[IC] Seperated By the Stars (Continued)

[Shin-Lu]

Everett's car stopped shortly after it had crossed the finish line, he was quick to pull off his helmet. She beat me, this woman, she beat me Everett thought feeling his face go hot with embarrassment. His heart started to beat faster, his palms grew sweaty.

"I lost," he whispered staring at Raina, a pout came to his lips, "I will never live this down now! I bet Caleb is going to hold this over my head!" Everett whined, draping his large body over Raina like a rag doll. "Meanie."

♥

Lotus laughed, she stiffened when Caleb put his arm around her shoulder, out of instinct she pushed his arm away, a smirk teased her lips, "I would never go easy on you. Just try and keep up, pretty boy," Lotus spat out, her competitive drive ignited inside of her as she headed down for the tracks, first she had to congratulate Raina for the job well-down and putting the Government boy into his place.

[Akayaofthemoon]

Raina yelped in surprise, laughing as she tried to hold the man up who was draping over her petite body with his rather large one. "If you hadn't bragged then you would have lived it down I am sure. I'll tell you what...to prove I am not a big meanie...I will tell you something you really want to know." she spoke before leaning close to his ear and whispered, "You asked what my dress size is and here it is, four."

She knew she shouldn't encourage the government ball thing but if he had already got the dress and couldn't return it then the least she could do was give him a size so it could actually fit. She knew by doing this that she was actually agreeing to go with him and not being pushed into it like before. She turned her attention to the two that were joining them, wondering what their race would be like and what Caleb was going to say to Everett.

~*~

Caleb smirked, his own competitive nature coming out to play,"Oh I see, so all is far in love and war. Let's see if your words can hold up to the hype or if you will be the one watching as I cross that line." He headed down to the track after her, ready to tease Everett since he had played up about winning and then lost. Caleb had to pat Raina on the back for that one, bring his friend a few pegs down was not an easy thing to complish. He could see though, how good that she was for his friend though as he watch the playful display in front of him.

He had actually been worried that he had fallen for a fake and that she was using him. Everett had after all made her out to be too perfect, even though she had denied the man at first. "SO....Everett...how does it taste? Does the taste of defeat taste the worse or the taste of foot in mouth after speaking of your winning and never having it come into fruition. I must say Raina, anyone that can up him off his high horse other then myself is good in my book."

[Shin-Lu]

Everret's face cracked into a grin when Raina whispered to him, it was a good thing he has not even began dress shopping.

"A lovely number," Everett mused, his smile faded when he saw his friend come down to the stadium with a sly expression, he knew he was in for a taunting.

Lotus giggled, she was amused at Caleb's tease, it was like Raina and her for the majority of the time, Lotus could tell Raina and Everett was a good couple since they were opposite.

"I think you would like the taste of my foot in your mouth!" Everett laughed, he shook his head, and cradled his helmet under his arm, "She's an exellent driver! It was not so easy!"
He draped an arm over Raina, "Now we get to watch Lotus beat your sorry butt."

Lotus smiled, she tied up her, but stopped she she heard the sound of a familar siren, her eyes becomes fixated at the large screen in the stadium. A man came up, he was a stanard government official. Everett visibly frowned. He knew it was going to ruin the date.

"A surprise attack was launch by the rebels in the shipping bay today, dozens were wounded, mainly rebels, and one was killed. Please the government advise all citizens, excluding officials to follow curfew and return to quarters at exactly nine-PM. Those who fail to do so will be taken in to custody and questioned. Those who are of magical descent will be arrested without question. This is the first demerit in our government program. Two more and further actions will take place. We will requires citizens and government officials to present paper works starting in a few days."

The screen went black, and the results from the race was re-posted as normal. Lotus' eyes gazed to Raina, she knew they had to be back home soon, it was already 5pm and Seymour has been trying to follow them.

Lotus didn't want to leave, but for their safety it would be wise. Public places were often watched, and anyone could be a suspect.

"Gee, I guess that's another mess huh?" Everett let out a low whistle, "I guess my dad got his hands tied."

"Dad?" Lotus asked unconsciously.

"Yeah, my old man. He has the big chair to the government, but he's a little blinded by the generall."

Lotus' ears rang, Everett was in a major power position.

[Akayaofthemoon]

"You wound me!" Caleb stated dramatically, clutching his hand over his heart at Everett's comment before bursting out into a fit of laugher. "For the sake of my pride, I must admit that I hope I will not lose but something tells me it is going to be tough. This one seem pretty confident." he mentioned, talking about Lotus and the race that would be coming up. He wanted her to win but at the same time his competitive side was screaming at him not to lose or else. He knew that he was be in for some teasing if he did lose.

