"Children are not property that can be sold like that." Melez's
voice dropped slightly at the end of her statement as she could
feel some of her anger boil up within. "Azazael, do you know where
this male dragon is? We should start planning to get to him and get
him away from those people if he does turn out to be nice." But
how to get a dragon away from them... I'm assuming that he'll
have a human form. You just have to change his appearance enough to
get him by any and all guards. Plus you'll have to change your own
appearance... Good point... Hmm... My appearance shouldn't be a
problem, but their appearances I don't know about... Melez was
staring down at the floor as she had this internal discussion with
Zach.
"I couldn't agree more," Azazeal agreed. "I can led you to where he
has appeared in castings and where they believe him to be. Between
the two, I think we can find him." Eona grinned, very happy at the
prospect of it all. "Thank you! Thank you both! Oh! I can't wait!"
She gushed, shaking with excitement. Azazeal noticed her looking
down and gently took her other hand, really trying to get a read.
Eona looked down at his hand then to Melez to judge her reaction.
When she didn't respond right away, Eona softly called her friend
name to get her attention.
That does sound like a decent plan and could possibly
work. Thank you for agreeing with me Zach. My pleasure Red.
Oh, er, I think your friends are trying to speak to you...
What? Oh, drat... Melez looked up from the floor to Eona then
to Azazael and at that moment she realized he had taken her hand
she recoiled slightly pulling her hand back to herself, her cheeks
flushing a little redder than normal. "I-I'm sorry, I was spacing
out there thinking of plans, tactics and such." She chuckled, if
not a little nervously.
"Melez, why can't I get a read on you? It's like someone is
shielding your thoughts. Is something wrong?" Azazeal asked,
studying her intently. He was kind of sad she had taken her hand
back. But then, she had every right to. "Wait, what?" Eona asked,
"Read her?"
Melez looked to Azazael confused. "Shielding my thoughts?" Zach?
Are you doing that? Of course. As we share this mind I'd rather
not have someone poking through mine as well. Okay, I would
have liked it if you had asked if you could do that. May I
shield our thoughts? Yes. Honestly, even if I sort of like him,
I don't like that he has been trying to enter my mind without
permission. "Yes. That's exactly what was going on." She let go
of Eona's hand to turn fully towards him. "Now, might I ask why you
were trying to get a "read" on me?" There was an annoyed tone in
her voice, and a defensive one, but not an aggressive or angry
tone.
"Well, to be honest, I was worried. I can read Eona very well. Not
a word for word thought. But I can read that she is beyond happy to
meet this guy. I was trying to read you because I was firstly
curious about why I couldn't. But then it became concern when I
realized something wasn't right. So I was trying to help if I
could. I didn't mean to hurt you. Or offend you. Just make sure you
were alright without making things worse," he told her, looking
both guilty and sheepish. He knew it wasn't his place. But he had
been so worried. He'd seen many bad things happen and couldn't help
but worry over her. "I can't read your thoughts any better then
what I get from your body language." Eona blinked a bit but let him
talk.
"You didn't hurt or offend me, I would just like my privacy in my
own mind..." Melez said with a very slight smile, not wanting to
hurt his feelings. "For the moment I think I'd like to keep it that
way. Besides, it's not just my decision." I would like for me
to remain hidden in your head if you'd be so kind... Hidden?
You're gonna have to explain that to me... And soon... Yes, yes,
all in good time.
"I respect that. If I wish to know what you are thinking from now
on, I'm going to ask you," Azazeal told her, bowing slightly. Eona
picked up on the phasing though. "Melez, what do you mean it's not
just your decision? You are the only one in your head, aren't you?"
she asked.
Melez turned to Eona and pursed her lips, she didn't want to lie to
her friend, but didn't want to anger the being that shared her
mind. "My mind is my own if that's what you're asking..."
That was a close one, might want to change the subject...
That'd be a good idea... I mean, I wasn't lying, but I wasn't
answering her question exactly...
Maybe he's flustering her...maybe she doesn't want to talk about
it... Eona thought, trying not to push the matter. "Okay...but
you know you can always tell me if something bothers you or is
wrong, right?" Azazeal studied them, noting that Melez hadn't
answered the question. He wasn't sure why Melez hadn't but didn't
dig further. He left it be. It was between them, not him. And he
felt like was invading a more private conversation. Picking up the
rabbits, he began to cut the useable meat and pieces off with
grace. He'd focus on this so they could talk if they wanted to.
Melez nodded. "I'll tell you later..." She whispered as she went to
work on a rabbit, removing the hide with ease and precision. After
that she deboned it working silently. I'll tell you later?
