red //scarf// WARNING:: Lillian and Bryce and Toni

[whisp.]

Swap. Lillian swatted at the bugs that flew up in her face as she maneuvered her way throughout the trees and down the dirt path that led her back towards the Gypsy camp. She knew the way by now, not even bothering to think twice about the path.

Just one turn at the rock.
Straight on from the dying tree.
Not too long from there.

A slightly worried expression crossed over her countenance, slowly fading as she tried to relax herself. It was a rare occasion that Bryce needed to talk to her immediately. Lillian reached into her dress pocket, feeling the red scarf that hung out in the tree besides her window: their sign for one another. And as she walked the path she just hoped that her friend was alright and that the news was nothing on the negative side.

She was curious, highly, at what could bring this about but she refused to let her imagination get the best of her. Lillian did, however, wonder if it was perhaps something un-Realms related for once….but she highly doubted that.

Bryce was a creature that liked to keep to himself, that’s what she’d learned about him throughout the years. Lillian had come to respect him though and had grown to love the man. He was one of the first few friends she had gained at Florence, especially because he was able to explain the magic to her.

“Bryceeeeeee.” She cooed into the air, allowing the magic to let her voice travel through the trees to reach him first. It was a playful gesture, something she found to be around the man. It wasn’t Lillian’s fault that the man was well…a man. It was hard for her to just remain neutral with him, and sometimes it slipped. Like now, for instance.

Her dress swished a bit as she did a miniature twirl and soon she entered the clearing near the cave. A smile played on her lips and she walked over to give Bryce a hug. “hey baby, what did you need to see me about?” Pulling the scarf from her pocket, she moved to toss it lazily across the back of his neck to pull him closer. Lillian laughed and stepped back to look up at the cave and then back to the man before her.

[Poe]

The night was dark... lonely as most of his nights had been. A guardian was not the most promising life for a boy of twenty-two. No woman was interested in a man that would leave a bed cold at night... But it was more than that, for the night not only forgot to provide a woman's touch but also the stars.
Believe it or not, the stars were some of the most interesting people to converse with, especially on the loneliest of days. All he had was the splash of water from the cave that he protected, the gates of heaven and hell. A bit of a smirk covered his lips as he thought of the day's previous encounter, and pushed a hand through his hair, his back gently leaning against the cold stone wall, his blue eyes weary from lack of sleep.

Bryce Sanders reached up to tug on the red scarf that he normally had tied around his neck, and pulled his hand away, surprised for a moment that it was not there, before remembering that he had entwined it in the lattice of Lillian MacArthur's window, a sign that a desperate conversation needed to take place.
His throat visibly bobbed as he swallowed and, suddenly awake, stared around the small clearing, straining his ears for any sound. After the...small mishap, he knew he couldn't let anything quite like that happen again. Relieved that there was nothing, he leaned back against the rock, his hand still resting on the golden hilt of his sword.

As he relaxed his thoughts drifted again, and a quiet sound came from deep within his throat as he hummed a half-forgotten lullaby to keep the complete silence away. In the back of his mind, he wondered if Lillian would be coming tonight, if she would slink through the trees and grace him with the presence of an angel... Those thoughts only brought on more thoughts, and he pushed away the quiet (if you could call them that) thoughts of her lips, as soft as rain against his. But the further away he got from the real world the harder it got to push away these... tantalizing mental images.
Bryce shook his head, rather violently, trying to chase away the demons disguised as gods, his eyes straining to see the real world, to not see the shadow of Lillian dressed in white and glowing under the stars.
Her voice echoing in his ears, cooing his name... it really didn't help.

Wait!

He blinked, a smile curving onto his thick lips, and he rubbed his eyes and jaw, trying to wake himself up even more. She could still be miles away in the woods, magic-ing the air so that she could tease him, sitting here alone in the woods, thinking he was imagining up her voice to a perfect clarity. The sound of it traveled on the wind, rushing around his face, as if it were her own hands---
GODDAMMIT.
He wasn't allowed to think like that.
They both knew that.
They were really nothing more than business partners, that was all they could ever be. Just like that's that he and Ara could have been... Anything more could perfectly ruin the peace that they had settled, the pact to protect and serve Fantasia together.
He'd just have to keep repeating that.

Business partners. Business partners. Business partners. Business partners. Business partners. Business partners. Business partners. Business partners. Business partners. Business partners. Business partners. Business partners. Business partners. Business partners. Business partners. Business partners. Business partners. Business partners. Business partners. Business partners. Business partners. Business partners. Business partners. Business partners. Business partners. Business partners. Business partners. Business partners. Business partners. Business partners. Business partners. Business partners. Business partners. Business partners. Business partners.

He kept thinking this over and over, his mind working in overtime to keep those other images away. But when she walked through the clearing, looking just like the angel he had pictured her to be he faltered.
Bryce Sander's blue eyes wandered over her frame for a moment and then he jerked back to those two words again, as if they were his heart beat. And then she got closer. And whispered. And threw that damn scarf around his neck, pulling him over to her.

Well.
Shit.

His heart hiked it up another two notches and he watched her, his blue eyes studying hers for a long moment. "You're gonna be the death of me," he whispered has his lips quickly closed in on hers.
He knew he shouldn't. He knew it wasn't allowed. That it was forbidden. And he knew that he would kill himself if he ever ruined her future, but he couldn't help it. The kiss lasted only seconds, but it was still there, and the air around him was warmer, the crickets had started up their song just for them, and he was still lowered against her, his face still so close to her. And then she took that step back and the magic she had created without using her power snapped in a cloud of smoke.

"Uhm... talk?"
In the moments that his mind had vanished he had forgotten pretty much everything.
Except her.
And him.
And pale skin.
And the silver moonlight.

[whisp.]

