"Lani" Hestia whispers as she enters the queen's tent, spare cloak and a hidden wine bottle in her hands. It was easy to slip past the guards, they wouldn't suspect anything from Vivianne Westwood's calm docile girl. And it was even easier to slip them something and drug them. And after all, Hestia is quite pretty so how could they refuse her.

Nalani's eyes flutter open at Hestia's words and she yawns as she awakens from her brief doze. She spies the spare cloak that Hestia carries and smiles, it is all part of her disguise after they escape.

But then the young queen spots the wine bottle that Hestia is pulling out from beneath her robe and truly wakes up.

"You brought the wine, good," she says smiling at her friend as she sits up properly, "and the cloak to disguise me."

"I brought it all like you requested," Hestia says, unfastening her own cloak and hanging it up.

She doesn't need it, Nalani's tent radiates heat. But the Fire Queen makes it to her preferred temperature without a second thought. It is easy for her.

Nalani glances up at her friend and smiles warmly at her. Hestia looks beautiful tonight, she wears a deep turquoise dress which brings out the hues of green in her pretty dark eyes and her beautiful dark brown curls sit on the turqoise dress. Small gold bangles adorn her wrists and foreign gold hoops in her ears which is apparently the fashion on the mainland. She has quite full chest which the dress compliments as it hugs to her body and her curves, she isn't as slim as Nalani but Nalani prefers thinks Hestia's body type is much more appealing. It's quite rare.

"Look at you," Nalani says grinning, "every man in The Hunt will be pining after you with your gorgeous figure."

Hestia blushes as she takes a seat next to Nalani and shakes her head, "I doubt that," she says with a small smile and Nalani rolls her eyes. Hestia is ever the self doubter.

"What a shame, now all those boys will go crying back to their homes after Beltane, weeping of their broken hearts," she says, a mischievous glint in her eyes as she smiles at her friend.

"You always over exaggerate Nalani," Hestia says with an eye roll but she can't keep the smile off of her face.

"I'm not lying and you know it, you underestimate yourself but don't tell me you never noticed the attention you got?" Nalani says, thinking back on it. Hestia is shyer than Nalani, she doesn't like to flirt so openly or any of that. But Nalani has seen the way some boys and even girls look at her.

"Pfff what attention?" Hestia says incredulously.

"Does Henri Renard ring a bell?" Nalani says dryly with a sly smile on her face.

The poisoner boy and Hestia did have a fling a few months ago in Rolanth but it wasn't serious. And Vivianne loathed him because of his association with the Arrons and the fact that he was a poisoner. Nobody likes poisoners and the island isn't keen for more poisoner queens. Not after what happened with the last streak of them.

Hestia shakes her head in distaste at Nalani's words, "No, that was over as soon as he went back to Prynn and anyway it was just fun," she says, "he was only one man, no others approach me particularly."

"Not that you notice," Nalani says but drops it, "well anyhow you can look lovely simply because you are lovely. No need to impress anyone other than yourself."

Hestia smiles gratefully and then finally sits next to Nalani, opening the wine bottle quickly and handing it to Nalani who takes a large swig of it before pulling a face at the bitter taste.

"Bleh," She says, swallowing it down eventually, "now that is an acquired taste, are you sure it's not poisoned because it's more bitter than Octavia Arron's face."

"You are bad," Hestia giggles feeling like a child again, "Octavia Arron would likely poison you if she heard you say that."

"Not if I burn her first," Nalani says wickedly, lighting up her palm with a few flames just for effect.

Hestia then uses the water in a nearby jug to extinguish the flames which sizzle and crack as they die on Nalani's palms.

"You're no fun," Nalani complains but then Hestia flicks some water into her best friend's face in response which just makes the queen laugh.

Sighing Nalani takes another sip of wine, trying to get used to the strange taste that is horrible but oddly satisfying.

"You may say that I'm dressed to impress but what about you?" Hestia asks, changing the subject as she gestures to Nalani's pretty but plain black dress, "look at you, you're the prettiest girl on the island and the most intriguing, the suitors will come running the moment they set eyes on you."

Nalani sighs, "you compliment too highly but if only your cousin was among that lot then I wouldn't have to worry about loving the suitors."

