Atticus lifted Grievance and focused his scope, then searched each window until he found his mark. What he saw didn't exactly please him, his target, Luna Jadon’s betrothed husband, was not alone as Kantu had said he would be. He growled around the bullet between his teeth, then removed it and opened the rifle's chamber. "You would defile your intended by coupling with another before your marriage..." He growled as he closed the chamber and then looked through his scope again. "And your companion would defile herself by allowing you to seduce her...you shall both deserve what is coming your way... judgment in a bullet..." He closed his eyes for a moment, reciting words to himself that he'd heard numerous times before within his head, then reopened his eyes and chose his shot. His gloved finger gently stroked Grievance's trigger as he stopped breathing a moment, then fired the shot. His Mark didn't even have time to gasp as the bullet entered and exited his heart before quickly passing through the skull of the woman beneath him. "May Orion forgive you." Atticus whispered softly. "For you are beyond it on this plane."

The gypsy woman screamed as she ran out of the house, after seeing her friend laying beneath her lover, both undeniably dead. She shook her head as she watched two of her rather large gypsy brothers dragging a man through the bushes with an ornate red blanket thrown over his head to keep him from getting away. "Is he the one? Is he?!" she screamed at him when she spotted the rifle clutched in one of their hands. "Take him to Leion now!"

Harlequin yawned and stretched her arms, leaping out of bed when she heard the ruckass outside her tent. Impatient to see what it was all about she skipped over the sleeping Lyra and bounded out of the tent, emerald eyes widening in shock when she spotted what was happening. Her gypsy brothers tossed a rope over a tree limb, one end looped into a noose, another man being held in wait for death. She watched until they slipped the rope around his neck before she moved any further to look at the father.

"You are charged with murder!" Leion shouted, standing on the back of a wagon. "The punishment for this crime is death, but by gypsy law you can be redeemed for your crimes if a gypsy woman would have you! Does anyone here wish to claim this man and spare his life?" Harlequin listened to the shouts around her, the cries for 'justice' and 'hang the bastard' not one single shout of mercy. She shook her head, disbelieving that this man was about to die. When she watched them, ready to shove him to his death she could stand it no longer.

"WAIT!" All eyes turned on her and even she did not realize that she had shouted until everyone grew silent. There was no turning back now. She looked up at Leion and swallowed hard. "I will marry him." "You ruin our fun little Harle," Leion chuckled then turned to look at the accused. "What say you? Do you accept this woman's mercy?"
Atticus rolled his eyes behind the blanket covering his head, though it went against his better judgment, he didn't feel like playing dead until they fell asleep. He sighed and nodded slightly. "Whatever." He growled.

Harlequin bit her lip as they cut the rope and lead him towards her and Leion. Leion hopped down from the wagon and stood in front of the two placing his hands on top of either head. "I pronounce you man and wife," he said seriously then grinned. "Take off the blanket and have a look at your bride." Harlequin closed her eyes for a moment to take a deep breath as she waited, for all she knew he was fifty years old and had no teeth. Oh what have I gotten myself into?
Atticus narrowed his eyes. 'Man and wife.' He repeated to himself. Dammit, what'd I get myself into! He yanked off the blanket and looked to his new 'bride' before he looked to the man holding his rifle. "Gimme that!" He snapped as he jerked Grievance out of his hands, then used a rag to wipe down his weapon lovingly. "You'll bruise it."

Harlequin jumped, startled at his odd outburst and began to back up a few steps, nearly tripping over her ankle length hair in the process. 'Good job, you get a psycho for a husband Harle.' She turned to glance around, until her eyes settled on Leion. "It appears that my birthday celebration will turn out to be a wedding feast!" he exclaimed grabbing Harlequin into a big hug. "Let's see you work your magic with this one little one." Harlequin pouted and shook her head, what magic? She had just gotten married for crying out loud! Had not even one glimpse at the man until afterwards, what was she to do now?

Lyra awakened to a strange commotion and slowly rose, wondering if the festivities had began when she saw Harle's empty sleeping pallet. Her scales made soft whispering sounds as she left the tent and she scented something strange in the air. She followed the scent to the crowd and stared at the man, his scent so much different from the other gypsies that she knew him to be a stranger. She also scented the faint distress Harle was suffering and knew it must have something to do with the man. Lyra hissed softly, baring her fangs until she had a path to her friend and whispered softly, "I do not know this 'wedding feast'...but he is distressing you, yes? If you would like, I will kill him for you. I do owe you for my rescue and it would be small enough effort..."

Harlequin gasped as she listened to Lyra then shook her head. "No, no there is no need, I umm married him to save his life, I do not wish him dead," she told her biting her lower lip. "I had wished to marry for love someday but suppose that it was not meant to be that way for me." Harlequin finally looked up at her friend and smiled hugely, pushing aside and hiding the strange emotions clouding her mind. "It doesn't matter, you can just be my friend, I can always use a friend. I really need one right now."

Lyra's dusky skin flushed slightly and a smile escaped her before she could stop it as she whispered, "very well. Should you change your mind though, my offer stands...life mates should not be forced upon you. The sun knows males are annoying enough even when they are of your own choosing." Something very much like a pout entered her voice, "I still think you should let me offer him my kiss."

Harlequin crossed her arms as she stamped her foot and lifted her chin, "No one kisses my husband thank you very much." She peeked open her left eye and giggled as she loosened herself up and turned to Leion. "I'm gonna go get ready for the uh tonight," she told him. "Maybe umm someone could take him to a tent for tonight or something?" "Harle I'm shocked, he's your husband he will share your tent," Leion told her with a grin. "MY tent?!" Harle sqeaked as emerald eyes widened. She looked from her husband to Leion and then back again. Finally she sighed and looked down at the bells on her shoes. "Fine," she grumbled. She glanced back up to look closely at his face then turned to walk away.
Lyra shrugged softly and cast another glance at the stranger, "strange." Tossing back her hair she followed after her friend, keeping her voice casual once she caught up to her. "My nestmate once chose a life mate to welcome into her den...and then found a more suited mate during her travels. Unfortunately the pledges had been given... but among my people a female has the right to set a challenge to her suitor or mate before she will couple with him. Do such traditions not exist among your people?" She shrugged again, "Of course you could always flee... if you just joined to him to save his life, you would still be joined even if not at his side... come with me and we will leave this place." Lyra suddnly smiled, her voice taking on an excited almost pleading tone that was completely at odds with her normal composed tone, "I know! We could travel to my homelands! You would be able to see the Red Sun Dance, and my people would welcome you as a hero even that you are a human."

Harlequin smiled at the thought and nodded to Lyra, "I wish to see how my new 'husband' is first. Perhaps he is not all so bad but I will give your offer consideration." She smiled and brushed aside a lock of hair as she gazed out over the plains. "Who knows maybe fate will be merciful and allow him to love me. As a man loves a woman." Harlequin sighed wistfully and ducked into her tent to prepare for the festivities.

Atticus took a deep breath and sighed. The entire clan was looking at him, staring at him with both accusation and questioning in their eyes, this would not be easy. He shouldered Grievance and walked off to join his new bride, refusing eye contact with any gypsy he passed. When he reached the tent, he ducked inside. Wife or no, he had no intentions of ever bedding with the girl, she was, after all, just that...a girl. "Once they've gone to sleep, I'll return to my employer in Ligeia, I have no intentions of staying here." He told Harlequin softly. He wasn't used to really speaking to people, himself yes, his Lord yes, but to others, he generally only whispered passages of books and blessings before squeezing the trigger. He sighed and turned to leave, then jumped back suddenly as a rat skittered through his path. His reflexes were honed and without thinking, Grievance was unshouldered and ready to fire.

Harlequin shook off the pain his words caused and jumped up to hurry to his side, placing her hand on his to still his trigger finger. With a sideways grin she kicked the rat outside and put her hands on her hips to stare at him. "I hate to tell you this... um whatever your name is, shall I call you dear? If you leave they'll come after you again. You do not know much about gypsies do you?" Harlequin sighed and looked down her feet, quickly lifting her head to look into his eyes before he would notice her hidden emotions. "Whether you are here or where ever it is you intend to go I am bound to you until the day I die. I will never be able to marry another man. Will you condemn me to the life of a nun? I had hoped that you would be different but I guess I'm not that lucky. Come now Lyra, the sun is about to set, the torches will be lit and the night will begin. Wedding feast indeed!" Harlequin shook her head and bounced out of the tent before he could see her cry. When she was out in the fresh air she quickly wiped away any escaped tears with a gloved hand and knocked off a gypsy's hat, giggling as he shook his usual fist at her. She won't let no "husband" get her down. So what if she would die never knowing the touch of a man? It didn't matter, she would always have Lyra, yes she had Lyra and she had her guardians. A sudden thought occurred to her and quickly perked up as ideas began forming in her mind. Ares and Aphrodite would help her, they would do anything for her. Yes tonight, when the festivities were in full swing, he would stand off to the side. Her husband was already predictable, she thought with a sly grin.

