Chapter 3
The monsters
Sphynx stares and the fair-haired creature stares right back at him. Although, with amusement and twinkle in its blue eyes.
There are other fairies in the empty room as well, giggling while whispering to each other. No doubt that they are talking about him, the one who looks half-dead on the floor and he wants to start hissing at them, but the cat knows that it isn't wise. He doesn't pay any attention to others and focuses his attention only on this one – the one who seems to be much bigger than the others, almost like a human teenager.
Golden, wavy length of hair descents down iris white shoulders and the fairy lets out a giggle.
Sphynx resists an uncomfortable noise in the back of his throat from the sound. It's like listening to small bells ringing and it is almost irritating to his sensitive ears.
"What to do, if you meet a fairy?" He recalls the course Parsley once took and words she read out loud from the book. "Do not anger them."
Fairies have been called mischievous creatures and there are many reasons for that. Which are not good, at all. The cat familiar has memorized them all and now that the time has come to use that knowledge, he isn't sure what to do. Magic is now almost everywhere. He can feel how it dances across the skin of these fairies, every tip of his individual fur. How every tilt of their heads sends their locks move like gentle curtains that create another wave of nauseous sensation into his stomach. These aren't humans, these belong to a folk that he has encountered only once in his life, when he was much younger.
However, during the first meeting the fairies hadn't been like this. They had been afraid, fearful and weak, but these ones are far from those characteristics.
"Hmm? What is wrong? Didn't you want to talk to us?" The fairy asks and blinks innocently, looking like a clueless child. The other fairies chant after her.
"What's wrong?"
"What's wrong?"
"Has the cat lost its tongue?" The last one makes every fairy giggle and some even start flying around the place with their transparent wings fluttering and moving the dry air.
"No, it has not," he speaks calmly, hiding his dislike towards the cliché joke.
"My, my! It talks again~," the golden-haired fairy smiles widely. The expression looks unnatural on her pale face and Sphynx nearly bristles from the sight of it. "Tell us, who are you and how come you bear the scent of the faerie? This is the most unusual."
"Unusual!"
"Unusual!"
The smaller fairies start flying around Sphynx. Looking at him up and down like it could give an answer to their question, but none come too close to touch him. No surprise there. He is covered in blood, chained down and definitely has the stench of humans on him.
His claws flex and he lifts his eyes a little. "I am the descendant of animals that served mages. I am called Sphynx, the familiar."
The fairy's smile turns into something resembling a smirk. "A creature of those people, I see. But... that is impossible."
Sphynx narrows his eyes and she merely starts to twirl around among her kin. She also has wings, but they are hidden beneath the silk of her long hair and the ends poke themselves out of them from every twist of her body. Nobody with an iron will wants to admit it, but the way her eyes seem dazed could make them shiver. The blue orbs are so distant and cold that it is almost like she's glaring at the air. Yet, her expression shows no anger whatsoever.
"They have been gone for a long time."
"Long, long time."
"So sad."
"So lonely."
"So..." The fairy appears like a wind in front of the defeated cat. He doesn't flinch nor show any fear on his face, though. She has that same, wide smile on her face, again, but now it looks more sinister. "Bad kitty. It's not possible that you speak the truth."
"What do you speak about, o daughter of the forest?" Golden eyes narrow, clashing with blue. "If you took me as someone who tells lies, you would have not shown your true form to me nor even considered answering my call. I saw and felt your people's shadows and presence. And in return you felt mine."
"Those reasons are not enough to support your claim. You wouldn't be the first one to call for me and my sisters."
"Then, why did you answer?"
From this question, the fairies start giggling again. "Out of boredom, of course. How long do you think that we have been wandering these stonewalls for?"
"I thought that your kind feared humans too much to be near them," Sphynx states rather bluntly.
The fairy simply shrugs and sits down on the ground comfortably. Her golden hair looks stark against the blood and dirt covered stone floor, as it spills across it. The smaller ones continue flying around her and she takes two into her arms, like a mother holding her dear children.
Sphynx's eyes soften from the sight, but only a fraction. He remembers those tree spirits from the forest he and his friend encountered. They also had this kind of air around them for a moment... before turning into savage beasts.
The ends of his fur stand up in a second, but he doesn't bare his teeth at them. You need their help, he tries to spread that tough deeply into his skull. Think about Parsley. You can't let her down.
"I seek for your help, fairies," he starts slowly and watches for any sort of reaction. The fairy doesn't look at him, but the smaller ones do, and he takes this as a sign to continue. "Humans did not only capture me, but my companion as well. No doubt they have subjected her to undergo the same torture I have. We both need to escape from here-"
His voice gets stuck in his throat, when he feels cool fingers touching the side of his head. Like before, the blue-eyed fairy has appeared much closer than before in a blink of an eye. The blood in his veins flows faster, the animalistic instincts start rising to the surface under the bright gaze of the mythical creature. The sensation against his face doesn't feel anything like a human touch. It doesn't radiate any body heat nor smell like a human hand does. Though, it isn't an unpleasant smell that reaches his nose.
Unconsciously, the feline relaxes. His narrowed eyes close and a quiet purr erupts from the depths of his chest. But a second later he finds himself vary once again and golden eyes flash open.
The fairy frowns from this and lowers her hand. "You don't have to worry. The lowly humans don't see anything what is happening. Our presence makes you look like you are merely asleep. But...if it is us that you are uneasy about, then rest assured. We do not intend to harm those that carry even half of the ancient blood. Though, I am beginning to truly doubt that you are descendant of those children of the Earth."
Her slender finger touches the tip of his nose, freezing the dark furred cat to his place. "From a simple touch, I can tell. From simply feeling the air around you, we can see: You have the power to break free by yourself. And yet here you are. Letting those that have abandoned the teachings of the world beat you and shed your blood on these grounds. You ought to think how you disgrace your ancestors with these kinds of actions. Truly laughable."
"Laughable!"
"Truly, truly laughable!" The small fairies are laughing, but the golden haired one's face has turned into a blank mask – she isn't finding this amusing.
The cat grits his sharp canines together, summoning every bit of his patience to keep himself from biding the finger off from his nose. His senses are burning, but the cat can only feel the coldness of the finger on the tip of his nose.
"There are boundaries for me and my kin to follow. We must not use our powers as we wish, especially against humans," he says surprisingly calmly. "That is how we have survived in this world and made sure that we do not vanish."
"...How many? How many are there left to do that?" The fairy asks and finally withdraws her finger and stands up swiftly. There is a certain distance in her tone, like she is telling a story. "So, you truly have sunk this low? You and your kind?"
"There is nothing low or laughable about surviving and protecting one's blood. Would you and your sisters let your pride get you with a price of your blood?" Sphynx asks.
He should have guessed what would happen from asking something like that. The fairy's golden locks turn dirtier. The beautiful, white gown turns into a tattered rag that hangs on her thin body. The soft glow on her white skin disappears, leaving back an older, wrinkled one. The transformation is like watching a flower wither during autumn or brown leaves fall down from a tree and rot on the ground.
The change can especially be seen in the blue orbs. They are sharper, smaller and colder. Rows of feral teeth come out of the mouth that opens with a snarl. "We shall not risk that! I understand the actions you have taken, you can be sure of that!"
The atmosphere is so tense that Sphynx wonders how the humans haven't entered into the room yet. Surely, they are still able to sense the livid presence of a fay no matter how dull their senses have become over the centuries. Even the smaller fairies cower away from their sister like her mere gaze could actually kill them. Sphynx can feel how that intent is directed at him, now.
Ooops.
