Naveen

Maleen:

“Of course.  Do you want me to write down what you want to say then you can copy it or do you want to try to write it out on your own?”  I asked her. 

Maleen:

“Okay.” I set out a sheet of paper and gave her a pen to write with.  “Go ahead and write down what you want to say.  When you’re done I can correct it if it needs to be.” 

Maleen:

“That’s very good.  I’m sure he’ll like it.”  I looked over to the entry way hoping to see him coming back but there was no one there.   I sighed and started to turn back to her but my eyes flickered once again to the entry way as someone entered.  I perked up, but sighed when I saw it was only Rina.  

Rina:

I could see the worry in her eyes as I approached them.  “What’s wrong?”  I asked her once I was closer.  “Talon had Dorian escorted away by guards, and he hasn’t come back yet.”  I blinked in surprise.  

Rina:

I nodded.  “Good, keep practicing.”  I told her then squeezed Maleen’s shoulder as I turned to leave. 

Rina:

I smiled softly, “It wasn’t me.”  I said and stroked Maleen’s hair once.  She looked up at me with her unnaturally green eyes.  There was so much innocent emotion there, I wondered how anyone could ever think she was evil after looking into her eyes.  

Maleen:

I smiled shyly and leaned my head onto her shoulder.  “You make me happy too.”  I murmured.  

Rina:

I left them to their studying.  It seemed like a private moment.  I made my way toward Talon’s rooms, The girls were worried about Dorian, and I was frankly puzzled that Talon would call on him like that.  I hadn’t spoken much to Talon in the past few days, not since out conversation after the night we had spent together…  I wasn’t looking forward to asking him about Dorian, who knew how he would receive me. 

I turned around the corner into an open area.  Since the fortress was built on top of the mountain any given area could be several stories up.  This particular stretch over looked a garden a few stories down.  I paused to look at the beauty lit up by the moonlight.  It took me a minute to realize I was not alone. 

“Dorian?”  I moved closer to him.  He didn’t answer me.  He was leaning close to the railing and twisting something in his hands.  In one quick motion he hopped the stone railing and perched on the ledge. 

“No!”  I shrieked, lunging forward as he let go.  I caught him by the back of his jacket and by his arm, the force of it jolted my body and crushed my belly into the stone rail.  It took all of my strength to keep him from falling, I wasn’t strong enough to pull him back over.

My feet were slowly losing their grip on the floor, another minute and I would be pulled over the edge or be forced to drop him.  The rope around his neck would surely snap it or strangle him if I let go. 

“Help!  Please, help!”  I shrieked.  

Wren:

The screams of help reached us in the Library.  “That was Rina!”  I jumped to my feet.  “Stay here.”  I told Wren, doubting that she would follow my instructions.  I sprinted down the hall.    

Rina:

I fell to the ground and wrapped an arm around my bruised middle, breathing heavily.  “They’re in the library.”  I coughed. Dorian seemed devoid of emotion, he barely registered us.  

Rina:

I got to my feet without asking questions.  It was clear he knew what was going on, but now was not the time to press him.  I turned to fetch the girls but didn’t have to take more than a step to find them.  To sets of foot stepps were pattering down the hall and the girls rounded the corner with round worried eyes.  “Rina?”  Maleen called then her eyes widened farther when she saw Dorian and Talon behind me.  “Dorian!  What happened?!”  She ran to us.  

Rina:

I had managed to grab the rope from his neck before they reached us.  I held it out of sight behind my back. 

Maleen: 

I rushed to him.  “Dorian?  Dorian?”  I asked, he seemed to look right through me.  I turned my attention to Talon with tears swimming in my eyes.  “What did you do to him?!”  I demanded.