Staying quiet for the most part, Verona still held to Ezekiel, like a young child to it's mother.
she enjoyed being petted anyway. It was nice.
And when Sebastian mentioned Eric, Verona stifled a growl. She hated that man so much! Okay, not hate, dislike. She didn't like hating people.

"I think Eric needs a serious attitude adjustment."

Giggling slightly, Verona smiled up at Ezekiel. "I think we should hit him!"

Of course she was joking. Although, the last time she'd hit him, as in slapping, he'd pretty much taken it without nothing more than a few squeals.
It was actually very funny once she thought about it.

"Well I simply cannot let you do that," Ezekiel said in a joking manner though he was completely serious. "Despite the fact that he is quite a jerk at times, he is still my brother."

He could see a cloud of dust faintly on the horizon and he was growing excited. He would be able to see his family and more importantly his mother. The funeral that would be held for his father was delayed until they could get him to come there.

"You will love my sister," he said after a moment. "She turns into a finch."

Still gripping to Ezekiel's side, Verona couldn't help but to giggle. She remembered Maria. The finch.
When they'd had lunch that day, she remembered seeing the finch flying around in a crazy matter. And then, Ezekiel had explained the day after...
It was a shame that things happened the way they did, but now, it was all o.k.

Oh she was so excited though! She couldn't wait to marry such a fine man, and have him all to herself. Then, he'd be forced to look at her!
Okay, so maybe that thought hadn't crossed her mind since they argued, but she would tease him about it soon enough.

Inhaling deeply, she smiled, looking up to Ezekiel, "I love you."

Ezekiel was looking at her now as she was more bubbly than he could imagine. He smiled slightly as if to say 'i love you' straight back at her. Sebastian had ran off to meet the people that were coming. It'd be easier if he joined them earlier so that he could introduce Ezekiel and Verona.

"Do you think they'll let a petite, sun burned girl, like yourself attempt to carry anything to town?" he asked in a teasing tone.

Leaning back slightly, Verona smacked Ezekiel's shoulder.
She was quite pink, or red really.

"That's mean!" She hollered. "It wasn't my fault, I fell asleep!"

The sun had been so warm though, and Ezekiel was pretty much ignoring her, so she got bored.
And then when she woke up, she was red as a cherry, and her skin stung.
Never would she be going tanning again. Not if it meant this again.

"I just wish it wasn't so painful..."

"You're still as cute as ever," he said with a smile. "And I wish you weren't in pain. I'll make sure you aren't in the sun very much on the way back so it doesn't get worse. He'd gotten a bit of a sun burn on his neck the day in the garden and it hurt a bit.

"Do you think your parents will always hate me?" he asked after a moment.

Helen was back out with a small brunch and two glasses of water so they wouldn't get tired on the road.

Cringing a bit, Verona sort of thought for a moment. Would they always hate him..?
It seemed like it, although, since they weren't the sharpest knives in the drawer, maybe not.

"I would like to think, that would have loved for me to marry you... But then Eric and your father had to spread all of those false rumors.. So I don't know what to say. They might, and then they might not. I really can't say.."

She was almost positive that they would have maybe even been encouraged to marry if it weren't for the lunch incident. It would have been perfect.
But now..

"I just hope they won't try to lock me away from you or something..."

And then what would Mayhen do? He was liable to try and kill Ezekiel for all Verona knew.

Ezekiel had not even considered the idea of Mayhen attempting to kill him. His sister would most likely do all she could to prevent this since her only confidence (if their mother died) would be Ezekiel and Victoria. Eric had cut himself off from the family a long time ago and now she'd learned not to trust him at all.


"Well if they end up liking me that's good, but if they don't... then that's just life," he said with a smile.

What he didn't realize was there was a rumor circulating through the city about Ezekiel having not actually attempted murder and was now helping people in the country. No one really knew where he was at the moment and then never expected him to return.

(It's a carriage, right? O.o)

Nodding, Verona smiled as the carriage approached the two of them. There sat Sebastian, and some other man. And in the back, were two empty places for Ezekiel and Verona.

She had no problem climbing aboard. It was nice actually, being higher up than Ezekiel was. She was just so fed up with being short!
Although she still patted the place next to her, reserved for her love.

"Come on," she told him. "We need to get there today, right?"

Back in the city, Mayhen couldn't stand the fact that someone had even tried to make that Singston kid sound like some kind of hero. Surely, he'd done something to hurt Verona while he'd kidnapped her. It was really a shame too, to waste such a beautiful girl on such an insulate man.

It was needless to say that Mayhen had grown bitter towards Ezekiel, and even Verona now. He had no more sense of right or wrong, since Eric had pretty much taken over.
He and Eric had actually spoken before about some stuff... Stuff, yeah. Things that people weren't allowed to know.

"I would prefer to walk," he said with a smile. "Just in case anything falls off."

