I do not own nor did I create any of the original Tin Man characters, only Sophia (nick name Soph) is mine. I am sorry for the delay in updating; I'm trying to take my time more with the chapters. Hopefully this will help with typos (please feel free to let me know if there if any improvement) and make for a better story. I would also like to thank everyone for the reviews!!!!
Chapter Nine: The Northern Island:
Cain's hope of the drive being less awkward was short lived. The silence was driving him nuts. It was making the air around him and Sophia thick; you could almost cut through it. He decided that wanted a few answers when it came to her; Sophia was a mystery. If it had been anyone else he would just have demanded them but he already knew that wouldn't work with her. Knew she would only answer when she was ready. It was just his luck to come across someone as…willful as him. Best to ease into the questions…
"Sophia…Outside the theater you said you saw your farther being killed. These things you see, are they curtain? How does it work?" She looked over at Cain and remained silent thinking of the best way to answer. "Sometimes...it's hard to explain. I don't even understand them, these visions. Back in Kansas I would say yes they always come true but here…. It's different here. Raw said I need to see more with my heart and less with my mind. I don't even what that means….I hope what I saw was wrong, I just found my father." She didn't continue; she didn't know the how or whys to explain to him. "What about your dreams of me? Tell me about them."
"How do you know about my dreams? Did DG say something to you?" Cain smiled a little, Sophia sounded appalled. "You told me that you've dream of me before we…. On the road and yes DG did say you dreamed of me but nothing else." Sophia cheeks turned red as she remembered her and Cain's kiss. "Nothing to tell, I just saw your face…your eyes. That's it we never spoke or anything. We just stared at each other." Sophia was try to find away to change the subject, she wasn't comfortable talking to Cain about her dreams of him. Cain saw her face flush and couldn't help but laugh. "What's so funny? Are you laughing at me?"
"Yes, yes I am. I'm not making fun of you but when start turning red like an apple…it makes me wonder if you telling me the truth about those dreams." Cain didn't think it was possible but Sophia managed to turn a deep shade of red. She refreshing to be around easy to tease, it seemed that she wore her mind on her sleeve. "Nothing to tell….." she responded. "Care to tell me then why you seem so embarrassed?" Sophia was trying to think of a way to change the subject and fast, she looked down and realized that she was still in the party dress.
"It's starting to get cold, I better go change." Sophia tried to get up to go into the back of the van. Cain kept one hand of the wheel and with the other it took hold of Sophia's arm with a firm grip and push she back into the chair. "You can change after you answered my question. Why are you embarrassed? The whole time we've been together you've been a hell cat. Now you're acting like a scared kitten." Sophia tried once again to get up to move but Cain didn't let up his hold on her.
She was fighting a losing battle. "I really don't want to like you Cain, especially when you start being stubborn…..I was remembering our kiss. There are you happy? Can I go change now?" Sophia spate the last part to him; she didn't like being pushed around. Cain saw the fire come into her eyes; green fire, like emeralds. Cain smiled again, he let Sophia go and put both hand back on the wheel. Sophia got up and left him alone. He was satisfied for now at least.
In the last few minutes he learned more about the type of person Sophia was. She gave herself away without even realizing it. Sophia was a strong, private person. He already knew she had a loving nature and was loyal with how she was with DG. She was innocent. The more he got to know her the more he realized that like it or not she would be his.
Sophia had gone to the back of the van to change back into her jeans and shirt. The farther north they went the colder it got. She didn't like the cold. Before she changed she looked around the van for something warmer to put on, the shirt she'd been wearing had short sleeves. She saw that DG was sitting with Glitch and Raw. She was looking through a closet and found some shawls. It would have to do. "Deg here," Sophia tossed one of the shawls to her. "I'm going to change, why don't you go sit up front it's a bit warmer there."
"Did you want me to hold up one the shawls for you Soph?" DG asked while she was moving up from the floor. "No I'll be fine. I'm sure I can trust Glitch and Raw to keep turned the other way." They took a hint and without being asked both Glitch and Raw moved to face the other way as DG moved up front to sit with Cain. Sophia turned around and kept her back to the front of the van. She put her paints on under the dress first before she started to take the dress off. With how the dressed fitted her she hadn't been able to wear she bra. She had just gotten the dress off and starting to put her bra on her when she felt a bump and the van stopping.
Cain looked at the van confused the bump didn't feel like much. He turned to the back of the van to check on everyone and he voice almost failed him. He saw that Glitch and Raw were huddled together for warmth and Sophia standing behind them getting dressed. Her back was to him and he could see how smooth her skin was, it seemed to call out to him; asking for him to touch her. The spell seemed to be broken when she put her shirt on. "You alright?" He meant the question to be for Sophia but Glitch answered. "Yeah just freezing."
Cain told DG to stay in the van and he got out to check what the problem was. The wind was cutting though him and the snow wasn't making the cold any better. He kneed down in the snow and saw the problem right away. The axle was broken. Cain groaned in frustration. There was no way to fix it; they would have to walk. He opened the side of the van and grabbed the ax from the side. "Oh what now" Glitch called out. "Broke axle." Raw answered for Cain. "No kidding; come on lets go we're walking." He helped DG out of the van and saw the Sophia had already made her way out. She barely had anything to protect her from the cold.
He started to take his coat off and walked over to her. Cain didn't wait for her to argue with him and placed the coat on her shoulders. "Cain we don't have far to walk, I'll be fine." She didn't want him to freeze to death. "If it's not far I can handle it Sophia." Cain saw that she was about to start arguing with him. He just turned and starting leading the Raw and Glitch up the hill. He wasn't going to give her an opportunity to bicker with him.