Are you actually going to tell her? I sorta have to! No you
don't sorta have to. Yes, I do. She's my friend and I owe her.
Why do you owe her? Because she saved my life, and has let
me stay here and she didn't eat me! Fine. You tell her and only
her. I don't trust that man. Azazael? Eona doesn't either, but
he doesn't seem to be a threat, so I might tell him in time...
You're ridiculous... And you are a guest in my mind. So
behave. Yes ma'am. Oh geez...
Eona nodded, squeezing Melez's shoulder before saying, "I'm going
to get the soup ready. I figure rabbit soup is okay? I've got some
vegetables and herbs I'll put in to flavor it." "Sounds good. And
if you ladies want to give me a list, I can get you everything you
need from town tomorrow. I'll most likely be called on to report
but I after the slap on the wrist, I'll most likely be sent out to
search for you guys. They aren't very good with giving orders,"
Azazeal told them, still working.
Melez nodded to Eona and finished a rabbit setting it to the side
before picking up another one and starting. "Where will you look
for us so we know where not to be..." She chuckled slightly. "In
all honesty, how long do you think you can keep this ruse up not
knowing where we are?" She looks over to him, a grim look on her
face.
Eona went to get things started in the kitchen. Azazeal laughed at
her joke. "Well, in all honestly, I can keep it up for as long as
they don't ask me if I have seen you. As soon as they ask point
blank where you guys are, the ruse is up. I have to answer their
direct questions. I have to follow direct orders. So...as much as I
would like to stay here, to keep both of you safe, I'm a threat,"
he told her, sobered and serious. "...I shouldn't have come...I
should have left you both alone..."
Melez smiled slightly as he laughed at her joke, but that quickly
faded as he answered seriously. "Why did you come? Aside from the
fact that you have to catch us." She set down the rabbit that she
had just finished so she could turn and face him.
He was staring at his hand, trying to figure out how to tell her.
How did he explain that he'd spent so long looking forward to
meeting her? How things would get bad and he'd turn to his
castings, going to visit her in them. He couldn't tell her that. He
couldn't tell her that meeting her, getting here, this moment, was
what had kept him from giving in and mentally breaking down. Taking
a deep, shuddering breath, Azazeal looked up, meeting her eye. "Do
you want the truth or a story, something I'm going to hide behind
and use to distract?" he asked, his eyes showing all of the
centuries of sadness he'd let build up.
Melez could see the discomfort in his eyes. He didn't want to
answer her. She reached out and put her hand on his arm. "I want to
know what you want to tell me." Well. That's cute. Hey!
Shut it! That was rude. You know what you- Shush. Now.
Fine.
He studied her, his eyes flickering between hers. Slowly, he
covered her hand with his own. "...this is going to sound super
creepy and stalkerish. About a thousand years ago, my mother had me
cast. A very special casting. In it, I met the woman who I would
love. She is beautiful and so strong. She's kind but guarded. She's
sweet and caring but doesn't trust easily. Melez...I saw you. When
things have gotten bad, I would cast myself to possible futures
with you. It's creepy and really weird. I...I'm not sorry though.
It's kept me from becoming cruel. It's kept me from becoming this
dark, evil being. Melez, I have loved you for a thousand
years...and I'll always love you...I have looked forward to meeting
you for so long, I couldn't stop myself from coming to see you, to
talk to you...I'm sorry..."
Melez's eyes were extremely wide. A thousand years? How old is
he? I'm only 57... Does that really matter right now?! The man
just said he saw that you two were going to be together, and are
together in many possible futures and are the reason that he is a
nice person! Are you really that dumb that you didn't see
that?! ... Red? ...H-he called me beautiful...
What? H-he said he loves me... Yes, he did. We already
established that you can hear. YOU'RE RUINING MY MOMENT!!!
Shutting up now. A small tear came to the corner of
Melez's eye as all of his words sank in. She placed her other hand
on top of the one he put on hers and she smiled up at him. "Don't
be sorry... You're here now aren't you?"
His lips moved up into a smile, a real, non sarcastic smile. "You
aren't mad? You don't think I'm some creepy weirdo? I know you
don't know me yet and to be truthful, I don't know as much as it
seems I know about you. But I do love you. I can't explain it other
to say soulmates but that seems like I'm trying to pressure you or
drag you into something without you forming an opinion on first."
Azazeal slowly moved so he was sitting instead of kneeling as he
talked. Then he gently put his hand on her back, putting just
enough pressure on there to be considered him trying to pull her
into his lap. He was trying to go slow, trying not to force her
into anything. If she said no, he'd stop. If she told him not yet,
he'd wait.
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