Nothing But Lies

[laraine]

Raine stopped cold. Listening to him demand to know the truth here and now. It was hard to keep from breaking down. "Then, in exchange for my story, are you willing to give me yours? These memories stay locked up for a reason, much like yours." Her smile was weak, easily fractured and shattered. "I will say this much right now, I killed my father because he tried to kill me when I was 12. It was after mother died, and dad began to grow insane. From his loss he began to wonder if my birth was the reason for all of this destruction. He was a demon at heart. No matter how much he could love my mom, he still couldn't find it in himself to love me. He acted like a father here and there. But in the end, insanity won and he declared that we were to join mom." She turned to James again. "So as he rose over me with the intent on killing me for good, I lost control. I screamed, I cried and I destroyed him. He turned into nothing but ash before my eyes."

Her voice sounded hollow, but recalling the sheer tragedy of that day was enough to make Raine fall to her knees.

[Elf Prince Tekkarro]

James felt heartbroken watching how much pain he had caused Raine with his story. but he couldn't help feeling cold. he in a way, felt betrayed. How could he devote himself to protecting someone if he did not know the motive? And what if this was all some spell cast by her? He had to be sure before he set anything out for himself. He kneeled in front of her, stroking her hair. "Shhh, I am sorry to hurt you by forcing you to tell me that, and yes, I will tell you my full story...but you must tell me yours as well. please, go on...what is it. Your tale...tell it."

[laraine]

Raine got back to her feet, meeting his eyes evenly. It appeared as if he was determined to find out her secrets. But one she couldn't tell. "As for the boy I speak about in my sleep. He was my boyfriend, Danny." She smiled gently, remembering the days. "He found me after I killed my father. The shock and the pain of that made me lose my own mind. I became more demon than human. I was unbalanced and heading towards my death. But Danny found me and saved me." She smiled gently. "His kindness, his compassion and love for everything melted my heart and taught me so much. Who I am now, the kindness, the compassion all came from him. I loved him, and he loved me with his entire being."

She suddenly stopped smiling and walked a bit away. "But all dreams must end. The demons were hunting me then, my family." She leaned against a tree, closing her eyes as she spoke. "And they destroyed the town me and Danny lived in. The destruction was intense and me and Danny were the only ones who escaped." she whispered. "We ran, we ran as fast as we could, as far as we could. We thought we could outrun them. Find a place where they couldn't reach us..." She snapped a branch off a nearby tree and looked at it. "But they found us. And Danny tried to protect me. I fought hard, my magic was useless against this demon. I was nearly done for, and then Danny stood there, arms outstretched, he became my shield." She looked at James' eyes. "That's when Danny was killed by the beast." She threw the branch to the ground and pulled away from the tree.

"I should have been the one who died that day, not Danny." She said, her voice hollow. "As for why I'm being hunted. I can't say for sure. I know that Grandma is mad about me killing dad. But it happened so suddenly, her announcement about me being killed. Maybe its nothing more than me being a half demon and killing my father. I honestly don't know." That was the truth, she didn't know why she was being hunted.

[Elf Prince Tekkarro]

James listened to her story. it filled him with a torrent of emotions, and thoughts. He cleared his mind and sighed after she had finished and minutes had flown by. He waited for her to calm. "My story is not that difficult. Everything was normal until I was 5. Until then, I lived int he castle with my parents. my father...he was a brilliant man, a loving . He always put his people before himself...or his son." James sneered at the scar on his chest, the thought of that day where he and Gilashi became one burning in his mind. "When the great war struck he always was there,took care of mother and me. But after that night, everything changed. He became cold, careless, to me and to my mother. My brother still looked up to him, but after the castle was rebuilt I was kept in the dungeon. In a way, Is till loved him. but at the same time I despised him. My mother and brother took care of me, hired teachers, would bring me food and come down to talk for hours. but everytime they were caught father would scream and rant to stay away. Keep from the monster, the demon locked down there. For years I was kept there. Until the day my mother finally killed herself. She couldn't take how father changed. He was now cruel to his people and spent his days drinking the pain away. My brother still respected the man. And sadly, so did I....Finally he died, and I was taken formt he dungeon at the age of thirteen. My brother was set to be coronated. But he disappeared the next day. Thats when I ran away, taking only my fathers sword. I went in search of him, but I have not found my brother since." James shook his head, finished with his story.

