Lying back on the floor, I steadied my breathing trying to recover. Maris' little panic attack left my bones feeling as if they'd been gnawed at by ferocious dogs wanting to break through a barbed fence.  The lingering nausea still gripped my stomach and my hand, though shaking, remained clenched tightly around the pendant. What on earth had just happened?

'Run' she had warned...run where?  If I would have let her, she would have thrown us head first out of the window but seriously, aside from where, the more important question was why?  Closing my eyes for a minute to tame my stomach, a distant clicking forced them back open. Great, Ivan was home. Just what I needed...

Struggling to stand, every inch of me forced me back down. That would have been okay but Ivan couldn't know what had just happened. He couldn't be reminded that I didn't have any control over Maris. Mustering up what strength I had, I crawled to the bed and dragged myself up.  

Within seconds of my collapsing like a sack of bricks, Ivan walked in...but didn't say anything. Standing at the door, he gazed at me curiously. Crap, no doubt he sensed something. Instantly I forced myself to think of a sunny beach. Could I have been any more obvious?

His eyebrows joined, "What happened?" he asked dryly.

"Nothing."

He stared, then walked further into the room stopping at the foot of the bed, "Are you sure? You seem...flustered."

I shrugged, "This place was a mess. I just now finished straightening up and was going to take a nap..." I told him, praying he didn't dig further but as things with Ivan go-

"And then what happened?" Crossing his arms across his chest, he focused intently. God, did his interrogations have to be so damned sexy. I shook the thought from my head, retreating back to my sunny beach.

"And then you walked in and interrupted me. " I snapped, really needing to wrap up our little session. It did the trick because though obviously ticked off, Ivan stepped back from the bed and left the room. But before I could even fathom a sigh of relief, he walked back in and tossed a white plastic bag on the bed. Pausing for a moment, he stared at me then shook his head and turned to leave once more.

Against my best judgment, I had to ask, "What?"

He stopped. Turning to me, he searched my face for a torturous minute. "Lying really doesn't suit you." he clipped.

What? As right as he may have been, that just pissed me the hell off but before I could speak, he shot me a disgusted glance,  "You reek of her." he said...then walked out.  So much for my damned sunny beach.

Sighing, I went to throw myself back when something caught my eye. The plastic bag.  Much too lazy to reach for it, I plucked it with my feet, bringing it to my waiting hands. My heart instantly plummeted.

Inside the bag were three boxes of hair dye. One black, one blond and one red. Shit, could things between us get any more worse?

Just then, the front door opened then slammed shut.

Could they get any worse, I had asked. Yes. Yes they could.

**

Emerging from the shower, I glanced in the mirror. While I would have loved to go back to blond, it would have been impossible to achieve it with store bought dye...especially over already black hair. And the red hair, well let's not even go there.  I hadn't a clue where it came from and had yet to ask. Surely it meant something but if Ivan hadn't mentioned anything about it, I'm sure it's was harmless.

 Ivan...I couldn't help but sigh.

The apartment was a bit chilly so I quickly dressed in some of Ivan's clothing I'd gathered before. A trip back home was mandatory but in the meantime, Ivan's clothing did the trick.  It wasn't exactly attractive but thoughts of anything happening between Ivan and  I were so ridiculous, wearing sexy lingerie would render the same effect as wearing rags.

I opened the bathroom door-

"Charlotte."

Before I could scream, Jaime lunged for me, taking a hold of my shoulders. Pressing my hands against his chest, I pushed away but suddenly my wrists were caught in his grasp. He pulled me closer, "I've missed you Charlotte, why are you fighting me. I love you-"

"Let me go!"

He refused to let my hands go, instead his grip tightened alarmingly. Bringing my knee up sharply, he jumped back and I missed. With a sickening grin, he pulled me forward but I pressed my feet on the floor. Having just showered, my feet were still damp and slid from under me.  Within seconds, Jaime dragged me to the bed like a rag doll.  My feet finally gained some traction and with a strong pull, I broke free from his grasp. Whirling around to run, he instantly caught me and thrust me down on the bed. Climbing on me, he pressed my wrists to the bed,

"Don't fight it Charlotte. It'll be beautiful."

Wriggling, I tried to kick myself free but his much larger frame pinned me down.  Savagely, I tried to bite his hands but couldn't reach! Opening my mouth to scream, he invaded with a ferocious kiss.

Instantly Maris' words echoed through my head. She knew the danger was near but Dammit! She could've at least told me why!

He pulled away, "Take me back to that place Charlotte. Let's go back there-"

"I don't know what you're talking about-"

"The place with the sand, and the breathing,--God," his eyes closed hungrily, "I can still taste you.  I need that Charlotte. I need you-"he buried his head in my neck, biting and sniffing like a wild beast.