He can't take the words he said back anymore, though. The fairy looms over him. Looking ready to strike from a single, wrong move the cat could make. Long fingernails dig into her palm from the two, tight fists she is making, so it is a surprise that no fairy blood is dripping down to the ground. Fire is burning in the pools of sky blue. It is sending sparks through the air and spreading fast across the sharp face. This fairy is as old as she looks, maybe over a thousand years. And she holds an equal amount of hatred.
The cat is starting to see what had caused those tree spirits to attack and he is glad that Parsley isn't currently with him. He doesn't remember when was the last time that he felt this kind of unease in front of anyone.
After a while, the beautiful, golden hair returns to normal. The white skin glows and the gown is starting to recover to its full former glory. The harsh emotions on the fairy's facial features fade, but something else replaces them. It is just as heavy as the anger, but melancholier and firmer.
It amazes Sphynx how fast this fairy has changed before his eyes. She and the others had been so lively at first. Giggling from his unfortunate situation, even going as far as mocking him. They were carefree, child-like, but now things are far from that. None of them giggle, smile or even have that same mirth in their crystal-clear eyes.
Or so he thinks.
Like from a snap of a finger, the blue-eyed fairy lifts that kind eyes up. Her face is not blank, nor twisted from anger. It is smiling that same, amused smile. That expression wipes away any kind of pregnant silence in any kind of situation.
"We won't help you."
The flower blooms in frozen ice.
"She won't break."
"Should we try more drastic measures?"
"But she already got through Morino-san's interrogation without giving out any useful information."
"She must be a very well trained kunoichi."
"...Can she even truly understand what we are asking?"
Parsley cries out again. The stinging on her cheek is burning her skin to the point she thinks it might peel off. Though, she is starting to think all of her four limbs can actually lose their usual functions. She can't move them. Not because of the rope, but because they throb and burn from pain. She can't begin to count how many times she has been hit already.
Wait… where did that scar-man go?
She recalls being dragged up… but how did she end up on the floor again? Weren't there any chains involved? Her memories are blurry.
The air is thick with the smell of sweat. Hers. She hasn't bled, but it won't be that big of a shock when she does. Or she is but doesn't simply notice it. Bruises, black, blue, yellow and green cover her like patches. Parsley has seen them, when she was alone in the room with the lights still on. And let's just say that she is breaking down from just recalling that sight in her hazy mind. It isn't working properly from the lack of sleep and food… or something else.
Yet, another strike collides with her face and a low grunt comes out of her dry mouth. Very weakly, she raises her head an inch to even get a glimpse of the man before her. Why are you doing this? What is the point?
"Who are you?"
Parsley shakes her head in defeat for the hundredth time and takes on the pain that follows. This blow is much harsher than the previous ones.
"S-stop...ple-please stop..." she whimpers. "L-let m-m-me go..."
"What village?"
"..."
"What is the strange, black device you brought with you? Is it a weapon?"
"What is your name?"
"Why are you here?"
"Whose orders?"
...
...
...
Her eyes are half-open. What can my words change anymore?
The beating continues and so do the words. Parsley realizes that they are asking questions from her, but she doesn't know the answers. How can she even communicate with these people with the language barrier between them? Frankly, she doesn't want that. Considering all of these horrible things they keep doing to her. It would be better, if she could understand, though.
Warm, wet tears have already covered her face like a mask. Parsley can only gasp for breath through it and keep her mouth shut. She is tired from all of this. The woman can't comprehend where exactly she had ended up to.
This organization certainly wouldn't keep her locket up in this place forever. In the end, they would either torture her to death, kill her immediately or demand ransoms for her. The latter will prove to be quite unlikely from what Parsley has seen. These people are ruthless.
That man with the bandana and scars across his face had been the worst. At some points he had smiled, but after that the hazel eyed woman remembers screaming with all she had got. Everything had happened like in a nightmare. Too fast, but also painfully slow. Parsley doesn't even fully understand what had happened, yet. The world had gone dark at some point, something had been choking on her, but she hadn't been able to move.
Cold, dark, the chilling voice.
She throws her head back and gags from the tightness around her sore neck. No air moves in and out of her nose anymore, but she keeps on struggling against the binds. It feels like needles are being pushed deep into her skin.
She can choke and let out strangled screams. Nothing else comes out.
A chill runs down Parsley's spine from the memory. Her numb fingers twitch, but otherwise she stays deadly still. This has happened before and yet each time she comes closer to having a panic attack. To prevent that, she tries her best to erase any trace of those nightmarish memories. These beatings she is being given have proven to be quite useful for that purpose. Every time she feels pain, she can't think of anything… expect dying and the cycle of hysteria starts again.
Though, there are moments when images of Sphynx appear into her head. And she becomes even more worried. He has to be alright. She wouldn't be able to bear the thought of him actually being dead. However, if that is what has already happened, she is grateful for not knowing it. For Parsley's very being could shatter from that kind of information.
The assault suddenly stops, and Parsley's head falls limply forward. Her forehead nearly touches the surface of the wooden desk. So close, yet so far.
She rises up from the strong tugs on her tied-up arms and immediately starts struggling. Panic finally gets a hold of her and she trashes around the place, not caring about the way she is being hit on the face from her behavior. She is trembling violently, as her feet drag themselves across the dirty ground.
Where are they taking me!?
The light that comes out of the door is blindingly bright. It burns too much and angry red, hazel eyes close tightly shut. They hadn't let her out of this room before, why would they be doing that now? Only terrible ideas come into Parsley's mind and fear grips her heart tightly. She lets few screams tear their way out of her burning throat.
"Shut up already!"
"Don't k-kill me! Please, don't kill me!" Parsley keeps on screaming those words out, praying that what she fears won't come true. That wish is making her tired hands and legs move wildly with adrenaline.
"Should we knock her out?"
"According to our orders, she needs to be awake."
"Just keep on dragging her along. But if she keeps screaming like this, muzzle her."
"Sir."
Through her blurry vision, Parsley can see that there are no windows in the hallway, which is a shame. She had hoped to have even a glimpse of the outside world before her death. To see the sun, or even the night sky, clouds, trees, anything that had nothing to do with these cold, hard walls. Every place around here had that same, stuffy smell to it and anyone could quickly grow tired of it. Nobody cares, if a prisoner grows quickly delusional from the lack of oxygen, though.
Also, if there were any windows, she would try jumping through them.
Her mind is crystal clear. There are no clouds blocking it nor strikes of pain numbing it. The woman is now ready to fight for her life, as long as she can keep it that is.
What had she ever done wrong? Well, there are few things, but what kind of human being wouldn't do few mistakes now and then. But was it really all worth of what she is going through now?
Parsley should have listened her own head and thoughts, rather than gone along with Sphynx's ideas, like always. That is the reason why she is here, after all. The outcome from wishful thinking ended up making her forget what reality can actually do. She had forgotten to what extent her abilities with magic can actually reach to – terrible end results.
They step into a room. It has brighter lights and more space than the previous one and the air smells much cleaner as well. The floor is smoother. Like someone has just recently cleaned there. Though, the light is too sharp, and the bruised woman has to squint her stinging eyes for few times. Light is supposed to be something she can see and be happy about, but what she feels is far from that. Sensation close to horror makes her insides turn into mush and she nearly falls down to her rear. Suddenly, Parsley can't find any strength in her legs.
She isn't screaming anymore but stays quiet as a mouse in front of a cat. The simile makes her think about her cat familiar again and she repeats his name in her mind many times, while being brought deeper into the unfamiliar room. Sphynx, where are you?
Parsley is put down. She falls to her knees from the lack of support and tries to scramble up, but something surrounds her. It isn't another layer of rope, but something harder, like stone. It is preventing any sort of movement down from the neck. This revelation makes her panic grow even more fiercely and tears flow down her face. I'm scared. Help me. I am going to die.
