TRISTON'S POV

"I can't stay here any longer! I've gotta find Mama! Surely she must be worried sick about me! I must go," she sobbed, begging Zmey to let her go. It was a last resort. After three weeks, she hadn't been able to find a way out yet. She had no idea what was happening outside the grounds. Alisdelisgi confided in me how she missed her mother, and how she missed her job at the Freedom Country Cafe and how they've probably reported her missing by now since she's never missed a day since she started four years ago.

Truth be told, she didn't think Zmey was as bad as he first seemed. Other than the one time he hit her, and the fact he wouldnt let her go, she thought he was a pretty decent, well to do man. If only she knew the half of what he'd done since he hired me. I can't tell her, ir maybe it is just that I won't. If she knew, well, she'd be appalled and mortified, possibly even disgusted with him.

"I can't do that. If I come back, it ain't gonna be for you. If I come back, it'll be for somebody else here. I cannot marry you, because I don't love you. I'm twenty. You can't keep me prisoner forever. I've made this clear time and time again," she replied just as harsh, I'd not harsher than I would have expected her to.

She was frustrated with his constant pleas and proclamations of love while the one she fell in love with didn't acknowledge her. She won't tell me who the undeserving bastard is, only that she's ninety-five percent sure he doesn't love her back. When I find who it is, well, lets say he isn't going to like me too well when I give him a peice of my mind. Jealousy and anger flashed in my master's eyes just as it had so many times that day. My guess was he knew who it was among his people who'd unknowingly stolen her heart. He'd probably analyzed her every move, her every glance, every emotion on her face, and her interactions with those on his grounds.

Much to Alisdelisgi's pleasure, I managed to talk Zmey into finally letting her wear jeans, tank tops, and tee-shirts. Much to my displeasure, it came at a high price, one I wasn't sure I could handle. It was then I realized that I would do literally anything to make her happy, even if I came to harm or had to betray my master. The price was that I must serve him for life, and if I ever betrayed him, well, it wouldn't be pretty.

"You know I can't do that, Alisdelisgi, not until you agree to my terms. You must agree to come back here. You must agree to marry me, be my wife. I know you're young, only twenty, but I've loved you since I first laid eyes on you." Okay, so this was her main problem with him. She had never seen him before he kidnapped her, yet he's apparently loved her since she was fifteen and he was thirty. In the six weeks she has been here, she has fallen in love with somebody other than Zmey. To say he was furious and impatient, well, that's quite the understatement.

Furious with his lack of understanding, she stormed off to the gardens where she always went to be alone. Not realizing she wasn't alone, she made balls of ice and watched them melt. It was something I think she found soothing that she could do year round no matter where she was. "Rather impressive, Alisdelisgi. How long have you been able to do that?" Startled, she yelped, then realizing who it was, came over to me and sat down. "Umm...not sure, actually. Mama used to laugh and say that when I was born, I had earth at my feet, water in my right hand, fire in my left, and a golden aura while a breeze rippled my little red curls. You're not gonna tell Zmey are you, Triston? It's a genetic thing in my family that passes different elemental powers throughout the family. In my case, all of them, including spirit." I could hear the pleading and fear beneath the strength she portrayed.

Smiling, I took her rough hands and looked into her blue eyes framed by her flaming red hair. "My dear Alisdelisgi, I would never tell him. You need not worry, your secrets are safe with me, Darlin." Withdrawing my hands, I made a breeze ripple through her red curls. Turning back to her, I smiled, then laughed as she looked at me amazed. "Well, you didn't think you were the only family who had the powers, did you? If Zmey found out, he'd have a legit witch-hunt or he'd find a way to make money off of us, or maybe both."

"Well, no, I just didnt think you did. Your aura doesn't have the normal colors of element users." After several minutes of focusing, she let out an audible gasp. "Your aura, it's like, I don't know, it's hard to describe. It's really dark streaked with white, gold, and blue. Wait, gold...By the Goddess Alisdelisgi, you're a spirit user?!" Laughing, I nodded. "To be fair, Madam, it runs in several, not many, but several bloodlines throughout the elementals. I wondered how long it would take for you to find out. My aura is black because I use spirit more than I should, and the darkness is a side affect from it." With that, I scooped her up and carried her to the cabin.

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Teaser: "DO YOU EVER THINK BEFORE ACTING?"

What's happened this time? Who's this directed at?