Chapter Six

She was no longer tired - no longer concerned about Alias as she turned the corner, her body vanishing into the contents of the room. She quietly brushed her fingertips along the soft, wood of the door, carefully stepping inside, as she heard Valdin's steps behind her, then the door shut, purposely bringing death closer to her now, just in her grasp. Her breath seemed to cool, when she spotted him, that sweet chocolate gaze of a man, locking eyes on her, visually embracing her, welcoming her with open arms, from across the room. ''All right,'' she whispered more to herself than anyone else, as she nodded, searching the room for reassurance again, only when Valdin walked up next to her, extending his elbow out to her, as he lead her into the center, the other, roaming, searching, eyes staring at her, as anxiety surfaced to her chest. The unknown man's step was light as he crossed the room, same as she did, and gently lifted her wrists into the air, just a few inches, as he inspected the bruises, from the attack that brought her there. Then his gaze shifted to the right, staring at a young man with bleach, blonde hair. and light colored eyes. Before Faith could object to what ever was going on, the blonde young man approached her, slowly, hands drawn to his chest, as he nodded a cool, comforting nod towards her. She wasn't sure what she was agreeing to, but slowly as the warmth of her blood regained motion, and the fear, slowly vanished, she was surprised when the contents of the room around her, pulsed and glowed.

The glow was beautiful, almost as enchanting as the emerald gems she'd seen shimmering across the contents of the bath water. Her eyes watched every second of the beautiful sight, silver and gold, drizzles and drops of stars, surrounded her, almost like they were little orbs of gold and silver, dancing across her damp, skin. The towel fell from her body, falling to the ground below her feet, but the gold and silver light only replaced it.

Her underwear, and jeans, Cardin's hunter jacket, and her silver weapons belt, all returned at the same time, it was as if the blanket of gold and silver sparkles had never truly been there, like she'd come to this room, clothed, with straight, designed and braided waves of lavender scented hair, and the smell of roses just centered along her tongue, when she took in the surrounding air, in breaths. She quickly opened her eyes, her eyelashes tingled, but twinkled as if there was glitter covering them. Carefully she wiped small amounts of sweat from her forehead, taking in a deep breath, as she turned to look past herself, eager to take in the desire of Valdin's, gental, eyes. ''What was that?'' She meant for him to answer, but his voice was silent. Forcing her to turn back to the front, she saw the man's stare still on her. ''That was enchanted magics. Our friend. Angel over there, studies enchanted magic, as you just witnessed he's pretty much a natural.'' The young boy, Angel nodded at her for a second time, as he folded his hands behind his back, returning to his previous spot, to her right. A few seconds passed, and the light of gold and silver vanished from the air, as Faith's gaze drowned at the sight of Valdin. He was on the left of her now, hands folded behind his back just like Angel, but his expression was narrow, shadow like, like he was concerned about something.

''What are you?'' She whispered at him. The palm of her hand hiding the left side of her face, as her voice escaped detection.

''Be quite,'' he hissed, his teeth baring into a thin line, that made his jaw pop. She was annoyed at him, for she feared what was going to happen would lead to unhappiness or disappointment. She was confused and a little annoyed, for she desired a growing concern for her questions to be answered. A few minuets later, an old - looking man dressed head to toe in dark shades of armor, came into the room But Faith could see he wasn't walking in, alone. His hands were twisted, wrapped around the bound hands of a young man. Faith's eyes sharpened at the sight of a aqua, blue, stone, staring at her, from his forehead. This young man was a Arrow. Faith's eyes widened at the sight of two, well placed, perfectly shaped arrows sticking out from his back, they looked to be stuck, rather tight, and seemed to be causing him huge amounts of pain. She could make out small amounts of crimson, as they washed into the bottom metal of both the arrows.The young Arrow grimaced, as if the sight of Faith herself, was enough to scare him, more than the thought of death from the arrows.

It was cruel. LIke opening a birdcage just to let the small bird fly out, whilst all the while it's tethered by the leg, and freedom was an illusion the entire time.