Atticus grumbled and shouldered his rifle, then rolled his eyes and took a deep breath. A Naga and a band of gypsies, things were especially beginning to look up. He walked out of the tent, then looked around, immediately drawing attention from the gypsies just by appearing. He rolled his eyes again, then looked around before settling his eyes to the air. "Whisper, find my bride." He told the ghost dog calmly, then glared at a gawking gypsy.

Harlequin felt a nudge and glanced around, no one in sight. She shrugged it off until she felt another nudge and turned around to look straight into the eyes of her new husband. She flashed him a smile and stopped when she heard Leion begin talking, the same moment the sun set over the horizon. Leion would call for the music any moment. She gave him a wink and bounded off towards the gypsy king, appearing in front of him in a cloud of silver smoke, a trick that gypsy dancers often used. There was a big cheer from her brothers and sisters, they all loved to see her dancing, she was on whom outsiders often came to see. Harlequin lifted the magenta cloak and swirled it around her body before she flipped expertly, finally succeeding in the moves she had been practicing all morning. She smiled at Lyra and gave her a wink as she whirled over to her new husband, flinging the cloak around him and using it to pull him against her. She placed a featherlike kiss on his chin before she spun away from him, swirling the cloak around her once more, glancing back at him before tossing it over her head and disappearing beneath it. The cloak floated to the ground, Harlequin no where in site. There was another cheer when she stepped out from behind Leion and spread her arms wide. She took a bow to signal everyone to scream and jump up to begin having a good time dancing and drinking. Leion patted Harlequin on the top of her head before whispering something in her ear and gazing over at Atticus. He grinned then hopped down, leaving her alone to watch the crowd with her arms crossed and a pleased smile on her face.

Atticus stepped back from the group to conceal the flush that had risen to his cheeks. He'd been around women before and not been tempted, but there was something about the way she moved that enticed something deep within his soul. He shook it off and found a tree to lean against, watching the crowd warily.

Harlequin watched her husband out of the corner of her eye, finally giving into the urge to approach him. She walked towards him, swaying her hips as provacatively as possible with a slight smile on her face. This was her first time at this and deep inside she felt jittery and nervous but she pushed it aside, not wanting him to catch any glimpse of fear. "I still don't know your name," she told him in a soft voice. "I am Harlequin Frost." Atticus pushed away from the tree and straightened his posture. "Atticus Redwolf." He answered softly, then lowered Grievance from his shoulder. "I don't mean to sound cold, but I really do have to get back to Ligeia and report to my employer..."

Harlequin flinched but didn't falter and just continued to look at him, the smile nearly gone. "And what about me?" she asked giving in to the urge to glance down at her feet as her toe traced into the sand. "Will you leave and just forget about me?"
"No." Atticus answered without hesitation. "You may come with me if you like, but know this...you may not like the man I am, granting me your mercy may come back to haunt you." He told her calmly, then looked at her, into her eyes which was loathe for him to do. "But I will not abandon you."

"If you must leave then I shall go with you," she told him as she took a step towards him. Knowing it was her last option left before calling upon her guardian, Harlequin removed her left glove, grasping it in a tight fist as she extended her bare hand to lightly touch his face. She winced and closed her eyes at the flashes that began to flash through her and took a deep breath before opening them again to look up at him. "Perhaps then... Atticus... my mercy may come to haunt you instead."

"I'm already haunted." Atticus answered softly, then closed his eyes a moment before he turned away from her and stalled a moment. "I need to leave immediately, Lord Kantu does not like to be left waiting...if there's anything you need you'd better get it now." Harlequin stamped her foot and called to her guardians before she walked towards him, completely frustrated into being simply furious. "Yes, there is something I need," she told him grabbing his hand. "Goddess of Love, Aphrodite," Harlequin told him in the same cold voice that he used. She watched as the two small lights, the red and blue that was her guardians, circle around Atticus' feet in opposite directs as the worked their way up to his head, Aphrodite leaving behind a blue glimmer as Ares absorbed the red. Harlequin frowned as she waited for the temporary spell infect him, it was her last hope and she prayed that he would not be immune to it's effects.
Atticus swatted at the blue and red dots, then shook his head as a sudden feeling began to sweep through him. Gone were his shadowed emotions, the mask he wore to keep people away from him for fear of not only hurting them but becoming too close and hurting himself. He searched his mind for even a trace of it, fighting the overwhelming sense of passion building within him. He looked at Harlequin, gazing into her eyes without hesitation, he'd lost the battle with his feelings, all that was left was an unsurmountable mass of affection left within. "Forgive my harshness." He apologized softly as he lowered Grievance. "I'm sure that this is all very upsetting to you...I apologize for my rudeness." Harlequin's angry frown quickly tilted into an excited smile. Her eyes twinkled in the moonlight, lit up with a glow of warmth that spread through her. She only wished that the spell was more permanent. It was her hope that it would change the way he seen her even after the effects were long gone. Perhaps, it could happen, anything was possible in her eyes. "It is alright," she told him shyly, a slight blush warming her cheeks when she realized how he was looking at her. "I can find it in my heart to forgive you, I just hope that you will be able to forgive me..."
Atticus reached out with his left hand and took hold of her right. "There is nothing to forgive, you've been very kind to me, the least I can do is show respect for the circumstances of your mercy...I thank you for saving my life...and I will try my best to fulfill my role as husband to you."

Harlequin's heart pounded in her chest as she listened to his words. They sounded so sincere, so true, she couldn't believe that it was the spell talking. She gave a quick glance at Leion who nodded at her, urging her to make the best of her marriage. She finally smiled at his approval and gazed back at Atticus, wishing beyond hope that this night would last for a lifetime. Harlequin bit her lip and finally stood on her toes to press a tentative and nervous kiss to Atticus' lips.

Atticus felt his mind reel as her lips touched his. It had been well over a hundred years since he'd last bedded a woman, and with the emotions flooding his mind right now, he had no willpower to resist her temptations. He returned her kiss after losing another fight, deepening it gradually as he closed his eyes.

Harlequin moaned softly, losing herself in the kiss, the first real kiss she had ever experienced. She was completely enchanted by him, there was just something she could feel when her bare hand touched his flesh, something deep inside of him that was normally kept well hidden. She withdrew her hands from his and slowly wrapped her arms around his neck, instinctively pressing herself closer to him. She wasn't ignorant of what happened between a man and a woman and it made her restless to learn what it was like, what it felt like to be fully loved by a man. 'Please love me, Atticus. Please allow me into your heart, let me break through this cold shell of yours...'

Atticus accepted her closeness, something within him, deeper even than the spell had access to, seemed accept this woman. Spells of enchantment rarely worked on him, this one seemed to go deeper than most he'd encountered in his two hundred and some odd years of life on this miserable rock. Something within his own soul was allowing her magic to affect him, something rooted deep inside his spirit that wanted him to love her, so love her would. He dropped Grievance to the ground and brought his right hand up, holding her closer. Somewhere in the back of his mind he was aware that the only thing he'd ever felt bonded too had been released from his constant grip, but it was quickly shoved aside to devote all waking and conscious thought to his new bride.

Harlequin's left hand brushed against Atticus' cheek as she wove her hands in his dark hair, flashes of the future popping into her mind, only making her more aggressive. She stood up on her toes, the little bells jingling with her every movement as she pushed him back several steps, wanting only to get closer, as close as close could get. She pulled her lips from his and gazed up into his eyes, giving him her most loving smile. She knew then that her heart was lost. She wanted to be his, wanted his love above anything else. Harlequin let her feet flatten on the ground and closed her eyes as she began pressing gentle kisses to the soft flesh of his throat.

Atticus sighed and allowed his will to collapse, there was nothing he could do, there was no fight in him anymore, he wanted her as much as she seemed to want him, perhaps even more. He would be lead or pushed to wherever she wanted him to go at this moment, every ounce of thought he possessed occupied only with thoughts of her. Harlequin gasped as her hand touched him once more giving her flashes, this time of visions more sensual than the last. They seemed to overpower her conscious mind, she slowly pushed him back, through the flaps of the tent until the backs of his legs touched the pile of multicolored feather pillows that served as her bed. She threw her arms back around his neck standing on her toes with one foot coming completely off the floor. Her eyes widened as her sudden action put them both off balance and sent them tumbling backwards into the mass of pillows.

His mind spun, reeling faster than it had only moments before, her weight on top of him was more than what tiny shred of will he'd maintained could bear. He sighed in arousal, a feeling he could honestly say he hadn't felt in over a century. Instinctively his hands moved to her hips as he found himself eye to nipple with her breasts, all thoughts of anything but her were lost, she was all he wanted or needed to know at this point in time, and he found himself willing to allow himself to divulge in this one night of pleasure. Harlequin's mind began to haze over with passion as their clothing was soon stripped and tossed to the floor next to them. Loving him was gentle and nothing she had ever experienced before, nothing she had even dreamt about. Harlequin knew that she loved him and never would find it in her heart to love anyone else, she only hoped he would come to feel the same about her. Harlequin gave a soft moan as she pulled her favorite silk blanket over top of them both and slipped her arms around her husband. All happening after that moment lost in a haze of powerful emotions as she slipped into the new euphoria that she had always wanted.