The red scarf felt strangely familiar in her hands, and Lillian couldn’t stop herself from picturing Bryce’s warm neck against it…and then the feeling of that warmth against her own hands. A shiver went down her spine and she distracted herself by looking up to the stars, the company to the workers at night.

She was always curious if the stars gazed on earth as the people gazed back. What they thought of human life style…what they must think of war….or of love. Surely they had seen it all…from heartache to pure bliss. The only question was if the stars would know better than all that or would they too fall into the trap of feeble mindedness.

Her thoughts drifted to Bryce and herself and what the stars above must think of them. Bryce had always been like a brother to her…a male figure in her life and one of her closest friends. They had been through a lot together, and always would have those memories. It was just one day where it all changed. Something happened, they grew up and they became….attractive. Hormones kicked in and things just clicked into place.

It was forbidden, she and Bryce both understood that. But it couldn’t stop them for feeling this attraction towards one another. What could she say? They both knew better but it never stopped her from wondering. Bryce was an amazing man, and any woman would be lucky to have him and she wouldn’t mind herself. But it would probably never happen. The most important thing in their lives was to protect and take care of Realms. If they put that aside and let their own feelings get involved and then things didn’t work out….it could mean trouble.

But that didn’t stop Lillian from imagining.

As the wind picked up, she ran her own hand up her arm in an attempt to warm herself up. If she could make it to Bryce maybe he’d let her wear something of his or better yet just use body warmth to keep her satisfied. She sighed at herself and shook her thoughts away.

Business partners.

A wider smile formed on her lips when she saw him, glad to see that he was in one piece. She worried about him out here alone at night and almost wished he didn’t have to protect Realms. Like herself he was cursed to a life to the Realms, a connection….a curse that they could never get rid of. A gift unlike any other, but unwanted stress along with it.

Her body relaxed as she got closer to him, a familiar pattern setting in. She smiled at his words, a few chuckles following. “And why is that Bryce, darling?” she asked, the words breaking the eerie silence of the night, and filling the space with them and their breathes.
Her eyes traced the features of his face, lingering on his eyes. They flickered closed for a moment as she felt his soft, welcoming lips on hers and she melted slightly into it, knees buckling faintly at the feeling of….him.

Tiny hands traced down his chest as she stepped back, remorse sticking in her mouth at her own movements. She wanted him. On so many levels, and she could never have him.
Which made it so many times worse.

Stepping closer again, she began to tie the scarf around his neck slowly, this allowing their faces to be inches from each others again…and she planned to use this to maybe, maybe steal some kisses.
“mhmm…talk. What was it that you needed me immediately for, babe?” she said softly…lips leaning closer to his, eyes flickering up to his eyes before drifting to his lips and back.

They never seemed to get too far with conversation
But damn, their bodies spoke a thousand words.

[Poe]

Skin crawled beneath her fingers as she gently tied the red scarf around his neck, and his breath came out in short puffs. It was quite impossible to even begin to control his body... his thoughts... even his heart in cases like this.
Ah, the power of a woman. A smirk crawled onto his lips as he watched her, his eyes glittering in the moonlight as she stayed close. Gently, silently, he wrapped his arms around her waist and brought her hips closer to his, moving back to lean again the outer rock wall of the cave, glancing up when a drop of water dripped onto his forehead, sliding down his nose.
"You'll be the death of me because this," he tapped her nose, his eyes still twinkling in delight of the magic that had just taken place between their lips. "Because every time you come near I feel like my heart is going to leap out of my chest... And that if I can't have you, I will die. However," he looked at her, his face suddenly somber. "We both know that I cannot, and that I will simply have to deal with it and remember my dreams."

Slowly, her hands began to tie the scarf around her neck, and his breathing kicked up again. His body speaking louder than his last words did. God. He wanted her. Every part of his skin did. He needed her. Calloused hands slid up the back of her soft dress, toying with the stitches, plucking and pulling at the hems, curving around her hips and shoulders before softly resting at her neck. His index finger traced soft and slow circles against the warm skin of her neck before he gently pulled her closer, his own lips finding the skin just above where his fingers played, kissing her jaw softly, toying with her, waiting to hear her next words.

Speak to her immediately?
He could hardly remember his own name when she was with him like this. Pulling back he studied her face, intense again, his mood swings awfully strange today.
"It was obviously urgent then, wasn't it?" He said, reaching up to adjust the scarf she'd just tied around his neck, one hand still resting gently on her lower back, sliding from her hip to mid back again and again.
By now the smell of her had filled his nostrils, engulfed him in her, tangling with his mind. He took another deep breath, but the air around them had mingled with her by now, and it did him no good.
Passing his "free hand" through his hair, Bryce watched her again, knowing that he had called her for something about the realms, but he couldn't quite remember what. It was that smell... Her smell mixing him up.

Not that he entirely minded at all.

And by now the two words... Business partners, had completely vanished from his brain.

"Maybe... you need to jump start my memory?" He asked, resting his forehead against hers. By now, the drip from the cave had wandered down his face, and hung on the tip of his nose. A smirk curved against his lips, and his eyes held that playful glitter from before... "Unless, of course, you want me to sit here and try to figure it out for myself?"
The wind around them swirled, the leaves rustled, and somewhere in the woods an owl called. They had no idea that somewhere from the trees someone was possibly watching. Not only that, but they probably didn't care- lost in this forbidden passion of lust.
The forbidden fruit, the tempter and the temptress together, and lost in each other's arms.

[whisp.]

It must have been the moon. They were never this bad, never this sensual. Never so…intense. The light from above reflected on their faces, highlighting and shadowing and causing Lillian to only look more closely. Goosebumps rose up on her arms and she smiled at him, wanting him closer.

Her own breathing matched his, heavy than light…sharp intake, deep sigh. She could hear her own heartbeat in her ears, clouding her thoughts and distracting her from thinking clearly at all.

