Crimsion Red and Knights (For now)

RainaRose · Crimsion Red and Knights (For now)

Prolog
The Legend

We were just like the humans that surrounded us, with fears and flaws and feelings. The only differences in us they could never see so long as we didn’t want them too. The way we aged and the color of our sacred blood, given to us by the first of our kind.

Yet we had no name. We knew not of what we were, only that we did exist.

A long time ago, it’s said in the legend of Knoxill and Redivan, that the world at one time was at full peace with itself. No blood was ever shed. No wars were ever waged. The sick were never born and those that were born never died. There was no over population, there was enough room for everyone to live peacefully. Those that were born were born from the touch of Knoxill. The Lion, The Snake, The Eagle, and The Dolphin were all Knoxill’s very first creations.

There was Master Redivan, the ruler of all hate and all things evil. He was still yet a wise man with patience that no other being could ever require. Then there was Knoxill, she was the ruler of love and all things good. Though she was kind and beautiful she was also passionate and caring. Though the two were the opposite of each other they still existed together in peace, as were all things together in peace.

Redivan loved Knox for her strength and for her beauty. Redivan and Knox had been created together, and together they would always be. Knox loved Redivan for his patience with her passion. They were the ultimate balance on the Earth. As the love they held grew for one another so did the trials they would face.

Never before had a child of any kind been born on the Earth, those that existed with Redivan and Knox had all been created by Knoxill’s hands. Yet now, she bore the child of herself and Redivan. How this had happened, neither of them knew, but they were overjoyed at the creation in the way that had.

When the child was born Knoxill and Redivan were shocked to find that the child could not create anything with the power that Knoxill had nor could the child destroy and hate the way Redivan could. Knoxill was distressed and as such, the legend says, she raged so much that the earth once large and plentiful now was cut down and sized into one world. The world that we now live in.

Redivan, distraught over his created soul mate, begged the God’s to bear them a child that would satisfy Knox. When the Gods denied Redivan, his rage was of a different kind. By his own hand he slew the child that Knox had bared. Though Knox was distressed over the child, she still loved the baby the way any mother would love their own flesh and blood. Out of fear of conceiving another child she vowed to Slay Redivan so that no more blood would be shed in the world they had been given.

True to her word, the next day she drew the knife of Salzoren. The blade of the knife was a beautiful blue, the color of Knoxill’s eyes. The hilt of the dagger was the color of crimson red, the color of Redivan’s eyes. The knife of Salzoren was they only way that Hate and Love, combined in an eternal bound, could kill each other and separate that bound.

When Knoxill struck Redivan in the heart his blood burned away his body and the droplets of blood, says the legend, became all of Redivan’s power and hate which formed into the beings which looked like humans. These beings contained his hate and power. And so, as he burned, Knox, distraught, plunged the knife of Salzoren into her own heart. A blue flame enveloped her, and her blood became beings that looked like humans and contained all of her love and power. The Gods, angered, cut themselves off from the world of Earth. The child that Knoxill had bared, lost its blood then when the Gods slew it also with the knife of Salzoren. The child of Knox and Redivan became humans. No power filled them and not hate nor anger became them, but instead both.

Now those who were born of Redivan still wonder the earth, keeping the balance of his hate and patience and so do those of Knoxill now wonder he earth, keeping the balance of her love and passion. They are the Gods of the world, and though they hold no power to their knowledge they follow their own Code. Or so says the Legend.

RainaRose

Chapter 1

When life is at its end
How will you decide?
To play the final role
Or give it up and die?

“Are you sure you still want to come down?”

“Of course I do.”

The air was crisp that morning, The Dublin air port was bustling about with throngs of busy, energetic people. Mothers were carrying their crying children, grandparents on their way to taking their grandchildren on vacation, and people moving back and forth, off and on their flights. Nothing unusual for the air port in Dublin ,Ireland.

“If you don’t have the money I could always come up instead.” Argued the voice on the other side of the black Nokia flip phone a blonde hair blue eyed woman had pressed against her ear with her shoulder.

“My little cottages is to small and I’ve already bought the tickets.” The blonde hair woman said as she relinquished the money she’d dug from her messy leather purse to the short black hair woman standing behind the air port desk patiently.

The black hair woman smiled and began clicking down a few things on they key board of her computer, seemingly more busy then she needed to be. After a moment, the woman looked back up and a smiled like a happy plastic Barbie-doll.

“Raina Rose?” She asked, looking down at the license Raina had set out for the clerk to look over.

“Yes ma’ma.” Raina responded politely, paying little attention to the clerk and staying more focused to the phone glued to her ear and the man she was talking to on the other line.

“Are you sure.” The man insisted, trying with out any real intention of getting the stubborn woman to change her mind. He knew that she would just ignore him no matter how much he insisted she do something different.

He still had to argue with her anyway, just in case.

“Crozzie, I’m sure. I miss you a lot and I want to come and visit you.”

