A Weekend Affair # 7 - Exodus

Hellfire Club – Great Hall

:: John said his farewell to her and offered her good luck. She chuckled and replied that she had the feeling that she was going to need it. She then reached up and gave the man a small hug, before doing the same to Ava. ::

“It was very nice to meet you both. I look forward to a a long-lasting relationship with you. Please, don’t be a stranger. You are most welcome to stay at the Estate as guests of the Red Court.”

:: As she turned from Ava and John, she was touched on the arm. Turning, she found herself face to face with Ashley, who greeted her with a smile.. ::

Ashley: "Safe travels home, Bretta. I so enjoyed our time together this weekend."

“Thank you so much. I enjoyed our time as well. I know that this goes without saying, but you are most welcome at the Esate, as well, as guests of the Red Court. You, sir, are most welcome too.”

:: Bretta bowed her head politely at AJ, recognizing him as the American Red Queen’s consort. She placed a hand on Ashley’s shoulder and gave it a small squeeze, looking very apologetic. ::

*apologetically*: “Please excuse me for a moment; I have to go and collect Damien and Cassandra.”

:: Bretta walked to the room in which her Princess and soon-to-be former Prince were waiting for her. Though she made amends with Cameron, Ava, and John back at the table, Bretta was still mad. However, after saying goodbye to John, Ava, and Ashley, her anger had dissipated somewhat. She hurried to the room where Cassandra and Damien were. ::

<<SLAM!!>>

:: The door closed forcefully behind her. Bretta came over and sat down in the chair adjacent to Cassandra and Damien. As she eyed Damien with absolute scrutiny, she could feel her anger coming back. ::

*bluntly*: “You really fucked up, my dear boy.”

Damien: “I know. I feel terrible about it. Cassie helped me to see that I...really, really, fucked up. But, Bretta, Cassie had nothing to do with this. She only went along because I asked her to.”

:: Bretta bit her lip and looked away before looking at Damien again. ::

*angrily*: “You kept things from me, you decided, without talking to me first, to try and secure alliances with people above your level, you humiliated me in public...should I go on?”

Damien: *morosely*: “No...”

“Damien, when Alastair and I decided to make you Prince, we thought that you could handle it. We placed our trust in you. You did so well in the Red Guardsmen that we promoted you to Rook and then, when you did exceptionally well, we promoted you to Prince. Being a Prince does not give you the freedom to do whatever you want; we have to take you by the hand and show you the ropes.”

:: Bretta sat back. Damien wasn’t looking at her, which told her that he did feel absolutely terrible about what happened. Before she was Queen, she and Damien had been good friends. It broke her heart that she had to do this to him. ::

*voice breaking*: “I’m going to have to relieve you of your position, Damien. You will no longer be a part of the Red Court – not even as part of the Guardsmen.”

:: Damien just sat there. Cassandra pulled him closer to her. ::

“Due to your blossoming relationship with the Princess, you will still be able to visit her in the Red Wing.”

Damien: *grumpily*: “I thought that the members weren’t allowed to have relationships with members of the Inner Circle?”

“I’m the Queen, and if my Princess asks of it, I will honour her.”

Cassandra: “Yes please.”

:: Damien leaned into her then, smiling a bit before frowning again. Bretta sighed. ::

“Damien, now that Alastair is out as King, I have to be able to trust you again. Faith, of course, will be in the Red Guardsmen as their Commander. She will still have her quarters in the Red Wing, as they are specially designed for her.”

Faith, though, will be back as Knight within the year.

Damien: *flatly*: “Yes, Your Majesty.”

:: Bretta wished that she could offer him some kind of hope, but he majorly fucked up, and so Bretta had to be sure that she could really trust him again. Faith would be back as Knight because even though she kept information from her Queen, she didn’t humiliate her in public, she didn’t go behind her back to make deals with people above her level, and she certainly didn’t piss off any of the American Hellfire Kings or Queens. Bretta sighed again and brushed back her hair with one hand. After what John said...she didn’t know what to think. ::

“Damien, I have to ask you a question about something serious.”

Damien: “Of course, Your Majesty. Anything.”