"You truly love Rowan?" Hestia asks. She is genuinely curious and wary. She loves both Rowan and Nalani, but she knows how Nalani is and she doesn't want her cousin to get hurt because he inevitably will. And he has only just got back.

He can never marry Nalani, he could only be her lover in secret. But that would be a life in the shadows which isn't a life for a Westwood or any elemental.

"That my friend is classified information, how a queen fucks is a queen's business," Nalani replies blatantly taking another large gulp of wine. Even though Rowan and her haven't done it properly yet it is definitely inevitable and definitely her business alone. She's not a maiden but it will be the first time for Rowan and her together. She may as well have some fun before she's tied down and married to one of the dull mainlander suitors.

Hestia gasps at the language and then begins laughing, "You have such a foul tongue Lani!" She scolds jokingly, still chuckling slightly, "if you weren't a queen they'd surely whip you in the stocks for it."

"Well they could try I suppose," Nalani says, finishing off the entire bottle with one last sip, "but I'm not into that sort of kink."

Hestia blushes and starts laughing again; Nalani joins in this time and they both collapse on each other before they realise how much time as passed.

"Oh goddess," Hestia says, picking up her spare cloak and passing it to Nalani, "quick put this on, it's time for us to go."

Nalani slips the blue cloak on quickly, careful to tuck in every last strand of her black hair to avoid detection. Hestia is taller than Nalani so the cloak covers her completely, shielding her black dress from view mostly. As long as no one sees her eyes then no one will recognise her. Hopefully. But the night is dark and most are a little drunk, she should get away with it. As long as her guards don't awake earlier.

"How do I look?" Nalani asks, gesturing down to herself.

"Like a pretty but completely ordinary elemental woman, nothing queenly about you except your beauty, we can't hide that so I suggest you keep your face down mostly," Hestia says, looking at how different Nalani looks wearing a colour other than black. The periwinkle blue suits her, it makes her look ordinary. Like she is just a normal girl, not a queen. Hestia wishes she wasn't a queen, for Nalani's sake, so she could just live and enjoy life free of burdens. It saddens her to think that Nalani could possibly be gone soon. Nobody talks about that at home. None of the Westwoods talk about what will happen if Nalani is killed. But it could happen. Everyone likes to speak of it as if she has already won. But there is always a small chance it might go wrong. But it must not.

"Alright," Nalani says, "are you sure the sleeping water you slipped to the guards will keep them down for long enough."

Hestia nods, "I'm sure."

"Let's go then," Nalani says, walking out of the tent quickly, Hestia following behind.  They see two of her newly appointed war gifted guards lying on the floor. Both look to be in their early twenties and they're features are incredibly similar.

"Who are they?" Nalani asks curiously, she knows Vivianne assigned them to guard her and but they answer to Pele Murtra as all the war gifted do and the whole island essentially. For now at least while she is still the Head of the Black Council.

"Juliette and Jonah Vatros," Hestia answers as she and Nalani proceed to pull both guards into the tent.

Nalani looks at them closely. The girl doesn't look like a Juliette it doesn't suit her. Juliette has short choppy dark hair that looks deliberately uneven but she still manages to pull it off. She has a pretty face with alabaster skin as does her brother Jonah. Her hair is longer than his but barely. Both wear fighting leathers and have knives and daggers strapped to their sides.

"They're twins," Hestia says, voicing Nalani's thoughts, "they're Rebekah's younger siblings."

Oh yes, Nalani thinks with some recognition. Rebekah Vatros, she's on the Black Council - one of the youngest members because she's only in her late twenties.

"It was easy to drug them," Hestia says as she bends down to retrieve a knife from each of them, "they didn't think I would be a threat because of my mother and all, this is probably the most shameful thing I've ever done."

Nalani smirks as Hestia passes her Juliette's knife and she straps it to her side, "or the most exciting thing you've ever done."

Hestia lets out a small smile as she secures Jonah's knife to her side, "If anything happens to you it's my responsibility so I've got to be armed just in case."

Nalani nods but she doesn't know whether Hestia's trying to convince Nalani or herself. Nothing will likely happen. Even if it does Nalani could always burn them and Hestia has her water affinity to make use of.

"Where's Rowan?" Nalani questions. She told Hestia to tell him to meet them here. Perhaps he didn't receive the message in time.