"Let's begging," a male says firmly and comes to stand in front of the sobbing woman surrounded by stone cocoon.
W-what... Her thoughts are cut off, when a hand lands on top of her head. It is large, rough and warm and Parsley bites down on her tongue without meaning to. It shocks her, how different this touch is compared to the other men. It isn't harsh or cold, but simply there and not intending any harm. A lump forms in her throat and she looks up at the man in confusion, though she still keeps the fear close to her heart and suspicion in her mind.
She can't breathe.
This doesn't make any sense. They were so cruel and emotionless towards her, but now things are so much different. Do they intend to make her soften to them so that she can cut off the "act" and speak their language? No, that doesn't make sense at all. Otherwise they wouldn't have put her inside this strange thing.
Parsley can't see what the man's face looks like, because the pressure on her head grows. The hazel eyed woman flinches and becomes stiff.
"Do not resist and this will be easier," he speaks again, voice even firmer than before.
She doesn't naturally say anything back and merely waits for something to happen. Everything falls silent so quickly that the change can't be noticed that quickly. The hairs on the back of Parsley's neck stand up after two heartbeats, because she feels something other than hand spreading across her head. The sensation is barely there, feather-like, but then it digs deeper.
A choking sound leaves from the deepest part of her throat. Other than that, the woman can merely part her lips in silent scream of surprise. Whatever is on her head, it reaches out deeper into her mind, blocking any thought that might come from it. The thing feels like a cold breeze is blowing through a human body and sends chills down the skin. The man doesn't say or do anything, but it is definitely him that is causing this.
Though, what he is doing is definitely not magic – this is far from the sensations that Parsley has experienced over the years. She can tell.
It takes a while, maybe over minutes, but the chilly sensation starts to change. Instead of experiencing cold, something is starting to boil. Like hot water is being poured down onto the flesh. It is accompanied by sharp rocks that scratch and collided with fragile skull and Parsley opens her mouth wide open. Her eyes feel like they could jump out of her eye socks. She can hear a scream, but not anyone else's, but her own.
Knives stab into her head, they dive deeper and deeper until they have run through. Nerves are burning, cracking from the strange unfamiliar pressure building in the deepest part of the brain.
I am boiling- I am being boiled! Parsley screams with all she has but is not able to move. She gasps for air that seems to disappear from all around her. The hand on her head tightens and the pain increases with it. Black spots fill the vision and Parsley finds herself being near the borders of consciousness.
Then… nothing.
"A failure."
"What?!"
"Yamanaka-san is in the hospital."
When Parsley starts to wake up, she is back in that same room where she left from. Everything hurts her. Slight twitch on her arm sends jolts of sharp pain up. Even opening her eyes makes her brain feel like something sharp is poking it. She doesn't remember anything for a while, but when she does a single tear runs down her cheek.
A shuddering breath passes through her chapped lips.
I am alive.
There is no joy or sadness in that fact. Her heartbeat is loud in her ears and so are the small breaths she keeps on taking with care. If Parsley even tries to take deeper ones, her chest starts to feel like something is clawing it from the inside. Though, even if it didn't, the new binds around her would keep the woman down to the spot. She has been laid down, wrapped tightly to the point she thinks she is wearing a straitjacket. But what is more frightening is the thing blocking her mouth. It's like a muzzle, preventing any sound from truly coming out and making her feel like an animal.
Those people… where is there no limit to their inhumanity? Parsley closes her eyes, too tired to keep them open and fight against a headache. Another tear falls down from her eye and she starts mentally whimpering.
She can't take it anymore. All those beatings and screams would definitely continue soon, and she would have to go through them over again. They aren't human. They will kill me. They will repeat everything they have done to me again. There will be no end to this!s
Forgetting the pain, Parsley struggles against the binds and her muffled screams echo against the walls. I don't want to die! I don't want to die! I don't want to die! I don't want to die! I don't want to die!
Her screams are cut off, when the door opens loudly. Parsley doesn't, however, seem to notice this and keeps on screaming and wiggling. In truth, she is trying to get away from the approaching person whose shadow grows larger with each step that clicks against the ground.
"Hokage-sama, be careful!" A man's yell muffles the woman's screams even more than the muzzle does.
The time seems to freeze along with Parsley's struggles.
The person's face becomes clearer after moment and Parsley stares at it with fear and an eyesight blurred by salty tears that won't stop. She is frozen to the spot and can't find any courage or rush of adrenaline in her veins. Although, her heartbeat doesn't calm down and indicates her constant urge to rip herself free and run.
She sees light colored hair, glowing with the light coming from the open door.
"What, I thought that she wouldn't respond?" The woman crosses her arms and looks down at the other female.
In any other kind of situation, Parsley would have thought that this woman is a savior, an angel send down to help her. But now that she hears her speak that same, strange language, those kinds of thoughts don't have any room in her terror filled mind. The woman's face wrinkles from the frown between her light brows. The skin is pale and smooth, no freckle or flaw seems to have ever touched it.
"She must have only recently become fully aware of her surroundings, m' lady."
The woman turns her head to look at the person who had spoken and Parsley gets a chance to get a simple glimpse at the long, blond hair tied in pigtails. "Hmph. Then, take off the muzzle. She can answer my questions."
"B-but..." The other person is clearly shaken by whatever the blond has said.
"Now!" The yell makes the woman in binds jump together with the man who starts hurriedly come closer.
"Y-yes, ma'am!" He reaches out to Parsley's face.
Hazel eyes widen from fear and their owner turns her head away in hurry. A joint crack from the movement, but she doesn't take notice on it. However, she stiffens even further, when the hand brushes against the side of her head and starts fumbling with the muzzle. Don't touch me! Before she can do anything, the thing around her mouth falls off and fresher air touches the lower part of her face.
"Why was there a seal on it?" The blond woman's voice sounds demanding, if not slightly puzzled.
"I-incase the prisoner would try something."
"Has she given you any trouble before?"
Slowly, Parsley turns her head to look at the beautiful woman who has nearly reached the point where she can be considered an angel. The magician takes her short time to look at the other woman fully. She doesn't seem to wear one of those strange symbols like the other men in black do. Nor is she wearing one of those animal masks. Instead, there is a simple, diamond shaped mark in the middle of her forehead. Immediately, an image of Hindi women in their colorful clothes come into Parsley's mind and she feels further confusion wrapping itself around her. The feeling is nearly as strong as the binds around her.
Also, the man seems to have followed the woman's orders. The way his voice has cracked proves that he is intimidated by this blond whose back is as straight as an arrow. This woman is a superior of some kind and this newly processed information makes Parsley want to squirm her way out of the whole room. If this woman has power around here, then why is she even here? To examine the prisoner?
The hazel eyes waver back to the side, when shockingly rich, brown ones meet them sharply. No matter how you look at it, this woman possesses a strong, confident aura around her. Like a politician or president who can make anyone fall silent by saying few, simple lines.
"You..." The brown-eyed female stops speaking from there on and when Parsley finally turns her own eyes back to look at her, she opens her mouth. "What is your name?"
Because of stress, fear and abuse, Parsley has found it hard to concentrate that much on what people around her say. She can't understand their words, but she has this strange feeling that she has heard these words being repeated before.
The blond is looming over the laying woman, all of sudden. "I asked you a question!"
Parsley flinches and whimpers pathetically. What can she do now? The question just keeps her silent with panicked thoughts, so she doesn't open her mouth to try and communicate.
One thing however is certain, as Parsley senses her face turning pale.
This woman...
"Answer me!"
...is like the rest of the people around here.
"When did this start?" The long-haired woman asks, while Parsley can feel her piercing gaze on her crumbled form. "The drugs are wearing off, right?"
