Second Chance, or Mistake? (Taha)

[Rissa O'Sullivan]

Rissa eyed the flute in her hands with such intensity that one would think it might come alive at any moment. It was just a simple wooden flute, but if that fae wasn't lying it would call him to her. If you'd asked her a week ago would she ever contemplate calling him back to her, she would have laughed in your face. Her, call for that frustrating unseelie who had been the cause of so much trouble? Hah!

Yet here she was now, contemplating doing that very thing. She had already wasted an hour in this park, alternating between starting at the flute and reading a paperback that was currently lying on the ground beside her. The problem was, she just wasn't sure if this was the right decision to make or not. Make no mistake, she did not want this to be an invite for him to start stalking her again.

But there were unanswered questions that Rissa had for Taha, ones that she wasn't going to find answers for anywhere else. And not to mention, she wanted information on that other unseelie as well. The dark fae were everywhere lately it seemed, and that wasn't a good thing. She was supposed to be taking the lead on the fae-haters meetings as it was; they would turn on her if they even had an inkling that she willingly spoke to not one but two unseelie.

And they needed all the leadership they could get; they were still very much a ragtag group of individuals rather than any cohesive unit, and their numbers had shrunk over the past few days. Deaths, people who had been threatened into not taking a stand anymore… the most prominent death was that of the woman next door who’d started to take an interest in the goals of the faction. Lisa had lived next to the pub for a couple years now and poor woman, no one had suspected a thing until she killed herself.

Rissa sighed. She really needed to make a decision - either play the flute, or do something productive with her day. There were a million and one things that needed doing, so it's not like she had all day. Plus, who knew how long she would have this area to herself. She'd picked this spot for the very reason that not many people ever came by here, and even fewer in the past couple months. Currently it was devoid of anyone except for herself and some birds, and with luck it would stay that way. Since she didn't want to do this in her apartment - no way was she inviting him in there - this was the second best place.

Eventually the need for information won out. Hoping this wasn't a colossal mistake, she raised the wooden flute to her mouth and blew softly through it for a few seconds before setting the flute on the ground. Now all she could do was wait and wonder if it was even going to work. It was entirely possible all this indecision was for nothing, and he wouldn't even show up.

While she waited she picked back up her book, keeping a part of her attention on the surrounding area as she read. The knife he had given her was in quick reach by her side, just in case he showed up less than friendly this time around.

[Taha Darkness Mahalasioan]

Taha was pacing around the room at Kaelens house. He was tense and in a foul mood. He had not seen Rissa for a few days. He hadn't slept since he had met Olym, and he was going to hold his promise despite the fact that Olym could be a problem. Taha would lose it if Rissa started to date Olym. However he would not get in her way. Who had known he would be such a whipped fae, when it came to love?

Taha sat down, as he was alone for a few seconds, letting his head rest in his hands. He didn't move when Kaelen entered the room, nor did he look up. If there was one fae that Taha trusted his life with, it had to be his older brother Kaelen. Of course his brother wanted the throne, and Taha wasn't sure if he wanted the same, or just help Kaelen get it. Either way he would be close to the throne, and that meant powers. Taha just leaned back as he looked at the fireplace.

Taha hadn't said why he was there, nor why he wasn't eating or even sleeping or talking. Kael knew Taha enough to let him be for now. Not that Taha would ever lie to his brother. But then faes didn't lie period. Taha looked at the smoke and the glass Kael was holding, and just sent his older brother a faint smile. He didn't feel like doing anything, except maybe die. It was clear to him, that Rissa would never call him. She would never miss him, or even be curious about him. He had lost.

Taha just looked at the fire, as he wondered if he could find a song that he could use to take the element and control it. He rubbed his temples and simply shook his head no to the drink Kael was offering him. He just closed his eyes and simply pictured Rissa in front of him. Yelling with her eyes on fire, and her hands on her hips where she looked even more stunning. Not that Taha could dream Rissa more stunning than she already was.

He looked at Kael and simply got up. He walked past his brother and just placed his hand on Kaels shoulder before he left without saying a word. He just started walking homewards. He didn't really care about the time, nor the fact that it wasn't raining for a change. Taha simply had his hands in his pockets and kept his eyes on the ground, as he wasn't going in any hurry. However he managed to stop himself before he turned down Rissas street. He was annoyed that his legs had taken him to her, however he was not surprised.