She moved with him as his hands wrapped around her and she leaned with him, her own front side against his. Her body adjusted comfortably against him and fitted. He was strong, she could feel the strength beneath his skin and feel his lungs take in and release air.

Ten fingers moved down his chest once more and back up again, revealing in the feeling of his body. God, she’d never get over this feeling.

She barely heard his words, but her eyes found his lips and formed them in her head. Lillian laughed as he poked her, her nose scrunching up for a moment before her expression became very serious and very seductive.
“Who said that you cannot have me?” she whispered gently, studying him just as seriously. “There’s only a few threads of cotton keeping me from having you now…”

There was a small gasp as his hands moved around her and his lips landed gently, tentatively on her skin. Her neck rolled slightly, inviting him to explore more. Shivers shuddered through her body and she leaned even more towards him, her top half beginning to touch his.

Soft echoes of the night played out around them, soft crickets, animals rustling around, the nocturnal ones saying good morning to the night. It all laid a scene for her and Bryce, like they were the only two people out there sharing this moment together.

Her fingers moved to play with his hair, running through it softly then down the side of his face. Lillians thumb stroked his cheek gently, reaching over slowly to barely touch his lips. A deep breath filled her lungs as she was taken back by how soft they were.

They were both distracted and it was easy to tell.

“well, I’d assume so. You rarely call upon me unless it’s important…” she said breathlessly, keeping her voice low so he’d have to strain to hear her. Her head tilted slightly as she watched him, fascinated by the smallest movements. The motion of his hand on her side causing more shivers, her breathing no where close to normal.

Her forehead tilted up to met his, eyes melting into his gaze and becoming completely caught up in him and nothing else around them. Hell, a herd of elephants could come by and she’d never know. It was just her and Bryce and the rest of the world was going to have to wait.

“and how would I be able to help you with that?” by now they were so close she could feel the wetness on his face on her own and she leaned up on her tiptoes to be closer, the want becoming more and more persistent.

Finally her lips enclosed on his once more and her eyes drifted close. She moved her arms around him more, and pulled herself as close to him as she could.

It must have been the full moon.

[Poe]

Bryce wasn't entirely sure how to react to her body moving against his quite the way it was. It was unbelievable. Breath-taking. Amazing. But at the same time, terrifying. As they kissed, as she moved closer, as their bodies pressed together like puzzle pieces he knew he was ruining her future, ruining everything that she needed to make it in her adult life. The things they did during times like this, when the moon was full and fat and bulging out of the clouds, looking jovial and lovely hanging in the sky... They depressed him. When it was all said and done, when they finally came to their senses and stopped, took gulping breathes of fresh air, they both knew he really couldn't have her. Certainly, only a few strands of cotton were keeping him from her body, but anything more... The puppeteers of society kept them from that.
He wasn't thinking about that now, though. He would in the morning, when he awoke, his body tense and weak from dreams of her that had filled his mind and swirled about his head throughout the night. As her bosom touched his chest, something triggered inside of him, and his arms wrapped tighter around her, pulling and keeping her that much closer, his lips hungrily finding her neck, before he forced himself to slow down and enjoy what he was having. Savoring it.

The air around him was nearly suffocating him with the heat and smell of her. But he was not tortured by it, he, in fact, loved it. One of his hands moved up to tangle in her hair and he leaned back to watch her again, listening to her go on about him only calling her when the situation was dire. Not that it would change, but he wished it would- he wished he had the nerve to call her down, when the night was hot and the stars were out and the moon was gone... To call her down and lay her down, and delve so deeply into her, to love and lust her at the same time.
But no.
He knew, better than any person out there that that would only ruin the things she had in her future. And when it later destroyed their relationship... the realms could possibly be lost to the evil that dwelled inside of the magical place---

Evil.

That was it.

He remembered it all now. What he had to tell her, but as he opened his mouth to break the magic between them once again, her lips encircled him and his eyes fell closed as they kissed in the moonlight. But he knew there was something important he had to say, and he pulled back, letting his hands stroke along her back, flowing from her neck to her hip bone, occasionally straying farther.
"Lillian," he murmured, realizing that this was the first time he'd spoken the woman's name since she'd arrived in the clearing. "Lillian, I have something... very important that I need to tell you." He winced slightly, realizing it was about the realms. "Something... happened."

That was all the man managed to get out, however, because someone stepped out of the trees, his shadow quivering in the moonlight. His raven black hair looked even oilier in the moonlight, and he moved so silently it was inhuman. He said nothing as he silently slithered into view, but the air around Bryce froze, and his blood ran cold. He looked up, pulling his eyes away from Lillian's blue, staring in horror at the man that stood before them. His hand flew to the handle of his blade, shaking violently.
No, he wasn't entirely sure who Toni Wilkes actually was, or, better yet, WHAT he was, but he had a feeling. Perhaps it was the way the air around them changed, or because the birds and crickets had stopped singing, or simply because Bryce's blood had literally turned to ice in his veins, he knew something bad was about to happen.
Not only because he'd been caught in a serious offense with a woman, but because he had a very, very bad feeling about this man.

"What the hell is this?"
Mr. Toni Wilkes voice was like ice. He sounded completely pissed, something you didn't want to run into when you saw Toni Wilkes. The moonlight changed for him, turned frightening, turned evil, and cast long, horrid shadows on the ground.
"You will unhand her, sir," Toni's voice was cool, slow, languid, but hateful at the same time, and he strode forward, still wearing the suit he wore for his classes that day, his hand enclosing around Lillian's shoulder, pulling her backward. Against his better judgment Bryce let go, squeezing her hand quickly, staring at the man before him, his hand still on his sword, making the teacher laugh coldly.
"I suggest not trying that. You would see the deathbed for you and all your family if you even begin to pull that blade out."
Finally, he turned and directed his words at Lillian Macarthur. "What are you doing out this late? The headmistress will have your head for this, I hope you're prepared."
"I... I brought her out here," Bryce stuttered, reaching out. "Don't... punish her for this."