"Yes, Hokage-sama."
Parsley flinches, when she sees perfectly painted nails land themselves on the wooden table. They shine in the light of a single lamp; the rest of the place is simply kept in dark.
Is she going to claw me with those at some point? The silent question makes a small whimper form on the tip of her tongue, but she swallows it. Her hands that had been shaking uncontrollably maybe hours ago, are like jelly on Parsley's side and she is only a little thankful for that. For these people she means. They are the ones who gave her that strange liquid. Though, that thankfulness disappears quite fast.
The young woman swallows another whimper, when the light is directed in front of her irritatingly red eyes. Her voice has turned into a sound that is as quiet as a mouse. "W-what now?"
"Let's try this again," the woman that the men seemed to call 'Hokage-sama' slides a picture across the table to the chained female who decided to keep her gaze on her lap.
"H-hokage-sama, we have already tried everything-"
"Shut up!" The woman says angrily, but her frown melts, when she looks at Parsley. Still, her brown eyed gaze has a cold distance. "Look at this picture...Look at it!"
This time, Parsley does jump up in her chair and so do her eyes. They see where that sharp end of the finger points and she follows it down to the square picture. For a second, she feels her stomach drop. This reminds her of the first picture she was shown in here and the result had not been pretty. She can still picture the image of Sphynx clearly in her shattered mind that has almost gone completely numb. The young woman can barely even think straight. Only loud noises or fear make her jolt anymore.
They have truly given her something weird. She is only able to recall the angry face of this woman in front of her and then everything became almost blurry. Some pieces are still intact, though... Parsley can only recall fierce fear choking on her. Everything growing black from after that.
Hazel eyes glance even further ahead to see the pair of those brown eyes staring. No, the blond looks like she is glaring at the smaller female. During their short and horrible time together, where this fierce version of a beauty abused the less fortunate woman, Parsley had come to understand that she and those other men have their differences. While the men had been brute and very harsh, this woman has something sharper to her. Parsley doesn't remember, if this person hit her, but she could feel how her insides start squirming from merely looking at her.
She's no better... Parsley's eyes turn towards the figures in the back. She can barely see them through the dark. They are so...alien.
"Akatsuki." The red fingernail's sharp end is pressed down on the small photograph. "Do you recognize these people? Are you connected to them?"
If she could have some courage, Parsley would frown now and look at the woman like she is crazy. Even the blond has not gotten it through her skull that her words can't be understood. It is frustrating beyond belief.
Not wanting to get hit again, the wavy-haired woman leans closer. She winces from the throbbing on almost every corner of her body and nearly falls down forward from her chair. The curtains of greasy hair brush against her cheeks and she shudders from the light sensation. Parsley is feeling tired from all of this. She wants food, a shower, a bed, warmth, but none of those have been provided in here. And no matter how many times she keeps wishing for those things to appear out of thin air and embrace her, she wakes up equally desperate to a nightmare.
So, she looks at the pictures on the table submissively. Her eyes feel awfully tired, though. She can barely even understand what she is seeing with her hazel eyes. Parsley takes her time to look at the pictures. She really feels like passing out soon. but then a cold chill goes down her spine, when every detail of the images sink into her mushy brain. W-w-what? Are- are these p-people? Even her mind starts to stutter.
There are at least four unfamiliar faces staring up at her, if Parsley is able to count right. However, that is not why she almost lets out a baffled noise from the back of her throat. Her whole attention is only on one of the faces that puzzles her beyond believe.
The skin is light colored. And not as light as snow or sheet, but as light as blue. Dark lines below the small, beady eyes look like tattoos for a short while, until the cogs start moving and one can realize that they are gills. The whole fish- man, looks like a real-life shark. Sharp, razor teeth poke out from his mouth from the smirk he is making and the metal plate on the headband on his forehead shines even in the picture, like it is meant to. Straight, but somewhat short, dark bluish hair is the last touch to make the whole man look as feral as a real sea creature.
Parsley's head starts spinning. She feels every inch of the exhaustion crashing from just looking at this picture. At first, she thinks she is simply seeing things. That this is all some really unreasonable and stupid joke. However, everything that is currently happening is real. Parsley can feel it from her bruised face to bruised and aching limbs.
Is this a real picture? What is up with his skin and those teeth? Parsley has thought that all of her unanswered questions have ended hours ago. She is no longer able to even bother to think about them, but now more are popping into her head.
"Do you recognize this one?" The blond woman points down at the fish-like creature with an inquiring gaze and tone. She has noted how the younger woman keeps on staring at it with wide eyes. This is a new emotion she shows on her face and it isn't close to fear or confusion.
Am I in some kind of underground laboratory? Parsley's eyes move across the other pictures while cold sweat drips down her back. Luckily for her, the other images look normal enough. They all seem to be men. Soldiers? Test subjects? Why am I being shown these?
"Oi," 'Hokage-sama's' tone changes and she reaches out to grab Parsley by the shoulder.
The wavy-haired woman stiffens, and her eyes shot up to meet brown ones in pure panic and shock. Her voice is shaky. "L-let go! Pl-please don't hurt-"
"I asked you, if you recognize these people! Don't try to pretend that you don't understand a word I am saying!" The nails dig into the flesh. "Now, reveal everything you know, or things are going to get ugly for you!"
"Stop!" Parsley starts crying, again. The nails are actually quite sharp, and she fears they will soon break her skin. Her body is still feeling like a piece of jelly, but her mind is functioning with amazing speed. This blond woman's grip can break her shoulder into pieces.
"Tch! Quit screwing around!" Now there are two hands gripping on her shoulders and shaking the frightened female.
"Hokage-sama, I-I think that is too much! The subject is not that strong from malnutrition and-"
Brown eyes whip back towards the men standing near the door. "Didn't I order you to shut up!? Zip it!"
"Y-y-yes, ma'am!"
"Bring in the cat. We are going to try again from a different angle."
Even tears are hurting her eyes right now. They burn and sting so badly that it makes Parsley want to rub her hands against them, hard. The stream of words that have been coming out of these peoples' mouths has confused her beyond belief. She doesn't even understand what she did to make this surprisingly strong woman upset in the first place.
When the hands let her go harshly, Parsley almost falls down from her chair. But she is grateful to be somewhat free from the hard grip and raises her frightened face up to see the back covered with two pigtails of blond hair. Strange, black markings are against a red circle that rest on her green coat. Seeing these alien symbols makes Parsley wish to see some letters from English alphabet. Being surrounded by so many unfamiliar things is simply making the poor woman feel like she is going crazy.
The door opens and closes, leaving only two men in the room to watch her. They keep their eyes straight ahead, but somehow the long-haired female knows she is still being carefully watched.
I wish I could get used to this. Oh, how much Parsley wants to simply rub her forehead and bury her whole face into her hands. But more than anything, she wants out of this place.
Some people enter the room again after a short while, which feels like few minutes. The same blond woman is with them, sticking out against everyone else's dark color scheme. But there is another familiar face tagging along with her. It is that same scar faced man who had been torturing Parsley before. The sight of his cold poker face makes her shudder. Hazel eyes look between him and the blond woman with growing fear.
To see these two people who have scared, traumatized and abused her to this point, is like seeing a new kind of nightmare. One that Parsley fears she will never wake up from. She starts to understand that something is going to happen, and she will not like it one bit. Her heartbeat rises over the roof, as her hazel eyes look around in distress, but she can't really see anything in this dark place. Parsley gets to a brutally simple conclusion: they are going to finally kill her.
Her head spins for the second time. Tears of desperation are nearly coming out of her eyes. Please, God. No, please no.