Crozeus sighed. She always made up her mind about these kinds of things without asking him ad then when she went to put her plan into effect he only ever got a warning last minute. Why couldn’t she so the normal thing for once and just call and ask if it was ok? He hated it when she called him and said “I’m buying a ticket and I’m coming to see you.”

That wasn’t a warning in advance, that was a “By the way.”

“What day are you wanting to fly down?” The clerk asked, her well manicured nails tapping against the white marble desk irritably.

Raina never understood woman and manicures, to her it seemed pointless to go and get your nails done when they were going to break off in the first place.

“Two weeks on Saturday.”

“Saturday?” Crozeus snorted.

“Let me see if we have a flight open for that day. It will only take one moment.” She began tapping away at the keys on her computer once again.

“What’s wrong with Saturday?” Raina asked, starting to tap her own nails on the marble desk that she was leaning on. Something about waiting around never bothered her unless there was a lot of commotion like there was in the Dublin air port. Too much commotion made Raina edgy and energetic.

“Nothing I guess. I was going to invite Fectum down for a visit that weekend.”

“Good! That means we can have a little reunion. How is Fectum? I haven’t talked to him in a few years, I hope he’s alright.”

Raina began shifting through her leather back purse, trying to at last calm her nerves with all the movement and people crowding her in line behind her. Even though she wasn’t doing anything she wanted to at least look like she was doing something. A double chinned old woman was standing behind her. Her face was sequenced up and the old woman didn’t hide the fact that she was annoyed at the moment. Every now and then she would stamp her foot and grunt with this deep male voice. Raina wasn’t even sure if it WAS a woman, but she wasn’t about to turn around and find out. She tried to ignore the old woman’s annoyed grunts.

“Last I herd he met a girl in Florida. Fectum, yes, Fectum, said that he was thinking about Marrying her.”

Raina almost dropped her purse but caught it in time to keep everything from falling out of it. She did drop her jaw, however.

“Fectum said that? Our Fectum?”

“I had the same exact reaction.”

“I’m afraid there’s no coach flights for Saturday of the 18th. The flights are all booked.” The woman said as she gazed empty mindedly at Raina’s ID.

“How about Friday?”

The woman stared at the screen of her computer and nodded slowly. “Yes, there is a flight for two on Friday. Would you like that one?”

“Yes. Book it for me please.”

The woman began tapping away with her irritatingly nice nails and false smile. Raina waited as patiently as she could, fiddling with the phone in her hand and waiting for the woman to get finished. Finally, the woman hit the last button and the ticket recite printed out of the machine. The clerk tore the ticket from the machine and grabbed two tickets from under her desk. She handed the tickets, the recite, and Raina’s ID back to her. Raina shoved everything that she had been handed back into her purse. Raina was sure that her purse was the most unorganized thing about her. Her house was clean, her work was organized and clean, but for some reason she couldn’t keep her purse organized.

“Thank You for flying South West. Have a nice day.”

“You too.”

Raina pushed past the old woman, who grunted and threw herself in the direction of the counter as if she had been waiting there behind Raina for hours. Raina shook her head, huffing at how rude people seemed to be any more. With her purse on her shoulder and the phone now securely in her hand she made her way out of the buzzing air port, trying to think of what she was going to cook for dinner when she got home. Chicken Lasagna sounded good to her at the moment.

“So he wanted to marry her?”

“Marry her.” Crozeus laughed.

“I have to tease him about that now. I am going to tease him so badly when I see him in a couple of weeks.” Raina giggled lightly, the thought of Fectum’s face blown up red from anger and embarrassment was too funny. She didn’t get many chances to tease him so when an opportunity sprung up she was defiantly going to take it.

“He’ll love that.”

The two laughed cheerfully together, both anxious to see the other again after being apart for so many years. Raina was glad to hear from her old friend for a change, it would be heart warming to see him and Fectum again. She was thrilled that they had gotten in touch through myspace again, that website had it made in this world.

“So I’ll see you in a couple of weeks?” Raina asked, subtly indicating that she needed to get off the phone.

“If all goes well.”

“Not much can get in the way, so it’ll be fine.”

“Well I’ve got to get off the phone. Oh, Raina do me a favor.”

“Yeah?”

“Don’t forget to pack cloths this time and back everything else in your house.”

“That happened once!” Raina moaned.

“It could happen again.” Crozeus chuckled and Raina’s face grew to be a bright red.

“Will you ever let me live that down?”

“Nope.”

“Good-bye Crozeus!” Raina huffed at him.

“Good-bye Raina.” Crozeus’s laughter lingered as Raina slammed the phone shut, huffing and puffing like the big bad wolf. She smiled after she got done fuming because she couldn’t stay mad at him for anything, he meant too much to her.

She had to admit, leaving her cloths at home when she came to visit him had been pretty funny.

