Deathstalker 06 - Deathstalker Legacy

finish?"
    Jesamine pouted sulkily. "Why are you being like this, Anne? I came here to kiss and make up. I want us to be friends again."
    "Why am I being like this? It has to be my fault, doesn't it, never yours? Are you really that blind, that self-obsessed? You jeopardize the Royal Wedding, betray Douglas and infatuate Lewis, and you wonder why I'm being like this? Grow up, Jes! This isn't some backstage romance, some brief fling for the gossip magazines to twitter over! This is treason, Jes. I should never have put your name forward in the first place. I should have known you'd screw it up."
    "Look, I said I was sorry! I said it wouldn't happen again! What more do you want me to do?"
    "I want you to be loyal to Douglas. I want you to act like a Queen in waiting, not some stuck-up tart with an itch in her panties. I want you to leave Lewis alone! It's not like he means anything to you. I know you, Jes."
    "No you don't. You don't know me at all. Lewis is ... special."
    "Yes. Yes, he is. He deserves better than you. He doesn't understand this is all just a game to you. I don't want him hurt. So stay away from him. He doesn't need you in his life."
    "He needs someone."
    "He needs someone who'll care for him!" Anne said hotly. "Someone who'll care about him. Not just use him because he's there, and then throw him aside like a snotty tissue. Like you've done with so many others before him."
    "That's not fair. It wasn't like that. Lewis is different.. ."
    'That's right. Lewis is different, from you and me. He knows the meaning of duty, and of honor. Or at least he used to, before he met you. If you have any feelings for him at all, leave him alone. Before you destroy him completely. He's a good man. You're not worthy of him."
    Jesamine erupted up out of her chair, her cheeks blazing, vicious unforgivable words trembling on her lips; words that could never be taken back, or apologized for. Words that would mean the end of her oldest friendship. She stood there breathing heavily for a moment, and somehow choked the words down. But she had nothing else to say, so she turned and stormed out of Anne's office, away from her accusing eyes, slamming the door behind her as hard as she could. And there in the corridor, heading straight for her, was Lewis Deathstalker.
    Part of her wanted to turn and run, but she didn't. Jesamine stood her ground as Lewis walked up to her, and stopped right in front of her. She was breathing hard, her heart hammering in her breast. Their eyes met, and all their good intentions went for nothing. They'd kept apart from each other, each hoping the madness would pass, but it hadn't. All it took was the sight of each other, and their hearts raced.
    Deny it as they would, they were meant to be together; and neither King nor Parliament, duty nor honor, could keep them apart.
    "What are you doing here, Lewis?" Jesamine said finally, her voice strained by the effort involved in seeming casual.
    "I came to see Anne," said Lewis. "Looking for something to do. Someone to talk to. How have you been, Jes? You look good."
    "Fine. I've been fine. You look good too."
    "No I don't," said Lewis, smiling just a little. "I'm famous for not looking good."
    "You look good to me," said Jesamine.
    "He's my friend, Jes."
    "I know."
    And suddenly they were kissing again, bodies pressed tight together, as though trying to become one person, that could never be parted. While in her lonely office, Anne watched them kiss on her monitor screen, her clenched hands full of the material of the marvelous dress.
    King Douglas sat stiffly on his great Throne in the House of Parliament, nodding graciously to the various honorable Members as they assembled to take their Seats. There weren't as many as usual, or even as many as he'd hoped for. Attendance was well down on what he'd expected. Most hadn't even bothered to attend by holo. Probably they were scared. The House was going to have to discuss the problem of Pure Humanity and the Church Militant soon, but none of the honorable Members wanted to commit themselves publicly to one position or another until they absolutely had to. Public opinion was vacillating
    wildly, and their representatives were running scared.
    Douglas sat on his Throne and felt very exposed, very alone. He wished Jesamine was at his side. He wondered briefly what was keeping her. It couldn't be anything important, or Anne would have briefed him by now over his private comm channel. He shifted uncomfortably. He