:: Bretta eyed the man in front of her. He could never be that evil, could he? He couldn’t really be after the crown. He was a nice lad, always respectful and courteous – this morning’s behaviour notwithstanding. Bretta had known Damien ever since she was a Princess herself, though he was just a regular member back then. There was no way he could ever betray her like this. ::

“You wouldn’t be plotting to take the crown for yourself, right? Getting rid of Alastair only for you to become King?”

:: He looked as if she’d slap him and even Cassandra was stunned. ::

Damien: “N-no, Your Grace! Of course not! That never ever crossed my mind.”

:: He had a hurt look on his face as he spoke. ::

Damien: “Bretta, we’ve known each other a long time. You know I would never do something like that. Look, I know I fucked up, and I know that I have done many things in my life that have hurt people, but one thing I would never do is betray my chosen family.” *bitterly*: “You know that I have been betrayed by my original family.”

:: Bretta smiled tearfully. Damien was, indeed, betrayed by his own family. His mother was hurt pretty badly and, being the good son that Damien was, he ‘healed’ his mum with his incubus powers. Instead of being grateful, his mother declared him and his father abominations and his father had held it against him ever since. His mother had passed decades ago and his father now lived in Australia. ::

“I know. I just had to ask.”

:: Damien broke free from Cassandra’s hug and sat up, eyeing Bretta with suspicion. ::

Damien: *suspiciously*: “What made you think that I would even do something like this?”

:: Bretta raised a hand, putting a stop to whatever Damien was going to say or do. ::

“It doesn’t matter where the thought came from or what made me think of it, I just needed to know outright. “

:: Damien’s baby blue eyes locked onto her emerald green ones. When he spoke, his tone was dead serious. ::

Damien: *quietly*: “I would never do that to you, Bretta.”

:: Bretta stared into his eyes for a moment before she broke eye contact and smiled at Cassandra. ::

“Well, now that we got this all cleared up, we should go and join the others. Everybody was just gathering when I left to collect you two, and I would like to say goodbye to the White Queen before we leave. Cassandra, you can remind her of what’s waiting for her in her office and Damien...I’ll be the one to introduce you to her.”

:: The three of them left the room together, Cassandra inbetween Bretta and Damien, and they rejoined the group. ::

Zach: “Well, Bretta, Juliette, Liam. I’m looking forward to getting to know you all better in the coming days. Please don’t feel obligated to throw me a party, I think we are all partied out, yes?”

“That’s utter nonsense. Of could we would have something to welcome the new Black King and Red Princess.”

:: Bretta tsk-tsked, playfully chiding him while linking arms with Cassandra. She drew her Princess’ attention to Liam. ::

“Cassandra, darling, this is Liam Forbes, the White King. Liam, this is my new Princess, Cassandra Johnson. Cassandra, you’ve already met Juliette of course.”

:: Cassandra offered her hand to Liam. ::

Cassandra: “It’s nice to meet you, Your Majesty.” [to Juliette] “It’s nice to see you again, Your Majesty.”

Ashley: "If you'll pardon us for a minute, I'd like to give your new King a bit of advice."

"Of course."

:: She smiled at Ashley as she took Zach aside for a moment before her smile faded and she lowered her voice. ::

“Brienne, Juliette, Liam, I would like to speak with you, as well as with Zachary, about an important situation while in-flight. It’s about Alastair.”

:: The seven hour or so flight would be the perfect time to bring up Alastair’s ousting as King. ::
 
Hellfire Club – The Great Hall

Nothing. Nada. Nulla [Italian for nothing]. It was as if Gia was never there. Well, if Adriana wanted to get a rise out of her, it wasn’t working. Gia just sat calmly with a smile on her face as Adriana talked to both Jasper and Darren, pretending like she wasn’t there. That was okay, though, because both Jasper and Darren were some pretty nice eye candy.

Adriana: “I won’t make you wait any longer than I have to.”

That’s bullshit, and you know it.

Then Gia realized that Adriana was speaking to Jasper.

Adriana: “Now, gentlemen, if I could be so rude as to request the table all to myself.... the White Bishop and I have unfinished business to discuss.”

They left and so Gia turned to Adriana with a tight smile on her face.

I will not attack my sister, I will not attack my sister, I will not attack my sister...

