Venali paused when he felt her punch him, watching her for a minute. It hadn't hurt, but it did amuse the Fae, and even if he tried to hide it, the amusement was clear in his eyes and in the barest hint of a smile that flashed across his face. He continued walking, not saying anything and when he did, he sounded amused, "Did you just punch me?"
It hadn't hurt, but it had surprised him. She had just punched him, because he had acted like a smartass, that was impressive. Not many people would actually do that.
"Would you like me to demonstrate again?" Serena said in a snarky way, feeling irritated at how amused he sounded. "I would love to do it again, it's really no bother."
She hadn't expected him to react like that, though. Faeries hated disrespect from humans. She'd half-expected the half-blooded faerie to react violently, but then again, there was a lot that she did and got away with. Which confused her, if she was being honest. Her hurting wouldn't hurt him in any way, not unless she was killed. So there was nothing stopping him in hurting her, so… well, she wasn't complaining. At all.
"Up to you, monster slayer," He replied with a snort, "I barely felt it in the first place, try harder next time if you do." Venali glanced over at her, a teasing smirk present, "We both know you could use the training." He didn't slow his stride at all as he talked, still walking towards the cells calmly.
It was a weird feeling, to be joking and teasing someone who absolutely loathed him, but he couldn't help but feel a little better. Watching Raine let out whatever pent up anger she had in her was amusing, and calming. Though there was no way in his existence that he would admit that.
Serena blinked, freezing for a second before his words registered. The scowl was back on her face and she quickly caught up with him, punching his arm again. This time, she did not hold back.
“You are an asshole,” she muttered, flexing her fingers. She knew how to throw a punch thanks to the little training she’d gotten from her father (and then continued when she and Alec were on their own), but she’d never fought hand-to-hand with someone before. “If only I could kill you.”
(Sorry for the length)
He scoffed, grinning at her as he glanced down, "Now you sound like a full born Fae. Death threats and all." Venali rubbed his arm from where she had punched him, more or less to make it seem like she did more damage than he had felt. Her punch had been noticeable, but it wasn't enough to put him in a significant amount of discomfort.
(No worries! It’s all good)
Serena couldn’t believe her ears. Did he just compare her to the Fae?
“Did you just—how dare you—“ Serena punched him again, though this time it was something she did without thinking. “Do not compare me to those monsters again.”
This time he actually laughed when she punched him, stepping to the side and quickly masking the smile and rare laugh that had just appeared. It wasn't much but his laugh was musical, and the smile actually reached his eyes. He only didn't bother to hide the amusement in his eyes, teasing her once more before getting his emotions under control, "Would you rather be compared to me, monster slayer?"
Venali wrangled in the emotions quite quickly once he realized them, stuffing them into his mind again and quicker than she could blink becoming the cold half-fae he was supposed to be from the beginning.
Serena felt a little stupefied when she heard his laughter. Like her, he'd always been extremely guarded. He kept his emotions locked up, just like she did. So when he broke character and laughed, a genuine laugh, it really surprised Serena, enough that it showed on her face if only briefly.
Then she managed to compose herself, biting back the smile, and forced a scowl on her features again.
"Absolutely not," she said with a scowl, rubbing her slightly aching knuckles. "Not with any of you monsters, especially not you."
"If you had to be compared to me or a full blood though, what would you pick?" He asked, head tipped to the side in question. Any hint of his smile and laugh had dissappeared, but he looked slightly more calm as he asked her the question. It was a stupid idea to let his guard down even this much, that he knew. But he almost didn't mind, or realize.
She was the only person in the palace besides Arya that didn't treat him horribly, and that was better than nothing for him. Venali slowed slightly at the stairs, still heading towards the cells, but slowing ever so slightly, so he could listen to what she would say.
Serena stilled at the question. Why had he asked that question knowing how she felt about the faeries? But Arya's comments rang in her mind and Serena unclenched her jaw, catching up to him again.
"You, I suppose," she finally replied, pretending as if it was such a disturbing thing–and wondering why it didn't feel as such. "We share the same rage, I think. As much as I hate to admit it, some traits in you are some in me. Regardless, I still hate you."
