To Live is to Hide (OPEN)

[`Terra Aetara ♥]

An arranged marriage...

Terra still could not wrap her mind around it. She'd sworn to herself that she would never marry anyone, she would always remain celibate, for she would never be with Maelstrom. She wanted no one else, could love no one but him.

She'd thought her mother would accept her lack of desire for marriage. She'd rather be alone than forced into a loveless union. But with the recent realizations, and the triumph that followed her mother around... She should have realized that she had little choice in the matter. That this was for the best... to try to move on, or give the show of moving on. To live was to hide, after all.

Why would she be given such a freedom? It was not her duty as an Old Power, or a daughter of a Council Priestess. To follow responsibility... was to resign herself to loving someone one-sided.

The night had come, of a ball planned to introduce her to her husband-to-be, a ball to show off the latest manipulation of the Aetara matriarch. She grimaced at the words, husband-to-be, staring into her mirror at a reflection that wasn't her.

Not really. The girl in the mirror wasn't as carefree and happy. There was a sadness, a resignation in her gaze that she could not hide, and a derision that curled the corners of her lips down. The girl looked miserable and downtrodden, but most would not care to look at the small details. They would see the daughter of one of the Council members, dressed up extravagantly, to the nines. The maid's had gotten a hold of her, and she hadn't the will to fight back. But her reflection made her uncomfortable. A crimson dress cut to show off each curve, each asset, and her hair had been curled, coiled around her head with a strand of rubies. She felt more like she should be wearing black, not dressed in such an outlandish dress. She felt more like she was being auctioned off, than going to meet.... Ugh. She couldn't even think it.

She didn't want to do this. She didn't want any of this.

But who had a choice? She hadn't the courage to say no.

Another grimace, and she was being dragged to the ballroom, where the elite of the kingdom waited to hear the news. To see the ridiculous arranged marriage that had been set up.

"I don't want this," she mumbled, her voice strained as she was pushed toward the ballroom doors.

A lump in her throat threatened to dissolve. It had been there since she'd found out, always on the verge of tears. She felt helpless, being pushed around like a doll to be manipulated. But she couldn't say anything against this. If she were to fight, she would have to confess. She'd ruin her family. She'd ruin the relationship she had with Maelstrom. She'd be made a laughingstock of.

And so she kept her silence, her head lowered as she entered the ballroom, her expression miserable as she was dragged around to mingle, though she hardly spoke.

It would be a selfish thing of her to speak out, to fight back. But no matter how hard she tried, she could not play the bright one tonight.

[titan]

Lucient glided through the crowds, flirting and flaunting as was his dandy habit. The true reason for his being here was a cheerful one: To sabotage Pernicious' plot. It would not be hard, and old Perny would be unable to blame it on either of her children. Old bat.

It was almost too easy.

~

Maelstrom had come down from the sky for this event that would well and truly break him. He figured that at the very least, he should be punished beyond repair so that he might feel no regrets when he finally ended his life tonight. Yes, he was giving up. Giving in. There was no point in living if he couldn't have her. No reason to stay alive if she was bound to another.

He saw her there, dressed up like a damn doll. But she did look stunning. Beautiful. Amazing. He, himself wore a white suit with a blue silk shirt that made his striking eyes even more piercing and silver trimmings on the suit. He was not happy to be here. He should leave. Yes. He should leave.

He turned to go just as Pernicious brought out the lucky man...

[`Terra Aetara ♥]

Terra found herself instinctively backing up, looking stricken when her mother began to bring out her, ugh, fiance.

She wanted to hide, or run, anything to get away from this, but she knew she wouldn't be able to. Her mother had set up guards at the entrances, just in case. There was no escaping this.

She stumbled back another step as Pernicious tried to usher her forward, tripping on the train of her gown and grabbing onto whoever was behind her. She didn't know who it was, couldn't think about that. She just couldn't move forward. To let herself be pulled toward her husband-to-be would be accepting this, and she couldn't.

So, instead, with grand apologies, Pernicious led him to Terra.

"Forgive my daughter, Alaric," her mother said, feigning sincerity, "She's very shy. Beautiful, but not as well-mannered as I wish."

The man smiled. He really was handsome. He had a charming smile, high cheekbones, long dark eyelashes, and a noble air about him. But he was much older, and there was something in his eyes that scared Terra. It made her feel like a small rabbit caught beneath a fox's paws. And even though he was handsome, there was no interest on her part. He wasn't Maelstrom.

