept her eyes open, letting him see all the love she felt inside, letting him see her for who she really was.

Pulling away gently, she gave him a soft smile before leaning up to his left ear. "I love you," she crooned into it. She then turned and whispered it again in his right ear. This one she bit and nibbled at, once more running her hands through his hair. She clung to him now, not wanting him to see her face. She buried her face in his throat listening to the soothing rumbles of his purring and his heartbeat.

'There is no going back now. He knows now. Come what may, he is now the keeper of my heart.' She smiled and said it a little louder. "I love you."

The demon leaned closer at her beckoning, the flush of color not even hinting at letting up anytime soon. Even with their gazes locked, however, his eyes flickered around nervously as he studied her irises. Would she say it? Would she let him hear or tease him? Even through their kiss he wondered as he studied her eyes carefully. Please...I want to hear...

As she leaned close he lowered his head. The feel of her hands in his hair still caused little hitches to his breath, but those sweet words? A sigh of relief forced its way to the surface as he nuzzled against her even as she continued to repeat it for him. The little sharp pricks as she nibbled at his ear only caused a darker red to show. Caden hoped she couldn't see it through the darkness and shadows.

"Tiraris," he whispered against her, rubbing his cheek against her hair as she settled herself against his throat again. Chuckling softly, he said, "You really do like the purring, don't you?"

Remaining verbally quiet for a time, he pondered his next move as he held onto her, kept her close. "Can I tell you a secret?" he whispered against her ear, making sure to press stealthy lips to her neck.

She laughed as he commented on the purring again. "It is like my own personal lullaby. A song only you can sing and only I can hear," she said nuzzling herself closer to him.

The moment was so peaceful that she began to fall asleep right there in the safety of his arms. 'I could spend the rest of my life right here and never want for anything again. I feel like I could do anything. I would do anything he asked to just stay by his side like this.'

His voice tickled against her delicate ear. 'A secret? What kind of secret? Is this a good thing or a bad thing? Caden, please do not ruin the moment! I just gave you my heart, do not force me to leave it behind.'

She nodded her head that she would listen. Inwardly, she was frightened. She did not want to lose him and believed that whatever he had to say would tear them apart once more. 'Please Caden. I cannot survive the separation a third time,' her mind begged.

He chuckled softly under his breath when she did not speak but nodded instead. Even as a wave of nervousness washed over him he kept his head bent to press airy kisses all along her neck. Moving down, he stopped at her collarbone and then lifted his head to look her properly in the eye.

"I love you, Tiraris," he whispered, the words coming slowly a grin overtaking his features as he leaned down to kiss her properly. His hands wandered down toward her hips, where they stayed. His affections were gradually slipping into something more carnal, even as he tried to steady himself, tried to keep himself from it. His resolve was slowly crumbling away.

Please accept me...accept the truth. I'm not just saying it because you did and you know that...please show me you know that...

Tiraris lay there frozen, her mind in overdrive. 'He...loves...me? He loves me? Me? Love? He loves me. Gods above he said he loves me! He loves me!' The realization was slow. No one had ever said those words to her and actually meant them, not even her parents.

Coming back into focus, she realized that he was looking at her in expectation. 'He thinks I am going to reject him. Oh, Caden it is far too late for that. You already have sole possession of my heart.'

Gently she rolled them over again and sat up on his lap. For a long moment she just stared at him impassively trying to come to a decision. 'How do I show him? How do I tell him I know, I understand, when I do not know what love is? Love is not sex. I do not want this to be about that. This is so much more that, at least I want it to be.'

Reaching out she took his left hand in her right and placed it over her heart and held it there. Her left snaked over, caressing his chest before resting over his own heart. "Do you feel the beating Caden? It is not real. It is just an echo of something I once had. My heart is no longer my own because I gave it to you, Hrydayesh, lord of my heart." She looked at him with pure, unadulterated love in her eyes, trying to convey everything she could into that single moment.

She laid down beside him, her head on his chest, fingers dancing around making patterns only she understood. "I have a secret to tell you too," she said breaking the silence. "I let you believe something that is not true." She stopped her fidgeting, listening and tensing for the slightest indication that he would be angry. "I was not hired to kill you."

All at once she'd effortlessly slipped them back again. Caden allowed it, trusting it was probably best for them right now. With violet eyes trained on her, he smiled wryly as he let her place his hand. Splaying fingers over her heart, he glanced down as she moved her other hand across his chest before settling it over his own heart.

The particular tenderness in his eyes was something he hoped and prayed she could see. Her words caused his heart to swell and a knot to coil in his throat again as he struggled to keep his breathing steady. It felt so right, so perfect and comfortable with her. She's...my home now.

As Tiraris laid beside him, Caden kept an arm around her as he just enjoyed her warmth and rare cuddliness. It wasn't long before she spoke up again, though, and he was definitely interested if she had something else to share with him. The subject, however, was not what he'd expected at all. What is it? She...lied about something? It wasn't this, was it? It was soon revealed and Caden just stared at her for a long while before saying anything.

Why would she do that? Why would she put me through such pain if she says she loves me... "If...if you weren't hired to kill me, then why did you tell me you were going to? ...are you going to kill me for reasons other than being hired to?" His questioning was slow but serious. He didn't want her to think he was furious because he wasn't, but his mind was definitely scrambling to find a reason for her to do this.

She buried her head in his shoulder, listening to his questions. "I was angry. Humans say stupid things when they are like that. I said it in the heat of the moment out of frustration, not meaning a word of it. Then, because I wanted to protect you, I let you keep thinking it."

Sitting up she made sure to look him in the eye. "I am not here to kill you Caden, nor do I have any desire to." She sighed curling her legs into her chest and placed her chin atop them.

"People get hurt because of me. People die because of me Caden. I did not want that to be you. Up until now I did not know what love was. Even now I am unsure of what it means. What we have, is special. But, I do not know what to do and I am so afraid of losing it."