''What is this! What are you doing with him?!'' Faith snapped, letting her words guide her, rather than her mind. Her mind knew Arrows were bad, she would never forget what they did to her, but this, this was different. They were torturing him. They had tortured him, she wasn't sure how long he'd been there, she guessed a lot longer than she had, or Alias had. A part of her knew exactly how it felt to be prisoner, for she is a solider, trapped inside a barbed wire, fench, still at war, still forced to fight in the battlefield of her own mind, and perhaps, realization was hitting her. Perhaps she was beginning to realize there were ways to become the captor instead of the prisoner. But for now, she had to remind herself what was at stake. She stared into the nervous, frightened, and broken eyes of the Arrow teen, giving herself barely any chance to ease into herself, as she pulled another breath into her lungs. ''Why the hell did you bring that here?!'' The look of sheer burning fury presented on her face was nothing she'd ever felt before. The sheer burning of her skin, wrapped into one with commander darkness. ''Did you intend for me to kill it?!'' she asked. ''Because I won't!'' The chocolate gaze from the man, twisted, then shifted, till the half of his face was covered with half shadows.

''The only reason we've kept you here, made you comfortable, showed you kindness, commander? Was because of this very moment. We want you to kill him, right here, right in front of us. Show us you can handle this small task, and you and your friend are free to leave. Do this and we can look into scheduling another time to have a meeting to discuss where our alliance stands.'' The tone of his voice made Faith want to punch him, hit him, even kill him. That twisted, wicked smile, she saw next, made her stomach turn, and her eyes burn from the sweat dripping down her face into them. Faith inched herself forward, eyes glued to the man's, as if with one leap, she would attack him. However, strong arms held a hold on hers, she was sure she wasn't going to escape from, as she was pulled away from the man. Heels digging into the wood flooring, scratching and clawing her toes, past her boots. Something spicy and vanilla washed over her, covering her nose, as the anger, frustration, and urge to kill faded from her insides. ''I have no weapons, how do you except me to kill him? With my bare hands?!'' she hissed, biting the skin around her mouth, in an attempt not to flee.

''You can use this, it should be strong enough to grantee the job gets done.'' The man said. Her eyes wondered to the front, where a perfectly sharp, silver dagger, stared at her from below. Grinding her teeth, she took the dagger from the floor, and crossed her eyes to stare at Valdin. He remained silent, aside from the small shove he gave her, pushing her close, where the Arrow stood. His pale face shifted, eyes widened with terror, as blood dripped from the wounds along his body. As Faith approached, she couldn't keep her brown eyes from picking up his blue ones. She closed her eyes as tight, and securely as she could, then with her other hand, she guided the guards to the Arrows hand, untying one wrist. She flinched a little as his cold hand touched her own, hand against palm, she let the dagger do the work. Slicing a line down the front, smelling blood almost immediately as she did this. The Arrow screamed out in pain, the sound of it bringing pain to her ears, then her heart, the pounding of drums growing louder, the song she normally heard inside, playing awfully out of tune. In harsh, inside out breaths, she felt the strong arms around her back, holding her from proceeding, as screams, and chaos erupting all around her. A hand moved up to her wrist, holding onto it, pulling her hand into her and away from the young man, who's hand was bleeding without any show of stopping soon.

''That's enough, you did enough.'' Valdin's whispering voice was capable of melting the sweat, and tears from her stained cheeks, as she pushed her back into him, a look of exhaustion behind those terribly small brown eyes. Valdin grabbed onto her, holding her front into him as his face stared into her from above. Everyone heard the dagger fall to the floor, sending off a heart shattering sound, that seemed to cause the Arrow pain, for a thud in front of her, sent waves of worry through her bones. ''Someone grab him!'' she shrieked, her voice dry, as the sound of footsteps in all directions, eased her worry.

''Hold on a second,'' Valdin paused, his stare redirecting, til he found the eyes of Angel, gesturing for them to switch places. He agreed, taking over in Valdin's spot, as Faith felt the difference in strength of his arms holding her. Faith recalled Valdin's footsteps leaving her as loud shouts and more banging came over her, echoing past the howls of oak wood, as Valdin shouted something at someone. ''I'm sorry your lost your mom, but look at it like this, now you have someone in heaven who can argue your case before god.'' It was silent for a moment, as Faith shifted her gaze, moving slightly, pushing her body forward, as she reclaimed her footing. She thanked Angel, before she made her way to the corner of the room. Eyes surprised to take in the sight before her. Valdin and three others, were all grabbing at the brown eye commander. His twisted expression, and need to fight them, all playing out across his face. He let out a twisted, and unkind bit of laughter, only to close his mouth, as he was whisked past her, hands secured behind him, as Valdin found her eyes. ''He won't be allowed to escape,'' he paused.