Adriana: “I don’t know what kind of deal you made with Diana to get rid of me, but she’s dead. Did she give you my mask as well as my rightful place in the Inner Circle?”

Gia laughed loudly at that. She did know about the deal, yes, but did she, herself, make it? Of course not; she was just a teenager back then.

“Oh, Adriana, it’s so kind of you to assume that I had that kind of power, but no. I didn’t make the deal. Do you really want to know who did? Caro. Vecchio. Papà.” [Dear. Old. Dad.]

Gia folded her hands on the table.

“And that mask is mine. I was gifted it by both Diana and our father.” *casually*: “Yeah, he was pretty excited about giving it to me. You should’ve seen the look on his face the first time I wore it.”

She leaned over to Adriana like she letting her in on a big secret.

“It fits me perfectly, just like my position here fits me perfectly.”
 
Hellfire - The Great Hall

Alek: You couldn't have brought this up with Haleigh ten years or so ago?

Zach gave a one-sided smirk.

“I find it amusing that you think I didn’t.”

Alek replied that he would take care of Haleigh, that she and the babies were the most important thing to him. Zach nodded, because he could sense that for once, Alek felt something real. He would’ve told Alek that he knew Haleigh had started to feel quite the same way about him these last couple of days, but she was back at the table before he could say anything.

When they got up to leave Zach stood up as well, shaking Alek’s hand before offering the idea of a walk to Haleigh. She was eager to leave, and her emotions were tumultuous, so he didn’t press. Brienne was ready to get the hell out of this hall too, so rather than sitting back down he pulled out Brienne’s chair for her and took her hand as he lead her over to where most of her compatriots were gathering for final goodbyes.

“Well Bretta, Juliette, Liam. I look forward to getting to know you all better in the coming days. Please don’t feel obligated to throw me a party, I think we are all partied out, yes?”

Ash countered that he meant they should absolutely embarrass him with a party, while Bretta insisted that there would of course be one. Zach groaned, but it was good-natured. Ash came closer to him and smoothed out his shirt. His heart skipped a beat or two, because old habits died hard. She said it would serve him right, and though it sounded like a playful ribbing, he sensed something in her that stole his smile.

Ash asked the others for a brief pardon to give him some advice. Zach gave Brienne’s hand a squeeze before releasing it, glancing at her with a gentle smile. He would probably have a lot of explaining to do later but he hoped that she trusted him for now. He and Ash moved several paces away, and then he turned to stop with her, his back to the crowd in such a way that they were both shielded from direct view.

Ash: Before you go, I wanted to thank you for what you did for me, for us, at Arklay. And for everything else. For...before.

“It was my pleasure.... mostly.”

He replied, pulling the sadness from her. He had always rather felt it himself than find it in her. She slid into his arms for a hug, and he held her close, trying not to think about how familiar it was, almost as if they were still together. She wasn’t his anymore, he reminded himself.

Ash: You don't have to do this, you know. This is your home. And it always will be.

He looked down at her kindly, his hands sliding down her arms until he found her hands with his.

“I’m not being forced, Ash.”

He replied. There was a time he’d wanted to be her King, but it was as inappropriate to say so now as it had been back then.

“Please don’t be sad.”

He whispered, and then he gave her a soft smile. He brought her hands up to his heart, his voice still low.

“If you need me again, I’ll feel it, here. I can’t promise it’ll be like before... but you know I could never let you suffer.”

He added quietly, and then his voice went back to its normal volume.

“It’s not like you’ll never see me again. Knowing Haleigh, she’s already booked me a return flight.”
 
Ashley couldn't let Zach leave without saying something. She had thought she'd have more time to tell him all the things she wanted to, to thank him for helping calm AJ down at Arklay before he did something they couldn't undo. But also for other things, things that had happened after Alek. In the past, but not forgotten.

Zach: “It was my pleasure.... mostly.”

He answered her in that way he had, of saying a million things with a couple words. She hugged him, and told him he didn't have to leave. Fuck Haleigh and her power play. Zach belonged here. If there was anyone she never thought would leave this mansion, it was Zach. He took her hands, and she squeezed his in return. She looked up at him, and he was smiling, giving her that boost he always seemed able to.

Zach: “I’m not being forced, Ash. Please don’t be sad.”