Hestia shrugs but as if on cue Rowan appears. Looking so beautiful, especially with those markings she drew on him. On his beautiful tanned chest. It makes her want to take him to bed immediately.

And she might of. If Hestia had not been here.

"Good evening ladies," Rowan says with a grin as he stares at Nalani, "the blue colour suits Lani."

Nalani smirks in response, "well we know you'd like me in whatever I wear, you'd like me even better if I didn't wear anything at all."

"Don't start," Hestia groans and Nalani laughs but she catches eyes with Rowan who gives her such a lustful glare she has to look away.

Just then the High Priestess' horn sound faintly, marking the beginning of the Hunt.

"Let's go," Hestia says, looking a little mischievous for once as she smiles and starts running into the woods.

Nalani and Rowan follow, holding hands for a moment before they are all being welcomed into its arms as the forest engulfs them.

It is darker than Nalani would've thought. It's night but it's like stumbling around blind in the middle of the forest. Luckily they have some light as rare beams of moonlight stream in guiding the way, managing to find a gap in the tree's shields of leaves and branches.

It doesn't take long for them encounter a very large group of several hunting parties all storming around and in all the chaos Nalani and Hestia lose Rowan. But they don't look for him, he will be fine and has probably accidentally wandered off with another party. Not that they would be able to find him in these dark woods.

So the two carry on and don't speak for a while as they try to make out any game or fellow hunters; it is quite lonely for several minutes until they encounter another hunting party, a smaller one this time.

They hear the shouts and cries of victory first and the sound of metal digging into flesh.

Hestia gestures to Nalani with her hand as they curiously follow the sounds.

A hunting party of naturalists. They should have known. There's about ten of them, a few women but mostly bare chested young men, all with black tattoos covering them. None of them have their familiars with them but it is to be expected, familiars are all kept together back at the camps while the Hunt goes on.

They've caught a large boar, which is streaming with blood and they're all still celebrating.

None of them have heard Nalani and Hestia approaching yet until one, a tall and handsome young man, turns to face them.

He has curly dark hair with pretty blue eyes, slight facial hair but it suits him. Dark swirls and patterns cover his muscled chest, depicting a story of riddles and ink.

Nalani can't help it, she's a little attracted to him instantly and by the look on Hestia's face it seems she is bewitched as well. But she doesn't like him like she does Rowan so this hunter is of no real interest to her. But perhaps he and Hestia could develop something. Or at least have some fun.

Another naturalist girl seems to spot this and takes a subtle step closer to the young man, entwining her hand with his, causally marking her territory. Nalani sends her a wicked grin that sends her scowling.

"Have you two pretty young lasses come to join our hunt," he asks, his Wolf Spring accent prominent as he steps closer to them both, letting go of the girl's hand as he does much to the girl's clear annoyance. All the other naturalists turn at that, some with looks of suspicion but most with friendly looks.

Nalani takes charge stepping forward confidently and putting on her friendliest smile,

"Yes if you wouldn't mind, we seem to have lost our hunting party and I'm afraid we're aren't particularly skilled at hunting and we can't return back empty handed, our fellow elementals would mock us."

The hunter nods, smiling as he takes in Nalani's beauty but then he turns to Hestia and something new gleams in his eyes as he looks at her stunning figure and face which makes Nalani smile, Hestia deserves to be adored.

"We would be ever so grateful if you let myself and my friend here join you," Nalani finishes, taking care to avoid eye contact as she does so. They're probably drunk but she doesn't want them knowing that she's a queen.

The lead hunter contemplates it and goes to speak but another young naturalist man steps forward and answers for him, "of course you can join our hunt, we can't have you being mocked now can we."

Murmurs of agreement echo through the party as they look at both girls with friendly looks.

"Alright," the lead one says, "but what are your names."

"Beatrice and my friend over here is Hestia," Nalani introduces and the handsome hunter smiles at Hestia again as she murmurs a hello. But she is shyer with new people.

"I'm Aaron," the handsome one introduces which makes Hestia smile, "and you two can join us."

He turns and then begins running with his spears and the others follow, some breaking away to take the boar back.

