Jacqueline let the branch go reluctantly, wanting to see more of the lamia's blood spilt.

God, she thought, a wave of horror rushing through her, what was I becoming?

"Very well, but bringing Loyal back will not be an easy task," she warned, knowing that Lex would try anyway. And he did.

Jacqueline was captivated by the butterflies as they flew from their perches in the trees. She was shaken from her daze by the screech of the lamia. Her eyes flashed with anger as it lashed out at Lex.

"I'm sorry Lex, but I can't wait for Loyal to come to before I kill this creature," she said, her upper lip pulled back across her fangs in a snarl.

"You're messing with two people who are important to me," she growled at the lamia. The lamia seemed to giggle maniacally. "So allow me to introduce myself. I'm your worst nightmare."

Jacqueline leapt at the lamia, her right foot snaking out. It caught the lamia in the stomach. The lamia swung around, using what was left of its tail to slam Jacqueline into a tree. Jacqueline grunted and wriggled out of the lamia's reach. She felt a crack beneath her skin as a rib was healed back into place.

Her eyes, now red, blazed with fury. The wind caused her hair to whip around her blood-spattered face. She really did look like something out of a nightmare.

Lex, waiting for a reaction from Loyal, sighed in exasperation a Jacquey went to fight again.

'Jacq, no...' but it was too late, she was already lashing out at the lamia.

The elf punched the lamia in the mouth as it went to lash out at Jacq again. One sharp fang cut along his arm as he carried through the punch, but he took no notice - lives were at stake here, no matter how fun this battle seemed to be.

What to do, what to do, what to do...? he racked his brain, she didn't need to be fighting! He clicked his fingers, Water! Oh boy, she'll hate me for this! he laughed, he'll win her back with a kiss.

Lex summoned the water from under the ground, smiling a he did so - this battle was fun! It hovered in the air above Jacq's head, then he dropped it...

Jacqueline knew something was wrong as soon as she saw Lex smiling. Then, the water hit her. It soaked through her clothes, making them stick to her figure. She spun around, her hair wetly slapping her face.

"Lex!" she cried out, wiping water from her eyes. She then punched Lex's shoulder.

"What was that for?" she said, trying her best to give Lex a spiteful glare, but failed miserably.

She began to wring the water out of her top, shivering as the wind brushed her bare skin.

Lex's body quivered involuntarily as her we clothes stuck to her skin, showing off her sleek, agile figure and curves. He didn't think of that.

'Don't even think about looking Loyal! She's mine!' he laughed, not that it would've made a difference contemplating the state that his friend was in now.

'Aww, Jacq! That's going to bruise!' he playfully mocked in a wailing tone.

He gently grabbed both of her hands and held them behind her back so she couldn't punch him again. Coming in close he began kissing her passionately, completely forgetting that they were in a battle. A screech brought him back to reality and he went to bite down hard on his lover's tongue.

'Oh, right - monster, Loyal, battle.' he shook his head in bemusement, how could he forget he was fighting for his friend's life!?

Lex knocked the lamia back with a short but powerful gust of wind, temporarily putting it in a daze. The butterflies continued to dance around Loyal, teasing his hair and tickling is exposed skin.

'Come on Loyal...' the elf whispered through gritted teeth, ready to strike the lamia when it regain it's composure, 'Wake up, don't prove me wrong.'

Things were happening so fast, Loyal couldn't even keep up anymore. After all, he could only catch a glimpse of what was happening, he was being swarmed by butterflies...of course. The Sorcerer fell to his knees, feeling the spell of him loosening its grip on his mind.

He felt the soft, powdered wings of the delicate insects brush against his skin, ruffling his hair and, lastly, making him feel dizzy. Loyal felt like he was in a different world completely. As much as he loved this, he swore that he was going to kill Lex...not literally of course.

Slowly standing up, the butterflies spread out so that he could catch the lamia in his eyes. He gave a deadly smirk before summoning up his both of his ice sword. The two blades met causing a cold sound to ring out, it was only a second before he charged forward, slashing at the lamia like mad, and not only that, sending all the elements at her too.

