Darling Warrior

[Lovely]

July 2, 2006
Phae's lair
follows: About that girl..


"darling warrior... "

Raises an eyebrow. "yes.."

"You're not yourself," she pouted, lounging back into her web chaise, stretching her hand high into the strands behind her. "You left beautifully enraged and engulfed in fury... now you're pensive... and dull." She winked, watching him carefully. "Thank you."

"Pensive and dull..." He scowled. "Would you rather I completed the task I set off to do?" He leaned against the wall, his arms folded loosely, resting over his middle.

"No, and that's why I'm thanking you. The way you stole out of here like an eruption of rage, I didn't know what you would accomplish. But I feel she's still out there, so you changed your mind." She smiled thinly and rolled down out of her web, touching the floor lightly before him. "What stopped you?"

"I really don't know." He said softly. "Trent maybe... maybe seeing her.. maybe hope.." His eyes slowly trailed from her feet up her slender legs, over her hip, along her side, over her graceful shoulder and then took in her face as if he'd not seen her in years.

Her light touch met the handsome hollow of his cheek like a whisper, her head tilting as she regarded the man in return. "Maybe acceptance?"

"I'm not sure I would go that far... just yet." He forced a sigh from him and brought his eyes to meet hers.

Her fingers pressed with a little bit of uncomfortable force, holding his gaze in hers. "How far would you go, Tarka? She's your daughter.. and I already have gone.. tremendous agonizing lengths to make amends."

He shook his head, his fingers lifting to tangle in her grip. "Tremendous agonizing lengths to make ammends with who?"

"With myself for allowing it... with the Powers for providing an option... with Giolla for harboring her and watching her until I could find a way to waken her... balanced and well. Until I could find a way to explain to you..."

[Lovely]

"You still haven't clearly explained.." He said without the harsh judgement that had been in his voice during their last meeting. "All these years... and those around me that knew... but kept your secret." he shook his head slightly. "And is she Phae.. is she balanced and well?"

"I didn't waken her... so I'm not sure," she whispered in honesty, clasping his fingers back. "Those around you are only me and Giolla.. the others thought... were told.. that she was destroyed because they felt as you do.. did." She listened carefully to his tone and his reach for understanding. "It was not to spite you, Tarka. You were in search of something that belonged to you... your soul. You came to me to help win it back. If her father can possess one, I saw no reason she could or would not as well. She was not born with one, but the remedy was sworn to allow one to come to her after the sleep. But because I did not waken her... I can't be sure."

"You know what darkness I could have been... but for sheer will not to sink into the temptation... and perhaps higher powers or purpose guiding, dragging me along at times..." His face turned and he pressed a kiss into her palm. "I.. fear.. what she could be." He whispered. "That she could be the worst of me.." His eyes shuttered a moment and his fingers tightened in hers. "Oh Phae.. I am lost... find me.. save me..." His gaze turned slowly back to hers. "She is amazingly beautiful as is her mother, my beloved."

She smiled at the compliment, although she was wary. "Careful... beauty and treachery are never far separated. Perhaps, however, she has garnered the best that you are... the things you should focus on more... since beauty is likely all she's retained from me." She sounded sullen, as if she knew more yet than she was directly saying.

"I do believe she has a bit of her mother in her... a certain appetite... Though Trent says and the fact that he can say is proof, that she has not eaten him." A sad look held in the depths of his blue eyes. "What do I do?"

"Let her live and learn to know her."

Many things ran through his mind and several replies were passed away. "So be it..." For now at least, and if he would come to know her, was not certain in this moment. But he would not hunt her any longer.

"Tarka," her tone was a gentle nudge with an equally tender smile, her head lowering so her gaze met him shyly and deviously, her ankle sweeping with agile grace up the side of his leg and curling behind him a little to pull him closer. "Even if she is my daughter, can she be all bad, hm? Let Trent worry about controlling her... while you concentrate on controlling... me." She chuckled wickedly.

"Phae... I am not a stupid man." He spoke flatly, his arm circling her waist as he pulled her close still. "I do not hold the slightest hope of ever being able to control you." His fingers brushed her cheek, as his tone of voice warmed, to even include a slight sound of amusement.

She gazed adoringly at him and pierced his gaze with a wicked thought that gleamed. "Maybe she needs a brother to tame her, then. You know how loving and adoring I am when I'm expecting, hm?" She ran a tooth over her narrow fangs, her eyes glowing a soft red as they shuttered at the feeling of wrapping around him. "I would never admit that you could control me, but I enjoy every moment you try."