She looked around anywhere but at him. "I do not know haw to say this. I do not want to lose you. Caden, I was not lying about being hired. I really am here to kill someone. Gods about how do I tell you this." She ran her hands nervously through her hair, tugging sharply at it. "I am here to kill Remina," she blurted out.

Looking up at him to catch his reaction she rephrased it to make it perfectly clear to him. There would be no misunderstandings this time around. "I was hired to kill your sister Remina." She looked back down hiding her face behind her crimson curtain. "And I still intend to follow through with it."

What did she mean? She couldn't be serious, this had to be a joke! Right...?

Caden watched her as she spoke, his eyes losing that bright glow in exchange for something entirely humbled and sad. He didn't even know what he should be thinking as he held onto the woman who'd just told him she was here to kill his sister and meant to carry on with that plan.

This cannot be real... A cruel trick...that's what it is. This has to be a joke, a trick, a lie... Has to be.

Offering a sad smile and a forced sigh and chuckle, he reached to run his other hand through that hair so he could see the face he held carefully. "You... This is another joke, right?" he asked, the question full of pain.

Of course he'd known his sister had someone after her, but he hadn't had any idea it would be Tiraris. "Is that why we met?" he asked slowly, eyes suddenly dropping to look at the hand touching her instead of meeting her eyes. His features tensed as he felt himself straining to not volley off a string of questions and frustrations.

It would have been her either way, he told himself as he clenched his eyes shut at the thought of the woman he'd fallen for so quickly only being after his sister. She would have been the one whether it happened like this or not. Don't question it. Don't make this hurt her, too... Don't do it. Don't ask.

"Why are you telling me this?"

Tiraris shook her head sadly. "Caden when have I ever joked with you? I am not lying. I am not joking. I am speaking only the truth now. I was hired to kill your sister and I gave my word I would or die trying. My word is my bond. I have no other choice."

She gave a small nod of her head next. "Yes, I went looking for you for information on your sister. Caden, I..." her voice faded as she realized it would be no use. 'How do you tell the person you love that your first meeting is when you started falling? How do you say that things did not go according to plan and you are happy for that? You try and hope he understands.'

"I do love you Caden. When we first met I was using you. But, as the night wore on and the games became less seductive I began to like you. When I threw you out I was so upset that I cried the whole night. When morning came I decided to find your sister on my own and not seek you out again. I did not want to complicate things and I did not want to get hurt. That whole month without you was hell. One night with you and I felt like I would never be whole again, like I was one half of a soul, a soul that you had the other half to. I feel pulled to you. No matter how much I resist, how much I try to push you away, to save you from the destruction I bring, I keep ending up right back at the beginning."

She stood up moving to where she had placed her armor. From the pile she pulled out her dagger, the same one she had thrown through a wall a month ago. She placed the hilt in Caden's hand and knelt on the bed in front of him, sharing his gaze. "I know how much you love your sister. I cannot stop myself, so you must." She reached forward taking his hand and positioned the blade at her heart.

"Do it Caden. There is nothing there anymore now. I gave you my heart. What beats within my chest is but a cruel forgery, a fake, for you hold the real thing. I do mean it when I say I love you. But," she began to choke up and her vision blurred with unshed tears. "But, I know that I cannot put myself between you and Remina. You are hundreds of years old and can find someone else to love, someone prettier, and smarter, and" the tears crashed from her eyes, "and who can love you better."

'Hold it together Tiraris. If you start sobbing he will lose his nerve and this will just cycle through again and again. You knew it could not last. Do not fight the ending now, not when you have come so far.' She hung her head, waiting for the killing blow. 'I love you, Caden. I really do.'

He understood, but these were difficult truths to hear. What he saw before him was a woman heartbroken, his eyes picking up all of the signs in her body language, her voice and the obvious welling of tears to her eyes. From the moment he saw her go for the dagger he felt the creeping crush of a weight on his chest even as he scrambled to sit up.

She feels it? She knows what it's like...

When she forced the dagger to his hand? A slap across the face.  Her putting it to her chest? A rage began burning that soon flared as she asked him to take her life. "Coward," he muttered coldly, snatching the blade away from her and slamming it into the wall above the bed. "How dare you," he growled, eyes narrowing sharply as he grabbed her up by her arms and pulled her close. It was possessive, as if someone else had threatened her and not herself.

"I can take care of myself, Tiraris," he snarled, keeping his arms locked around her and refusing to allow her to make any rash decisions. "How dare you say there is nothing when we have everything before us now! Everything! How dare you ask me to kill you! How dare you ask me to choose another! I cannot!" he bit, his breath coming raggedly as he tried to calm himself enough to speak to her properly.

"My sister is different from my love!" he strained on the words, his hands desperately clinging to her. "I cannot replace you! And I have absolutely no intentions of ever harming you either, Tiraris!" Caden felt his claws stir and jaw ache as fangs threatened to burst through for the shaking anger coursing through him. "I love you! Do you not understand what that means for me? For you? For us? It is different. It's different for us! My sister...will always be my sister, but you are the woman I must be with. I will not kill you. No matter how much you may beg and plead I will never do it. Never!"

And what of his allegiance to family? His sister? Even Caden did not yet know what fate would befall the D'Andarces.

Tiraris was startled by him calling her a coward and throwing the knife. She flinched and tensed as he pulled her in close. The fire and love in his eyes frightened her. She had never seen its ilk before. 'Can you Caden? Can you really protect yourself from me? No one else has managed, what makes you so different? Funny, though. Remina said the same thing.'

"I ask it of you because you must!" she shouted back. "I cannot be what you want of me. One way or another this ends in heartbreak, Caden. I am a poison, a pestilence on love. My parents would not even love me growing up, what makes you think you can do better? I, who has never had a family, wishes to protect yours and you ridicule me for it! Why are you driving me to do this? She is your family, not me! You are beautiful and caring. Kind and funny. What could you possible want with me? Why am I so special that you can no other to replace me?"