''But why did you stop him? He was your commander?'' Faith asked.

''It's true he was our commander, but we slowly stopped agreeing with the awful things he did. We're not like he makes us seem, we never just commit violence because we wish too, we take lives because we have too! Never out of vain.''

''I can agree no stronger than I already do.'' Faith mumbled.

''I'm selfish, impatient and a little insecure, sometimes. I make mistakes, I am out of control and at times hard to handle. But if you can't respect the person I aim to me, then you sure as hell have no future in my life.'' Valdin hissed but more to himself than anyone. Faith was sure a part of his words were aimed towards her. She wasn't sure exactly what part, but her heart slowed, then melted the cold from her skin all the same. ''Do you need something, Faith?'' he asked with a smile on his face. Her physical thoughts were freezing, held back by a rage of mental disappear, as she licked her dry lips, softly. ''I want Alias back.'' she demanded.

''Of course.'' Before she could thank him for everything, he was already gone. Slipping past the door opening the warmth of him leaving the bare, spare room, as her body craved it to return. She held her hands to the bottom of her elbows, searching her thoughts for her next plan of action. She knew there had to be more camp near by, possible allies? But after everything that just happened, being drugged, beat up, then kidnapped? A sure part of her wasn't sure she wanted anymore allies. She didn't want them if they were going to turn out to be some freakish man with a thirst for the blood of the innocent? Her mind was sure Valdin and the others could be trusted, after everything they did, everything she'd seen, she didn't even have to re-think things.

Valdin was a keeper.

* * *

''So? If you all are really gods, what are you the god of?'' She whispered, her voice soft, trapped in chills, as the orange of fire brushed past her cheeks, carrying drops of ashes from the fireplace. She snuggled herself up in the many blankets, he'd brought her, bringing the soft, material of the blanket up to her cheeks, covering the bottom of her chin, causing it to disappear. She pulled him to where she sat by his wrist, as he dropped next to her, blankets instantly surrounding his shirtless body, where the smell of blood still lingered against his light, brown skin. Faith cuffed her cheeks in her hands, as she never took her eyes off of him. Releasing a breath of warm fire, Valdin stood again from where he sat, getting to his feet, only to drag a few, large, pieces of bark to keep the fire. The clock beside him rang eleven, forcing Faith's eyes to redirect off of him, as she smiled, the sight of sleeping Alias, burning an image into her mind. He had been through so much, he deserved to sleep. She followed his, fast, swift, movements, taking in the bare and gloss covered walls of the room they were in, the impressive and beautiful colors of the fireplace, sending waves of awe through her. She'd never seen anything so beautiful back at her camp, a part of her wasn't sure she ever wanted to leave such a beautiful base. The base reminded her of a small palace, that or a miniature castle. No wonder no one bothered this place, they were probably all to afraid of the creatures inside it.

Well the jokes on them, she's seen them.

''Well?'' she breathed. ''Are you going to stand there, or answer my question? What are you the god of?'' She softened her voice, as he rolled his bright, purple eyes, as he finally whispered something back. ''It's not that interesting.'' Faith slowly sat up, and with enticement on her face, she approached him, grinding her feet along the floor as if she was wearing slippers, and eased into him. Hands transformed into first, angled to the floor, as obviously he towered over her. His eyes glowed with the haze of the fire, casting the flames past his freckles. Faith's eyes wondered to something in his light colored skin, his hands curled around something glass. The handle held clouds, while the contents were warm, setting smoke into the air in which her eyes followed the steam. Before she could object, he pushed the small glass cup around her hands. Something sweet and spicy brushed past the fire light surrounded her cheeks, curiously. ''What are those little white pieces?'' she asked.

''What? Are you telling me you've never seen a diamond before?'' Valdin studied her as if she was the strange one, and slowly folded his legs underneath him, as he slid himself beside her. ''DIamonds?'' Faith breathed. ''You guys drink diamonds like their sugar?'' There was still sudden interest behind her light colored eyes, as she took her grip from the cup, placing it on the floor beside her, as she moved them down, curling around her silver belt, as she unlatched it from around her waist. ''Why are you so surprised?'' he asked his eyes following her.