Alaric leaned forward in a slight bow. You'd think the man ate charm for breakfast. It didn't affect her.

"It is a pleasure to finally meet you, Lady Aetara," he said, all gentlemanly with his hunter's eyes.

Terra gulped audibly, staring at him with wide, panicked eyes. "Um.... Yes... Um... well-"

Her mother took this chance to cut her off before Terra could ruin the union any more, tapping her glass with the flat of a silver knife. "Might I call your attention, please?" Her voice rang out through the large ballroom, forcing all eyes to turn to her. "I would like to welcome you into our home tonight for a very special evening. This night marks the dawning of a new union, of my gifted daughter, Terra to our councilman, Mason Angelis' eldest son, Alaric."

There was a smattering of applause, and Terra clutched tighter to the person behind her wanting to get away. But with all eyes around her, there was nothing she could do but stay.

[titan]

The person behind Terra was just some random servant, but they let her cling on because it was their job.

Maelstrom looked at the scene with a heightening sense of distress, his fists clenching and unclenching as Terra was forced forward. He could do nothing. It was better this way. It was. And it was better if he left now. Before the announcement. No point in prolonging the inevitable. Turning on the spot, Maelstrom left the ballroom just as the announcement was made. He left the house in favor of their favorite meadow. It was better to die someplace he loved.

~

Two figures made entirely of light cleared a path through the crowd so that Lucient could make his grand entrance. If this plan didn't work, there was a backup. So no worries.

"Ladies and gentlemen, I just cannot allow this to proceed. You see, I have a confession to make. Being almost a brother to young Terra here, I did a little research on her suitor." here, he paused to look at old Perny whose eyes were almost glowing in her anger. Good. She already knew, "And it is unfortunate, but I feel it is my duty to tell all who are assembled here that this man is already bound. Twice."

There was a gasp through the audience. Dismay throughout. Total chaos. Beautiful. Oh, he did love the truth sometimes. He looked at the important people: Perny was looking murderous, Terra...implacable. Alaric was trying for a quick get away. Peregrine looked highly amused, but was trying for his wife's sake to hide it. Maelstrom looked...gone. Where was he?

Cursing under his breath, Lucient called more figures of light, pushing his way through the crowd. If he knew Maelstrom, and he did, then they were in serious trouble here. Yes, he knew the truth of it. And it was not good at this moment.

~

Maelstrom drifted through the trees, taking his time to come to the spot. It was time. kneeling on the ground, he drew a small stoppered bottle from his jacket, and gazed around. What a beautiful night. A beautiful place to die. He took off the cap, bringing the bottle to his lips.

"You really don't want to be doing that."

[poseidon]

Amidst the chaos that broke out, Halcyon took this moment to enter. The windows of the great ballroom shattered as the black stallion and its rider crashed through. The crowd stilled, and then they were running as the rider made his way swiftly to the center of the chaos.

The guards circled him, aiming with spears and swords, but Halcyon was an excellent swordsman, and he quickly cut a path for himself. Even his father in attendance was stunned, unable to bark the orders that would end his life.

A short glance at Pernicious, the old witch, and he pulled to a stop before the terrified redhead. Little Terra, all naivety and soft beauty. It was no surprise why she would be the cause of mayhem within the Aetara family. Too kind to not be held down with responsibility, but all that would change. He had not been denied before, he would not be now.

"Terra," he called out, staring down at her with unfathomable eyes. He extended a hand towards her, beckoning her to join him. "Live your life in a devil's cage, or fight for your freedom. The choice is yours."

He waited, a distinct pause to listen to the cries of outrage. Though he knew she would never give up her darkest secret, her heart would never let her live it down, he offered something greater. Freedom from the manipulations that surrounded Elementis, to be free of the endless chains of her society. He offered himself. As a guide. A friend. And if he had his way, a lover.

Her hesitation was long, her silence stretching his patience thin, and before her answer was given he took control. Leaning down, his charming smile in place, he grabbed her by the arm and lifted her up onto the horse with him.

With her thrown over the horse's back, his lap, he took off into the night. There was outrage, shock, dismay around him, but there was one cry that remained suspiciously absent. Pernicious'. But he was the only one that noted this, and a simple thing to ignore as he led his horse in a jump back through the shattered window, through the line of trees that surrounded the estate. Deep into the forest, into the darkness where even the moon no longer filtered through the treetops.