My heart thundered  violently when suddenly little spurts of energy seemed to form at my center but just as quickly they vanished, shit! Ivan had said I was drained but if I didn't do something-no! I couldn't panic. But why couldn't Ivan sense me like I sensed him? I needed help, I needed him!

Jaime pulled back. Gasping for air, I blinked through my tears and noticed him looking at me, flaring with rage, "It's not happening Charlotte," he growled, "Why isn't it happening!?"

I wanted to answer but the knot in my throat left me unable to utter a single word. Suddenly he released one wrist and lifted a fist when over his shoulder eyes of steel appeared. Completely frozen, I watched as Ivan pulled Jaime off of me and thrust him back into Kheelan's arms.

With one hand Ivan held Jaime's neck in place against Kheelan's chest, while with his other he held a small bottle that he uncorked with his teeth. All but shoving it down Jaime's throat, the bottle quickly emptied. Ivan threw it down, and then forced Jaime's mouth shut obliging him to swallow. One a gulp led to violent choking and Ivan stepped back. Kheelan immediately whirled Jaime around and buried a fist into his jaw, knocking him out and letting his body fall lifeless to the ground. What-what the hell!

 "He took the bait I see." Someone said from beside me. In turning, Elena stood beside me but when did she come in? And what did she just say?

"Bait?" I finally reacted but  anger quickly burned my veins, "Bait?!"

 Ivan turned from examining Jaime's collapsed body and in taking one look at my shocked eyes, walked out, Elena closely following. Oh but I didn't stay behind.

I stormed into the living room, "You mean you planned this?!" I could feel Maris rattling with the same indignation. We weren't friends by any means but all be damned! We shared this body and if anything ever happened, we'd both be screwed.

Ivan stopped in his tracks. "Charlotte, we knew what we were doing. I told you, we had to remedy the situation--"

"Remedy, right." Elena scoffed, leaning into her stand, "We had to fix the bloody mess you made, the one's you keep making! How about the next time you just do us all the favor and get yourself killed-"

Ivan's eyes snapped to her, his anger rendering him speechless. He didn't have to say anything though.  The air instantly thickened with a sweltering heat and looking to Ivan, I heard his rapid pulse in my head. Oh, he meant to 'handle' her but Kheelan strolled into the room, dragging Jaime by his feet. Letting them fall to the floor, Kheelan crossed the room and collapsed onto the couch.

Crossing his feet on the coffee table, he threw his head back "When you've all killed each other could the last one standing wake me up please."

Ivan stepped back and glared once more at Elena, "Take him home." He growled lowly and stormed into his room, leaving Elena and I standing there...Staring at each other.

Enough awkward moments passed before I finally spoke. I had to because if we were going to forced to be around eachother, the little snippy comments needed to stop.

"Elena, listen-"

"No, you listen" she cut me off, bitch. "I don't know what little trick you and Maris have up your sleeve and I don't care whether you're Ivan's common, mother, sister, daughter-I don't trust you. If you try and hurt him, I will-"

"You'll kill me, or rip me to shreds; Yeah, yeah I got it the first time. But now you listen to me," I stepped closer wanting a good look at her seedy black eyes, "Like you just said, Ivan is my common which means that whether you like it or not, I'm going to be a part of his life. Now I am prepared to look beyond what's happened and....tolerate you," the words burned my tongue, "but it can't be one sided or it won't work."

She glared at me, but the slight distance in her eyes only told me she was considering my proposition. She finally scoffed, "Well I'm not forgetting what you've done-"

I opened my mouth to finally curse her out, but she spoke, "But, for Ivan's sake, I'm willing to...tolerate you as well. But only to keep an eye on you and that little slut inside of you.  It's almost fitting really...." She grinned. So much for tolerating.

But she did bring up an interesting point which made me smile, "Fitting, true but also funny how both Maris and I ended up with him, yet you-"

"Charlotte." Ivan's stern voice cut through. Looking over Elena's shoulder, he stood by the bedroom, holding the door open.  Granting Elena one last glare, I stepped around her and met Ivan at the door.  He didn't say anything, just stepped back and allowed me to enter. Waving sweetly to Elena, I walked inside.

I sat by the window and listened as Ivan gave his normal barrage of instructions. Kheelan was to wipe Jaime's thoughts of what had happened and Elena was to take him home. That probably wasn't the wisest choice but anything that got her the hell out of the apartment was golden.

The bedroom door then closed with a click but Ivan remained by the door. To be completely honest, I was tiring of this moody, dark silence. I told you I was not at all for brooding. I personally hated Mr. Darcy...well until he got all sweet on Elizabeth. But that's beside the point!

Sighing, I shook my head and curled up onto the window seat.