He simply stopped and looked down the street before he turned his back to it, and simply walked away from her. His life. Taha kicked a rubble on the street as he was angry with himself. Why had Rissa gotten under his skin, why a human. Why her? But he had already answered his own question. Because she was who she was. The human fact didn't really play a part, it was her attitude, her looks. Her smile. Her eyes. Taha stopped, god if this was being in love, why did humans and some faes want it this badly.

Taha had never felt this bad, scratch that. He had never felt that bed, since he had his memory removed. Anything before, was a blur and hazy. He knew that Kael had helped him, why he haqd chosen to erase his mind was something that Kael avoided talking about. So Taha had stopped asking. He knew and trusted that Kael would know what was best for him. Taha had no idea what would have forced him to such an extreme thing. But he had done it. If Taha had known better, he would have sworn that he had done it for love, or more lack of.

Rissa was in his blood, and she didn't want him. Taha wouldn't erase his memory. The idea of losing Rissa even if she never wanted him, made him sick to his stomach. Taha stopped as something suddenly pulled him. He wasn't ready for it, and the pain that shot through his chest, made him stagger, almost screaming as he crunched forward. However he did not make a sound. Not even exhaled.

Taha knew where he was, or more precisely who had summoned him. He was behind her. With his hands firmly grabbed around his knives. He was behind her. However despite everything, he knew it was her. Not that he could feel the pull of the flute, it was her wanting him close to her, that had him holding his breath. Taha looked around. She looked like she wasn't in trouble. If anyone hurt her, he would chase them to the end of either world, and make them pay and suffer. Taha knew if he asked Kael would keep an eye on her. However Taha hadn't talked about her to anyone.

He knelt down behind her. Placing his hand on her shoulder, as he shushed her. Looking around, just in case she was in trouble. Not that she was sending him the I-am-in-trouble-vibe. He tried not to scare her, and when she yelped and jumped up, he stayed on his knee. Making sure he didn't come of as a threat. No matter that she had called for him, he didn't want her to be scared of him. Though he had never gotten that vibe from her. She didn't scare easy, and that was just one of the many reasons he loved her.

[Rissa O'Sullivan]

Rissa didn't have to wait long; it wasn't much more than maybe ten minutes before she felt a hand on her shoulder. She hadn't heard anyone come up behind her - a testament to his fae stealthiness - and reflexes took over at the unexpected touch. "What the..." Jumping up, she spun around while reaching for the knife at her side.

Upon seeing who it was, she relaxed. There was nothing threatening at all about him. In fact, if anything he seemed... harmless? There was something about the way he just waited that spoke volumes. Oh good grief, please don't tell me he's been missing me.

But it was there in his eyes, in the way he looked at her. This had bad idea written all over it.... she just knew it. And, darn it if some small part of her didn't relax at seeing her fae stalker again, as if he was something she'd become accustomed to having around over last week and something that she'd not known she'd been missing until now. Oh, that was not cool... not cool at all. But she was just going to ignore that small part of her.

She sighed and cleared her throat; it was best to get this over with quickly. "Look, I didn't call you back to me because I missed you or anything. So don't get any ideas. There's things I need to know, and you're my best chance at getting what I want. First of all, I've done some digging since last week," with the help of Ada, that was, "and I came across some very interesting tidbits about that knife you gave me. Myths about a very special blade that was forged to protect the bastard child of the king of the unseelie.

Even more interesting? Is that any fae other than the child would be poisoned by the handle of the knife. And yet... either you are able to touch it, or you handled it in such a way that it wouldn't hurt you. Where did you get the knife, Taha? I need to know if I'm eventually going to have people - fae, human, it doesn't matter the race - knocking down my door for such a rare item."

Watching him closely to gauge his reaction, Rissa continued on without giving him the chance to speak. "And one more thing. What do you know about a dark fae by the name of Olym Feir?" Judging by the fact that she had already been not-so-subtly quizzed on anything she knew by said dark fae, the two weren't on good terms. If there was anything Taha might be able to tell her... anything at all, then she would take it. She didn't want to get involved in fae politics... they were causing enough trouble in her life as it was. All she wanted was to complete her job.

And hopefully Taha would be on good behavior. She didn't know what to expect; if he was just going to disappear or if he would actually talk to her for more than a minute. Or if he was going to try anything funny. In fact, she was starting to regret giving in to using the flute. Remind me, why did I anyway?