Blackened Wings

        She moved through the ballroom like it was a battlefield, dodging thrown elbows as women swooned and men moved their partners in spectacular circles. Her movements were unlike the others, moving with a distinct purpose, one that spoke of battles won and bloodshed, not the dainty teas and noble parties that the ballroom's swaying told of. She only had one goal as she brushed through the cloud of lush silks and divine wools, she was looking for him.   He had never seen her in such clothes, more used to the alabaster of her skin being wrapped in leather and metal, often covered with blood as they fought together. The dress hung from her shoulders like the sheets of black rain that had trapped them in the Little Greenwood, tucked in the hollow of an old tree as they awaited the ending of the onset storm. The black silk that hugged her figure was reminiscent of her armor, but without the protection that turned her into a warrior.   The span of her back was revealed, a peculiar sight as she rarely went without her armor that covered so much of her skin. Inky black wings covered her back, quickly becoming a swirling mass with the black tongues of ink that reached down her arms. Some of the dancers turned to look at her, her kind not welcome amongst the nobles of the empire. But she was his guest, and welcome she would be.   When they came together, silence blanketed the room. Even though he was the vassel of the Empress, his kind was also far from welcome here amongst the nobles. His dark skin marked him as what he was, from a heritage that so rarely left the darkness of their tunnels. He was an outcast the same as her, which made this meeting that much sweeter as they struck silent the gaudy nobles that came to the Empress' court.    The war-hardened calluses on their hands left rough patches on their skin, but this is what their meetings had always been about. Never had they chosen to meet in the high society that they both worked for, always on the fringes, always in dark corners and silent hallways. This was their first meeting in polite company, but still, they would put on a show.   Both of them easily melded into the shifting forms of the ballroom, their black figures fading into the swaying cacophony of colors. A sly smile lifted her features, another rarity that he hoped to cherish, but his smile in return did not quite meet his eyes like she had come to know when they were together. This dance meant more to both than they cared to let on, their colors in mourning and less of celebration. Both knew that this was the end, even when neither wished for it to be.   The music died around them, the rainbow-clad individuals taking their leave from the center floor, shifting to the sides as the two remained. Her eyes fell closed as he leaned down to press a chaste kiss to her forehead, signaling a finality that was not quite meant to be. As he looked at her to speak, she turned, dropping his hand before slipping away, weaving once again through the crowd.   She had entered like a warrior, moving with purpose and prowess, pride on display. But as she left, she slunk away like a wounded creature, licking their wounds and praying to live another day. The half-smile that once graced his face was erased as quickly as she left, almost like the light of a dying sun sinking out of view. This was their end, something they had never wanted, but something that had to be.   Whenever she drew close to the borders, the tattoo on the inside of her wrist began to itch, a problem that had plagued her since she first got it three years ago. Then, the pain had lessened a bit and she was able to move on from the well of emotions that had made her continue running. Now, five years had passed since she had left him, five years had passed since she had given up on what her heart had really wanted. But her existence wasn't one that warranted loving or being loved.   She had hidden what she really was from him, explaining away the blackened wings on her skin as nothing more than a drunken mistake. He had believed her, nearly until the end. But his questions before their final dance plagued her, the twisted answers of his own past as hollow and empty as her lies. Neither wished to share the truth, something they had hidden so well from everyone, including each other, but love had blinded them to the wall of safety they had built around themselves. They both were falling, too far and too fast for people of their pasts. Warriors of their kind shouldn't be allowed that freedom. Lies kept them safe from their own truths.   Lies may have kept her safe, but the truth was that she hated them. She was tired of hiding herself from the sun, tired of running from a normal life. As much satisfaction as this job and life gave her, something was lacking.   "River, I think we have company."   She was drawn from her own thoughts by her companion's observations. For a young Fairy, the boy was rather smart, even though he lacked the years to have his wings. His words were confirmed as Circe shied away beneath her, the saddle slipping gently across the horse's midsection.   The horse's ears flicked away from them for a second before turning back towards the riders. She glanced in that direction, letting her power flow for a moment where the boy couldn't see it. Over the horizon, she saw them, a hoard of tittering green skin and oversized ears, one encased in armor at the rear. They far outnumbered them, leaving little choices other than to flee or unleash the power that she had kept under tight control for the last few years.   "C'mon kid, we better make our way into town."   She reached her hand down to the boy as he muttered a few words and the donkey he was riding shrunk to the size of a small figurine. With the now braying donkey tucked in his breast pocket, he grabbed her hand, swinging himself up behind her on the restless black beast.   With a simple nod to each other, she turned back to the road, urging Circe onward, hoping to outpace the goblins that would be soon to follow.   With the goblins far behind them, they slowed their pace, watching how the greener grasses of the Elven Forest gave way to the rich yellows of the Traveler's Grass. In their haste, she hadn't felt the hoofbeats on the wood of the bridge over the Gweyr, but the yellow hues told her that she was closer to her past than she really wanted to be.    