Disclaimer: I do not own Balem or the Jupiter Ascending universe (though I wouldn't mind owning Balem =D) but I do own Amoya.

Song inspiration:

Florence and the Machines- No light

Chapter 6: The Failed Escape

This close!

Amoya had become this close to getting back home only to have it snatched away from her at the last minute.

She had been here the better part of two weeks. At least that is what they told her. Time seemed to flow differently now that she was on Jupiter. It seemed to all meld together in one continuous flow.

Either way she had been here too long already.

She thought that once she "released" Balem Abrasax from the "spell", she would be free to return home. But instead she was kept prisoner. At first she was confined to her room, which irked her no matter how fine and beautiful it was. But eventually she was given a little leeway to explore on her own within a mile radius. It was better than sitting in a room all day, but still she felt the invisible leach around her neck.

Well, she was having none of it.

She had given up on trying to convince Balem that he was free of her "spell". Obviously he as loopier than a fruit loop. And had the emotions to matched. She had never witness a human being (she assumed he was human though sometimes she had her doubts) go from hot to cold so suddenly. He was worse that a roller coaster ride and had long since gave her migraine after migraine. It took a while for Amoya to keep up. In fact she didn't bother trying to keep up with him anymore, she just flowed.

If he wanted to be hot, she would be hot too.

If he was cold, so was she.

As much as Balem annoyed her, she knew the feelings were mutual. Yet it baffled her why he insisted on having her around. Ever since that first dinner, they had dinner and breakfast every day since. Outside of that, she hadn't seen much of him.

It made her life easier, but boy was he a headache even with the brief meals they shared. Her patience had just about ran out when it concerned Balem Abrasax. He was like a child in a lot of ways and Amoya was not one to babysit.

So after two weeks or however long she had been here she was started thinking of ways to escape. Looking back she should have been wary when it was all too easy.

It started when she overheard someone mentioning a business trip to Earth. She didn't know what the trip entailed but she didn't care. What was important was that they were returning to Earth and even more importantly was, how was she going to get on that ship to Earth?

She accidently heard that the ship was ready to leave tomorrow morning at dock 3. Amoya practically cackled when she heard that information before continuing on her way.

Now to find Dock 3.

She woke up early that morning. Much earlier than she normally did. She threw on her clothes she came from Earth with and peaked out her door.

Good, no one was there.

She exited out the door and down the hallway. Amoya had purposely woke up earlier than they said they would leave knowing she had to have time to find Dock 3.

And boy was it not easy. Amoya had thought that she wasn't going to make it but fate it seemed was on her side as she finally found it at the last minute. Her heart pounding she continuously checked around her, hoping and praying not to run into anyone. On her search she saw no one. Guess most people weren't up that early.

Finding Dock 3 she tip-toed in. There were a few beings milling about, trying to get everything up and running. Amoya guessed since they didn't expect a stowaway, they didn't act like they needed to watch for anything suspiciously.

The ship was wide open and Amoya glanced around before running to the walkway and pressing up under it. She heard footsteps coming down it.

"All set?" she heard someone asked.

"Yes. All boarded. We will be leaving in a minute", another responded.

The footsteps receded and Amoya waited a good minute before poking her head out. Several beings were hovering over a computer their backs to her.

Amoya quietly entered the ramp way onto the ship before ducking into a corner as someone passed by. She held her breath and heard the ramp whirl lifting up. Talk about a close call. Now all she needed was somewhere to lay low and then...

"You! What you doing here!"

Amoya jumped as she realized that a winged lizard was looking at her. She said nothing too shocked at this turn of events.

The winged lizard sniffed, "I thought I smelled something that wasn't supposed to be."

Before Amoya realized what was happening she was being escorted off the ship by two other beings and off of Dock 3.

Finally it all caught up with the Caribbean girl, halfway back into the palace and she began to squirm, "Let me go! I want to go home!"

"What is going on here!" Chicanery Night cried as he came around the corner, "What is this I hear about a stowaway. You?" He looked at Amoya who glowered at him, "Have you no love of life? How dare you disrespect Lord Balem this way? I know he has not given you permission to leave."

Amoya lurched forward and almost kicked Chicanery in the shins if not for the guards pulling her back. "Don't talk to me about that spoiled brat! Take me home!"

Chicanery Night gasped his mouth working like a fish. He could not believe this human's audacity to insult his master. He finally was able to get a hold of himself and ordered, "Take her back to her room and station guards! Lord Balem will hear about this!"

"SHE DID WHAT!"

Chicanery Night shuffled on his feet nervously as she relayed Amoya's actions to Balem. Balem eyes blazed as he stood on his dais. He had listened as Chicanery explained the situation and before it was over he had shot out of his settee in a display of anger.

Balem turned abruptly and looked out the window. How dare she play him for a fool? He did not give her permission to leave. How she managed to even get that far was testament to the lack of security around here. He was going to have to change that. He would never allow it to be said that anyone could come and go so easily.

"Bring her to me", he growled.

Chicanery Night bowed and scurried off the complete the task.