"I know it is not as traumatic as yours, but it is painful to me nonetheless." James looked at Raine,t hen thought of the boy, his face emotionless as He walked to her. "We will avenge your love, I swear it. I will kill those who have done you harm and stolen away your true love. I promise now that not only will I protect you, but I will not stop until all those who harmed you and Danny lie dead at my feet. That is my oath to you." he closed his eyes and turned away, before looking into the sky. He let thoughts roll through his mind before he found a nearby stump and sat upon it, letting his hair cover his closed eyes so he may think.

[laraine]

Raine wasn't sure what to say. The painful memories would forever be in her mind. Revealing them to him seemed to strengthen their bond. But she wondered if he really wanted to hear them. His face showed several emotions, as he told his own story, Raine listened and found she could understand him a bit more. "So you are searching for your brother?" she asked him. "Do you believe he is still alive?" She walked over to him, knowing that he was conflicted with his own feelings. She touched his shoulder and looked down at him. "I am glad you are willing to go through so much for me, but we should think about finding your brother too. He could be hurt somewhere and I wouldn't feel right taking you away from your only family left."

[Elf Prince Tekkarro]

James shook his head, standing up once more. "He is alive. He is strong. He will survive. I do not know the reason for his disappearance, but I swear I will find him one day...but for now, my priority is you." He turned to her and placed a clenched fist over his heart. "I swore an oath to you, that I would protect you and Avenge your love. That is a promise I will not break, and it comes first." He sighed and turned back toward the forest and crossed his hands over his chest. "I suppose we should keep going. I do not know if they will send more but we cannot tarry for much longer."

[laraine]

She nodded, following James through the forest. She wasn't sure what to say, He seemed sincere in protecting her. And she was feeling a bit happy that she wasn't alone anymore. James was powerful. She hoped he could be powerful enough to kill those demons that hunted her.

"James, thank you for understanding my problems. Most people tend to run in fear and think I'm a monster when I talk about killing my father." She ran a hand through her pink hair. "But don't hesitate to ask me if you ever need any help either. I don't want to become a burden for you."

[Elf Prince Tekkarro]

James shook his head and continued walking silently among the trees of the forest. "You are neither a monster or a burden. I vowed to protect you and that's that. I do not need your assistance, nor anyone else's. I do my own work. I look out for others. It is what I do." he explained, as he kept trekking. he did not know why he helped her, that is true. He had a pitiful idea for a brief fleeting moment of why, but he knew it was foolishness. He instead decided it was merely duty that kept him honor bound, and his kept walking towards the next town.

[laraine]

They traveled through the forest for what it seemed like forever. After they both had spoken about their pasts, it seemed like they both wanted to remain in their own thoughts. Raine was still processing everything that James had said. It was hard to believe that such a kind guy like him would help her with her problems. Yet, there was still something unanswered for them both.

It was something that Raine had thought long and hard about, but she had yet to come up with a definite answer. She had some theories of course but those theories just made her more confused. She didn't know why she was being hunted. But she did wonder if it had something to do with her being a halfbreed. Most demon lines like to remain pure no matter what the cost. That much she knew growing up around her father and what he told her about the Risk family.

Still, they seemed to be going through a awful lot of trouble for just one little halfbreed girl. Raine shrugged, not really knowing what to do about it for now. It might be one of those questions that may be answered eventually. There is no use dwelling on it.

She looked behind her at James as they walked. The only reason she was pushing him away so much was the fact that she didn't want him to end up like Danny. She really couldn't bare someone else to die because of her. She had lost everything important to her. Still, she kept on living. Sometimes it was hard to remember why she kept breathing and living.

[Elf Prince Tekkarro]

James continued walking along behind Raine. He tried thinking about his past, his father, his brother, but his thought always wandered back to Raine, this strange girl he had just met yet he somehow had devoted his life to her. Why? His mind kept wandering to a solution but he pushed it away like a mind numbing virus he would not let subdue him. He kept staring at her and admiring her, then his thoughts trailed to her pursuers. The last two they had fought were easy, but of course they were not the strongest. The underestimated her, did not know she had a companion. So how strong was the Risk clan really?

Once again, James's mind wandered, and he found himself asking her, "So, you really loved Danyy huh?"

[laraine]

When James mentioned Danny, Raine looked down. A soft, yet sad smile appeared on her face. "I did. With all my heart." She said as she stared before her. One of her hands clenched into a fist over her heart. "He was the one who brought me back from the darkness within myself. You see, after I killed my father, I nearly lost my mind. The concequences weighed heavily in my mind on what I had just done. Killing my father, no matter what excuse was wrong. I was only 13 at the time and I nearly lost my sanity trying to come to terms with it all. I just, couldn't take it. Then grandma sent the demons after me. All I could do was run. But soon I realized I had my own power, and that power could help me defeat the demons. But, the power corrupted my heart. A heart that turned to ice and stone. I had lost everything, my family....my home. I had nothing, and that drove me to..." She closed her eyes and shook her head. "I felt no compassion for others, I was becoming a demon in all sense of the word. But then, I was badly wounded by another demon one day. And then this boy suddenly appeared. He looked down at me and didn't show fear. He smiled at me, a warm and wonderful smile."