She took a shaky breath before responding.

"Oh, I'm going to be sad. You can't make me not be sad."

But she knew he was doing just that. He placed her hands over his heart, and he spoke low, just for the two of them.

Zach: “If you need me again, I’ll feel it, here. I can’t promise it’ll be like before... but you know I could never let you suffer.”

She nodded.

"I'll miss you, Zach."

Zach: “It’s not like you’ll never see me again. Knowing Haleigh, she’s already booked me a return flight.”

Ashley hurriedly wiped her eyes and sniffed.

"Fuck commercial - I'll send the jet. Just call."

She smiled one last time, and gave him a nod, before stepping back to rejoin the others.
 
Hellfire — The Great Hall

Adriana locked down business with Darren and Jasper, Haleigh’s lawyer and doctor respectively. It was a lucky coincidence to have sat down at this table in particular. They didn’t give her any privileged information, but being a friend of the White Queen’s friends could only help her cause. Her reputation needed to surpass her sister’s if she ever wanted to be rid of her.

Gia had the sense not to interrupt, but that was about the only good thing that could be said of her. Adriana warned her that whatever deal she had made with Diana, it was dead and gone. And she asked what had become of her mask. Gia had the nerve to laugh at that, as if it were some joke. And then she admitted that she hadn’t made a deal at all, rather it had been their father.

“More pathetic than I thought, then.”

She replied in a bored tone. What she really wanted to know about was the mask, but she didn’t want to seem too desperate for it. Fortunately Gia couldn’t resist gloating, and revealed the answer soon enough. She boasted about their father’s excitement to give it to her, and the perfect fit. Adriana resisted the urge to impale her with a butter knife.

“It’s enchanted to fit the wearer perfectly, and yet still conceal identity. I would know, since it was mine before Diana stole it from me. Papà was excited the give it to you because I worked hard to give it a reputation that inspired fear and power in the Nefaria organization, and in city officials.”

She replied, as she glanced back down at her phone to send another text. She took a deep breath and then looked back up at Gia with blued graphite eyes.

“You were given things you didn’t earn, Chrissy. If you want to keep what you have then you’d better beware. I’m out and back on the rise. You may have snuffed out some of my men on the board, but you did more damage to your own cause than to mine. If you want to survive the next phase, step up your game, little sister.”

She shifted, uncrossing her legs and standing up. Ettore rose with her, and they left without so much as a glance back.
 
Hellfire -- The Great Hall

Zach came over, diplomatic with being devious. His timing couldn’t have been better, as it gave AJ and Juliette a reason to be distracted from forcing themselves to say polite goodbyes. Bretta was back too, and there was talk of a party for the newly inducted European Inner Circle members. AJ didn’t envy Zach one bit on that account.

His Ashley’s focus shifted from the European guests to Zach, which was fine by AJ. Zach, at least, could be trusted, even if he was alone with the Red Queen. Sure, there was some ancient history between the two, but just the other day at the Red Hunt, Zach and AJ had spoken about it. AJ was confident the matter was settled, so he hardly even watched his Ashley.

Instead, he was left to stand here awkwardly, as the Europeans spoke amongst themselves. Bretta introduced Cassandra to the rest as her Princess. Liam smarmed something about a weakness for pretty princesses while he kissed the girl’s hand. AJ noticed the European Black Queen looked like she might cut one or all of them, and he almost smiled, feeling a similar sentiment himself. In the background he could hear most of what his Ashley and Zach were saying, so he knew when they were coming back.

“Take care of yourself, man.”

He told Zach on his return, starting with a handshake that Zach made into a half hug. AJ hugged him back.

Zach: And you as well, old friend. Watch out for Ash.

“I always do. Who will have your back?”

He asked, and Zach slipped behind the woman in Black, his arms sliding around her.

Zach: My new Queen, of course.

AJ nodded, a smile on his lips. He didn’t much know the woman, but by default she seemed better than the rest of the Europeans. Maybe it was just his instincts. At any rate, the breakfast was over and the goodbyes were done, so AJ escorted his Ashley back to their suite in tense silence. The second the door closed behind them he grabbed her wrist, checking her hand carefully to make sure it was healed. When he saw that it was, he released it with a huff.

