Sitting upon the tree limb in the highest branch, Ana closed her eyes and relished the cool air against her warm skin. She took a deep breath, pushing back all thoughts about Makal. The sun was rising up just passed the horizon, casting beautiful hues of red and yellow in the sky. Looking down, Caleb was putting out the firewood.
Ana jumped the few hundred feet off of the branch and landed gracefully beside Caleb. He shook his head and muttered, "Showoff," under his breath. He grabbed his pack and slung it over his shoulder, pushing passed Ana and started walking down the trail.
Ana frowned. "I heard that." Ana followed him, though she was unsure as to why. "Where are you going?" she asked him nonchalantly. She wanted to slap herself. She was being tripped up by this guy just because he reminded her of someone from her past.
"I'm a demon slayer. I'm going to my next job," he replied without looking behind him, just kept walking at the fast pace he had set.
Ana was torn. She could go back to the lord of the castle and collect on the large sum of money he had promised her and go on merry way. If she was smart, that's what she would do, but she was being pulled by this guy. No, she refused to be sucked in again. She wouldn't be able to take it this time.
She turned and headed back to the castle, leaving Caleb to go on his own way. The sooner she was away from him, the better. Running through the trees, she was back at the court yard in a flash. Pushing her way passed the guards, she entered the throne room only to find Caleb standing in front of the King.
Frowning, she stormed up behind him. "What are you doing here?" she snapped angrily. She had wanted to get away from him, and he had followed her here?
Caleb turned and frowned down at her. "What are you doing? Stalking me?"
"What?" Ana was taken aback. "No! I'm here to collect." She turned her attention to the King and held out her hand. "I assume I will be compensated for my work."
The King looked at a loss for words. Ana frowned and glared at him. Caleb stepped forward, "If you might recall, I was the one that slayed the demon while you took your little power nap."
"Excuse me?" Ana couldn't believe what she was hearing. The King hadn't trusted her to do this, so he had called for back-up? Unbelievable. She wasn't about to take it, however. Her eyes started glowing as the demon part of her was taking control. Aggression would be enhanced.
Suddenly, a charm was placed on her upper biceps of her left arm, which stopped the demon blood in it's tracks, calming her down. "What did you do to me?" Ana whipped around, facing the priest before her.
"That charm binds you to young Caleb. Now you can't use you demon side unless Caleb gives his consent. But, he can also easily take it away again," the priest replied.
Ana grabbed at the charm, pulling and yanking on the slim bracelet-like thing. A small, electrical pulse shocked her hand away.
"I'm sorry Miss Morana, but you alone will never get that off," the priest assured her knowingly. Ana bared her teeth at him, but he never flinched. Turning, Ana was ready to rip Caleb to shreds if it meant getting the stupid thing off of her.
"You have two seconds to get this off of me," she warned him, elongating her nails into talon-like claws, eyes glaring.
Caleb looked at the priest. "So, what you are basically saying is that I have control over her while she is wearing that? I can make her do anything I wish?"
The priest nodded. "Yes, young master."
Caleb smirked at Ana. "On your knees and apologize," he ordered, pointing at the ground before him.
Ana wanted to laugh. As if she would ever- Suddenly, her body was moving on their own. She was on her knees, bowing to him. "I-I'm s-so-s-sor-ry." She struggled against her own body to no avail. She had no control over anything. She found once she had completed the task, she had control once more.
Within a blink of an eye, she was suddenly holding Caleb off of the ground. "You shouldn't take me so lightly," she glared, throwing him against the wall.
"Stop," he ordered, getting back up to his feet. Ana had no choice but to obey.
"Why are you doing this to me? Get this off of me and I'll be on my way," she told him, unable to comprehend what was in it for him.
"Are you kidding me? With you under my control, I would never be beaten. We would be the ultimate duo!"
Ana closed her eyes. She was bound to this loser until he deemed it fit to release her from her retched curse. Crossing her arms, she waited for him to finish his deal with the King.
"Come," he waved her after him, and she found her legs moving all on their own after him. This was the worst thing that could ever have happened to her. She would just as soon die than take this, and from him no less. Ana followed silently behind him as they made their way to who knows where. Ana didn't care. She hadn't a choice in the matter no matter where they were going.
*What do you think? I have a bunch of scenes taking shape in my head already!*