It was in that moment that a familiar siren blared loudly which made a sigh escape his lips as his eyes averted boredly to the large stadium screen. A standard government official appeared making his frown deepen since he knew then and there that this date wasn't going to continue because he would be very lucky if a phone call to his cell wasn't far behind plus this meant curfew was happening for sure. Raina was completely different from Caleb, the second the siren went off, her blood chilled and she felt frozen as her eyes glued to the screen and fear raced through her. This was not good...Seymour would for sure crack down on them and even though she could fake papers in a way so the government wouldn't know, that didn't mean other were safe. She felt like she couldn't breath, even after the screen went black and went back to the normal score board as it had been before.

Raina didn't want to leave but it was no longer safe to stay and with that, her gaze switched over to Lotus as fear was held in her eyes. She hadn't even got to tell Lotus the worse part of this. That day, she learn how close Everett actually was to the high up government which meant she was a danger to him as she was a danger to her. He had major power and if she made a wrong move then everything would be in Everett's hand to either save or destroy and even if he did nothing, it could lead to worse people finding out.
She felt her heart drop when Everett brought up his father in front of Lotus and she knew that they would need to talk. It would have been better if she hadn't met with Everett that day or looked into his dreams (Another thing she hadn't told Lotus yet), if she had not done those things then love would not have completely hooked in her heart. Now, there was no way she could happily let Everett go...even if it meant her end.

"He isn't the only one with a mess. You know that a call from your old man isn't going to be far behind as he or someone else calls us in. I hope it isn't the General....I think I dislike him more then fiancé." Caleb spoke up.

[Shin-Lu]

Everett laughed nervously at the event, and at Caleb's comment, he rubbed the back of his head.

"Charm runs in their family, let's just hope my father doesn't call hmm?" Everett motioned to Raina he pulled her closer, and Lotus felt a pit dropped in her stomach.

Her fists clenched tightly as she tried to figure out what would her next move be, Seymour would come out of the hideout if he knew Raina and her were missing, which would only means more chaos. More fighting, her head pounded, more weapons, her palms begin to sweat, more blood spill, her mouth ran dry, and more lives being thrown away. She began to make herself sick and lightheaded from the thoughts as she tried to calm herself.

"You alright Lo'?" Everett asked, concerned that the woman had turned pale, he smiled weakly, "That wasn't your first announcement was it?" He laughed nervously patting her on the back. The woman looked as if she was going to throw up, "Do you need to head home dear?"

Lotus groaned, she flashed a look at Raina, she needed to go back, that was all she could think about.

[Akayaofthemoon]

Caleb laughed gently before giving a nod, "One can only hope, I have no interest in another meeting."

Raina had barely even noticed the men talking or Everett pulling her closer as all her attention was looked on Lotus. She didn't know what to do or how to get them out of there but it needed to be fast. The cameras would be watching closely and to make matters worse, Seymour would come out of the hideout for them. They were important to the group and Lotus was always under extra protection when it came to that man. This would not end pretty if they were found out or even if they were not seen within camp soon. News traveled too fast and they had a very small window to get back without notice. She was almost relieved when Everett noticed Lotus's behavior and quickly stepped in before Caleb could be concerned which she did not need. One overprotective man was enough to deal with at the moment.

"I'll take her home. Please don't worry you two, everything will be fine. I'll have her call you later Caleb but for now it is best to cut this date short. I'm sorry, I'll talk to you later Everett." Raina said in a rush, moving her friend into her arms as she slowly ushered them away, giving the two no room to argue.
"Do you think she is alright? She looked really sick. Should we be letting them go back alone? Or would Raina kill us for tying to go with them?"

[Shin-Lu]

Everett pursed his lips, he was slightly upset that Raina and Lotus were leaving early. He wave a small way to Raina and Lotus as they rushed away.

"Hmmm. She'll be okay. It was probably just the announcement," Everett shrugged, "Following them is a little too much for now, just for now, Caleb," Everett grinned, it slowly disappeared as he watch their forms fade off in the distance. "Mysterious beings, women are. Caleb. Why do you think they are so protective of their identity? It is rather surprising to see how nervous they seem. Why should they be so worried?"

---

Lotus was grateful that Raina had ushered her away before Caleb could intervene, she was just overall grateful that they could escape so smoothly, but the news about the government was a huge concern. Papers were easy to fake. But the sheer number that the rebels had to make were baffling. Lotus' head pounded when she realizes how much time she has to exert to the effort of creating paper, quality government issued paper. Supplies were running low and hard to scavenge. Money was hard to find since none of them could get a job, legally.

"Raina, this is getting out of hand," Lotus whispered, as they took a hidden route back to the manhole, "I'm.... I'm worried." Lotus' fists were in tight balls, "We're...I'm endangering us all. I don't that. Oh Raina, I may have to stop seeing him." Her mind raced. She was thinking of the children, old, young everyone in their camp. Her memories burned inside of her. The memories of interrogation, torture, and escaping barely with her life. The pain, was unreal, it was as if she could feel her scars pulse and burn.

"But, I don't want to... He makes me so happy. How could something so beautiful be so destructive?"

