[center][img]http://i.imgur.com/xjGbRyd.jpg[/img][/center][center][h1][color=f6989d] Alexis [/color][/h1][/center]

Alexis looked up from her plate and caught his expression and thought a moment before answering him. She smiled politely but the smile never reached her eyes. [color=f6989d]"Indeed you are correct. Congratulations! My father said you were an intelligent sort."[/color] Before she could add anything else she was interrupted by her father's dirty look.

[color=f7941d]"Settle down young lady."[/color] Turning to Elias he said, [color=f7941d]"Please forgive your cousin. She was not at all happy with getting a new partner, but since Maggie-"[/color] Alexis caught the hitch in his voice as he cleared his throat. [color=f7941d]"Since our other daughter was killed in battle just a couple of months ago it is necessary. I'm not as fast as I used to be and she needs someone she can take to social things to find them too." [/color]

Alexis watched as her mother got up with tears in her eyes and left the room quietly. Dropping her head and closing her eyes as the memory painfully battered her heart. The look on her sister's face as she lay dying was already engraved into her memory and it flared up searing another flash of anger. Alexis stood up and excused herself to leave but her father called her back.

That made her look up at him and nod her head slowly. Maggie had used that phrase a million times herself. Alexis' eyes locked on Elias' and she nodded and exhaled deeply, accepting the situation and her new partner.
[@December]