"If you can keep up," the hunter shouts, disappearing quickly into the trees, followed by the rest of them. Nalani exchanges a glance with Hestia before they both eventually catch up. The naturalists kill plenty of rabbits and pheasants, with they attach to their waits and carry on luring unfortunate creatures out with their naturalist magic. All the naturalists in Innsifuil Valley will be having a grand feast tonight.

Nalani and Hestia both stand back, watching in awe. They're elementals, they don't know how it feels to be able to communicate with animals and have a connection. And they are both certainly not hunters, no that title belongs to the naturalists and the naturalists alone.

They carry on running and both girls find themselves lost in amongst the naturalists and the cries of victory and the hunting.

Nalani keeps running before she trips over a stray tree root and falls down to the leaves on the floor. Luckily it isn't muddy so it doesn't stain her cloak much. But she can feel some pain in her legs and hands which got the worst of the floor.  When Nalani looks up Hestia and the naturalist hunters are gone and she can only hear their faint yells and footsteps before there is silence. Blissful and peaceful silence.

Wincing at the slight pain in her legs, she stands up and looks around. She is completely alone now - it feels both exhilarating and daunting. For once absolutely no one knows where she is. She will not get a chance like this again.

She could catch up with Hestia and the others but the night beckons her, driving her to an adventure of solitude - for now at least.

Nalani wipes the dust, dirt and leaves from her cloak and dress, checking her legs but there are only a few grazes, and then she finally goes to looking at the damage on her hands which got the worst of the fall. It isn't much, a few faint cuts and only one deep gash that is bleeding.

Shrugging it off she washes away the dirt with water from her flask and then she rips a little of her dress and wraps it around her hand as a makeshift bandage it will have to do for now.  Whistling quietly to herself she carries on walking, content to listen to the occasional hoot of an owl or the faint cry of victories from hunters.

Surprisingly she doesn't run into any hunters, she must be deep in the forest now. Perhaps if she kept walking then she could run, keep running until she made it to a port, then a boat and then she could sail away from this goddess forsaken island. But she can't, she would endanger too many. Hestia, who helped her sneak off in the first place - they wouldn't believe that she didn't know of it. Rowan would be questioned because of his association to Nalani; even her guards would be questioned and probably punished for letting a queen escape, even though they were drugged and could've done nothing to prevent it.

If she left, then it would only leave Arwen and Carina, the two monsters of darkness to face each other. Arwen should win that battle, her gift is strong and no one truly knows its weaknesses for the island has forgot the power of a shadow queen. But Nalani knows never to underestimate Carina, however even if she is a strong poisoner it may not be enough to trump Arwen, especially if it comes down to a stalemate with them being locked in a tower. Poisoners don't fair well in the towers.

Sighing, Nalani rids herself of the false hope she rarely thinks about, it is a foolish notion - she will never escape. It's not that she doesn't want to be queen but sometimes it would be nice to be no one. For once. And escape.

But she is alone now and it would be so easy. But she would probably make it to the coast near Sunpool if she went south or Longmorrow Bay if she went East but then she'd probably run into the suitors' ships. Perhaps she could convince one of them to let her stow away in their ship, with the power of seduction. But it would never happen.

Of course Nalani thinks she of herself as beautiful. It is a fact though she is a vain little thing at times but her beauty won't persuade that kind of rescue and crime that the suitors would have to commit. Anyway, her sisters are both equally as beautiful as Nalani so perhaps they'd try to escape with the suitors as well but it would never happen. It isn't worth it for the suitors, not when they'd surely be poisoned slowly by the Arrons for information of her whereabouts, they'd come after her, come after her and drag her back kicking and screaming to the island. Nalani doubts the island would let her go anyway, the Goddess would just trap her in the mists that surround Fennbirn.

Nalani lowers her hood, letting out her black waves free for a moment. No one is here so no one can recognise her. Honestly she has no idea where she is, perhaps if she keeps walking she'll make it to the Breccia Domain but it would probably scare her witless, she doesn't have the nerve to go to that death pit alone for fear that the pit will swallow her and her flames whole.

Suddenly she hears something. It is a strange noise, a grunt perhaps. Is someone in pain?

Curiously she goes towards the noise but then hears something that sounds like a moan. She sees materials strewn across the floor, they look like clothes.