He winked slightly at her then and walked next to Sebastian, who was at the present moment following the carriage. He could see Verona from where he was so he knew she was safe.

Maria and Veronica were both convinced that there had not been a kidnapping of Verona. They knew Ezekiel too well and they were both growing frustrated over the matter. It was around this time that Maria was out on the streets talking to a few people.

She'd been telling her story since the Ezekiel had left but now she told it with less spirit. Her heart ached for her mother and her father. They taught her the things about the curse and she knew how to deal with it now.

She was at the bar that Ezekiel had first met Verona in, sitting at the booth, stirring the soda that was in the glass in front of her. She had been hoping to run into Mayhen here so she could speak to him. She knew, or rather had a feeling that there was something going on between Eric and Mayhen concerning her brother and she hated the idea.

Crossing her arm sat Ezekiel's walking remark, she stuck her nose up in the air. If anything, it looked like Ezekiel and Sebastian were taking her into town like bodyguards, rather than the truth.
Like a queen almost. Although, she had sloppy blond hair now, it looked fine.

"Meanie," she told him. She even stuck her tongue out to make a lasting effect.

Mayhen had been hitting the bars quite a bit lately too. He was falling into the worst possible habits he could. He missed Verona, yes. But if she ever came back, he sure as hell wouldn't let her know that!

Walking through the doors slowly, Mayhen practically stomped up to the counter, and ordered some inaudible drink. Whatever it was must have been strong, because the bartender rose his eyebrows.
But he still got the drink, and took a few heavy swags of it. Hey, anything was better than nothing.

"You know," Ezekiel said. "You're very beautiful when you sit like that."

He really believed that she was beautiful all the time, he just felt like reminding her of that to make her feel good. he had laughed at the fact that she stuck her tongue out but hadn't really responded in any other way.

Maria saw an advantage when she saw Mayhen walk in. She stood up and walked over to him in a more seductive pattern. She placed a hand on his shoulder and turned him slightly to look at her.

"My my..." she said in an overly sweet voice. "Someone looks very handsome tonight. Would you care to sit with me at a booth over there?"

Trying not to smile amongst her pouting, Verona found herself biting her lip, and turning red.
"You know what- you just need to be quiet."

She was such a failure. There was no way for her to say mad with Ezekiel for too long. That point was now proven twice in one day.

Mayhen knew who Maria was. She was a Singston kid, his sister..
She wasn't so bad though, really. Eric hadn't mentioned too much about her to Mayhen, although, he didn't really like any of his family members. That was why he had his father killed. It was only an obstacle.

Grinning still, Mayhen took her arm, and walked back with her to the booth.
Hey, he wasn't about to turn down a pretty lady, right?

Ezekiel forced herself not to laugh. Something fell off though so he had to run off and pick the item up. As he was away Sebastian was laughing slightly.

"You know he completely adores you," Sebastian said with a smile.

She gave her most adorable smile she could muster when he took her arm. She had a feeling about this guy and it wasn't good so she'd just trick him.

"You are very sexy," she said as she scooted next to him so that she was really close to him.

Smiling, Verona uncrossed her arms, and began to fiddle with the hem of her dress.
"I'm glad he does.."
She was. Because she was hopelessly, and utterly in love with him, she couldn't help but to pray that he would never, ever leave...

"Umm... Sebastian..." She asked after a quick second. She want to ask him this before Ezekiel was able to catch up.
"Uhhhh.... How much did you hear... the other night..?"

Great, now her face was even more red than before.

Cocking an eyebrow, Mayhen had a puzzled expression on his face..
"Look, I know you're his little sister, or whatever. No need to try and butter me up.
Though, his arm was still around her.. Most likely, she'd try and play it off.
He would see soon enough... Unless... he got drunk first..

"I went in the cellar so I didn't hear anything," he admitted. "Wanted to give you two privacy because I knew what was going to happen. Actually finished the book I've been trying to read all summer. Oh and Helen told me it was going to happen... the whole foresight thing."

He laughed slightly and let out a sigh before Ezekiel returned. He looked happy to be there and the people that were actually controlling the carriage were surprised that it was the same prince as before.

"A the foolish drunk," she said. "He's only my brother, nothing more."

She raised her hand for a drink and the bartender knew what she was planning because he'd seen it all along. A strong tonic was prepared and taken to the table.

"Now drink up and she shall celebrate the disappearance of Ezekiel."

She raised a glass, non-alcoholic of course, to the air in sign of a toast. She despised dirty work but there was no one she could hire at the present moment.

The blush only spreading more, Verona sort of looked down, eyes wide, and shocked.
Well then, Helen was certainly very keen wasn't she?
Hopefully though, those little visions of hers didn't go into detail.. Maybe that was why she'd gotten the rings? The foresight?

Mayhen had a feeling of what she was doing, but did nothing... He was inwardly... ashamed for all he'd done.
He was mostly just jealous of Ezekiel... his family. It seemed like Verona was just drawn to him from the very beginning. Of course she was. He was rich, and a very desired man. Verona couldn't DARE go for someone like Mayhen right?
No, she was better than that..