Atticus woke to a bright glow around him, the sun had obviously risen. He groaned softly and closed his eyes, massaging his temples with his left hand. It felt like a hangover, but he knew he hadn't been drinking, then again, he couldn't really remember much about anything about the events of the night. He sighed and sat up slowly, opening his eyes as he felt a weight on his chest. His eyes widened as he watched Harlequin slide down his body, then he looked to their scattered clothing.

Harlequin yawned and blinked several times before opening her eyes and yawning again. She was laying in Atticus' lap, her ankle length hair draped over his legs. She brought her right hand up and rubbed her eyes, "Is it morning already?" Harlequin yawned once more and sat up stretching her arms and legs before looking back at Atticus, her heart twisting at the stunned look on his face. He obviously didn't remember what had happened and for that she was dreadfully sorry. "Are you alright? You look like you've seen a ghost."

Atticus stared at her, then quickly averted his eyes off to the side so as to avoid gaping at her bosom. Everything came flooding back as soon as his mind had fully awoke. It had been so right, what he'd wanted for so long...and that was the problem. He had it in her and he knew it, but his past was too checkered to keep her with him, and his future too uncertain. Not to mention that his job required him to kill whoever his Lord Kantu sent him out after. "Harle..." He started softly, realizing that he was using the shortened version of her name that he assumed only the gypsies were free to call her.
"Harlequin...forgive my advantageousness from last night, I-...I'm not sure what came over me...I apologize."

"It's alright, you weren't taking advantage of me," Harlequin told him with a smile. "I am your wife, this is a part of marriage." Harlequin took a deep breath then leaned forward to press a kiss to his turned cheek. She wrapped her arms around his neck and pulled him close to her, her breasts crushing against his bare chest. "And I don't mind if you call me Harle," she whispered close to his ear.

Atticus took a deep ragged breath, his body was trembling, reacting to her touch as though her were a teenager again. He'd never quite been this taken by a woman before, never truly enjoyed their touch or kisses, but he adored hers, everything about her tempted his every sense, the sweet fragrance of jasmine on her flesh taunted his sinuses, her figure tempted his eyes and his body begged to be close to her...it was all so much, he'd never actually loved anyone before, but his soul sang to be near her, just to be close to her.

Harlequin smiled softly at him, his reaction to her nearness pleasing her, giving her the courage to be more bold. Perhaps it wasn't the spell that had made him so loving with her last night. Perhaps he really would love her. Harlequin kissed his jaw and the pulled his face around to look at her before she pressed her lips to his and pushed him back on the pillows. I want you to love me Atticus, I want you to love me forever, you've taken my heart. Harlequin lifted her head, the sapphire locks brushing against the sides of his face as she smiled down at him. "It is alright to care about someone, my husband. It isn't as bad as it seems."

Atticus looked up at her, taken by the glow of the filtered sunlight on her skin. She was radiant, perfection as he'd always seen it. He reached up his left hand and caressed one of her cheeks, his heart thundering as their flesh met. He couldn't deny that he loved her, even as short a time as they'd known one another, he knew it to be so, his soul told him that. "I need to get back to Ligeia." He told her softly, almost hesitant to let the words escape his mind and filter into voiced thoughts.

Harlequin's smile faded into a half pout as his words sunk in. Why did he always have to be in such a hurry? She sighed and brought her hand up, gasping as she realized too late that her gloves were off. She cringed when her exposed hand touched the bared flesh of his chest, she tried to control it but it was far too powerful, too powerful for her. She let out a cry of shock as hundreds of images of the past, his past, flashed over her eyes squeezed shut. "Atticus..." she moaned, falling against him, breathing raggedly as her hand remained resting against his heart.

Atticus' eyes widened in shock as a pulse of buried memories came rushing into his mind like a torrent of rain. The one left standing was the one he hated and feared the most, the memory that had turned him cold to begin with. He could see the snow falling, could feel the biting cold nipping at his body as the sky overhead began to darken. They'd been gone too long, far too long, something was wrong. His young mind hadn't comprehended at that time what had happened, he just didn't have the heart or wisdom to fathom the true intent of his family's outing on that day. His mother and father had never returned for him, they'd left him in the frozen depths of a dark forest like an unwanted puppy discarded heartlessly. He'd found a cold cavern for shelter, his weak and fragile body already death ridden from the cold...and they had never returned for him. He suddenly gasped as the memory faded, confused and suddenly frightened it searched for something familiar to bring his senses back to him and couldn't find it. Panic began to set in.

Harlequin opened her eyes, she could feel the rapid pace of his heart beneath her hand and she immediately lifted her head and grabbed his hand. She ignored the continuing flashes, the images of his finger squeezing the trigger of grievance over and over again, death to any who he targeted. Harlequin pressed his hand to her heart and closed her eyes, perhaps the pace of her heart could slow his down. "Atticus, I'm sorry, please forgive me," she whispered as she held his hand pressed harder to her chest. "Please my love, forgive me..." Harlequin felt more and more images, all consuming her, all taking her away until she slipped into complete unconsciousness, her mind changing the visions into dreams as she continued to hold his hand.

Atticus took several gasping breaths and slowly came into his own again. He looked down at Harlequin, then removed his hand gently, he could see what it was his doing, his past had come back to haunt him once again. He closed his eyes a moment and then gathered his clothing, dressing quickly. He looked at his bride again, then knelt down and gathered her in his arms, collecting her clothing inside the silk blanket with her. He covered her completely, leaving only her face to allow her air to breathe. He left the tent, seeing his rifle lying where he'd dropped it. He approached it and used his foot to kick it upwards. supporting Harlequin with his right arm as he caught Grievance with his left hand. Ligeia wasn't far, he could see the outskirts of the city from where they were, and with the gypsies still asleep, he could leave without commentary from them. He placed Grievance in the holder on his back, then cradled Harlequin in his arms and started walking.

Lyra had long since distanced herself from the people and had fully intended to spend her night in peaceful contemplation beneath the stars. Her plans changed when she saw the shadowed form and his still burden. Harlequin's scent carried no trace of blood, nor could she feel the faint brush upon her senses that told if her prey was wounded. That was the only reason she did not rush in to her friend's aid and grant the man the fatal bliss of her venom.

Instead, in whisper of copper bright scales she merely followed. Harle was, after all, with her life mate and uninjured so she did not give alarm, instead she merely accepted the change with an aloof disdain for having to alter her plans. Her eyes gleamed in the faint light but she could have tracked them without her vision, thier mingled scents lay brightly upon the ground before her and called to her through the very air. She yawned once, dislocating her jaws and realigning her fangs, and continued to follow her friend.

Atticus stalled a moment, he could hear the Naga following him and wasn't in the mood to be riddled with accusations at the moment. "What is it you want, naga?" He asked coolly, stopping momentarily to give her time to answer.

Lyra yawned again, faintly annoyed at his tone but dismissing his attitude with a small shake of her head. "Had I wished I could have alerted the entire camp with a single scream." She gave him a cold smile, allowing her voice to mimic his own inflection, "you would not, I think, have had an easy time explaining your mate's condition to her people." She shrugged and stretched, this time the yawn real, as she took in the scents surrounding them, ignoring them when she tasted no danger on the wind. Then she gave him a her attention once more. "She is my friend," a gentler smile touched her lips briefly, "I follow Harlequin...and you...until I am sure of her safety." A bit of her aloof demeanor returned and she tossed back her hair, "not that it is any of your concern where a Naga wishes to travel."

Atticus narrowed his eyes, his left index finger twitching reflexively. "I've done her no harm intended on my part." He told Lyra dryly, then started walking again. "If you choose to follow that is your concern."

Lyra's eyes narrowed and she instinctively gauged the distance between them, her venom heavy behind her fangs. "Arrogant bald ape." She muttered several more choice insults at his retreating back, her mind conjuring several delightful fantasies all of which involved him screaming.

Yea gods but the males of the human race were even more annoying than the morons she had left back home. She could almost pity Harlequin...but then again, she *had* offered to help her friend flee a joining to such a beast, so Harle had brought this on herself. 'If you choose to follow indeed...who does he think he is to speak in such a fashion to me?' Deeply miffed she shook her hair forward over her breasts and lashed the tip of her tail against a small boulder, cracking it to its base. "I should just do you a favor Halrequin and bite the dung beetle's face off while he sleeps." Then, her small tantrum passed, she took to following him once more, swiftly catching up to his side. "Where do you intend on taking her...would she not have been better off with her hatchmates?"

