A/N-Cyber cookies to all that got the reference. That will be the only one. I just couldn't resist the fairies, cause I've always thought they were evol! I mean, look at Tinkerbell. Always pulling Wendy's hair. Tsk. Anyway, Azkadelia was very angry that I left her out of the last two chaps. Very angry. Yes, I cave to intimidation. ;) Here she is. Enjoy. Two chaps in two days? I wish they all came this easily.
Chapter Nine
Az was jealous. DG was out having another adventure, possibly full of danger and romance, and here she was, stuck inside a castle. For a frivolous moment, Az imagined that she was a princess trapped in a tower, and only her true love could rescue her from the evil clutches of the Dragon Queen.
The affect was lost by the giggle she let out. The vision of her mother, green and scaly with that same regal air about her was amusing. She wondered, given her train of thought, if she'd been segregated from other people too long. Her exile had been so much more than a month. Fifteen years being suppressed by the witch was no better than this.
Azkadelia sighed and shifted in her seat. It was late, she knew. She just couldn't sleep. She was wondering where DG was. Whether she'd managed to get the Tin Man to admit his feelings, or if he'd thrown her across the nearest horse and was riding hell for leather back to Central City. She was routing for DG. Her sister had been smothered in this place, her natural force of will slowly being leeched from her.
Just as Az's was being now.
She had no idea who she was without the witch, without DG. When they were younger, she'd been DG's caretaker, friend, confident. And DG was hers. Then the witch and all those years of darkness. Almost a month and a half after being liberated, Az didn't know where she fit in, or if she would even be allowed to. Those atrocities done in her name promised a long isolation from the land she'd once been destined to rule.
The worst part was, without DG, she had no one to discuss this with. She hadn't seen her mother but in passing since the Queen had come looking for the youngest princess. She didn't want to admit to the hurt that caused. She was determined to be over her mother's indifference of her. The hurt was there nonetheless.
Ahamo had been busy, she assumed. She'd seen him more than the Queen and he always had a kiss and a smile for her. But he always made her feel as if he was seeing her as the little girl he'd known her as. Not as the woman she was now.
What about Glitch?
Glitch. Az sighed again as the image of her mother's former advisor formed in her head. She didn't know what to make of him. When she was a child, he was this larger than life figure. Brilliant, graceful, loyal to a fault. His not so secret devotion to her mother had long been the joke of the realm. He was her right hand man and of course that marked him as a target in the witch's eyes. Az had always been a touch in awe of him. Even jealous. It was easier to be angry with him for the attention mother gave him, than DG. Her young mind didn't realize that he was just as starved when it came to the Queen as she was.
She wondered what her father had thought of Ambrose's feelings for his wife. Perhaps he didn't think anything at all, comfortable in his wife's love for him.
When Glitch had been made her guard-jailor, as she'd thought of him-guilt had warred with annoyance making her easy to snap at him. Their verbal spars had been mostly caused by her inability to reject responsibility for what happened to him. And maybe a little resentment that he was still so loyal to her mother. It hadn't been Az who had given the order to remove half of his brilliant brain, but she hadn't raged against the witch, either. Not that she could have done anything, but even a token effort would have been something.
He'd been afraid of her. She wondered if he wasn't still. Not that he showed it now. Something had changed that day of her fight with her mother. Something for the better. She'd never have thought that she and he would become…friends. It was a cautious friendship, with boundaries still mostly untested. She didn't know what she could say to him or what he would welcome hearing.
Suddenly feeling the need to move, Az got up from the couch and left her room. To her extreme annoyance, her guard fell into step behind her. This one still held the look of distrust in his eyes and she wondered if he wasn't more apt to put a knife in her back as protect her from one.
"Don't follow me. I'm going to the kitchens." She wasn't particularly hungry, but she supposed she had to tell him a destination of some kind. He ignored her, as she expected him too. She still bristled with annoyance. She just wanted to move, to get out of these damn walls and see something other than acres of white marble, or the gardens. Her envy of DG returned with an almost painful acuity.