Toni turned to look at Bryce, a smirk curling up on his lips. "What? You think this child loves you, sir? Because she kissed you- is that why you protect her so? Ha." He shook his head, the air still like ice. "No. A wench like her does not know how to love quite yet. And she will never learn how to love a man the likes of you."

[whisp.]

Everything else in the world seemed to move slow to Lillian. The air stood a little stiller, the animals moved at a different pace. All she could concentrate on was the feeling of Bryce against her, holding her and pulling her closer. It was these moments that she loved, adored. Kept her always wanting more and more. But she hated them almost. She hated to come back and see the remorse and sadness in his eyes. It made her heartache and body feel sore. She’d never want to hurt him.

There was a fear that if things were to go sore that they would loose control over the realms, but Lillian wasn’t sure. Could she and Bryce be stronger than that? She knew how society thought of the Gypsy life but if she and Bryce were…together, she’d give up everything for him. She belonged here anyway, right? And society was already messed up and she wouldn’t mind rebelling against it a bit more.

A tiny whisper of a moan and gasp came from her as his kisses became more sudden and his arms tightened around her. Lillian felt completely safe, completely whole right now, completely right.

Her head tilted slightly once more as she talked and moved towards his hand, practically begging for more physical affection. Oh how she wished he would always look at her like that. She was beaming, smiling wide. Lillian was happy here, tucked in Bryce’s arms in the middle of the forest, the gateway to heaven and hell only mere feet away.

So many lonely nights she’d wish he’d called her down. It could have been about anything and she would always come. Thoughts always strayed to her pulling him away from his post, inviting him to her room, enjoying all parts of him she’d never seen before. She would still hope, even if the red scarf would never appear for that reason.

Faded goose bumps rose again as his hand strayed across her body, causing her lips to move more rapidly across his. She felt as if she could do this forever and forget the rest of the world. In that moment she needed him, it was more than just lustful feelings and want…no, Lillian needed him right now.

It was only when he began to speak did her lips move to his jaw, back across it slowly to his ear lobe. The echo of his wince went through her body and a slight frown formed on her pink lips. “what happened Bryce? Is everything okay?” But she was greeted by silence in the form of a brick wall. Lillian pulled back only slightly, her eyes moving across the features of his face as she felt his body stiffen up. Her own expression reflected that of confusion and she jumped as he reached for his sword. She turned her head quickly around, breathing harder from adrenaline of fear now. What could have someone as brave as Bryce so scared?

ohshit.
Mr. Wilkes.

Her blue eyes widened as wide as plates as her own body tensed up, breathing hard. She didn’t know what to do and she remained frozen where she was. Nonononono! This wasn’t supposed to happen. This was her and Bryce’s get away and no one was supposed to ruin this for them.

Her mouth opened slightly in pure shock and she turned to look up at Bryce, lost. She looked so young and innocent in that moment, scared. It wasn’t the man that scared her, it was what would come that did. What Lillian didn’t want was any unnecessary attention towards the Gypsy’s that lived so close to the school. She didn’t want Bryce to get any blame for this or any trouble. Lillian was terrified for him and his safety most of all.

Swallowing hard, she felt the hand on her shoulder and gently, carefully moved it out of Toni’s grasp and took a small step back as she received the tiny squeeze from Bryce. Her eyes desperately moved to reach his, an apologizing look already filling them.
She wouldn’t get to know what he called her out here to talk about.

Lillian was silent as Bryce and Toni went back and forth, wincing slightly at Toni’s choice of words on things. She hated that Bryce was taking the blame for this. She came out, didn’t she? She would take the blame, Bryce didn’t need to do that for her.

Her eyes moved to the English teacher as he addressed her and she glared lightly at him. “Of course I’m prepared, Mr. Wilkes.” Lillian said coolly, a defense moving up. She seemed suddenly unbothered by the man, almost bored. She shifted her weight to the other foot and sighed. Now she just wanted this to be done with and not have to deal with any of it.

…
Wench?

Her eyes snapped to Toni’s expression, her hands making fists and twitching slightly. The urge to hit him was so many more times more powerful than she had ever felt before.
“You do not know how I will love, Mr. Wilkes. Maybe if you had some proof you understood what love was I’d believe you. But clearly since you have no evidence and no wife than I think you should be leaving thoughts of love to those it applies too.” Her expression was clearly anger but her words were steady, her body was tense and ready. She wanted to so badly show Toni who exactly he was messing with.

But she refrained and she glanced to Bryce, her eyes reflecting much love and affection for a slight moment before they returned to cold and landed on Toni, waiting to see what the man of many words would come up with next to say.

“I think we’re done here. Lets go. I’m getting cold.” And with that she flicked her hair out of her face and moved to start pacing towards the school as if she owned the very ground she walked on.

And hell she practically did.

[Poe]

It had all happened so fast; the breaking of the magic that the two had created by using only their bodies. And even though she had pulled away, confused by his stiffened body, he still hummed as that "magic" coursed through his veins. He could still feel her lips on his, her body pressed against him, her hair tangled in his fingers. His breathing was still slightly ragged, and he glanced quickly at Lillian, shaking with fear again, the magic slowly going to his heart where it would stay until it knew it was time again. "Don't trust a word he says- don't trust him, please, Lillian." His words were choked with the terror of what had come from his failure, and his heart slowed, understanding just what could come from what they had been caught doing.
At least they hadn't been on the ground, pale skin exposed to silver moonlight. At least her dress was still on and his belt firmly in place around his hips. At least her skin wasn't bruised and her body wasn't under his. At least they had been caught only kissing and not doing God knows what else. And to think, he'd been so close to wishing for more.
Stupid boy.
"Lillian. He happened," Bryce whispered, his voice strangled with agony. "He happened, Lil." Would she understand, would she even begin to remember what he had said about the urgent matter, about the red scarf warning. Why had they let their bodies to all the talking when such important things needed to come into play? Bryce watched as Toni put his hand on her shoulder, pulling her away, stared into her eyes, feeling totally helpless against the "English Man" before him.