“What would you have me do, lie? I tried to be friendly, they kept pushing me!”
 
Saying Goodbye

Ashley returned to the group, saddened by the fact that Zach was leaving them. He and AJ shook hands and did that man hug thing, and Ashley felt a bit of a pang when Zach said Brienne would now have his back.

Not fucking likely.

She also had expected AJ to be at least a little bit jealous, which he clearly wasn't. Goodbyes all said, it was time for the Europeans to leave, leaving the American branch free to go their separate ways.

Ashley walked back to her suite, silently thinking. A lot had happened - more in that morning than in the rest of the weekend combined. The door shut behind her, and her body visibly relaxed into the blessed peace...until AJ was grabbing her wrist roughly.

"What-"

At first she thought he was being forceful as foreplay, but then she saw in his face his annoyance and that he was examining her hand. When he was done he let it go, nothing gentle about it.

"It's fine."

But he wasn't.

AJ: “What would you have me do, lie? I tried to be friendly, they kept pushing me!”

Ashley sighed. She felt so tired. Dejected. She crossed over to the couch and sat down, resting her elbow on her thigh and letting her head sink into her palm. She spoke quietly. Uncharacteristically quietly.

"No, I don't want you to lie."

She picked her head up and turned to look at him.

"But you shouldn't have suggested sitting with them if you couldn't handle it. You aren't a king, Savage. You can't speak to regents that way! We are lucky it was Juliette and Liam at the table and not Brienne. Or Archer. Or even Bretta. What if Alek had heard you? They could have said it was a threat. They could have called for your head!"

Her voice broke on the last part.

"I know it's not important to you, but this alliance is important to me. And it's important to every soldier it's our responsibility to take care of. Not to mention that I like Juliette and Liam. It's nice to have someone else to talk to who understands what it's like to live more than one lifetime, whose been there when one is a regent and the other not, and have it work out. They gave me hope."

Her eyes closed, and she shook her head slowly, her voice becoming quiet again.

"This isn't going to work, is it?"

There was a pause, and when she opened her eyes again there was such sadness in them.

"It's not fair to you. People will come at me through you. They will use you to hurt me. They'll bait you to test me, like today. I can't risk you."

Her hand moved to cover her heart, as if putting pressure on a wound. Her eyes found his.

"I can't lose you."
 
Hellfire -- The Red Queen’s Suite

His Ashley said it was fine, and perhaps her hand was, but there were definitely things that were not fine. He knew he had messed things up, he knew he was in trouble. He defensively asked what he should have done, and said that he’d tried. He expected her to start shouting at him, but she didn’t, she just went over to sit down with a sigh, and somehow her quiet voice was worse than if she’d yelled.

Ashley: No, I don’t want you to lie. But you shouldn’t have suggested sitting with them if you couldn’t handle it.

“I wanted to please you! I thought I could!”

He huffed, but she reminded him that he wasn’t a King, that he couldn’t talk to Regents that way. She said they were lucky it was only Juliette and Liam, not the others, not Alek. They could have called it a threat, or wanted his head for it. He opened his mouth for a retort, but he didn’t have one. She was right, and he knew it. He crossed his arms, frowning at the floor.

Ashley: I know it's not important to you, but this alliance is important to me. And it's important to every soldier it's our responsibility to take care of.

“Well then, it is important to me too.”

He grumbled begrudgingly.

Ashley: Not to mention that I likeJuliette and Liam. It's nice to have someone else to talk to who understands what it's like to live more than one lifetime,

“I know what it is like!”

He interjected jealously.

Ashley: whose been there when one is a regent and the other not, and have it work out. They gave me hope.

He didn’t have anything to counter that, so he looked away again. When she said it wasn’t going to work, with such disappointment, he looked back at her again. She was looking down now. He went to sit on the coffee table in front of her, his hands on her knees.

“What? Of course it will work. I can do better. What happened this morning— it will not happen again. Next time I will not answer, or I shall lie, if I must.”

There was a pause, and when she finally looked up, the sorrow in her eyes about killed him. She said it wasn’t fair to him, which made no difference to him. But then she warned that people would use him against her, to hurt her or test her. She said she couldn’t risk him, couldn’t lose him.