Unease settled over her as she walked. She glanced around her and saw nothing more interesting than a few potted plants and tapestries. There were portraits of her male ancestors and the replicas of their swords and shields. The Queen ruled the OZ, but their men fought the wars. The witch had destroyed the originals as well as her mother's crown after the coup as a symbolic end to the House of Gale.
Deciding her agitation was caused by the distrustful guard behind her, she squared her shoulders and walked faster. The hem of her sapphire blue gown and robe whipped around her ankles with her movements and she pulled the edges of the garment closer around her.
With each step a sense of foreboding washed over her and it was all she could not to turn and run back to her rooms. She would not be a prisoner in this palace. It was her home, at least for now and she wouldn't allow fear to contaminate that.
She moved swiftly through the castle, through the great hall and to the back where the kitchens were located. Another thrill of fear spread through her as the halls darkened. The sound of her guard's heels on the floor echoed like gunshots to her. She wanted very much to get away from him, foolishly wishing she'd stayed in her rooms. At least she was safe there.
But was she? Was she safe anywhere?
Unbidden, her mind called for Glitch, his image rising in her mind for the second time that hour. She wouldn't feel this way if he were here she was sure.
"I think I'll go back." She announced, turning on her heel and smacking hard into the man following her. Her heart slammed into her chest and she instinctively pushed against him with her hands. He had reached out to steady her when she hit him, but he hadn't let her go. Fear ran it's icy fingers down her spine and she pushed against him again. "I'm fine. Release me." She wondered idly how she sounded so calm when her heart was racing in her throat.
"No hurry, your highness." The way he said that made her feel dirty. The look he ran over her doubled that feeling. "We've got all night."
We've!? Suddenly, Azkadelia realized that they were not alone. She heard someone-some ones? - Come up behind her. She didn't hazard a glance back. The man in front of her held her attention, the hate and disgust in his eyes pinning her to the ground. She felt cold, clammy, scared.
"That feeling your feeling," the man said, pulling her closer. She felt his hot breath on her cheek and her skin crawled. "That's called fear." He hissed against her ear. Despite herself, she whimpered and started to struggle. Nasty, violent images of what these men could, would do to her danced through her mind. "Now you know how the people of the OZ felt during your reign. Get her feet, Reed."
REED. Shock numbed her brain as realization swept over her. The man who'd brought the frozen Jeb Cain to the castle was the man behind her. And now he was going to kill her.
"No names, idiot." The man hissed. He moved closer behind them, so close she could feel his body heat through her thin nightclothes.
"She already knows who I am. Who cares?"
"Can't be too careful." Azkadelia was rooted to the spot, her brain screaming at her to go, to fight. Her body refused to respond. She was too paralyzed to scream. The witch would have blasted them into nothing but she couldn't get herself together enough to make a dust bunny.
DG? Her mind called fruitlessly. Then she felt Reed reach under her nightgown to grab her ankle. He caressed the soft skin of her calf with his rough fingers and laughed. Something about that laugh kicked her into action. She was a Princess of the House of Gale. She would not die like this, defiled and abused.
With all her might, she kicked backwards, wrenching her hands free from her guard and raking her nails across his face. Surprise more than her might had them letting her go, but it was enough. With a scream that echoed wildly off the walls, she darted around the man in front of her. An explosion of stars shimmered behind her eyes as he grabbed her braid and wrenched hard.
She lost her footing and landed with a resounding force on the ground, pain radiating in her scalp, knees and hands. She'd heard the distinctive rip of her nightgown as she struggled to get her feet under her. She could feel his hands, their hands grasping for her, the harsh sounds of their voices as they tried to keep her quiet. Most attackers would have run at her scream, assuming the Royal Guard would come running. These hunters weren't willing to leave without their prize.