"What did you say?" Toni's eyes flashed in absolute anger at Lillian's words... No wife? He grabbed her shoulder, his hand moving to hit her across the face, as if he had no control over it. The sound of the skin on the back of his hand hitting her face echoed throughout the clearing. "You ignorant little brat," he snarled. "You know nothing of my life. You know nothing," he shook, as if with real remorse. "Do not speak as if you know everything. My wife and child died while I was powerless to do anything- do you really think I know nothing about love?" His voice was a sneer and he pushed her forward, toward the trees to get her back to the school.
He looked back at Bryce, who's face was in pain, who had taken four steps forward, away from his post, looking as if he was bound by invisible chains to stay here. "You... you bastard," he hissed at the man. "Don't you know not to lay hands on a lady that way?"
Toni scoffed. "You put your hands on a woman that you do not even deserve. You'll be lucky if I don't report you at once. You should be dead for what you did." His dark eyes studied Bryce, sizing him up before shoving Lillian forward again. "Come along now, my dear, the headmistress will surely be interested to hear about all of this. She will, she will."

"Cold now, are you?" Toni asked as he followed her into the trees, his hands easily tucked into the pockets of his coat. If she tried to run, she'd be... not so pleasantly surprised, the man could move just as a shadow did and these woods were his- she owned nothing. A smirk settled onto his lips. "I suppose the Gyp back there kept you warm? Too bad you'll never see him again... I'm sure the headmistress will send for your parents at once..." He shrugged, his steps falling into place very, very easily behind her, his eyes flickering up toward the sky, smirking.
Well, now he had a plan.
Now he just needed to speak to Cain. And those fairies that had managed to escape as well...
Ah, wouldn't their master be thrilled?
The ultimate sacrifice to open up the gates to heaven and hell, as these ignorant humans called them... To completely open the gate to Fantasia where all hell would break loose upon this world...


Behind them, Bryce sunk down against the rock wall, his face buried in his hands, the world around him going dark with his agony. There had been nothing he could do, just the cold look the man had given him had made him completely helpless. By god. There was nothing he could do.
All he had done was bring danger upon his camp.

Now he had no reason to be here, he might as well... just leave.

ooc: XDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDD Looks so puny compared to yours Whisp!

[whisp.]

She hated this. Her body felt completely raw and slowly numb as the magic and warmth of a man faded from her skin and turned to ice and fear as the new man entered the clearing. Lillian felt helpless. She could do so much right now, in so many ways, yet nothing at the same time. Fear struck up in her heart, none of this was a good sign. Bryce was in trouble, the camp was in trouble. Sure she would get scolded, maybe even kicked out, but she would still get her life. Bryce on the other hand…so many things could happen to him and not an eyelash would be bat at it.

It made her so mad. Nothing happened, it was just playful kissing. Everyone was still clothed, no one was on the ground. Lips weren’t straying to inappropriate places. Just…kissing. A sign of affection. Lillian swallowed hard, refusing to be weak in front of the likes of Toni Wilkes or Bryce for that matter. She kept her head up too high for that.

Her jaw tensed up immensely and her eyes moved to him when he pleaded. She blinked slowly at his words, not entirely sure at what he meant. He happened… She played the words over in her head. Her gaze moved from Bryce’s to Toni’s as the scene shifted.

There was a low sneer at what the “English man” was saying and she longed to be tucked away safely in Bryce’s arms again. At the moment there was a vulnerable-ness to her of fear of the unknown. The feeling did not quite make it to her expression though and she simply remained standing tall and strong.
“I said you should leave the thoughts of love to those who it applies to.” Blue eyes met his as she watched him explain himself.

She winced a bit at his explanation, but her expression didn’t change into any form of remorse. She still stood by what she said and nothing would affect that. She till believed that Toni had no right to speak of words of love.

Then there was a loud smack, her head snapping to the side. Her strong expression slipped into that at slight shock, her mouth agape. Was she really just hit? Anger slipped into her body and she moved back from Mr. Wilkes, her body tense and tears stinging her eyes. She looked to Bryce, begging him in that moment not to do anything that he would regret. She didn’t need any more offenses against him.

Her feet stumbled forward as Mr. Wilkes shoved her forward. Her body at this point felt numb, almost calling out for Bryce’s body to be against hers again. She felt like she needed him in this moment, right now. The tears were coming freely now every now and then, offense and sadness mixed together in one. This wasn’t happening. This was their night, their moon. It wasn’t meant to end like this. No…

A wince slithered through her body as she was shoved again from the clearing, ignoring his words about the headmistress. It wasn’t herself at all that she was worried about or an old lady for that matter. Who she cared about the most right now was the man left at the cave.

She could hear his footsteps behind her and her body did everything but relax, her breath was ragged. Lillian swallowed down the deep ball in the back of her throat that was threatening to cause sobbing.
“I love you.” She mouthed gently, so softly even the animals would have to strain to hear. The wind would carry her words back to Bryce and wrap themselves around him in the only way of comfort Lillian could provide with him right now.

Lillian chose to not respond to Mr. Wilkes. She could figure this out and get out of it. It wasn’t the first time Lillian had used her magic to get herself out of a heap load of trouble like this. She just had to figure out another good reason to spoon feed to the headmistress. A long breath of a sigh escaped her as she marched back towards Florence, moving her way effortlessly through the trees and rocks.

Her face twisted up into sadness and she looked down, rubbing her arms to remember the feeling of Bryce on them.

