Title: Scream Of The Butterfly

Author: DeMarcos

Pairing: DG/AmbroseGlitch

Summary: A simple outing in Central City turns into a nightmare for DG and Azkadellia.

Notes: I'm ba-aaaacck! And it's all due to Innogen (her plot idea) and swampmusic (constant prodding). Much love!


Azkadellia stepped out of the rumbling automobile and worried her lower lip tersely, turning her head around to fill her senses with everything that made up the hustle and bustle of Central City. She then turned back to the car and extended her hand to DG, helping her exit the vehicle. Stepping out onto the sidewalk, both sisters watched as the citizens of the O.Z. strolled up and down the streets, while Cain gave last minute orders to the security detail that would be escorting them through the city.

A young couple passed by Az and DG, bowing their heads slightly to the princesses before continuing on their way. As the pair watched the couple stroll off, Cain then came up behind the sisters and placed his hand on DG's shoulder.

"We're ready to go. Just be careful and don't you two go wandering off."

DG snorted and glanced up into the pale eyes of her long time friend. "Just suck all the fun out of this trip, why don't you?"

Cain ignored the snide comment and gently pushed DG forward. Azkadellia slung her arm through her sister's, smiling as they began to walk down the cobbled streets, two guards up ahead of the them while Cain stayed behind them with two others. He watched them like a hawk as the pair greeted the people of the O.Z. with bright smiles, handshakes and hugs.

Over the past few years, the citizens had warmed up considerably to Azkadellia, the fear of the witch that controlled her now a distant memory in the hearts and minds of the people.

DG watched as Az bent down to greet a little boy, sneaking a sweet into his hand while his parents pretended not to see the exchange, smiles playing on their faces as they exchanged pleasantries with the princesses. After the family had walked away, DG nudged Azkadellia with her elbow, grinning wide.

"When did you get so good with kids, Az?" She asked, heart fluttering in her chest with the question.

Azkadellia linked their arms back together and pointed them down a winding street lined with antique store fronts and awnings that hovered above them like storm clouds. They made their way across the road, toward the shops. Her voice became distant and DG knew she had touched upon a sore spot.

"I realized long ago that I'll most likely never have children of my own, but that doesn't mean I have to shy away from them and act like they don't exist."

DG was going to apologize, not knowing her sister had wanted children so badly, but Cain said something to one of the guards behind them, causing DG to groan and run a hand through her long dark hair. Az knew that her sister truly hated having to be watched over constantly and despised their need for a guard. All those years spent on the Other Side had left the youngest princess with a free spirit that could not be quelled or contained, even to this day. Az craned her neck slightly to look back at the tin man before leaning closer to DG, whispering conspiratorially.

"We could always give Cain the slip, you know. Go have some real fun."

DG gasped and raised an eyebrow at her sister. "Give Cain the slip? This is Wyatt Cain we are talking about... He probably already knows what we are trying to do as we speak. Along with having a hundred plans on how to drag us back by our ears like a pair of unruly children."

Az was slightly shocked that DG was not excited about her plan to sneak off. Usually she was up for all sorts of mischief. "This alley branches off up ahead and with all these people around, we could slip away before he would even know we were gone."

Biting her lip for a moment, DG weighed the need to get away from the guards over not wanting to be chewed out by an angry Cain, before she nodded. Az grinned as they hastened their steps.


Cain kept a wary eye on the two sisters as they whispered back and forth to each other. He just knew, deep in his bones, that they we were planning something that would no doubt cause a headache for him, on top of making his job even harder. This was DG he was dealing with, troublemaker extraordinaire. He was already concerned because he had spotted someone follow them earlier on and the last thing he needed now was a pair of magically inclined princesses making the situation worse. Scanning the area for their tail as the merchant alley forked off to their right, he placed his hand on his pistol.

Azkadellia chanced a quick peek back at Cain and when she saw his attention elsewhere, she grabbed tugged sharply on DG's arm and the two of them slipped into the teeming masses and ran full tilt down the alley. Racing past the crowds of people, their rich laughter bounced off the narrow brick walls and echoed around them. The alley emptied out onto a main street after several moments, Az and DG stopping to catch their breath where the alley emptied out before heading off again. They'd come out in the seedier side of Central City and as they walked down the busy roads, they saw lewdly dressed women and men standing around on the street corners, calling out to passing pedestrians.

Music and rowdy laughter spilled out from the bars and music halls, filling the area with a multitude of tumultuous sounds, inviting all who listened to come in and indulge. Grinning to each other, the sisters made their way across the road, careful to avoid passing vehicles. Stopping in between where the buildings stood, Az and DG couldn't decide which one to go into first. As they stood debating, neither of them saw the figure rush towards them until it had knocked Azkadellia down and pulled her into the darkened alley. Az yelled out in pain, her screams echoing in DG's ears as she rushed after her sister.

In the half light, DG saw the man as he held Azkadellia by her hair, his fist wrapped in the dark strands and pulling viciously as he thrust his foot into her back to hold her down. DG ran towards the man, intending to bowl him over, but she was grabbed around the arm mid-stride and brutally yanked back. DG swung her other arm around, her fist connecting with the side of her attackers face with a sickening crunch, but his hold on her did not loosen. DG heard the sound of jangling metal and flicked her gaze over at her sister to see the man holding her down fighting to get a pair of bulky cuffs over Azkadellia's hands.

They were oddly shaped, more like steel cups that fastened over the whole hand instead of the wrists. When the teeth were finally connected with a blue flash, Az let out a horrifying scream of agony. DG tried to struggle out of the grip of her attacker but another man came up beside her and kicked her feet out from underneath her. DG hit the ground with a sharp cry, the stone scraping across her face and breaking the skin mercilessly. Her hands were then yanked behind her back painfully and she heard another pair of the bizarre shackles being pulled out.

Kicking her feet out blindly, she hit the shin of the man behind her and managed to free one of her hands. Throwing it out above her, she called up the magic and will that flowed inside of her and focused it on the palm of her hand. Bright red light burst from the focal point and streamed into the sky, casting a glow over the buildings. The light cast a sharp relief over the faces of their attackers and DG thought she recognized one before he buried his boot in her stomach.

DG let out a gasp of air as the pain radiated through her, fear welling up in her for the first time as she was rolled back over and the cuffs were placed over her hands. As they snapped shut, DG felt a jolt run through her that curdled her blood and set her nerve endings on fire. Screaming out in terror, she wildly scanned the alley for Azkadellia and found her sister lying on the ground ahead of her, eyes closed in pain, tears streaming down her face.

As DG was viciously pulled up by the cuffs, she heard someone behind her yell a warning to their attackers. Az was pulled off the ground and the pair of them were led away by the men, out the back of the alley. The last thing DG saw was a large dark vehicle before the world went black, a blindfold fastened around her eyes carelessly.

Rough hands forced Azkadellia and DG into the vehicle and DG hoped that Cain had seen the distress signal and would be able to find them. But as the doors were slammed shut and she felt the automobile rumble away, she knew with a jolt of guilt and fear that the tin man would not rescue them.

They were on their own.


Oh trust me, the cliffhangers will get worse! And I truly apologize for the delay in getting this out... my bad.