03/13/2022 11:57 PM  [Determined] Determined "Maybe you haven't noticed, but my emotions are dangerous. I can't afford to feel anything." The headaches had increasingly gotten worse each time she lost control. The internal war to keep her father trapped and ultimately powerless. Every day was a new struggle. The only way she’d managed to stay in control of him was to force her own emotions down, lock them away and keep a calm neutral in all situations. It was like he thrived off her negative emotions, so she was determined to simply not have any. Her teammates knew the danger that came with Rachel getting upset and that was why, afterall, D*ck had instructed her to train harder and practice by herself, so when it came time to be around the others, no one would get hurt. Easier said than done. There was no doubt in her mind that out of all of her teammates, she was the least physically skilled. If it weren’t for her half-demon abilities, she believed that she’d be altogether useless to the Titans. The more times she lost control of her powers, the more she considered that she should rely on them less and less to help her friends. Now, she found herself seated on the cushy mat in the middle of the training room within Titans Tower, her gaze staring off in one direction with little drive to do any of the things she told herself that she would. How her teammates were able to come in here every day and move the way they did, fight the way they did, and succeed the way they did, was completely beyond her. She’d always been regarded as highly powerful, but without her half-demon side she felt she was nothing other than an average teenage girl. Her dark painted fingernails picked at the fabric of her yoga pants, her petite legs stretched out in front of her as her mind continued to wander. Just get up and do it. Forcing an exasperated sigh, Rachel planted pale hands beneath her and pushed up, getting to her feet and walking to the sparring dummy sitting upright in the corner. With outstretched hands, she started to drag it toward the middle of the mat, the weighted base fighting her with every step she took. No, she wasn’t going to use her powers for such a menial task. She was going to do things the hard way, just like everyone else. If she didn’t, she’d never be able to compare herself to them. Once she finally had it settled onto the mat, all she could do was stare at it. Not only was it taller than her, but it was wider than her as well. Something as simple as a rubber sparring dummy suddenly felt so daunting which only made her feel sillier because with her abilities she could tear it to shreds in less than a second. Nope. The hard way. Taking a deep steadying breath, she closed her eyes and centered herself, creating a sense of calm that washed over her mind and cleared away the negative thoughts she’d been thinking only moments ago. She refused to let this dummy get the best of her. With her hands curling into fists, she brought them up beneath her chin, her violet eyes narrowing just above her knuckles as she focused on her target. One hit. Two hits. Three, then four. The more she struck the dummy which seemed unmoving by her strikes, the better she felt. Her uncertainty of herself began to evaporate as she landed each blow, her mouth remaining in a thin line across her face. A triumphant feeling of getting out of her own head for long enough to prove she was more than her powers, more than what her father had given her, and more than just a lost teenage girl looking to belong. (c) powered by taste the blood 0 Comments

02/18/2022 04:13 PM  [Character Questionnaire .03]   1x What body language is typical of your character? -She tends to toy with her sleeves often, especially when she’s uncomfortable. It’s one of the many reasons why she prefers clothes that are a bit bigger than her true size. 2x Does your character wear any jewelry? Favorite pieces? -She does have a few pieces she wears often, specifically a black fabric choker, black hoop earrings, and a few bangles. Her new favorite is a charm bracelet. 3x What do they wear on their feet? -Most commonly combat boots. 4x Do they like/wear hats? -She adores hats. Her favorite in the summer is an oversized black sun hat with a huge brim that shields her face. In the winter, she has a grey hat she crocheted herself. 5x Are they graceful or clumsy? Do they have natural poise? -She naturally does not have poise, however it’s become easy for her to fake given her ability to glide and levitate. She can do so just enough to help her out. 6x Describe your character’s neighborhood. -Busy and on the water, there’s always something going on. She enjoys looking out the window down below at the streets and watching people bustle by. 7x With whom does your character live? -The Titans. 8x What’s in the fridge? -What’s not in the fridge? Living with so many people means the fridge is inevitably stocked with everything under the sun. A few of her own special requests are Trix yogurt, iced tea, bananas (yes they belong in the fridge), and cream cheese. 