God, she hoped he was okay.

ooc: xDDDDD yours was good!

[Poe]

The night was dark... lonely as most of his nights had been. A guardian was not the most promising life for a boy of twenty-two. No woman was interested in a man that would leave a bed cold at night... But it was more than that, for the night not only forgot to provide a woman's touch but also the stars.
And Bryce Sanders was alone again, under the starless sky with only magicked and whispered words to keep him company, to wrap around him and keep him warm as the air chilled and the magic from his veins vanished. For the first time in his life he cursed who he was, he cursed his post and his life. He cursed the fact that he could not protect her and love her, that he would never be able to. The only feeling that the words she whispered to him on the wind brought was discomfort and regret. His greatest fear, the fear of ruining her life, had just set in so deeply that he really could do nothing about it.
Feeling as vulnerable as a small child, Bryce brought his knees to his chest, tracing lines in the loose dirt at his feet, the water from the cave of sorrows dripping down upon his face, looking like his own tears.

The air chilled, the animals stopped speaking, and the moon stared sadly down upon the world. From inside the cave came moans of remorse and victory, each side cheering for the appropriate player. And from the trees many eyes watched, perched casually among the branches, having witnessed everything from before till now as if it were a picture show for their eyes and their own pleasure.

Under the same, unsmiling moon, Toni reached out, almost hesitantly to take Lillian's hand, as if suddently trying to be her friend. He pulled her back toward him, carefully backing her toward the tree, the scent of woman filling his nostrils and affecting him much differently than it had affected Bryce only minutes ago.
Moments ago, he'd stood and watched the girl from The Unloved fall into love with a gypsy, tumble slowly into a world of lust and magic, and jealousy had spiked itself in his stomach. She had no clue what kind of man she was messing with. No clue that he could so easily snap her in half if he simply opened his eyes and read that her soul was evil and meant harm... Just as he had read Jaustien's-Toni's when he'd exited the Realm of Fantasia for the first time in years.
"Now, now," he said, looking into the anguished eyes of the girl who, only minutes before, had been in pure bliss. "Don't look so sad..." He carefully closed in the space between the two of them, attempting to place her back carefully against the tree. He reached up, his long, cold fingers gently brushed the hair off of her jaw, his long nails scraping against her skin, leaving tiny white lines where his fingers trailed.

He knew there was something special about her, he could feel it humming beneath his skin. She was possibly a catch that Teryxael would enjoy. But from the way he saw her walk about school as if she owned the place... he knew... He knew that if he really wanted to capture her like had already begun to lure in the younger students, he would have to be a predator dedicated to the hunt.
He didn't know what she was, he didn't know what she was capable of and he probably didn't want to know quite yet. But Toni Wilkes was right against her now, his head tilted to the side as he looked down at her. This was his turf, and his attitude only reflected it. The cocky air about him was at full blast, and she couldn't even begin to fight him off.
Carefully entwining magic into his voice, to sound absolutely convincing, he smiled down at her. "You know," he whispered. "If you... do something for me, I could see it in my heart to forget about what I saw back there... I could forget to phone the authorities as soon as we get back, I could forget to even call the headmistress. I'm only..." He paused, licking his upper lip in thought.

"I'm only looking for a favor..."

[whisp.]

If only she could have still stayed by his side and held him with his own words, told him with her lips close to his that things would work out, she could help him, protect him, love him. There was a sick feeling in her stomach of the change from bliss to pure sickness at the man falling in step behind her. Her eyes closed for a moment, trying to will the tears away.

She needed Bryce.

Her whole body longed for him right now, to be against him and to be held. She needed him and wanted him safe, and she was worried at what might have to be done to do that.

Lillian was lost in her own thoughts, barely noticing Toni Wilkes behind her. Her mind was working over time for excuses and reasons and valid explanations to help win the case for her. And even if none of that worked, she could still use magic to help her out. She just needed to plant seeds and then she could water and make her ideas grow.

The air seemed quiet and abnormally stiller than before and in a way that chilled Lillian to the bone. She wanted the soft music of the night playing around her rather than the scary thoughts and unwelcoming feelings. Even the moon that shone so brightly before seemed dull and the charm and romance it brought had long since disappeared when she had to pull from her lovers arms.

There was a gasp as she felt Toni’s hand against hers and she moved to jerk it back from his, looking over her shoulder at him with a glare with unsure eyes. It was a different type of shudder that ran through her body now, one that was signaling that she did not want the teacher any where near her body at all.

She found herself being pulled back and she instinctively moved back from him, her back slowly coming in contact with the hard bark of a tree. Air came in gasps into her lungs, quickly and harshly and she tried to calm herself down. Once more her lips remained stiffly closed and her jaw stayed tensed as she turned her head from him, looking out to the forest. She was a big girl, she could handle this.

No, it was true that Lillian had no idea what sort of man Toni Wilkes was. But he really didn’t know what sort of trouble he was getting into by messing with her and her clique. No, he had no idea she could have him dropped dead in a mere blink of an eye if she really wanted, or tortured to the brink of pathetic begging. Secrets were hidden in each of their minds but Lillian had no intention of showing him hers unless it was needed. And damn, she could throw a good punch.

Another shudder went through her body when she felt his hand on the side of her face and she tensed to keep her face turned away from his as long as possible. She couldn’t’ even look at the man that made her so sick. His smell was overwhelming her and made her head spin and she forced herself to try and find some fresh air to suck into her lungs.

A scoff formed its way on her lips at his words. She held her tongue though, letting him doing the talking to get it out of his damn system. She adjusted uncomfortably around him and moved her hands to push at him to get back, using as much strength as she could if he wouldn’t stumble back from her.

