1 Chapter 1 Rock Meet Bottom

Emery tossed and turned in her sleep desperately trying to make herself wake up. She hated this part of the dream. There was a group of people standing around a small metal cage just big enough to fit a petite brunette inside it. Her knees were to her chest and her head was to her knees. The brunette's head was turned away from emery so she couldn't see her face. All Emery could see was a curtain of long light brown hair that just barely touched the bottom of the cage.

The brunette was grunting and banging around inside the small space allotted to her in the cage, her hair parted just enough that emery could tell she was gagged and handcuffed. Emery wondered why the cuffs. They were big gaudy cuffs made out of shiny silver-like metal that sort of shimmer. Across the cuffs was intricate knotwork and carvings in a language Emery didn't recognize. She felt bad for the teenage girl in the cage as she watched the girl thrashing around frantically trying to get out of her restraints. After a few moments, the girl gave up and looked around at the crowd of people standing around her pleading with her eyes for someone to show her mercy. She looked so familiar. For the umpteenth time, Emery tried to figure out where she had seen the brunette before. It bugged emery that she could never figure out from where though.

Next to the cage stood a redhead woman standing by a table made from stone. Her hair was deep dark red that was kinda curly and stuck out everywhere. Her eyes were white with black in them. She was looking at the table with a twisted sort of amusement that just looked wrong on her face. Probably because she was looking at the array of weapons laid on the table with a smile that reached her eyes making them sparkle like polished marble. Emery didn't recognize most of the weapons. She was able to make out a few knives that varied in size and shape and next to the knives was a coiled whip. The whip had an ivory handle. The handle was attached to a short gray leather braid that disappeared into a medium-sized seashell.

As the braid reemerged on the other end of the shell it came out in nine different strips of blood-stained leather. Attached to each strand was bright glowing blue shards of stone and what looked like triangle-shaped teeth

Emery shivered as a cold chill ran down her spine. The whip was mesmerizing in a terrifying kind of way looking at it made her feel sick to her stomach. Emery wished she could close her eyes as she swallowed the growing lump of panic in her throat. She had to force herself to tear her eyes away from that terrible thing. Look somewhere else. Anywhere where else she pleaded with herself, please. She turned to bury her head into her shoulder but stopped dead in her tracks as she accidentally made eye contact with the redhead.

Emery held her breath for what seemed like forever as she stared into the cold hollow white eyes. She silently searched them for any sign the redhead could see her. Even though she knew no one could ever see her. There was something about the way the redhead stared straight at her that made emery uncomfortable. The redhead gave no indication that she could see her though as she ran a finger lovingly down the length of the blade of a dagger." I'm going to enjoy breaking you," the redhead said while maintaining eye contact with emery. The pure pleasure of toying with her was obvious in her eyes.

Emery's mouth was too dry to swallow her rising panic as she watched the scene playing out in front of her. If Emery was being honest she was more scared of the whip then she was of the knife. Wisps of black smoke slowly started to cloud Emery's vision. She felt sick with dread that was slowly tying itself in knots then sinking to the pit of her stomach. If she wasn't already asleep Emery would have been worried she was going to pass out. The black smoke had gotten so thick all she could see was a pitch-black abyss.

Emrey wished for the blissful nothingness the color black always seemed to bring with it. Instead, there was a flash of blinding white light followed by a splitting pain that sliced through Emery's head and cascaded down her neck. Emery whimpered in pain. Her pulse was beating in her head keeping in time with the throbbing pain located in her right temple. She could feel the hot sticky liquid that covered her forehead slowly drip into her eyes. Each drip burned worse than the one before it. Emery scrubbed at her eyes in her sleep. She wanted to wake up now but no matter how hard she tried she couldn't.

There was a thick metallic taste in her mouth and her lips felt fat and swollen like she had been hit. "Please!"Emery cried out in her sleep. Not quite sure if she was begging herself to wake-up or the onslaught of assault to stop. It's just a dream she reminded herself. Just a dream Emery said again and again until it became her own personal mantra.

Emery's back felt like it had been ripped open. Probably with the redhead's whip Emery mused. The nerve endings in her arms and legs screamed in protest and hurt as if they had been broken every time Emery fought against her sheets. Emery screamed inwardly at herself to wake up to no avail. There was the feel of a cold steel blade against her thigh followed by excruciating pain over and over again.