Venali let a soft grin appear on his face and he nodded, tipping his head in question once more, "Do you hate me in general? Or the traits that we share that make you just as frustrating?" In reality, Raine was only frustrating a majority of the time, and he far from hated her. She was tied to his life after all, and it was bad to hate someone you would be forced to keep from dying for who knew how long.
He stopped as they reached the cells, particularly hers, and he opened it easily, though didn't motion her inside. They were still talking after all, and she didn't seem quite annoyed with him yet.
Serena frowned at the grin that touched his lips. Why was he smiling? He didn't look like he was mocking her, so what was the point of it?
"I hate your kind," Serena replied slowly, and it was the truth. She really did hate his kind for what it had done to her. To her family, to humans. "You've ripped apart civilizations and families because of your greed for power. You've stripped humans of a good life and reduced them to mere servants or objects for your sexual release. When you find a woman or a man you fancy, you take them and break them until they can't refuse. Until obeying is not just in their mind, but also in their blood. All of us have had our lives taken away from us, Venali. I hate you because you represent the faeries who have taken from me, from all of us."
Maybe it wasn't right to blame one person for what the rest of his kind had been doing. But living with hate for so long, it was hard to differentiate who to aim it at.
Venali stayed silent as she talked, though his demeanor did shift clearly as she spoke. His grin disappeared, and the same cold blankness washed over his face once more as he listened to her. It made him mad that she pointed the Fae's mistakes at him, solely at him. He had done close to none of those things, and the ones he had done was out of being forced to do so.
"I am not one of them, do not tell me I've done any of those things," He replied, his voice holding no ounce of the playfulness that had been present moments before, "I am not a Fae who has done all of those things. Remember I'm a half-breed." He pointed for her to step into her cell, now wanting nothing more than to walk away and stop talking, "I have had my life taken away from me for what I am too. Humans aren't the only vulnerable party here, do not act like lesser Fae aren't treated the same way. Now, in. I have things to do."
"But humans are the most vulnerable," Serena said softly, though her gaze was strong. She stepped in her cell, then turned to look at Venali. "Regardless of my fighting abilities, you could easily kill me. You're a half-blood, but you could slam me against the wall and permanently wound me. Just because you can. And you can, because you have Fae blood in you, and that makes you automatically superior to my kind."
Serena was surprised to find herself believing in the fact that he had his own struggles. Considering how his own uncle treated him, binding his life to Serena without a second thought… it was sick. The faeries had no love in their sick and twisted hearts—if they even had one. At least the half-bloods felt remorse.
"The same could be done to me by a full blooded Fae." He closed the door to her cell as he talked, not leaving immediately, but closing it either way, "A Fae could kill me as easily as I could kill you. They are powerful." Venali's voice was even, but it held power and determination as he leaned against the cell door. He knew just how easily humans were killed at the hands of Fae, he had witnessed it before, and the same with half bloods. They were abominations in the eyes of both races, and without his status, he would've been one of the many that had been killed because of that.
He paused for a minute, clearly thinking of saying something before standing up straight instead and adjusting his pale golden top. "I suppose I should be on my way. Rest up Raine, you start training in two days if you keep your attitude in check." With that, he turned, ending the conversation and starting away.
Serena didn’t say anything. There wasn’t anything she could say, anyway. Nothing that would do either of them any good. It would wound him further, and—
Serena froze. Why did she care if she hurt him? He was just a monster like the rest of his kind, full-blooded or half. It made no difference. It should make no difference. Even in a world where he was at a lower status, he didn’t need to fear for his life like she’d learned to do.
But she still didn’t say anything, just laid in her bed and pretended she’d fallen asleep. But like most nights, her restless mind refused to allow her that luxury, and she remained laying in bed trying to forget the sounds of her family screaming, and this rough laugh that rang deep in her bones.