''I guess you could say I'm just not used to any of this. You guys have it so different than I have, then my people have. It's been a long time since I"ve been able to drink hot chocolate from a glass cup. Most of the time, it's hard enough just to make sure everyone eats....Anyway, we've been in the dark quite a while, and you might as well explain yourself?'' His dark gaze was steady, his body rippling with the power she couldn't quite pin down. Quite young as he appeared, Faith was sure he wasn't to much older than she was. As for everyone else, LIarrin and Angel? She was sure they were practically the same age. ''I think we both have said enough for one evening.'' He answered with equal composure. Now there was light in his eyes, a bright light she was sure he hadn't remembered, from their first encounter. The gental look on his face, made her hard for her to think of something, for a second she could understand nothing, think of nothing, and feel nothing, except the passionate love she suddenly felt, burrowing down into her bones. She had never felt that till this moment. If was like she'd been bewicked with a love spell, love charms, or a love charm and love spell all burrowed into one. As realization slowly rose up inside her, she didn't pull back her next words, as they kissed her cheeks before passing her lips.

''Are you Venus?'' There it was again, the cool and quite spreading around past the both of them, with the sweet, enticing sent of autumn ginger covering her nose with sweetness. Valdin said nothing, stared at her with the same expression from previously. Only to stand up and walk away, then to later return with a cool damp rag, in which he placed on Faith's face, then gently moved the cloth to the back of her neck, only to wrap her head up in it. The damp, cold, fault of the snow white cloth, blinded her, but only a couple of seconds seem to pass till her vision returned. He chuckled, running his cool fingers across her hot cheek. ''Love is something like the clouds that were in the sky before the sun came out,''' he whispered. ''A part of you wants me to be Venus, the god of love doesn't it?'' Desire rose hot and fast inside her, more so when she felt the cool tickle of his power, creeping up behind her, like a person's shadow, the combination of cool energy against warming skin resulted in both their blood to race.

''Maybe,''

''If I said no then I"d be lying to you.''

The warmth of his hand drifted up her arm, through her, inside her, comforting her internally. ''It's alright'' He said as he pulled her wrist to the side of his own face. A wave of warm air rushed up the side of her neck, then broke over her cheeks. ''Alias is going to be okay, right?'' She asked with eyes drawn to the sleeping Alias, laying motionless, breathing, in peaceful sleep, atop some bouncy looking beanbags. ''Of course, I've made the arrangements, as soon as he wakes, you and him are free to leave.'' He smiled. ''But don't worry, little bridie, if your not comfortable, I can sleep in the room next store? You won't have to see me tonight, unless you wanna.'' The cool damp cloth did wondered to get her own face back to normal, as she finally regained control, regaining her strength, but more importantly, she felt her desire shifting. Transforming into something completely different. The warmth of his smile was not lost on her, and the thought about Cardin felt better. For once, she didn't feel that same sharpness. His hand shifted to her hip, and he felt the absence of her warmth to the bone. ''I'll make sure you get to bed with tons of blankets, you feel cold.'' Faith shucked her coat, trying to act nonchalant in spite of the warmth in her cheeks, as her movements mirrored his. Standing slowly, eyes pinned to one another. Her beautiful eyes transformed, the beauty in them vanishing without a trace to follow, as he looked at her in surprise. Surprise to find the feeling of absence of the warmth, the liveliness he'd given her, disappearing just as fast as he'd given it. His expression dropped, the purple in his eyes reshaping, darkening under the cover of black, the color of fire couldn't reach.

The next morning felt like he was being tortured. A part of him wished he could've lost himself in her warmth, in the liveliness he'd give her, before it all vanished from existence. From outside, a beautiful stained glass window, hit his gaze, his stare, the desire still trapped in his violet eyes, as he watched her face light up with happiness. She was leaving. A suddenly, horrifying urge to kill, to feel the warmth of blood run down over his hands, to smell it covering his body, was something any god of chaos desired. But he wasn't like that anymore. His sister, Venus had trained him to be better, at the expense of their mother, perhaps, if she'd been faster, they might've been able to contain him faster, and the protection from that memory, might have stuck with him. Tourmaline a crystal created with eleven beautiful, and vibrant colors, shined in all directions of the room he stood in. The rays of the enchanted eleven colors, rose, staining his cheeks in an attempt to heal the urge for blood, still desired across his tongue.

''Do not fall in love with people like me. I will take you to places that will only bring out your beauty, and kiss in you every beautiful place we visit, so that you can never go back to him without tasting me like tasting blood in your mouth. But I will destroy you in the most beautiful ways possible. And when all that seeking you've done, reveals my true colors, you will understand why are paths were better to pass, then collide.''