However, her quiet whimpers stop and the breath hitches in her throat, because of what someone places on the table. All of the thoughts flee away from her mind and dread settles in the bottom of her gut.
Sphynx is there, right in front of Parsley. Locke up in a small looking cage and chained up with a muzzle around his head. Sharp claws trying to take it off and low growls of an angry animal echo in the room. During some other times and moments, Parsley would see this behavior as a warning to get away, but right now happiness and relief makes the air fill her lungs.
"Sphynx!" The sound of his friend's voice makes the cat's golden eyes widen and the feline freezes. Those golden orbs rise up and lock their gaze with soft hazel ones that begin to be covered with tears of joy.
Sphynx stops growling and pushes his head closer to the bars and the people around the room tense. The change in the mood is not noticed by Parsley, though. A broken, but happy smile forms on her face so widely that it hurts her cheeks. She can't recall the last time she has smiled and doing it again feels so good. The woman practically drinks in the sight of her familiar and more tears stream down.
He is hurt. It is obvious because of how his shoulder is in a little weird position. The once beautiful, dark fur with the hue of blue is dirty beyond recognition. The golden eyes have a sharper edge to them, because the dark pupil in the middle looks so thin and feral that it nearly startles Parsley. She isn't close enough to inspect her cat further, but he seems to have had it worse than she ever did. Parsley doesn't have a mirror around, so she can't exactly tell how bad she herself looks to Sphynx, but she most certainly doesn't have limbs in strange positions.
He has been hurt. Parsley wants to hit herself from making her inner voice sound so surprised. Duh, of course. Did you expect something else?
"I-I...am s-so sorry... Sphynx," she calls his name with a small voice. The woman can barely get the words out of her mouth properly through thick tears.
Sphynx's ears twitch from the quivering voice and the cat's eyes soften. Though, they are soon filled with agony, when spark of electricity fills his cage. Through the muzzle his yowls are heard faintly.
Parsley's eyes widen in horror and she tries to stand up. However, two pairs of hands hold her down on the seat without budging from her struggles.
"Stop it! You're hurting him! Stop!"
"What village do you come from?" The man with scars asks and steps into her view so that she can see both him and the cat in the cage.
"I don't understand you people! Are you mad!? Stop!"
The shock attacks stop for a moment, before a man brings a stick closer to the cage and the whole thing begins again.
Parsley continues struggling and screams on top of her lungs. "STOP IT! STOP IT!"
The sparks stop flying for the second time and Sphynx slumps down. His body rises and falls from heavy breathing which is a sign of him being alive. Parsley's breaths are equally heavy, too.
"Now, this is very simple. Just tell us who you are, where you are from, what your mission is, and we will stop torturing this cat," the scar man speaks calmly, like he is not affected at all by the screaming.
Parsley looks between him and Sphynx in tears. "Please-"
She is cut off by another amount of electricity shocks on Sphynx.
"NO!"
Being tortured had been hard enough. The physical attacks have left such unbelievable marks on Parsley that she could probably pass out as a punching bag. She has never been as badly hurt as she is now. All those beatings had taken a hold on her and she has come to fear every strike even more. But now Parsley wants to be the target, willingly. She doesn't want to watch her friend getting hurt here.
All of those people in the movies made these kinds of situations look so easy and effortless, so why can't Parsley do anything? She wants to do something to save Sphynx as he twitches in pain. Cold ice travels the length of her veins and her hands clench into fists. She feels angry, enraged, but also afraid and her head fills with panic. What am I supposed to do?!
Parsley can only watch through the blurry vision what is happening.
"Well, your village?" The man's tone is void of any kind of emotion and it's the same with his face.
Her lower lip starts to tremble. "...I...I..."
"Do it," the man's expression doesn't change from whatever he has just said.
Parsley learns the hard way what it means and screams again from the sharp light of the electricity. She shakes her head violently. "Sphynx! Sphynx!"
"Is that what this creature is called? Sphhiiiynks?"
The young woman freezes for a second, before nodding vigorously. "Y-yes, yes. Sphynx! His name is Sphynx! Sphynx! Now, stop! Please! I beg you! Stop!"
Ignoring her desperate cries, the man looks at the other male somewhere behind him. "Write that down."
"Yes, sir."
"Woman, what is your name?" The pair of steel eyes are on the trembling female once again. Parsley isn't looking at him anymore, though. She stares at the limp form of the cat with completely paralyzed mind, body and eyes.
She can't breathe, because small choked sounds keep coming out of her sore throat. Her shoulders rise and fall too heavily, and she has done nothing more than screamed and cried this whole time. Hadn't she just given them some sort of information? She told them her friend's name and they must have understood what she meant. So why are they still continuing like this? Parsley thought that they had truly tried to communicate with each other for a moment there.
Okay... The eyes shining with tears look up at the steel cage and at the cat laying there. He is still breathing, but what he is going through is obviously painful. I-I… I have to get a grip. She inhales, a stench of burning reaching her nostrils. Think Parsley, think. You can't let this continue! Her body is shaking uncontrollably, like the room doesn't have any warmth left in it. It doesn't help that she is so scared that she can't get her thoughts into a straight line.
Parsley takes in a shuddering breath to calm herself down. It helps a little and she does it again. Maybe, if she tries to communicate with them, they will stop trying to hurt Sphynx? Her heart leaps up from the hope that fills thoughts.
"...do it."
She flinches again from the sound of Sphynx's muffled cries, but she doesn't cry anymore. Though, tears do spill out and trail down her already wet cheeks.
Communicating will be useless.
Parsley wants to hug that crumbling cat close to her chest and protect him from all these people. She wants to get up and do something, but with large hands firmly clasped down onto her shoulder and dangerous weapons around she is as weak as a mouse. Well, not that she could stand a chance in much calmer environment in the first place. In the forest, when she had been lost and scared, it had been Sphynx who made her feel better. But Parsley can't even return the favor to him. It is always been him there to support you.
If only she could use her magic, or know how, then Parsley could bust them both out of here. A frown mars her face from the thought of that and it irritates her for not being able to control her own magic. It's her energy the spells use to work after all. So why won't they ever work properly?
"It's all about your will, Parsley," is what her father had once told her. Sphynx has also said that few times along with all those magic teachers back in the classes. The memories of those words have plagued Parsley to this day, because she can't understand how easy they all made it sound.
Will? Yes, she has had the will to use magic. All of her life, since she has known how to speak and walk – Parsley has wanted nothing more than to be a good magician. And now, she is trying to gather up all of her nonexistent courage up and do something instead of crying and beg... That is, if she really can.
The darkness, the sound of Sphynx and electricity, these scary people around the place are just too much for her to calm down. Depressing thoughts make Parsley's head hurt.
The sparks stop, and everything falls into a deep silence. All anyone can hear in the room is the weak sound of a weeping woman and the harsh breaths of a cat.
The tied up, shaking hands rise up and Parsley places them on top of her chest. She prays that this will work. "Parsley Longboard."
The entire room is filled with new kind of atmosphere. Everyone is watching her more closely now.
"What?" The scar faced man nearly lifts an eyebrow under his bandana.
Parsley tapped her chest few times. "P...Parsley..." she starts slowly, "Longboard."
The silence in the room is making her nervous to the point her stomach hurts.
"Paaaalsei?"
"Parsley," she corrects softly, but doesn't look up. Her heartbeat is rising again.
"Quickly. Write that down. Paaaalsei Looonkpooad?"
Parsley nods hearing nearly correct pronouncing of her full name but doesn't bother to correct the man for the second time. Right now, she feels like a load has been lifted off of her shoulders. All this time she has been here trying to make these people understand. She has been so scared and hurt by all of this and finally they know hers and Sphynx's name.
