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Post by Derek Burke on Jan 10, 2017 1:43:44 GMT -5
Derek didn't exactly jump backward, but there was something all together odd about the household. Derek knew Christian was exceedingly jealous. Though he had made every concession where Diana had been concerned to the supposed 'better' man, Christian still ribbed him and kept that ever watchful eye. For Derek's preservation he had learned not to rock the boat. They had been friends, but not friendly enough that Derek could flirt with Diana without consequence.
He had expected more of a reaction from Christian, and he didn't expect the laugh from the woman who hadn't let him go yet.
"Why Christian, you sound positively jealous." she said, voice laden with sarcasm.
Derek tensed. Diana, who still only had eyes for Christian, finally noticed the man next to her and his rigid posture. She let him go reluctantly, but the warmth and affection had been more than welcome.
She sighed, "We have everything we need. We can do the spell tomorrow."
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Post by Christian Ward on Jan 10, 2017 1:50:54 GMT -5
His eyes narrowed at her comment but he composed himself the next second and adopted a neutral expression. "Tomorrow? Alright. I guess that puts me on guard duty for today," he said a mixture of annoyance and intrigue in his voice.
Diana wouldn't be taking anymore baths or spending time alone again until the spell was complete. He couldn't risk the dream assassin trying to take her again and inadvertently killing Christian in the process. Or his son.
Or the mother of his children.
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Post by Derek Burke on Jan 10, 2017 1:57:51 GMT -5
"He won't strike again tonight. Taking possession of another requires a massive amount of energy, particularly to make the possessed do something as extraordinary as kill themselves. He'll need to recover. You'll both need your energy for what comes next." Derek said looking between them.
"I have a few things I need to gather, and I'll be back in the morning."
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Post by Christian Ward on Jan 10, 2017 2:10:57 GMT -5
He had no reason to doubt Derek. The man clearly had feelings for Diana, if not romantic then platonic at the least. But Christian decided he would still keep a closer eye on Diana for the time being. It was simply to dangerous to risk.
Christian pulled Derek's wand from his pocket and handed it to the man. He gave him a hard look before releasing the wand. "Don't try anything foolish," he warned. If Derek had any ideas of stealing Diana away it wouldn't go over well.
He stepped back and looked between the two, then pointedly at Burke. "Eight?" he asked. 'Morning' was not a time, it was a time frame and led to sloppy planning.
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Post by Diana Ward on Jan 10, 2017 2:17:07 GMT -5
Christian's demand for a specific time elicited a chuckle from Diana, but Derek only smiled and nodded.
Diana moved away from the men to go to the kitchen and reheat her tea leaving them alone for a moment.
Derek watched her leave and kept his smile until she was gone. He turned a hard look on Christian, "You're keeping her prisoner?"
He hadn't said anything in Diana's presence, he didn't want to distress her and he didn't have all of the answers, but he had no problem cutting to the chase with Christian.
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Post by Christian Ward on Jan 10, 2017 2:23:03 GMT -5
Diana's chuckle did not go unnoticed, but he didn't respond to it. As Diana left the room for the kitchen, Christian turned his head and watched her. He only turned back to Burke as the man rightfully accused him of detaining Diana.
"I'm keeping her safe," he corrected, his tone just as hard as Burke's had been. "And myself and my son in the process. We know you can't be trusted with such a task as I was able to get her here in the first place."
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Post by Derek Burke on Jan 10, 2017 2:48:37 GMT -5
"First of all, Diana doesn't need anyone to keep her safe." he said already irritated by Christian's ego. He had put up with it for months as the man acted as though he were God's gift. Maybe in Diana's eyes - which was the only reason he had put up with it for as long as he had. Diana.
Derek was a bit of a mystery. Upon first glance he appeared every inch the bored elite. He was devastatingly handsome, rich, charming, and seemingly entitled. A little deeper beneath the surface only raised more questions. He had a genius level IQ, a knack for strategy that bordered on divination, and a core of steel. He was far more dangerous than he let on, and before Diana he had very little purpose or challenge in his life.
It wasn't that he was in love with Diana, although perhaps he was just a bit, it was that he admired her. She had nothing. No skills, no money (as all her money could leave a trace), no chance of survival, and yet she had not only survived, she thrived. She was sustained by passion and determination alone which had stirred something in the bored bachelor. He had been amused with her at first, but as time went by he began to truly admire her spirit and strength of will in the face of such adversity. She just didn't die. She was brave, strong, lovely, and had no idea how beautiful she was. He wanted to help her. But in all his time with her he had never been able to reach her the way Christian had. Sure he resented the man a bit, but because Diana was happy he could let it go. She had already given him so much. But she wasn't happy anymore, and that rippled through Derek reminding him of where he had been before joining her crusade.
