[old Sicilien]

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Sicilien barked out a "Ha!" at Chase saying indicating that he will have no need of her after this whole fiasco is done.? However, he did take note at how Chase would steal glances at Etienne every now and then, that he knew that there was more than her just being some kind of a pawn in this demonic entity's chess game.? When the man asked about what was up with Sicilien and Etienne, well...he felt his tightly wound heartstrings start to tremble.? No, he told himself, you are not going to go through this again.? You have mourned her in the past.? There was nothing else left to mourn.? He's left that part of himself behind and locked the rest of it away.

?

"The last time I ever saw her, she was dead.? I watched her die right in front of me, and I could do nothing about it," he said through gritted teeth, glaring at Etienne as his fists balled on the horse's reins.? It started to hurt too much, so he looked away, looked back at Chase.? He wondered if the man could see the pain behind his sky blue eye.? If he could see inside of Chase, he was sure that Chase could also see inside of himself too.? "Ever hear of the crater of Palenuma?? That was me...I did that...when she was lost to me, I went mad...? There is nothing else left of that town except a charred black hole where there used to be life."

?

He heavily sighed out as they continued on, hidden behind Flynn's spell of protection.? Now that the left the town confines, they were out in the open.? Too open for his liking.? There was nothing to use as cover should they come across yet another obstacle that was going to keep them from their destination.? It was unsettling to say the least...it was like something was going to happen, it was just a matter of time.

?

"I mourned her, Chase.? I mourned her for years, until I could mourn no more and cut that part of myself off and locked it deep inside.? Yet, somehow she is right in front me, alive and well.? Am I hallucinating?? All I would have to do is reach out and touch her, but she dances away from me," he said, trying to keep the anger out of his voice, but failing to do so.? "No explanation, no reasons, not even an excuse.? But I don't know that I should expect anything less, really.? She did always like to play her stupid games."

Chase heard Flynn, but it only told him this was a different kind of magic…maybe part of the Umbra Chase was connected too.

Chase believed in God…but also in Gaia now.? He had become closer to the other after the death of his wife and child.? He knew there was some truth in both the father in heaven and the great spirits of the earth.? He wanted to believe and trust but too much of the unexplained had both happened and had occurred.

Chase knew she was spoken for by Sicilien but that didn’t stop him from glancing at the lovely flower.? He had maybe hoped…no that was not something he would hope for any longer.

?Chase saw the man’s knuckles go white as Chase asked the questions of him now, could he blame Sicilian for missing her?

No, he too saw beauty in her form and the steel in her soul any man…he would be lucky to have her back.? The clenching of the reins told Chase the lack of truth in Sicilian’s words, as the kiss told so much more.? Sicilian still longed for her and but a word from her would fling those flood gates of desire and emotion once more.? Chase kept his face neutral as he listened.

?Chase heard the timbrel in the Sicilian's voice, his heightened senses remained on this side of his transformation as well.

Chase also knew pain, that loss hurt like no other.? They were brothers in arms and in steel.? The only difference between them was the curse Chase now had and that Sicilian's woman was still alive.? He was not.

Chase realized how much pain the man had gone through mourning but should he feel sorry for his loss or angered that others had to suffer for the destruction of his hurt feelings.?

?He didn’t say anymore the one thing Chase wasn’t was a hypocrite? He couldn’t nearby judge the man that had done in one fell swoop what he had done in the last few years of his existence.? He got all of his out too, Chase has been killing, breaking, maiming and bringing in outlaws with a vengeance each time he prayed that one or two would resist almost daring them too so he could inflict the pain upon them that was hijacking his soul.? The beast within him was ruthless because that was where he buried his hurt, his pain and when it was allowed loose nothing generally survived so he worked hard to keep it under control.

“So she is the cause of all of that pain and destruction.? You couldn’t control yourself so others had to suffer?”? He wasn’t asking to point the finger but to get him to see the fact, that he still wanted some of that pain…still.? “But you still want to dance though…don’t you?!?

Your first instinct was to kiss her…whether it was her or someone that looked like her.? Whatever her reasons for leaving you…a part of her is still there for you and you for her.? Now you have to decide on whether you want to play the game still or not?”? He knew there were some sour grapes to Sicilian’s tone when really he wanted what Callie and Flynn seemed to have.? It was the way of the world, It was truly understandable but who would pay the penalty for the sacrifice this time??

(Flynn)

Flynn was feeling the fatigue of maintaining the illusion spell that was keeping them hidden.? He didn't want to stop, but neither did he want the spell to collapse when they were getting close to Miller's Crossing.

"Have to stop," the pookah murmured to Callie and the others, holding up a hand.? "Camp here.? Rest." Sliding off of his horse, he slowly uncinched the saddle and removed the bridle, his eyes closed as he worked, keeping one foot in the dreaming.? He whispered some words in his horse's ear, dropped the saddle and his gear on the ground and proceeded to lay down next to them.

"Don't go... outside the circle," he cautioned, sounding like a man talking in his sleep.? "No matter what you see or hear. Not even to take a piss... or a dump.? And don't let your horses out... neither. Nothin' out there likes us... and somethin'... something's lookin' for us... lookin' real hard.? And don' wake me up unless the prairie's on fire...? That'd be... bad."

With that, the pookah rolled onto his side and within seconds was in deeper sleep, but still maintaining the greenish circle that surrounded them.? His horse stayed close, idly munching on some grasses, but every now and then raising its head and looking into the darkness and flicking an ear before resuming feeding.

Tag: ?Chase, Callie, Flynn, Sicilien, Etienne. Charity (jumping in periodically),?