Armageddon
Chapter 9.1

Tiana walked through the courtyard of the castle with an armful of books. The afternoon sun was warm on her shoulders. Her mind carried her off in thought. She didn’t know what happened to that outpost after she had returned. Vladimir didn’t like to talk about work when they were together, as little as they were. She’d refused to merge bedrooms at this stage, regardless of what the castle thought; they weren’t yet married.

She was less concerned about the outpost, however, as she was other matters. Vladimir would be leaving to meet her father. They had spoken about it briefly, which ended with them both being upset. He refused to let her go with him, kept telling her she was dead to them anyway, and she couldn’t help but feel he was letting his jealousy about Michael get the best of him.

Something nearly completely transparent glittered past her and she stopped short of walking through it. As if noticing her for the first time, Princess Cleopatra bowed her head, quite lowly, given their status.

“Greetings, Chosen One,” she whispered before continuing her way. Tiana gawked after her.

“She’s nearly gone completely,” Tia whispered to herself, turning to watch the Ghost-like Princess disappear the further she walked away. She slowly looked around the courtyard. Several attendants did their own thing. Life continued. No one noticed or even talked about Cleo much these days. It was like her consciousness was already gone, and her memory as well. Tia frowned, unable to feel anything but unhappiness about the situation.

A shadow loomed over her as she turned. She knew who it was already by the cold of death spilling from him. Tia hung her head and continued to go about her way.

“What a boring response,” Jaya called after her.

Tiana stopped and turned back, giving him a sorrowful look. “Why doesn’t anyone try and stop her? Why does everyone seem to forget about her each passing day?”

Jaya frowned, picking up on who she was referring to. “That, little Monkey, is probably something ya won’t ever understand. It is her desire,”

Tiana looked away from him, her eyes searching the grounds around them. Dissatisfied she continued her way. After a moment of hesitation, he followed. “I don’t understand why anyone would give up on life to go to the other side so soon. It’s basically suicide,” Tia said, both to Jaya and to herself.

“I think ya of all people would never understand that, with what ye’re given up and all.”

Tiana turned on him, her hair spinning like the flames of hell. Her eyes seemed to flash dangerously. “Stop talking, stop telling me there are things you know about me that I don’t. You and Cleo both. I don’t care what I was or what I am on the other side, this is me now and I will live this life or so help me-.”

“Easy, easy there!” Jaya laughed, his hand rubbing the top of her head. She swatted him off. “Alright, ya win.” He grinned and stepped back, making sure to casually pull out a familiar pelt.

“So, Vladimir is leaving tonight to begin his journey to yer homeland. As it’s political he has to go about it the proper way and travel with a bunch of guards and some other royals. It’ll be slow and will take a few days, so I’m left to look after a stubborn ill-behaved Princess. But what would happen if, I don’t know, I watch after ya while ye’re watching after him?”

She felt a smile play on her lips. “Is this the stalking game? Wait, you can’t go to the Zoo. You look like you belong in one.”

“Ouch, that hurts.” He sighed and ran his fingers through his hair. At the same time, she watched a visible change about him. His form shimmered and he became leaner, his hair black, his skin dark. His form shrank before her eyes and his teeth shortened back down until they were well hidden behind his large lips. She gawked at a man with a rich complexion and he winked at her, his dreads hanging loose around his tattooed neck, a neck so thick there might not have been one at all. His muscular shoulders exposed as the once tight tunic now sagged off his smaller form.

“Oh my god, you’re a Human,”

He rolled his eyes.

“You’re not dead anymore.”

“Still dead, but this is one of the many joys of having magic in yer blood. I’m still meh, I’ve only just altered yer perception of me.”

“Can I do that?”

He laughed, it rolled out of him and brought a tear to his eye. Shaking his head, he handed her the pelt. “Oh, that’s a good one. Ye’re a funny one, little Monkey.”

“I was not being funny,” she growled, snatching the fur out of his grip.