She laughed a bit, remembering his smile. "He was different than the others, all Danny cared about was helping and bringing light to peoples darkened hearts. Like he did mine. He was sweet and charming, he surprised me with gifts often. At the time, I acted like a wild animal, afraid to get close to him. Afraid to open my heart. But slowly as the years passed, I began to grow and love him. His kindness and his love. "

Raine sighed. "If there was anything wrong, he was weak physically. He couldn't fight. He didn't believe that fighting would bring the heart happiness." She shook her head slowly. "So when the demons came to get me....I told him to let me fight them. I told him to stay behind me and let me protect him. But he knew I would get hurt and when I did, he came foreword, knowing that he would die. In exchange for my life, he gave his."

A tear slid down her face as the emotions bubbled to the surface. She blinked, and shook her head, hiding her eyes behind her hands. "I'm sorry. I must be babbling."

[Elf Prince Tekkarro]

James looked upon Raine with worry. He once again felt horrible for bringing her such sadness and causing her to cry. He did not want to cause her any more pain then he had already known she had faced. He shook his head, knowing his assumptions about his feelings, why he was protecting her, were wrong in the end. He felt so foolish for the lies he had told himself and brought to believe as truth. He was merely her protector, nothing more. He would help her then move on in his quest, they would never cross paths again. He walked forward and placed a hand on her shoulder, forcing a kind smile, but deep inside Gilashi laughed. "Feeling a lil crushed kid? You know, I bet your smile isn't half as good as Danny boy's" James ignored his demon and took his hand from her shoulder, still forcing the smile. "It is okay, you are not babbling. I am glad you shared that with me Raine. Now remove your hands, you are hiding your pretty face from the world. THat is a sin if there ever was one." he laughed, trying to cheer her up. He then frowned, his eyes turning from marble to steel once more as he got lost in his thouhts and feelings.

He kept walking towards their destination. "I am sorry for who I am. I am not as kind as Danny, nor as passive. I Fight to survive, I kill to protect those I care about from harm. I am a monster, but only from the actions of others have I become this way. I may not be the angel he was, but I am your protector none the less. I apologize for who I am. Let us be off. The sooner we finish off this nasty business the sooner we can part." His words bit into his skin and hurt him. He knew they were the truth, as cold and sharp as it was. But lying to himself would only hurt himself more in the end.

[laraine]

Raine listened to every word he spoke. She followed him and sharply walked in his way, turning to meet his eyes. She seemed a little angry. "Don't. Don't you dare say that about yourself." She grasped his shoulders and looked him in the eyes. James you are a wonderful person. Never doubt yourself like that. Danny was Danny, but you are you. Don't try to be someone else. Don't compare yourself to anyone. Yes Danny was kind. But he had many flaws. We fought about stupid things and Danny...he couldn't fight even if he wanted to." She hugged James. "You are who you are James and that's the best thing there is." Her face softened. "I loved Danny, but he's gone and he's never coming back. I became your friend because I liked who you are James. You are not Danny and you should be proud of that. Because then you'd no longer be alive."

Finishing her speech, she turned around and started to walk again. She wondered if he would understand what she was trying to say.

[Elf Prince Tekkarro]

James seemed slightly taken aback by her anger and her words. She was definitely a constant source of confusion, but he listened to what she had to say. He was also shocked by the hug, but he did not struggle to get free. He simply allowed her to vent, before following her once more. He supposed she was right but the main point of her speech was still a mystery to him. he supposed she simply meant that they would stay friends, and that was all James would really ever obtain of this woman, a friend. He supposed he should be grateful for that and to move on as planned anyway. He followed her in silence, still in a solemn state, listening for enemies.

[laraine]

Raine was trying to wrap her mind around what she had just said herself. His words seemed as if he liked her. But in what way, she wasn't sure. It seemed as if, no no way. James couldn't be jealous of Danny. While it was true Raine still often thought of Danny, she knew she would have to move on. But she was scared of moving on, not knowing if the next person she fell in love with would meet his same fate.

And also, whether she would survive the battle ahead. It soon was becoming dark and Raine looked around. "Shouldn't we be getting to the next town soon?" She asked James, she didn't show it. But she was exhausted.