Atticus halted in his tracks and narrowed his eyes, turning his glare to the Naga. "Ever call me that again, and I'll make quite a profit from your scaley hide." He growled at her coldly. "I've killed people for lesser insults, so if I were you, I'd bite my tongue before a bullet goes through what little brain a Naga possesses." He gave her another glare, his left index finger itching to be of service as he started walking again. "And if you're so interested in where I'm going, look ahead of you, Serpent, can you not clearly see the city of Ligeia?"

Harlequin jerked awake and looked up at Atticus, her eyes wide as she listened to them talk back and forth. She recognized Lyra's voice almost immediately. She sighed and leaned her head against Atticus, afraid to move anywhere in case her hands were to touch someone again. She didn't wish to hurt him like she had earlier. "Lyra," she said outloud in a quiet voice. "Everything will be fine, you'll see." Harlequin opened her eyes to gaze at her husband through drooped lashes and managed a weak smile. "I trust you Atticus."

Lyra smiled faintly at her friend and then glared at Atticus, "I see I shall have to be more concise in my phrasing...I have no knowledge of you cities as you call them and wished to know the name of the place." Lyra bared her fangs briefly and her voice lowered so as not to disturb Harlequin further, "my insult may have been childish and unwarranted...but make no mistake, human, if you ever mention that discpicable practice your kind delights in...if, even in jest, you speak of claiming the scales of one of my kind, no god or demon that exists or ever will exist will protect you from me."

Lyra's eyes flashed with a deep hatred a pain that was swiftly buried beneath the cold hiss of her voice. "Of all I have met, she is the only one of your kind that has ever made me think upon you race as anything besides brutal and disgusting slayers of hatchlings...I mourn that she has been bound to one such as you." With a flash of fangs and the glint of scales, she sped away from them both, soon leaving them behind. Once sure of her privacy she coiled herself into as small a form as she could, trembling with rage and grief, finally giving vent to her tears. 'We should have killed them all...long ago when we had the strength. Before the animals started hunting us...and they call us monsters.' Lyra buried her face in the crook of her arms as the precious moisture of her tears bled from her eyes.
Harlequin sighed softly as she watched Lyra go and then turned her gaze to Atticus' face. "Lyra isn't all bad, she just tries to act tough," she explained. "Her sister was killed by hunters who wanted her for her scales and fangs. That is what she told me." She finally allowed herself a small smile, wishing to smooth things over between her new friend and her new husband. "I am certain that it will work out in time, she will go cool that temper of hers and see that you are not the bad guy you make yourself appear to be." Harlequin closed her eyes, the smile remaining as she leaned against him. "Where are we going? Did we leave for Ligiea already? I had wanted to say goodbye, will we be going back anytime soon?"

Atticus kept his eyes firmly locked on the spiring towers of Ligeia. "You can go back if you want." He told Harlequin dryly. His mood was off again, the snake had upset him heart and soul, he'd been punished enough on this rock, and he was doomed to continue it. He hated most every living thing, and despised mankind as much as she did, but he'd be damned if he'd tell her that. He was doomed to wander this rock for the rest of eternity, wasn't that punishment enough? No, every moment of it had to be hell, but then, what else could he expect. He'd never know the kind of pleasures everyone else upon this rock would know, he was doomed to watch them all die, just as he had their ancestors, and their ancestors before them...it was his destiny to feel pain until this rock finally eroded beneath his boot heels.

"Nope, my place is with you so I want to stay," Harlequin told him with a cheerful smile. "You never said where we were going, it's been a few weeks since I've gone anywhere, we just relocated to Isadore from Tamerlane to get out from under Kantu's watchful eye. He always knows what's goin on over there for some reason, I've never been to Ligiea though because it's so big, I would probably get lost in a city like that." Harlequin slipped on her gloves under the blanket and reached her arm out to play with a lock of Atticus' dark hair. "What else do you like to do, that... you know, doesn't involve that rifle of yours."

Atticus kept his eyes locked on the approaching city. "I told you last night that I needed to get back to Ligeia." He told her coolly, but not gruffly. "And as for hobbies...I have none, I'm an assassin, I kill people for a living, that's what I do, it's what I've always done."

"I know that we're going to Ligeia," she told him with a grin. "Let me rephrase it, where at in Ligeia are we going?" She straightened up a little as she grinned at him half excitedly. "Are you gonna take me with you to Kantu's fortress? I've never been in a fortress before, I want to go with you."

"It's best if you don't." He answered softly, smoothing his mood as they entered the city. "You can stay at my apartment, get dressed, find something for breakfast...but you should stay there, don't wander the city, it can be dangerous."

"I wanted to go with you," Harlequin pouted then smiled when she turned her head to look at the wares being set up alongside the road. "That's a pretty color," she muttered mostly to herself when she spotted a bolt of silk. "I'd love to come here later and buy some stuff, I wonder if they sell gems or crystals here, I collect those you know, I have a whole bag of them tied to my belt. Are we almost there?"

"Yes." Atticus answered dryly as he watched his apartment building come into view. "For the time being, you should just stay here, out of harm's way." He told her again as he entered the building then headed up the steps leading to his apartment. Once inside he carried her into his bedroom and laid her down on the bed, then turned from her slowly. "You should get dressed and find something for breakfast, I'll be back shortly."

"I can take care of myself you know," Harlequin assured him as she tossed aside the blanket covering her and pulled her pantaloons and shoes on. She stood up and smiled at him before putting on her shirt and picking up the comb to begin detangling her hair. "I wanna find Lyra," she told him as she gently picked out a tangle. "I know she's around here somewhere, it'd be nice to have help combing my hair. I guess she'll pop in sooner or later." Harlequin sat down on the edge of the bed and began picking through the pouch at her waist.

Atticus took a deep breath and stalled in the doorway. "Do not leave the apartment." He told her calmly. "This city is nearly as dangerous as Quatuor, this time of the morning especially, being just after dawn...you'll be safe here until I return."

Harlequin grinned as the door clicked shut and hopped up to follow him. She made sure to keep well and far behind him so he wouldn't hear the bells on her shoes and smiled as she examined the city around her. It didn't take as long as she had thought to reach the fortress and watched him pass through without comment through the front gates, heavily guarded. Knowing she'd run into trouble with the guards, Harlequin moved along the wall until she found a nice spot to climb and flip over onto the other side. "No way I'm stayin indoors, it's such a lovely day," Harlequin giggled to herself.

The quiet jingle of bells broke the silence of the wide hallway as Harlequin studied her surroundings. She shivered as a cool draft came in through a window and brushed against her skin. Harlequin rubbed her violet-gloved hands up and down her arms, trying to warm them as she walked. 'Now where would you be?' She stopped to gaze into an open door and nearly jumped out of her skin when a hand touched her shoulder. "What are you doing here?" a soldier growled, grabbing her arm.
"Looking for my husband," Harlequin snapped as she jerked her arm away from the man. "His name is Atticus."
"Atticus Redwolf? Now I know that you're lyin'," the soldier shook his head impatiently, as if he were dealing with a small child. He tried to guide her away and quickly grabbed her when she tried to run away from him. There was a cry of pain as Harlequin bit the soldier's hand and he barely resisted the urge to slap her when he picked her up and slung her over his shoulder to carry her outside. "Let me go you brute!" Harlequin screamed as she pounded her fists against his back and tried to kick her feet. "Lemme go or I'll freeze your favorite body part and smash it! Atticuuuuuuus!"

Atticus spun around as he heard the all too familiar voice pierce the silence. He sprinted from Kantu's office, having reported his success and receiving another target. Grievance was in his left hand in a heartbeat, ready for fire as he slid around a corner to watch a guard carry his new wife around a corner a corridor ahead of him.

Harlequin squirmed in the soldier's grasp, having spotted Atticus' blue cloak out of the corner of her eye as they rounded the corner. "Put me down this instant or I swear you'll not live to regret it!" She pulled a foot free and slammed her knee against his chin. The frustrated soldier pulled her off his shoulder and lifted her with his hands fisted in the cloth of her shirt. Harlequin kicked her feet and managed to connect one with his abdomen, she was about to scream for Atticus again when she felt the wind leave her lungs as he practically threw her against the wall. She ducked forward and covered her head with her arms, preparing herself for the worst.
Atticus skidded around the next corner and felt rage boil through his blood as he watched Harlequin get flung against a wall. "Mistake." He growled at the guard as he lifted Grievance and squeezed the trigger. The bullet left the gun and before the guard could grovel he was lying in a pool of his own blood, an entry and exit would running through his skull. He rushed to Harlequin's aid, then holstered Grievance and picked her up. "I told you to stay at the apartment, why did you follow me here?"

Harlequin coughed for a moment as the air began to return to her lungs then she turned her eyes up to Atticus. "I wanted to come with you," she pouted. "I would have been bored sitting there all by myself and I wanted to see the fortress." She thought for a moment then managed a smile. "They should secure it better, it was easy to sneak in."

Atticus sighed. "You could have been killed or worse." He told her coolly, using his best 'you should know better' tone, then sighed again. "Tight security or no, the guards here have no qualms about violating their captives, I don't want that happening to you, you should have stayed where I told you, I was coming back."

