The Court - Finished!

On second thought:
If you guys have an idea take it away, I do not want to wait for JD and stall the story. Can one of you let me know what your idea is just so I can check it over?

Krissy:

I smiled when Daniel headed over to me and wrapped his arms around me. He spun me around, put me down, and disappeared down the stairs with a smile on his face. I blushed and looked up to Maria's saddened face.

"Aw Maria, what's the matt'a?" I said, sliding over to sit beside my dearest friend.

"Nothing love, nothing at all." whispered Maria, a weak smile on her face.

I squeezed her hand, I knew her so well. I knew exactly what was troubling her. I embraced the older girl and whispered into her ear.

"There is someone out there that is meant to love you, or already does. You are the most beautiful girl any man could love." I leaned back, with a small, comforting smile on my face.

Maria breathed in heavily and smiled back.

"You know me too well my dear. And I do hope you are right." she replied, her voice quavering. "Look at this mess I made of myself, I need to go for a walk." she whispered.

I smiled, "Take your time, you'll be fine."

"Thank you dearie, I am truly happy for you, do know that. It's just been oh so long since I have felt loved." she answered, getting up.

I watched as she slipped down the steps and heard the down click. I stood up, I felt so bad for poor Maria. Her scars scared so many people away, but she was truly an angel underneath that toughened shell. No matter if she killed, her heart was one of the kindest. I slide off the window sill and head downstairs. Slipping my arms around Daniel's waist as he tended to the fire, I whispered,

"Maria needed a walk. The poor girl feels so lonely."

"Yes, she needs someone who cares about her. She definitely deserves it, I blame the Rogue's marks on her face. They scare people away."

"I know Daniel, but she's beautiful inside and out to me. I couldn't ask for a better friend."

Daniel laughed, twirling us onto the rug by the fire. I set down my head on his lap and we talked for hours. We both fell asleep there as the fire and rain continued to roar.

**Haha. I wasn't planning on Kayla finding anything, Kamas. lol. I just kind of wanted it to be known that she didn't think she had actually killed anyone in the fire. Oh and Gssp and I came up with an idea...sort of lol. (;**

GRAYSON

He followed Jas outside. They had already gone a decent distance and he was getting restless.

"I'll meet back up with you two," he sighed, looking at a small, woman's footprint that the others had failed to catch. He didn't blame them though...it was so small and hardly visible. Maybe their was a type of microcosom out here in these woods. Who knew.

Kayla and Jas had already left them and he shook his head laughing, going the other way. A twig snapped and Grayson whipped out his knife, but not fast enough. His arms were soon held behind his back and a dagger was held to his throat.

"Grayson," the voice growled. Grayson's eyebrows knit together slightly. That voice was familiar and though she tried to make it gruff, it was distinctly feminine.

"Watch it handsy," he teased. "You might know my name but I'm nt sure I knw who you are. Maybe you should tell me before you go any further."

The girl pressed the knife into his throat harder. "Don't play your foolish games. Now, I'm going to have to kill you, but first I need to know who else is with you? Is it Jas? Lorraine?"

Grayson wanted to laugh. Everyone always skipped over Kayla. So many people underestimated her...and that was a very goog thing for them.

"Games?" He asked, mock shocked. "And here I thought that you liked me."

The knife pressed harder and a single drop of blood ran down the knife. "I'm in a rush," she growled. "Now tell me?"

"I'm not afraid of death," Grayson tld her, truthfully. "And even if I did, why would I trade my friends lives out just to be killed soon after. Do you really think I'm that stupid?"

"I'll just make your death less painful," She told him. Grayson laughed loudly.

"Gee thanks. Still, I'll pass. I won't trade their lives to have a 'nearly painless death,'" he relied, rolling his eyes. Yes, he may work for the Rogue, but that didn't mean he didn't have ANY morals.

**Take it away. (:**

Jas

I watched Grayson go, feeling uneasy for some reason. "This is a bad idea," I told Kayla.