She made her way to the shinning glass doors of the Dublin air port, ready to be out of this closing in sea of people. While walking over to the doors to escape the moving drones of humans Raina froze very suddenly, stopping dead in here pursuit of human freedom. A chill crawled haltingly up her spine, cold and lifeless like the dead. The feeling crept through her veins as soldiers creep through the nights and prickles the back of her pale white neck. For a moment the chill stayed, taunting her and teasing her. And as quickly as the chill had appeared to ruin her day, it vanished as she stepped into the fresh Ireland sun.

The sun and the plush green seasons were the reason that Raina had moved to Ireland to live four years ago. She’d never been happier then when she moved here. Every day was different, every day was peaceful. Every day was something that she wanted to remember. She felt calm here, welcomed, like she belonged here. Ireland was the first place in all her years of being alive that she could put the word “home” to. No where else that she had lived, in all the many years of life she had been cursed with, could she feel as safe as she did here in Ireland. The most perfect place on earth for her.

As she took in the air around her, breathed in the fresh green grass and wet dew from the rain that had passed two days ago, the thoughts of the chill completely left her mind. Raina swayed her hips from side to side gracefully as she walked. She knew that when she walked it seemed more like she was gliding, and this had never once bothered her. She took advantage of her grace. She swayed herself over to the bright yellow Taxi waiting just a few feet away from the air port entrance. When she reached the Taxi a smile was already on her lips, the chill forgotten. The day was too good to pass up.

Opening the door Raina was met with the familiar scent of Vanilla and Old Spice, something she had grown accustomed to smelling when getting in and out of this same Taxi which always was the one to come and pick her up. She crawled in and pulled the door shut behind her, sliding over to sit comfortably on the maroon red Taxi seats. Buckling the seat belt across her chest the driver of the cab started the car up, letting the engine rev for a moment before pulling out of the main drop off/pick up area.

“All settled Miss Rose?” The old man asked. He was in his late 40’s early 50’s, his wrinkles dominated most of his face and the hair he had was a silvery white and cut perfectly around his head. His eyes were a soft melted sky blue and his face was always drawn into a soft friendly smile. Unlike the other Drivers in Ireland, and the majority of people, the old man did not have an Irish accent. Instead, his accent was 100% American.

“Yes, I got everything worked out. I’ll be going on Friday instead of Saturday. Thank you for waiting Sam, (A/N: This is not Samuel.) I do appreciate it.” Raina explained, turning to stare out the window as the car pulled out of the air port and got on the main road to go back to her little cottage.

“Its not problem at all, Miss Rose.” He smiled at her in the rear view mirror and she smiled back at him, brightly as always.

“You really should let me pay the actual price for driving me back and forth.”

“Must we always go through this, Miss Rose?”

“I don’t want to be trouble for you.”

“Its no trouble at all. I spend many nights eating your wonderful cooking, and you do not make me pay a dime for that. This is the least I can do for you.” Sam smiled at Raina once again and as before she smiled back at him. Any time she needed a ride anywhere, it was always Sam who came and got her. He wouldn’t allow her to pay for her rides back and forth when she needed them.

“You’re so good to me.”

“I do try, Miss Rose.”

After that he turned on his CD of Beethoven’s music collection that Raina had gotten him for Christmas that year. He said that he never played anything different while he was driving because the music was the best thing he had gotten in a long time. Raina didn’t understand how he couldn’t get annoyed listening to the same songs over and over again every day, she knew without a doubt that she would get frustrated. Sam was undoubtedly her closet friend that lived in Ireland. If anything, she saw him as her father figure. When she rode in his Taxi cab a year and a half ago her life became a lot brighter than it had been. He was always there, always helping her.

“How is Trisha now? Is she doing alright?” Sam asked once they were halfway back to Raina’s cottage, still on the main road.

“She’s doing much better. I’m going to have to get a second job here very soon though.”

“Why is that, Miss Rose?”

Raina paused, clearing her throat. For a moment, nothing was said as Raina mulled over in her mind the right words to say to him. She opened her mouth as if the words were going to come out the way she wanted them to sound and then she closed her mouth, deciding what she was going to say wasn’t good enough. It took her a moment to gather her words.

Sam waited patiently until Raina was ready with what she had to say.

Finally Raina responded once her thoughts were gathered up.

“I was thinking of getting a bigger cottage. The one just down my street if for sale and I thought that it would be perfect.” She waited. His reaction was important.

“Whatever would you want the bigger one for, Miss Rose? The house you and little Trisha have is just perfect for the two of you to live comfortably.”

Raina took in a deep breath, trying to calm herself down. This was just Sam that she was talking to, she had no reason to be nervous.

“I was hoping that you would come and move in with me and Trishy. See, you are over at the house all the time as it is and since you live by yourself the move wouldn’t be that difficult for us to manage. That and Trishy really likes you. Would you like to come and live with us Sam?”

Raina watched his face in the mirror calmly, trying to see along what lines he was thinking. He was watching her as well, blue eyes reading each other carefully. She could tell from the way his lips pursed together that he was surprised and that he was considering her offer. She hoped that he would take it.