Venali continued away silently, his strides slow but long. He really didn't want to act like a dog for his uncle again, running back and forth and doing menial tasks that were closer to servant's jobs than actual tasks. It was strange, but as he thought about it, he almost hoped that Raine would've argued more so he didn't have to leave.
He paused for a moment, frowning and shaking his head. The thought was in and out of his head in seconds, but it had passed through his head without a doubt. He had hoped that she gave him a reason to stay longer and listen to her clever arguments. Fae above he was going insane. He was enjoying the company of a frustrating human more than any Fae around.
His frown turned into a small scowl and he continued on his way, forcing the thoughts out of his head. There was more important things to think about.
[TIME SKIP]
Serena, true to her word, did not strain herself. She wanted to be in the best of shape so Venali would finally train her, and she could not afford to be in a poor state. Still, she did try and improve her knife skills; she was already good at it, but that didn't mean she let herself fall short. If she remembered correctly… Venali could also handle knives very well.
Speaking of… the Fae was supposed to be here by now, specifically with her breakfast. She was hungry, and getting three meals a day was beginning to become a habit she knew would be hard to get rid of, especially if she would need to be on the run most of the time.
She's manage, Serena told herself. She always did. But where the heck was that Fae?
Venali was running slightly behind schedule from his normal routine, and from the way his hair was only messily combed into it's style, he had most likely woken up late. Even for Fae, they still had bad days. He walk quickly as he reached the cells, balancing three plates of food on his arms.
"Goodmorning, monster slayer," He called when he reached her cell, handing off her brother's food to a guard as he stopped by her door, "Did you rest like I said? Or do I have to push back your training another day?" For being late, he didn't look terribly grumpy or mad, just rushed.
Calmly, he opened her cell door and stepped in, setting her plate on her bed and leaning against a wall with his own food.
Serena was practicing her aim on the wall, marking a spot up with her blade, when she heard Venali. The knife she'd just released lost its aim, hitting a couple of points away from her target and clattering to the floor. Serena scowled, her streak having been disrupted. But it was her own fault, she told herself. That just meant she had gotten distracted, and that she needed to be able to focus despite distractions.
"I rested," she deadpanned as he walked in and set her plate on her bed, and Serena stood up to pick up her blade the same time Venali walked to the wall and leaned against it. She picked up her food and began to eat, mumbling out a thank you. When she looked up again, she blinked seeing his appearance. A slow smirk touched her lips. "So faerie hair can look like a rat's nest. Noted."
"I'll make you look like a rat's nest," He shot back in a low grumble, glaring at her. It was a sad attempt at an insult, but it was better than going back and fixing his hair to look presentable. Venali was very aware of the state of how bad his hair was, but he couldn't care less about it. Right now he wanted to eat, then get Raine out training so he could go about his day.
Venali glanced over at her as she started to eat, not yet digging into his own food as he asked, "Do you need another day of rest? Or are you ready to get going? You have just over two weeks before the next trial. If I remember correctly."
(Oh, gosh, if Serena was one of my other characters Ciara, that would have been taken inappropriately xD)
Serena rolled her eyes at Venali's retort, but that was just a normal response. It wor–was weird not having him retort with a biting comment. That meant whatever it was that was bothering him was bad, but Serena didn't care. At all.
She chewed on the inside of her cheek for a couple of seconds, looking at him, trying to understand what caused the Fae to be so disorderly before she snapped out of it and focused on her food. Irrelevant thoughts.
"I'm ready to train," she said. "I can't wait any longer than I already have. The only weapon I'm good at using is the knife. Combat is something I've avoided. I know I can't learn in such a short amount of time, but I need to learn at least a little so I can stand my ground. Trickery will only get me so far, and I've never heard past the first trial."
(Heheheheheh I have a few characters that would think that too…)
"Well, I'm going to be teaching you the basics of a few different weapons then, and trickery is always needed," He replied, pushing his food around his plate as he focused on the conversation. Venali wracked his brain for any ideas on what the second trial would be, but truthfully, he didn't pay attention, and to begin with not many humans made it there. "The second trial could be anything, so I suppose you should prepare for everything. Is there anything you need to learn the basics of?"