Then she sees it. A young man and woman embracing together, the man is bare chested but not completely naked yet, he is pressing the young woman up to the tree, almost eating her mouth as they kiss aggressively. Nalani doesn't know if young woman is naked or not, she is mostly shielded from view by the man, but Nalani sees her black curls and then her blue eyes.

Her eyes lit up in recognition as she quietly gasps and stifles a laugh of shock or humour. She's just walked in on Kaiden and Nimue in the throes of passion.

She doesn't know whether to laugh or cry. She is just shocked. At Shannon's Blackway, it seemed like Kaiden and Nimue hated each other. Well they obviously have a strong passion towards each other. Love. Hate. Somewhere in between. Kaiden has challenged Nimue to a game similar to hide and seek. It seems they only thing Kaiden was seeking is what is in her trousers.

Mortified and embarrassed Nalani tries to quietly move backwards, still in shock as she watches Kaiden pin Nimue's arms up against the tree and kiss her neck, making her a moaning mess.

Nalani's nearly escaped them both now but she's still just in their eye-line. She turns away from them quietly and just starts lightly jogging before she can't see them anymore but still hears their faint moans. They're not exactly subtle about it. Anyone could've walked in on them, though no one else is really this deep in the forest for there isn't much prey here.

Nalani picks up the pace to a sprint, careful not to trip on her dress as she continues to run away, agile as a cat as she runs quickly, dodging the outstretched claws of sinister trees as she goes. The trees whisper to one another as she runs and they soon send the howling wind to chase after her.

Nalani tries to be silent but the few autumn leaves, left near dead from the cold clutches of winter, still remain and cause a few crunches under her boots. But most of the auburn leaves are gone now as they attempted to survive the winter months. The few that did survive are blowing along on in the wind but even the wind doesn't want them. Autumn leaves don't belong in spring. The supposed time of hope and new beginnings. Absolute nonsense.

She listens carefully and no longer hears the two lovers so she starts panting from the exertion. She hasn't run like that in a long time. Though she should probably keep moving, Vivianne has probably realised by now that she isn't in her tent is is likely clawing her own hair out in worry.

Nalani walks slowly, no reason to rush her return, no need to lessen her time of freedom. She whistles to herself to have some entertainment. She whistles the tune to a song she has long forgotten she even knew. It is buried deep inside her conscience. It is a song that Hecate taught to Nalani and her sisters when they were little girls in the Black Cottage. She surprises herself that she remembers.

She starts singing the beginning of the rhyme to herself gently as Hecate used to sing it to her, "No sight, no sound, no fault was found, no treason to be had - yet everyone would die that day for Elsabet the mad." The rhyme is from the Song of the Mad Oracle. Most islanders know it and all certainly know the story behind it. Songs preserve history so that people remember. And all remember the mad oracle, Queen Elsabet.

Nalani has never believed the story behind Queen Elsabet's downfall. It just isn't right. But there's no point pondering over tragedies that have already passed.
However, Nalani could not bear the thought of being locked up in the West Tower of the Volroy for twenty years like Elsabet was. That must of been the real torture.

She has been walking and deep in thought for so long that she does not notice the creature that watches her from the shadows.

It has been watching her for a while now, tracking her and stalking her like a hunter would a deer. But she isn't to be prey tonight, there is a different motive that it possesses. Suddenly Nalani realises how quiet the forest has become and how it's become a little more terrifying than it was before.

No more beams of moonlight have found their way through the canopy of leaves and now it is quite dark and most certainly night.

Nalani catches herself feeling slightly scared and unnerved though it is silly. Only children are afraid of the dark. And she is a being of fire, she surely shouldn't be. But to reassure herself she lights her palm with a few embers of fire so she can see the way.

But is seems as if there is no clear path anymore, not with the tall trees, bushes and plants suddenly surrounding her. She can barely make out anything else even with her fire.

Cautiously, she takes a few steps holding her palm out to attempt to see if the light shows her a clear path out of this forest that has suddenly become a labyrinth of the deadliest kind.

She barely has to scream before large arms engulf her and cover her mouth. But she couldn't scream if she wanted to, there is too much shock in her to even attempt to speak. Her flames diminish instantly in reaction to her shock and fear, leaving her completely alone and trapped in the darkness.