She rolled her eyes, ducking under a low hanging branch. "Well, you're the one who thought of it," she said. "And besides, I thought we were going to see the last person on the list that clerk gave you."

"We are. And I wasn't talking about visiting this person, I was talking about Grayson leaving us," I said.

Kayla shrugged. "He can take care of himself."

We walked on through the woods in silence, the only sound the leaves crunching beneath our feet. We had been up all night, tracking down the people who had bought the powder. The first person on the list, an old rich man with bushy silver eyebrows and a golden tooth, had used the powder to kill his wife. The second was a gambler who had used the powder to settle a score with an old enemy. That only left one name - Hodge Martin, who our sources told us was currently hiding in a cabin in the woods. I thought it was very likely that he was my attacker, or had given the powder to my attacker.

The trees started to thin as we approached a clearing, and I grabbed Kayla's arm, pulling her to a halt.

"Hey!" she protested, jerking away from me, but I grabbed her again.

"Quiet!" I hissed, dragging her behind a tree. "Do you hear that?"

Daniel
He woke up at midnight almost, or maybe later. He felt some urege to ge up and look around the house as if danger was there or was coming. He didn't want to wake up Krissy who looked incredibly beautiful sleeping. So he went downstairs and garabbed acup of water that felt nice againd his throat.
I must have been very thirsty, He thought smiling a bit as he noticed that the door was open. The house was very still nothing was actually going on except for the open door and the strange feeling he had. The wind was blowing so hard that it made the door closed and make a huge sound.
Daniel looked around the house first floor,examing everything he could, searching under the stones even. He knew something was wrong but couldn't quite tell what it was wrong. So he moved to the second story and tried to be as silent as possible for Krissy was sleeping. The first thing he saw was Maria's bedroom door open. He wondered why would it be open, she was a bit sad this morning but it wouldn't affect in that way. Against his will and morals, he went inside Maria's room.
"Maria?" He called, "Maria, are you there?" He moved closer to see her more clearly, but saw nothing, Abosoultely nothing, there was no Maria there.
So he ran back to Krissy's room and touched her face softly, tryng to wake her up.
"Krissy, Krissy," he siad silentely to her, looking at how her beautiful eyes slowly open.

"What is it Daniel?" She asked, looking at her lovingly and kissing him slightly.

"Do you have any idea of where Maria is?"
She woke up quickly and looked at him in cocern.

"What are you talking about?"

"She is not in her room"

Krissy:

I ran upstairs in a panic. Maria left for a walk over seven hours ago, she should have been back by now. I turn around quickly and bang into Daniel's broad chest. Stumbling back, I continue to look around.

"Daniel! Where is she? She should have been back by now!" I shout, fear for my friend raging inside of me.

Daniel wrapped his arms around me, "Shush, love, we'll go look for her, do not worry."

I wrapped her arms around Daniel, panic still eating away at my chest. After a few minutes, I slipped away to get dressed. I put on my fighting gear, my thoughts raced wildly as I wrapped my hands and legs with leather strips. I wouldn't get caught in the leg again. I took deep breathes as I laced up my boots and put all my daggers and throwing knives in place. I was about to leave the room to join Daniel downstairs when I eyed Maria's healing pack.

"Oh Maria." I whispered reaching for the healing pack, extra knives and a lantern.

Gliding swiftly down the stairs, I looked to Daniel, my worry seeping through every inch of my body.

"Don't worry Krissy, it is dark, nothing probably happened, she got lost in the darkness and was smart enough to find shelter." said Daniel, comfortingly.

"I 'ope you're right Daniel. I really do" I replied softly as the lantern flickered to life.

** Note: They will go out to look for Maria. Find a way to have Maria and Grayson get stuck so Daniel and Krissy can find them. I still say having them get caught in those hunting trap cages things, that are hooked up to the trees and close up when it is stepped on. Up to Tiger and Crocky, but Daniel and Krissy are in the woods to find you guys. Let me know **

**Erm, well, it's really up to Gssp, but I'd prefer not to have Daniel and Krissy find them yet. Maria can tell them, but I'd prefer not to have him caught just yet.

