The Spark

[Lord Rupert de Vere]

What Vivianne had told him disturbed him. He knew perfectly well that Emma had been rather hurt and embarrassed by Nikolai's actions. Anyone would, regardless of the circumstances and situation. Indeed, Rupert had been rather angered by the event, but he kept it to himself. After all, his opinion had not be elicited and he preferred to work subtly with his anger. It was a pity that Nikolai was missing at the moment. He might have arranged a particular accident for the coward of an heir. Yet, he pushed that aside for now.

The conversation between Riordan and Emma apparently went sour with the Prince trying to balance all of his new roles. He would learn. Rupert wasn't worried about him. What he was worried about was Emma's reaction to it all. Vivianne told him she went stalking off into the forest. To track her down, Rupert went to the very spot where Riordan and Emma had been. "Hmm," he toned as he ran his fingers through his still wet hair and then used them to idly scratch at his chin.

The master of shadows entered the forest, tracking the signs he spotted here and there. Though he was not an expert, Emma had made no effort to hide her progress. Eventually, he would find her. Eventually, he hoped, he would save her.

Princess Emmaline Carlisle

[Princess Emmaline Carlisle]

Emma left her brother stunned and likely hurt in her wake, gazing after her in frustrated immobility. There was a small still rational part of her that felt a twinge of guilt - Riordan really had tried to be supportive and helpful - that she swiftly crushed. Right now, she was tired of hearing the myriad excuses being offered, and expected to let it roll off her back like it was nothing. If ever Emma felt utterly alone, it was now. Being patted and told they understood she was upset only infuriated her further, because none of them saw past the anger to the heart of the problem.

It was reckless to go through the woods without paying heed to where she walked and what was around her, but Emma simply did not care at the moment. Ignoring the briars that snagged and tugged at her gown, she disregarded the occasional sound of rending fabric, batting at branches that tugged locks of her hair free. Right now, she wanted the outside to match the inside, perhaps then people would start to grasp how she felt. And knowing she was free to depart to Meirin only depressed her further.

Suppressing a sigh, she felt exhaustion pass over her in a heavy wave, sending her sagging onto a patch of moss in a small clearing. She'd gone far enough that she didn't need to worry over being found, giving her a chance to decide if she wanted to scream, pull her hair out or if tears would finally come. Closing her eyes, Emma sank back and rested against the tree, aware she looked a complete wreck. So be it.

[Lord Rupert de Vere]

She may have looked a complete wreck, but at the same time, she was as lovely as the day she came of age. Rupert, in a way, had always found her attractive, but he never acted on it. It was never proper. True, he was never one to act solely for propriety's sake, but there were limits. When he found her, sagged against the tree, he merely gazed her for several moments. His heart went out to her in that moment, but, again, he kept it to himself.

Carefully, Rupert made his approach and settled down on a nearby tree. "Sometimes," he said gently, "it's good to be alone the shadows, but I don't think this is one of those times." He may have startled her, but that was the nature of who he was. Maybe she was used to it. Maybe she wasn't. That didn't stop her from caring about her in his own way.

[Princess Emmaline Carlisle]

Inside, Emma was a complete and total wreck, but the outside was still somewhat composed despite the best effort of the woods. Opening her eyes, she was admittedly startled but recovered quickly to study Lord Rupert. She wasn't all that surprised to find him keeping an eye on her; chances were her father or her aunt set him on her to make sure she didn't do anything rash. "Sometimes the shadows is more comfortable than the light, especially when you're all but invisible." The bitter tone couldn't be helped as she frowned, then looked off into the woods. "Are you here to drag me back to be the proper and responsible Princess?"

Running away from him wasn't an option; he knew the paths better than she, and he could run faster than she. Emma was no fool, but neither was she intending to go back docilely or quietly.