Even though she couldn't see what was happening to the brunette Emery was sure she could feel everything that was happening to her and right now it felt like someone was cutting slices through her as if she was a Christmas ham. Emery couldn't bear the pain anymore. She screamed and screamed.

She screamed over and over again until Emery couldn't tell if the screams that echoed through her head were her own or the brunettes. They were a never-ending refrain playing only for her like some kind of twisted personal soundtrack.

With every fiber in her being Emery willed herself to wake up. She needed to wake up. If not she was afraid she would be trapped in this hell inside her head forever. Finally like breaking through an ice-covered pond, Emery woke up gasping for air. Her eyes flew open and her body jerked forward into a sitting position simultaneously.

Almost as if an invisible force had propelled her forward. The sound of her heartbeat pounding in her ears was all she could hear as she clutched at her heart as if she could will it to stop jackhammering. A cold sweat coated her from head to toe causing Emery to shiver uncontrollably.

Terror pierced her heart as she realized there was something holding onto her legs twisting around her. Emery kicked her legs rapidly trying to get it off of her. She tried to scream for help but only a raspy sound came out. She could feel the tears gathering in her eyes as she realized it wasn't going to let her go.

Determined not to let it get her, Emery turned to try and crawl away from whatever was holding on to her and fell off her bed. With a painful sounding thump, Emery landed flat on her back causing her head to bounce off the hardwood floor. Groaning in pain Emery propped herself up onto her elbow. Reaching for the back of her head with her free hand. Looking down at her feet. She realized it was just her sheet wrapped around her legs. Emery's arm was starting to shake in protest from holding herself up. Emery was so exhausted and felt weak as her arms buckled out from underneath her.

Her head ached from hitting the floor again but she was too drained to care. Mentally and physically exhausted she laid there for what seemed like an eternity letting herself take in the familiar shadows of her room. She was too terrified to close her eyes again so instead Emery focused on convincing her heart to stop racing. Her throat hurt and her lungs burned from all the screaming she did in her sleep. She laid there for what seemed like forever memorizing every shadow of her room. Searching for anything that looked like it didn't belong. Finally satisfied that her heartbeat had slowed to a steady pace and her breathing had regulated itself to a normal pace. She frowned and propped herself up as she stared at the sheet wrapped around her legs. She leaned forward and awkwardly unwrapped herself with one hand.

After a few choice words for her blankets and the universe in general Emery finally broke free from her sheets. She stood up wincing in pain as she put one hand on her butt and one on her head. Oww, she groaned. She was so focused on her hurting head she hadn't realized her backside was protesting her swan dive off the bed. Walking over to the nightstand by her bed, she picked up the alarm clock. Glancing at the time, Emery brushed a hand through her hair in exasperation.

It was only five in the morning. She felt like it had been a lifetime since she fell asleep when in all actuality it had only been four hours."I need a nice warm shower," Emery said aloud to the empty room as she put the alarm clock back in place. Walking to the door across from her bed, Emery opened it to reveal a tiny but efficient bathroom.

It had all the necessities, the usual sink, and toilet, but her favorite was the box shower. It had a gray and white stone half-wall that wrapped all the way around it. Atop the stone wall was a piece of glass that met the ceiling. Embedded in it were scenes from Welsh and Celtic mythology. Her favorite was an image of God rising from the sea.

The God was depicted as a well-muscled man with long black hair. His light blue eyes had a look of intent, it felt like he walked through the ocean straight for her. She turned on the water and took a steaming hot shower. letting the water wash away the layers of sweat clinging to her skin and the sickening feeling in the pit of her stomach that still lingered from the dream. She was honestly surprised she didn't wake up covered in blood and open wounds.

She finished washing her hair and moved on to her body. Even though she wasn't actually covered in dirt, blood and grim her dream was so vivid it felt like she was. Emery couldn't shake this compulsion to scrub at her skin with a vengeance to the point of becoming raw in some places. Finally in surrender Emery gave up for fear of causing real blood and wounds. With a sigh, Emery rinsed off one last time and bent down to turn off the water.