Mayhen's mind whirred around as the drinks began taking affect. He would be out soon enough.. But he couldn't! Not yet..
Trying to keep himself awake, Mayhen began to rub his temples.
There we go. It was helping.

"Trust me," Sebastian said. "I don't think she gets the nasty details, only the idea, or that's what she told me."

Ezekiel was curious as to what they were talking about and was slightly confused. He shrugged though and went back to walking.

"Oh come now silly boy," she said as she took one of his hands. "There's the whole night ahead of us, now tell me what's wrong?"

She had that expression on that she'd used on her father so many times. It was begging expression that she'd perfected over the years and it was almost always effective.

Holding his hand now she kissed it gently. She sat up slightly and kissed him, on the lips, just to see how he would react. She did not heed the danger of actually liking him.

Nodding slightly, Verona sighed with relief. "Well," she began. "That's good.."
Looking down on Ezekiel, she smiled slightly. 'If only he knew what I was talking about..'

Playing with her dress still, she turned back towards the way in front of her, watching the dirt grow less and less dusty.
They would be back soon enough, and she couldn't wait.
She could use a nice hot bath, among many things..

Before Mayhen could even slur out an answer to Maria's question, his lips were suddenly against hers.
Huh?
But instead of questioning this odd, odd event, he pulled his arm around her a bit closer, and accepted this false affection. He was drunk, not stupid.

Ezekiel pushed Sebastian slightly who laughed and pushed him back. They were goofing off a bit and the people along were still shocked to see Ezekiel's good mannered behavior. One girl, near the front, that was the daughter of the owner of the carriage seemed almost smitten with Sebastian.

"How old is he," the girl asked Verona. "Not Ezekiel but the other boy."

It was working for the most part. She noticed something she hadn't noticed before. His arms were much stronger than she realized and she was beginning to feel safe.
What?
She broke off and continued the false affections by curling up next to him, looking up at him with a doe eyed expression.
"Tell me what you thought of that meeting," she asked. "You know the one where my father was about to speak on behalf of my brother... that would have been a foolish speech for him to make."

Glancing at Ezekiel and Sebastian now, Verona couldn't help but to giggle.
How old was he anyway? She remembered him telling her, but she didn't actually retain any of the information.

Looking back to the girl, Verona had a sort of disturbed look on her face. She was disappointed that she couldn't remember.

"Actually," she said. "I don't remember.. He is older than Ezekiel though.. I'm just not exactly sure."

Pursing his lips, Mayhen left his arm around Maria's body.
"Eric never liked Ezekiel.. He was always in his way from inheriting the company. And hell, if it meant making him attempt murder, it did. All he wants is the power to make people quake, and the money, to do it."

Picking up his drink, he took a small swig this time. If he consumed it slowly, it could help at least a little bit.

The girl looked a little bit disappointed at first but smiled at Verona. She hadn't introduced herself and suddenly felt quite rude.

"I apologize," the girl said. "My name is Lizzie."

"That's a devilish thing to do," Maria said with a smirk. "Correct me if I am wrong but did you execute my brother's plan during my brother's speech."

She was really just pulling this out of no where. She had known her father had many more years to live and his death had come as a shock. She could feel her heart beat racing slightly and she tried to stay calm by continually sipping her soda.

Smiling at the girl now, Verona occasionally glanced back to the two boys.
Holding out her hand, she nodded. "Verona Byers," she told her.
"It's nice to meet you."

Now that she officially didn't know how old Sebastian was, it made her wonder.. How could she just forget that so easily?

Mayhen was clearly becoming a bit more tipsy now, and his speech was beginning to slur a slight.
"Whatdchyou sssay?"
He was having a hard time understanding words also... GREAT! That was all he needed right now.

"You have a very nice name," Lizzie said with a smile. "How old are you?"

She was curious only because she considered herself fairly young at the point, being nineteen. She was comparing herself to her friends that had already gotten married though.

Maria made sure he drank a little more of the beverage before she asked again. She moved her hands over his arms slightly, feeling his muscles.

"Now tell me did you put these muscles to good use recently? Or rather did you kill that dratted Mr. Singston?" she whispered in his ear.

She was so close to him at this point that she could feel the heat coming from his body and smelled vile. She smiled though as she studied his expression in a mischievous manner.

"Thank you!" Verona couldn't help but to smile at this girl. "I'm eighteen. I know, I'm silly, right?"
Giggling to herself, she glanced back at the boys.

At this point, Mayhen was clutching his forehead, but slowly took another drink.
"You sssssuuree you wannnt to knowww?" He was really so gone now.. He could say anything and make it sound dumb.
"I didn't sssstrangle himmm."
Leaning back slightly, he exhaled, closing his eyes. Damn, he'd have to get someone to take him home now, great..