“Well, I cannot watch you burn yourself again to prove my obedience. So help me God, if you need me to be the lapdog that Alek tells everyone I am.... then I will.”

He said, but then he got the sneaking suspicion that she had meant something else.

“Wait.... are you saying.... are you done with me?”

He pulled his hands back, standing up abruptly.

“What ever became of ‘I never want anyone to touch me but you’? Was that untrue? You want them again? They obviously still want you, even if they had not said it, they leered all morning. Yes, everyone wants you. They want the glory of bedding the Red Queen, I should say. They do not care about you, not the way I do!”
 
Last edited by a moderator:
The Red Queen’s Suite

AJ was angry, and gruff, and grumbling. She said that even if he didn't care whether they had an alliance with the white court, she did. And she cared, for more than just bragging rights. The things they did trickled down to every guardsmen, every pawn. It was her duty to protect them, to provide for them. She was the general and they were her army.

AJ: “Well then, it is important to me too.”

But it wasn't. Not really. He would rather she never spoke to Juliette again. No, he would rather Ashley hated her. But she liked them. She liked being with people like her.

AJ: “I know what it is like!”

That had hurt him, but she hadn't meant for it to.

"I know, I know you do. But there are just us two. I thought you would like it too."

But the thoughts that had been brewing since AJ and Juliette's war of words were coming to a head in her mind. How narrowly they had escaped disaster. How easily things could have ended differently. She vocalized the realization aloud, that this wasn't going to work. AJ came and sat on the coffee table across from her. When he put his hands on her knees it killed her.

AJ: “What? Of course it will work. I can do better. What happened this morning— it will not happen again. Next time I will not answer, or I shall lie, if I must.”

He would do anything to please her. Sacrifice everything. But she didn't want him to. She looked up, the sadness overwhelming, and she told him. How he would always be used to get to her, as long as they were together. A target. And she couldn't bear it, losing him.

AJ: “Well, I cannot watch you burn yourself again to prove my obedience. So help me God, if you need me to be the lapdog that Alek tells everyone I am.... then I will.”

She reached out and pressed the palm of her hand against his cheek.

"I won't have you be someone you're not. Or change for me. Not ever. Not my wolf."

But then he seemed to understand what she was saying.

AJ: “Wait.... are you saying.... are you done with me?”

He stood, and the shock of his hands leaving her felt like plunging from the sun into cold darkness. Her head shook, tears in her eyes. How could she make him understand. She would never be done with him.

AJ: “What ever became of ‘I never want anyone to touch me but you’? Was that untrue?"

Her head shook more forcefully no.

"No, I don't want anyone else but..."

AJ: "You want them again? They obviously still want you, even if they had not said it, they leered all morning. Yes, everyone wants you. They want the glory of bedding the Red Queen, I should say. They do not care about you, not the way I do!”

She raised her voice then, as she stood up, and looked into his eyes.

"I know that!"

She started to reach for him, but then pulled her hand back.

"Who ever could?"

And then anger flashed in her, anger at the world they lived in, the one where she had to give up the only good thing in her life to protect it. Because having something you loved made you a target. And she had somehow got herself mixed up in this fucked up place, and now he was too.

Her hands beat at his chest.

"I don't want anyone else, least of all them. You could die! And then I would die. Because I can't live without you! I won't! I won't be the reason you die!"
 
Last edited by a moderator:
Hellfire -- The Red Queen’s Suite

When he understood what his Ashley was telling him, it was as if he’d been kicked, and he recoiled. He stood up and started snarling at her then, because after seeing the Europeans fawn over her all morning, it didn’t take a genius to figure out what was happening. He made sure she knew the truth then, that everyone wanted her but not for any meaningful reason. None of them cared about her, not like he did.

Ashley: I know that!

And now she was yelling too, getting angry. Her hands hit his chest repeatedly, as she said she didn’t want anyone else, but he could die, and it would kill her, and she didn’t want to be the cause of it. He wrapped his arms around her, and pulled her to his chest, his mouth dropping near her ear. He wasn’t shouting anymore, and he wasn’t angry, but there was a gravelly desperation in his voice.

“Then do not kill us, My Ashley. If I was ordered to be without you now, I would become as dead as an immortal could ever be.”