Standing up, she looked at the picture of the god coming out of the sea while wringing water out of her hair. She thought the water droplets on the glass dripping down his chest and hair made it look like he really had just stood up out of the sea. Wrapping herself in a towel, Emery walked back into her bedroom, looking around as the first rays of sunlight started to creep through the window. She began trying to figure out what would be appropriate to wear to her third meeting at the college with the dean. "I'm so done for," she thought to herself, flinging clothes around, looking for what to wear.

Life couldn't get any worse, the lack of sleep from the terrible nightmares that plagued her since she moved to Ireland had begun to seriously fuck up her life. Lack of sleep made it so that she just lost her job at the bar and was sleeping through classes. So now she couldn't afford to pay for tuition, let alone books and rent. Eventually, she settled on a long jean skirt and a plain green tank top. She threw on a light button-up overshirt. It had a green and gold plaid pattern over it.

She grabbed a scrunchie and pulled her long light brown hair up into a messy bun. Stopping to look in a full-length mirror that hung from the back of her bedroom door, she thought "Professional yet casual. I like it." She applied a neutral brown eyeshadow that went with her amber eyes, yet stood out against her lightly tanned complexion.

She had been here for months and her tan was just starting to fade. It was hard to believe she had Irish ancestry. She pulled open the door and walked down a short hall and turned left, she stopped in front of a grand spiral staircase that had burgundy wood steps. The steps had been polished from years of use by someone else. It had thick wood railings that were the same color as the steps.

Emery sat on the banister closest to the wall and slid down the railing. She jumped off just before the banister swirled in on itself at the bottom of the stairs landing lightly on her feet just past the staircase. She then took a right and walked into her kitchen. It had a hardwood floor and granite countertops, with stainless steel appliances. The cupboards were stained to match the color of the stairs and floor a warm cherry red color.

Emery opened a cupboard above the counter next to the fridge and pulled out a bag of coffee. She had a small coffee pot just big enough for two 8oz cups of coffee. She was trying not to drink more than that at one time. Unfortunately with how exhausted, she was lately that seemed almost impossible. Emery leaned against the counter with her head rested on the cupboard above the coffee pot.

closing her eyes and inhaled the smell of coffee letting it seep into her bones slowly replacing her sense of impending doom. Emery sighed as she shoved herself away from the counter she was determined to try and have a good day as she yanked open her pantry contemplating, "What do I want to eat, granola, cereal, or Pop-Tarts..." She glanced at the stove, "Well, it's only six-thirty, I have time to eat. I'll go for yogurt with granola and fruit," she smiled. Emery hummed to herself as she navigated her kitchen gathering the supplies she needed. Putting her parfait together. After her food was made she grabbed a slightly used coffee cup off the counter and poured herself a cup. Taking her coffee and yogurt to the table Emery sat down staring down at her coffee playing with the steam wondering how her conversation with the dean would go.

She shook her head, feeling pretty certain the dean was going to ask her to leave. Taking a bite of her food, she turned on the radio. It was connected to her phone that was seated in the radio dock. She didn't know any of the radio stations here yet. Besides she admitted she preferred her music on her phone it reminded her of home. She let herself get lost in the music not thinking about anything other than the lyrics as she ate.

Emery glanced at the clock on the oven and exclaimed out loud. "Crap, crap, crap!" She grabbed her backpack off the table. Running out of the kitchen past the stairs to where her stuff sat by the front door. Throwing on a pair of tennis shoes with one hand and grabbing her keys that were hanging by the door with the other. She ran out the door to her car.

She got all the way to the car before she realized she forgot to close the door. She turned around and ran back to the front door making sure she closed and locked the door. Quickly running back to her car she didn't even bother with her seat belt and pulled out on the small dirt road that ran from in front of her house to the main city roads. Emery made her way through traffic to the college, mentally lecturing herself the whole time. She knew she was going to be late. The nice thing was that her college wasn't that far away. The problem was going to be finding parking. After circling the parking lot like three times she finally found a parking spot in the back.

Emery rushed inside the ancient castle that housed her college program. There was a grand balcony that had two spiral staircases attached to it, one on the left and one on the right side. Emery ran up the long twisty staircase on the left side. Taking the stairs two at a time. She ran until she was a flight and a half up leaning against the railing, her lungs protesting for air as she panted like a dog trying to catch her breath.