[Akayaofthemoon]

"Women will always be a mysterious to men. I have no clue why they would be protective of their identity but maybe it is a personal reason like family or embarrassment. It would be hard to say unless we asked or unless we betrayed the trust they have given us and stalked them. I hope that what ever is wrong or makes them feel in such a way gets resolved soon." Caleb said with a frown as he stared off to where they disappeared too. He would never follow unless it was an extremely serious matter but it made him hurt to think that Lotus needed to keep something from them. It was about that moment that his phone went off and a long sigh came from his lips. "And here we go..."

---

Raina felt fear pump through her veins at the recent government news and how everyone in camp would react to this. Lotus would be under a lot of pressure because papers would need to be made for everyone they could manage or at least those of the council which was still a large task for one person alone. She had a way to trick the system by making illusions and making them all think the paper was right or that they were reading the technology in her favor but even that couldn't work every time. The government would also be looking closer which made going to the government ball seem like a nightmare plus she had more to deal with since Everett's fiancé was probably going to be there.

"I know this is getting out of hand...we both can't keep this up much longer or something bad may happen but I don't know if I can stop. Almost everything in this world comes to an end but not love. True love is as endless as it is timeless even if it should lead to tragedy it is hard to stop once it has begun. I will protect everyone if I am found out or if I should tell what I am and have my love turn on me." Raina said with a sad smile. She would not let the children, elders or the good people of the underground city fall because she had selfishly wanted something that she couldn't give up. The pain from her scars were screaming at her, screaming that love will always betray you just like in the past. She was but a child when she learned how cruel the world really was and that love could be fleeting for if your own family couldn't love you then how could you trust another with your heart. Even knowing this, her heart had fallen into Everett's hands and she would leave it with him even if he chose to crush it and her.

[Shin-Lu]

*-Everett nodded at Caleb's words and he took them into consideration, stalking would eventually be a last resort to cure his curiosity. When Caleb's phone buzzed, Everett eceived a message through his pager. It was an important house meeting to sort out issues about the rebels hidden within the city. He made no move reach for his pager and report to his responsibility. Instead he waited for Caleb to finish so they could leave together. His mind wandered to Raina and their time together. A small smile came on his face, her secret nature was intriguing him.

---

Lotus sighed, it was like everything was a bad Shakespeare play. Soon they came upon the manhole, Lotus pushed it aside and offered Raina to go in first. Before she went down she grabbed Laina by the hand and looked at the girl in the eyes.

"Remember, we speak to no one about this, if words gets out, we would be traitors," her voice became low, "traitors of our own people. A shameful title."

[Shin-Lu]

Everett groaned, he should have thrown away Caleb's cellphone when he had the chance, but he nodded. Slowly he took off his racing gear and he was back into his suit, his large hands slicked back his hair and he looked at Caleb. "Do not call him my father in law, that man is not deserving of that title," Everett half joked, he could feel himself heavily disliking the man, for some reason he himself, cannot comprehend just yet. Perhaps in due time, making his way to the parking lot the thought just occurred to him. "Hey the ball is in a few days, we need to get our dates dresses," he reminded his friend, "And by the way, this is strike two of your three strikes my friend. This is not working out in our favor." --- Lotus followed her admirable friend, she was not as forgiving. Behind her placid and friendly face, Lotus was burning for revenge. She questioned both her loyalty to her people and her lover. While she wants to follow her heart and protect Caleb, her duty was to her people. It was a decision she rather not make. He is after all, part of the government. While she tried to remind herself that he was not at fault, she couldn't help but to harbor a prejudice against them all. The nights of unforgivable torture and interrogation haunted her dreams, which was no secret to Raina and Seymour. It still haunts her, the tattoo they forced upon her still burn to this day, sometimes she would stare at it just to fuel her anger. Yet, she does not join in any of the attacks. Lotus knew, that this sort of prejudice and fear could not be fought with anarchy. That would be adding gasoline to the fire. "Where were you?" Seymour's voice popped out from below them. Lotus groaned and jumped off the ladder, landing before him. She stared him back in the eyes. "We were out. I needed some air and she accompanied me." "Lotus, you know it's dangerous out there!" "Seymour it's dangerous in here!" She retorted, surprised at her own voice but she continued, "All these attacks it has to be stopped!" "What? How can you say that? We are defending our people!" "By what? By killing and fighting theirs? This is not the way Seymour! I know it's not, you use to be so peaceful what happened to you?" Lotus cried out, she needed to release her angers, and she did not know how. "What happened to me? Do you not remember what happened to you? Lotus ever since we were young, I have promised your guardians I would keep you safe, and that is what I am going to do!" "I am not a helpless little girl anymore Seymour! I am not! I can fight for myself!" Her hands clenched and vines shot up from the ground, each bearing thorns, Seymour jumped back slightly, one popped up before him, he touched it and it burst into flames.