She was furious and hurt. She did not want this. She did not want her last moments to be arguing with him. One way or another she would die. If he would not do it than either she or Remina would. Tiraris reached for the magic within her and was shocked to find it dormant. Despite, her fury and pain, it had not risen to protect her.

'What is the meaning of this? Why can I not feel that which has always been such a large part of me? Why can I not feel the energy anymore?'

"What have you done to me?" she hissed at him accusingly. Her hands came at him clawing cruelly at his face, his arms, anything she could reach. She screamed and growled trying to fight her way out of his grasp. Like a cornered cat, she was out for blood and was willing to die trying.

'Come on Caden, lash out. It would not take much now to release the demon inside. Let it go and I will stop the fight. One last thing for me Caden and I will bother you no more.'

How had it become this way? This woman who had cried over him and confessed her feelings to him was now asking him to kill her and move on to find another for his heart. If someone had told him earlier that this would be happening right now he wouldn't have believed them for the world.

"I will do better." But what did he want with her? Why was she so special? Before he could even hope to begin explaining she was lashing out and screaming at him. Caden growled right back, though, wincing as her nails raked her nails across his skin. Tilting his head up helped to keep her away from his face, but his arms, chest, and neck were still taking a beating. "Stop it, Tiraris!" he roared, tightening his grip and forcing her closer to try and keep her from drawing any more blood than she just had.

Every fiber of his being screamed to release that darker side, to let the monster out to do what it pleased. His eyes glowed with a decided fierceness but still he kept his control of it all.

"If you calm down and quit making threats I will explain it all to you," he told her with as little emotion as he could muster, not looking down at her even as he felt the tickling of blood dancing across his skin. "And if you refuse then you will be made to calm down," he warned. "I've had enough of this...if you aren't going to let me tell you then you need to quit making assumptions."

Even as he roared in her face she refused to let up. She just fought him harder. Her desire was clear and she fought to complete her final mission. 'One of us has to die, Caden. I chose me.'

Every muscle in her body strained as she flailed and lashed about. "I will not calm down!" she roared back childishly. Seeing her chance she slugged him angrily in the jaw. "It does not matter anymore! I am a grown woman, let me make my own decisions!"

She saw it in his eyes, he was close to losing it. 'Let go Caden, let go. It will be better this way. Just let go.' He pulled her closer placing her face in line with his neck and throat. "I hate you," she cruelly spat at him. "I hate you!" she screamed out again latching her teeth onto the juncture where shoulder meets neck and drawing blood.

'I love you, Caden,' her mind wept.

His jaw stinging like mad, Caden growled for her childish defiance. It only infuriated him further as she started screaming about hating him, the thought that she would spout such lies caused such a livid glower to persist even as she bit at him.

Hardly feeling a thing for the adrenaline surging through his veins, Caden grabbed Tiraris roughly by her shoulders and tore her off of him as he pushed her down to the bed. Unceremoniously, he laid himself across her to not give her any chance at all doing any real damage if she decided to start kicking as well. Grabbing her arms, he hovered over her as he struggled against her to force her arms down beside her head. "I told you I would make you," he growled, those eyes still glowing bright violet, the action so unnatural for any human.

"Say you're sorry for lying," he demanded, lowering his face close to hers as he bared his now fully shifted fangs at her. "And don't you dare think about biting me again or you'll really have a reason to be sorry."

'There you are pet.' She almost smirked when he threw her back and pinned her down. It was so close; soon she would win. She was only sorry that Caden would have to pay the price of regret for it. 'Come on Caden, get angry!'

She glared fiercely back at him. Her mahogany eyes  seemed to bleed to crimson as the fires of her angry glowed through. Her jaw was clenched tightly while the rest of her body remained tensed, ready to spring at the first chance she got.

She bared her pathetic human teeth right back at him before deciding on a different tactic. She closed her eyes, ignoring him and blatantly refusing to apologize. 'If I cannot see you, then you must be not there. Go ahead Caden,' she internally challenged, 'do your worst.'

She wasn't saying anything at all, just glaring. When she closed her eyes and he realized what she was doing, Caden strained to not react explosively. Stubborn...just stubborn... Relax, relax... He felt that rise beginning to fade again. Frustrated that she wouldn't talk, he just kept her there for a long while as he just breathed, trying to gain that calmer strength back. It was working.

"You torture my very soul, woman," he whispered harshly. "But I will never stop loving you. Not for a minute, not for a second. Never at all. So you can stop this nonsense now." Then, he leaned to close that space, placing a few swift kisses to her cheek before claiming her lips hungrily. He didn't care what she did, if she bit him again or kicked or punched. Any way she fought he would just keep her down, too stubborn to let her leave this situation before it was settled to his satisfaction.

Tiraris could feel it. The tension was there but the anger was fading. 'No Caden! Hold on to it! Hate me for needing to, for wanting to kill Remina!'

She remained in her frozen position not even reacting as he butterflied kisses against her flushed cheeks. It was only when he pressed a bruising kiss to her lips that she reacted. Like a mad woman she began to fight him, her strength renewed. She screamed into his mouth, eyes ablaze once more.

He had her pinned too well though. All she managed to do was turn her head and break the kiss, she could not break any freer than that. She hissed at him baring and snapping her teeth at his face. Something feral within her was rising up. She did not know whether it was her now dormant energy, her primal fight or flight tendency, or something else entirely. All she did know was, she was pinned and she was furious.

She strained against him, arching her body up. But, try as she might, she could not dislodge is larger, heavier form. Giving a final scream, she went limp beneath him. Extinguished were the fires in her eyes and her soul. All her fight was gone, she could not win. Blankly, she stared into the space in front of her, not truly seeing. She was defeated.

The thrashing about hardly did anything to him. Her hiss and the rage in her eyes only caused him to put more effort into keeping her down as she strained against him. Scowling as she screamed in his face yet again, Caden watched curiously as she finally seemed to be giving in.