Emery doubled over her hands on her knees mentally preparing herself to start running. Her lungs protested as she took off again not wanting to waste too much time. She hit the third floor running grabbing the railing at the top of the stairs to keep her steady as she took an immediate left swinging into a small hallway so fast a few stray pieces of hair fell into her face poking her in the eyes. Emery reached up and rubbed her eyes as she kept moving.

She slammed into a wall so hard she went propelling backward onto her butt. She put her hands out to break her fall out of instinct. Her wrist twanged in pain before buckling out from under her and she hit her head on the concrete floor of the old keep. Emery sat up wondering at first if she took a wrong turn in her rush to the Dean's office. She immediately regretted sitting up as she groaned in pain putting a hand to her nose.

Emery's eyes were watering and she was pretty sure she broke her nose. Emery blinked, wiping her tears out of her eyes. As her eyes cleared she realized she in fact did not hit a wall but the chest of a tall dark-haired man. His wavy dark hair was fairly long a few small braids framed his face hiding the ends of the dark sunglasses he was wearing. He was in a tight black shirt and black jeans, standing next to a beautiful woman with the same dark hair. She had big dark blue eyes that reminded Emery of sapphires.

She was dressed in a plaid mini skirt and torn fishnet stockings with combat boots to match, and a red leather jacket over a plain blacktop. They were staring down at her. The man had his arms crossed and Emery was pretty sure he actually growled at her. Shaking her head Emery remembered she was in a hurry. Making a noise somewhere between a scream and a squeak she turned grabbing her bag and stood up in one quick motion. "I'm so sorry," she said as she rushed past them. "Really I am !" Emery shouted over her shoulder as she ran to the end of the hall, taking a hard right and stumbling into the dean's office.

"Ah, Miss Caledonensis, fashionably late again I see. Why am I not surprised?" The dean asked coldly. Emery was gasping as she leaned against the now-closed door trying to catch her breath. The dean taped his pen repeatedly on the folders piled neatly on his desk.

"To be frank, Emery, I don't understand why you're here. You at the top of your classes. For the most part, you're a straight-A student and show promise in your interning with the archeological dig. However, your teachers say that lately you have been distracted. You fall asleep in class, you have a hard time paying attention, you haven't paid tuition in two months, and you're starting to fall behind on your classwork and are constantly distracted at the dig site.

So I'm afraid I have no choice but to put you on academic suspension until your outstanding late fees are paid off."Dean Delaney, isn't there a payment plan or something? I'm literally like two semesters away from graduating! I just have to pass my stupid math classes, please! I can't be kicked out, I'm so close!

"Emery pleaded. Dean Delaney sighed before replying, "Emery, it isn't as if you haven't been given other chances. I was told your career counselor even suggested a work-study, which you declined and you were on a payment plan already which is why you're behind and now owe two months of payments. The dean took off his glasses and threw them on the pile of files sitting on his desk. Rubbing his forehead in frustration." "Dean Delaney, I had a job that I recently lost if I can just get a little more time.

I looked into the work-study, but all the positions have been filled until next year!" Emery croaked partly because she was trying not to scream and partly because her throat was still sore from screaming in her sleep. The dean let out a sigh of frustration "I'm sorry Emery, my hands are tied. You'll just have to wait until next year then. Standing up the dean walked around the desk putting his hand on her shoulder almost as if to comfort her.

"That's my final decision," the dean said. And pushed her out the door, closing it in her face before Emery could protest. Emery stood there with a look of disbelief for a moment staring at the door willing it to open. Hoping for the dean to change his mind.

Fighting back tears she slowly turned and walked back down the now-empty hall, she couldn't help but wallow in self-pity. She was pretty much kicked out of school, lost her job, and was about to be homeless. She had walked down the stairs on autopilot through the giant wood and iron doors and was now standing on the carved stone landing of the castle's front stairs. It was an unusually nice day almost like the weather was mocking her. The one day it chooses to stop raining had to be the day her life came apart, great Emery thought.

She continued to stare up at the sky trying to get her composure. Rock met bottom she thought as her heart sank. The tears she had been fighting trailed down her cheeks. Look on the bright side she thought, wiping at her tears angrily at least I have nothing left to lose she mumbled, hopping down the three stairs to the sidewalk. Emery walked across the vibrant green lawn to where the tents were set up for the Beltane festival. Emery entered one of the tents to find her friend Ari standing on a small stool hanging dried flowers from the top of the tent. How are you today?