Her breathing had kicked up again as the apprehension folded its way in her stomach, giving her knots and causing her to feel the urge to flee. She continually pulled her face away from his hand and winced only slightly. His words played over and over again in her head before her eyes glanced to his for a moment.

There was a pause as Lillian found the words in her and forced them out, her lips already dry and her words shallow.
“what….sort of favor?”

[Poe]

ooc: I JUST WANT TO SAY: That I love Bryce and I really do not take an pleasure in torturing him. I'm like... this close to crying. AND as much as I love Toni he is a creeper that needs to go back to where he came from. D: D: D:

bic:
Toni's breathing was normal, as if he wasn't affected by her closeness at all. As if nothing was happening as he was closing in on her. His fingers swirled around her skin, his touch chilling. He traced circles as he moved down her neck, and then carefully, slowly cupped the nape of her neck, holding her head in place, and forcing her to look at him. The simple fact that she was uncomfortable only made him that much more willing, that eager to do something... horrible. To kiss and never tell. To bite and leave a mark for the world to see. To take something from the seventeen year old girl that he could never give back...
His eyes glinted in the cold moonlight, giving him an honestly evil look, and a cool wind picked up, pushing his hair around his head. His other hand rested on her stomach, lying flat, applying a slight pressure to her lower abdomen, right at the place where her hips curved together.
Nothing about his touch was loving. Nothing about it was calm.
It was greedy and needful and forceful.

His breath continued to come out slowly as he removed his hand, moving it around to her hip, preventing escape, and pressing his body against hers, excitement coursing through his veins, boiling his blood, changing his body in actual human ways. He pressed that against her, a smirk curving against his lips. He leaned his forehead against hers, his nostrils expanding as he breathed in his scent, and the way she was struggling- even if it was only subtly, excited him to no end.
"Yes a favor," he said, the hand behind her neck going to tangle in her hair, pulling it slightly. His voice was still completely controlled. "You do something for me... And I'll do that for you."
He wanted to take her hand and press it against him. He wanted her to... maybe not enjoy it, but feel it. Force her into it.
Wasn't that what that dumb doctor was attempting to explain to the child and this gyp a few days ago? When he had been lurking in the shadows of the trees to no one knowledge? Rape. With amusement, Toni remembered that he had used two rocks to show her what it was, what it meant. Surely it hadn't absorbed into her brain.

Behind them, the trees moved with the combined weight of footsteps, the the knowledge of neither of them. Silent thoughts were exchanged as a group watched the scene unfold in the shadows of the night below them. Anger, confusion... it all swirled together as they waited their moment, watched her to make sure they were not making a mistake in their judgement...

Toni Wilkes bent over Lillian, pulling her head back by tugging not-so-gently on her hair, his lips landing on her plush, smooth skin only once. They parted, his white teeth hidden from the moon by shadow, as he nipped gently, and then harder at her neck. He pulled his head back up, his eyes simply angry at her lack of response. "What do you say? Want to save your friend back there? Then do me a favor..."
Not that she really had a say in the matter.
His lips closed around her mouth again, before she could utter a syllable, his mouth angry against his. Not at all like Bryce's.

This man was as dark as his true form.

[whisp.]

The feeling of him against her was almost sickening and her face twisted up in pain. She struggled beneath him to him to move out of his grasp, each movement becoming more and more persistent as Toni continually forced himself upon her.

Her breathing was growing worse by the moment, panic finally seeping into her expression. She was helpless right now and the only way she could get out of this was through exposing her magic to him and she wasn’t sure if that sacrifice was worth it. Her throat was closing up it felt like, words trapped somewhere in her mouth not making it out. Her body rolled with shaking as she tried, more desperately now, to push him away. Eyes moved around wildly as she felt him against her, inappropriately, wrongly. The feeling swirling in her body made her sick, her head light. She was terrified, surely. She could do so much but she was terrified, terrified of exposing the Unloved.

Her stomach moved in as she felt his hands, her hips moving to roll out of his grip. Her eyes squeezed shut and she used more force to push against him to try and get him off. She rolled her head to pull her hair out of his grasp, growing more and more uncomfortable by the second.

He happened… The words repeated in Lillian’s mind and why she was brought out here in the first place. Strings of knowledge knitted themselves together and her eyes snapped open, new curiosity of Mr. Toni Wilkes in front of her before the look slowly disappeared. Now, in that moment, she wasn’t quite sure what this man was.

Lillian gasped as Toni tilted her head back, mouth on her neck. There were grunts of pain and discomfort and she sucked in a large breath and screamed. Her lungs ached and she screamed, letting it out. It was piercing, painful. No, she couldn’t expose herself yet, especially not to something she wasn’t sure about.

The scream was silenced when his lips landed on hers and she moved to bite him, hard and painfully, and her arms pushed at him harder. She was amazed at how the same things could feel so different by different people. Toni’s was pain, whereas Bryce’s was love.

And through it all she continued to scream, twisting and turning her head to be out of his grasp to allow her cry for help maybe reach the ears of someone who could help.

[Poe]

The way her body squirmed and rolled against his enticed him more, and he pressed himself harder against her, forcing her back to dig into the hard bark of the tree. He could feel her fear, and he loved it, as his lips dipped lower and lower on her neck his hand disentangled it from her hair, going to press against her bosom, his fingers squeezing slightly his body shivering with delight.
It wasn't necessarily the fact that she was a beautiful young lady and he a man, a lonely one at that, but it was the fact that she was riveted with terror. He could feel that she could barely breath, could almost taste the goosebumps and breathlessness on her flesh. His hand on her chest ran down the front of her body, hooking around the inside of her thigh, his fingers like claws.
The scream...
Ah, it only tickled him that much more. He laughed, raising his head to look at her, grabbing on of her hands forcefully, holding her wrist and pulling her hand toward him, pushing it against he crotch, making her feel him against her. He had forgotten how this felt, how it felt to be... so strong. Long, unsteady puffs of breath now came from his throat as he fought to control his breathing, his lips on hers now, muffling the scream that tore from her, that made gooseflesh run up his spine, made the hair on the back of his neck stand up with pleasure.