"Tiraris," he whispered, his voice exceptionally calm compared to her angry yelling as he let loose a bit of what he'd been wanting to tell her before. "Please accept me... I will do anything you ask besides harm you or...leave you... I want this...us, more than anything."

She refocused her gaze on him, staring dully. Her eyes looked as dead as she felt. Her fight was gone, she had lost. It was a first for her, to give up so easily. In the past she had been through more stressful and painful situations both physically and mentally and had always won. To admit defeat now was worse than any humiliation her pride had ever undergone before.

By nature Tiraris had always been independent and self-sufficient. The environment of her childhood had only enforced and enhanced those attitudes until they finally drove her from the nest. Tiraris had no become an assassin because of her mother's cruel and cutting words or her father's absence and disappointment. She did not chose this profession because it gave her escape from her responsibilities and the long line of leering suitors. No, Tiraris had become an assassin to escape herself.

'Caden, can you not see? I do accept you. It is me that I cannot accept.' Her eyes blinked lethargically open and closed. That simple effort feeling too much for her. 'You hurt Caden! You hurt the one you claimed to love! You are a monster!' her mind accused. Her diaphragm spasmed as she fought to hold dry sobs back. She had no more tears left to shed.

"Monster," she whispered letting the word ring aloud and remind her of her true nature. "How can you love...?" her question faded off as her eyes closed and did not open again. The simple effort seemed so incredibly exhausting. 'So tired,' she thought. 'So weak,' her mind spat back.

All Tiraris wanted to do was curl in on herself. She wanted to find a dark corner and hide in it like a child. She wanted to be the little girl afraid of monsters under the bed, anything to get away from the monster that she herself was. 'Forgive me Caden, for I cannot forgive myself. I have only done what I thought best. If I have to hurt you to leave you then at least I know you are alive. After all, the dead feel no pain.'

He was watching her expectantly, grip loosening on her as she'd stopped fighting him. Sliding down to lie beside her instead now, Caden's breath hitched at the dreaded word, not knowing it wasn't directed at him. How can she say that? She just said that she loves me and now I'm a monster? ...because I couldn't keep control of it, he concluded, head resting beside her arm on the bed.

"...I love you. I know you're angry with me, but I love you, Tiraris. I'm sorry you had to see...that...or part of it. But please understand..." He shifted to lay a hand across her waist as he scooted closer. "You're special...and I need you. I would die without you and I can't turn back. That day we met...that was it. I've been yours ever since and I will continue to be. Do with it what you will...but... I can't stop trying." He figured he was risking getting slugged in the face again, but he didn't care anymore. Caden wanted his chance to explain.

If only you realized the magnitude of all of this...of how important you are to me...

The moment he moved off her, Tiraris curled herself into a compact ball. She lay there silently listening with her back to him. Her body shook harder with the silenced tears. The more she listened the more she wished it was not so. Violently she began to shake her head from side to side. "No!" she cried out hoarsely. "You have to stop trying, Caden."

Her breathing came raggedly and her throat burned. "It does not matter that I love you with all my heart. Whatever I want is never mine for the taking. I can love you Caden, but I will never have you. You will be like everything else in my life, gone, dead, fleeting. It is not that I do not believe you to be strong enough. It is that I do not believe myself to be so. I am the monster here Caden. How can you not see it?"

She fell silent, once more curling herself inward. 'How can you not see that when I stand beside you I am inferior? What spell have I bewitched you with that blinds you from your true duty. Family comes first Caden, so why do you chose me?'

That warm glow of hope rose in his chest when he heard her say once again that she loved him. But why must you fight it? It truly bothered him, though, that she thought he would leave her so easily.

"Tiraris, I swear to you... I will not leave. No matter what. Even if you don't believe it when I say that...it really won't happen. I can't leave, I won't leave. You are far too dear to me, I could never dream of it for the world, Tiraris... And I am bound to you, I cannot simply uproot my feelings for you. It's not happening!"

Caden sighed and snuggled himself close around her, curling just as she did as he reached warm hands to grasp gently at her arms, to simply touch. "You are not a monster in my eyes and you never will be no matter what happens. You're so beautiful and lovely...smart and strong-willed, but never a monster."

"Caden I want to believe you when you say you will not leave me willingly. But, you do not get it. I only end up hurting what matters most to me. Whether you want to leave or not, I will lose you."

Tiraris curled in further around herself, trying to pull herself away from him. "Have I not hurt you enough already? Caden, it will only get worse. Let me go, I am not the one. This is not meant to be," she begged. Hot tears finally breaking through and racing down her face, soaking her hair.

'Monster!' her mind chanted over and over. 'Kinslayer! Murderer! Liar! Cheat! Coward! How could he want you? You are weak! You are nothing! It will not last. Kill the sister and run. You are good at that.'

"I wish I had your outlook on life. I do not see what you see. You can only see me as I am. But, I have seen my soul. Do not tie yourself to this, this cold, heartless thing. Please, Caden! I am begging you," she sobbed brokenheartedly. "Protect yourself from all of this, if not for yourself, then for me. I cannot bear to watch you go through what I manage to put everyone else through. Caden, you must understand. I have no choice in this. I have to do this, all of it. One way or another, at least one of us will die, probably two. Please do not make it three. I cannot bear the thought of you dying because of me," she begged once more.

'He will die for you and you will live. Remember that Tiraris. You are fated to live your days in solitude, alone and friendless. But, do not worry Tiraris, death will be arriving soon.'

Try as he might, he was beginning to lose his patience again, especially as she tried to move away from him. Following after her, he would keep moving with her even if she took them to the edge of the bed or down to the floor. Her crying is what stopped him from having an outburst, but it was still so difficult to hear her keep saying all of these things.

He never expected there to be no troubles or danger, especially with her being an assassin, but it was what he wanted and needed. It truly pained him to hear her begging for him to leave her and as emotional he felt on the inside, he was trying to keep himself calmer to talk with her now.