" Emery asked as she stepped behind a glass case that would separate the cashier side of the tent from the public once the tent was open. She quickly busied herself with putting stuff away so Ari wouldn't notice she had been crying. Ari was so excited she didn't even notice as she exclaimed, "Em"s I've been waiting for you to get here all day! I've been needing to talk to someone..." She paused for just a moment to find the right word, "...Unbiased, I guess would be the best way to put it." Ari went on animatedly talking before Emery had a chance to say anything. Emery started pulling small jars of dried herbs out of a chest on the floor arranging them on the display.

She worked mindlessly not really listening to Ari talking. Her nose still hurt from earlier and she couldn't tell anymore if her eyes were just watering or if she was crying again. Sighing she supposed it didn't matter they were still tears either way. She kept her head down mindlessly arranging jars on the display contemplating her problems and considering asking Ari to borrow a month's worth of rent when a dried rose bounced off her already sore nose making her wince,

Staring at the offensive rose that was now laying on the counter with a puzzled look Emery blinked a few times and frowned. Ari started laughing, "What had you so lost in thought that you weren't even interested in my guy problems Em's?" Emery shook her head and held her nose looking up at Ari who was pretending to be way more insulted then she really was while stepping off the stool. Ari frowned looking at Emery suspiciously, "What's wrong," she asked as she sat on the stool she was just standing on?

"I just got out of my meeting with the dean," Emery mumbled. "Oh with the dean right," I'm so sorry I completely forgot about that. I'm guessing it didn't end very well," Ari said. "Not really," Emery said throwing her hands up in frustration."I don't know what's wrong with me. Ever since I moved here I've been slowly losing my mind."

"I know this sounds funny but it's like every time I'm in certain parts of the castle or they have us looking at mostly ancient relics I just….I…" She stammered looking down at Ari I just don't know. Don't know what Ari asked looking puzzled. I just... don't know ok Emery exclaimed throwing her hands up but what I do know is it's ruining my life. Let's just forget it ok Emery said. After a moment of awkward silence, Emery said besides I want to hear more about this boy of yours. Ari stared at her like she grew a second head for a moment before going on about her boy problems again. Emery just couldn't bring herself to admit she was losing her mind quite yet.

So anyways Ari was saying he's going to be at The Church tonight and I could totally use you there for support. what do you think? Ari chewed on her bottom lip nervously waiting for Emery's answer. I don't know Ar… Ari cut her off mid-sentence, "it's not like you have anything better to do right now anyways so there's no more excuses your coming, oh Ari exclaimed excitedly and after that, you can join me for my family's ritual tomorrow it could be good for you Em's. Your mom would be furious if I came A. I know which is all the more reason for you to go Ari nodded her head satisfactorily. Besides if I have to be tortured with my family drama so do you. Emery saw her chance to get out of going and jumped on it. Scoffing at Ari she pretended to be offended you're really going to torture me too A. That hurts she said pretending the whole idea was insulting. Ari rolled her eyes. Yes, I am because misery loves company and you're going to be my company. You're coming with me Em's that's final end of discussion.

Emery opened her mouth to protest but customers came in and she thought better of it. As the tent filled with a steady flow of customers, Emery forgot all about the ritual and finding a good excuse to get out of it. In its place, Emery found herself contemplating how she and Ari met. She had accidentally stumbled onto Ari's garden in the forest out by her house. She was tending it and taking care of it and kinda sorta picked some flowers and stole some berries. Which in Emery's defense seemed harmless enough.

Ari obviously didn't see it that way though. She waited in an ambush to catch the thief. Needless to say, Ari gets downright crazy when you touch her herbs. Emery winced at the thought she could still remember the sore spots from that fight and it was two months ago. Though once they got past the misunderstanding they became fast friends. Ari taught her all about her herbs.

She even told her about a long family tradition of healing potions and herbs and rituals. Though Emery just assumed it was an old family tradition that dated back to pre-Christian times. Emery was actually really good at it. Ari even trusted her enough to teach her how to work with her special herbs. Exotic plants that Emery never heard of. The festivities were almost over by the time they slowed down. Emery and Ari were both sitting on empty boxes behind the glass case in silence.

