Skedaddle

[Emora Deen]

Laya could barely stand to listen to Adonis while he describe the man's intentions. But, Claudios's last sentence and her eyes lit with realization. "So you did have the amulet? You just said, 'how could that stupid thing make me do all of that?' You did do all those things, because deep down you wanted to do them."

[Soran Nightblade]

The captain and all the men looked upon Claudio condemningly. "All these years of work together, and this is how you repay us, Claudio? With spite and lies?"

Claudio's eyes widened furiously. "Don't listen to them! That bitch is being controlled by him! He's obviously a black magic wielder, he's trying to cleverly frame this all on me!

"Is this true, Adonis?" the captain forced himself to ask doubtfully.

The black unicorn saw little choice but honesty at this point. "I am able to control the Darkness. I did not use it to attack this ship. I stepped in to reverse the effects of his spell."

"How are we to believe you aren't possessed, just as he is?"

"I am stronger," Adonis said simply, hard and cold.

"Are you stronger than this, demon?" Claudio snarled, drawing a knife from his hip and flying at him.

Adonis pushed Laya sideways and used his arm to swipe the attacking wrist to the side and dodge around the knife. The blade missed his face, but tore open his sleeve below the elbow. Adonis regrabbed Claudio's wrist before he could withdraw it and twisted his arm until he dropped the knife on the deck. The whole crew stared at them in confused silence.

"It appears you have less control over your magic than you say," the captain said unhappily, looking at Adonis's bared forearm. "Arrest Claudio," he ordered. Two men came up to pull the man away from Adonis's armlock and hold him steady.

"What of the black mage, captain?" inquired one of the crew uneasily.

[Emora Deen]

Laya stumbled to keep her balance, whirling just as Adonis was attempting to block the blow. She gasped, thinking for sure he was about to die.

When it was over, and it was fast, she found her feet nailed to the deck.

"What of the black mage, captain?" inquired one of the crew uneasily.

"Please," Laya stepped forward. "He won't hurt anyone. We just want to go home. He isn't evil. I swear, we won't bother anyone."

[Soran Nightblade]

Adonis pulled his arm back against his chest, drawing his torn sleeve over to block their prying stares. This was like a nightmare. Then her voice cut in, defending him.

"Very well. We'll accept your innocence in this incident," the captain said. "For saving the crew, we'll overlook reporting this to the police when we reach Ighten. But keep your head down. Everyone else, get back to your jobs!"

The crowd began to disperse, keeping a safe distance from Laya and Adonis as they returned to their roles on the ship. Claudio was carried away, kicking and struggling, toward the lower decks.

Adonis didn't look at any of them as they passed. He held his wrecked sleeve closed with his opposite hand and avoided their prying stares. "That was your chance...to get rid of me," he said to her as the crowd thinned. The words caught like tacks in his throat.

[Emora Deen]

Laya frowned, not sure what he meant. "Why would I want to get rid of you?" she asked him, watching as Claudio was dragged away. She turned her storm gray eyes up to him, then she turned them to the sky.

[Soran Nightblade]

Adonis glanced at her, wondering if she meant that as a joke. "I'm starting to see why he likes you so much," he muttered. "You're as hopelessly naive as he is."

[Emora Deen]

Laya didn't know why he thought she was naive. "You might hate me Adonis, but the feeling is not mutual. For whatever reason, I like you. Maybe I identify with you in some way considering you were hurt immensly by someone as well. I trust you, but I'm afraid of you. I know, if given a reason, you would not hesitate to kill me."

[Soran Nightblade]

"Good. I'm glad we have an understanding," he confirmed her words.

Adonis fought back bile that threatened to climb his throat. So he appeared to take life easily. That was probably for the best. Let them think it didn't matter to him either way. Let them see the scars on his arms, and fear them. It would help keep their distance. It would keep him from getting too involved.

It would keep him isolated.

"Maybe I identify with you in some way considering you were hurt immensely by someone as well."

He made himself stop thinking.

"Laya!" Telanis's voice called from the stairs as he came back up to the deck. He waved at them both as he approached.

