Only Time Will Tell

The man appears next to Huan, staring up at the open window in the inn with a blank expression. Huan had no idea what his Master was thinking or why they were even here! Master Bolin has never shown any interest in women. This was a first! Uncharted territory!

Bolin finally breaks the silence.

"Why doesn't she like me?" Bolin softly says with slightly scrunched eyebrows. Even the faint moonlight couldn't hide how handsome he was! Even though Haun knew how good-looking his master was, he also knew he wasn't very...

When he feels his dark eyes on him, Huan quickly snaps to attention and says, "I haven't the slightest idea. Maybe she's shy?"

Bolin frowns as he considers Haun's words. Hmm, maybe she was? His dark eyes flash as he glances back at the window. He's found something interesting, and he doesn't want to lose it. A dark smirk appears on his flawless face as he turns around and says, "Keep a shadow on her." and he walks away.

His tall, dark figure disappears mid-step leaving Haun to deflate in relief. He pats his chest, not knowing how to feel about this situation. His Master was finally interested in a woman, but she wasn't normal!!

He pauses and tilts his head in thought. Well, his Master wasn't normal either... He shakes his head and decides to not think about it. Maybe his interest will fade with time. He nods his head and walks away, as he does, he calls upon a shadow.

_________

AIYA

SLAP!!

Aiya's head snaps to the side as her cheek stings. Her father glares down at her with barely constrained anger as he says "You idiot! I told you that nothing could go wrong! I gave you everything that you needed, and you still messed it up!?! You incompetent fool!"

Aiya grits her teeth as she silently seethes. How was this her fault!? Lyra was always one step ahead of her, always stronger. How was she to know that this would happen? She clenches her fists and says, "I'm sorry. I never expected her to be able to break the circle, it shouldn't have been possible."

Her father looks like he's about to slap her again when her mother's lazy voice says, "She broke the circle? Hah... why am I not surprised? That little freak has always played against the rules." Her mother's face twitches with annoyance as her father curses.

Her father turns around and walks back over to his desk before aggressively loosening his tie and ripping it off. He throws it on his desk and yells "I now have 7 families demanding an answer as to why they no longer have magic! This whole thing is a mess! I should have never trusted you to handle this!"

Aiya grits her teeth as her nails dig into the skin on her palms. She's so angry and filled with hate that she shakes. She wants to rip Lyra to shreds! Her father glares at her with hatred and bites out "Leave, I don't even want to look at you."

Aiya wants to argue, wants to plead her case but she knows that it will only fall on deaf ears. Her parents only care about the results. She bits her lip as she silently turns around and leaves. She storms down the hall and heads straight out to her family's garden.

The sky was grey and gloomy, just like her mood. She walks until she's nearly to the front gate before finally coming to a stop. Her chest rises and falls as thunder rolls in the distance. The wind blows, telling of the storm that's coming.

Suddenly, a dark but familiar voice startles her. "What did you do?"

Her head whips up, surprised to see Dade standing in front of her. Her baby blue eyes threaten to tear up as she croaks out "What are you talking about?" His dark blue eyes cut through her as he sneers and snaps "Cut the shit, Aiya. Lyra is missing, the whole council is up in arms. Black, forbidden magic is all over the council hall and you have no idea what I'm talking about?"

Aiya's heart hurts again but for an entirely different reason this time. She lifts her chin and says, "What is so special about her? Why her? You and I had a good thing, you said that you loved me!" Dade gives her a dark smile as he chuckles and says, "Lying to yourself again? I never once told you that I loved you."

He steps closer as he lowers his voice and says, "You've always known that I've wanted her. Even when you approached me and offered yourself, you knew. It's always been her and nothing you do or say will change that."

He leans down, looking her in the eyes as he says "I've let you play your petty games, allowed you to play the part but it seems you don't know your place. What have you and your parents done to Lyra?"

Aiya's nails cut into her palms as she grits out "I should have killed her!"

Pain suddenly takes over her entire body as she drops to her knees. He stands before her, staring down in disgust as he bites out "Where is she?" Aiya's body jerks and twitches as she struggles to keep from screaming.

Dade's magic is cold, brutal, and heartless. It feels as if he's skinning her alive!! She bites her lips until they bleed but when she doesn't answer, he ups the pain. Aiya goes to cry out, but he silences her.

After a few endless moments, he releases her. Aiya falls forward, landing on her hands and knees as she pants. She digs her nails into the ground, cursing Lyra over and over in her heart. Dade steps closer and says, "This is the last time I ask nicely, where is she."

Aiya shudders in fear as she finally tells him what happened. She keeps her head low, not wanting him to see her face twisted in hatred and pain. When she's done, she's greeted by silence. Suddenly, it starts to rain.

She looks up to him only to find him gone. Her whole body freezes before she lowers her head and starts laughing. It starts off as a low chuckle before it rises into a full-blown laugh. It was dark and twisted, mixing with the rain as it now falls heavily against her raw skin.

The cold rain quickly soaks her clothes as she continues laughing, lost in her own hatred and uncontrollable desire to kill. He got what he wanted and left. Like he always does. The rain continues to beat against her back as her eyes nearly glow.

He was going to look for her... he was going to find her and bring her back. She needs to find a way to beat him to it. Find her first so that she can kill her for good. That's the only way she can find peace. She pushes herself up, brushes herself off, and acts like she isn't soaked to the bone as she holds her head high. This isn't over Lyra... no matter where you run off to, I will find you and kill you once and for all.