After standing for six hours they both need a break. After a moment Ari spoke up it's your first festival you should go look around this horse and pony show the college claims to be in celebration of Bel. Emery forgot how much Ari hated modern celebrations; her family was very traditional. Emery jumped up excitedly and instantly regretted it when her feet hit the ground protesting. You are the best not boss ever. Emery gave Ari a hug and then ducked quickly out of the tent.

Emery wandered through the booths and tables. When she reached the table that the college had put their weapons display on she found herself drawn to a few specific pieces. One was a long sword that had a Celtic dragon wrapped around the handle. If the sword was facing point down the dragon's head would be tipped up as if the dragon was looking at the sky with his little ruby inlaid eyes. The dragon's mouth was open as if it was about to breathe fire.

Instead, a polished ruby was inlaid in the very hilt of the sword so that the dragon was holding the stone in its mouth. This particular sword was in a glass case on display. She leaned in closer to take a look at the sword it looked oddly familiar. Maybe they showed it to them in class Emery thought. A couple arguing up ahead of her pulled her attention away from the sword looking up she saw the woman from earlier talking to the guy who had set up the display.

Well more like yelling at him apparently, she didn't like the way he placed the relics. She must have noticed Emery staring at them because she stopped yelling at the curator. Emery immediately dropped her head blushing. Emery was staring at a battered shield pretending to be interested in its craftsmanship.

The Shield was a decorative shield she could tell by the lack of battle marks. It had three circles in a line down the front of it. There was a small circle on top of a larger circle that was lined up perfectly with the middle of the shield under that sat a smaller circle. They all looked the same with a small red gem in the middle of the circle. Around the gem was swirling lines engraved into the shield that twisted one way then another. Emery felt like they meant something not quite sure what though probably in an ancient language. Emery was mesmerized by the pattern tracing it with a finger hovering just above the shield. When Emery looked up from the shield she wasn't in the field in front of the college anymore.

Instead, Emery stood in a throne room where an eerily familiar man sat atop the throne he looked almost bored the way he slouched back into it. No Emery groaned. No, no, no emery stamped her foot in protest as she looked around. There was a celebration of some sort going on. The room was lined with tables full of men drinking and women dancing around them. A blurry figure knelt before the man on the throne. The man on the throne was holding the sword with the dragon hilt except the stone in the dragon's mouth on this sword seemed to be pulsating. Like the stone had a heartbeat. Also, this dragon didn't have red stones for eyes. The eyes on this sword were black and seemed to be alive the way they sparkled. Just behind the man to the right stood a blonde-haired woman.

Emery frowned that was the girl from her dream. Sure maybe she had a different hair color but that was definitely the Brunette from her dream. Emery contemplated if there was such a thing as hair dye in this time period. She shook her head. It didn't matter if there was. She didn't want to be here. She just wanted to stay in her own time and place. Emery took a deep breath and held it. She was starting to feel light-headed as she willed herself to snap out of it. Emerys was starting to see spots and her lungs were screaming out in protest for air. Unable to hold her breath any longer Emery exhaled taking a step back to steady herself. Emery had found that lack of oxygen usually could yank herself out of a vision. Not waiting for the spots in her vision to clear Emery turned to run away and almost ran into someone who was standing right behind her. Seeing how most people towered over her she instinctively looked up and found herself face to face with the dark-haired woman from earlier.

Emery inhaled sharply as she realized she was standing by the weapons display at the college again. Backing up a little Emery grabbed onto the table feeling dizzy and very claustrophobic all of a sudden. The tall brunette didn't seem to notice Emery's panic attack thankfully. Standing with one hand on her hip tapping her foot impatiently sneering at Emery with a look of contempt that oddly matched her cold figure. Emery thought to herself annoyed must be a constant state of being for her. "I think you owe me a proper apology for trying to run me down twice now. Emery was speechless for a moment not knowing what to say.

Then like a dam broke open words just started falling out of her mouth. "I'm so sorry I didn't mean to bump into you. I had a meeting and I was in a hurry. I wish I had had time to go back and make sure you and your companion were okay. "I..really." The woman interrupted her with one perfectly manicured hand, "Take a breath, would you?