9x What’s the view from their window/s? -Her bedroom windows overlook the Bay. 10x What items does the character keep close to their bed? -A bottle of water, her phone charger and phone, a candle, and whatever book she’s currently reading. 11x Does your character have a pet? Or are there pets in the home? -Delicious S. Roth is her dog and no one can tell me otherwise. 12x Do they have siblings? If so, how many brothers and how many sisters? -She does consider the bat boys as her siblings, but that’s just the type of relationship they have. For the Rashid-Reyes family, she has 2 sisters, 2 brothers, a bonus sister, and a bonus brother. 13x What languages are spoken at home? -Many of her teammates and family members are fluent in many languages, but limited specifically to those spoken at home..in an all encompassing home between the Tower and the Reyes household: English, Spanish, Turkish, Arabic, Tamaranean, Kryptonian. 14x Is your character married or in a committed relationship? -With an adorable spider. 15x Has your character ever been embarrassed of a family member — or vice-versa? -She is frequently embarrassed BY family members. Rachel tends to be more on the shy side and doesn’t feel comfortable in many situations. Her siblings tend to tease her and take advantage of how easy she is to embarrass. 16x How easily does your character make friends? -She does not. 17x Is your character’s significant other (S.O.) someone their friends like, too? -Unsurprisingly, yes. He seems to get along with just about everyone. 18x Is your character introspective or outward-focused? -Highly introspective. She spends more time inside her own head than anything else. 19x What is their relationship with routines & rituals? -Control is her friend so sticking to routines and avoiding surprises aids in that. If she can, she will preplan things so she always knows what to expect. 20x Are they musical? Do they have a favorite musical instrument? -Not in the least bit. She tried to learn the piano a bit back, but had extreme difficulty keeping tempo. Instead she just enjoys the music of others. 21x What does your character do to relax? -Most commonly lock herself in her room with a book and a cup of tea. She could spend hours holed up in there without so much as making a peep. 22x Are they a leader, a follower, or neither? -She tends to be a follower despite being such a unique personality. She rarely takes point on any of their missions and is very used to falling into line with someone else’s plans. 23x Is your character a dog person? Cat person? Do they want any kind of pet? -While she is very much a cat person, she does adore all animals. Her dog (and not Jaime’s) has a special place in her heart. 24x Do they hit the snooze button or get right up at the first alarm? -She’s not the type to waste time or delay the inevitable. She has hit the snooze button before, but it is highly unlikely. 25x What would they do if they won the lottery jackpot? -Probably fund some sort of animal sanctuary. She’s talked about it openly before, but without the funds to do so, it’s just a pipe dream. 26x Do they journal? -Yes, frequently. It’s usually just incoherent thoughts she needs to get out of her head. 27x Do they exercise regularly, or are they involved in sports? -She does engage in training quite often, but she’s not really the most athletic person in the world and certainly the weakest of the Titans. It’s not something she enjoys partaking in and thus relies heavily on her magic to fight her battles. 28x Do they consciously plan their day? Or do they just take it as it comes? -She is very much a planner. Rachel doesn’t do well with surprises so if things are planned out, she is less likely to have a meltdown over anything. 29x How do they generally respond to failure? -She tries to instill confidence in others and help lift them up, but when it comes to failure on her own accord she can be very hard on herself. She feels that in her line of work, there is no margin for error. 30x How would they respond to someone who betrayed their trust? -With a silent hurt. Just cut them off and look right through them. 0 Comments

02/08/2022 05:09 PM  [The Subscription] the subscription "Maybe you haven't noticed, but my emotions are dangerous. I can't afford to feel anything." Dear Jason Kilnar, I understand you must get many letters like this come the beginning of January and a new year with a world of new possibilities for hopeful subscribers. I for one, have been a subscriber of your lucrative business for several years now with all intentions of continuing on into 2022. As I’m sure there are many people who intend to further invest their money with you, I hope this has been an easier venture for them than it has been for me. Coming into the new year, most people make promises and wishes of a better tomorrow. It’s a time to start fresh and renew our beliefs that this is “our year” with a sunny horizon. It is idealistic thinking of course, but it’s something that helps to drive our community into a better state of mental health when they feel they can purge the toxicity of the previous year. We’re told we cannot run