But still, Sphynx had to get hurt like this because of me. The guilt gnaws her heart and Parsley can barely even look back up at her friend.
"We are getting somewhere," the blond woman speaks after being silent for a long time. She sounds pleased and when hazel eyes look at her, they see arms crossed confidently across well rounded chest and a small smirk on the red painted lips.
There is still guilt and shame in Parsley, but after seeing that kind of expression on one of her captor's face she starts to simply feel angry again. Swallowing a lump in her throat, she clenches her fists tightly. Without thinking Parsley glares at the 'Hokage-sama' with hate. Don't show me that kind of expression. Don't you dare smirk like that after hurting Sphynx.
Parsley can't remember the last time she felt this angry at someone. Her blood boils, burns every inch of her body so much that she can't see anything else, but red. The hairs on the back of her neck rise up like Sphynx's fur. Her nails have gotten shorter from biding down on them in her nervous and panicked state, but they sure have some sharp angles that dig into the skin of the palms. It hurts, so Parsley stops and takes a new amount of air into her lungs. She looks away but does not swallow her rage.
"These are quite strange names," someone mutters from the background, but everyone in the room can hear him.
"Investigate those details later," the scar man grunts out and speaks again. "What about your village?"
The long hair hangs low, when Parsley lowers it. Are they still asking more questions? Why? Aren't our names enough? Tears of frustration burn, and she slowly shakes her head in defeat.
"Hokage-sama, Morino-san, maybe we should consider that she truly can't understand us," someone from the background speaks up.
The 'Hokage-sama' scoffs and uncrosses her arms, before turning her back to the table and walking towards the door. "Continue this for another two hours and if she doesn't spit anything else out, then we may consider that."
The metal door closes heavily and no heart beat later Sphynx is being given another amount of shocks across his small body. This time he holds in his yowls, but few sounds do escape from the deepest part of his chest. His small, furry face is crunched up in pain.
Parsley can't believe what she is seeing and jolts up. "No! I-I told you a-already my name! Can't you a-accept that! Stop torturing him already! I will do anything! Just stop! Stop!"
"What village do you come from?"
I can't do this. Parsley shakes her head and feels new bruises forming from the places the men have been holding her down from. Her hopes had been so high, so high that she had almost cried new tears of relief out of her eyes. She can't stop her shaking that has now officially gone from fear and anger to stress and helplessness. She can't listen to Sphynx's cries anymore.
She has been submissive, mostly. She has tried her best not to anger these people any further, but they won't stop their torturing and questions. And they cross the line by hurting her best friend.
"I SAID TO STOP!"
The next thing she hears is the sound of a crack, numbness and her own scream.
The pressure on her left shoulder grows harsher before she can blink and then dislocated the whole thing – maybe even broke the bone.
The new sensation is agonizing and sharp. It burns throughout her whole shoulder and causes a new kind of scream to erupt from her. It makes the throat crack and sting, but that kind of little prickle of pain is nothing compared to the hot, white agony in her shoulder. It shoots down the length of her arm and every weak twitch from muscles makes it worse. Rather, Parsley wonders, if some of the nerves in her arm have been cut off, because she can't lift a finger and the whole left arm stays limp.
The brown-haired woman continues screaming blindly. Tears overflowing and her trashing stops. Parsley wants to curl up down in a fatal position, but she is still being held back and in this uncomfortable chair. At least they have enough pity to not touch the injured side.
Parsley has never been hurt like this. The worst injuries she has ever gotten are minor scratches on her arms and legs, when she had been a child playing in the yard. Now, she pities herself and those that have to go through pain like this even once in their lifetime. It is simply horrible. She starts to fear her whole arm might soon fall off.
The young woman doesn't understand why, but she stars remembering some of her magic classes from few years ago. "Now, remember everyone that this spell takes a little time and energy, if you have tears in your use."
Parsley is still screaming, but the cogs inside her head are turning. Hazel eyes widen a fraction and the heart feels like it can burst out of her ribcage. There is hope – she has found a way to get herself and Sphynx out of here.
"What is the name of your village? What is your mission?" The man ignores her state like always, but what he doesn't know is that Parsley ignores him.
Even with her injured arm, she has to try this. Otherwise she definitely will lose the little pieces of her remaining sanity. She has had more than enough of all of this. Parsley will ignore the laws of the magic world, ignore what kind of trouble she could get into. She has a perfectly good and reasonable motive to do this. The only thing she will lose, should this plan fail, is her own life and Sphynx.
One single tear falls down into Parsley right palm and she closes her eyes tightly. It's like the fear and adrenaline are making her remember things buried deep inside the brain. The face of her old teacher appears behind the eyelids and his monotone words flow in. "You need a closed-up space..."
The door is shut and will remain like that for a while at least.
"Spread your spell across the room by shaping it in your mind..."
Box-like, grey walls, a table, a cage, the chair she sits on, the people holding her and standing around the place.
"And say these words to the tear..."
Parsley inhales and tries to steady her voice.
"H-hear me n-now
Before m-me bow down
Listen o w-wise moon
Make m-my wish come true."
Everything has fallen silent, again. And every eye is on the female who has lowered her head so that the long bangs are blocking anyone from seeing her eyes. When she doesn't stop the scar faced man walks closer to her, trying to see, if she will react to his closer presence. When nothing happens, and the muttering continues silently under the woman's breath.
"Oi, what are you mumbling now?" He gets no reaction and by the time five seconds have passed he clicks his tongue. "Electrify the cat again."
The sparks fly, but the woman shows almost no sign of seeing them. Though, she flinches, but doesn't do anything else. Seeing this, the man frowns deeply and crouches down, dangerously close to the young woman's face.
"Morino-san, do you think that she has broken?"
"...Hey, do you even hear me? What are you mumbling about?"
Parsley stiffens but doesn't stop the spell. She can hear him clearly, because of their close proximity. His breath makes some of her long strands move softly against the side of her face, but she wishes not to lose her concentration. Though, her heartbeat is rising and every part of her screams to get away from this person. Tears are already streaming down her face, so she doesn't bother stopping more from coming out. Her shoulder starts hurting more, when unconsciously her body starts shaking.
However, hazel eyes can already see how the see-through tear starts to have blue spots to it. They shine ominously, but Parsley knows better than to judge them for that. The small piece of her own tear is gathering magic into it, her own energy is being sucked out bit by bit.
She can't stop now. Who knows when the next opportunity will come.
"Guide t-the lost into your embrace
L-leave no trace
I-I am y-your friend
L-let the angry o-one's bend-"
Parsley nearly gasps, when she accidentally lets the spell take a little too much of her strength and grits her teeth painfully together.
From the sound of her pained groan, the men start talking again and the tension grows. She lets the last words come out more briskly.
"O-o wise m-moon
C-children of t-the night a-and light
Come t-together
And gr-grand my wish."
Strange, pastel colored blue mist starts to surround her feet. She can feel the moistures air embracing her from all directions like a calming blanket. It relaxes the nerves and almost numbs the pain in her shoulder. Eyelids that cover hazel eyes start to feel too heavy to be opened again and they won't, even when there are obvious panicked yells.
Parsley can feel how every person stiffens inside the room and starts to panic. Who knew that she would become so good at reading the atmosphere? She certainly hadn't expected that.
However, because her spell has become so visible to these people, someone has to notice where the source of this oddity is coming from. She isn't mistaken about that, for someone does finally grab her by the collar of her shirt and lifts her up from the chair. She feels panicked and afraid but doesn't move like a frightened bunny in front of a wolf. Actually, Parsley does feel like an animal while hanging like this.
"W-what did you...do?" The voice belongs to the scar faced man and by the way he starts to sway the spell is taking an effect on him as well. "So... you're a spy... after all."
