The Racer and Ryder

2

Serena landed smoothly on the gravel in front of the large grey building, folding her wings she turned her head to her rider, "I assume you are going to get off?" After a moment Aria turned to Cas, the reason she was still on. He was still gripping onto her, his face buried into the back of her jacket. She could feel him shaking, his knuckles white as he gripped onto her, that's when she realised she hadn't told Serena to slow down on the landing. Oops.

"Emm..... If your gonna be sick can you get off first... Please?" Aria asked turning to look at him, with that he detached himself from her and hurled himself to the ground. Aria smoothly slid off, patting her hunched over friends back as she continued towards the main meeting room.

The meeting room was nothing special, an empty room with four stained grey walls and an old wooden floor. Over the years of constant shuffling feet, the planks where gradually wearing away, causing the old wood to creak and groan. The gaps between each plank are growing larger by the minute, causing Al to restrict the amount of meetings, instead of actually fixing it. Aria slowly walked up the step towards the grand throne - the only thing in the room that looked new and expensive - taking her usual place at its side. She moved to the right readying herself for the meeting to come. It was the same every morning, yet every time she never knew what to expect, in fact she dreaded it for that very reason.

People began to fill the room taking their places, some of them smiled at her sweetly or eyed her up hungrily, while others look at her with a deep hatred. Aria spotted Cas in the front, his face had more colour but he still seemed pretty shaken. She mouthed 'sorry' to him earning a smile and an 'it's ok' back. She smiled but it quickly dropped when Al's talking - more like shouting - was audible from behind the other door. Everyone stood to attention as their leader strolled in slumping in the throne.

Al wasn't the healthiest of people and could do with losing weight, but when you have servants at hand to do whatever you require, you don't really have to move at all. With a podgy finger he signalled his loyal guards to stand at either side.

Aria gasped in surprise as one of them stood directly behind her, his breath stirring the hair on the back of her neck. She scrunched up her face in disgust as his breath hit her nose.

"Nice hair pin. You know my birthdays coming soon, do you know what I want?" He whispered shoving himself closer to her, she began to shake with anger her nails digging into her palm as she tightly clenched her fists. "You." At that Aria had lost it, turning swiftly she raised her fist punishing the man in the face. He stumbled back in shock as she grabbed him by the collar, giving him no time to think she hooking her leg around his, making him fall harshly to the ground. Blood was running from his nose as he stared at her wide eyed, crouching at his side her hand still firmly attached to his shirt she raised her fist to make the final blow. Stopping when she realised what had happened.

Gasping and murmurs where all that was audible in the room, looking up she saw Al's round face peaking round the back of his chair, smirking slightly as always.

"Said something you shouldn't have Derek?" Al questioned looking down at his guard. The guard squirmed below her, not looking at Al as blood rushed to his cheeks as an angry blush. "Why is it no matter how long my guards train they can never beat my precious ruby? And why is it I have to constantly repeat myself when I say do not touch my daughter? Is that hard to understand?" He continued starring down at the guard a confused look on his face as his brows furrowed.

"Maybe because she's the best of us all, and of course how can anyone resist such beauty, I mean even I fall weak at the knees." Said a smooth familiar voice that Aria could never forget even if she wanted to. Everyone turned to the black haired young man, moving smoothly towards Aria, a mischievous grin on his handsome face. His tall muscular frame caught the attention of everyone, as well as the dark aura that seemed to surround him.

"Jonathan." Aria growled, as she stood up slowly the guard scurried away to the side, wiping and holding his nose. He smirked, his dark eyes falling on Aria, running up and down her body as if she was a piece of meat, and he was a hungry lion.

"Hello Aria, did you miss me?" He said moving closer to her, in response she moved back earning a smirk from him.

"Do you really want me to answer that?" She said crossing her arms over her chest as she stared at him her eyes narrowed.

"Aww come on, don't be like that. I know I always beat you at fighting but can't you look past that? I understand it must be horrible to lose, of course I wouldn't know because... Well frankly I've never been beaten." He said smugly walking right up to her, his face a millimetre away from hers. From behind him Silas - his Father - called but he didn't move, he just continued to stare, his breath fanning over her face.

"I will win one day." She whispered staring right into his eyes as if sealing her promise. He smirked at her and straightened his back so he was yet again taller than her, making Aria curse herself for being so small.

"I will wait for that day," he said running a finger down the side of her face before swiftly moving away. "If it ever happens, after all... I always win." He continued, walking over to his fathers side.