Dispersing Uncertainty

She was allowing herself to stare, it would be after all, only now as he lay beside her in deep sleep that she would give herself the opportunity to look so openly, so longingly.

Kieren was but a fleeting dream to her, try as he might to reassure her that he wanted in, needed in, and for the long run Violet could not… she refused to allow herself to believe that he would remain. When the truth emerged this fleeting haven would end. As if sensing her momentary plight, even from his sleep, Kieren turned over pulled her in, nuzzling her head against his naked chest.

There was nothing fragile about Kieren, never would be, he was built to dominate nations with his bare hands while emanating waves of certainty to his people. Yet, under muted lights and breathless gasps he would fixate his eyes upon her with such trembling, desperate vulnerability, and Violet, torn and alight would feel her heart contract beneath his gaze.

He had been especially intense the night prior and only after several rounds and several hours had he allowed Violet to sleep. She traced the shape of his lips with her eyes, every curve so tantalizing, so powerful. Her mind dragged her effortlessly to last night as he whispered obscene words that unraveled her so easily all while working those scorching lips against her skin.

She tore her gaze from his face and opted to close her eyes against his chest, the thrumming of his heart echoed like thunder in her ears. She pressed herself tighter into his skin, running her wrist against his rune, he reciprocated easily, and a feeling of guilt overwhelmed her. It would hurt him when she left.

For the first time in her life Violet felt torn. Conjectures and paths tumbled in her mind paralyzing her in his arms. Unwilling to lay with her thoughts any longer Violet attempted to rise, her movements woke him and in a mere second he was alert. She watched as he assessed their environment eyes trailing to every corner. Upon coming to an 'all clear' conclusion he tugged on her hand attempting to pull her back in voicing his desire to remain in bed.

Violet felt herself distracted once more, not only by his body, but even more on such a calm morning by his voice so groggy and charming, the sleep not yet gone from his eyes, and the messy enchantment of his hair.

It took him a total of three seconds to gage that her thoughts were intruding and he was instantly around her. "Was I too rough? Are you alright? What's wrong?" She was momentarily speechless, when had he figured her out? "Huh? No, no I'm fine. Just thinking."

Kieren pulled her into a hug, "Whatever it is, I'm here and I'll help you fix it or fight it. You're not alone, not anymore, okay. Look at me Violet. You have me. I promise, I'm right behind you." An indescribable emotion rose in Violet's chest, she pushed it away feeling the tremble in her lashes and knowing all too well he would have noticed.

They remained in silence for a few moments. Kieren absentmindedly stroked her hair, her skin, planting kisses along her forehead.

"Actually Violet, I have a question for you. You don't have to answer it either, I just want to know." He moved the bed sheet softly away from her skin to stroke her right thigh, the red perpetual circles on her skin. His voice lowered into a whisper "babe, what happened here?"

Violet looked down at the seven circular wounds that would plague her for the rest of her life. She reached out and with her other scar, the one on her palm, caressed them thoughtlessly. How many times had she traced them, felt them burn in the middle of the night, remembered the agonizing screams they had caused as the needles pierced her skin. She felt exhausted all of a sudden, leaning against him she mumbled, "not much, was injected with something."

He knew he was touching on a sore subject, he tightened his grip on her body, "why?"

Violet closed her eyes, she seemed unwilling to speak, almost as much as she was unwilling to remain silent. "I suppose it made them feel powerful. I don't know. That's a lie, I do know. But knowing just won't fix it."

He was suppressing his anger. How interesting, to feel someone writhe with anger for her. He took calming breaths, "Can I fix it? Can it be fixed?" Her eyelashes fluttered open, she was looking straight ahead now, but her tone and posture were almost as lifeless as that other night when she had been covered in pools of her own blood.

He planted another reassuring kiss on her forehead as she sorted out her thoughts. "Probably. But I am fixing it. It has to be me."

"If… when you decide that you want help. Talk to me? Give me the slimmest chance? Please Violet?" She turned to him, looking at him eyes wide and questioning, "what if it's improbable to receive your help?"