from our problems, but no one ever thinks about the New Year, New Me mentality. I’m not here to pitch a change in lifestyle for you, your business partners, or your policies. Frankly, I’m not here to pitch a change in lifestyle for myself either. I’ve long since accepted that there are certain things about myself and my life that will never change and I’ve learned to grow as a person because of it. My eating habits don’t need to be spun to fit a healthier ideal, I’m quite content with my sugar intake and don’t feel it’s necessary to stray from. I’m content with my friends, family, loved ones, and those I choose to spend my time with. I don’t feel I need to shut out any “haters” or people who bring me down. I didn’t listen to those people in 2021 and I don’t think that 2022 will be any different. It’s imperative that we all find what makes us happiest in life and pursue those things with the utmost importance. With that said, I write to you to ask why you’ve rather unkindly seen to make my happiness unimportant to you. As a loyal customer, I would have thought that you would value, if nothing else, my money. If you do not value my happiness, how could you not value that I am trying to willfully give you money to renew my service subscription with you? I’ve double checked the credit card information several times and even had some of the world’s best detectives look over the billing information with no avail as to why our services have been canceled without valid reason. I ask that you please see to this important matter immediately otherwise I’ll be forced to take irreversible actions against WarnerMedia and Home Box Office Inc in the event that I miss the Harry Potter 20th Anniversary Special. As I know your content is only available for limited periods of time, I trust you understand your own deadline. I look forward to your prompt reply. Sincerely, Rachel Roth (c) powered by taste the blood 0 Comments

01/13/2022 04:20 PM  [Utopian Nightmare] Post #1 Utopian Nightmare "Maybe you haven't noticed, but my emotions are dangerous. I can't afford to feel anything." TRIGGER WARNING: LETHAL INJECTION YEAR: 2036 ”LIVE! From the California State Prison! I’m Janet Williams and CCTV is bringing you the most talked about event of the season! The blonde reporter in the center of the screen smiled widely into the camera, a microphone held beneath her mouth as she addressed the world. The spectacle was an unprecedented event on so many levels, but no one seemed to bat an eye as the teenage boy was walked out with shackles on his wrists and ankles. He was solemn with his head dipped down, refusing to look in the direction of the news camera or the guards escorting him to a chair in the center of the room. With hands coming down to his petite shoulders, the guards shoved him down into the chair, working to secure the straps on his arms to prevent him from escaping his own fate. The woman stepped out of view of the camera, her voice overhead through the microphone as the cameraman panned into the boy restrained to the chair. He’d finally lifted his head as they tightened the leather strap around his forehead, pressing it firmly to the headrest of the chair to reveal a set of frightened eyes filled with tears. His gaze darted from one guard to the next as they finished restraining him and all at once the dam broke and hot tears spilled over his cheeks. “Isn’t this riveting? Fourteen year-old Bradley Martin has been sentenced to death for petit larceny in the state of California. You’ll get to see it here first and I promise you won’t want to miss this.” The camera quickly panned to the crowd of people seated beyond the glass barrier, all watching intently as the terrified boy was bustled around by a woman dressed in white from head to toe, including the surgical mask that covered her face. She worked alongside a nurse that seemed to inspect the boy as they both prepared the injection that would take his life. “Here we go! The moment of truth. And let this be a lesson to anyone else that thinks stealing from the Pacific French Bakery will be tolerated.” The focus pressed in on the boy’s face and despite the fact that the camera couldn’t pick up any audio besides the reporter’s voice, the audience could see his mouth moving as he begged to be spared. Round eyes jumped between the two medical personnel administering the lethal injection, his cries falling on deaf ears as they moved methodically to do their work. Slowly his frantic spirit faded as his body relaxed, the camera panning back to the blonde reporter who’s smile stretched from ear to ear across her face. “And there you have it. Justice has been served. I’m Janet Williams and you’re watching CCTV.” The screen cut off in Rachel’s small apartment, a pale hand still holding the remote with her finger pressed into the power button. Her face reflected her usual stony exterior, but the turmoil that crashed within her mind was practically leaping to escape. It was hard for her to imagine that someone would be so chipper over something so awful. And to disguise it as justice? This was never the justice