[Xanth]

Xanth was more than a little surprised that Nymphadora continued to defend her. She had expected anger or upset and for it to be aimed directly at her, not at the man the Nymph loved, so her reaction was delayed enough that Dora had almost made it to the portal before Xanth flung up a barrier to stop her. Shielding herself from the worst of Dora's turmoil, Xanth surged up off the dais and descended the steps of the dais, sparing a single glance for Sacha.

I am more flattered than you know, she began, her voice humming with emotion, that you have such faith in me. In this instance, however, you have chosen the wrong party to defend.

It was hurting Xanth more than she cared to admit that in admitting her mistake she had upset a girl who wanted nothing more to serve her and be her friend. She did not wish to see the stark betrayal that was sure to mask the Nymph's face as soon as she realised her 'goddess' was not the completely benevolent being she was thought to be. In truth, Xanth reacted to situations as they arose. She was no saint, though sometimes she wanted to be.

The day I recruited Chenoan, he refused me. I toyed with him, yet he continued to refuse me. In retrospect she should have known better. She should have let him be - was it not easier to catch more flies with honey than with vinegar? I merely asked how his girlfriend was faring. He read more into the question, but of course that was my intention at the time. And I will not lie and pretend I had no intention of harming you. The thought did cross my mind. Turning slightly so she was no longer facing Dora fully, Xanth let her words sink in.

[ Piper's Boutique :: Dafont :: Ca-pris :: Aethereality ]

[Nymphadora]

The moment the barrier came between Nymphadora and the portal, she paused, confused for only a brief moment. Eyes returning to normal as the wind died, she turned to look at Xanth, her brow furrowed at the question leaped from her brain before her mouth could form the words. Why did you do that? Sensing that Nymphadora wasn't going anywhere anytime soon, Sacha moved toward the portal and laid down, resting his head on his paws. His eyes remained on the two, waiting for when his Nymph would exit the throne room.

As Xanth spoke, Nymphadora looked at her, flabbergasted that she continued to hold this front and defend Chenoan. She didn't want to admit that she knew Xanth wasn't lying. She'd rather see flaw in someone who she thought was capable of it, rather than see flaw in someone she'd come to know as flawless. Chenoan... he'd be easy to get over the betrayal, but Xanth? Why? Shaking her head, she refused to believe it. She wouldn't believe it. No, I haven't... She said softly, trying to convince herself more than Xanth.

Looking into Xanth's eyes, her own growing with with the realization of what she was hearing. She listened to Xanth explain what had happened. Why Chenoan hadn't wanted to become an Aide she'd never know. And that was in part mainly why she could so easily put the blame on him. If this was the truth, then he would have snatched up the job eagerly. Wouldn't he? Hadn't she? Or had she?

The deeper her goddess got into her explanation, Nymphadora sank into the realization that Xanth wouldn't lie. She didn't need to lie. Thats why when she spoke of harming her, and actually meaning to at some point, that when her heart sank, and her eyes stung with tears. She never thought that the goddess she worshiped and adored, the one she'd befriended, would so easily threaten her very existence. Tears threatening to plunge down her cheeks, Nymphadora felt sick to her stomach.

And yet... she found herself angry. But not with Xanth... at Chenoan for not telling her. He was meant to love her, and share everything, but he lead her to believe that nothing was wrong. He hid something this big from her, and now she looked like an idiot because of it. She was upset with Xanth... betrayed actually. but she masked that deeper cut with the smaller one of Chenoan lie. Because withholding truth was the same as lying.

Sucking in her breath, Nymphadora didn't say a single word to her goddess. Turning on her heels, she have Sacha a look, and within moment he was beside her as she went through the portal. Pausing just before entering himself, he looked back at his creator with an obvious look of sadness and pity, wanting to comfort her, but knowing he belonged by his Nymphs side. Turning, he went through the portal as well.




Piper's Boutique & Nymphadora ¤ Dafont ¤ Aethereality ¤ Kate Beckinsale

[Xanth]

Xanth held the barrier for a moment as Dora tried to exit the Temple but lowered it almost right away. She had considered arguing her case in an attempt to heal the rift between them but Dora was too confused right now. She was still half convinced Chenoan was at fault and needed time to fully understand what had happened. Hearing Chenoan's side of the fiasco would do them all some good. Perhaps if he was vindicated in his girlfriend's eyes, Chenoan would not be so troublesome. Or perhaps he would become ever more arrogant until she fed him to one of her pets piece by piece.