This time, Parsley actually yelps, when the hand vanishes, and the gravity takes a hold of her. She lands on her feet, but they are too shaky for her to keep standing up, so she sinks down on the cold floor. The back of her head collides with the chair.
Second later, she hears many dull 'thumps and even the sound of the door opening for a second. Someone is trying to – or at least tried – escaping.
I have to... move... She can barely open her eyes to see a dark form laying on the ground. Then, her lids fall back shut and her head lolls to the side, resting on her good shoulder as she falls down to it with her whole weight. She feels so proud that the spell worked, but disappointed from falling into it herself. In the end, Parsley couldn't keep it from entering into her.
"Remember to also be careful, when you use the sleeping spell from the third category. This one usually can't be controlled so easily, because the mist is a substance which..."
The rest of the teacher's lesson disappear into the depth of memories, when Parsley's head meets the hard floor and she falls asleep.
Shit.
"Human, wake up," the voice is calling Parsley from the slumber she is in. Whoever it is, they sound irritated. "For the sake of the light! Open your eyes!"
The young woman frowns, not recognizing the voice at all and opens her eyes tiredly. "Ugh. Who-"
"About time! You must run before the other humans wake up! Lift your heavy buttocks up!" The voice is high-pitched like a child's, but the sass in it is that of a teenager.
A little pissed off from the rude tone, Parsley starts to sit up from the hard surface. Where am I sleeping? This isn't my-
Her thoughts are cut off by a searing pain from her shoulder, when she tries to put some weight to her hands. Parsley cries out and slumps back down with tears prickling from under her shut eyelids. Her face twitches in pain and a hiss manages to escape between her trembling lips. The pain brings back the reality of what had happened, and hazel eyes snap back open from those memories.
That is right! The spell! Her eyes search around in pure panic, trying to ignore the hot pain from the shoulder. She is still inside the room with the bodies of her captors laying around the place. They are all in a deep sleep, but Parsley fears they will soon sit up with expressions of rage on their faces. But when nothing happens she takes a notice that the room is filled with much more light than she remembers it. The reason becomes clear, when her eyes catch the sight of an open door. Her heart soars from seeing this.
However, she remembers her friend immediately and tries to sit up and is careful with her left shoulder. Hazel eyes look towards the cage on the table in haste and soon Parsley is scrambling up and hastily running to it with shaky legs almost making her trip.
"Sphynx! Do you hear me!?" She raises her voice in panic and worry, looking down at the poor cat behind bars.
His appearance hasn't changed, but he is also asleep like the men in the room. Some part of the fur on his face seems burned from the thin ends and Parsley feels instant anger from seeing this. She is tempted to grab that stick from the table and electrify every single male in this prison but stays put and looks at her friend like in a trance.
Once Parsley sees his chest's rise and fall, she releases a sigh and smiles in relief. "Thank goodness. You're okay."
"Ahem!" The voice that had woken her up coughs from somewhere loudly. "Didn't I tell you to run? Get that cat and yourself out of here already!"
Startled, Parsley whirls around. "Who is there?!"
The voice lets out an exasperated sigh and soon a soft, glowing green light appears in front of the young woman. Parsley lets out a shriek and backs away, bumping her back against the table and making the cage tremble on top of it. The light wavers from the sounds and a form of a very small girl takes its place. Her small, blue eyes look down at the distorted woman with distaste.
A strange, choked sound escapes from Parsley's mouth, as she stares at the small creature. Naturally, her gaze is drawn to the small wings which flap behind the long, wavy caramel colored hair. She can't make clear of their shape nor exact color, but they seem light green to her. However, it isn't the wings that are the most flabbergasting sight, but the fact the small girl could be only as big as Parsley's palm. So small and fragile, but definitely not a human child and someone weak.
Parsley's face feels like its color is being drained away and her lower lip falls. There is only one creature which can look like this and this is the first time she has ever seen one. Rather, she doesn't think many people see a magical creature in a century. First those tree spirits and now a...
"A-a...fairy?" Is what she utters in disbelief and the small creature's face darkens. Though, it doesn't look scary at all.
"You humans sure are slow. Are you going to act like you have got some sense or simply stand there like a senseless fool?" The fairy asks and places her tiny hands on her waist, which is barely covered by a simple, revealing white dress with small branches and leaves decorating it and twisting around her arms like sleeves.
If possible, hazel eyes widen even further. "Y-you speak my language!"
Now the fairy looks peeved. "Of course, I speak the Old Tone! Despite centuries of hiding, my people haven't forgotten how to communicate with yours! Hurry up and get out of here, before I will make berries grow out of your dirty ears!"
Self-consciously, the human almost reaches to cover her ears in fear, but then remembers her shoulder and bound hands. Parsley doesn't move, though. She simply keeps staring at the fuming creature in wonder and almost wants to reach out and touch her.
Seeing that her message has not been understood, the fairy flies closer to Parsley's face and points her miniature finger angrily at her. "Are you deaf!? Don't you care what happens to that cat over there!? You humans are truly despicable!"
Her shock of seeing a fairy melts away and she looks towards the cage where her friend is laying in. There is a lock on it, which means Parsley will need a key, but with her left shoulder being what it is and standing inside an unfamiliar building their escape seems almost impossible. Plus, will she truly get them out of here?
"B-but how do I get him out?" Parsley asks with worry and looks at the fairy again. "I don't have a key and-"
"Key!?" The small girl looks like she wants to pull every strand of her long hair off of her small head. "Why would you need such a thing!? Use your magic!"
"But I don't know how-"
"You don't know!? Ugh! Are you that stupid!? Well, it certainly can explain why your previous spell made you fall asleep as well," the fairy mutters the last part under her breath and makes the human blush in shame.
Despite her situation being what it is, Parsley can't help, but to feel excited while talking to a fairy. Even if she has done pretty much nothing but insulted her. Nobody would probably believe Parsley, if she told about this encounter, but at least she has truly met a real magical being. This is something she had wished during her childhood and now that wish has finally come true.
"Unbelievable," the fairy mutters under her breath for the second time and flies down to the ropes tied around the human's wrists. "Stupid humans."
The ropes start to glow and soon they untangle themselves, letting Parsley's hands fall to her side. She winces from how the movement causes the shoulder to throb, but bites down on her lip to keep the noise down.
The fairy flies to Sphynx's cage and the same glow surrounds the lock. After a heartbeat there is a soft 'click' sound and the bars slid to the side. Seeing this, Parsley comes closer and reaches out with her healthy hand towards her familiar. The soft, warm fur under her fingers causes new set of tears into her eyes, but then she stiffens, when they meet something wet near the shoulder area. Even before looking, Parsley knew what it was and swallows thickly. Blood.
She raises her hand to see red staining the fingers and her stomach drops. How could they be this abusive towards an animal? Anger builds up and Parsley finds herself wanting to hit something hard. Her hazel eyes shift towards the laying form of the man who had been poking Sphynx with that static stick and her teeth grit together. She knows that if she goes too far, she may as well wake them up from the deep slumber. But... but I feel so angry. I want them to hurt just as badly as I am. For hurting my friend, I want to make them bleed as well. Then, maybe then I can forgive them- No, I will never forgive them for this. Putting them to sleep is just too nice. They deserve to feel my anger. They deserve to go through hell.
The young woman feels repulsed from simply looking at the sleeping males. They look so peaceful and unaware of the emotions she is going through. Even while torturing her, they had gotten peace from it as well. To see someone as weak as a foreign woman twisting in pain and crying her fears out must have been a pleasant sight. They had driven her into a corner and then...