she’d fought for her whole life. As much as the woman’s time with the Titans had come to a halt years ago, she still worked to actively make sure that the world was a better place, albeit from the shadows. This was not a world she ever wanted to see. At first the changes came slowly. It all felt like it would be for the greater good to inflict harsher punishments for crimes across the nation in hopes of discouraging wrong-doers, but this was too far. She remembered seeing the headlines everywhere only a few weeks prior. The teenager stole a lousy loaf of bread for his starving family and in three short weeks he was condemned to death for something that should have been a slap on the wrist. Or at least that’s what it would have been fifteen years ago. Now nothing was right, but what could Rachel even do about it? She was but one half-demon alone in the world. She hadn’t even seen most of the Titans in ten years. There were certainly clues to her whereabouts, though she was selective as to who received them. There were far too many of her heroic friends that followed the letter of the law and the ex-Titan didn’t feel they should be trusted anymore. The only person that had been reassured that Rachel was alive and well was Tim. On the first of every month, she took her trip to Smallville where she knew he resided. There she left a single amethyst feather within his interior coat pocket where only he would find it. He’d know it was her and he would respect that she didn’t want to be found. That much she trusted. If there was anyone in the world that would be able to figure out her whereabouts, it would be Timothy Drake-Wayne. Violet hair hung over her face as she simply stared at the tv from her seat on the couch, her legs folded beneath her and a steely gaze unmoving. The world had fallen into a totalitarian state and there wasn’t a single thing she could do about it. (c) powered by taste the blood 0 Comments

01/04/2022 10:08 PM  [Dear Leyla,] Dear Leyla, "Maybe you haven't noticed, but my emotions are dangerous. I can't afford to feel anything." Rachel was absolutely crushed when yet another mission came up that would force her to cancel her holiday plans. Usually, the Titan took pride in her work and her ability to help people whenever they needed it, but in this particular moment, it felt like yet another time where everyone else came first and those around her that she cared most for had to suffer. The mission was urgent. She could already hear the others packing up their belongings so they could all jet off, but instead of gathering her things together, Rachel sat quietly at her desk with her phone directly in front of her. She had to do it. She had to call her mother and tell her that the feast and festivities she’d been planning for the whole family would have to go without her youngest daughter. The thought broke her heart knowing how much it meant to Leyla to have them all together, but what other choice did she have? As always, Rachel’s life took a backseat to her heroic duties. Pale fingers slid over her phone, taking the device into the palm of her hand and staring at it through violet eyes. What was she supposed to say? That the Titans once again had to come before her adoptive family? It felt unfair and even worse to do so in a hasty phone call. On a whim, the teen pulled open one of her desk drawers and grabbed a piece of lined paper, her other hand reaching for a pen. Her mind ran faster than her hand was able to maneuver her words onto paper, but she only hoped she would be able to capture everything she wanted to say. Dear Leyla, I’m so sorry. For every canceled plan, for every missed birthday, for every time you’ve asked me to come and I’ve been unable to be there for both you and the rest of the family. I so badly wish that there was some sort of compromise between the Titans and my Rashid family, but I’ve accepted my destiny to help and protect others that need it. This is what I was meant to do with my life and with my lineage. I hope you understand why I will again miss another family holiday. It feels so unfair that you’ve given me everything and I’ve been unable to be the daughter I know you’ve wanted me to be. My life has been filled with so much anguish and in a sea of chaos, you brought me light. You’ve given me the only thing I’ve never been able to have on my own. You gave me the opportunity to be a normal teenager when I never thought it could have been possible. You gave me a family I’ve been able to depend on even in my darkest days, you’ve given me a home away from home where I can relax without feeling like the weight of the world rests on my shoulders. I will never be able to repay you for all of the things you’ve given me. This life outside of the Titans means everything to me and the fact that I’ve been unable to enjoy your company pains me greatly. Hopefully one day I will be able to show you that the good you’ve done for each one of us has caused the best of ripple effects on the rest of the world. We wouldn’t be here without you. All my love, -Rachel A small sigh escaped the girl’s lips, setting