Harlequin's eyes widened at his words and she quickly turned her gaze from him. "I didn't know when you were coming back," she replied. "I am used to going wherever I want to, I told you I've never been in Ligeia before, this is all new to me." She sighed and closed her eyes. "I won't do it again." She shook off her feeling of melancholy and put her arms around his neck with a big smile on her face. "So where are we goin' now?"

"Home." Atticus told her calmly as he lowered her to her feet and took a deep breath. "This isn't the kind of place for you to roam, it's dangerous here." He said as they approached the main gate and left the building, the sun higher in the sky than it had been when they'd entered.

Harlequin sighed as she gripped his hand in her own. She didn't want to let go of him after what had just happened back there, the memory of it was still fresh in her mind. She couldn't remember having being treated so harshly before, for any reason. Always she had had the love and protection of her gypsy family, she should have listened to Atticus, he knew the city far better than she. She glanced up at him and smiled, knowing that she would never admit it. "Why do you have to go and see him for? Does he want that many people dead? Does he only tell you one person each time you go there or do you have to remember alot of names and places?"

Atticus took a deep breath as they approached the apartment building. "He gives me a name on a piece of paper, I'm not to look at it until I leave his audience." He answered calmly as he opened the door for her, then entered the building behind her and guided her to the stairs leading up to the apartment.

"He is a strange man," she replied as she ran up the stairs and flung open the door. She grinned as she pulled aside her hair and flopped down into a chair, waiting for him to come inside. "We goin’ anywhere else? We're not gonna just sit here all day long are we? You seriously can't tell me that you do nothing to relieve boredom besides shooting people." Harlequin hopped out of her seat and quickly flung her arms around his neck. "How about writing or reading? Or drawing maybe, singing, music? Collecting? There has to be something you like to do," she grinned then pulled his face down to hers so she could press her lips to his.

Atticus closed his eyes for a moment until she pulled away from him, then took a deep breath and looked around his living room. The place was ceiling to floor lined with shelves that were packed full of books, a habit he often tried to hide from people, but one of the only pleasures he could really indulge. "I read." He answered softly. "...A lot..."

Harlequin slipped her arms around his waist under his cloak and smiled up at him. "Reading is not a bad thing, I like to read too whenever I can get my hands on a book," she told him. She kissed his chin and started to move away from him, one of her hands deftly pulling the slip of paper from his pocket, before he could do anything she looked at it. Harlequin's face turned white and she thought she was going to faint when she read the name scrawled on it. "Oh please no..."

Atticus caught her and helped her to the couch to sit down, then took the paper from her and turned from her. "The less you know about who I am and what I do, the better off you'll be." He said softly as he unfolded the slip and looked at the name, closing his eyes as he felt something flow through him that he had never encountered before.

Harlequin tried desperately to control her emotions, it was hitting her hard and she had no idea what to do or say. She finally gave up and covered her face as tears began to stream down her cheeks. "What has he done to deserve to die? He's a good man! Good and full of heart and he's the only father I've ever known!" Harlequin shook her head then leapt to her feet, ignoring the weakness in her knees as she grabbed his shoulders. "Please Atticus, please don't do this... don't kill my father..." Harlequin's face dropped and she closed her eyes as she tried her best not to lose complete control.

Atticus took a deep breath, he couldn't do this job, something within him that he'd never felt before wouldn't allow him to pull the trigger on this man and he didn't understand what it was or why he was feeling it. "I won't..." He answered softly then tore the slip of paper in half and dropped it to the floor before he stepped away from her. "Stay here, I'll be back."

Harlequin watched him leave, stunned and motionless for a moment before grief hit her full force. She nearly toppled onto her knees but managed to catch herself, confusion clouding her mind. She loved him, she knew in her heart that she did and always would but how could she stay with the man who was on his way that very moment to kill Leion? The only man she had ever known as a father. Harlequin gripped the pouch tied to her belt so hard that the strings snapped. It fell from her grasp, the shiny gems and crystals spilling out of it as she stumbled towards the door and pulled it open. She hurried down the stairs, leaving the door open behind her, and ran out into the street. She had to find Lyra, she would go with her, Lyra said that she would take her to her home, would take her from her life mate if that's what she wanted. Harlequin closed her eyes for a moment, wiping the remaining tears from her eyes as she thought about her husband. She hated to leave, it was tearing her apart inside. She finally opened her eyes and darted into the crowd.

Atticus stopped as he caught a flash of color running through a crowd of people. He recognized it, he knew it was Harlequin. He ran back to the apartment to confirm his suspicions and found them to be true as he stared at the open door and the scattered treasures she'd left behind in her haste to leave...in her hurry to get away from him. He stared a moment longer, then bowed his head, she hadn't believed him, hadn't trusted him, as was the way his life was destined to be. He knelt down and picked the pouch up off the floor, then collected Harlequins gems and crystals, securing them inside the satchel before he looked at the halved slip of paper with Leion's name on it. He sighed as he rose to his feet, feeling an unfamiliar wetness on his cheeks that he hadn't felt in over a century. He'd never find love, not him, he was just an assassin incapable of feeling for others, or receiving emotion in return, he was beneath anyone's trust and faith...it was his curse and his destiny to continue on with his miserable existence alone. He took a deep breath and turned for the door, he'd find Harlequin and return her collection to her, then return here to watch another generation fade away into oblivion.

Wretched place...how can they stand it? Lyra nearly flinched at the assault on her delicate senses, a myriad of smells and sounds all whirling together to form a grayish blob within her mind. It was nearly impossible to bear...and that was with her eyes closed. The few times she did open them to glare at a human that came too close, she was nearly overwhelmed by it all. Yea gods...it was no wonder the humans acted as savage as they did if they were all raised in such an environment.
Finally the faint touch of her friends scent managed to pierce through the rest of the smells and something tickled the back of her mind, the strange sensation she felt when near to the gypsy. "At last...Harle!!" A man came between them and leered at her breasts when she inhaled to call again and Lyra's temper finally snapped. Baring her fangs in a brief warning she exhaled sharply while calling forth her venom. Not enough to kill as she used with the hunter, but enough to lock him within the dreaming sleep for a turn of days. A satisfied smile curved her lips as the people fell back from her and someone screamed in alarm but by then she had reached her friend's side.
"This place is a wretched excuse for civilization. I've known colonies of garden slugs with more... Harle?" Lyra took one look into Harle's face and saw a pain that was entirely too familiar to her buried behind her friend's crystalline eyes. "I...I am sorry." Despite her dislike of the man, she had hoped Harlequin would have found some measure of happiness with her lifemate. "Sad, is it not? How our males do us such harm..."
Harlequin shook her head, unable to bring herself to smile. "I just... just want to leave," she told Lyra with the unfamiliar weight of sadness in her heart. "I wish to take you up on your offer if it still stands. Just please... don't mention anything about this anymore, I really have no wish to speak of it." Harlequin sighed, not hearing the comments of the stunned people around her as she began her way out of the city. "Is there possibly a quicker way for us to travel? The further that I am from this city the better."
Briefly Lyra moved and enveloped her friend in a gentle hug, "...Of course. I had been waiting for a chance to bid you farewell before I returned to my homelands...now there is no need." A small shy quality entered her smile, making it all the more rare, "I promise you will find welcome among my people." Lyra glanced back at the mob gathered around the fallen man and another smile brushed over her expression. "Mmm. Perhaps I acted in haste...here...get on my back and we'll go. Just put your hands on my shoulders and balance on my tail...a simple enough feat for one of your skills and far faster than walking"
Harlequin nodded and did as Lyra had instructed, sighing as she balanced herself. "Alright I am ready to leave," she replied. She glanced back once more before looking over Lyra's shoulder and bowing her head. 'I hope that you know that I still love you, even though... I never told you.' "How long will it take us to get there?"
Lyra set out gently but soon quickened her pace when she knew Harle had found her balance. "Not long." She remained silent until they had left the city behind and then she turned southwest, heading towards the distant river. "Two...perhaps three suns at this pace but one will be spent traveling through the sands. We'll pass by Isadore if you wish to buy supplies."
"N-no I don't really wish to go near Isadore," Harlequin told her. "That's where..." Her voice trailed off and she sighed deeply. "Lyra what happens if I was wrong?" she asked. "What if I misjudged him? He seems so loyal to his employer.... I really can't see him going against his wishes... not for me anyways." Harlequin shook her head. "He is so distant, does that mean that he doesn't love me?" Harlequin stopped mumbling and looked up. "Forget I said anything, it's not important. He is better off without me anyways. I have done nothing but get into trouble since I got here."
Lyra sighed softly and her voice lost all of its cold pride. "He is how he is. If you tried to change him...or your self to suit him...all either of you would find is misery and eventually a resentment for what you had been forced to do." She shook her head briefly and idly snatched a long stalk of grass as she slithered by, wringing it between her hands in agitation. "I fell in love once...and thought to claim my beloved for my lifemate. The stubborn fool would not shame me by allowing me to leave my artisan blood to bond with a warrior...nor would he tarnish his honor by leaving our people so we might be together." She sighed softly, "it was...for the best. Eventually I would have hated him for making me abandon my birthright and he would have blamed me for his dishonor had we fled. It caused the both of us agony though I caused him more suffering when I sought to prove myself by claiming every male...but in the end what he did in leaving me for a mate that would be his equal was the right thing. It took me many years past his death to realize that but I think you will have your answer sooner than I found mine, Harlequin...once you are away and have had time to weigh your heart without the pain, you will find whatever path the gods wish you to tread."
"Yes, I suppose that you are right," Harlequin sighed softly. "I only wish that I had not caused so much trouble for him today, I did not listen to what he told me to do and I ended up in over my head." Harlequin looked up at the sky wishing with all her heart that she could just turn around and go back. 'Perhaps I should have stayed anyways.' "Thank you Lyra," Harlequin replied. "Thanks for being my friend."
Lyra's skin darkened as she blushed and she shook her hair forward over her breasts, ridiculously pleased and more than a little uncomfortable, "don't thank me. After all, I'd be a suit of armor of some such nonsense by now if it were not for you, Harlequin." She continued her journey, both women falling into a companionable, if somewhat brooding, silence and Lyra could not deny her faint disappointment once their journey had come to an end.
She turned and smiled back at her friend as the sands gave way to a slight rise of rock which fell away into a steep ravine. Rising from the canyon walls came the unmistakable scent of moisture and a long emerald swath of plant life sparkled like an emerald against the sapphire blue of the underground river that surfaced on the canyon floor.
"Naiyru...and you, Harle are the first to see it in centuries." Lyra felt an odd excitement within her chest as she swiftly and easily traveled the ragged incline until they had reached the base of the faint trail. She lest her eyes play over the elegant arches of doorways and windows carved into the stone, veins of quartz causing the blood red rocks to sparkle like diamonds. Then she began to laugh for they had not gone unnoticed, three matriarchs, each easily half again her length and somber with their darker colorations made their way through the crown that had gathered. Lyra moved from Harlequin and blew a small kiss to an old lover before turning her attention to the largest female, a older woman with blood red scales dotted with small black markings. A brief dialog followed and she lapsed into the old tongue as if she had never spoken the human's language and then a sound of surprise swept the gathering as all eyes turned to Harlequin. Lyra, realizing her friend would probably be nervous with fifty or more Nagas staring at her with such puzzled expressions, grinned and whispered, "relax...I just told my mother that you saved me.." A male named, Veln caught her attention and shouted something that made everyone laugh when Lyra shook her head and replied. "...and Veln...well...he wants to know if you're single." It was one of the last things she could say before her people came to embrace them both with open arms and laughing questions.
Harlequin's eyes widened as they embraced her, she had never imagined a place like this in all of her years. "I... well I uh... I would like to lay down," Harlequin said in a quiet voice, feeling overwhelmed with all of the excitement and tired from the long journey. "I am tired Lyra."