Slowly, he reached a hand up to touch her jaw, then cheek, then started wiping gently at the moisture he found there. "Tiraris," he whispered, leaning close to press a kiss to the back of her neck through her hair. Sighing sadly, he tried to keep himself there nuzzled against her.

"I cannot," he said simply. "You don't understand, but I really just cannot. I could try, sure, but Tiraris I don't want to! And I would just end up back in your life again. And if not....I would be dead." It was so precarious, knowing that someone else held your fate in their hands.

"Tiraris...if you think Remina has a say above you, then you're wrong. I would kill my own sister if I had to...this is that serious, that important. You're important. I can't make you not important to me. Please..." Caden tried to hug her as best he could, curling his free arm underneath her and around. "I love you. It will never change...so, please let it be the way it is."

Sharply, Tiraris pulled from Caden's embrace, sitting up to face him. "You implied to me once that family was very important to you. Yet now you tell me you will kill your sister for me. Caden, what kind of loyalty to family is that? How can I ever know that our family would be safe with that kind of attitude?" she asked her face set in an expression of hurt and confusion.

She inhaled sharply. 'He never said anything about family. You just assumed. Now you look desperate, fool!'

Recovering quickly she continued, "if you stop beating around the bush about everything maybe I would understand. You keep saying it is impossible but you never say why! How can I understand if you do not tell me? In fact, how can you understand me if you refuse to listen? This is not me being spoiled or naive Caden. I do know what I am saying. I do not desire this, this together one moment and at each other's throats the next. I have already hurt you so much. Is this what you want? This is all it will ever be, unless you start explaining and listening. It is all or nothing Caden!n You cannot have me and expect things to just be okay because you suddenly tell me you love me! I need some answers. I need a reason to trust you, a reason to believe you when you say things will be alright. Because all I can see of the outcome is bloodshed and misery, that is all I know."

Her voice quoted but she continued to look him in the eye. "I am uncertain whether anything else can ever exist for me."

Caden sighed, letting her slip away from him. Turning over onto his back, he watched her closely as he listened. Our family? Our family would be my reason to live, to work for it, keep it going, keep it strong. It hurt to think about her having it in her mind that he would not be able to remain loyal to her, to any children they might ever have. Frustrated, he closed one eye  as he listened, just letting her continue as he watched her with the other half-closed.

What?! "Beating around the bush"?! Woman, I have been trying to tell you! You wouldn't stop screeching at me long enough to tell you! And don't think I want all this fighting, either! Stubborn thing...so stubborn...so proud, aren't you? ...reason to trust me? ....Bloodshed?! Why are you so dramatic?! Ugh... Fine...fine, just tell her. Tell her everything, man, let her think what she will.

"Alright... Fine, you're right, I should have just told you everything and not been...'beating around the bush,' as you say," he began, though it struck his pride to admit such a partial truth for the sake of peace between them.

"You are my 'match.' It's a sort of...curse for my kind, if you will, or at least my family it is, though not necessarily bad for all of us. It goes like this... Each of us has someone out there that we need, that we feel unfulfilled without. We call them matches. There's only ever one alive at any one time, and when one dies someone else is born to continue on. For me, it's been hundreds of years...and now I've found you." He moved to sit up, opening his eyes fully now and holding eye contact so it might solidify his seriousness to her.

"And once we find and meet our match...it's over. It's why I needed you so bad...and still do. See, it doesn't know any boundaries. We could have been enemies or not gotten along at all and I still would have felt this way. It is also a cruel thing that...matches don't necessarily have to reciprocate feelings. It usually isn't as deep-seated as it is for us, with the matches, unless they can feel it too, which is quite rare, I think.

"I'm glad you do, though...but if we ever parted... I will never be able to find another now that I've found you. It's just how it goes for us. Meet and you're struck forever with a need to be with them. So deep that we begin to...lose it a bit, if they distance themselves and love another or die." He looked down for a moment, collecting himself a bit before continuing on.  

"It's truly how I feel when I tell you that I love you. I do. I always will. In life, in death...I always will, Tiraris." Caden lifted his eyes to her again, looking a bit concerned, but hopeful.

"I will never feel this way about anyone else for the rest of my life, Tiraris. It's just the way I'm built and I like it plenty so long as it's you.

"Even if you still want me to leave, I will always feel this way. It will haunt me. I will keep trying to come back," he explained, fingers of one hand absently combing through his hair for his nervousness.

"I will forever be loyal to you above anyone else now that we've met. For us, for whatever...family we might ever build. My own family is second now, as much as I love them... You are more important than all of it."

'Match. Mate. Soulmate. Fate. Fated. This complicates things.'

Tiraris looked at him stoically before nodding her head. "You have explained, now you must listen. I told you once before that I am of Serian descent. My appearance is not the only thing that comes from the ancient Fae blood. Fate or god, whatever you want to call it, has a way of putting us back in our place when we get out of line. When humans start forgetting where their roots are buried, fate steps in. Suddenly, after centuries of dormancy, generations of newborns will start showing signs of their ancestral roots. Each generation becomes stronger and their traits more noticeable than their predecessors until it is born.

"My mother's father had the strength of fifteen men. His son, my uncle, could outrun a horse and keep running for days before ever tiring. My mother," she paused reminiscing. "My mother was-is-the most beautiful woman you will ever see. I do not even come close in comparison. Her voice..." Tiraris trailed off licking her chapped lips. "They say she could sing Kia herself right down from the heavens." She snorted rolling her eyes. "Mother could and would sing the birds down into the palm of her hand. She hoped one day to become High Lady of Tirial. Her lullaby to me was the song of histories. Any man who ever laid eyes or ears on her was instantly entranced and enthralled, including the man she was betrothed to and eventually married.