the pen down on top of the filled page before finally lifting her hand to wipe away the tears that had formed in her eyes. She didn’t dare let them spill over and fall to the page, for her mother would know and her heart would ache. Carefully folding the page in half, Rachel slipped the letter into an envelope and sealed it, neatly scrawling Leyla’s name on the outside. Now she just needed to deliver it discreetly without anyone knowing she’d been in the house. “Rachel! Let’s go! We need to head out!” “One minute!” The teen called back to her fearless leader, getting to her feet and adjusting her cloak to hang loosely around her body. Without a second thought, Rachel opened a portal, the other side leading directly into the bedroom of Leyla’s New York mansion. If she knew her mother like she did, the Allmother would be in the kitchen preparing for all of her guests to arrive. Forever the host. Setting the envelope down atop her pillow, Rachel blinked back another set of tears. It was difficult to see it sitting there and waiting for her mother, but her team needed her. Jump City needed her. That had to come first, even on Thanksgiving. (c) powered by taste the blood 0 Comments

10/01/2021 01:15 PM  [A Date with Destiny] ft. xBeetle A Date with Destiny "Maybe you haven't noticed, but my emotions are dangerous. I can't afford to feel anything." It was perfect. Everything was perfect. The scene had been perfectly set, filled with dim mood lighting and small candles staggered about the kitchen just the way Rachel liked it. The kitchen table within Titans Tower was neatly staged with pillar candles in each candlestick, lit and illuminating the place setting with a soft glow. A folded napkin was set beside the place, neatly arranged flatware nestled next to it and prepared for an evening of feasting. Rachel’s violet eyes bounced from one area to the next to inspect each element of her arrangement. Everything needed to be just so in order for her to properly enjoy this the way she was always meant to. The way it was intended. Gingerly taking a seat at the table, the teen folded her pale hands in front of her, her gaze admiring her own handiwork. It was something she felt quite proud of, if she was being honest. It wasn’t too often she put the kind of time and care into anything other than heroism like she had done tonight. It was a special occasion, after all. Pursing her lips, she leaned in closer, her words soft and gentle as she spoke. “This is everything I had hoped it would be and more. You’ve exceeded my expectations and I just wish I could savor this moment forever. Nothing has ever made me feel so…” Her voice trailed off as the Titan tried to collect her thoughts. It was so unusual for her to find herself unsure of what it was she was feeling. Rachel was usually so acutely aware, but lacked when it came to expressing such. This seemed to be another one of those moments. “I wish I could give you what you’ve given me. I wish I could be whatever you want, as well.” Rachel exhaled a small breath, her hands finally moving to the center of her plate as she slipped her hands around the crisp edges of her enormous sandwich and took a large bite. The flavors danced over her tongue and distracted her from the sound of footsteps approaching behind her, making her unable to stop Jaime from bumping her shoulder and causing the sandwich to drop from her fingers. It seemed to happen in slow motion, the food falling until it finally hit the floor. The teen stared in disbelief as her perfect sandwich lay in shambles on the floor. A small perky voice spoke up from behind her, Rachel’s attention slowly turning to look at Delicious, the adorable corgi. "...ah..wow..I've never been to a live murder." (c) powered by taste the blood 0 Comments

05/24/2021 08:05 PM  [Deep Disappointment]   Deep Disappointment "My home will always be Azarath... but I've found a new home here with the Titans, too..." D*ck. Kory. Gar. Victor. Jaime. These were the voices that Rachel overheard from the main control room in Titan’s Tower. Certain voices could be heard louder than others, but namely she heard the bickering going back and forth between D*ck and Jaime. The longer the teen stood outside the door, the more she came to understand the situation at hand and why there was such a debate. It wasn’t unusual for D*ck to send one of them off on a mission alone if it seemed to be a simple task on the surface, but on more than one occasion the initial plan didn’t come to fruition. The Titan didn’t have enough fingers to count the amount of times she’d come close to being fatally injured on a mission she was assigned to take alone, but D*ck always ended up being the source of the issue here. They shouldn’t be fending for themselves when they have a team to lean on. The current argument seemed to revolve around a mission Jaime had been sent on alone, but far too much of the information regarding the case was missing when he was sent out. It was utterly irresponsible of D*ck to make such a call, but even worse, Jaime had come close to not making it back in one piece. Sure they