[Lord Rupert de Vere]

"Now you understand why I hide in them," he responded smoothly as he slowly leaned against a nearby tree to gaze at her speculatively. She was obviously hurt and angry. He did not like to see her in such a state. She was far too beautiful, sweet and pure to be experiencing this. Such things should only happen to creatures of darkness and shadows. She was a beacon of light in his eyes, but that light was starting to flicker into darkness. "No, far from it." He answered her question easily.

The silence drew out. "I want to deliver him bruised and bloodied. Throw him at your feet and shove my boot against his throat. Make him beg for your forgiveness." The voice was so cold and determined that the truth of his words was inescapable.

[Princess Emmaline Carlisle]

Emma felt the darkness pressing in on her, wanting nothing more right now than to give in to the urge and allow it to swallow her whole, but... no. No. The still sane part of her knew that wasn't the answer, however tempting. A small smile was summoned for his sake, though she blinked at his words, shivering a little at the cold determination she heard. If she knew anything about the Master of Shadows, it was that he was entirely capable of bringing his words to fruition.

What alternately excited and frightened her was just how attractive the prospect of his words coming true was to her. Finally, someone who understood the undercurrent of bloody, cruel violence that ran uncharacteristically through her veins. Still, Emma hesitated. "I almost wish you would. I want him humiliated and crushed, and left as... less, just less. But apparently we are wrong for feeling that way." She rolled her eyes, then sighed. "Good, I'm glad you're not looking to make me go back. There's pretty much nothing for me to go back for."

[Lord Rupert de Vere]

"Well, I would throw him at your feet in front of the whole court. Make him truly appear as the pitiful excuse of a man he is," he again stated with a quite conviction and then frowned sharply. It was a pity that Darton was likely to get his hands on the man before he was. Then again, he had learned long ago that he couldn't always get what he wanted.

The comment made him smile darkly, "Oh, no. We're not wrong. We're just brave enough to admit it. Everyone feels the same way, my dear Princess, but few have it in them to actually confess to it. There is a great deal to lose if you give in to your darker and more primal side." And as for her final comment, he shook his head. "You're wrong." No apologies, no formality, just a simple statement of fact.

[Princess Emmaline Carlisle]

She had to hand it to him, he knew precisely the right thing to say to her right now. A pity that it wasn't coming from Riordan, but now she'd calmed down a little, Emma knew her brother was in a difficult position, trying to balance the Crown Prince with the brother. And really, she didn't hate the Fyodorovs as a family. No, that emotion was resolved solely for Nikolai, wherever he'd fled to like a dog with his tail between his legs.

The filthy, lying, hypocritical, despicable coward.

Tearing her attention away from the litany of insulting epithets she'd love to hurl at him in time to hear the blunt, brusque reply, her brows rose. "Am I? My brother made it rather clear I wasn't needed here, and that it was probably best I toddle off. And Tristan has yet to speak a word to me about any of this. Everyone else seems to expect me to just act like nothing happened."

[Lord Rupert de Vere]

"Your elder brother was speaking out of a horse's ass. He still has a lot to learn," he shrugged with a strange sort of elegance, "And your younger brother is a flighty thing at times. That or thinking with what's between his legs." Rupert was vaguely amused by a realization. "It appears men in our lives are proving that they really can be stupid, selfish, creatures, no? I'm no exception."

He moved closer to her, but not so much as to encroach upon her personal space. "Nikolai's actions have cracked a lot of masks in Court. Their true natures are screaming to come out now, but they still keep them confined. Why? So many reasons, yet you know of them already."

[Princess Emmaline Carlisle]

A bitter laugh escaped her before she could stop it, hearing him speak of her brothers and men in general. "It isn't just men, women are just as capable of being stupid and selfish. But I take your meaning. Riordan... meant well, and I'm sure Tristan is trying to be sensitive in keeping his distance. I can't really blame him for it." Emma paused, then frowned. "Well, I can, but it's pointless to do so. At least one of us deserves to find some happiness, and I'm neither so stupid nor selfish as to deny him that, even if it's at considerable expense to myself."

