No Redemption

MARROE

I half woke up when Shadow left my side, but I was too exhausted to actually get up and follow her over. They were talking, but I could hardly make out the words. Bobo woke up and stretched his arms and started jumping around from person to person. I should get up and grab him before he stole anything...

I put a hand on my face and rubbed my eyes, yawning quietly. My legs flung themselves over the side of the bed and I rose slowly to my feet. Bobo was sitting by a sleeping Raven, searching her pockets. "Bobo!" I hissed. He looked up at me before scrambling up my arm. "Would you stop it?"

I looked over my shoulder to see Garrett. So the prince had made it? I smiled and made my ways over to her, wrapping my arms around her waist and kissing her cheek. I didn't bother to look at Garrett, I didn't want to know what he was thinking.

SHANAELA MARZ

I could hear them again... Was that Garrett? He was back? Come on body... wake up... I managed to wiggle my fingers, then I could magically move my whole arm. Ha! Okay, so not magically, but close enough. I forced my eyes open and grinned at my success.

I pushed myself up on my elbows and rested my head against the headboard, my grin broadening when I saw Garrett sitting at his desk. I grabbed my notebook and tore a sheet out, crumpling it into a ball and throwing it at his head. It hit its mark, and Garrett turned. I gave a slight wave.

~Princess Shadow!

I didn't worry too much about Garrett anymore. He had the one he loved, I had the one I loved. I hugged Marroe for a moment, then scooted closer to him on the floor. Garrett went over to the Marz girl, exposing a balled up piece of paper under his desk. I would get that in a minute, but I didn't want Marroe to see it, whatever it was. It had Garrett's handwriting on it, and only I would be reading it, I supposed.

Garrett~

Garrett stood up, and walked over to Shanaela, smiling softly as he rubbed the back of his head. Shanaela smiled up at him, and poised her pen to write in the notebook. "Did you sleep okay?" Garrett smiled, sitting down on the bed across from her. Shanaela nodded, and wrote something down, showing Garrett.

'Yes, your bed is actually very comfortable. How about you?' Garrett smiled weakly, and shook his head.

"I didn't even sleep. I had been hoping to come straight of here from the dungeon, but the second my father leaves, everyone acts as if I'm the king." Garrett rolled his eyes and smiled softly when a apologetic smile broke across Shanaela's features. "Oh no," he sighed, hand on his head.

'What is it? Oh, and I'm sorry to hear of your unsuccessful sleep.' Garrett smiled and stood, stretching a little bit.

"It's alright, and it's nothing. I just get to spend all morning with the masquerade planner and my best friend, Dameon." He sighed.

'Well the best friend part sounds okay.' Shanaela offered.

Garrett laughed, deep and hauty. "I suppose, but doing this just means I have to be away from y-" Garrett looked down, and discovered a hairy hand in his pocket.

"Morroe, would you mind?" He growled, motioning to the primate.

MARROE

I let go of Shadow and scowled at Bobo, who was gazing at me inoccently, hand poised in Garrett's pocket. "Drop it," I hissed. He chirped at me defiantly. "Now." I walked over and grabbed the monkey by his tail, pulling him onto my shoulder and wrestled away the coins he had in his paws, handing them back to Garrett. "Sorry," I mumbled before walking back to Shadow, throughly embaressed.

"I need a cage for this thing," I muttered.

Shadow giggled and patted the monkey's head. "Naw, he just needs some training," she whispered.

I chuckled. "Yeah, that's it."

SHANAELA

I shook my head at Marroe and the monkey, though to be honest I rather liked Bobo. Sure he was a brat, but he was cute. I eyed Marroe and Shadow. They seemed so...horribly perfect for eachother. Love didn't seem too bad, but I suppose things sort of changed when you were being hunted by a bunch of mad-men. Being hunted sort of put the life of the one you loved in jeporady.

"Anyways..." Garrett mumbled, turning back to me.

I broke my gaze and smiled at him. Anyways... I wrote. The party sounds like fun. Where's your father going?

Shanti decided it was a good idea to jump onto the bed, landing on my stomach. I winced and patted her head, rolling my eyes.

KING TORRAN

I stroked Glug's mane, holding back tears. Adola was rubbing her hand across my back in soothing circles. "I still can't believe I'm missing his birthday. Again," I said quietly.

Glug rested his ching on my lap and licked my hand soothingly. "He named you Glug, you know that? When he was little." I sighed and rubbed my eyes.

"He'll come around. Stop being so hard on yourself," Adola whispered.

I shook my head. The way he had spoken... the way he had looked at me. It had torn me apart completely.