"Secondly, you have generally been an exception to her otherwise stellar judgement."he snarled in return.
"Third-" Derek's eyes widened as Christian's words penetrated and formed new meaning, "Your son? She's..." Derek turned to stare after an absent Diana.
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Post by Christian Ward on Jan 10, 2017 2:56:47 GMT -5
Burke's list of grievances was rather amusing and Christian indulged the man for a moment. In the short time he had "known" Diana she had had two men attempt to kill her, the second coming very close just earlier today. If Christian hadn't heard the thrashing and felt some disturbance then Diana could very well have drowned in the bath. Clearly the woman needed someone to keep her safe and Christian was pulling first place between the three of them.
As Derek again realized that Diana was pregnant, Christian couldn't help but laughing darkly. "That's right. You don't remember. I guess I'm not the only one who has a lapse in their memory."
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Post by Derek Burke on Jan 10, 2017 3:03:34 GMT -5
"That's why she agreed to leave." Derek said as understanding came to him, "Until you." Derek's eyes narrowed.
"My lapse was self preservation, what was yours?" he asked crossing his arms over his chest, "It seems to me, the only person Diana truly needs protection from is you. You are her weakness after all. Apparently every time she puts herself in your care she suffers for it, but I suppose you'll figure that out soon enough."
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Post by Christian Ward on Jan 10, 2017 3:11:05 GMT -5
"Until me," he repeated with a sly grin.
"Are you threatening me, Burke?" he said dangerously, not understanding Derek's comment. If Diana was to suffer under his watch it would be at the hands of some outside force. And Derek was currently standing outside of Christian's circle.
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Post by Derek Burke on Jan 10, 2017 3:21:16 GMT -5
"Of course not. But only a self inflated fool would be so willing to fight and risk not only the woman he loves, but his unborn child as well." Derek said in disgust. He turned his back on Christian and headed for the door. Christian wasn't worth his time.
"We've got a long day tomorrow. I suggest you get some sleep. You'll need it."
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Post by Christian Ward on Jan 10, 2017 3:29:30 GMT -5
Christian could handle himself. He had no doubts in his ability to fight and come out the victor; Diana's life was safe in that regard. But Derek was wrong. Dead wrong. Christian didn't love Diana. He wasn't even sure if he loved his son. He cared out of responsibility; there'd been no time for delving into any emotions beyond that.
Derek's words continued to make no sense and after his former "friend" had gone Christian moved to the kitchen with purpose. "Care to explain?"
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Post by Diana Ward on Jan 10, 2017 3:36:27 GMT -5
Diana heard the door close and came around the counter only to meet Christian's confusion.
"He's gone?" she asked ignoring Christian's question.
There was a moment of disappointment, but she returned her focus to Christian.
"Explain what?" she asked with a sigh before going to the fridge.
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Post by Christian Ward on Jan 10, 2017 3:41:11 GMT -5
"Don't play daft," he said bitterly. Derek's warning...or was it advice...didn't sit well with Christian. "He didn't need to do more research. He knows what needs to happen and you do too now, don't you?"
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Post by Diana Ward on Jan 10, 2017 3:50:48 GMT -5
Diana lifted one shoulder in an elegant shrug of nonchalance. She continued to peruse the kitchen as though Christian's concern was unfounded.
"It's an anchoring ritual. We hold hands, meditate, you become my spirit anchor or whatever, and bye bye all access pass to my brain."
Diana was leaving out the fact that they would both more or less be unconscious and during the anchoring process Christian would be privy to all Diana's history, fears, and secrets.
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Post by Christian Ward on Jan 10, 2017 4:05:53 GMT -5
"Why the f*ck do I have to be your anchor? Wouldn't it be better to have someone you actually like? Make Burke do it, you two looked cozy." Christian didn't understand why their embrace had bothered him so, but he was bringing it up again so clearly is didn't sit well with him.
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Post by Diana Ward on Jan 10, 2017 13:44:35 GMT -5
Diana didn't see the jealousy in Christian's words, but she heard the reluctance that bordered on pouting in his tone.
She shut the refrigerator and took a long sigh.
"Look Christian, I get that you don't remember us. I more than get it. I did it. That's on me. But whether you or I like it or not we're bonded. The anchor has to be the strongest connection, and that's you bub." she turned towards him.
"I don't like it anymore than you do, in fact I can assure you whole heartedly that I like it a hell of a lot less than you do. But that's the way it is. So deal with it."
If she could deal with it then he could. She had nothing else to say to him. Seeing Burke had brought a new wave of depression over her and what had started out as a promising day quickly dwindled to reality. There was no happy ending here. Diana simply had to go through the motions until it was over.
With a final tight smile she walked past him and headed for the stairs.
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