“That is a lot to think about, Miss Rose.”

“I know it is. Would you think about it? Consider it a little?” Her voice was hopeful and her eyes were pleading.

Sam smiled easily at the woman.

“Of course I will think about it.”

Raina smiled, more relaxed now that she had gotten to ask what she needed.

“Thank you Sam.”

“Your welcome, Miss Rose.”

The rest of the drive through Dublin back to her home was filled with small talk about the weather, about politics, about people on the streets, and easy going things. Sam was always just that, an easy going relaxed person. Raina didn’t understand why someone as sweet and kind as him had never gotten married but she never was the kind of person to pry about something that could be painful. She’d asked him once why he’d moved to Ireland from America. He’d told her that he’d moved to Ireland for personal reasons related to some unresolved issues. The sadness in his eyes when she asked him had made her heart choke for even thinking to ask such a question. After that, Raina didn’t press the matter.

When they pulled up to the house Raina took a moment, as she always did, to admire how lucky she had been to grab the little cottage when it was up for sale. The cottage was a faint blue old fashioned looking cottage. The house had a small 1 ft tall fence that wrapped around the front of it. There was a small rock path that lead up to the large front porch with weeds and flowers that grew around the beautiful stones. The grass in the front yard was plush and green with life, something Raina had always been grateful for. Laying in that grass on sunny days drinking lemonade with Trisha was her number 1 favorite past time on her top 10 list. Two chairs were on the from porch with a small table sat in between them. A chimney peaked its why from behind the cottage roof.

Every time she came to stand in front of her little cottage, one word came into her mind. Home. All the way up the path to the front porch Raina would happily repeat the words in her head “This is my home.” And would be delighted in feeling like here, in this cottage, was where she finally belonged.

Raina opened the car door and slide out, a smile already on her lips.

“Thank you Sam.”

“Its always a pleasure, Miss Rose.” Sam nodded to her and she nodded back, wanting to curtsey to him instead but she held back on that.

“Will you be eating dinner with us tonight? I’m cooking my famous Chicken Lasagna.” Raina dangled the Lasagna with a girlish grin and playful eyes.

“I couldn’t pass up the Chicken Lasagna. What time should I be back to enjoy your delicious cooking once again?” Sam, as pleasant as he always was, started the car while smiling over at the awaiting Raina.

“How about 6:00 tonight?”

“I will return at 6:00 then.”

A sharp cry suddenly interrupted the two of them, and Raina turned around and two small arms crashed around her waist and she was looking down into the gleeful face of the bright child she’d been talking about only a few moments ago.
“Momma!” The girl squealed and Raina hoisted her up from the ground and safely into her own arms.

“Well if it isn’t the angel I was talking about only a few minutes ago! How was school Trishy?”

“It was fun! We learned to count to 10 in Spanish and Mrs. Marx was letting us use this book that- Oh, hi Grandpa!” Trisha’s attention, like that of any 7 year old, switched just as quickly as a teenage girls mood swings. Yet she was just as cheerful about it as ever.

“Hello Trisha dear. Are you behaving your mother?” Sam asked the girl with a mock suspicious look on his face. Raina was smiling and staring at them both with a motherly expression.

“Of course I am! I’m a good girl aren’t I mommy?” Trisha hugged her mother tighter around the neck and Raina laughed calmly.

“For the most part.”

“See! Are you going to visit right now Grandpa?”

“Grandpa has to go back to work Trishy, he’ll be back later for dinner though.”

“Ok, then we can do puzzles again?”

Raina laughed melodically at the girls enthusiasm.

“Of course you can.” Raina said and set the girl down on her own two feet. Trisha’s back hair went in every direction as the wind picked up her hair, making her rosy cheeks brighter. Raina opened her purse and fished around the mess until she had her keys out of her purse. She handed them down to the eager child. “Go un lock the door. I’ll be there in a minute.”

“Alright. Bye Grandpa! See you soon!”

“Bye sweetie!” Sam called as Trisha dashed off in a blur of pink and hello kitty.

Once Trisha had disappeared inside of the cottage, Raina turned back to Sam.

“Be safe at work today.”

“I will Miss Rose. See you tonight” Sam reassured.

“See you tonight.” Raina shut the car door.

As Sam drove off down the street she waved to him, letting him know in the best way that she could that he had a family. Then she turned and started back into the house. She picked up the mail on her way in, ready to start cooking dinner and getting some of the laundry done. When she entered the house, the smell of incense hit her nose and all of the muscles in her body melted down to better. Instantly, Raina moved over and lit another incense now that the one she’d lit when she’d left was burned down; So that she could keep the smell that was in the air attached to her house. Once that was done she brought the cottage to life again. Sitting down on the couch, she began shifting through the mail. Bills, bills, and more bills it seemed. Nothing that she didn’t already expect to get in the mail, like she did every day.