The lamia released a shriek before she transformed into a snake, hissing and spitting at Loyal before jumping at him, digging his venomous fangs into his arms. He didn't even flinch, instead he tapped the head of the snake with his sword. The snake froze over in a matter of seconds. Slowly his pulled his arm out of its deadly grip and threw the frozen statue far off.

Loyal gave a long sigh, his swords disappeared and he turned and smiled at Lex and Jacquey. A few of the group of butterflies still fluttered about, landing on his hair and anything solid that they could grab a hold of.

"Well...that was entertaining." He joked, shrugging. He held one hand over the bite mark and a green light fell from his palm, draining the poison out and healing the bite. "Sorry that I worried you." He said, his smile disappearing and his gaze fell to the ground.
"I didn't even realise that it was a lamia calling out to me in my sleep. I just thought whatever it was should be safe because the voice was so soothing." He shook his head. "I caused so much trouble, I really am sorry." He finished, falling onto one knee and bowing his head at the two and closing his eyes.
"I interrupted something back then didn't I?" He smiled gently, opening just one eye.

Lex stared in bewilderment at Loyal's comment.

'Entertaining? For me, yeah but it shouldn't have been for you!' he laughed.


Deciding to get his revenge the elf walked over to Loyal and gently tried to whack him over the head.

'WHAT WERE YOU THINKING?' he shouted, 'YOU WERE ALREADY SAFE!'

Lex, going slightly crazy from lack of sleep, collapsed to the ground and buried his head in the snow.

'What am I going to do with you...?' he muffled through the soft ice.

He looked up at the sorcerer's last comment and smiled crookedly.

'Yeah, but we should have plenty of time for that later...' he smiled shiftily, white snow falling off the top of his head.


'I think I need sleep...'

"Last part was entertaining enough for me." He laughed, brushing hair out of his face and placing a hand on his hip. He held out his free hand, watching a small remaining butterfly land on his hand. "Nice idea." He walked over, smiling lightly before attempting to flick Lex on the forehead. "I'm not that much of a girl am I?"

His mind screamed in his head so much, even a small whack from Lex like that made it scream louder. "I said I was sorry..." He murmured, holding his head, smiling at Lex sheepishly.

The Sorcerer shrugged. "Dunno, you tell me." He grinned, having a feeling that Lex was bound to hurt him sooner or later...preferably later, when his head is in a better shape.

Loyal laughed. "Of course."

"Then go get some." Loyal said simply, standing up and sighing. "I think I need some too." He shook his head, holding his arms up. "One thing I hate other than being interrupted in my sleep is being controlled as well." Loyal turned to the general direction of the cottage. "Should we all head back?"

Relief flooded through Jacqueline when she saw that Lex was right. Loyal could be and had been freed from the lamia's hold. She rolled her eyes when Lex tried to smack Loyal.
She went over and gave Loyal a hug. Looking down at Lex in the snow, she smiled at Loyal.

"Please, don't take it personally. He's just a bit groucy because there's barely anything of his house still standing," she said, nudging Lex with the toe of her boot, "I'm just glad you're safe, well, for now anyway."

She raised her eyebrows at Lex's shifty grin.

"Don't hold your breath," she muttered, just loud enough for Lex to hear her mocking. She sighed.

"Here, unfortunately, is not the place to sleep. May I remind you that you are still susceptible to things like hypothermia and pneumonia?"

Lex groaned as Jacq nudged him.

'That house took three years to build by myself... I expect two weeks labour from you, Loyal, every month.' he yawned and grabbed Jacq's leg, trying to pull her down with him.

'I am not grouchy... just half crazy at the moment.' he muttered, yanking at her leg.

He laughed hysterically at the older man's last question.

'Back?' he grinned, 'Back to what? We're heading up the mountains to a cave that I have set up! There's nothing to go back to except for rubble...'

He grimaced at the work to be done...

Jacqueline laughed when Lex began tugging on her leg.

"What do you mean half crazy?" she said pointedly. Just to humour him, she gave in and fell on top of him. She giggled.

"Well, how did we find ourselves in this position?" she asked, giving Lex a sidewards look. She shrugged at the comment about the cave.

"Hey, I've lived in a coffin for centuries. Anywhere is better than there," she said, pushing herself off Lex.