Snippet #2123306

Siren was not shocked.

She was frozen. As frozen as the ice of which she now completely resembled. One moment, she'd been falling, wind sweeping her soft pale hair against her closed eyes and the next, warm, comforting arms held her close. She landed without impact or pain, just the soft thump of the man reaching the ground. She felt as if she'd been ripped from Earth, down into Heaven. She had no idea what was happening.

"You know you should be glad that we were around here... a fall from that height could've hurt you. And it would be a crime against nature for something so beautiful as you to be damaged." She stared into his black and gold eyes as he set her down.

And stared some more. 'something so beautiful as you.' Jude left for a while and when he came back, he tucked her safely in a blanket and his arms. Pressed up so close against him, she forgot who she was, what she did, who he was and why she was here. She could convince herself this was just a lover-getaway into the forest, sleeping under moon and starlight. Siren didn't move, for she wanted to stay here, needed for them to be turned into stone so he could hold her for all of eternity and she would never have to explain. Siren blinked. You're a huntress. They're the hunted. They will kill you once they realise.

"My name is Jude and the young man over there... well he can introduce himself to you."

Siren blinked, slowly, and moved her head ever so slightly to see Jun Corny, the boy with dark blue eyes, the crescent moon birthmark and the bounty on his head. She watched as Jude pulled a piece of jerky from his pants. She watched as he ate. Watched as that was all she could do. Jude Omega Vanderwolf had a very nice back.

"So... is it an everyday occurrence that you fall out of trees because if it is it seems that we may have something in common... I jumped off a cliff earlier today and the young lad over there is my savior."

And now you're mine, she thought numbly. I've forgotten how to speak.

"So young miss, what are you doing out here at this time of night by yourself? I mean..." Jude withdrew two sharpened knives from his back pocket and held it in front of her and that's what confirmed what she already knew. He doesn't know. Why else would he practically hand his destruction to his enemy? She felt relieved. Not only because her beauty and petite figure bought her some time away from possible death, but because she didn't want him to know she was his huntress. Guilt wrenched her heart from its socket and it was as if an ocean of sadness rested in her silver-grey eyes.

"And before I forget... What is your name love?"

Speak. Move. Do something or you're dead.

"Si-" she stopped herself. Siren was a name well known: a seductive, beautiful bounty hunter with a 100% success rate - so far. "Layla," she whispered meekly, her melodic voice breaking the quiet of the night.

"Layla Luciel," she said, stronger. The ice began to melt and she became a river again. "I was on my way to Gweynura. I was looking for a place to rest for the night so I climbed to the top of the tallest tree I could find to scout the area. You two looked a little dangerous will all your weapons so I'm really sorry for sneaking around," she said as sincerely as she could, an apology in her eyes. Then, a flirtatious smile played on her lips.

"Thanks for saving me, my dear, mighty prince. I am forever in your debt." She curtsied and with a wink said, "You're very beautiful yourself."

"It's nice to meet you two gentlemen," she smiled, revealing two perfect rows of pearly white teeth. "Are you headed for Gweynura, too? It's strange to be out in the woods this late."

Siren tilted her head to the side, blinking her large, innocent eyes and thick, curled lashes at them - playing the 'innocent young lady' look. She was glad she didn't bring her double swords today for it would've been too obvious. Her whip luckily matched her dress like a pretty belt. She unclenched her fists, not realising she had held on so tight, her nails had left markings on her palms. It wasn't the first time she'd been caught, but lying was never this painful.