I'll PM you and Gssp an idea that puts all ((hopefully)) our ideas together.

Maria

I knew I should have just killed him then. But his words rang through my head, causing me to hesitate. What will you do now Maria? I asked myself dryly. You would do the same if you were in his position.

Grayson had turned everything I thought I had known about the Rogue's servants upside down. I had always known them as backstabbing cold-blooded murderers. And now here was Grayson, willing to go through a painful death to save his friends.

I moved before I thought about what I was doing.

I lifted my blade from his neck and released him, shoving him forwards. Then I turned and ran into the trees.

I ran for a while, not knowing where I was going. Soon it began to get dark. Rain fell from the sky. Soon I could hardly see. I slipped and fell in the mud. Come on Maria, calm yourself.

I gathered my thoughts. It was raining, and dark. I had no idea where I was, with no food or supplies. Things looked pretty bleak, to say the least.

Then I saw the light of a lantern. I stood. "Krissy?" I called.

GRAYSON

His breathing was labored as he ran. Kayla and Jas couldn't have gotten too far and right now, he was too jittery to look for their trail. They had probably already covered it up anyway.

He already knew what he was going to do. He was going to get Jas and Kayla out of here, fast and tomorrow he was going to come back out and find that girl. He hadn't expected her to let him go...yet she had. She interested him, that was for sure. He most certainly wasn't going to tell the Rogue about her and let him get into this. No, he was going to find her. Grayson wanted to know more about her.

"If Grayson dosen't get here soon I'm going to kill myself, I swear it," Kayla groaned.

"Jas? Kayla?" Grayson asked.

"Grayson!" Jas exclaimed. "What are you going here? I thought that..."

Grayson shook his head, coming up with a lie that no one, not even the Rogue, could see through.

"Large animal. Frankly, I'm not into being eaten or killing them," he laughed. "So I ran like Hell."

Jas rolled her eyes. "I'm ready to get out of here. We haven't seen anything...not one thing. And Jas seems to be having trouble with the directions, aren't you Jas?" Kayla asked in her annoying little sing song voice.

"Shut it, Kayla," Grayson said, harshly. He wasn't in the mood for her arrogant, envious attitude. "Let's try again tomorrow. Next time we won't split up. We'll leave early in the morning."

GRayson smiled. After he took them back, he was going into the woods tomorrow night after he helped the girls. Then he would find that other, mystery girl. He had to...there was something very different about her.

Jas

Kayla and I trailed behind Grayson as we made our way home through the dark city, our footsteps echoing loudly in the cobbled streets.

"Is it just me, or is he acting really weird?" I muttered to Kayla as Grayson leaped over a puddle, a huge smile on his face.

"I guess you aren't the only freak in town," Kayla hissed back, but she too was looking concerned. We both watched him glance over his shoulder at the distant woods for the hundredth time in ten minutes.

"Um, Grayson?" I said, and he reluctantly slowed down to let us catch up. "What really..." I began, intending to ask him again about what had happened back in the woods. I glanced at him, and he refused to meet my gaze. He was hiding something. "Thanks for coming with us. Tonight, I mean," I said instead.

He smiled mechanically, but his eyes remained distant and distracted. "No problem, Jas. Should we meet in the market tomorrow morning to try to find this Hodge man again?"

Kayla sighed. "Why bother? Personally - "

"Sure," I interrupted. "We'll be there at 9. Right, Kayla?"

She sighed again. "Fine. But you're buying us breakfast, Jas."

"Deal."

Grayson and Kayla both turned down separate streets, heading in the directions of their houses. I watched Grayson fade into the shadows, his slinking stride reminding me of a cat. He was whistling tunelessly as he walked away. Whistling?

I stood there in the dark for a long time, all alone, looking at the distant woods and wondering what on earth Grayson could have found there that made him happy enough to whistle.

Daniel
He somehow regretted telling Krissy that Maria was not there. She overreacted the moment he said she wasn't there and immediately went out to look for her.
Daniel followe her not wanting to miss her and let her get lost in the woods, even when he knew she was strong enough.
It was very dark and chilly outside, it had been years since he didn't feel such coldness.
He looked at Krissy who was shivering a little.
"Are you cold,Krissy?"

