• A scream.....the sound of slamming doors and thumping feet buried in the foggy haze of Ryder's mind. She couldn't open her eyes. The sweet oblivion took hold quickly......

    xXx


    "...ria...." Ryder stirred. A voice?

    ".....steria....." She shook her head, groaning a bit. Was she in Heaven? Hell? The ache in her head had her leaning towards the latter.

    "Wisteria......" At the sound of her name, Ryder opened her eyes. How she hated that name. Her name carried the burdens and bad memories of her past. Ryder had been a wise substitute, and her new title. Yes, she knew it was a boy's name, but it had kept her hidden in the human world for a long time. Until they found her....

    "Wake up, Wisteria..." The voice was faint, and she shook her head lightly, trying to fight the haze. Damn...She hated being weak. How could the Court do this to her? Put that binding spell on her. She would be useless to protect the girl she was supposed to find. A hand stroking her cheek and tucking her hair behind her ears was enough to make her force her eyes open. The blinding light made her wince, but enough blinking made all the spots go away. Then she looked up at the angel who called her name.....

    Only to flinch. Rune's face looked back at her, his eyes flashing red as hers widened. She was awake now, the fog having dissovled as if it hadn't been there at all. The demon smiled mischieviously, and put his hand over her mouth before she could think to scream. Then he put a finger to his lips.

    "Shhh......There's no one here to hear you cry. Don't even try to attempt it."

    Ryder nodded, sticking out her tongue and licking his palm, making him take his hand off her mouth. Yes, a childish move, but it worked every time.

    "Go away." She demanded, still feeling weak. She listened to Rune cluck his tongue and stroke her face again. The caress sent shivers down her spine. Damn, she had never wanted to feel this again. Especially with him.

    "Is that any way to thank your husband for not killing you?"

    Ryder nodded her head. "Yes, it is. And no, we are not. Our "binding", was just for alliance's sake, and you know that." She could just remember that day, centuries ago. She had been young, not yet a full grown demon, capable of control. Her family urged her to bind with Rune, so that the alliance would bring peace to the two warring kingdoms. The result was this new "peaceful" world they lived in. At least, as much as it could get. New conflicts always arose between families and clans.

    Rune sneered, and grabbed the front of her shirt, yanking her up so she was nose to nose with him. He was smiling. The movement sent pain up and down her chest. That flash before she had passed out must have been some sort of attack......

    "All right, enough nice talk. I want you to take this curse off of me. Now."

    Ryder gave him an arched look. "So that you can kill me?"
    He smiled brightly.

    "Yes, please."

    "Never." She was thrown back down onto the soft bed she had been laying on, landing with a gasp as a sharp pain hit her in the chest. She rubbed her ribs gently. Rune looked furious, but then his glare faded, replaced with a knowing grin. Reaching down, he put two of his fingers on her forehead.

    "Then let me give you a curse of my own....."

    Light flashed in front of her eyes, and Ryder found herself flung backwards, head almost hitting the headboard. The pain was gone. She felt better. Looking around, she noticed that Rune was gone. A curse? She snorted. What sort of curse made her enemy disappear, and take away her pain? Rune must have been an idiot.

    Come to me..... The whisper flitted through her mind, and Ryder was left melting from the sound of it. It was Rune's perfect, silky voice......

    Wait. Perfect? Silky? What was she thinking? But, before she could stop herself, she stood up, and walked out of the infirmary. As she exited the large chamber, she walked into the halls of the school, passing students and professors alike. Where was she going? And why? The only thing she knew was that there was something pulling her to a certain place.

    Come to me...... She smiled at the whisper.....Then shook her head, frowning.

    What was wrong with her?