One letter, hand written with a pen in a scrawl that was out dated, beautifully written and just as dangerous was addressed to her, the letter stopped her shifting through the bills. Her throat grew tight and she could already feel the weight and the pressure build up in the room. She wasn’t ready for this. Not this letter, not again. Denial yelled inside her mind, told her to throw the letter in the fire and act as if she had never gotten it. Her mind demanded, by some hope that the letter was going to be something different. She was not disillusioned however. With reluctance she read who the letter was from and all her hope was shattered to worthless bits.

“Invictus.” Raina whispered, the word resounding around her ears and inside her mind.

Her fingers shakily peeled the letter open, pulling out the light piece of paper and letting the paper rest upon her lap, folded up still. Taking a deep, strained breath, Raina unfolded the letter. She didn’t need to read it but she wouldn’t be satisfied unless she did. Why was it that when she found a family, a life, a home, that she was going to be called away?

Raina

It seems that the Knights have assembled, a disturbance has occurred. We are assembling at Silence. Return immediately.

~Invictus.

Raina closed the letter. For a moment, she sat, only staring out into nothingness with a blank expression on her face. Though she felt all the hate in the world for having been cursed the way she was, things always went like this. No matter how many times she had tried to escape, they always seemed to drag her back. She was getting back to a life, she was at least feeling at peace. Something she hadn’t felt in almost 32 years. Yet, as she tore the letter to pieces, staring straight ahead at nothing, she knew that it was going to come eventually. She had no choice but to go. It been 50 years since she acknowledged them. 50 years since she’d come in contact with them. It was about time.

“Momma! Can I help you fix dinner?” Trisha asked, jumping cheerfully into the living room. When she saw her mother sitting with that expression on her face she stopped short and rushed over. “Momma what’s wrong?”

Raina snapped out of her trance.

“Nothing baby.” She took the little girl in her arms, holding her tightly.

“Can I help you fix dinner?”

“No angel. Go to your room and start packing your things.”

RainaRose

Chapter 2

“Trisha sit down!” Raina barked in hushed voice, trying not to draw attention small girl of pure refined energy that was twisting and bouncing around in the next seat over. Trisha, who was not attempting to turn back and acknowledge Raina, yelped with her glass shattering voice.

It took Raina all the patience of a true parent to restrain herself. The effort it took not to turn around and yell at the little girl to sit and be still was something to be admired. The woman knew she couldn’t be too harsh with the little Trisha. The child needed a firm hand not a harsh one. Not only that but the girl was utterly adorable in the first place with her dark black hair and bright shining brown eyes. That child’s eyes were wide and innocent. They always prevented Raina for being seriously angry. Raina grabbed the small frail shoulders of the girl, easily pushing her down in the small uncomfortable seat. Those big brown eyes opened wide and fearful, slowly turning to Raina and casting their binding of anger on her mother. The woman’s heart melted without hesitation. She couldn’t be firm with the girl even, she was a mother not the firm hand like the father. Sighing to herself she smiled lightly at Trisha, who grinned back at her mother, knowing that she had won. Raina took a deep breath and hardened her eyes. It was very difficult.

“Trisha, stay in your seat and calm down young lady. You’re going to start bothering the other passengers.” The woman’s strong hands removed from the girls thin shoulders and instantly Trisha was leaning closer to Raina, smiling her childish grin.

“But look at all the little ants Mommy! They are so little bitsy tiny! I wanna play with them!” High, carrying voice was something that Raina was used to. Trisha’s voice was annoyingly high pitch, Raina knew this well. The other passengers didn’t.

There was an old couple sitting in front of Raina and Trisha. The old woman would turn around when Trisha’s voice grew too loud and she would smile and whisper to herself “I remember my daughter at that age…” and then keep her thoughts to herself. The old man would turn and his beady eyes would scowl at Raina, his mustache making him look like an older version of Hitler. His face would wrinkle up, glare at them, huff, and then he would turn around. A couple of people behind Raina whispered back and forth among themselves. Raina herd a woman lean over to a dark haired man and whispered something while staring directly at her. The woman, skinny and small looking, snorting and whispered in a voice loud enough for Raina to pick up “That’s bad parenting, I’d whip that girl.” Rigidly, Raina’s eyes turned and cast the woman such deadly look that she closed her mouth and said nothing else to the man.

She was a good mother. Just because she didn’t beat her daughter didn’t make her a bad parent.

“Trisha, you have to be quiet. Lower your voice this instant!” Raina snapped as Trisha opened her mouth to once again squeal at the small ‘ants’ below . The girls lips pressed together and she held herself from speaking loudly. Her eyes grew timid and watery.

“Sorry Momma.” Trisha whispered, confused as to why she had been scolded. Raina sighed, kissing the top of the child’s ivory forehead.

“Just be a little more quiet baby. Please? We’ll be there soon. I promise.” Raina whispered soothingly.

“Momma that man up there keeps giving me funny looks.” Trisha scowled at the old man sitting in the seat in front of the two. He glanced back at the Trisha and Raina once again, drawing his lips into a mean expression and glaring his small eyes.