And it was there that the sounds of pursuit were lost, and they would not be found by those who did not know the forests as well as he did. It was there that he swung himself from the horse and pulled her with him.

"Freedom it is, m'lady," he crooned, feeling particularly confident now that they were alone. He had yet to let her go, holding her closer than what was proper after helping her down. "The freedom to do as you want. Shall we celebrate?"

[`Terra Aetara ♥]

The offer was something she did not have the courage to decide upon, but before she'd had a moment to answer she'd been slung over a horse. High up. Moving too fast to follow. Terra was afraid of heights, and with each bounding step the horse took, her panic grew.

By the time she was pulled from the horse and set on solid ground, she was too shocked, too stunned to process just what was going on.

"I... I .... you just kidnapped me!" was all she could stammer out, as she struggled to break free. While she realized he was just trying to help, he'd gone about it in an entirely improper manner, and he.... He was too close for her comfort! "L-let me.... what are you.... Get away!"

((K, RPing slightly for Halcyon now, but shh, it's totally cool cause it's okay with Jade. ))

Her screams were muffled as his mouth suddenly descended upon hers. He was stronger and for a moment her struggles were useless. Insistence, determination, desperation. His kiss spoke of all these. Her struggles ceased, her body limp in astonishment. And then with such desperation, her mind drifted to Maelstrom. In that brief lapse of time, Halcyon became another in her mind, his kiss was not his own, but a fulfillment of what she'd wished for.

There was a short parting, a gasping of air, and she slipped, sighing out a name that was not even close to Halcyon's. "Maelstrom...."

But she was not looking up into the face in her thoughts, the face that took over her heart. Another short gasp of air and she whirled away, wanting to run, to wipe her lips on her sleeve. This wasn't what she wanted. She didn't want a replacement, and now... she'd slipped. She could never do this. Her freedom was not something she could have, not at the cost of leaving Maelstrom behind. The distance would kill her. Her time with him was the only little piece of freedom she would want. If that was all she had, she would be happy. He was all she needed.

[poseidon]

He'd thought he'd one. Halcyon was a confident man; he never lost a woman and when she gave in he only rejoiced in his victory. Silently. But then she'd uttered a name that made his blood run cold, set his rage beyond control. And when she turned away...

He followed, grasping her shoulders. He was not gentle with her, he could not pretend to be the good friend. To think.... The nerve!

"Forget him," he snarled, burying his face against her neck. "You do not need him. He will only hold you back from your freedom. What can he give you? He cannot give you love! Marriage! The key to your self-imposed chains! But I! I could give you everything! We can travel, take what we want, do as we want! I had not thought it would be so hard to convince you, but even without the money, I would gladly steal you away from this! But I have taken it, I have kept my end, and with it, we could buy a new kingdom! We could be free... And..."

Realizing his slip, he muttered a curse under his breath. But she was naive, cute but really not all that bright. Perhaps she had missed it. Perhaps he had convinced her.

[`Terra Aetara ♥]

"Mo...ney...?" The rest of his tirade was lost on her as she yanked her body free, stumbling away from him. Her eyes were wide, imploring. "What do you mean, money?"

She really didn't understand. Halcyon was her friend. She'd confided so much in him the past few weeks. They'd grown close. They'd had so much fun... but now, he was like a completely different person. She didn't understand. Why?

[maelstrom]

A handsome figure strode from the darkness between the trees. But it was not one that Maelstrom had expected. In his surprise, he sloshed a small amount of the poison on himself. Damn.

"What are you doing here? Can't you see that I want to be alone?" he demanded testily. Couldn't he die in peace?

"Let me show you something, Maelstrom." Rhys said, striding forward and taking the bottle so fast that Maelstrom couldn't clench it to him. In one movement, Rhys downed the poison - HIS POISON. He watched as his teacher, and friend, fell to the ground, a look of pain clear on his face. Watched for a long moment as all the life left him. No. This wasn't how it was supposed to happen. No.

Maelstrom rushed to Rhys' side, cradling the lifeless head in his lap.

"Now, is that what you'd like to do to all of those people who care about you?!" Rhys said, popping up.