He spoke, "This thing between you and Elena-"

"No." I stopped him in his tracks, "This thing with Elena. I'm as sick of her as I am of everything going on-"

"I know..." he said quietly.

"No, you don't! I was bait Ivan, Me! I didn't even have my powers! What if Jaime would've hurt me-"

"It was under control-"

"But what if?"

He stared for a long moment then sighed,  "I'm sorry."

Sorry? What the hell was I supposed to say to that? Shaking my head, I focused on the darkness outside. Sorry...that was famous.

 In the reflection I watched Ivan push off the door and walk across the room. Sitting beside me like a punished child, he intertwined his hands between his knees. He was quiet for a moment, then reached over and took a hold of my hand. I wasn't over being angry but I could resume being angry later.

He grazed his thumb over mine. "I'm trying Charlotte..." he whispered, looking down at our hands.

I nodded, returning the gesture.

 "And back at the school...my behavior, you have to understand we were in public Charlotte. While our union is acceptable to our kind, in this world it's not. I need to treat you as I would anyone else." He explained plainly. I understood that, but in having him so close, every part of me came to life which brought an even more interesting point to mind: We weren't in public any longer were we?

Knowing I was probably pushing my luck as far as explinations were concerned, I leaned my head on his shoulder, "And earlier...on the phone--"

"When I called you back." He replied with a slight chuckle.

Shyly, I nodded, "You were going to say something--"

 "I missed you."

.....What did he say?

"What?" I echoed my blaring thoughts. 

"Shocking, I know..." he whispered tauntingly.

 Shaking my head, I lifted itslightly and buried it into the crook of his neck. Damn he smelled amazing.  Losing myself in the scent and in finally having him so close again, I kissed him lightly on the delicate skin. Feeling his pulse quicken under my lips, I continued, trailing them up to his ear, along his jaw until I reached his lips.  Brushing them lightly, I kissed him when--

"Charlotte--"

He gripped my shoulders and moved me away. Instantly he stood and walked half way across the room. It suddenly got really hard to breathe. 

He turned, "Charlotte, I-"

"Don't." I curled back into the window seat. I would have gone home but the rejection left me winded. There was no way I could make it all the way to the door without either falling apart or ripping him apart, the latter being my option of choice.

"Charlotte, let me explain-"

"I said don't! I understand Ivan. Granted I'm a blond...well not currently, but still-I'm not stupid. 'Duty over dishonor', is that it? Like you said at the hospital."  

He looked at me blankly, "You don't know what you're talking about."

"But I do. For you being with me is a duty. If you're not, then you're dishonoring me because I'm your common. It's crystal clear. I won't mistake it again. Now get out."

"Charlotte-"

"Get out!"

"This is my house--"

I scoffed. "Excuse me? I spent 2 hours cleaning this hell hole. This is my house, for at least two hours. Now get out."

Narrowing his eyes, he sighed and walked out. I just as quickly slammed the door behind him. Within seconds, the front door slammed, followed by the two clicks. At least he remembered to lock the door. 

Looking down at the bare avenues,  a familiar car waited in front of the building. I remembered it. It was the one Ivan used to take me home...Elena's car. A moment later, Ivan came into view as he walked from the building and got into the car. I was going to be sick. As they sped off, I held my breath and let the curtains fall.  It was going to be a very long night.

A sigh pulled me from my funk. Turning, Kheelan was at the door. "Spat?"

God I was so happy he was still there. I nodded, "I don't know what I'm doing Kheelan."

Crossing his arms across his chest, he leaned against the door, "You'll get a handle on your powers soon-"

"I'm not talking about my powers. I'm talking about....everything. I don't know how much longer I can do this. I'm tired and not just physically. I can't deal with all these emotions and with the constant fear-"

"Then you need to get stronger. Your Fae side will handle all those bloody human emotions but you have to build it up. You need to start training."

I scoffed, "Yeah, me and what teacher?"

Sitting beside me, Kheelan tugged at my arm, bringing me closer, "I may not be a sage by any means, but my offer still stands Charlie. I will help you in any way I can."

My answer was readily available, "I want to start training."

"That's good. We can start in the morning-"

"No. I want to start right now.  Ivan left me some books but I don't understand them. He translated some things but-"

"Bloody books. Ivan swears by those things. I find them quite dreadful really, always been more hands on," he grinned.  "Why don't you leave the books for when you're with Ivan? I say we take you out on a little test drive." His grinned widened. Why was I worried?

I arched a questioning brow. Tugging me to standing,  Kheelan pulled me to the front door. Haphazardly wrapping a scarf around my neck, he explained "I want to take you out and expose you to the elements Charlie. I need to see what you can do."

I hesitated. "But what if I lose control?" Lord knows there was no telling what I could do.

"Don't worry your pretty head. I can handle that ." He smirked and opened the door, "Now, shall we?"

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