He said, and he was not above begging.

“Please, My Queen. I will do anything else you ask of me, but please, do not ask that.”

He loosened his embrace a bit, pulling back some to look into her face.

“You said Juliette and Liam gave you hope. We are in no more danger than they ever were, or Zach-Brienne, or John-Ava, or Jack-Heidi, or Alek-Haleigh-Cameron-Everyone. Not a single one of them is foolish enough to throw stones in a glass house.”

His hands rubbed her back slowly.

“If they are, then they are foolish enough to provoke retaliation.”

His eyes pleaded with her as much as his tone.

“I will be better, I will be less feral, around your friends. I swear it, upon mine own grave.”
 
The Red Queen’s Suite

She was hitting him, with all her pent up frustration. He didn't understand. He didn't know what would happen to her if she lost him. How it would kill her to have both men she'd ever loved die because of her. And it wasn't fair.

And then his arms came around her, and she was crying, not even trying to stop it now.

AJ: “Then do not kill us, My Ashley. If I was ordered to be without you now, I would become as dead as an immortal could ever be.”

Her arms slid up around his neck like a child clinging to their parent.

AJ: “Please, My Queen. I will do anything else you ask of me, but please, do not ask that.”

He pulled away from her, and now was looking into her eyes. Her handsome wolf. She loosed one of her hands, which went gently to the hair at his temple, feeling the softness of it.

AJ: “You said Juliette and Liam gave you hope. We are in no more danger than they ever were, or Zach-Brienne, or John-Ava, or Jack-Heidi, or Alek-Haleigh-Cameron-Everyone. Not a single one of them is foolish enough to throw stones in a glass house. If they are, then they are foolish enough to provoke retaliation.”

His hands were rubbing her back, which was helping to calm her. But still she shook her head.

"It's not the same for us. It never has been..."

AJ: “I will be better, I will be less feral, around your friends. I swear it, upon mine own grave.”

She hiccoughed from her crying, and this statement made her blink up at him.

"I don't want you to be less feral. I love you just as you are. I love that you aren't afraid to tell a vampire queen you would kill her if you had the chance."

She sniffed loudly wiping her face with the back of her hand.

"I don't want being with me to change you."
 
Hellfire -- The Red Queen’s Suite

She was sobbing, and he couldn’t be angry in the face of that. He tried to comfort her, to remind her that Juliette and Liam had given her hope. There were many couples at Hellfire, and he didn’t think any of them would be so stupid as to start the kind of war that would come from killing him, even if he wasn’t a King. Yet.

Ashley: It’s not the same for us. It never has been....

What did she mean? He couldn’t see how it was any different. Wasn’t Cameron bringing his mistress to Court? Everyone would be worried about that. AJ just needed to get his Ashley away from this place a while, give her a chance to clear her head. He promised to be better, less feral with her friends.

Ashley: I don't want you to be less feral. I love you just as you are. I love that you aren't afraid to tell a vampire queen you would kill her if you had the chance.

“I am so confused. I thought you were mad at me for that...”

He replied his head lilting to one side as he looked at her. She sniffled loudly as she explained that she didn’t want him to change in order to be with her. Females were absolutely baffling to him.

“I will still be a wolf, My Ashley. I will always be a wolf. Do you want to see? I will shift, and you can see my fangs are sharp as ever. You can pet my fur and check my paws. But I will probably lick your face.”

He said, starting to kiss at her tears.

“I can just try to be more human at parties. If you want. Whatever will make you happy. Just tell me how to make you happy.”
 
Last edited by a moderator:
The Red Queen’s Suite

Ashley couldn't stop crying, especially when he started saying he would act differently around her friends. She felt horrible that he felt he had to. She told him she loved that he was wild, that he had the balls to tell Juliette the truth.

AJ: “I am so confused. I thought you were mad at me for that...”

"I'm not angry with you."

She shook her head, hiccoughing again.

"I'm afraid."

Plus she hated the idea of him putting on some act, being someone else, just to please her. When she loved who he was.

AJ: “I will still be a wolf, My Ashley. I will always be a wolf. Do you want to see? I will shift, and you can see my fangs are sharp as ever. You can pet my fur and check my paws. But I will probably lick your face.”