What good is an apology when I can't make out the words you're saying? Besides choking on your own tongue isn't a very attractive way to die. Trust me I've seen it before she said flipping her long shiny black hair over her shoulder. Emery was offended that the brunette would talk to her like that after demanding her to apologize but she couldn't stop talking. I uh like your shield it's authentic three hundred to three-fifty BC it's not the replica housed in London. Did you know it was believed that it was used in Julius Caesar's crossing of the Thames during 54 BC in the invasion of Britain?

Of course, you do. You own the shield. Why are you still talking? Stop talking Emery's brain protested but her mouth didn't listen." The sword's nice she commented but it's a replica. It's a really good one though seriously I almost didn't catch it.

In fact, the vase is a replica too, but I'm pretty sure you knew that which is why you were yelling at the guy." Finally, her body listened to what her brain was screaming at her to do which was to shut up. Clamping her mouth shut tight. Emery panicked in embarrassment and ran around the tower of a woman who stood in front of her. She wished she could just disappear right now. Instead, she clumsily knocked over a few things on her mad dash back to the tent as she skirted round tables and other tents. Finally making it back to Ari's tent she dashed inside and practically toppled over the glass display case as she came to a halt by tripping over the glass case and falling onto the box she was sitting on earlier grateful for the little bit of shelter the glass display offered.

Emery was pale and shaken burying her head in her hands that were on her knees. If she never saw that woman again it would be too soon. Ari looked up from the herbs she was grinding, and asked, "Em's, what's the matter? You look like someone just walked over your grave. Ari looked at her with a sad and concerned expression on her face. "I'm such an idiot" Emery gasped. I'm an idiot who is going to die of embarrassment but an idiot nonetheless. A few last-minute customers kept Ari from asking her any more questions.

Emery gladly took this time to hid where she was and catch her breath. leaning her head against the tent wall and rubbing her temples in the process she was starting to get a headache to boot great. After handing the pouch of herbs to the customers, Ari went over to the tent and closed it. "Why are you an idiot," she said walking back to the counter casually? Emery grabbed one of the boxes from behind the counter and started to repack it full of what was left in the display successfully avoiding Ari's probing gaze. "It's a long story A," Emery said shakily, still trying to catch her breath. Ari raised her eyebrow inquisitively while glaring at Emery expressing her impatience. Emery pushed the stray strands of hair out of her face as she snuck a glance at Ari. Emery sighed and quickly replied ``The gist of it is "When I had my meeting with the dean this morning I was running a little late and ran into a very well chiseled mountain of a man.

Ari pulled the stool she was standing on earlier into the middle of the tent. She stood up on it pulling down the few single flowers that hadn't been sold and throwing them on the display case as she listened to Emry. You can continue. I'm listening she said, grabbing another rose. He was walking with this punk rock chick when I ran face-first into him. I kid you not this man was more solid than a brick wall my nose still hurts I'd like to add. Anyways this chick had the balls to hunt me down outside and demanded I apologize to her. Well, me being me started rambling on about artifacts and random...uh well random nothingness really. I couldn't stop," Emery said, throwing her hands up in defeat.

"It was so embarrassing I think I died a little on the inside," Emery said with a wince Looking over at Ari who was staring at her with a deer in the headlights look. "Uh, Ari this is the part where you tell me it's not as bad as I think right? So why are you looking at me like that" Emery asked cautiously? Finally, Ari burst out in laughter, "You're lucky you're not dead she said giggling so hard she almost fell off the stool. Emery felt sick to her stomach. Why do you say that Emery mumbled? Ari sighed as she jumped off the stool gracefully.

Because Emery the mountain of a man you ran into and his sister the punk rock bitch owns the castle and well everything in it and most things out of it that's why. Ari laughed again at the look of pure horror on Emery's face. She walked around the display grabbing a box to put stuff in and kneeled down next to Emery helping to unpack the case. But hey you know if you think you're capable of not running into them again I'm pretty sure you'll survive Ari said reassuringly. All though knowing you that might not be possible Em's. Emery stuck her tongue out at Ari. You're a bully she accused her loudly. If you say so Ari said casually walking towards the exit of the tent. She paused briefly to look down on Emery since I'm a bully I'll meet you at the Church around 8 O'Clock.

"I'll see you there she yelled over her shoulder as she sauntered out the tent before Emery could protest. Emery yelled after her, "you're lucky I love you!" as she looked around her at all the boxes of herbs she had to pack into her car. "You suck," she said out loud to the tent kicking one of the boxes.