"NO, I'm not and even if I were all I care for right now is finding Maria"

Daniel heard her voice a little harsher than usual and even a bit offensive, but didnt tell her, just continued following her. After a few more stides, she stopped in front of him and hugged him tight.

"I'm so sorry, Daniel, I'm-I am just so worried about her"
He felt important proud that she went to him if she felt lonely and gratified that she knedw he cared for her.

"I know, but let's continue, besides she is strong enough and clever enough to find shelter if she gets lost, I already told you" He said, kissing her forehead and patting her shoulder.

All of a sudden, far away in the distance, they heard someone calling Krissy's name several times. They stood still for a moment, trying to identify whose voice it was. It was abit hard since the wind was blowing so hard that it whooshed in their ears. So they started wlaking towards the voice, Daniela leading the way this time and grabbing her hand for he couldn't just leave Krissy unprotected
"Krissy?" He heard the voice again and this time recognized it.

"It's Maria" He told Krissy who gave him a huge hug. "Maria?" he shouted.

"Daniel, I'm here, I'm going I see your laterns" and eventually he saw a figure walk through the bushes and towards them. Yes, it was MAria and he felt grateful that they found her. Somewhere deep inside of him he loved her, as friend;and maybe that part wasn't so deep after all.

"Maria" Krissy shouted and ran to her.

Krissy:

Throwing my arms around Maria I whispered,

"Thank the lord, you're safe."

Maria smiled and lifted my head,

"Why wouldn't I be fine, love? It's just a walk." she replied

"You were gone for so long Maria, and in our situation we nev'r know what cou'd ha'en," I said softly "I've had friends disappear from the saf'st places and turn up dead."

"Ah. I understand." replied Maria, as she slipped something into her tunic pocket.

I was too realized to ask where she had gone for a walk. I took her hand and turned back to Daniel, who was motioning us over with the lanterns. Taking his rough hand in my empty one, we all walked back to the lonely little cottage together.

Maria

I may have looked calm on the outside, but on the inside I was troubled, and deep in thought. If I tried, I could even hide my true feelings from Krissy. You should have killed him when you had the chance. I chided myself. But there was something about Grayson that I couldn't figure out. Maybe it was how quickly he made his descision. Maybe it was the fact that he didn't care if he died.

I admired him for that.

Before I knew it we had reached the house. I opened the door and we walked inside. I closed and bolted it, then hurried upstairs to change into clean clothes.

I went back downstairs a few minutes later. Krissy and Daniel were sitting on the bench, holding hands and talking quietly. I let them be and sat down in front of the dwindling fire, holding my hands so close that if I moved them any closer, they would end up burned.

I resolved not to tell Krissy and Daniel about Grayson. Krissy was on the edge already. It wouldn't do her any good to worry about Grayson constantly. No, I would leave the worrying to me.

The next thing I knew I had fallen asleep.

There were things about me that nobody knew. Not even Krissy. These were the things that I re-lived that night.

I was short. Short, un-scarred, and worry free. I laughed as I spun in a circle with my friend. His twinkling blue eyes were full of happiness. I tripped on a root that was sticking out of the ground and fell backwards, bringing him with me. We tumbled down a hill, laughing.

The scene changed.

An older but still un-scarred me was gagged and tied to the side of a horse. The horse was going very fast, every step leading me farther from what was left of my home. They had broken in and killed them all, including my mother, and the man I loved. They had slit his throat and made me watch as the blood drained out of him, until he collapsed dead on the floor. Then they had tied me to the horse.

I didn't know where we were going, but I knew it couldn't be good.

And once again.

I was tending to the fire, placing cold logs on top of the glowing red coals. I watched as the logs began to catch. The edges had little tongues of flame licking them. They were growing and spreading. I heard someone come up behind me. I turned. There he was. Dark brown hair, and blue eyes that seemed to look into your very soul. He was about the same height as me. Mason. I climbed to my feet and hugged him tightly. He returned the hug and gently kissed me on the cheek. I was full of unmeasured happiness. "I love you." He whispered.

