TDC Scene 8

WHERE THE HECK IS SHE?

Diana perched atop a boulder at the edge of the Shadowed Moon's forest, glaring into the distance. She was supposed to be back an hour ago. A freaking hour! Okay, so I only sent her an hour ago, but still. It doesn't take someone that long to go to town and back, especially a vampire! I bet Rhane's slowing her down. I knew it was a bad idea for her to bring him. I still don't know what she sees in him. To each her own, I guess. She's got hers, and I've got mine. She felt a slight thrill at the thought.

But still, what the heck is taking her so long? If she understood how important this is, maybe she would hurry! I mean really, how hard is it to hustle a little? It's only to the city! How could she dilly-dally while I'm sittin' here tearing my hair out over - holy crap! There she is!

Finally realizing that the approaching speck she had seen were the vampires, she leapt off of the rock, streaking towards them. "KASAI!!" she howled."What took you so long? Whadee say? Whadee say?" Taking note of Rhane at last, she began to shoo him away. "Get outta here, Raindrop!"

Calmly Kasai turned to him. "Rhane, can you go and wait in my chamber? I'll be there shortly."

"I'll meet you at dinner," he said. Kasai nodded and continued toward the forest.

"WELL?" Diana cried, frustrated by her friend's lack of reaction. "Whadee say? Whadee say? Are we gonna meet somewhere or not?"

"Can't you let me rest a while?" Kasai complained loudly. "I went ALL the way over to th-"

"Oh, don't you even start with that! It ain't that far, and you're a frickin' vampire! You can't get tired!" the werewolf protested. "Just tell me what he said and I'll let you 'rest'." She made sarcastic air quotes around the last word.

"Darkess, what haste! Can't you stay with your friend before running off into the sunset?" She stopped walking and turned to her. "Besides...I'm out of breath."

"Kasai, you don't have to freakin' breathe." Diana stared at her friend without amusement, for she was clearly not winded.

"Duh. That's why I'm out of it," said the vampire as though it were obvious.

Diana rolled her eyes. "Oh, for God's sake. Just quit with the excuses and give me a straight answer. Are we gonna meet or not?"

Kasai sighed. "Well, I'll tell you one thing - you can't choose a man to save that scrawny butt of yours. Cain? No way." Her blank countenance suddenly broke and she seemed to go into gossip mode. "Although...he has a good face, he's kinda tall, and has strong heads and feet and, oh Darkess, a great body...." She suddenly realized that she was betraying emotion and changed the subject. "Hey, have you eaten anything?"

Diana blinked, staring at her friend. "Uh, no," she answered. "I've been too nervous to do anything since you left! I already knew all of that about him. You can look, but don't touch; he's mine."

"Oooh, possessive, aren't you?" Kasai teased. "Nah, he's a werewolf and a bit young for me."

"Whatever. So what did he say?"

Kasai suddenly put her head in her hands, hiding a smile. "Ah, my head aches! Darkess!"

Diana gave her an unconvinced look, her hands on her hips. "I know you ain't pulling the migraine trick on me."

"You're the one who sent me on a suicide mission into Shiroke territory to seek out the pack leader's only son!" said Kasai accusingly. "I'm a vampire. One bite and you'd still be sitting here, dying for information."

"Yeah, but it doesn't look like you got bitten to me." The werewolf raised an eyebrow.

She paused. "Agh! My back!"

"GAHH!!" Diana threw her hands into the air. "Kasai, please!" she begged. "Just tell me what he said!"

The vampire rolled her eyes. "He said...like an honest gentleman, and a courteous, and a kind, and, I'll say, virtuous....Where's Velan?"

Diana blinked. "Wait. What? He wants to know where Velan is?"

"What? NO, you stupid! You're obsessed already, aren't you?"

"You haven't noticed? God! Just freakin' tell me what he said, Kasai, I'm dyin' here!"she howled.

"Fine, fine, but from now one, you do your own messages," Kasai relented. "So...do you have permission to leave the territory?"

"Uh...yeah. Why wouldn't I?"

She looked at Diana as though she were stupid. "Velan asked you to be Alphess. You're his favorite fae. Don't you think he has spies and tabs on you?"

She rolled her eyes. "Doesn't mean I can't sneak out. Anyway, why?"

"Be cause you are to meet at Chasity's castle. There, Cain will be waiting with a portal to the Human Realm. You go; I'm going to get something to eat," she turned to walk towards the forest again, "'cause you had to make me walk all the way over there and ba-"

She was cut off as Diana hugged her tightly from behind. "I love you, vampire."

"Sure, sure...whatever...." Kasai shook her head and walked on, smiling. "Oh, and Cain says hi," she called over her shoulder.