As the grass grew taller around them and the swaying hid the giant predators, Calum prodded her in the back as he began his incantations. In moments like this when she was lost to her memories, his magic was useful, leading them to their destination and protecting them from the dinosaurs hidden in the grass. She caught the name Kestel as he spoke in the flowing tongue of the fairies, a town she knew too well.   The last time she had been to Kestel, the blackened ink on her skin had been less and the wings on her back didn't ache. She had been younger, more bloodthirsty as her rage drove her to fulfill promises to people she had lost long before. The built-up city they entered now was far different from the tent village she remembered. Then the grief of losing her family was raw and new, an open wound that bled at the slightest provocation. Nearly 200 years on, that grief had lessened, but the tingling in her wrist reminded her of a grief she wished to forget, a loss that should never have happened.   After having run away from him, the last place that she really wanted to be was in a city under the control of the Human Empire, but there really wasn't a choice. The daylight was waning and they had traveled many days. Calum would want a warm meal and a bed that wasn't made from whatever she could draw from her pack. He was still a child, even by his people's standards, he deserved more than this life on the road with her.   She knew in five years, the chances of him changing his job were slim, but it was slimmer still that he would be this far on the fringes. Rumors of the things going on in places like Kestel and Harkin had gone far outside the borders of the Empire. She knew that the Empress' vampire friend had cleaned up here, there was no reason for him to be here.   Calum excitedly started poking her as he spotted an inn. It looked clean and safe enough, so she had little reason to ignore it. With a few coins in hand, she was able to get the horse stabled and beds for at least the night. In the morning, they would reassess and choose where they would go, but tonight, it was time for a much-needed rest.   River placed her back to the corner of the room as they sat for their dinner. It was a habit that she had picked up long ago, making sure her back was covered. It was something she didn't have to worry about as much when she traveled with him, but Calum was a magic user, not a warrior. She didn't begrudge the child for not knowing the ways of those whose blades were bathed in blood. For the most part, he stayed far away from any type of combat, more willing to patch her up later than partake in the bloodshed. He'd become rather good at that over the last few months.   She allowed herself to disappear into her thoughts for a moment as Calum shoveled plate after plate of food into his mouth. She smirked, thinking that the child acted like he was starving. They had been running low on supplies the few days and the wild game had thinned as they got to the edge of the Elven Forest. Their meals had consisted of little more than hard bread and dried meat the last few evenings. It seemed this stop was much needed, even if she had rather continued on.   The sound of a roaring tavern, utensils on plates, a bard plucking a lute in the corner, everything allowed her to drop her guard, relaxing for a moment into the warmth of people. She hadn't stayed anywhere more than a few hours since she left the Human Empire so long ago. It was as if she was always running, afraid that if she stopped long enough, that he may catch up, or her past would. It was much easier to keep running, always on the edge of success and burning out.    Even lost in her thoughts, she heard a man at the bar make a comment that struck her.   "That damned Silver Elf! He charges almost as much as a month's wages for a simple weapon! If I hadn't been in need, I would have taken his head off."   At the man's words, her heart stopped. That description was all too familiar.   "I heard the Empress sent him to make sure all was right after everything happened with the lord. The Dragonkin guard apparently couldn't do it on his own."   Damn it. Her breath hitched as she thought of a plan. He was here, in Kestel, a town that was still relatively small. It was nearly impossible to stay here and not run into him. She looked at Calum, still eating, and tried to take a breath. She couldn't tell the child and would more than likely have to leave him. Once he was gone, maybe she would come back for the child.   "Where are you going?" Calum asked around a mouthful of food as she stood.   Placing a hand on his shoulder, she tried to speak in a calm voice. "I left something with the horse. I'll be back in a minute."   The child nodded and went back to his food. She slipped into the stable, hoping to grab Circe before she left. Stopping in the doorway, she saw a hooded figure petting her black beast. That alone stopped her, Circe wasn't like other horses, she hated being touched by anyone other than River. So who had calmed the beast?   "Only you would train a kelpie and call it a horse."   She stayed silent. That voice...she hadn't heard it in so long, but it made her stomach turn.    "She's a fine animal. It seems you must be doing well then."   "Just...let me take her and go."   He turned to her, lowering his hood so she could see his face. Both of their people aged slowly, his face hadn't changed at all. His face bore his signature half-smile, one that she had missed.   "You've already had a chance to leave. You took that long ago. I think now it's time for answers River."   "Why? You never gave answers either. You spoke in lies as much as I did." Her voice raised in anger as she stepped towards him. She was trying to keep the tears and shaking out of her voice. She wanted to be angry at him, to stay as stoic as when she left the last time, but he wasn't going to let her.   "Why should I not speak in lies? Our work requires it. After all that time, you never cared nor trusted me enough to dispel the lies. Why should I?"   His words got to her, his words hurt. She had honestly thought she was incapable of the emotions he made her feel, but now she wasn't so sure. She had spent all these years running from one truth.   "Because you made me love you dammit."