"My mother's husband was a soft-spoken man. He too seemed to carry a gift of his own. While he never once raised his voice, he could settle any argument with just a few wise and patient words. Whatever he said, always came to pass. People respected him for that. It is unknown whether his gift was from seer blood or not. Whether he just saw things and then shared the truth, or that because he said things they became true is also unknown. All I know is, is that he was never wrong.

"When they married they tried to conceive and failed. After several years of trying, my mother finally birthed a son. He was stillborn. Desperate, they began to ask around for help until at last a man came forth from one of the outlying villages. With his help, she conceived. But, unbeknownst to her husband she soon miscarried. Secretly, she sought out the man and," Tirairs stopped, shaking her head angrily. "And she invited him into her heart and her bed. So was conceived the generation's it, the demon-child they named, Tiraris."

She chuckled at a joke only she seemed to know. "But, my story does not end there. My childhood was a good and uneventful one. An occasional outburst of my gift would spark up but, nothing easily memorable.

"Then I turned nine. On my ninth birthday, my mother sang a little songbird to me. That night, I saw a group of rowdy boys stone him from a tree. I chased them away and held him in my hands. His heartbeat was so faint, I did not know what to do. I became hysterical. That was the first time I felt the fire ignite within me. But, without the proper understanding of what it was, I could not not stop it. It ripped and tore its way through me, healing my little feathered friend. The last thing I remember is excruciating pain and birdsong.

Tiraris took a deep breath before continuing. Her mind still remembered the pain and was slow to release her from its memory. "While I lay abed for a week, my parents again called upon the healer. He came and woke my from my deathly sleep but, not without a price. He warned my father-in-name that this would happen again and again until it finally killed me. The only way for me to survive was to learn to control it. The healer promised to teach me on the condition that the truth of my heritage was revealed, that I am the bastard daughter of a secret union.

"Through his teachings, I learned to heal myself, but was never taught to control my gift beyond controlling my emotions. I cannot stop it, nor can I use it. Healing you was a miraculous first for me. By sheer will, I converted negativity into a constructive force.

"My father-in-name rejected me and cast out my birth father when he found out what I was. My mother tried to marry off her shame. But, any man who claimed me for his marriage bed, died before the wedding night had even begun. After three husbands, people started to name me the black-veiled bride. My fathers both cursed me at the funeral of my fifth husband. I will never be happy. I will be hurt by men's cruelty. I will die friendless and alone. I will harm any man who desires me. When at last I find my fated, I will ultimately destroy him with my gift. All of this has and will come to pass unless my gift has been tamed."

She looked down at her hands, staring at blood that was not there. "There is no one to teach me my gift, Caden. My fathers are dead, and my gift still remains untamed. Now do you see? I am am unsafe, unstable. I only am trying to protect you because I love you. Caden, the night we argued and I slashed you with my sword I almost killed you. I could not control myself. As it was I nearly killed myself trying to channel it."

At last Tiraris fell silent. Her heart raced as she reflected on everything that had been said, by her, by him. "This is a lot to consider, for both of us. I think it would be best if we had a little time to ourselves, apart. You stay here. I will go," she told him standing up. "I have sent you away enough times now," she chuckled sadly.

She took his head in her hands, bestowing the tenderest kiss of longing she could, before pulling away short. "I promise you, I will come back."

It was not without great difficulty that Caden sat with her, simply listening as she had asked of him. To hear of her past, her childhood, was a blessing to be sure, but Caden also found it painful to hear first-hand what she had had to endure as time had gone on. It saddened him to think of what she endured for the bird, remembering what she had said about the extent of the damage done to her from healing the first time she had managed to perform it. However, it did seem as though she might have a way of controlling it.

Whether someone could teach her or not, Caden felt like she might be able to adjust and learn somehow, though the means by which he knew not. Or, perhaps she cannot. Perhaps we will always be dealing with this ...Or maybe she will kill me in the end.

Caden watched her, tears of realization welling in his eyes as she circled back to talk of protecting him and how she could not control herself. He knew that she had done a great deal of damage to herself for his sake, to heal the mark she had left on him, but he also didn't want to admit that she had been out of control that night.

The demon hung his head as she quieted, visibly wincing at her suggestions. Time to ourselves... Alone... Apart. Not together. But I want to be with her...I know this is hard, but I want to. Those violet eyes turned on her, watching as she took his hand, shimmering with the moisture threatening to spill forth. Not again...I'm losing you again, aren't I?

"Tiraris," he whispered, head lowering as she reached her hands up to him, tears beginning to skate down his cheeks as their lips met. "No, Tiraris... Don't leave... We can..." Caden sighed, moving closer and reaching out a hand to brush against her arm.

He knew it was what she needed, could see it written all over her face, but the demon was selfish and stubborn and in this moment could only think of how she had just kissed him and what she had promised. "If you will come back then why leave at all?" he asked. "Where are you going? What are you going to do? Why can't I come, too?"

"Caden I need time to think. Your decision may be made, but mine still needs considering. You cloud my mind, you silly thing," she said tucking his hair behind his ears. "I do not want to argue anymore but, I need to do what is right for both of us. I cannot hear my heart when you are so close to me like this, Caden. It needs to decide if our time is now, or later, or not in this lifetime. While I know you will not admit it, you need to think on this too. What kind of life can we have, if you are not there to share it with me?"

Tiraris leaned forward pecking him on the cheek. Her eyes still holding his, she moved over and picked up her sword. "She has been my only friend these years. I have never been parted from her since she first was placed in my hand. Like my heart before her, I want you to hold onto her. She is my promise not only to return but also to not be rash while I am gone. I will not harm your sister or myself, and I will return. I would like the same promise from you, that you will not be rash. I do not want to leave without that promise, but I will if I must. I need to find a quiet place to think, out of doors, and away from any distractions. Please promise me, Caden. I do not want to have to leave here with you mad at me," she begged imploringly.

Now, later, or never... How vague. So vague, Tiraris, but I cannot fault you for not knowing without a doubt, yet. He knew it would be difficult for him and he wasn't about to back down so easily, as much as he figured she needed space for this like she said.