Maelstrom had not been aware until this moment that Rhys could do anything of the sort, so this little display startled him so badly that the sky filled with thousands of bolts of lightening. None of them struck, but you could tell from anywhere in the kingdom that there was something wrong with Air. Damn it.

Light rushed through the trees just as the lightening surged, "She's not getting married!" he gasped, doubling over from the effort it took to pass through the light to get here, "I wish you would have stay, you bastard, you ruined the effect."

[poseidon]

Halcyon frowned, his eyes narrowing. Had that been all she'd heard? So much for banking on her stupidity, or ability to see the good in everyone.

"Well, looks like the charade is up, doesn't it?" He flashed a stunning smile, with razor-sharp edges of cruelty in the curves. "Pernicious paid me to seduce you. To lure you away from the kingdom and your beloved brother. And to think, I thought it was a good deal. Half the gold invested in the Temple, and nice young female to warm my bed...."

He pulled a large bag of money from his cloak and tossed it to her. "You can hold on to it, if it'll make you feel better. I'm not here for the money anymore. I'd much rather have you at this point."

And there it was, another male with the look of a hunter, of a predator that has found a tasty rabbit to prey upon.

[`Terra Aetara ♥]

There was nothing that could describe the sudden clenching in her heart or the betrayal that she felt in that moment. Cradling the bag to her chest, tears freely flowing down from her eyes, she'd never felt so stupid. She was such a fool, and to think that someone could be so heartless, so manipulative. And her mother....

Her chin raised, though it trembled, and her lower lip thrust forward in determination. "Do not come near me again," she said softly, but her words were as sharp as the gleaming edge of a sword. "If I hear of you in town again, I will not hesitate to send you to the Council."

With those harsh words spoken, she turned swiftly, her hands clenching into fists around the bag and took off into the forest. She ran through the old familiar trees, past her favorite meadow (taking no notice of the people within). She kept running, though she was out of breath, until she had returned to the ballroom.

And there, Pernicious stood, and for the first time, Terra was disgusted to be looking at her own mother. She was disgusted, betrayed, sickened by the triumph, the manipulations. For the first time she'd felt hate for another person, and it was the woman who had given her life. The woman who destroyed everything. It was with this hate that she threw the bag of money at her mother, watching with satisfaction as it struck her in the face, red welts rising across the woman's cheek.

There were no words spoken, but silence told it all. Terra knew of the latest manipulation, and Pernicious knew of her daughter's newfound hatred. Only one felt any shame, any pain at such betrayals. From there, Terra stumbled from the ballroom, leaving the blasted woman behind, only to end up sliding down the closed door of Maelstrom's room. Her strength left her, her tears gone, and all she could do in that moment was sit there, trying to understand how everything could fall apart so easily.

[titan]

Maelstrom took a moment to stare blankly at Lucient before bursting into action. He grabbed his friend by the shoulders and shaking him frantically.

"Where is she? Tell me truthfully where she is." he watched in satisfaction as Light's eyes went a glowy yellow - the color of prophecy.

"You will find that which you seek, but be unable to find it. You will know that which you question, and yet know it not. You will find yourself in your home, but home is what it isn't. Your sister is there as we speak, but she is not there..."

Maelstrom did not wait for the end of the prophecy. He had what he needed.

"You will know pain, you will know misery, and you cannot save the ones you love." was the end. Rhys wasn't sure if it was meant for Maelstrom or for him.

~

Maelstrom reached the building in an extremely fast manner. He knew where to go. And he found her there outside his room, on the floor unconscious. Whether from illness, or exhaustion, he did now know. All he knew was that he needed to fix her somehow.

So he picked her up, taking her into his room - into his bed. He left both of their clothes on, and lay them down on their sides, cradling each other. He knew that he would need to move away eventually. Before someone found out. But for now, the night was theirs. There was an Air formed Terra in her room, sleeping very believably. And if anyone entered his corridor, he would be alerted.

"I love you, little one." he whispered in her ear, letting sleep take him too. It was long enough tonight that they could rest and not worry. Tomorrow was a different matter. And so they slept. And when the time came, he moved them to a more sibling-like position, ready to face the newest challenges.