By the cave, maybe 100 yards away, Bryce could hear everything, and covered his ears in absolute pain as Toni magicked the air just for him, to make him listen to what he was doing, as if he was standing right there. But the air didn't need to be magicked when Lillian's scream sliced the night air in two. He jumped to his feet, pulling against the ropes that were holding him down, an angry, scared knot resting in the pit of his stomach.
"Please, God, no," he whispered, sweat forming on his brow, angry tears in his eyes as he fell to the ground, the ropes pulling him back to the cave, the moon staring coldly down at him. "Please don't let this be happening to her. Please... Please..." He begged, on his knees now, pulling at his hair. "Don't let this happen."
Bryce would rather have experienced his own death then her having to be... handled this way, by a... thing like that.

Toni kept her hand there, pressed against him by using his body, his own hand still hooked around her thigh, his lips on hers, making the scream in her throat taper to a stop. "What?" He asked, pulling back, his lips still whispering against hers. "Do you not want to save your friend?" He asked. "Not want to spare him? Let this be a lesson to you then, hm?" He continued to push himself on her his fingers digging into the skin of her hip, and then quickly crawl up to the neckline of her dress, beginning to pull at it.
His... pride at his work had gotten the better of him by now, and the neat work that he had been determined to do was not going to happen. It would be sloppy. Messy. Not that he could entirely help it... He wasn't used to how quickly his human body became... excited.
As this went on, behind him, to neither of their knowledge the force of their trees had come to the ground, moving silently across the wilted grass, anger flashing in each of their eyes.

Toni, so distracted by the woman under him, by the slowly tearing fabric of her dress, by the moaning and screaming and shuddering that her body so happily supplied him, didn't even see it coming. But suddenly, a solid thud from a heavy tree branch echoed off of the back of his head and his grip on her relaxed and he slid backwards before finally slumping forward against her.
The Gypsies, Bryce's closest friends, worked in silence, two binding the teacher and dragging him off to the lake and four staying with the girl, looking back and fourth, none of them sure how to calm her screams or make her quiet.
"We'll take you back to him, just please, stay quiet, please," one pleaded, taking her hand in his rough one, his voice quiet. "We won't hurt you. We swear."

And then, without waiting for her consent the began to lead her off through the woods.

Back the way she came.

[whisp.]

Long and lonely tears rolled down her cheeks as Lillian continued to fight her way out of his grasp. She knew that she wasn’t helping, that her movements only invited him to try more and more to get a rise out of her. But it was instinct and she wasn’t one to go down without a fight. Her body tensed more and more as his hands explored her body and she let out a slight whimper. Lungs felt tight and her throat seemed like it was closing. Fear was almost paralyzing her in the dark night. She was trapped, alone. The fighting wasn’t getting her anywhere. Another piercing scream split the night, calling, yearning for attention and help. Please… she begged the moon.

She jumped at his hand on her thigh, knowing it was only time now that he would have the dress off her and be crawling inside her, invading her, vandalizing her, taking something from her. Lillian moved to try and hold his hand there, praying it wouldn’t move.

His lips tasted like sour milk and were dry and chapped against hers and she whimpered once more, begging to be let go, for him to decide she was some boring creature and just leave her alone. It wasn’t long that her hand was being moved from pushing him and down lower. Her body rocked with a wince as he pressed it to his crotch, eyes squeezing close and her teeth gnashing together.
“please.” She begged, throwing away her pride for the moment. “please stop.” Her voice sounded raw, and unlike her own. It sounded scared, vulnerable. Lillian had trouble even choking those words out. This was killing her, little by little.

She screamed at every moment she was given, begging for attention. She just needed someone to come by who would be able to help her and she’d be okay. There just had to be a break for her. Her face twisted up in disgust as her hand was dug more into his crotch and she kept her hand very stiff and still, not moving it at all against him unless he forced it to do so. Eyes never moved to meet his and she winced harshly at his words and choked out a sob. “please, no. please.” She said again in hopes of something. “you’ll be kicked out when they find about this.” The words came out in a hiss, the only threat levering her case. Maybe he would stop if he knew he would lose any say he had in this school and in town.

There was ripping noises as her dress slowly started to fall off her shoulders as the fabric was being torn, exposing pale skin. The bark was painfully sticking to her back, scratching and surely causing some blood to rise. This was it, it would only be a few moments now and she’d be hurt, pressed against a tree like a helpless creature.

Lillian was too engrossed in the situation to notice the men light on their feet come up from behind Toni. She did hear the loud thud and her eyes snapped open and she screamed as the man fell against her in a slump. Lillian felt him being pulled away and she slunk to the ground, tearing her back against the bark as she did so. Lillian had no control over her body at this point. She couldn’t move, her arms and legs didn’t do what she wanted, but she was shaking, shuddering so hard and fast. Her eyes were as wide as dinner plates and she couldn’t find her voice to thank the men that had saved her.

They were there, around her. At first she was wary, not sure if this was leading to more or less trouble, but as her eyes landed on them she recognized the figures slightly, knowing they were from camp at least, and that she trusted. Her mouth opened to respond to him, to say she’d be quiet, but instead no words came out and she returned his wishes. Her chest pounded up and down in a rapid pattern as she gasped for air, her head feeling light from the whole situation, still not able to wrap around what had just happened. Tears came fast from that point, sobbing down her face, drowning out any other words or thoughts she may have been able to get out if she tried. She was blind by the water works and her cheeks and forehead turned a slight crimson color from the strain. Shakily and slowly she held out her hands for the men to help her up and carry her.

There was no way she could make it back to Bryce on her own two feet.