"My sister can burn in hell," he'd grumbled, frowning as she handed him her beloved Isilotsë. Holding it, this sword she'd once spilled his own blood with, it somehow didn't feel foreign or wrong. It felt like a part of her, as removed as it was. Tiraris was gradually moving from explanation to outright pleading and he felt himself shift from a hardened pout to a softer frown as he dried his tears.

"I am not mad," he said softly, looking at the sword in his hands. "But how will you protect yourself? What if you run into trouble? Tiraris, I..." Caden sighed, watching her. No, he wasn't ready to let her go as much as he knew he needed to at least this once. As much as he hated admitting it, she was a grown woman and an assassin at that; she could take care of herself.

After a long silence on his part, the demon finally nodded. "Tiraris...be safe. Be careful, please... I'll take care of it for you, if you really want me to have it," he agreed, reaching up with his free hand to touch her arm again. "For now, though....one last kiss?" he asked, flashing a cheeky grin and quirking a brow playfully.

"Caden I am a grown woman. I do not need my sword to kill, in more ways then one I have gained my name and reputation. Do not fear for me, love. Yes," her hands came up over his on the blade. "I do want you to take care of her. She is as important to me as the man who guards her, if not a little less so." Her gaze was warm as all the love within her heart shone out.

"Oh Caden!" Tiraris laughed. "The more you delay me the longer it will take me to come back. The sooner I leave, the sooner I return. Quit trying to distract me," she said, her tone playful. She swooped in quickly, brushing her lips against his before grabbing her cloak and leaving him.

Outside, she pulled her cloak on quickly. 'Should have thought this through a little more. A lone woman in just a shift and a cloak is not the most brilliant idea.' Tiraris hurried her way back to the rooms she had been staying in before Caden. While all her armor was with him, her nicer outfits and rucksack were both here. She dressed in a simple green dress, well as simple as a former noblewoman's dress could be.

Gathering her things, she paid for the room and left. 'No matter what happens, I am done here.' For a while she just walked the streets aimlessly, looking for a quiet place to just sit and think. She allowed her face and hair to be seen. 'How differently I am treated when they do not fear me,' she thought as men moved out of their way to catch her attention. She pleased to realize she was not interested. 'I have something better waiting for me at home.'

A familiar mewl stopped her in her tracks though. "Caydence! Where have you been?" she asked the circling feline. The cat jumped up onto her shoulder and rubbed against her face. "I missed you too, you big fuzzball. I need some help again. Do you know where I can think in peace, alone?"

Tiraris watched in mild surprise as the cat jumped down and began walking off. 'It is not like it could hurt,' she shrugged following. Up and down alleys they went until they came to the outskirts of town. They were at the forest's edge. 'Now this is more my style!'

"Thank you Caydence!" she called to the missing cat as she climbed a tree. 'Now Caden, what I am going to do with you?'

He didn't miss that brightness returning to her eyes. After watching her leave he cast his gaze down to the sword he now guarded. "My, my... I never expected any of that."

It usually took quite a lot to surprise Caden, but this had absolutely blown his mind with their outbursts and all the information that had come from them. Now, though, they needed time to stew. As much as he hated to admit it, he too needed that which she had practically begged him for, though to a lesser degree.

I suppose I shouldn't have thought she would ever be a mindless, easy girl. No, she's a woman. A strong one, with heart and soul and her own secrets and desires. I got too greedy, didn't I? She never had to really choose me...I hope she stays, though. Oh, I hope she does. I'd do...well, just about anything. It probably takes quite a lot to impress a woman like her, though. But would she even want that? Would she even care for any of that or might she just want...us?

The demon had not a clue in this, strange and unusual as that was for him. He got up and leaned the sword against the wall like it had been before and then backed away again to sit on the edge of the bed, pondering more now. Goddess knows I need her. She'll come back. Hopefully for more than just her things... Tiraris, I hope you feel it, too.

Tiraris sat in the tree a long time before she allowed herself to think on the matter at hand. The wind gently blew through her hair and rustled her skirts. It was peaceful here, quiet and soothing. The forest life continued on with their lives, ignoring her presence.

"Oh Caden," she sighed. A faint smile traced her lips as she thought of the one she loved. "Now I must think rationally." She pulled her legs up to her chest, readjusting until she was once more balancing comfortably on the tree branch. "I love him, he loves me, how could it get so complicated so quickly? If I stay he dies, if I leave he will come back and die. If I die he will be miserable the rest of his days. Which is worse?"

She groaned letting her head fall to her knees. "If I could learn control, what then? I am no domestic little bird. I cannot be mother and wife. I gave up that life, I have no desire to return. I am a killer and a warrior. My days of noble tranquility and simple-mindedness are gone. Would you want that Caden? A family? Do you expect me to be the pretty thing on your arm? How can I? I am too coarse now, too independent. And children? Do you want those too. Caden? How could I work if I am heavy with child? Would you even let me continue being an assassin if we became one soul? Caden! I am supposed to have more answers not more questions without you here to distract me. Yet, I now find myself more distracted without you here."

'What am I going to do? I love him. But, I fear hurting him. I need to do what is best, his decisions are clouded by my being his match. I must be the strong one, for both of us.'

By the time Tiraris had made her final decision the sun had already begun painting the sky in purples and pinks. Solemnly she headed back to Caden. Her paces were slower and and far more calculated than those she took on her way from Caden. 'I must be strong!'

So lost in her thoughts was she, that she hardly paid attention to her surroundings. It would be a wonder if she made it back to Caden with her decision without trouble.

It didn't take long for Caden to get fidgety again. He started pacing about the room, counting his steps, counting every second that went by as he watched the fading light lower from the window. "Time passes so slowly when you're waiting for something," he mused softly, sighing with every glance to the door.