Her eyes communicate for her in the place of her mouth as they alight with fear, true fear. All her bravery and the few scraps of courage that she possesses instantly vanishes and she is reminded just how mortal she is, how breakable and how disposable. Even if she is a queen, a queen isn't immune to death. She should know that well enough by now. Somewhere in her she curses though. How unlucky is she, this is her second assassination attempt. For Goddess sake.

But then a new feeling replaces her fear and helplessness. No she will not die or submit to fear. This will not be her burial ground because it's not her time, not yet.

Suddenly she remembers the knife she brought and reaches around her sides for it only to find nothing.

He must of disarmed her without her knowing. Dreadfully inconvenient and annoying for her but clever nonetheless.

So without a weapon she resorts to using her hands and nails. She forgets any technique that Morrigan taught her on Shannon's Blackway as self preservation takes over. She claws at the arms that are all around her and trap her body, she claws at anything she can find and is satisfied to feel her nails pass through flesh.

She kicks and struggles like an cornered wildcat, slashing with her nails and kicking with her legs.

But the arms then move slightly so they trap now trap her arms.

"Stop fighting would you," a deep rolling male voice murmurs in her ear as she inwardly scowls at him. She would snap a retort back of his hands weren't covering her mouth. Then she notices the weird substance coating his hands and now her lips. It smells strange and tastes foreign. Perhaps he is a poisoner and she is already doomed. It is too late now, she's already tasted and breathed in the substance, she hadn't noticed it earlier because of her fear but she notices it now. Perhaps if she can escape then Vivianne will convince Andrea Arron to find her an antidote.

Shaking these time-wasting thoughts away she attempts to bite down on his hand to free herself but he guesses this and moves his hands back, finally freeing her mouth.

"You're the one who's just come to kill me and you're telling me to stop struggling and fighting," she says, able to speak at last as she rollsher eyes, "for a poisoner or shadow seeking favour with your queen you are an idiot."

Her assailant laughs, a deep low laugh, "you think that I'm a common assassin, seeking favour with one of your sisters?" He asks in faint amusement, "if I wanted you dead then you and I wouldn't be having this conversation."

Nalani snorts, "this isn't much of a conversation, you are a complete stranger to me and we aren't even facing each other, personally I like to look my assassins in the eye before I roast them alive."

"Roast me alive?" He questions shaking his head in amusement, "I haven't seen one lick of flame from you yet, a bit disappointing for the great Fire Queen."

"Turn me around and I'll show you just how many flames I have, I assure you that you won't be disappointed with the results."

Honestly she's just trying to buy herself time. She doesn't know what substance he coated on his hand but she it's like her gift has been placed in water, it's diluted. She doubts that she could summon one lick of flame right now. She is incapacitated. For now.

"No," he answers simply.

"If you don't want to face me then I assume you have a face so horribly ugly that I would die of repulsion as soon as I set eyes upon you," she says, taunting him slightly.

He chuckles again before releasing her arms and turning her around himself so they could face each other.

Well shit. Shit. Shit. Shit. That is all Nalani thinks as she beholds the god in front of her.

He is the most handsome man she has ever seen, no beautiful is the right word to describe him. But beautiful in the way the sea is beautiful before it pulls you under and drowns you, suffocating you as the air leaves your lungs. She is experiencing a similar feeling right now as she just stares dumbly at up at him.

He is tall so very tall, towering above her with the majesty of a bear and looking down at her like she is just a small bug under his boot. Not worth his time or his attention.

He is wearing loose trousers and boots but that is all he's wearing. His muscled chest is bare, no trace of any black markings to show that he is spoken for and Nalani's eyes don't linger on it as she takes in the rest of him. But that is a mistake. Every part of him is just as muscled, tanned and honed for battle.

His large arms are littered with an array of scars. On anyone else they would've been ugly but on him it is beautiful. There are a few small scars on his face but nothing too noticeable apart from the fresh one that has a trickle of blood coming down from it. He notices her staring at it and wipes the blood away with his hand. The wound is from her clawing at him earlier Nalani thinks with no shortage of satisfaction. For a small moment Nalani thinks of Morrigan. This man is her warrior counterpart without any doubt.