She glanced up when he moved closer, her eyes narrowing at him. "None of them are what I'd call compelling reasons, Lord Rupert. If anything, I'd make my way back either to Triadon or to Meirin from here if I could."

[Lord Rupert de Vere]

"You are angry. You are supposed to be angry. Anyone would be angry. Hell, I'm angry," he spread his hands and "And I meant what I said. Actually, I'd be a bit darker, but I would not want to besmirch you in such a manner." Murdering Nikolai would not solve any problems and Emma would like as not be horrified in the aftermath. He continued to watch her in the night, noting that the available moon and starlight enhanced her beauty.

"I don't see why you shouldn't," he said honestly, "You are not obligated to explain your every action to the Court and from what I see, you have some very faithful friends that will defend your honor quite keenly. I include myself among them. I would do anything for you." There was a firm conviction in his words as he gazed upon her.

[Princess Emmaline Carlisle]

"I am trying to be angry. Anger is at least constructive compared to how I'm really feeling," she replied a little too quietly. "I'm not certain I have adequate words to describe it. And while I believe you could exact revenge from him in every drop of blood, you and I both know that it would only make things worse." A ghost of a smile flitted across her features as she added, "A sound thrashing would suffice, especially if it was accomplished in public so that everyone could laugh, point and gossip. Then he would truly understand what humiliation is."

Glancing back to him, Emma smiled wanly at the mention of friends, knowing full well her family as well as Natalie and Rosalie wouldn't tolerate a speck of negative gossip. She'd been harsh to Riordan, when he was only trying to be what he felt was expected. Rupert's last words made her look at him more intently, studying his face. "That is a rather dangerous thing to say to me right now, my lord."

[Lord Rupert de Vere]

"Exactly what I would like to see done to him," he nodded in agreement, "I want him to suffer as you have. I..." he shook his head, "I've been hiding my anger in the shadows as soon as I found what happened to you. I did not think it would be welcomed." Her last words gave him brief pause before forging on.

"These are dangerous times and I am a dangerous man," came the answer. "I have admired you for some time," the words were getting quiet like hers as though the words themselves were trying to stay close to the shadows from whence they came. They were words not meant to be revealed to the light, much like certain facets of himself. "Your spirit, your strength, your kindness, your ... beauty," it was both hard and easy to get the words out. It was, after all, how he felt.

[Princess Emmaline Carlisle]

Emma sat up more straight to eye him, her brows lifting high in momentary astonishment at him. "Why would it not be welcomed? You are practically the only one who has had the courage to approach me and tell me just how angry you are. Everyone else except for Natalie and Rosalie sit there and bleat at me that I have to let it pass, that it's nothing to do with me and how much we need this alliance. Including my own brother." She scowled, then grimaced. "Tristan has yet to come near me. That's probably best, I don't know if I can trust myself to be civil to him. I couldn't to Riordan. Poor man."

She knew she owed her brother an apology, and she would give it one way or another, but not right now. Lifting her face as he continued, her expression shifted to puzzled, then intrigued. "You aren't that dangerous, my lord. At least not to me. But thank you," the words touched her in a place she feared was cold and dead. "I don't think you know how much I needed to hear this, and to know you're not just saying it to make me feel better."

[Lord Rupert de Vere]

"No, you're right. I could never fathom hurting you in any way. You're too precious to me." Still, her words caused a brief smile. She had received and appreciated them for what they were. "A man that is allowed your hand will be a very fortunate man, indeed." Rupert, without realizing it, found that he was reaching for that very hand. Just before contact was made, he pulled it away. To touch her would be presumptuous and inappropriate. Besides, he knew he didn't just want to touch her reassurance. The princess was vulnerable now. The time to strike would be now or never. But... no. She deserved better than him.

The hand returned to his side and he resumed studying her as he did since the beginning. She was starting to come out her dark place, which was good. She did not belong in the shadows. She was a creature of beauty and light.