all joked around and razzed Blue Beetle, but at the end of the day they were all friends. They were all family. They were a team and teammates stuck together. The sound of D*ck’s vicious words cut through the chatter inside the room, bouncing off the walls to echo in her head. “You had one job, Jaime!” Even in Rachel’s mind, she felt it was a harsh comment to make. They were people first and heroes second. Jaime had put his life on the line for D*ck’s mistake and now he was being blamed for it. Just the same moment that the thought crossed her mind, a blur that happened to belong to Jaime whizzed by on his way out of the control room, leaving the rest of the Titans alone inside the room to squabble. Steeling herself, Rachel stepped into the doorway, arms coming across her chest as she just stared at them all until the room finally fell silent. She said nothing. Taking a few steps forward, violet eyes bounced from one to the next, the tension in the room rising the longer she chose to remain silent. Her gaze finally stopped on D*ck. “You’re one insult away from starting a war. You should be ashamed of yourself.” She watched as his mouth opened to speak, but quickly closed and thought better of it. In a single blink, her normally violet eyes flashed a deep crimson before returning to their normal hue. Raven was a force to be reckoned with and each of them knew what would happen if things got out of hand with her. “He’s your friend and he’s your teammate. We don’t point fingers at the people we care about when he was only doing exactly as you directed him. You may have grown up as Robin, but this isn’t the Batcave. We’re equals here.” Her body remained unmoving as she stared into the blue of D*ck’s eyes. Out of the corner of her gaze, she could see the other three slink backwards to retreat behind him. The weight of her words slowly started to sink in, especially given the fact that it was Jaime she was defending, of all people. Without another word, Rachel slowly turned and walked out of the room, leaving the four of them to stare at her back as she left them with her final thoughts. She needed to find Jaime. 0 Comments

05/17/2021 08:08 PM  [MMM: A Freed Woman] MMM: A Freed Woman How many times would they have to go through this? How many times would she need to explain herself and her whereabouts to a man who pointed dirty fingers in her face and raised his voice at her? Svan was growing increasingly tired of the man she called ‘Husband.’ Galin had never been kind to her. It was a trait that he didn’t seem to possess and most of their community was well aware of such. If anything, he brought her great shame. She knew that so many looked upon her as a strong and powerful woman, but where Galin was concerned, she felt weak. So many times behind closed doors had she been banished from their bed and condemned to sleep on the cold floor for actions he assumed were true, but were not. Her words made no difference to him. The more she denied the relations between her and her childhood friend, the angrier he became. Though she had always loved Ranvir, the two hadn’t acted on impulse since before her arranged marriage to Galin. It was something that her father had set up before his death. As just a girl, Hermundr had promised his daughter’s hand to a friend’s son, dashing her hopes of being able to choose her own suitor in her future. Though disappointed with the arrangement, Svan respected her father’s wishes and when he did not return home, she knew it was the last thing she could do to honor him. It was only unfortunate for her that his friend’s son grew into the hate-filled man she came to know as Galin, her husband. He’d turned her otherwise cheerful and pleasant demeanor into a sour one. After a long day of training, Svan returned home to find her husband waiting for her. The fair and freckled skin of his face had turned beet red when she walked in the door, her eyes taking in his obviously defensive stance. Her absence had brought on his rage yet again, Galin’s imagination running wild of all the things he believed she’d been doing while out training with the other warriors and shield maidens. She didn’t dare remove the belt where her weapons hung, keeping her distance as her eyes followed the oversized man approaching her. “Where were you?” His words bellowed across their hut in a deep bassy voice. She refused to flinch despite knowing the blow would be inevitable. “Training, as I said I would be.” Galin lifted his hand, striking Svan across the face with his open palm. Her head ricocheted off his slap, her skin stinging and turning a bright red, the imprint of his hand slowly rising to the surface of her pale skin. Enough was enough. She curled her hand into a fist, launching herself and her weight at the male to deliver a barrage of punches at his face, neck, and stomach. It was enough to send him reeling backwards to catch his breath to which she pulled the axe from her belt and brought it up to strike him again. The downward blow was interrupted by Galin’s swift punch to Svan’s chest, knocking the wind out of her lungs before prying