[Emora Deen]

Laya turned from Adonis to face Telanis as he emerged waving. She gave him a tight hug when she was close enough, because after that nerve racking insident she wanted someone to hug her. "Did you fix their friend?" she asked after she drew away. "They arrested the man that attacked us last night. Everything seems to be okay now."

[Soran Nightblade]

"The wounded man is feeling better," he said warmly. "I'm glad things worked out. Everyone looked so serious walking around downstairs, I was afraid something went wrong."

[Emora Deen]

"We were worried at first too, but the Captain is intellgent and he believed us when we explained what happened.

When it got dark Laya chose to watch the sun set on the bow of the ship. She took a deep breath of ocean air and leaned against the railing, watching the waves as they crashed against the copper bottom of the ship. She rested her chin on the wood railing, looking out over the horizon to see if she could spot Ighten. She figured they were still too far away.

[Soran Nightblade]

Adonis pushed open the door with his shoulder and carried the dinner tray into the room. It had been awkward in the mess hall. The friendly atmosphere dissipated to something uncomfortable when he walked through to get his and the others' food. Not even his charm could make people forget about black magic. He'd changed into a long-sleeved shirt that was oversized enough to cover his hands to the knuckles, and it was a relief to have the modest garment through the stares he got in the corridors.

Telanis was lying on the bed. He'd been a trooper most of the day, but in the end, the vertigo still won out.

"Thanks, Adonis," he said when his brother walked in. "I guess I'm really not seaworthy."

"It's not just the sea," Adonis said as he set the tray down on the mattress next to him. "You've been gone from the forest too long. It's making you drain out. You'll see the difference when you return."

"I see," Telanis said, pondering the food Adonis brought. "You brought Laya's share as well."

"There was space on the tray," Adonis snorted. He wasn't going to admit guilt at repaying her defense of his nature with a threat on her life. "Where is she, anyway?"

"She wanted to see the sunset," Telanis grinned.

"How romantic."

"Yes, it is," Telanis willfully ignored his cynicism. "Adonis...I want this to work out, when we reach shore. I want you to accept what I share with Laya."

"You mean your bodies," Adonis clarified coldly. "You weren't designed for that, Telanis. It might seem like you work the same way, but you don't. It isn't natural."

"Just because it isn't natural doesn't make it wrong. I've seen many examples in the forest of animals mating without hope of offspring. Sometimes even the same gender..."

"And what's going to happen when you turn back? You can't stay in that form forever, Telanis. It can't sustain you."

"It sustains you."

"I am half human."

"She will accept me in both forms."

"Really now? You think she'll be able to appreciate you as a 'horse' after appreciating you as a man?"

"I don't mean in that way!" Telanis balked.

"You can do as you please. But don't get her hopes up that she's in love with a man. You're more than that, and she needs to be sure she's ready for it."

Telanis blinked. "Are you trying to protect me, or her?" he asked in astonishment.

"Neither!" Adonis snapped, flushing. "Do as you please!"

He grabbed his bowl and took a seat on the floor, ignoring him.

[Emora Deen]

When the sun a finally set and the stars came out the night air grew chilly. She returned to the room when her stomach decided it was hungry. She was going to invite Telanis to dinner with her, but when she opened the door the smell of food filled her nostrils.

"Oh," she said, surprised to find food already in the room. "Who got dinner?" she asked as she knelt down, pulling a bowl from the tray and drawing it into her lap.

She looked at Telanis and Adonis, having the hair raising feeling she'd stumbled in on an awkward conversation. She could feel the static in the air. "Do I need to stop outside again?"

[Soran Nightblade]

"No!" both brothers chimed at once. "Adonis picked up food for us," Telanis said when his brother didn't contribute a response. "You're not interrupting anything. Were you able to see the shore? The captain says we should reach it tomorrow night."

[Emora Deen]

Laya smiled, looking between the two. "I couldn't see it," she replied, taking several bites of food. "My eyes are not that good."

"Thank you, Adonis, for getting the food." When she was finished she placed the bowl on the tray and climbed up into the bed with Telanis, sitting in the same corner she had the night before.