She looks to his sides and takes note of the various weapons strapped their, particularly the two deadly looking daggers and the small knife that looks slightly out of place. Her knife she thinks in anger which he obviously took from her which she technically took from Juliette Vatros. She contemplates grabbing the stolen knife but looks at the size of him and the size of her. The odds aren't in her favour for a fight like this. Killing her would be as easy as breathing for a warrior like him. She doesn't recognise but she knows for certain he must have the war gift at least, he pulses with it.

She then turns her attention to the rest of his face that has yet to be scarred but everything about his face melts away as she looks into his eyes. Those bewitching flaming eyes. They are green but it's like they are ringed a little, with a goldish shade. Interesting. She's seen those eyes before she's sure of it. But she can't recall.

Nalani blinks slowly then looks at his eyes again and the recognition lights up on her face. She knows where she has these eyes before.

In Morrigan Murtra, her rival and friend with her blood red hair. In Pele Murtra, Head of the Black Council. In all of the Murtras actually except Pele's husband, Malakai who has eyes of blue and shoulder length dark golden hair instead of red locks. He has the same hair as Malakai, the same shoulder length wages of gold and the same face, except his is one of youth. Beautiful youth.

She removes her eyes from his and tries very hard not to be attracted to him but that is asking the impossible. He is a Murtra, he must be. He has the eyes and Malakai's hair. This is Morrigan's brother, an older one by the looks of it. She never mentioned him before.

It makes sense that he is a Murtra and that he is obviously war gifted. He is the epitome of a warrior, no other gift could suit him.

"Are you done staring at my repulsive face?" He asks, taunting her in his own way as he uses her previous words. It pulls her from her trance and a blush threatens to creep to her face as she thinks back on her insults towards him.

"Yes I'm done," Nalani says simply, "I'm surprised my eyeballs haven't burned at the horror of looking at you yet, it is a miracle but luckily for you I don't burn."

It is a blatant lie. She knows it and he knows it. But luckily for her he makes no further comment as he silently regards her.

"I need to take you back to the safety of your encampment," he says finally and she immediately shakes her head.

"I'm not going until I feel like it," she says simply, beginning to walk away as she turns her back to him. That is a mistake she can admit.

He then shakes his head slightly before picking her up in one quick movement and slinging her over his shoulder with ease, leaving her a full view of his toned back. At least there's one advantage for me, Nalani thinks as he stares at the muscles in his back and then scolds herself for her wicked thoughts as she turns her anger towards him.

"How dare you!" She seethes, proceeding to beat him on his back. He ignores her completely as he starts walking. She continues doing this for a minute with absolutely no reaction from him until logic kicks in. She calls for her flames and prepares to threaten and burn him. She will make him pay for this insult. She looks at her palms expectantly, waiting for her flames to come, hoping at the very least. She is only greeted with silence. No crackles of flames and no rise in temperature. She tries calling lightning to no avail. Then water, wind and earth. Nothing works. She suspected this earlier but it's horrible now it's confirmed.

"What have you done to me?" Nalani spits in anger at having her elements robbed from her. She will burn him alive when she gets her powers back. And she will relish it.

"I've just made sure that you aren't a danger to yourself or me for the time being, I really don't feel like being burnt to a crisp, drowned, struck by lightning or killed by any of your other elemental tricks," he replies to her. The audacity, he has poisoned her. Now that's confirmed.

"I hate you!" She screeches and he winces slightly at the high pitched sounds that she emits but apart from that offers no weakness as he continues to navigate a path through the forest. Where is he taking her?

lI don't care," he says simply, "hate me all you want, the feeling's mutual and it won't make any difference."

She screams at him in pure rage in response and starts clawing at his back again. At first it is vicious as her nails draw blood but then her scratches become weaker and weaker as she feels the strength being sapped from her very essence.

"What is your name assassin?" Nalani murmurs as she feels herself becoming drowsy. Her eyes close before she can stop them but she isn't dead yet.

"Achilles," he whispers so quietly that it is a struggle to hear him but she does.

Achilles. Such a strange uncommon name. Fit for a pompous warrior like himself. A strange name that fits in his family's names: Morrigan, Minerva and Ares who are no doubt his siblings. Or she could be wrong and he could be someone else, employed for by the Radurons or Arrons to assassinate her. It would be one less threat for their respective queens. Though this is unlikely.

Achilles. It is the last thing she thinks of before darkness and death comes to greet her.