Wordlessly Loud

“Aaron?” Belle asked again, stunned by the sudden turn of events.

He chuckled darkly, taking a step toward her. Belle took a step back in response. Aaron flashed forward, grabbing hold of Belle by the neck.

“Now that’s no way to greet and old friend, now is it Belle?” he asked, chuckling in her ear.

She squirmed under his grasp, her body now dangling above the ground.

“Let me go,” she whispered, barely enough air escaping her lungs.

“Oh, but darling, we have a date with the Master, remember?” he teased.

A flicker of a light went on in Belle’s head.

“You-you’re the driver. The blue-eyed man,” she rasped.

“Of course, Belle. After all, I did need to look after James’ girl.” He smiled, pushing her roughly against a tree.

“Your gift – you can shape-shift,” Belle stated calmly.

“Yes, my dear. And really, I’m surprised you didn’t guess it before now.”

I knew he was lying, she thought.

Belle twisted and turned, the bark of the tree digging into her skin. Aaron smiled widely at her struggle.

“Belle, really? Stop your fight. You cannot escape the Master’s power,” he said, his eyes shifting to a dandelion-yellow.

Belle dangled helplessly against the tree, closing her eyes to avoid the yellow eyes. They entered her imagination’s eye, however, and she grew feebly tired. Her struggle decreased, her head falling to the side. Belle was unconscious.

Aaron chuckled darkly, the Master’s power coursing through his veins. He felt powerful, and frankly, this was the best decision he had ever made. Because working for your brother usually sucked.

For Aaron, though, it was a way to get the throne. And at that thought, a crackle of leaves from behind him made his grim smile turn all the wider.

*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*

The curvy woman with the long, black hair ran. Her mission was simple: find the girl. And she intended to do just that. She’d perhaps have a little fun as well, but that was yet to be determined. She would follow the Master’s commands, but with a will of her own.

Carmelita stopped her quick running suddenly, stopping just before bounding across a creek. She frowned deeply, thinking. She had stopped not because a creek was there – as she could have flown over it swiftly – but because she had heard a sound in the trees. A sound, in fact, that sounded similar to that of a wandering girl. This thought made her chuckle slightly. The mission truly was simple, and at this point in the game, she found that she’d love to have some fun with the miscreant who’d caused the Master so much disdain. And hopefully earn her some gain on her affair with James. He’d certainly come to her rescue at the cry of her voice, a thought that made her cringe. She just needed to prove her worth: to Cesare, to James, and the Master.

An outcry ahead brought her back from her fantastical daze. She leapt across the stream, barely a flutter of leaves as she landed. She moved at a casual pace, hoping for an easy catch, one without the whines and blood. Well, perhaps the blood.

And then she saw her…and Aaron? What was that boy doing here? He certainly wasn’t part of the Master’s scheme, was he? And what precisely were his methods of attack?

She stared on in disgust, as Aaron slammed Isabella – Belle – against a tree. She shook her head silently, praying that the boy wouldn’t ruin her chance at hitting it big with the Master. If he did, though, she’d show him. Perhaps death really couldn’t come soon enough for him.

“Your gift – you can shape-shift,” the girl whispered.

Pathetic.

The girl was an idiot, the boy was an idiot, and Carmelita was forced to listen to her two enemies converse as she stood by to watch. She slumped against the back of a tree, peaking out silently to watch the show. Frankly, she could care less about their conversation, or that Aaron might have affectionate feelings for the girl. That was his stupid decision to take up with the Master later. And as that thought appeared, her ears perked to a thought voiced by her enemy.