Tiana watched the attendants below her scurry about. The carriage was ready at the Eastern Gate, with several horses aligned and even more guards standing by. Multiple families gathered, saying goodbye to their loved ones.

Today everyone seemed to be Human, but as Tiana watched everyone closely, she realized that she could see an odd shadow about them - one that outlined their true forms. She was sure the Professor would want to know about this change.

The familiar, attractive sound of Vladimir’s steps drew her attention away from the scene taking place at the bottom of the cobblestone stairs.

She let her honey gaze linger on random features, from his sharp jawline to the curls in his black hair. His shirt was buttoned completely today, his cloak lax on the rich blue material across his shoulders. Alexander walked next to him, his hands behind his back as they spoke softly. Vlad glanced ahead and drew the conversation to a halt just as they stopped before her. His burgundy gaze met hers.

“Hello,” she said.

“Come to see me off, then?” Vlad asked, the mischievousness side of him she knew all too well flashing in his eyes.

“Don’t get full of yourself now,” she warned, leaning against the wall while her eyes fell back down on the group below. Jaya was now speaking with a guard. Alex inclined his head to the two of them before taking the steps to join the fray. Vlad stood next to her, surveying the people below as well.

“I’ll be back in a week,” something in his voice was uncertain. He didn’t want to leave with them on bad terms.

“I won’t be here,”

Very calmly Vladimir took her by the arm and pushed her back against the wall, out of sight to any onlookers below. His dark eyes regarded her dangerously while his forehead rested against hers. “You will be here,”

She met his anger with her own. “Continue to delude yourself, and you’ll only push me further away.” She stayed unusually still before him, her smaller frame nearly drowning in his shadow. He straightened himself and turned to walk away, sparing her a sideways glance.

“You can run from me, but you’ll never be able to hide.” She glared at him as he stepped out of her line of sight. Her fingernails dug into the palms of her hands.

“Spoiled, selfish, petty fuck.” She spat, knowing he could hear her. A pale, green-skinned Orc hauled himself onto the window frame only to lean out of it briefly. She folded her arms and faced him as his attention returned to her.

“Vladimir’s in a bad mood,” he commented, glancing back towards the open stairway where the King was surely brooding.

“Well, he can stay in a bad mood,” she growled, turning to walk away so that they might talk. Jaya nimbly jumped after her to follow.

“Try and get him to let ya go again, did ya now?” He asked, folding his hands behind his head. In an instant she punched the wall, her rage getting the best of her. The impact fractured the wall, causing a chunk to break off and fall at her feet. As if nothing happened, she was walking again, ignoring the pain. Jaya’s dark gaze hesitated on the wall before he matched his pace with hers. He waited a moment, his eyes traveling around before he decided they were out of the wolf’s earshot. “Do ya still want to go, then?”

“Of course, I do. If anything, just to show him I won’t sit here and wait for him to come back. I won’t be that person that waits helplessly on the sidelines,”

The Orc took two large steps and turned to face her. They both stopped and she regarded him with an angry, hurt expression. “Vlad wants ya to be ya; he would never change ya. He just doesn’t know how to handle ya, either. He’s always gotten what he wanted. He is spoiled, even he will admit to that. He is of royal blood and with that comes a certain attitude, one he is aware he has. He knows in order to make this work; he is the one that needs to change. So, just show him how. The way that ya do.” He lowered his hands and placed them on his hips, grinning foolishly. “Personally, I love watching the two of ya clash.”

She rolled her eyes and pulled out a fox pelt from the folds of material around her waist. She hesitated and regarded the white and orange dress she’d picked out. It was mellow and calm, yet the strokes of each flower were bold and defined. Her stepmother would have approved.

Finding her resolve, she met his unwavering stare and wrapped the pelt across her shoulders. Jaya caught the monkey mid-jump and pet the creature’s head. It’s large eyes, ever curious and wet, closed briefly as the creature chirped.

“Let’s stalk the King, shall we?” He asked, his eyes flashing playfully. The monkey climbed onto his shoulder as he slipped out the window.

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