Then the door burst open. I broke the hug and looked at the intruders in fear. The Rogue's original servants were standing there. Brian, the knife-weilding man, with a reputation for being very thourough in his kills. Elizabeth, Brian's wife, an expert with herbs and chemicals. And then there was Lanson.

Lanson had a scar over his left eye, which was brown. His other eye was pure blue, and made of glass. There was a thin sword at his belt, and he was caressing a dagger in his hands. I grabbed Mason's hand and raced upstairs to warn the others. My mother was already awake, standing in the hallway. "Mother, they're here. Brian, Elizabeth, and Lanson." Her eyes widened and she ran into another room. We followed her, closing and locking it behind us. "It won't be enough." I whispered fearfuly. "Elizabeth can get any door open."

Mason looked me in the eyes. "Maria, no matter what happens, I love you more than life. Remember that." He wrapped his arms around me and kissed me gently on the lips. Then there was an explosion. Splintered bits of door flew through the air. One hit my cheek, and a few more buried themselves in my arm. We both turned towards the door. They were back. Elizabeth was putting a bag away. My mother screamed loudly. "Shut her up." Lanson hissed. Brian didn't wait, and threw a knife directly at her. It embedded itself in her neck, and she fell to the ground. This time I screamed. I ran to her and fell to my knees next to her motionless form. The knife had killed her instantly. "No, no, no..." I whimpered.

Brian walked up to me. "Listen to me, and you listen good and well." He grabbed my arm and pulled me to my feet, turning me around. Lanson had grabbed Mason and was holding his dagger to his throat. "You can either come with us willingly and let your lover live, or you can fight and we'll kill him and take you anyway."

I broke free of Brian and ran towards Mason. Lanson saw me coming. Before I knew what was happening, the dagger had dug into Mason's neck, and red blood was falling to the floor. Lanson released him and he fell to the ground. I screamed again and rushed to Mason's side. He was still alive, but his life was slipping from him very quickly. He looked at me for the last time. "M-M-Maria." He gasped.

His body stiffened up and the glow in his eyes faded.

I woke up with my chest heaving. A lump rose in my throat. I got up and ran upstairs. Out of the corner of my eye I saw Krissy and Daniel looking at me curiously. I ignored them and went into my room, collapsing face down on the bed. Only then did the flood come.

I sobbed into my pillow.

Krissy:

I watched Maria sprint up the stairs, the slam of her door echo through the house. She'd been sleeping restlessly when suddenly she had jumped up and disappeared into her room. I stood up to follow her but Daniel's hand tugged on mine. I turned and he shook his head, motioning to the empty seat beside him. I leaned over to whisper into his ear.

"I have to, I owe her my life more than once."

And with a kiss on his forehead, I glided away like a cat. I leaned against the wall by Maria's room, hearing her sobs through the wall. I peered through the door,

"Maria." I whispered, slipping into the room.

Her sobs did not pause, not once. I sat on the edge of the bed, laying my hand on the back on her head.

"What'ver it is, you don't 'ave to tell me." I whispered softly, before standing up. "Everyone has stories they cannot share, even me. Everyone has dark secrets that eat them up in their dreams. I know very well."

I was about to stand up, when Maria's tear stained face looked up to me and took my hand.

"I think it would do me some good to share dearie" whispered Maria, her voice raw and thick from crying.

I sat down again and hugged Maria,

"You can tell me anything" I said softly.

Maria

I swallowed hard. "When I was your age I was in love. This was before the Rogue scarred my face. My mother was living with us because my father had died a few months before..."

Several minutes later I had finished, and was beginning to break into tears again. "They killed him Krissy." I said quietly. "They tore him away from me, and left me alone, with nobody who cared about me at all. Hold onto Daniel Krissy. Hold onto him and never let him go. Enjoy every moment you have with him to the fullest. You never know when he may disappear from your life completely."