The carriage lurched and there was some shouting outside. I made my way to the front and tapped the driver lightly on the shoulder.

"Yes your majesty?" he asked, dipping his head respectfully.

"What's holding us up?"

"Beggars. The soldiers are taking care of them though."

I frowned and made my way to the back of the carriage, opening the door and jumping out. The soldiers were all urging mee to get back into the carriage, but I held up a hand to silence them. "What's all this about beggars? Present yourselves if you will."

Two little girls and an older boy stepped out from behind one of the luggage carts. "We meant no harm, just need something to feed my sisters," the boy whispered. He couldn't be older than fifteen.

I reached into my pocket and pulled out every single coin that was inside and handed it to them. "Take it and use it wisely." He bowed at the waist, thanking me and crying. I smiled and hopped back inside my carriage. The act had eased my consiounce slightly.

~Princess Shadow~

"Yea," he said, "that's it." I smiled, petting the crazy monkey. If it had been earlier, he would have probably bitten me or something, but now that he knew me more, he was calm. As was Sophie as I kept my hand on her soft white fur. She seemed more calm than ever, sitting here by the same man who had made her growl in worry and warning but yesterday. Bonding had been quick, and so had love.

I wanted this to last forever, the love between me and Marroe. I wanted to be his forever, and I was sure I would be. I loved his more than my own life, and I'd give that to see him every day. My heart was fluttering in crazy uneven beats, but that was usual lately when I was around Marroe. I smiled at him and pressed my lips to his, just happy to be alive at the moment.

Keiko

I pounded my fist on my open palm twice before splitting it into two fingers, while Hunter splayed his into a flat hand. I grinned and pretended to cut his hand with my fingers. We had been holding a rock paper scissors faceoff for quite a while now, as we had no idea what else to do.

"Fine, I give up. You're the best, I'm not." Hunter said with an obviously fake pout. I heard Tal chuckle. I leaned back against the side of the bed, Hunter at my left. His hand was laying ever so subtly on my right hip. It felt... right. Perfect. The way it was meant to be.

Oh god. I'm turning into Shadow. Not that there was anything bad about that. Shadow's awesome.

Ahem. Right.

I twisted my head around to look at Naela. "You feeling better?" I asked, pulling off my beanie. A cascade of turquoise came loose and fell down my shoulders.

Some, yeah. Glad I get to see you two again. she wrote out. I smiled and turned back around.

Hunter was asleep.

I smiled more. His head tipped onto my shoulder. I rested my head on top of his and laced my fingers through his, in the shadow of the bed so no one could see.

>I'm sorry it doesn't take us anywhere. I have no clue where It's going from here, so yea!<

~Princess Shadow~

I didn't feel too good, but as long as I was with Marroe, the stomach ache and the headache would subside. At least I hoped it did. I was stressed about everything. Getting these strangers to safety, my father's opinion, my mother's, Garrett's thoughts about all of this, losing Marroe...I stopped right there. Did I have to let those man's words get to me like that? Obviously I was going to let them. I wanted Marroe to be with me forever, I was his, and he was mine. That was the way it would be. But why was there this bad feeling lurking at the the bottom of my stomach, and a bad thought deep inside my head, that I wouldn't pull forward.

I had to face reality sooner or later, though, so why not now? What if Marroe didn't get the money to the man in time, and he killed him. What if the man killed Marroe? What if he died, and left me all alone? What if I moved on? I knew I wouldn't, but I had to keep my what if options open. Marroe was the only one who had capyured my heart like that. Within the hour I met him, I was thinking about kissing in the rain. He had made me feel happy for no reason at all. I loved him, and he loved me...right?

MARROE

I stared at Shadow for a moment, frowning. There was something bothering her, maybe many things bothering her. I stepped closer and pecked her on the lips. "Shadow, I won't pry, but you're worrying me." I wrapped my arms around her and rested my cheek on her head.

"If you're worried about me leaving you in the dead of night, don't. You know I love you, and I might be a theif, but I'm not going to change my mind easily," I whispered, running a hand through her hair.

I risked a glance up at Garrett, I felt like somebody was glaring at me. He was too enthralled with the Marz girl to be very concerned about me kissing his sister. Thank God. There was that other guy... Tal as the kids called him. Nah, he was too busy with that other chick, who's name escaped me.

So why did I feel like I was being watched? Twarl.

I frowned and released Shadow, strolling over to the windows and taking a good look around. He was there alright, watching through the window from the forest. Glaring, shaking his and spinning his daggar around menacingly. I let the curtains fall over the window, trying to calm my racing heart. Two weeks.