He brought her face in between his own, if his words had been whispered before they were now nearing zero in decibels, but they carried with them even more weigh. "Violet, when if comes to you, nothing is improbable. I will do anything."

"Hm" she nuzzled into him. "I'll think about it."

He kissed her in response, they remained embraced until Kieren once more broke the silence. "I'm going to be gone for a few days. One of the reasons I was so… worked up last night. I received a summon call from the Ruenen head office. A major hearing is to be underway, not to mention with my ascension to the throne coming soon and everything that's going on…" his voice faded momentarily. "Im not thrilled to be going, but I must, there are some topics I am obliged to address and while I could make them let me bring you along, I know that's not what you want. I'll keep in touch so don't ignore my calls yes?"

Violet nodded, "I won't. Sounds important."

He sighed, "and don't believe any rumors you hear, there are a few touchy topics to be discussed and I plan on being very upfront but…"

She chuckled, "not to worry, I'm not one to immerse myself in rumors."

— — —

She stood at the edge of a cliff, the last rays of sunlight were fading and behind her the calls of animals sounded crisp in the evening air.

Kieren and his guards had left yesterday, they had completed the school day and disappeared onto the private jet waiting for them.

Violet sighed, to be honest she had felt relieved to learn he would be gone, with the way they were sleeping together she had worried about hiding her disappearances. Not that he seemed to mind her riddles, but vanishing out of the bed on the night of suspected murders. She shook her head to clear her thoughts. They were gone, the Tamayo siblings had landed in Shanghai, her backup was ready.

She smiled grimly, "fuck it all to hell. Sorry Kieren, I'm only here to kill them all."

A crunch of leaves alerted her to his approaching presence, she turned and watched him come closer. Once he was within her reach she smiled and called out, "you ready for this Kenny?"

Kuznet laughed, "Born ready princess."

He held out his hand, "I think I did a great job while you were out of commission, not to mention tonight's guests of honor are bound to put up one hell of a fight." He grinned over teasingly as she took his hand, "don't make me rescue you."

Violet chuckled as she pulled him into the silver of her portal, "You're such an ass."

— — —

She spat out blood casually as another blow landed on her abdomen. "You dumb fucking bitch!" She felt nails dig into her face, "we are going to show you what it means to come after the Tamayo quadruplets! You'll be begging for death."

Violet smirked from the wall, "why would I be beg for something so useless?" She laughed as one of the quadruplets twisted the knife in her forearm. "Where are the other two uglies? Scared of blood?"

A whump sounded in the short space, she had been punched again. " 3. back up, she wanted us all here to kill her. She has us." Violet looked up, the one who had spoken was 1, the eldest (by minutes) of the four girls. They gazed back haughtily. Violet had been 'captured' and was currently skewered to the wall. She hummed happily, "you four really are ugly, I'd say those burn marks on your faces make it look better, is that how you picked numbers to go by, ugly to ugliest? No wonder your parents set the house on fir- ugh"

Several shards of ice dug into her skin, Violet watched them carefully as they began to lose control. The Tamayo sisters, known only separately by numbers, were notorious ice users, assassins for fire, scum, no job was beneath them as long as it paid enough, but aside from it, they specialized in torture.

"Oh you whore, I can't wait to peel your flesh." 2 giggled as she approached with a sharpened ice knife, "how did you find us? Who are you? All questions you're going to answer for us. We will make you just as pretty as us. You should have never came here alone."

Violet laughed humorlessly, she spat out more blood beckoning the girls forward with her finger, "even dead I'll be prettier than you." Enraged 3 launched herself forward when the ground beneath her opened up, dozens of razor sharp vines half a foot wide thrashed into her viciously shredding her to pieces.

Violet's laughter continued as she dislodged herself from the wall, in a flash she landed on top of 1 connecting the same shard of ice piercing her chest straight through 1's throat. Violet's eyes gleamed, she pulled Murasame out and for good measure dismembered the corpse as she looked up.

"The thing is, I didn't come alone."