He eventually started to eat as he finished his question and glanced at her, his hair still a royal mess. It barely looked like his normal hairstyle, and she was right with the description of it looking like a rats nest. At very best it looked like he ran his fingers through it a few too many times.
Either way, it, and the slight grumpiness, showed that he had a stressful morning. But thankfully, and for some reason he didn't want to know, talking to Raine was improving his day slightly.
(Ah, I'm really sorry! Gosh, it's been so long, what the heck—)
Serena chewed on her bottom lip, then ate a spoonful of her food. She waited until she swallowed to talk, returning Venali's rather grumpy stare.
"Combat," she admitted quietly, almost as if it was painful to admit. Which, to her, it was. To admit to a Fae she couldn't fight properly… "I've fought before. Just not… just haven't been trained. I learned what I could on my own."
Venali simply nodded once, speaking as he took a break from the food balanced in his hands, "I suppose I can show you a crash course of how to fight…normally I'd need weeks to teach you much, but I can make do with this. Are you more concerned about fighting with weapons or hand to hand?"
He shoveled another bite into his mouth, staring at the wall with focus. There was too much to teach her about fighting. Not only was it a broad topic, but he didn't know what she actually knew how to do. With his luck, she would be a beginner and he would have to go over everything, plus whatever else for this second trial. He would have to remember to ask Eldon for even just a hint, which wasn't something he was going to enjoy doing.
"I know how to fight with weapons. And a bit of hand-to-hand," Serena responded. Knives, swords, needles… those were easy to practice with alone. Hand-to-hand, on the other hand… that was difficult. Her father had taught as soon as she'd turned eight, but with no one to practice with, she'd gotten rusty. "But it's been a while since I fought with someone else. I only had Alaric; we didn't travel in groups."
When the Fae looked away from her, she focused her stare on her food as well. Learning how to fight would be difficult. Extremely, and she knew that. Not in such a short amount of time, but she could learn. She had to, not just to pass the trials. Scythe needed to go down as well, and she'd take him down, even if it killed her.
"I know the basics. I've just gotten rusty."
"Hand-to-hand is easier…or at least there's less variety like with weapons," He replied, still staring off at the wall before blinking and looking back at her, "Tomorrow we'll start you with hand-to-hand. Today, you just need to get used to training with me and I'll have to gauge how hard I can push you and your side."
Venali ate the rest of his food silently, then glanced over at Raine, waiting patiently, "As soon as you finish that is." He sighed, standing up straight and pausing before speaking once more, "I'll go have someone bring you another set of clothes for training. Hopefully, by then, you'll be done." He waited for a minute longer for her answer, not in any big rush, though a small part of him was nagging him to get moving.
"I'll be done by then."
Serena turned her attention back to her food and started eating again, this time slower. It was still surprising at how much she was being fed; knowing Eldon, he would have had her practically starved. But then again… Venali was in charge of her food. He wouldn't keep her starved.
But her life was linked to his, so of course he would make sure to keep her fed. There was no other reason. Still… it was alarming how the king would bind the life of his nephew with a human like her. She almost asked him, but stopped at the last second.
Why did she even care? She didn't. It was none of her business.
So she resumed eating.
Venali had walked off as soon as he heard her response, speaking to one of the nearby servants and arranging for them to bring her a clean set of clothes fit to work out in. Then, he just calmly walked off. Both to take care of his bowl and to get ready on his own.
He didn't know why he was so ready to get training, it wasn't going to be a harder training session than normal and he was going to have to deal with keeping Raine alive, but he was ready to get training. A small part of him bright up the idea that it was because he would have someone to train with for the first time in weeks, but the rest of him disagreed. Whatever it was, he didn't care to find out. All he needed to focus on was getting ready.
Before long, Venali appeared back at Raine's cell, knocking on the wall outside of her door. Dressed in a simple cream colored shirt and caramel colored bottoms, he matched the attire that most guards wore when working out. "Ready to go, miss monster slayer?" He called, being ever the gentleman as he waited outside for her response.