Trisha stuck her tongue out at him, puckering her face up in a sour expression. The man grew the color of roses and huffing to himself her turned back around in his seat. Raina giggled to herself at Trisha’s display of childish behavior. The man had been pretty rude so Raina thought it funny that her daughter could get him to stop looking their direction like they were dirty inbreeds. The girl had some wit to her and some attitude to go along with it. She turned to Trisha none the less, trying to hide her smile from the little girl who picked up on her expressions. She didn’t want Trisha thinking it was a good idea to back sass adults when it wasn’t. Raina made her face blank and serious with as much skill as she could manage.

“Trisha that was rude, don’t stick your tongue out at people.”

“But Momma he was giving me a funny look.” She whined, scooting down in her seat.

“No buts’. I don’t want to see you do that again.”

“But he‘s mean!” Trisha grumbled, crossing her arms over her chest and sliding down in her seat.

“Trisha no buts.”

“But Mommy!” Trisha pleaded, those brown orbs staring Raina down. She averted her eyes to keep a stern voice.

“Trisha, I don’t want to hear it again or you’ll be-”

“Excuse me,” Her deep blue eyes suddenly locked with the intense gaze of hazel eyes, staring down at her in a friendly way.

He wasn’t like anything she had ever seen. He was a tall man, towering above her with a smile that she had not been expecting. To her pleasant admittance, he was a good looking man. His faded brown hair was pulled back into a neat pony tail that hung loosely at his back. The smile he flashed down at her was unlike anything Raina had experienced. To her surprise her heart sped up at just the sight of him. She had seen men before, good looking men that she could have labeled beautiful. He wasn’t beautiful but this tall man had a certain power about him, a power she couldn’t ignore. Raina’s heart flipped in her chest at that power. He was lean, wire muscled and more than she could have expected on a flight from Ireland to New York City, New York. The man had taken her off guard. It took her a moment, staring at him with wide eyes, before she finally realized she looked like an idiot.

“Oh, uh, yes? Can I help you?” Raina said quickly, forgetting that she had been scolding Trisha.

He kept that brilliant smile. “Maybe. Do you think I could sit with you? This brat in the other isle keeps kicking the back of my seat and I don’t know how much longer I’m going to be able to sit there without strangling him.” His voice was to die for. The perfect flow of deep (but not so deep that one felt as if they were huge) and velvet soft.

“Not at all. Although…” Raina threw a glance Trisha’s way, who was busy staring out the window and gushing to herself about how everything was so small. Trisha’s voice was quieter though, since she didn’t want to get in any more trouble.

He followed her gaze to the little girl, smiling brighter.

“I don’t mind, as long as she doesn’t start kicking me.” Raina laughed lightly and unbuckled her seat belt, moving to the empty seat next to Trisha. The man gracefully sat in the isle seat that Raina had relinquished to him. Trisha’s attention went from the landscape to the stranger the moment that Raina sat down. Here we go…Raina groaned with a smile.

“Hi! I’m Trisha! Who are you?”

“My names Talen.”

“That’s a funny name.” Trisha said doubtfully.

“Trisha don’t be rude!” Raina snapped in a hushed tone. Trisha smiled timidly,

His eyes sparkled and he laughed at her innocence. “No its fine. Talen is pretty unique name.”

“Do you have girlfriend?”

Talen laughed again. “No I do not.”

“Mr. Avery says that girlfriends lead to marriage and marriage changes people and makes them bitter so people shouldn’t have girlfriends cuz they’ll end up married people.” Raina blushed brightly.

“Trisha, why don’t you watch the movie? I brought your head phones. You can plug them in and hear better.” Raina suggested quickly, trying to save herself from anymore embarrassment.

“Don’t wanna watch a movie!”

“It’s the Little Mermaid though.” Raina taunted.

Indeed when Trisha glanced up at the small screen that all air lines had now, the Little Mermaid was displayed on the screen. The movie had just started and Raina saw how Trisha’s eyes lit up at the sight of Arial swimming around in Atlantis. Talen and Raina watched Trisha’s little inner conflict with interest. She seemed to be deciding what she wanted to do more and her emotions displayed plainly on her face. Talk to Talen or watch the Little Mermaid? It was cute the way she made faces when she was frustrated and couldn’t decide. Finally, after many interesting expressions, Trisha held out her hands.

“I wanna watch!” So Raina shifted through her carry-on bag and pulled out the bug-like ear phones quickly handing them to Trisha, who eagerly plugged them in to watch the movie.

Once Trisha was settled in, Raina turned her attention back to the man sitting next to her.

“Talen is it?”

“Yes it is. Your name would be?”

“Raina.”

“Nice to meet you Raina.” The two shook hands politely, both almost seeming timid.