the axe from her fingers. The next few hits were a blur to her as her husband proceeded to use his fists to bloody her face. Surely no man would want to bed a battered woman and that had been his goal, after all. Later that night, once Galin had tired himself out, Svan escaped their hut and fled to the one place she always knew she would be safe and her secrets kept from the rest of the community. Silently creeping to Ranvir’s door, she let herself inside to find him seated at the table enjoying a meal. She knew instantly she shouldn’t have come, shouldn’t have interrupted his meal and burdened him with her problems again. He’d seen her enter though, and it was too late to turn back. Slowly stepping forward into the dim light of his hut, the flicker of candles illuminated her face and revealed the deep purple bruises and blood that still coated her lips. She didn’t want to discuss it, she just wanted the distraction of his company. “Did he…” “I’m here to help plan for England.” The rage that crossed his face as he began to pace the hut was obvious. This hadn’t been her intention. She’d never come to a man to help solve her problems. She felt herself capable on her own and though Ranvir was a dear friend, she didn’t want him involved in her marital problems. Truth be told, she was concerned about how he’d fare if he were to go after Galin. Her husband was a large and vicious man. “England is not my worry right now. I’m ending this right now.” Without thinking, Svan’s hand shot out to grab Ranvir’s forearm tightly, holding her grip as her piercing blue eyes stared into his. She couldn’t let him run off and fight her battles for her and surely it would only result in further beatings if he were to intervene. “He believes what he wants to believe. I cannot change that. I’ve already taken care of it and he did not come out of our fight unscathed. If you strike him, things will only be worse, I’m afraid. Swear to me that you won’t challenge him. Swear it.” Though he did promise her, Svan knew better than to believe a man with such a look in his eye. It was better if she took her leave now rather than make anything worse for either of them. Galin could kill her, sure, but if something were to happen to Ranvir because of her foolishness, surely a punishment from the Gods would not be enough for what she believed she deserved. She’d returned to her hut only to find that Galin had awoken from his slumber angry of her absence again. His wrath knew no bounds, striking her across the face and sending her to the floor. With her head bowed and prepared for another blow, she hadn’t seen Ranvir burst in, only heard the scuffle of the two and his voice. Finally lifting her head, she caught sight of the two men on their way out the door in a flurry of punches and blades. Clamoring to her feet, Svan took off outside after them, her eyes frantically following their motions in utter chaos. To separate them would surely be suicide, though she wasn’t sure who she would be helping if she did. Initially she’d thought that Ranvir would be in grave danger to challenge Galin, but she’d clearly underestimated his strength and endurance. When he stood victorious from the water’s edge, she couldn’t resist the smile that began to stretch over her lips, her legs moving toward him before she even knew she’d taken a step. “He’s dead. I killed him for you.” The words only made her smile grow wider as she closed the distance between them, her mouth opening to speak and express her relief when she saw Galin emerging from the water behind Ranvir. Lifting her hand to point at the oncoming charging brute, she didn’t even need to say a word to signal Ranvir to duck. Svan proceeded to watch with a stoic expression as her husband was bloodied to death, her hands remaining still and clasped together in front of her. Not a single part of her felt remorse for her fallen husband. She’d never loved him and had only remained with him as it was her father’s wish. To say she was relieved to be rid of him was an understatement. Reaching out to take Ranvir by the hand, she turned and led him back inside her hut so she could sit him down and tend to his wounds. Though she was certainly not a healer by any means, she’d seen her fair share of battle wounds and knew how to care for them. Fetching a bucket of clean water, Svan dipped her cloth into the water before gently dabbing it along the male’s face to remove the streaks of blood and dirt. Once she was satisfied that the cuts he’d acquired during their fight were properly cleaned, she draped the cloth over the side of the bucket and turned back to face him, her hands coming out to cup his cheeks on either side before leaning in to plant a kiss on his forehead. “Thank you.” Her voice escaped in a hushed whisper as she looked down into his big blue eyes, her heart swelling with the love she’d been harboring for years. Without another word, Svan reached for Ranvir’s hands, pulling him along as she walked backwards toward the small room where she’d shared a bed with Galin. 0 Comments

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