iliana amaranth

She's habitually paradoxical, a parallel perpendicular;

Celo's words soon flooded her with absolute delight! The thought of anyone putting Mr Crow in his place caused the woman to cast an amused glance at her raven friend. That large black bird croaked his utter opinionated defiance. "We will see who teaches who. Good riddance, a dog teaching a raven! BAH! I should like to see him try." The raven stated rather grouchy, his voice trailed off into a series of muttered grumbles which only sounded like broken short croaks. His black eyes seemed to judge the jackal intensely as if he debated the very idea of challenging him right then and there. Iliana's silvery eyes seemed to shimmer within the beams of the moonlight through the canopy of trees overhead. " I think.... He POLITELY accepted your challenge." She emphasized the word politely to the raven overhead, knowing those words were far from mannerly. She shook her head softly a giggle bubbling from her all the same.

They moved on swiftly, the jackal watched her with warm intent eyes. She was oblivious to the fact that he wasn't listening at all. Instead, he replied prompting a flicker of curiosity within her. How easy it was to ensnare her attention. What did he know? Surely he knew something she didn't. Some curious cryptic thing laced within the meaning of the world of temporary. She caught that very look in his eye, that mischievous glint as he peered up at her in a curious way before sitting down. His words seemed to cause her face to brighten like the most vivid full moon the moment it registered. She could hardly help that wide smile that tugged resolutely upon her lips. REALLY?? Best friends. That was the first time anyone had EVER called her that. She let that pride appear outward as it did in. His paw outstretched as if in some silent deal. She eagerly took it gently within her slender hand, her thumb tracing the bones covered by his glistening coat, the pads of his paws rough against her fingers. She gave it a good shake, that is what people did with hands right? "Best friends." She agreed.

Just after she released it, the woman thought she heard something ominous deep within the woods. It immediately struck her with an odd sense of icy fear that felt deep within her core.

It was odd for the fae that was normally blissfully fearless within her woods, there was often nothing to fear. She jumped abruptly searching around for phantoms that hardly existed. Instantly, the jackal moved from playful and at ease into full blow protector at once. She would never forget the sound that rippled beyond the threshold of his lips. He searched to face that threat as he transformed into something far more dangerous. It hardly made her nervous, that sudden shift. It was nothing and suddenly those words of concern pooled from him. It was nothing, there were no vampires to emerge from the shadows. It was all in her head. How foolish she felt, jumping at dark as she did. Ghosts it had to be ghosts. She was inclined to believe those words that he would protect her. How that would have made her laugh before, there was nothing to be protected from! But now it seemed to bring her comfort as that worry gnawed at her from deep within her heart. She nodded for the reason that it would certainly it would not come to that. She lowered easily to the ground allowing her hands to press into that thick, wiry and yet smooth fur, as much a comfort to herself as it was for him. Despite being within clear view of his teeth. She had the utmost faith in him. They were lovely teeth after all. "There is no need to fight. I am the fastest.." She said the words but she didn't quite believe them, her brows soon stitched into a frown.

It was then, as her hands reached his ears that her coat tugged upward. Those vivid bruises peeked into view. He was quick to notice, even before she did. She was quick to attempt to quiet the storm she saw in his eyes. Perhaps she should tell him. That shift occurred so fast she could barely get to her feet in time. That worried look clear upon his now human face. A look she was hardly used to seeing upon his usual carefree features. His hand reached to pull her arm forward, scanning at the fingerprints that marred her once pristine flesh. She rambled on, avoiding his eyes as she did. It was when he said he would kill, that caused the immediate widening of her silvery eyes to meet his own chocolate stare. "Celo, it's ok really. I am ok. I don't think he will come back. I am too fast.." Violence seemed to worry her, causing a wild flutter within her own chest. The safety for Marcelo seemed to worry her more. Her words fell upon deaf ears, she could see it, practically feel his heated rage like she could feel the shift of an impending storm. The ruby eyed boy terrified her, his eyes haunted her dreams when she slept but the thought of losing Celo to him was far worse a thought.

He abruptly seemed to pace, back and forth that it was dizzying. Illy was at a loss at what to do. How to calm him. What if she.. He growled. "Please Celo.." She pleaded then. He stopped before her once more, while intensity raged inside of him. His hands found her shoulders, his body radiated a warmth. He spoke of a promise that sent her heart aflutter. She seemed confused as to what to say. She hardly wanted him so full of rage. This was not him. She would have said anything to calm him at that moment and she attempted.

The silver fae lowered her chin, as her gaze lowered at that final admittance. It was perhaps worse than that crushing kiss the boy stole from her.

Hate. Hate was not an emotion the silvery fae could comprehend. She could never hate anyone, not ever. To hear those words, even from a stranger. That the ruby eyed boy hated her seemed to crush her worse than all of his barbed threats. Even worse than the bruises he left behind, that for some reason stung the most. Marcelo surprised her by pulling her close into the softest of embraces. It hardly seemed to register even though she turned her head to rest her cheek upon the heated plains of his chest. A gentle sigh escaped her as he encased her in that simple reassuring hug.

It hardly mattered that he was barely clothed. A few tears rolled softly down her cheek before she returned that hug, clinging to him fiercely as she had that tree she once climbed. She closed her eyes so tight, listening to the rumble in his chest as he spoke and his heartbeat when there was silence. A vague recollection of something singing in the back of her mind. His voice and words. A sharp gasp escaped her and she uttered out wide-eyed. "OH no!" She blurted suddenly. Muscles. She recalled that warning vividly, the gullible woman believing his warning once spoken in earnest.

The raven above stirred above before he swooped down as Ily immediately pushed away. Mr Crow uttered his outrage in an awful scream. He perched protectively upon her shoulder, menace in his obsidian eyes cawing. At the very least Iliana had prevailed getting back that mysterious necklace.

barefoot in nightgowns, that's how she dances in the rain;