Boarding School for the Mythical

Vivian:

"Be happy I know where he is...your looking for what in olden times was called The Great Forest. Now...I think it is called Yosemite." I said looking at her.

~Time skip a week~
This was the longest I had remained in control since I was young. It was refreshing, it made me feel stronger. It had been difficult at first to be with the vampire. We had insulted each other enough the first day to have reused each one at least twice. The second day we argued over Sphinx, and everything else we had to decide on. The third day we were in mutual annoyed science. But the fourth day was when we really started talking without any contempt or jealousy. We asked questions about each other. He told me stories about Sphinx, I told him about myself, how I was locked in my own mind like a prison. I told him how I controlled the power, that I wasn’t bad, I could just do bad things when the power overwhelmed me. I told him that the other Tabitha was harmless and that she served as a second defense. From then on I started viewing him as a companion rather than someone I was stuck with.

Sphinx:

I twirled the staff in my hands, ducking under the blows directed for my head. I snapped out the left end, right into the gut of the man in front while the right end snapped backwards to impact into the gut of the man behind me. I twisted the staff the other way, spinning my own body like a top while my staffs ends impacted into the side of the pairs head. They dropped like sacks of potatoes, and I set the staff onto the ground. I leaned against it, watching the two until they woke up. "Never hesitate, and if your attacking together, leave them no room to dodge. You both went for my head, giving me ample time to attack back."

"Yes Saern." They said giving me a bow.

"Rest up, and take care of the rest of your studies. You are dismissed." I watched them pick up their staffs and go scampering off. They were good lads, if a little head strong. I turned my gaze skyward to the sun over head.

I stepped out from my hiding place where I had been watching him. “Nice show.” I said softly as I walked up.

Sphinx:

"I didn't mean for it to be a show. It was to teach them a lesson." I said softly, bringing my eyes down to the voice. So they had shown up already hm?

I paused a few yards from him. “Are you surprised to see me?” I asked, lacing my fingers together in front of me.

"No. Though I feel like I should just leave." I said while giving my staff a tap on the ground. I closed my eyes and a portal opened behind me. "You have ten seconds."

My temper flared up. “Ten seconds to what?” I demanded. “We did what you asked, we came to find you together. What do you want me to do? Beg? Cause I wont.” I crossed my arms.

Sphinx:

"What did you learn from this?" I asked softly the portal still open behind me.

A smile quirked at my lips. “That you’re a pain in the ass. And that you’ve always been.” I answered.

I shrugged my shoulders, "I have been called worse. But why did you come. Velarric is much like a younger sibling, always getting underfoot. So why did you come, I know which half you are."

“Do you? Well it doesn’t matter does it? One’s as good as the other right?” I asked with a little frown. “I came because It was the right thing to do. I’m here now because Velaric is in our cabin sleeping.” I said.

Sphinx:

"Would have been very impressed if you had gotten him to come during the day time." I admitted before letting go of the staff. It stayed standing where I had balanced it as I walked around it then stepped up to her. "You know, I never saw you as two different people. There is only one Tabitha. Just because a coin has two sides doesn't mean that people don't enjoy collecting them." I reached out a hand carefully to touch her cheek. "You are much more valuable than any coin or any collection."

I looked into his eyes for a moment  then dropped my gaze and stepped back just enough to be out of his reach.  “You don’t see me for what I am.  I don’t blame you.  It’s confusing for someone who hasn’t grown up with it.  I’m not the same, and yet I am.  I share everything that I am, and yet I am different.  And at the same time my own self despises me, because I’m not whole.  And I despise her, but I love her also.”  I said softly.  “You can’t see me for what I am Sphinx.  You might never.  The question is, are you coming back with us or not?”

Sphinx:

My fingers closed into a fist and let my hand drop to my side. I sighed through my nose and turned my gaze skyward, running my hand through my hair. I wasn't sure how to answer her question, was I going to go back with her? They came sure, but part of Tabitha no longer wanted me. Was it fair to make one miserable to make the other feel better? If I left I lost, if I went with her I lost.

I watched him think. If I said nothing he would probably have given an answer. But my temper was short, fueled by frustration at myself and him. “Stay here then. Don’t come back with us. I should have known this would end like this. At least I got something out of it. Not you but something I needed dearly.” I turned on my heel to leave but looked over my shoulder. “He isn’t going to be happy about this. He was right, we should have done this together. You would have listened to him. But he wont stop, he’ll keep searching until he finds you.”

Sphinx:

"How do you make two people happy, knowing that no matter what you do, one of them wont be happy?" I asked softly, bringing my eyes down to look at her. I hesitated then moved forward and wound my arms around her waist, hugging her.

I blinked in surprise then closed my eyes tightly, swallowing the lump in my throat. I hugged my arms over his then said brokenly, “You let one go.” I let out a soft breath and leaned against him to keep from falling over.

"And if I can't? And if I have fallen for both of them? Because I never saw them as anything more than the whole of them combined?" I asked softly in her ear.

I heard him, but I had already relinquished my mind. I was already sinking into the darkness of my cage.

Tabitha:

I gave a soft moan and drew in a sharp breath, I felt queasy, and my head was pounding.

I held her close to me still, closing my eyes and sighing through my nose. I would have to work on the other half of her personality. I wasn't going to accept just having part of her. I wanted Tabitha as a whole.

Tabitha:

I blinked and then struggled against whoever was holding me. I gave a nauseous moan.

"Honey, Tabitha it's okay. It's me Sphinx." I whispered in her ear while holding her gently.

Tabitha:

I settled down but I was breathing heavily and my heart was racing. “Where are we? Why are we here? What are we doing?” I asked breathily.

"Yosemite park. I am holding you in my arms until you calm down and feel better." I told her softly, planting a kiss on top of her head.