The trail had been easy to follow. After the commotion in the square and learning that a Naga had attacked a townsman, a child could have figured out where Harlequin had gone. Passing the Gypsy encampment without fulfilling his mark had been the most trying moment of his travel, but he'd done it. "Whisper, scout ahead." He told his dog calmly, then watched him float off the survey the territory ahead as he made his descent into Naga territory. He knew where it was, he hadn't needed to follow the trail left clearly in the sand for anyone looking for it, he'd been to this place before, once, over a hundred years ago. Sent to kill the entire colony after a single bad egg had killed a miner's son, he'd made his way into this ravine before, and it had been the first time he'd been unable to pull Grievance's trigger. It was spitting him in the face, his weaknesses, first he couldn't finish his mark on Leion, and now he was walking straight into the only failure he'd encountered before the Gypsy King. 'Am I losing my trigger?' He thought to himself as he continued downward, finally reaching the end of the trail before too many other Naga tracks made it near impossible to distinguish Lyra's. He sighed and started walking again, most humans would be feeling fear right now, he was not, he wasn't feeling much of anything, as usual, he was here to deliver Harlequin's property back to her and then leave, nothing more, nothing less.

Lethe nibbled her bottom lip and watched the stranger from the window of the hatchling den. With the adults all meeting in council to hear Lyra speak, she had been left in charge of the nestlings which were, bless the sun, to a one finally sleeping. Another human... She was too young to remember the slaughter her elders spoke of, when a group of warriors had first came and decimated the numbers of her people. All she knew was that it was a taboo to leave the sheltering arms of Naiyru...and a far greater one to have contact with a human. They were forbidden...and thus, exciting. Silver gold scales glittered in the soft light of he cavern as she slowly made her way to the arched entrance, shyly twirling a lock of blond hair around her finger.
She didn't think he could see her from his vantage point so she quickly slipped into some of the fragrant shrubs dotting the vale, watching him and building her courage. He was quite handsome...in the way the warriors were handsome when they chose to walk as humans and she felt a brief jealousy that the shifting power did not flow in her bloodline. She shoved it aside though as her curiosity built and squared her shoulders, she knew she was too young to be risking such an encounter, a teenager by human standards if only a child in her people's eyes. Still she was a Naga and as such, she could defend herself aif need be. Lethe's smile was shy despite the impish gleam in her blue eyes as moved forward, the small bells woven through her hair and around her waist jingling faintly to herald her approach. "Hi."

Atticus watched her, Whisper had warned him of her nearness before she'd approached. "Hello." He answered coolly and kept walking, eying the territory warily. "Whisper, find Harlequin." He told his dog, then watched him float off.

Lethe frowned a little, not used to being dismissed and just a little hurt by his reaction to her. Still, tagging along with him was better than watching her younger cousins and siblings sleep the sun away. Smiling again she set off and soon caught up to him, playfully circling round as he walked and taking her time to study him. "If you are looking for the female she is sleeping within Lyra's den in the artisan skerry." Lethe giggled but then swiftly regained her maturity, donning it like a cloak about her body and flawlessly mimicing her older sister's aloof tone, right down to Lyra's haughty inflection. "Were you not a lowly male I would show you the way." She let it fall away again, her curiosity winning over her playfulness as she moved closer, staring at the strange tool he carried. "What is that?"
She hissed slightly as anther voice called out before she could press him for an answer and she frowned as her friend, Niya came from her own den, her coral scales a pretty contrast to her auburn hair. "Another one? The matriarchs won't like it if you don't announce him, Lethe." Niya tilted her head and smiled, batting her lilac eyes at him, "well if they all look like that I think we should all travel and seek our mates." She cheerfully ignored Lethe's small glare and moved closer to the man, taking his scent and then calling to her sisters. "Dawn, Lilla, come and see!"
Lethe sighed in annoyance as the two other girls came from the garden in back, their sapphire and amethyst scales still shimmering from the water they had been frolicking in. "No he's mine Niya! I was just about to take him to the other human!" She was in full pout by now as she watched her friends blatantly flirt with her human and she lashed the tip of her tail in frustration. "If you don't stop that I'll tell my mother you refused to go tell her about our visitor!" She smiled as they fell back and glared at her, Lilla pouting darkly as she turned to speed off towards the council. "There, that’s better." Lethe smiled happily and latched her arm around the man's before he could protest and pull away. "Now, do you want me to take you to my sister's den or do you want to be mean and ignore me again?"

Atticus sighed and rolled his eyes, this was growing tiresome, but if she could take him to Harlequin he'd follow her. "Just tell me where Harlequin is." He answered, a slight growl in his tone as he stroked Grievance's trigger lightly and managed to reclaim his arm without jerking it away. He detested being touched, Harlequin seemed the only living thing that he could stand the closeness of enough to touch him and now he'd lost her. He sighed again softly in distress and lowered his eyes for a moment before looking back up. "And why is it that I was a lowly male before all the other attention and now you're leaping at the thought of taking me to her?"