Balem took a retook his seat, positively shimmering with anger. He kept clenching and unclenching his hands. His anger swelled when he saw Amoya brought in. She kept struggling and screaming to be let go. The guards tossed her forward. She tripped and almost fell.

"Leave us", Balem ordered waving a hand.

Amoya glared up at Balem as everyone exited. Once the door was shut, Balem gave a controlled sigh before speaking softly, "You tried to escape today."

"No duh."

Balem twitched, "Why? You have had great meals, a luxurious room, beautiful clothes..." Here he sniffed eyeing her Earthling outfit, "You were given an honor few have."

Amoya crossed her arms, "Honor? I am not your dog. You can't toss me bones and expect me to be satisfied"

"You are what I say you are!", Balem shot out of his seat, his voice had gone quite high but not quite a scream.

Amoya was exasperated as she threw her hands up and groaned, "What do you want from me? WHAT?"

Balem took the steps down and towered over her, "I do not repeat myself."

Amoya almost jumped up and down in frustration, balling her hands into fist, "First you say I cast a spell on you and then you say I made it stronger. I released you, remember?!"

"Then you lied to me. You made it stronger. Stronger that very evening."

Amoya's voice had risen, "Stronger? How?! I keep telling you, I don't even know what this spell is! I want to go home! If you would take me home you won't have to suffer my presence and I sure don't have to suffer yours."

"I WILL SAY WHEN YOU CAN GO HOME!"

Amoya jumped at this before her eyes narrowed, "You are a child and you make zero sense!"

Balem grabbed Amoya roughly towards him, "If you speak to me like that again I will harvest you! Throwing you in the void would be too merciful! At least this way you can be useful."

"What are you on now?" Amoya cried.

Roughly Balem lead her to uncarpeted floor. He did something with his hands and suddenly the floor became see-through. Amoya gasped seeing human beings like her being poked and prodded with an menacing machine. She wanted to look away but she couldn't. She was morbidly fascinated.

"What...what is that?" she whispered.

Balem leaned down and spoke, his voice soft yet controlled, "This will be your fate if you do not take this spell off of me. I will harvest you like these beings for my Regenex."

Amoya's eyes burned with what she was witnessing, "Regenex?"

"100 humans make one bottle of Regenex, youth serum. Human DNA is used to keep us young always. Only the Entitled are allowed to use Regenex. Do you want this to be your fate? Do you want to be one of the 100?"

The floor became solid again and still Amoya could not whip her head away. It was only until roughly was Amoya's head turned and she found herself staring into hazel eyes.

"You are a gift to us Entitled. A gift to me." Balem touched her face gently yet threateningly, "The fact that I allow you to live is a gift of itself. Now, take this blasted spell off me and I will let you keep your life!"

Amoya breath came out in spasms. She felt herself beginning to hyperventilate as she looked up at Balem. "You are cruel", she finally managed to utter under her breath. "You are insane and cruel. How can you do such a thing? Have you no heart?!"

"Watch your mouth, Earthling." Balem hissed.

Amoya jerked away from the Entitled, whose cold eyes followed her, "I can't undo what I haven't done."

"Then you have signed your death warrant!" Balem snapped.

Amoya sighed as she brought her hand to her face. Balem watched her, wondering what she was thinking as she was silent for a long while just looking at the floor. He cocked his head, wondering what she was thinking. Then he mentally growled. What did he care about what she thought? He only wanted her to stop with this bloody spell.

He was going to demand once more but she spoke then, her voice soft.

"Look for once I'll be sincere with you okay. Alright, your majesty?" Amoya lifted her brown eyes to him and gave him a pleading gesture, struggling to keep her voice calm, "Just tell me what happened when I casted this so-call spell. Just give me something and I'll research and figure it out. Please, your highness. I don't want to be here and I know you don't want me here so help me help you."

When the royal said nothing Amoya took a step forward, "Please."

This was new for Amoya.

Balem couldn't figure out if he liked that she was being so subservient or what. And that annoyed him. He liked everyone to be subservient, but Amoya had always been a firecracker since he met her.

Something he was starting to regret.

Or was he?

Balem mentally shook himself. This has got to stop. He would not be on anyone's leech like this. His head twitched on it neck. "I. Don't. Know. You did something to me!"

It was then Amoya let out a frustrated cry as she turned around. "This is getting us nowhere. You are driving me insane!" She ran a hand through her hair as her thoughts went back to the humans.

How could he be so callous with human lives? And if she bothered him that much why didn't he just harvest her without telling her about it. He constantly made threats and he had yet to follow through.

That was odd.

He seemed the type that would follow through.

"What are you? she asked turning back to face him. She studied him as if seeing him for the first time.

"An Entitled whose patience is about gone when it comes to you."

Amoya knew that they had been each pressing each other's buttons since they met. It was like a battle of wills. Each not willing to back down and each wondering what the other would say or do next.

But now Amoya was feeling helpless like a hamster in a wheel.

Her face reflected that as her voice was soft. "I don't...I don't know what I ever did to you but I'm sorry. I'm am truly sorry. My life was fine until you kidnapped me and now you won't let me go home on some basis that I did something to you when I didn't even know you existed until awhile ago."