~Princess Shadow~

Just those few words made my heart pound. I knew they were true, I trusted him. I trusted him with my life, and I was now trusting him with my heart. I should have been calm, but I wondered how much time he had before that man would be after him. But by the way he was looking at me--stalkerish grin on his face--it seemed like it wasn't Mar's life I had to worry about. I had to keep myself alive for him now. I wanted to talk with Garrett more, it was...normal, the only thing that made me calm. Garrett was able to do that to me, for some reason. Everything about Marroe made me scared. He was dangerous, yes, but I wasn't worried about that at all, though a part of me was telling me I should be.

After he closed the curtain, he came back over to me, wrapping his arms around my waist, and pulling me in. I closed my eyes and rested my head on his chest, listening to his heart race like mine.

"I love you," he whispered in my ear. I smiled, keeping my eyes closed, and hugging him closer to me, putting my arms around his neck.

"I love you too," I whispered back. I opened my eyes, moving my head to look at him. I looked into his chocolate brown eyes, soft and gentle, harmless.

Keiko

I wiggled my shoulder. Hunter lifted his head with a "Mrguhwha?" I slapped his cheek gently twice. He shot me a look and sat up, not removing his hand from mine. He pushed a turquoise lock behind my ear and smiled. I blushed. I knew only the tops of our heads were visible to anyone on or on the other side of the bed, but I was still scared that Tal would pop up, with his roaring laugh, and make me have to kill him.

I was also worried for Shadow. I wasn't sure if I trusted this Marroe guy. Tal? I trusted him. Garrett? Less, but still. Hunter? Oh, I trusted Hunter with my life. And now, my heart. But Marroe? I didn't know. Something about him seemed off. I didn't like it.

But if Shadow was positive he was decent, then.... so was I, I suppose. The end of Shanti's tail thwacked my head. I glared at the god be blasted cat and then looked at Naela. She smiled, almost looking like she wanted to laugh. I pitied the poor girl. But if I ever told her that, she'd whack me until I died. And I'd really prefer not to die from continuous whacking.

I squeezed Hunter's hand, still in the shadows, and he squeezed back. "We should make a code," I mumbled. He smiled.

"One day, Twitch, I promise we will."

I promise we will.

Those words made my heart jump more than they should have.

SHANAELA MARZ

I clucked my tongue and Shanti looked up, yawning. She had managed to make it to the other side of the bed, though I wasn't quite sure when that had happened. She was beside me only a moment ago... She scrambled right overtop of Keiko and Hunter, earning a few disaproving grunts.

Shanti stuck her head under my arm, purring and sitting down. I stroked her ears thoughtfully, eyeing the others. Tal and Elle seemed like they were quite enjoying themselves down on the floor beside the bed. Raven was still sleeping, occasionally stirring, but never waking up. Hunter and Keiko were acting... well they were acting all mushy, which for some odd reason I found cute. Then there were Shadow and Marroe... Shadow seemed to be thinking about something way too much, and Marroe seemed calm and collected, but it was obvious to me that he was jumpy.

The way he had closed the curtains... something was wrong. That and he had mentioned Twarl, the man who had threatened me the day of my sixteenth birthday. But could he have been Somar? The man I had almost succesful killed, but his stupid minion had gotten in the way. The more I looked at Marroe...

I shook the thought off, not really caring at this point and nudged Garrett gently with my elbow. He had sort of zoned out on me. He blinked and turned his head, offering a troubled-looking smile. What's bothering you? I wrote, honestly concerned.

MARROE

I needed to tell her about Twarl, that it really wasn't my life in danger. But I just couldn't bring it upon myself to add to her list of worries. I kissed her forehead lightly. "Just a second, okay?" I whispered.

She nodded and I made my way over to Garrett and Shanaela. "May I have a word with the red-head?" I asked, trying to hide my worry. Shanaela glared at me, but nodded. Garrett sighed and Shanaela gave him an apologetic glance. "Sorry, it's actually really important," I muttered, scratching the back of my neck awkwardly.

I walked over to the corner of the room, tensing up with each step. I turned and held out my hand for the book. I couldn't say this out loud. "May I?"

She frowned, but handed the book and pen to me anyways. I started writing immediately, resisting the urge to snoop into past conversations. Marz would probably have my head if I did anyways.
Somar Twarl, that name ring a bell?

She looked up at me and frowned, nodding. She grabbed the pen and started scribbling furiously. That was you wasn't it? He could be dead now! She handed the pen back.

I know, and I do say I regret stopping you now. But, he's after me. I owe him a lot of money, and there's no way I can get it within the two weeks he's given me.

I'm not giving you anything. I don't have a single coin.