"AZKADELLIA!" Her head whipped up at the sound of his voice. She hadn't heard that level of authority from him in annuals. But there was no mistaking the lethal glint in his dark eyes. His sudden appearance surprised her attackers and she was free from their reaching hands as they settled in to assess this new threat. Without thought, she launched herself at him. Glitch steadied her and pushed her behind him in one, graceful movement, his eyes never leaving the men in front of him.
Her eyes widened in surprise when he swept an arm forward. There was a flash as something metal caught in the light and a sickening thwack as the knife met its mark. Her fake guard had a split second to stare down in disbelief at the dagger in his chest before he sank to the floor, motionless.
That left only Reed. And Azkadelia had a feeling that was where the danger really lurked.
"Want t' play, Headcase?" Reed sneered, his own knife emerging. Glitch was dropped into a fighting stance, one hand out the other tucked close to his body holding a second, wicked looking knife. Azkadelia wondered where he'd hidden either when he was only wearing a pair of pants and a hastily thrown on shirt. Even his feet were bare. She was vaguely aware of the scurry around them, knowing that must be the guard. But the fight was set, and Reed was a dead man even if he managed to fell Glitch. He should surrender and take his chances with the Royal Court. But the vicious grin and the killer look in his eyes made her doubt that would happen.
"Only one man is allowed to call me that. And you aren't even worthy to lick his boots." Glitch returned, a grim smile pulling his lips. Reed's grin fell and his muscles flexed as he prepared to take on the former advisor.
The men started to circle each other. Az felt her heart leap into her throat when Reed struck first. Glitch dodged, but not soon enough. A think trail of red emerged on his shirt, making her sick.
"Azkadelia, get out of the way." Her mother. She didn't even turn to acknowledge the woman or express any surprise at the desperate concern in the Queen's voice.
A hiss rolled through the crowd Glitch retaliated, hitting Reed first with a roundhouse kick then followed swiftly by his dagger. Reed managed to block his heart, but not without blood being drawn from his forearm. They parried back and forth, each cutting a piece of their opponent with each strike. Az felt as if each gash in Glitch's flesh were her own, each blow to his body hers. He didn't slow, he didn't hurry. He just kept steadily chipping away at the other man, his fight more graceful than any dance she'd ever seen.
The floor was slick with red. She wondered how much was his as Reed swiped again, his arm movement high and to the side. Too late, Glitch blocked. Her scream echoed again even as none ripped from Glitch. His left arm was now useless and bleeding and she felt the guard around her prepare to move in.
Let them take him, Glitch, she willed in her mind. He had no point to prove. Even if he gave up, Reed was done. They were both struggling to stay on their feet, fatigue and blood loss slowing their actions, making them clumsy.
Flurries of movement surprised Az and for the first time she stepped back from the fight. That flurry was Glitch, somehow managing to find strength. A series of kicks, hits and even a head butt-which could have busted his zipper-were rested upon the would-be kidnapper. Reed's knife went skittering and a final, foot to the face had the man dropping to the floor.
It wasn't until two guards had hauled the other man up that Glitch finally fell. Az was at his side in an instant, pushing the others away in her haste to get to him. He was unconscious and bloody. She pressed two, shaking fingers to his throat. Her breath came out in a whoosh when she felt the steady, if weak, beat under her touch.
"Azkadelia, let them take him to the infirmary." Her mother's soft voice penetrated her relief and Az nodded.
"I'm going with him." She rose, just as several men moved in to put the man on a stretcher.
"We will need to talk about what happened, my dear." Az turned surprised eyes on her mother. She couldn't remember the last time her mother had called her anything other than her name. She searched the older woman's eyes and saw something there she didn't think she could put a name too.
"Later." She finally answered. Then, she turned and followed the men up the stairs, her fear for Glitch taking over her thoughts.
With a start, DG came awake. She blinked, groggily, trying to figure out what had woken her up.
DG?
Az?
DG held her breath and waited, wondering if her sister were trying to get a hold of her somehow. All she could hear was the strange song of the crickets and the rustling movements of the horses. After a minute, she lay back down, but her sense of unease didn't go away.