Balem snorted. "Your life...was mundane. Boring. Stale."

Amoya's voice was soft, almost hollow, "You don't know that."

Balem slowly turned from her, straightening. He raised his hand in dismissal, "But I do. It bored you to death. You sought better. You had no one."

Here Amoya swallowed and said nothing.

Balem continued with a little bite in his voice, "You have no one. I have yet to see or hear you mention family. So why do you wish to go home so badly when you sought the stars to begin with. Perhaps that is your failing.", He brought both hands up, "You sought them..." His hands gestured to himself, "And it was I who answered."

"No one told you to. I would have been just as content without your coming into my life!" Amoya snapped.

"Really?" Balem spun around and took a threatening step forward, "Where are you parents, by the way? Your family? What do you have on Earth that you are so eager to get back to? So eager, you would shun the honor you have been given here?"

Amoya took a step back. She lifted her chin as she felt her eyes become wet but she would not allow tears to fall, especially not in front of him. "That is none of your business", her voice cracked once before she cleared her throat.

Balem only smirked an took another step forward, "You were dying on that planet. Slowly dying. And now that you are offered something more you can't handle it."

"You are...cruel." Amoya whispered.

"I know. Now, tell me. What do you have?"

"I don't have to explain myself to you."

Balem moved then until his face was inches from her, "You do, if I say you do. Tell me."

Something in Amoya snapped, "I don't have parents, okay! I don't know them! I've never known them! I've even heard rumors that my mother left me by a trashcan so I don't know!"

"A trashcan. Worth that little, huh?"

Before either one know what was happening, Amoya had hauled off and slapped Balem. Balem was shocked into a stupor. No one had ever raised a hand to him. Never. And now this little golden girl from Earth, had dared to lay a hand on him. Amoya breathed hard as she glared at him through her tears.

After a few moments the room began to spin again. Balem slowly turned his head and looked at Amoya. Quick as lightening he had his hand around her throat although no pressure was applied, "If you ever...slap me again, I will have you harvested."

Amoya reached up and grabbed Balem's choker, in a threatening gesture, "If you ever talk about me like that again, I will do more than slap you."

They stared at each other, eyes blazing.

Amoya finally spoke her voice low, "Now, your majesty, tell me how long are we going to play this game because I grow weary of it."

They released each other at the same time.

Balem soft voice shimmered with anger, "As do I."

They stood glaring at each other. It was Amoya who looked away first.

"Is this not what you wanted?" Balem asked after a moment, "This chance at a grand adventure. Maybe you should enjoy it."

"I don't get you." Amoya whispered, "I don't even know what to do to help myself here."

"Do as I say and your life will be made easier."

"Again, I don't know how to undo this spell."

"Then you'll be stuck here a very long time." Balem growled.

Amoya looked back at him, annoyed, her brown eyes wet. Balem reached out after a moment and cupped her face. "You...are an irritation on my senses. And I despise you for that."

Amoya gasped slightly. The way he said that. Suddenly her mind began to whirl taking in everything that has happened so far, trying to piece it together. He has let her get away with so much by now. In fact, she was sure no one else would have lasted this long.

She gaped at him, "Wait...wait a minute Wait no. You...are you saying that..."

Amoya could not bring herself to speak the words. She took a step back, making Balem put his hand down and really looked at him. "You've got to be joking!"

Balem frowned and slowly turned to her. He eyed her wondering what she was going on about now. He lifted his head and gazed at her through hooded eyes. Amoya mind was whirling with the implications of all that had happened so far.

"Your majesty... this spell. I put it on you, when? What did it start?"

Balem's eyes narrowed. At least she was being a shade bit more respectful. "I watched your silly antics for weeks. For weeks! You are entertaining. You should be flattered."

Amoya glared at him. "Thanks", she stated dryly.

Balem ignored her and continued, "Then one day you cast your spell and became a thorn in my side." His eyes flashed, "A continuous, bloody thorn that would not cease in your antics."

"And your response was to kidnap me and bring me here in hopes of what?"

"That you would release your spell."

Amoya breath came out once as everything finally clicked, "Oh, no. You actually...I..." She cut herself off as she could not bring herself to say the words. It was so obvious looking at everything from this new view, she wondered how she missed it.

Balem eyed her.

Amoya had to force herself to say it least they continue in circles for who knew how long, "You...have a crush on me don't you." she finally asked just above a whisper.

"I DO NOT!"

Amoya wasn't fazed as she stared at him in amazement. Balem's face was flushed red from his outburst or was it something else? Amoya found she didn't have the strength to follow that train of thought right now. She didn't even know how to respond to that.

Instead she tried to come up with a solution, "Maybe this would help. You let me go home...",

"You will go nowhere until..."

Amoya cut him off, "You let me go home and don't spy on me anymore. Have you ever heard of the saying 'out of sight, out of mind?' I won't constantly be in your way and you will be able to think about other things. It's beneficial for both of us."

Although it annoyed Balem that he was cut off, he admitted that Amoya's idea had merit.

Then why did that idea not appeal to him?

TBC...