That's not what I was asking... Please, Shadow's life is in danger because of it! I NEED your help! I scribbled three lines under the "need" for emphasis.

She sighed. So you want me to kill him? Is that it?

I nodded and gave her a pleading look. Help me kill him anyways. Not today of course, but as soon as possible.

She grinned and wiggled her finger for me to come closer. I hesitated, but did. She backhanded me across the face--hard--and beamed. She grabbed the pen from my hand triumphantly, ignoring Shadow's gasp.

Now we're even. I'll help you. With that she took her notebook and scurried back over to Garrett. I rubbed my cheek and sauntered on over to Shadow, who had a worried expression on her face. I probably deserved that...

~Princess Shadow~

Well that was...awkward. I wondered what that was all about, and why she had slapped him. He sat down next to me on the floor again, and I touched his cheek. He smiled, taking my hand and pulling me onto his lap, holding my hand, our fingers locked together. I didn't want to lose him, but I didn't want to worry too much about it. I leaned my head on his chest once again, and closed my eyes. I had been so worried, sleep was good, and I didn't care what the problem was at the moment. I needed to sleep off some of my worry. I hoped I'd be more soothed afterwards, and I was.

Garrett~

Garrett smirked at Shanaela when she strut back over, an accomplished smile on her face. "What was that about?" Garrett asked, smiling softly. Shanaela mouthed, 'Nothing' and Garrett shrugged, smiling at her. What if she could talk? He couldn't help but think about it. Her voice would be beautiful, much like her. Garrett shook the thoughts from his head. She was beautiful without a voice, she was her. Being mute is what made Naela, Naela...

Garrett, too deep in thought, hadn't realized Shanaela's question until she waved her fingers in front of his face. Garrett, giving a last thought to the paper, crumpled up beneath the desk, focused on the paper in Naela's hand. 'What's wrong?'

He looked up, meeting her eyes. "Oh, it's nothing." Garrett smiled.

BANG! BANG! BANG!

"Garrett, are you in there?! It's me, Dameon!" Garrett's gaze shot to the door, and he leapt over the bed.

BANG! BANG! BANG!

"Coming! Shut up for a second!" The knocking stopped. Garrett opened the door in a flash, eyes locking on Dameon, then Clare. Dameon's eyes shot passed Garrett, and into the sea of criminals, Shadow somewhere in the mix of them.

Keiko

I saw the prince's friend glance over us. We were all known. Keiko Reid, the master thief. Hunter Collins, market rat. Taleon... lord knows what Tal and Elle did. Raven, accomplice to the great. And Naela... and Marroe.

We were so dead.

I immediately pulled my hat on and threw a blanket over Hunter's arm, still clutching his hand like it was a dying man's cure.

Breathe, Reid, breathe!

Shanti was growling. Shadow looked terrified.

Keiko! Stay. Calm.

Tal was on his feet, standing over Elle and us, looking insanely protective.

Keiko... just stay with Hunter...

And the prince's friend spoke.

SHANAELA MARZ

I stared at Clare for a moment, noting her slightly worried expression. Without thinking I leapt off the bed, right over a still-sleeping Raven and threw my arms around Clare. She was alright! Usually I wasn't quite this nice, but I felt somehow bad for leaving her with Davis, even if it was untintentional.

I backed away, narrowing my eyes at the new-comer. Dameon seemed shocked to say the least, a little freaked out, but hey, who could blame him? You walk into the prince's room to see it crawling in out-laws and a pink-haired princess. Who was all but kissing one of those criminals. I smirked and turned on my heel and walked back over to the bed, stopping on my way to check on Raven. She seemed alright, and I dare not wake her.

I sighed and climbed up next to Shanti, who had her ears pinned, but was surprisingly silent. Welcome Dameon. You have just been glared--and then smirked at-- by one of the most wanted criminals in Sarla. I pray that you aren't afraid, as I won't kill you without good reason. As for the others, I couldn't be too sure. Watch out and enjoy your stay. My smirk was suddenly a semi-evil, lopsided grin. Poor Dameon.

MARROE

I stared at Dameon for a moment before shrinking as far back into the wall as possible. I trusted Shadow, and I suppose I trusted Garrett... but the other guy looked a little overwhelmed.

Ha, I wonder why...

Bobo was immediately interested, and he attempted to slink off my shoulder. I grabbed at his tail and he screeched. "Don't you dare," I hissed, pulling him back onto my shoulder. Evil monkey.

I kissed the top of Shadow's head and relaxed slightly. Dameon was sorely outnumbered, if he proved to be a threat... well, that shouldn't be a problem.