Raina couldn’t help but notice him. He was lean alright, with broad shoulders and that wire muscle visible under his tight blue shirt. She tried not to stare at him but it was difficult not to. Many of the woman on the plane were staring her way, jealousy clearly on their faces. He had baggy jeans that gave him the look of a punk-butt teenager and that secret agenda under his nose. To her Talen looked dangerous. She hoped that he would sit with her all the way to New York so she could get to know him better. A mystery like him Raina could happily get used to. Attractive company was always welcome in both of their eyes.

“Are you getting off at New York or are you going to Pennsylvania?” Talen asked calmly, neither one of them could stop looking at each other.

“New York.”

“Same here.” Talen grinned. Raina smiled at him weakly, not sure what she should do with her heart beating so fast. “How old are you?” He asked.

“19, almost 20.” The same response she had given since she could remember.

“Who’s kid is that?” Talen leaned over, getting closer to her seemingly out of curiosity but Raina knew better. She didn’t mind.

“Mine.”

His face twisted into the confusion Raina often got when she told them the 6 year old was her daughter. She giggled softly every time she saw that look on any person’s face. It was always a priceless look.

“She’s adoptive.” Raina added after a moment.

“Oh.” Talen said easily, smiling cheerfully and looking Raina over.

“So are you flying alone?”

“I was.”

“You were?”

“Well I’m flying with you now.” He leaned even closer to her and Raina blushed lightly.

“I guess you are.” Raina whispered.

“So I’m gonna ask, are you single?”

Her face went completely red. “Yes I am seeing as its hard to get a date with a 7 year old adoptive daughter. Is that usually the first question you ask a girl?”

“No, normally the first question I ask a girl is her age and then her name.”

“Her name after?” Raina raised an eyebrow.

“Normally.”

“Well, you got a name first this time.”

“So I did and with a pretty face like yours it should be as easy as snapping your fingers.”

Raina averted her eyes from him, the blush on her face showing how completely embarrassed she was. “Are you hitting on me?”

“Yup.”

Shocked, she turned back to him. “Rather blunt aren’t you?”

“Yup.”

Raina smiled. “I like that.”

“I like you.”

Raina’s face grew darker red, turning away from him she laughed nervously. “You’re strange.”

“At least I’m honest.”

“That’s true.”

She did get hit on a lot, Talen had been right about that. Usually when she got hit on it was by some one she didn’t want to have anything to do with because they were either ignorant or just looking for a good time. Raina was not a one night stand and any man that thought she was, was going to get a really painful wake up call in the gonads. To her it was always good to test out her new high heals on a jerk who deserved it. Of course when Trisha was with her she would never display such violence to teach the girl that kind of behavior was ok. Raina was thankful that Talen wasn’t too pushy but instead honestly flirty and friendly. She didn’t know if he knew it but it was working, she was enjoying his company more and more as the flight to New York went on.

The flight was enjoyable for the rest of the way to New York with Talen there to keep Raina company and she keep him company. Trisha was good for the rest of the flight. The only problems they had with the girl was when she spilled her sprite all over the seat when the plane ran into some turbulence. After much cursing, scurrying flight attendants, and many mad passengers, they got the mess cleaned up. Other than that there was no other incidents. Raina and Talen talked about everything since they had all the time in the world and in the time that she sat with him she felt as if she’d known him her who life. He was working in an Ireland Potato Factory making ends meat and trying to write on the side when he could. He was a writer, he’d always been that way. Raina got along so well with Raina that Raina was beginning to wonder if he was her soul mate.

“Are you trying to get in my pants?” Raina asked at one point when Trisha was sleeping comfortably in the seat next to her.

“Why, is it that obvious?”

“You crazy pervert!”

“I can’t get in your pants though.”

“And why not?” Raina turned, a bit offended.

“Because you’re a man killer.” Talen joked. Raina lightly punched his arm, grinning at him.

He hit on her in the most friendly way that a man really could. The entire flight to New York he flirted and complemented and hit on her. After the first couple of hours with him, Raina began to flirt continuously with him the way he was flirting with her. The two bantered with one another like old friends. Talen would tease Raina about how sexy she was and how she was a man killer and Raina would smile at him and tease him that he was a crazy pervert. To say the least, the flight was a good one. Better than Raina had, had since the Air Plane was first brought into existence.

When the plane flew into New York Raina was upset that she was having to leave Talen behind. She had grown close to him so quickly. His face told her as they stood and gathered up their carry-on bags that he felt the same way. It was lonely as the three shuffled off the plane to go and retrieve their bags from the terminal. Talen stuck close to her side and she stuck close to his, both of them dreading their final good-byes. Trisha was groggily lagging at Raina’s side, holding her mothers hand in such a busy place, the child unaware of her mothers new friend. When Raina’s and Trisha’s things were finally all gathered up, Raina waited for Talen to get his. The three met in the center area outside the station, trying to make light conversation. They had reached the parting place and Raina hesitated at first. Then she hugged Talen around the waist. Surprised he hugged her back. She was blushing when she stepped away from him.

