Dark Again

Chapter 9~ Jael

A single thought from me, and the floor was pulled out from under us, and we dropped to the ground. I instinctively tucked into a ball and rolled as I hit the ground. Damien however, landed with a bit less grace. Unless grace includes screaming in terror and landing on his face. I tried not to seem too concerned when I asked if he was alright.

"I'm just peachy," he replied, dripping sarcasm. "Next time can I have a little warning?"

I grinned. "Where would be the fun in that?"

Be careful. The way to her is treacherous. Do not become distracted. Even by attractive young males... Weifarbour's leaves shook as she laughed at me. There is no such need for those kind of thoughts, my dear one. He is quite... What's the word you kids use these days? Ah yes. Cute. He is rather cute. I tried to keep my mind completely blank. I hear the things you think of him. But being unattainable will not win his heart.

I turned away from her and told Damien to follow me. The path to the stables is cool and well worn, I've seen to that.

"Come over here," I said, gesturing to a stable with a large black mare. "Her name is Reign." I petted her muzzle affectionately and turn ed to Damien. "She knows her limits, so don't force her into things. She's a smart one and would likely trample you straightaway."

He gave a crooked smirk. "I can't tell if you were talking about the horse or yourself."

Fighting a blush, "Both." I shoved Reign's saddle and bridle into his hands. "As they said in those really old North American tales, 'saddle up, partner.'"

"We're partners?"

I immediately realized my mistake. "No," I replied quickly. A glance told me he was fighting laughter. Idiotic human males...

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Five minutes later, after many mistakes on Damien's part, we were out on our horses traveling to the lakeside to cross over into the forest and officially begin this trip. We took a slightly bigger boat that I conjured with more effort than the dingy I had earlier to ferry Damien and I. I tried not to let it show how much that little trip drained me, and coaxed our horses out of the boat. I swung into my saddle and set off at a brisk pace. Damien had to struggle to keep up. 

"So..." Damien said.

"What?"

"Do you have a boyfriend?" He gave me one of those grins of his that made me not entirely sure whether or not he was joking and made my feet all tingly. I did my best to assemble a scowl. 

"My occupation and Master does not allow much room for... meaningful relationships with others." Damien burst out laughing, and I felt the blood rise to my face. "What's so funny?"

"Nothing," he barely got out, wiping away a tear. "Just it's funny how sometimes you talk all proper like you expect any educated 'Assassin of the North Wind' to talk and other times you talk just like anyone would."

My scowl deepened. "My title is Assassin of the Western Stars and it is a very prestigious honor to be given it." I knew how to get his blood boiling... "It sounds much better than... What was it you were again? An errand boy for coffee and bunion cream?" His immediate reaction showed I had hit just where I wanted to. Damien's ears turned a violent scarlet to match his cheeks. He glowered and I stuck my tongue out at him. With a flick of the reigns, he urged Reign to go faster and pulled ahead of me on the trail. I whispered to my horse, a male pinto named Jut, to follow them closely. 

"You don't even know where you're going!" I called from a few paces back, and Damien turned back around to face me. 

"Of course I don't. But the horse does!" Reign whinnied as she walked just under a low hanging branch and knocked Damien right off his saddle. I couldn't help it, I laughed, good and hard and long. 

Reign looked very satisfied with herself and stopped a couple steps away. I dismounted. "Come on, up you go." I offered him a hand, which he took. Damien pouted. 

"The horse doesn't like me," he said, sticking out his lower lip. 

"No, Reign just doesn't like being referred to as 'the horse.' Get back on, you overgrown baby." I hopped back into Jut's saddle. I'm going to be really sore after this.  

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

It's about noon until we stop at a creek to water the horses, and eat something ourselves. I swung off Jut and led him to a river only a few feet wide, while Damien did the same to Reign. His shaggy blonde hair fell into his eyes, and an absent minded smile worked it's way onto his face as he petted her. So innocent, despite who he was and what he was working against. So why did the Master want him? I suppose she has a thing for taking innocent things and making them into monsters, considering where I came from. Damien looked up and caught me staring at him. He gave me a suggestive smirk. Spinning on my heel, I whirled and strode away in a flurry of my scarlet hair. The crunching of leaves told me he was following. I didn't even know where exactly I was going, just away. 

Maybe if I was paying more attention, I would've noticed the fact that the branches above me were swaying, but there was no wind. 

"Stop following me," I growled to Damien, whipping around. "Isn't that what got you into this mess in the first place?"

He shrugged and crammed his hands into his pockets. "Yeah. But you're also the person that should've killed me, but didn't. You must have your reasons for that, so I figure the safest place would be near you." 

I laugh. If you only knew. I didn't have any good reasons for not killing you. "Even if the Master hasn't sent more assassins to kill you yet, there are plenty of people that would love to see me dead."

A heavy weight and the roar of a lion hit me in the back, knocking all the air out of my lungs and I dropped to ground.