Either way, there was not much she could do without stealing Nymphadora's free will. Xanth had long since vowed to herself never to do such a thing. She had broken that pact by interfering with Suka's memories, but he had consented. Perhaps not consciously but he had wanted rescue and the only way that could happen was to take back the damage caused to and by him by eradicating his memories of that period of his life. With Dora... She would either come to terms with this or she would not. Xanth was almost convinced that having Dora become yet another angry Aide would actually do the world some good, but deep down she would miss that bright-eyed eagerness to help and love. It was, after all, the main reason she had been attracted to Dora as a potential in the first place.

Time would tell. For once, Xanth did not wish to see the vague foreshadowings she could glimpse if she really tried. Premonitions often became self-fulfilling and the outcome was rarely good.

Watching the Nymph leave, smiling faintly for Sacha's benefit as he glanced back at her, Xanth sank to the marble floor and settled into the 'lotus' position, her gaze turning inward.


[ Piper's Boutique :: Dafont :: Ca-pris :: Aethereality ]

[Nymphadora]

Teleporting into the throne room, she collapsed to the floor the moment her feet touched the ground. Breathing heavily, her legs unable to support her own weight, Nymphadora sat on the floor trying to calm herself. Shaking slightly, she realized just how bad resseruction strained one's body. It might have been because this was her first time doing so, but if given a 24 hour grace period, she didn't want to know what happened within those last few moments of bringing someone back. If this had happened so soon, Piper only having been gone from the world mere minutes... she didn't want to know the results from a longer duration of death.

Bringing her hand to her top, she unlaced the front, opening her shirt. The design was much like a corset, its restriction of her lungs too much for her to handle at the moment. Glad she'd worn something underneath, Nymphadora couldn't help but smile at the thought of her being half naked when Xanth walked in. She'd turn beet red, and stay like that for decades. Shaking her head in amusement, and pre embarrassment, she felt her eyes droop from exhaustion.

Letting out a soft sigh, she allowed her mind to wander to her previous thoughts, the end result being something she wanted to discuss with Xanth. If her goddess could guide her, even as a friend, instead of a deity, it might make it easier to decide what to do about it. She knew she couldn't let Fariah out like she had before... it didn't solve anything... only proved to make matters worse. But it was quite obvious that she still existed... and Dora wasn't allowing her the freedom she required. Maybe it was Fariah that tried to kill Destiny. The yang to her ying. If everyone has to have a counter half to balance them out... perhaps Fariah was hers?

Leaving her eyes closed, Nymphadora softly called Xanth to her side. She wished she could be in a better state... but that couldn't be helped.

Piper's Boutique & Nymphadora ¤ Dafont ¤ Aethereality ¤ Kate Beckinsale

[Faroah]

Curled up on the throne where Xanth had left him, Faroah was fast asleep and dreaming of his nest when he heard the odd sound of something hitting the marble in a rush. His head shot up and he blinked repeatedly, snickering to alert the temple guardian but Midnight was already stalking towards the intruder. They both recognised Nymphadora at the same time and as Midnight prowled around to the back of the dais to nap in the shadows, no doubt avoiding a battle with Sacha who took his protection of the Nymph too seriously, Faroah shuffled his wings and hopped across the marble seat of Xanth's throne. Noticing the exhaustion on the girl's face, Faroah tipped his head to almost an exact ninety degree angle, watching her curiously. "Oo eh ihh ah?" Wanting to know what she was doing and why, he snickered at her, spreading his wings and sailing off the throne to land a few feet from her. Tiny claws scratching at the marble, he skittered across the remaining distance and up into her lap, tilting his head so she could scratch under his chin.

"Leave the Nymph alone, please, Faroah." Xanth's voice was soft in his head, a gentle reprimand as she pointed out just how exhausted the girl was. Faroah snickered and shook himself, his snout tensing in the dragon form of a sulky pout, but still hopped off Nymphadora's lap and skittered away as Xanth instructed. By the sound of it, she was coming to the Temple herself, so he didn't want to be told off in person. He could tell the difference between a "stop doing that, but please ignore me and continue anyway" and a "really stop doing that".

Teleporting back up onto the throne, Faroah curled up and tucked his head under his wing, pretending to sleep.

¤ Piper's Boutique ¤ Dafont ¤ Wonderland Effect ¤ Meilin Wong ¤ Anime Rain ¤