"It is this way." Lethe tilted her head and gave him a small smile as she moved beside him, her playful nature surfacing once again. "I see density is a male characteristic regardless of the species." She laughed softly and managed to catch herself before trying to take his arm again, noticing he seemed to have an aversion to her touch. She hoped it was just his personality and not some prejudice against her people but his sigh managed to disarm whatever offense she might have taken so she decided to answer his question as best she could. "As to the insult.... well... when most of our males died protecting the vale, our females came to outnumber the remaining males." She smiled again, "and since almost all of the males of our warrior sect were killed, leaving only the artisan, healer, and mage lines with a breeding force...those males that naturally tend to be smaller and more passive...they tend to get teased a bit though we all cherish them. I pray your pardon if I caused offense by teasing you in a similar fashion."
"Now as to the leaping." She giggled and cast him another little smile, wondering exactly what leaping was. The man was entirely to amusing for his own good...but didn't he ever smile? Neither had the female... were all humans so stiff and grim? Lethe decided she would do her best to see the human smile before he left the vale even though it seemed like a difficult task. She smiled sweetly and gave him a little wink as she added a sway to her movements, "it is rumored that once Naga and humans claimed each others for mates so naturally I was curious to examine a male of your kind. Then once my friends saw you.." She shrugged slightly as they rounded a small terraced garden, "well... Niya and her sisters always manage to steal the attention of whomever I'm flirting with. So while I don't necessarily relish the idea of loosing my grip on one of the most interesting things to grace the vale in a century, I don't want to share you with those brats either."
She smiled again to show that she was teasing... mostly... and then turned back to the path, showing him to the skerry which lay beyond the orchards. "There, the red gray stone with the black quartz, that’s Lyra's den. She smiled as a form moved from the doorway, shifting and then running to them on human legs, "that's Veln. He's taken a liking to Harlequin and decided to guard her so no one disturbs her rest." She smiled coyly at the purple haired youth as he approached and edged slightly closer to the human, wishing she dared to take his arm. Veln was so cute when jealous. "He is one of the few males left to the warrior caste and since the only one of them who mastered the shifting power, he's almost as rare and entertaining as you."
"Lyra and the matriarchs ordered that she not be disturbed, Lethe." He smiled apologetically to his den mate and then frowned at the human she was with, letting his amethyst eyes play over the stranger before baring his fangs as he smiled. "Lethe...a word, love?" He smiled softly and took her hand, briefly speaking in soft sigh-like hisses as their scents intermingled. She paled a little and glanced back at the human so he placed his hand on the small of her back and kissed her gently before speaking again, "please, my flower?"
Lethe gave the human one more glance and then shook her head, "no, Lilla is already heading to the council. Lyra and the matriarchs will be here soon enough." She turned and hissed softly before speaking to the human, disappointment shining in her eyes. "I am sorry but we cannot allow you to speak with her. Once she awakens...we will tell her you have come and then she may go to you if she wishes." Lethe sighed in relief to see the flash of copper and called out to her sister as the larger female all but flew up the path to them.

Harlequin rolled over on her side and frowned at the open doorway. She didn't want to go back to sleep and chance having anymore nightmares. Nightmares of never seeing her husband again. I shouldn't have left, I shouldn't have. I should have stayed, regardless of what he does. It was not him wanting to see my father dead. No it was that despicable warlord. Harlequin rose to her feet and stretched her arms and legs before approaching the entrance. She had expected to see Veln standing there but he was gone from his usual perch by the door. Harlequin slowly walked up a few stone steps to the door and looked outside, almost fainting when she seen him. He came... Deciding that she was not ready to confront him yet, Harlequin moved through the shadows until she was close enough to hear them without actually being seen. She pressed herself against the wall and closed her eyes, willing herself to stay put, to not run to him and throw her arms around him. It was all strange to her, she had never felt this way about anyone before. I'm going to tell him the truth, I'm going to tell him how I feel.

Lyra gave Veln and Lethe a frown as she came to the young lovers and Harlequin's mate. "The council should have been told the instant an intruder set foot upon the Vale, Lethe." She hissed sharply at her younger hatchmate when she blushed and tried to look away. "Do you know what that is he carries with him? It is a gun, youngling...the same as the humans carried when they ravaged this place and slayed your ancestors...yet I was told you flirted with him as if seeking to claim a lifemate."
She shook her hair forward over her breasts in a sign of her displeasure and then glared at Atticus, a thinly veiled anger burning within her eyes. "Your taste in males is alarming Lethe, only you would toy with one who speaks lightly of claiming scales for his profit and spills blood for one to cowardly to claim his own prey." She nodded in satisfaction when both of the youths paled and Veln moved to place himself between Lethe and the human. "You're frightened now...good. A little fear is a healthy thing. You should not believe that all humans are as kind as Harlequin, for she is a rarity among them."
Lyra smiled coldly and crossed her arms, her chains glinting brightly with her motions and her voice hard, "so, Atticus, did you take your mate's sire and let his blood turn cold on the earth." Her fangs were practically itching to sink into his flesh but since he had yet to harm anyone, he was protected by the ancient laws of hospitality. "Your mate has not smiled since leaving that wretched excuse for a city and she has slept constantly since we arrived. I sincerely hope you were foolish enough to venture here hoping to force her to return with you. She is of our blood now and unlike humans, the Naga cherish their family." Lyra smiled, her fangs bright against her painted lips and she heard her sister and Veln move behind her, both children ready to back her unspoken command to protect Harlequin. "So...what will you do human?" Show your true colors or attempt to become worthy of your mate?

The urge was building, Grievance was in his hand, fully loaded, he could take these three out with little trouble and reload before any others could get here, but blood wasn't what he came here for...besides, he hadn't been able to pull the trigger on a Naga over a hundred years ago, and his weaknesses were rising, what's to say he could do it now. "Actually." He answered coldly as he lifted Grievance and watched the young Nagas cringe for a moment before he secured his weapon in the holster on his back. "I've come to return her gems and crystals to her, and if you must know, Leion still lives and breathes as well as you, I left to tell my employer I refused the mark." He glared at the three coolly, then walked around them, caring little what their actions were. "Whisper, go to her, see that she is alright." He watched his dog float off, then sighed, Lyra's mention of family wounding the very center of his black heart as the memory of his parent's shadows fading through the snow came back to him, marring his features with a mixture of sadness and pain.

Harlequin stood stunned, staring at Atticus with wide eyes glittering with remorse. "I was wrong," she whispered to herself. She couldn't move, just stood there until she felt a nudge on her hand, another nudge on the back of her leg sent her bolting out of her hiding place. "Atticus!" she cried, throwing her arms around his neck and burying her face in his shoulder. "I'm so sorry! I didn't know! Please forgive me, I was wrong! I was wrong..." Harlequin's voice trailed off as her body began to shake with her sobs.

Atticus closed his eyes and quickly embraced her. He'd never reacted so quickly in a display of emotion, but every ounce of pain he'd ever felt and hidden came boiling to a peak the very moment she'd run to his arms. "I couldn't do it, Harle..." He whispered softly as he held her close to him, silent tears glistening on his cheeks. "I know how much he means to you, and... and I couldn't pull the trigger..."

Harlequin pulled him closer and closed her eyes as she tried to pull herself together. She had just never felt so strongly about anything and the emotions were so overwhelming. Nothing in the world meant more than this moment, he cared about her, it was all she wanted and she had it. She had to tell him the truth, she wanted him to know. "I love you Atticus," she admitted through her quieted sobs. She hiccupped and lifted her head to look up at him. "From that very first night."

Atticus held her tighter, he didn't want to let her go, it felt good to have someone in his arms, someone he honestly cared about. "I love you too..." He answered softly, a tenderness in his tone that had never been there before. "You touch my heart and soul, lighting the shadows where only darkness has lived for over two hundred years...being with you makes me want to be a better man..."

Harlequin couldn't believe what she was hearing. It was all too good to be true. She stared at him for what seemed like eternity before her face finally lit up in a smile. She nearly jumped with the joy that she felt inside but decided, instead, to stand on her toes and press a kiss to his lips. A kiss that bespoke everything that was in her heart and more. She pulled away and looked up into his eyes, "Can we stay here for a day or two? This place is just so beautiful, and peaceful."

"I've been here before." He told her softly as he looked over her shoulder to Lyra's den. It was still etched into his mind, the communal nature of the Nagas had actually touched him all those decades ago and firing upon them had actually turned his stomach, it was then that he'd decided it was his own species that were the real beasts that plagued this rock. He sighed and loosened his hold on her slightly. "If it's what you want." He answered finally.

Harlequin smiled as she reached up and brushed the wetness from his cheeks with her thumb. "If you would rather not stay I am more than happy to follow you to the ends of the earth," she told him honestly. "Perhaps we could start over somewhere, make a new life, move from Ligeia to someplace far away where no one would find us." She closed her eyes and took a deep breath before opening them once more to gaze at him lovingly. "You were wrong, my love, I have met with no regrets in this marraige. I am happy just to be with you no matter what."

Atticus took a deep breath. "It's alright, we can stay if that's what you wish." He told her softly, then took a deep breath. "It's time I began to deal with my pains and frustrations rather than conceal them within my soul..."

Harlequin smiled softly and laced her hand with his. "You don't have to deal with them alone anymore," she told him her smile brightening. "You have me now, we can help each other." Harlequin turned her head to look at Lyra and gave her friend a wink before she turned back to Atticus. "Are you tired? You can rest at Lyra's place for a little while then we could go do something together. I wish to make up for my disappearance, I promise I'll never leave you again."

Atticus felt his lips curl slightly and was amazed that he possessed the ability to smile. Realization suddenly came to him when Whisper tugged at the satchel of gemstones. "Oh...I...brought your stones and crystals for you." He said softly as he lifted the pouch. "...I thought you would want them back since you told me you loved them so much." He said as he handed her the satchel, then reached into his left hand pocket. "And... I found this one in the desert..." He finished shyly as he showed her the white stone, it's surface mirror smooth from centuries of desert sand brushing over it. "I...thought it was pretty..."

