Tirade

I met nicole at the grotto, we sat down and had lunch... i couldn't really savor the honey-bread though... the meat was too tempting, i tried to resist but nicole noticed and handed me some. She gave me a look that said 'don't be stupid'. "You know i love you boy. There's no need to save face because i always will. Now eat. okay?", "Man i hate it when you use the 'love-you-like-a-brother' card." But i was starving. "So, you going to finish teaching me that spell now?" of course... she wouldn't forget that."Fine, but if you make a mess of it i'm not cleaning it up," "Deal" she laughed, she never asked for my help but i'd give it to her anyway.

We studied that spell for the rest of the day, teaching a hate spell, well... i know all about it so... but she has no clue. She struggled with that spell for hours on end, for days and days and finally in three months... she finished. Her longest spell to learn so far.

"So now i can get oprav off my back right?", "Only so long as it's not true love... you know i was wondering what that was exactly-","True love-please just don't start on that again.","again?", "oh. oops." She was reading my mind again!? "I told you to stop that!","I'm trying. it's hard to close myself off from you." Nicole had lapsed into silence and blushed... what? nicole doesn't blush! "What!?", "We're uh, too close... i can't shut you out." Her head kept bowing until she looked like she was going to fall over. Ah so that's it. "You think i'm going to lecture you about demons and humans again." I couldn't help it. i laughed, nicole just sat there trying to look disapproving until finally. "Oh that's so unfair you know i can't be mad when you're happy about something, stoppit!" I laughed harder, and she joined in.

One of the main things i used to lecture her about, was her affection for me. I thought she'd make a good right hand, but that's as far as that went. Nicole loved me though, like a brother, but still. "Well, i might have a spell for that little problem. but you'll need to --- what's the word?--- level a bit more?", "Okay, let's try this spell first though kay?"

And so to oprav we went. We only had to go into the market and have nicole say his name before he showed up. "You finally come to your senses?" oprav was almost as smart as nicole, but he was also a blonde to the roots. if you know what i mean. "Nicole has something to give you, don't overreact." "Oh please. no posturing right now, i'll get a headache." We had enchanted one of her nature trinkets with the spell. When she handed it to him, it glowed blue and oprav's face went blank. "Oprav?", "Do i know you?" yes! it worked! So we walked away from oprav... and then "Drago... that spell didn't wipe his entire memory did it?", "No...", "Drago!", "Well, that part wears off in --- like two hours so what's the harm?","it had better wear off..." Her attitude was scarily close to mine when someone conveniently forgot to tell me something. So i just put an arm around her waist and steered her towards the market. "What?" I had stopped about five seconds after i put my arm around her. My vision went red again. "Nicole the vendors know that you're allowed to my funds. i've made sure of that, so why don't you go look for some trinkets or something while i go ask my father about something." She started walking toward the market obediently, but looked back with that worried face she got back when i was human-looking and was about to do something dangerous.

So i made my way to the castle, people were making a beeline for the spaces as far away from me as possible. i heard every whisper because of my excellent hearing. "He's going to be just like his father...","I heard that vamp girl is still hanging around him. she must be terrified." So vamps are okay, but demons aren't... nice to know.

Nicole's (P.O.V.)

As i walked along the market i saw oprav a few more times... looking so confused. But drago told me to buy something so i guess i should, then i'd go back to the grotto, and he'd probably figure out that that's where i was. I went to the needlework tent, drago needed new clothes... Though it had to be without symbols like that, red doesn't work with green unless it's the right color. Like drago's new eyes did... So i told them Blue, and i needed it in a certain design so i drew it for them. I went to the jeweler next. I designed a new circlet for myself, it's kinda like a crown, but Drago just said that since i wasn't royalty-it's called a circlet. I made it completely silver, it did this in the front \/ and this in the back /\ Only down almost to my eyebrows though. Then i was off to the market to get some food....wait, maybe it wiped his memory because it was reconstructing it, leaving all the me out of it... why didn't he just tell me that?

Drago's (P.O.V.)

I found my father in his study. "Drago, what are you doing in here?, don't you avoid me unless you need something?", "What does it mean when a demon get's a red haze over his vision?" Shendu knocked over several silver tables. "RED haze?", "Yeah...", "Hmmm... well, when i met your mother the haze was gold." Now it was my turn to knock something over. "I'm guessing this has happened more than once?" I couldn't answer, i was in shock. "So? who is it?", He couldn't guess? wait! he thought it was a princess! "Noone!" I ran. I need to see my mother, maybe she'll have a human answer, one that isn't so... unreal. She can't be. Nicole can't be my true!