Parsley doesn't realize how deep she is in her thoughts, until a jolt of sharp pain from her shoulder makes her wake up.
The fairy has landed on her shoulder and even though she looks like she barely weights anything her small feet feel like they are digging into the injured limb. She still has an angry frown marring her sharp features. "Do you want to save this cat or kill these humans first?"
Which one is more important?
A chill goes down her spine. "...I-I want to save Sphynx. I want to get out of here."
"Hmm..." The fairy hums and flies on top of the cage. Her blue eyes look at the slumbering cat with a strange look in her blue eyes. "So, he is named after one of those desert beings."
"Pardon?" Parsley didn't catch what she said.
The sky-blue eyes turn into ice, as the fairy turns to look at the human. "Nothing. In case you are wondering, his wounds are not as bad as they look. He will be fine. So, are you leaving or not?"
"Yes, but I don't even know where to go," Parsley trails off. "What country is this?"
"Hm? You don't even know where you are?" Something about the fairy's tone makes the human snap.
"It's not like I chose to be here willingly! I just messed up a-"
A small hand is lifted up. "I don't care how you came upon this place. If you want to get out, you will have to do it by yourself. Whether you can, that is."
"But w-what if I get caught? Please, you have to help us," Parsley begs and manages to pick up Sphynx with only one arm. She holds him close, glad to feel his heart beating. "We just want to return home and get away from this place. But, if these people will find us, we w-will die."
The fairy stays silent for a while and when Parsley looks at her, she sees the small being is playing with her hair nonchalantly. Those blue eyes look almost dull, as they gaze at the end of one of the strands.
Parsley looks down at Sphynx again and frowns helplessly. She hasn't notice it before, but her body is trembling. It's a miracle she can hold her friend up with one arm. The thought of actually running through this building like this makes her limbs stiffen and goosebumps spread on them. Those masked people have to be in here, along with that blond woman. They must not know what has happened yet, so this is a perfect opportunity to run.
That is right. I should run. The door is open, so I must simply start moving. Sphynx is still injured, he needs help. The fairy said that he is fine, but I have to make sure of it and get him treated. The left shoulder is on fire. As long as it won't be moved Parsley can handle the pain. That's right. I will be fine. There is nothing to fear. I have to simply use magic... Parsley stares ahead for a second, before her head slumps down. I am doomed after all.
"Follow me."
The human woman raises her head to see the fairy fly past her. She turns around with wide eyes and asks hopefully: "Are you going to take us out of here?"
"Shut up and follow already human!"
Parsley doesn't care about the tone she is being spoken with. She smiles faintly and follows the small fairy out of the room and to the hallway in delight. Maybe now she can go home with Sphynx. No matter how far away it is from here. Fairies can be nice after all!
"Quickly! Tend to them!"
"Are they conscious?"
"Are there any signs of injuries?"
"No."
The Hokage looks at the scene before her with wide eyes. Her face is stiff and behind the red lips she is gritting her teeth together as hard as she can to prevent herself from actually crushing the wall next to her. The interrogation room is filled with collapsed shinobi from her village including Morino Ibiki who is the last person anyone would expect to be found in this kind of scene as a victim.
The red nails are close to drawing blood, when few more medics arrive into the room to make sure everyone is alright. As soon as they try shaking the people on the ground, they open their closed eye and look around in confusion. It is clear that even they don't know what is going on or what had happened. Everyone still wants answers, though. Tsunade can feel the frustration building up, despite being glad that her people were not harmed. If anyone wants to know how badly she yearns for information, then they know better than to ask.
However, there is one thing anyone can pick up from this room and come to a simple conclusion. When the fifth Hokage left this room, there had been total seven people and a cat left in it. But now there are only six in here and an empty cage. The sight is ominous, and it doesn't take a genius to figure out what has occurred.
Tsunade bites down on her lower lip and draws blood this time. She has made a fatal mistake for believing for a second that that woman was harmless. She was faking it all along!
The image of that tear filled, bruised face, glittering and innocent eyes changed inside the village leader's head. The tears turn into dry trails, the trembling lip forms a wicked smile and those soft, hazel eyes form a sly glint. The dirty hair only adds more reflection of what that person is on the inside and it makes Tsunade feel livid.
"Damn it," she hisses under her breath and looks down at the ground. Her face has now formed a fierce scowl.
"Hokage...sama?" A familiar voice of a top integrator calls out roughly, snapping Tsunade back.
"Ibiki-san," she says his name and walks towards the spot he is laying on. A medic is trying to help him, but he pushes them aside and sits up with his own strength. Tsunade looks down at him with a frown.
He looks normal on the outside. No injuries whatsoever anywhere on his person, not even a scratch. It strikes the Hokage as odd, because the girl certainly couldn't have gotten out of those binds and attacked him just like that. Also, she had been checked throughout the day since she was brought in here and she had carried no such thing as a sleeping gas. Though, that is exactly what Tsunade thinks has happened. Every fallen shinobi in here looks tired. Like they just woke up from pleasant dreams.
There is no way. She pushes the thought away. Sleeping gas doesn't have these kinds of effects on people. She can tell, when someone yawns quite loudly and blushes from showing such an act in front of superiors. They have been asleep, but why? Was it some kind of jutsu? But that woman barely had any chakra...
"Hokage-sama, I apologize for this," Ibiki says and interrupts his leader's thoughts once again. He stands up and brushes the dust off of his dark cloak. "I have no idea how, but that woman is responsible for this."
"That much is pretty obvious," Tsunade states bluntly and crosses her arms. Her intimidating brown eyes don't make the scar faced man flinch. "What I want to know how on earth could you be so careless. You didn't loosen those chakra binding ropes, did you?"
"No, ma'am," the taller male says and shakes his head. "We must alert every shinobi in the village, immediately."
Tsunade's frown deepens. Does he think that she wasn't ready to do that before he said it?
"The ANBU has already been send for an investigation. Now, tell me all about what happened."
"Yes, ma'am. We were in the middle of questioning her, when she screamed loudly using that strange gibberish of hers. One of my men holding her down dislocated her left shoulder and she broke down in hysterical crying and screaming after that. However, when some time passed, she started mumbling something strange under her breath. It could have been a jutsu, but she didn't use any hand signs. Then everything got stranger, when we were surrounded something that looked like a mist."
Brown eyes get sharper and spark. "A mist? Did it resemble any kind of jutsu from the Land of Water?"
Ibiki frowns and closes his eyes. "I am not sure. In the past, I have fought with many Mist shinobi, but all of them used hand signs and there were signs of using chakra. And also, casting a jutsu to create mist doesn't take long and the woman used at least one minute to finish mumbling. Not only that, but I have not heard about a jutsu that can cause mist and make people lose consciousness."
Her lips twitch a fraction. You mean to fall asleep. Just admit it.
"And you still believe she is the cause for all of this?"
"I am."
"Then she is and that makes her very dangerous. To get past someone like you should be considered impressive, but in this case, it is dangerous," Tsunade finishes and turns her back to him, before walking out heels clicking harshly against the ground.
She stops, when reaching the outside where two masked ANBUs are waiting for her. They both straighten up after her appearance and as she walks past them. The highly skilled shinobi can tell that their Hokage isn't pleased and choose to stay as still and silent as possible.
"Send every shinobi in the village a new notice," Tsunade starts and stops to look at her village. She is clenching her fists again. "The woman who has been held in the Intelligence Division is considered a threat. Everyone is advised to approach with caution and be ready to capture her and the cat. Inform about her appearance as well and that her left shoulder is injured."
The ANBU doesn't have to be dismissed, because they are gone as soon as Tsunade is finished with the quick order. She is left standing there in the wind and closes her eyes with a sigh.
I need a drink.