“So this is it I guess, our rides waiting for us outside.” Raina pointed to a golden sand Crown Victoria parked outside the air port. The Victoria was rusty looking with the windows tinted pitch black and the paint job peeling from the car doors.

“I guess it is. Give me a call some time, you have my number?” Talen asked, his face dropping.

“Of course you Crazy Pervert.” Raina laughed.

He grinned at her. “I got yours so give me a shout some time. Don’t kill to many men.”

“Just one or two.” Raina said lightly.

The stood a moment and then hugged again quickly.

“Bye Talen! It was nice meeting you!” Raina waved as she and Trisha started to the car.

“Bye Raina bye Trisha!” Talen called after them, watching perhaps the most interesting woman he had ever met walk out of his life as if she had never walked in it.

“Bye bye!” Trisha called.

Talen watched them, waving until they had disappeared inside of the car. Once they were out of his sight and out of his life, he turned to meet his own ride and begin his own state of matters. As Talen walked briskly down the crowded air port he stopped noticing people as the point of this trip began to fill his mind. For now, Raina and her small daughter Trisha were forgotten to him, as was he forgotten at the moment to her.

“Raina.” The voice was stern, hard as she slid in the back seat of the old flashing Victoria. Trisha was hot on her heals. Raina kept her face blank at the acknowledgement of her name and merely nodded to the back of speaker, who did not look her way as she crawled in the car.

“Thilus.” She said, just as cold and hard as he had.

Trisha pressed herself tightly to Raina’s waist, looking up at the huge burly man with curious eyes. Raina put one arms around her daughter, carefully pulling Trisha to her side so that she felt safe. The man had short clipped mud hair and was tall even when sitting down. His arms were bulging with muscle that seemed to fascinate Trisha as she stared at him with the curiosity of a cat. If the man stood, he would have been at least 7’0. The way his skin was thick and his shoulders large enough that Raina could have easily rested on them showed his strength. He looked like a Soldier. No one would have been moronic enough to try and pick a fight with the one and only Thilus, not if they wanted to keep their life. Raina suddenly broke into a huge smile and he turned, smiling as well at her. It seemed their moment of coldness had passed and Trisha buried her face in her mothers arm. The two of them had a strange ritual.

“Now who is this little one?” Thilus asked, eyeing Trisha over as one does a strange animal.

Trisha kept her face hidden in her mothers arm, refusing to look up at the intimidating man. The little girl did not answer him.

“This is Trisha. Trisha, say hello to Thilus.” Raina encouraged, pulling Trisha off of her a small ways.

“But Momma he’s scary.” Trisha whispered, trying to cling tighter to Raina’s arm, who would not allow it.

Both Trisha and Raina jumped at Thilus’s sudden boom of roaring laughter, grinning viciously at them his laughter filled the car for a good moment. Trisha glared her eyes at him defiantly, insulted that he was laughing at something she didn’t understand.

“Child, I’m harmless. Unless you start acting up and won’t listen to your mother.” His voice became serious, his laughter leaving his voice. “I can be very scary then. So you’re going to behave now aren’t you?”

With the deer-in-the-head-light look on her face, Trisha nodded. Raina giggled at them both.

“Thilus is harmless baby girl. He’s not scary at all, like a giant Teddy Bear.”

“A Teddy Bear?”

“That’s right.”

“So he’s uncle Teddy?” It was Raina’s turn to burst out laughing.

“I missed you too Raina.” Thilus grumbled, hoping that such a name would not follow him.

“I missed you as well, Thilus. Its been a very long time.” Raina smiled at him broadly, and he watched her in the mirror, pulling out of the parking spot and heading back to the base. Back to the home base where they had lived almost all there lives on and off.

“Who is the girl?” He asked her curiously.

“This is my daughter.” Their eyes met in the mirror, and she knew what he was thinking and he knew that she knew. Crimson is no place for a child.

“Its nice to meet you Uncle Teddy!” Trisha shouted cheerfully, and Raina began laughing again. Thilus groaned.

“Its nice to meet you too squirt.”

“Hey I’m not a squirt!”

“You’re a squirt to me.” Thilus kept his smile.

Giggling Trisha said “That’s true.”

“What are you going to tell Xander and Embeion when we return?” Thilus kept his gaze held intensely with Raina’s. Solemnly she glanced down at Trisha, who was still preoccupied with the big man that she had encountered.

A lot had happened in such a short time, and more was to come and Raina knew this. Her daughter’s life was at risk now. She had put her daughter’s life at risk but she couldn’t leave her with Sam back in Ireland, especially if she couldn’t leave America for several years. A lot of factors had come into play that had lead up to Raina bringing Trisha. She just hoped that her daughter would find the heart to forgive her one day. For now, she couldn’t think about that. A smile crossed her lips and she kissed the top of Trisha’s head. Trisha met her eyes and grinned herself, letting Raina know that she loved her and that she trusted her. Sighing gently she rested in the seats, leaning back and wishing that it was Sam driving her and not Thilus. Quietly she said:

“The truth.”