[`Terra Aetara ♥]

Terra woke in the middle of the night, the darkness confusing her as she rolled onto her stomach. Her arms stretched out languidly, half-asleep, only to wind up nudging a warm body next to hers. She shot up, eyes wide, a hand clutching her now rapidly-beating heart. She searched the darkness, patted the bed and then ducked her face close to the sleeping form beside her. Only to relax upon realizing it was Maelstrom, not a stranger, not someone who'd been paid to be her friend.

She bit her lip, staring down at him as her heart seemed to swell, thinking he must have found her passed out in front of his room and took care of her. Even after the horrible words she'd said to him the last time she'd seen him. She didn't understand how he could have. She never should have told him such a lie. She'd thought.... Well, whenever she thought, it seemed she was wrong as of late.

She was now worrying her lower lip between her teeth as she forced herself to move away, curling up in a sitting position on the bed, her knees held to her chest. She rested her chin atop them, staring off into the darkness. She didn't want to ponder over the things that had happened that night. It hurt her to think of all the manipulations, and her stupidity. She never would have fallen into such a trap if she was as smart as Maelstrom, as cool headed.

She tried to lay back down, to rest and be peaceful with her moment alone with him, but her thoughts kept her awake. Her guilt of lying to him made her restless. And not to mention the ridiculous rubies that had been stranded through her hair were cutting into her scalp, getting tangled with not only her hair but the pillows as well. With a groan, she rolled out of the bed, tugging mercilessly at the ornaments in her hair, throwing them onto the ground. The dress was even more uncomfortable, making her feel like the fabric was suffocating her. Too heavy for sleep, to heavy for even waking hours.

She padded over to Maelstrom's wardrobe, rifling through the drawers until she found a light tunic she could borrow. She checked behind her, her cheeks flaming, to make sure he was still sleeping, and though she knew it was silly, she brought the shirt to her nose briefly. Even though it was clean, it still smelled of him, a comfort smell. But it was a brief lapse of judgement and she quickly struggled out of the constricting dress and into the tunic.

From there, she carefully climbed back into his bed, still blushing, unsure. It was obvious he was losing no sleep, he was not as uncomfortable as she was. She was the one who wanted to just curl up against him, lock her arms around him and stay that way until the sun rose. Perhaps forever. It would be a foolishly wrong thing to do and she knew it. She wouldn't be able to sleep anyway, not with the guilt. She felt so terrible telling him she hated him. But wasn't it worse to tell him she loved him?

She curled her legs beneath her, tucking a stray strand of hair behind her ear in her awkwardness. And then, leaning forward just a little, she poked him in the arm to wake him. She shouldn't wake him, it was rude, she knew this, but she couldn't keep her silence. If her mother tried to pair her off with another in the morning, or send her away, she couldn't live knowing she'd never apologized for uttering such blasphemy.

[titan]

Still caught in the pleasantness of last night's sleep, Maelstrom made an unintelligible noise escaped his mouth and his arm swung around to wrap around her, pulling her close in his half sleep state. In truth, he was more awake than he was going to admit, or show. This was his one chance to show her a little of what he felt, even if he couldn't actually do it.

Opening his eyes to slit, he gazed at her through a feigned mask of sleep, letting a lazy smile spread across his face.

"I love you," he slurred, stretching where he was. It was a thing that brothers said to sisters sometimes. And if he could manage to look casual, then it would be ok. He rationalized this little display by telling himself that if they did not reconcile, they may not get another chance. Not with Pernicious lurking.

And so he lay there, trying his very best to appear brotherly and nonthreatening when in truth the things that he wanted to do were not brotherly in the least.

[`Terra Aetara ♥]

Terra fought to keep the sudden wistfulness she felt out of her tone as she replied in kind. She was just lucky that it was dark enough that he couldn't see that she was blushing. The words... were not a hard thing to say. She often told him she loved him. It was a natural thing for her to always express affection, especially with him. It was just making sure it didn't come out wrong that was the hard part.

The arm caught her by surprise, but she kept herself steady, choosing to cross her arms across his chest and lean her head on them, looking up at him. "I'm sorry," she said quietly, but it did not mask her sincerity. "I was... embarrassed. I don't really hate you. I could never hate you. But that's really no excuse, because what I said was awful, and hurtful and I promise I'll never do it again."

By this time she was pouting, and there was no doubt that she really was sorry about what she'd said.

"I would have said something earlier... but.... then everything.... and you had a tr- Wait. Aren't you supposed to be on a trip now?"