Minutes were turning into hours now. He was growing tense, wary and uncertain, but he had faith that Tiraris would return to him as she promised. "But what will she say?" It was going to be the end of him, going over and over all the possibilities in his head. Would she have more she wanted to know? Would she just return, take her things and leave? Would she be sad? Angry? Happy? He had no idea.

He would wait, though, endlessly pacing and heart jumping at every little sound beyond the door.

Each step was slow and measured. Her heart felt heavy as she thought of what she was about to do, what she was about to tell him. 'Caden will love you no matter what. Trust in him as he trusts in you Tiraris.'

Tiraris paused as she stood in front of the door dividing her and Caden. 'No going back now, Tiraris. The decision is made, all that awaits is telling him. Be strong girl!' Her grip tightened painfully on her rucksack as she reached for the door handle.

Slowly, she opened the door, wincing as it creaked. She did not say a word as she turned and shut it and then moved over to her things. She paused looking at her sword before dropping her sack and cloak.

Tiraris took small dainty steps over to where Caden was and stood silently before him. Her face was expressionless, her hands were clasped loosely in front of her. She looked every bit the noblewoman that she was raised to be. "Caden," she addressed him, meeting his eyes. Calmly she watched him, trying to gauge his reaction "We need to find me a teacher."

When he heard the door open it took practically everything he had to not rush over to her. Turning to face her as she crossed the room he observed how calculated each move seemed with great curiosity. It's like she's a totally different person now.

A small sense of relief came for her putting down her things. He figured she would be staying at least for now if she was doing that. Eyes trained on her as she crossed over to him by the window, however, he suddenly felt a bit intimidated. She seemed so certain of herself and he couldn't help but wonder if this would be good or bad for them.

"A teacher," he said softly. "A teacher for...? You mean, for your gift, Tiraris?" Caden crossed his arms loosely, willing himself to not reach out to her, to let her tell him what she would. "And what does this mean for us?" He almost regretted it as soon as they words had left his mouth, but he needed to know if she had decided this as well.

She saw his uncertainty and a small smile began to curl the corners of her lips. Tiraris took the few steps forward closing the gap between them and took Caden's head once more in her hands. Gently, almost shyly she kissed him. It was unhurried and sweet.

She pulled away only far enough to see his eyes fully. "It means Caden, that there will be an us. Provided you will still have me, of course." Tiraris' eyes danced with love and hope.

'One way or another we will fix this Caden. We will be an us. We will be our own family.'

Her smile immediately had him relaxing again, knowing he didn't need to worry so long as she was happy. Her kiss brought forth that fluttering in his gut again. It was difficult to keep himself calm as he found himself untangling his arms just as quickly as he'd crossed them and now had his hands pressed gently to her back. Caden wanted this, though, this tender moment after all of their fighting and struggle with each other.

Opening his eyes as she pulled away again, he found himself leaning closer, gently brushing his nose to her cheek as she spoke. Flashing that toothy smile, he brought his arms around her more firmly now. "I will and I never gave a thought to turning you away, silly woman." Pressing his forehead to her own, Caden felt his hair beginning to slip down from his shoulders, the strands tickling at his cheeks as they rushed past his face.

With a contented sigh, the demon had enough time to press one more gentle kiss to her lips before his purring started up yet again. "I'm sorry I yelled at you," he offered, a sheepish smile there as he looked into her eyes. "Where might we find someone, you think?"

"I love you," she told him, giggling as his hair tickled her neck and face. "I am sorry too. We both did things that were childish and...we know what we did. All is forgiven?" She smiled up at him, bestowing little pecks on his lips and cheeks.

Tiraris sighed as she listened to her beloved's purr. "I do not think I could ever live without this," she told him nuzzling in close. "My living lullaby pillow," she teased. Gently she guided Caden back onto the bed, poking and prodding him until he was lounging back just right. She then climbed up and curled into his lap, exactly as she had the first night they met. She even made sure his arms tightly encircled her before settling down.

"We will just have to start asking questions and searching Caden. I do not know where. I just hope we find him or her soon. I want to move on with our life already. I think we have tortured ourselves enough already. Our luck though, my teacher will be living in the frozen wastelands or the labyrinths below Connlaoth."

She leaned her head back letting her neck stretch and expose the milky column of her throat. Playfully, Tiaris tugged on a lock of Caden's hair. "You know, you never once commented on how I looked. I wear a dress and you do not even blink! Kiss me," she demanded. Her eyes lit with a playful light of their own.

'We can worry about everything when the new day comes. Let this night be a happy one for just us. We have had so many interruptions and arguments already. I know there will be more to come. I just want one night where we are just like any other couple in love.'

Caden merely nodded, a little smile growing for the affection she was showing him now. Allowing himself to be moved along by her, he eventually caught on to her meaning and leaned himself down on the bed once he was seated, taking her with him now that she was curled up against him again.

It felt warm, reminiscing in such a tender way, and his purring continued on without skipping a beat as he listened to her. Looking down at her, he nuzzled against her hair as he reached his hands up along her back to rub at her shoulders. "If you insist," he teased, lowering his head to claim a kiss.

"Don't worry about how you look...., though you look absolutely beautiful to me. But you don't have to be wearing anything in particular for that, Tiraris," he whispered, nudging at her cheek with his nose now as they cuddled. "Can we just stay like this?"

Tiraris sighed contently, relaxing into Caden's touch. "Watch yourself Caden," she teased warningly. "An assassin I may be, but I am first a woman. We like it when are men notice us." She kissed him again before knocking him gently in the shoulder. "Do not think for a second, I missed the not wearing anything comment either."

For a while she just lay there peacefully in his arms. "No Caden we cannot stay like this. We must stay like this. Tomorrow we can worry about everything and plan and figure things out. But, tonight is just for us without distractions and arguments, so hush."

For hours she cuddled with Caden, watching the candle melt down to the wick and extinguish. "I love you, Caden," she whispered into the dark before falling asleep safely ensconced in his warm embrace.