Harlequin's face lit up as she took the stone from him, turning it over in her hands before she stood on her toes to kiss him. "I love it," she whispered before smiling at him. She adored the smile on his face and felt completely captivated by him. If there were really such a thing as true love then she had found it, they at found it in each other. "You want to go rest or go see the oasis?"

"Whichever you want." He answered softly, then took a deep breath. He was still new at this, feeling his emotions rather than bury them, and it would take a lot of time for him to fully understand them-if he ever could. He looked down at the ground for a moment, uncomfortable knowing the Nagas were watching them. "As long as it's with you..." He finished finally.

Harlequin smiled and turned to look at Lyra, her face regaining it's normal color. "We're going to go look around if you don't mind," she replied. "I wish to reacquaint myself with my husband." She flashed the other nagas a bright smile before she pulled Atticus away, walking towards the spring of water she had passed coming into the village. She looked down into it before turning her gaze back to Atticus. "Can you forgive me for not... trusting you? I am sorry, I know I was wrong."

Atticus looked into the pool, watching her reflection dance on the water. "Of course." He answered softly as he crouched down then touched his left hand to the spring and pulled it back, watching the droplets of water drip back into the pool. "I've done nothing to warrant your trust, you had every right to believe I would honor my Lord's request..." Lyra approached the couple slowly, shaking her head as she took their scents and then flipped a small pebble through the air, grinning as it plinked Atticus in the head. "You humans." Her voice was actually gentle this time and filled with a slight amusement. "If a wrong has been done, avenge or forget.... don't dwell upon your regrets and dull your years with trivial concerns." She yawned once and stretched slowly, "mark such matters in your memory if you must and then leave them at that...only a memory."
She smiled slightly and let the sounds and scents of her homeland fill her, "the water flows, the earth shelters us and the sun warms our bodies while the blood binds our souls. That is how our kind has always existed and I think your race would be happier in life if they followed such a path as well."
She glanced at Atticus and held his eyes with her own, "you especially. Your mate stands beside you and your mind is locked on thoughts other than her and the future you may find together." Lyra smiled softly a brief regret passing behind her eyes before she had hidden it once more, "did my mate still dwell beneath the sun, I would surely find better use for my days." She grinned and then turned her attention to Harle, "there will be a Binding dance come moonrise, in your honor. The council has named you a sister to us and will grant you a home here should you choose it."
Lyra gave her friend a playful smile "and they say... lifemates who dance together in such a ceremony will become blessed in their mating and never fear loosing their devotion. I suppose it would be called a marriage ceremony among your kind...and since we cannot welcome one of a pair while excluding the other, the matriarchs extend the invitation to Atticus as well. The both of you are welcome here for as long as you wish to stay." Lyra included Atticus in her smile as well and then slid into the water, gracefully swimming upstream and grabbing at one of her younger siblings as she sped past the child. She held the hatchling above her head, bringing delighted shrieks from the girl and then quickly gave herself to the shrieking game of water tag as she tactfully herded the hatchlings back upstream to make sure they did not disturb her friends.

Atticus watched Lyra until she disappeared, then sighed. "Only a memory..." He repeated softly, his expression dropping again as the very thought conjured up dark images of a brightly lit floor of snow and tracks rapidly disappearing under a new blanket of powder. "...Too many memories..." He slapped his reflection to make the ripples carry it away, then rose to his feet and turned from the pool.

Harlequin watched him sadly for a moment then looked down at her hands. Memories... She removed the glove from her right hand and looked up at him. 'We're in this together.' Harelquin stepped towards him and put her arms around his waist from behind, resting her head against his back closing her eyes for a moment to prepare herself. "I love you Atticus," she told him grabbing his hand, her bare fingers touching his. She whimpered as the flashed flooded her mind, she wanted to absorb his memories so they wouldn't hurt him any more. She felt her knees begin to tremble but she held herself upright, leaning against him for support. "We'll be one person, forever."

Atticus' eyes widened, he knew what she was doing it, she'd done it the morning they'd left the gypsy camp. He pulled his hand from hers and turned to catch her, closing his eyes as he knelt down to let her rest against his knee. "You don't want my memories." He said softly as he shook his head. "I've done nothing but cause people pain and grief...I don't want you to know the things I've done... all the... evil things I've done..." He finished in a whisper as a tear slid down his cheek slowly. "You are already a part of me... I don't want you to know the pain of being black hearted..."

Harlequin sighed softly as she tried to catch her breath. "You are not black hearted, no matter what you've done," she replied, opening her eyes to gaze up at him. "I love you no matter what you've done, because you are here with me now." She smiled and brushed away the tear from his cheek. "I will stay with you always so long as you'll have me here." She put her arms around his waist and leaned against him, perfectly contented to remain there for all eternity if it were possible. She yawned and closed her eyes, beginning to grow sleepy again.

Atticus rose to his feet, lifting her with him. "You should rest." He told her softly as he carried her back towards Lyra's den. "You're exhausted." He entered the den and found a place to lay her down, then took a deep breath and closed his eyes for a moment. "Give me something that only a gypsy would carry... my Lord will only hire someone else to take Leion's life should I report failure...presented with proof the job is done... he'll believe that I've completed his task..."

Harlequin looked at him for a moment then began to search her person until she pulled a colorful scarf out of her pocket with ornate designs on it. "This is all I have with me but I'm sure no one except a gypsy would wear such," she replied holding it out to him. "Why does he want him dead? What has he ever done to deserve something like that?" She sighed and closed her eyes for a moment. "I would like to stop by the camp on the way back, if that is okay with you, I'll tell them to move again."

Atticus looked at the scarf as he took it then took a deep breath. "I never know the reason behind their deaths, only that he wishes them to be such..." He answered softly, then turned and sat down beside her, his back facing her. "I generally know only the name and location of the mark...not their crime, if there is any." He sighed softly and closed his eyes, sliding the scarf through his hands, suddenly entranced by it's fabric. "And if you'd like to stop and see them... I don't mind..."

Harlequin opened her eyes and sat up. She wanted nothing more than to cheer him up, to see that wonderful smile on his face once more. She lifted herself to her knees and wrapped her arms around Atticus' neck, leaning her chin against his shoulder. "Come now, let's not think about this right now," she told him with a smile. "We'll use these few days here to get to know one another better and to put all our troubles behind, just for a little while."

Atticus sighed and reached up to take hold of her hands. He actually felt at peace in her arms, as though the centuries of pain would wash away the moment she came near him. For once in his life, he was honestly comfortable in the presence of another person, and not only comfortable...comforted. "I was here once before to slaughter this entire species...the man who hired me would have paid handsomely, I'd still have finances from that one job...but...when I got here and they were so one with each other, so...united as a family...I couldn't pull the trigger..." He paused for a moment and took a deep breath, leaning back against her as he closed his eyes. "...That's what I felt when my Lord asked me to kill Leion... outlaws, thieves... whatever your people may be called, they're still united as a family... I couldn't destroy it then, and I couldn't destroy it now..."

"There is nothing wrong with feeling compassion," Harlequin told him softly as she carefully situated her legs around him and leaned back against a wall. "It is actually one of the things that I love about you." Harlequin squeezed his hands and closed her eyes as she hugged him tighter to her. She lifted her right hand and smoothed his dark hair out of his face as she leaned over his shoulder and pressed a light kiss to his jaw. "Feeling regret is what keeps us from becoming evil and as long as you carry that remorse you will know what I know, that you are a wonderful man. You make me proud to be your wife, Atticus Redwolf."

Atticus sighed softly, her words comforted him, made him feel wanted, needed in some way other than a means of death. He gripped her hands and relaxed against her, he was actually comfortable. He couldn't remember ever feeling this way, this loved and wanted, it washed through him like liquid heat and warmed every part of his very soul. "And I'm proud to have you as a wife." He whispered softly and lovingly.
Harlequin sighed as she closed her eyes and laid her cheek against him, she could feel his dark hair against her skin as she lifted her head to gaze at his face. There was nothing more in the world that she wanted to hear besides those words. All she ever wanted was right here in her arms. A soft smile brushed over her lips as she closed her eyes again and began to sing quietly an old gypsy lullaby.
Atticus took a deep, cleansing breath and relaxed. It didn't take long until he was asleep, he'd refused to stop during his travel to this location and his body urged him into sleep as he listened to Harlequin's song.

Harlequin smiled as she felt his body relax and his breathing deepen into sleep. Still she didn't stop her song, just kept singing as she began to gently sway back and forth with him, hoping that it would seep into his sleep and give him pleasant dreams. There was just something so peaceful and fulfilling about holding him in his sleep. It was an absolute sign of trust, when he was most vulnerable and yet here he was, asleep in her arms where he belonged. She smiled at him as she leaned forward to kiss his forehead and rest her cheek against him before continuing her song…