A tiny laugh escaped from her mouth, even as tears rolled down her cheeks.

AJ: “I can just try to be more human at parties. If you want. Whatever will make you happy. Just tell me how to make you happy.”

She put her arms around him again, burying her face in his neck.

"You. You make me happy. Just the way you are. I'm sorry."

She pressed her faced tighter against him.

"I'm so sorry. I just couldn't bear it if anything happened to you."

She pulled back, and looked up into his eyes.

"WIll you still take me away from here?"
 
Hellfire -- The Red Queen’s Suite

His Ashley said she wasn’t angry, she was afraid, and she didn’t want him to change for her. He was so lost. He told her he was still the wolf, would always be. He offered to shift and show her, though he warned he might lick her face. She hiccoughed a laugh, though still she was crying. He begged her to tell him what to do to make her happy again.

Ashley: You. You make me happy. Just the way you are. I’m sorry.

“For what?”

He asked, hugging her close when she reached for him again and buried her face in his chest. She told him again she was sorry, that she just couldn’t bear it if anything happened to him.

“It is I who is sorry, for giving you this fear and grief. Nothing will happen to me, nothing. You will watch out for me, and I for you, and we will live together until the end of days.”

He swore, and she pulled back to ask if he would still take her away from here.

“Of course, My Queen.”

He said, whisking her off her feet.

“We will go now. Well, you must pack. I have no clothes for a woman at my cabin. But then we will go. There will be a road trip, and diner food, and all the rest, just like I promised.”

He carried her to the walk-in closet with all her clothes and set her down on her feet again, pulling a duffle bag from the high top shelf. It felt weighty, and when he unzipped it and found hundreds of bundles of cash. He looked at her.

“If My Ashley doesn’t want to bring this, we should at least bury it.”

He said, before he pulled down another duffle, this one empty. He held it open for her to put clothes in.
 
The Red Queen’s Suite

Her conviction left her the more he talked. It was the right thing to do, to let him go. So he would be safe. So he wouldn't have to be caught up in the Hellfire bullshit that came with her. But she wasn't strong enough to hurt him to save him. She needed him too much. Even though she knew it was selfish, she still did it. She put her arms around him, and kept saying she was sorry.

AJ: “It is I who is sorry, for giving you this fear and grief. Nothing will happen to me, nothing. You will watch out for me, and I for you, and we will live together until the end of days.”

When he said it, she believed it. A perfect life for the two of them, together, paired forever.

She finally looked up at him, and asked if he still wanted to go away with her. Maybe he wouldn't want to anymore. Maybe he was tired of her, and wanted to be alone.

But he made her feel silly for even asking with the matter of factness of his reply. She made a noise of surprise as he picked her up. (Obviously because he knew she liked that.)

AJ: “We will go now. Well, you must pack. I have no clothes for a woman at my cabin. But then we will go. There will be a road trip, and diner food, and all the rest, just like I promised.”

She pressed her face into his neck, finally the tears slowing, and whispered to him.

"I thought we weren't wearing clothes on this trip."

He set her down in her closet, which disappointed her a little bit. She was about to suggest he pack for her, or that they just grab her bow and forget it, when he pulled down a duffle which it turned out had a bunch of money in it.

"Oh, that's where I put that. I can never keep track."

She shrugged. Money bought stuff, she knew, but the little pieces of paper just didn't seem to mean anything. Alek used to get mad, because "Money should be in the bank! *frowny face*" but she just let him do what he wanted with the stuff.

AJ: “If My Ashley doesn’t want to bring this, we should at least bury it.”

She shrugged again.

"If you want to."

He got another duffle bag out, and held it open for her, for which she smiled at him. She wiped her eyes with the back of her hand, and then she picked up the hem of her dress and blew her nose into the fabric.

She tossed in a couple things, not really looking at them, and got her toothbrush from the bathroom and threw it in on top.

"Do you want to grab my archery case and throw the stuff in car while I change?"

She reached behind her to unzip the dress and kicked it off, choosing a red plaid shirt which she tied in front of her instead of buttoning, and short jeans shorts and hiking boots. There were going to the woods, after all. She retrieved her phone and sent Haleigh a text.

Going out of town. SORT your SHIT out.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top