The Forgotten

Still Watching Still Waiting

When I get to my room, I take off my wig. It's so itchy and uncomfortable. Lance says it's necessary though. Of course it is. All of the awful things are necessary. Death, loss, grief, periods, and apparently extremely horrid wigs.

It's a good thing Eris didn't see me. It isn't time yet. She's not ready yet. She needs to understand why this had to be before I meet her.

I don't know which was harder, avoiding Eris or avoiding Shain. Both were necessary. Ah, yes, there's that word again. Necessary. All of this crap is needed for the bigger picture. Eris, nor Will, nor even Brace can see it yet.

But they will.

I take off my black gloves. It's a shame Jess had to die. If only Lance could have gotten to him like he did for me. All Brace needed was a picture and a story about hiding my body. That's all anybody needed.

Although, I must admit, Jess wasn't innocent. Perhaps I would have paid closer attention if he hadn't betrayed me. Oh well. At least Shain survived. For a minute, I thought Eris might kill her. I was wrong.

I won't make that little mistake again. That's my problem, underestimating people. That's how I got myself in this position.

I change from my boring black clothes into a pink evening dress. No one can see it though, not without the veil to hide my face. After all, it might cause some suspicion if a dead girl shows up at dinner.

Lance offered to get me a plane to Kazakhstan. I declined though. I wanted to see her, Eris. Now I will. And soon she'll see me.

I hear footsteps. Quickly I throw on my hat and head scarf. I open the door.

It's Lance.

"Oh good," I say. "Now I can take this silly thing off." He watches me do so.

"Eris saw you with me," he informs me. "She's on to you." I laugh.

"She hasn't seen my face, not yet."

"She's watching though. We must be more careful. If she finds out before it's over..."

"She won't," I assure him, sliding my hand around his neck. "Not until we want her to." He grins.

"Brace never understood, did he?" Lance asks. I shake my head.

"He thought the only solution was death. That's not true. The deaths of a few aristocratic families won't stop this. Only greater action."

"Safer action," Lance agrees. Then we embrace, passionately. I bend over backwards, letting him lay me on the bed.

He stops kissing me just long enough for a hot whisper, "I love you, Raven."