Cain's coat seemed to swallow her up. "Deg come here." DG came over to Sophia; with the coat being so large Sophia had enough room to share with DG. She adjusted the coat so they were both covered and then they followed the others. The snow wasn't too high but the wind made their progress up the hill slow. Sophia was really worried that Cain wouldn't make it; but he never complained about the cold and the wind didn't seem to affect him. He just kept walking; she couldn't help but be impressed. The man was tuff to say the least.
As they reach the top of the hill Cain looked back to check on Sophia and saw that she had his coat around both her and DG. She didn't seem to have a selfish bone in her body. Cain could only hope they didn't have much farther to go. The arctic wind was cutting thought him. He just kept repeating in his head that it was mind over matter and if he doesn't mind the cold then it don't matter. DG and Sophia made it up the hill and came to stand in front of him. "What we're looking for is over there." DG called and point to what looked like an ice berg to Sophia. She was remembering her Pop's stories from Kansas. "Frozen in time is a sea of ice…DG just like……" "Dad's stories; that have to be the right place." DG answered back.
The continued on the journey and made it over the frozen lake the surrounded the ice berg. When they came upon the mountain of ice Sophia felt a change in DG. DG felt her side and took the ax from Cain. DG was ordering everyone to dig but there was only one ax. Sophia understood before the others, this was DG's home. She finally realized what their parental units were saying in Milltown. All the stories they heard growing up were related to their lives here in the O.Z.
"Daughter of light came upon a glistening white mountain. Frozen in time in a sea of ice above all else she knew that…that this mountain was more then it appeared. It was home." DG yelled as she broke though the ice. Cain, Glitch and Raw where looking at DG as though she lost her mind. Sophia noticed that Cain was starting to fidget due to the cold and took his coat off and gave it back to him. "Thanks Cain. We'll be in doors soon."
Cain looked at Sophia as if she were crazed. It was just then when Sophia moved away from Cain he saw the DG had uncovered a door. Sophia moved to stand next to DG and gave an encouraging smile. DG tired to open the door but it was locked. "Deg, try your hand, the one with the stamp." DG held up her hand but nothing seemed too happened. "Focus, relax DG…" DG's hand started to glow and the door opened.
Sophia gave DG a little side hug and turned to look at Cain, "See told you we would be indoors soon." DG and Sophia were the first the walk in the door. It was a beautiful great hall. There wasn't very much light but there was a clear path down the center and Sophia could see a forest of pillars with the green and blue floor. Sophia was looking around as they walked; she was the first to see the picture. She almost couldn't believe what she was seeing it was DG's mother and Glitch. DG was royalty. "Ah… DG come here and check this out…." Sophia looked at DG then back to the picture, she looked a lot like her mother. "Soph….my mother was the Queen…." DG sounded to be in a little shock. "That makes you princess." Raw said as he bowed to DG.
Sophia looked over to Cain and saw the little smile on his face. She realized that he knew who DG was. She now remembered what her father had made him promise before they ran from Central City. DG had to be protected. Sophia started to feel a little dizzy in her mind fleshed a memory her and her father getting out of a carriage - I understand I need to watch out for her now. DG is to be my sister. – She was sent to take care of DG….
She was pulled back from her thoughts to reality when DG started to ask Glitch about her mother. "I know I wasn't an idiot, or a convict. I was the Queen's advisor." Glitch said the last part give Cain a slightly mean look. "The Queen sat glazing hopefully out upon her frozen realm…..longing for her daughter to return." Sophia heard DG say before she started running toward the stairs at the end of the hall. They all followed up the stairs; DG seemed to know where to go. They came into a room that looked like no had been it in for many years. All the furniture was covered and the air had dust in it.
DG had gone over to a chair in the room; Raw followed her and touched the chair. "Sad; mother waited couldn't stay." Sophia looked around the room she'd seen it before….in her vision about Cain. She needed to sit down; she didn't even look for a proper place to do so. Sophia kneed to the floor, "Deg….we can't stay here long…." She looked up at Cain who was making his way to her. "You're in danger here…." DG came and sit next to Sophia on the floor, "Soph, what are you seeing?" Sophia shook her head saying without words that she wouldn't tell her. She wasn't just seeing Cain but the woman who killed her father…she saw her taking DG.
Raw seemed to sense Sophia feelings and wanted to get out as fast as he could. "Bad things, bad things happened here." DG looked up at Raw she saw the fear in his face. "What bad things?" DG was starting to get worried but she couldn't bring herself to leave yet; she had to know what happened here. Raw turned and looked down to Cain who was now on the floor next to Sophia. "Tell her." Cain ordered Raw, he knew that DG needed to see what happened.
Cain put his arms around Sophia and tried to help her off the floor while Raw was showing DG and Glitch the past. "Soph…Are alright. I need you to get up…." Sophia looked at Cain, "I'm fine….I was just seeing….we need to get out of here. We can't let my …we can't let DG stay here." Cain had managed to help her up. Once up Sophia left Cain arms and ran up behind DG. She saw in the mirror DG's mother whispering in her ear. "DG we have to go now…" "Soph I'm related to…." DG didn't get to finish. "Mother could never leave well enough alone."
The Sorceress Azkadellia was standing behind them with Zero and other Longcaots. One of the Longcoats already took Cain's gun giving it to Zero. Sophia turned around keeping DG behind her. "You're my sister…" DG couldn't keep the shock out her voice. "DG, the little sister I thought I no longer had. I've always wondered what you'd look like." The Sorceress said as she walked closer to Sophia and DG. "You just stay away from her or I'll…" Sophia threatened. "Or you'll what little wisdom? You have no magic…" The Sorceress replied with a smile in her voice.
"What do you want?" DG asked as she came from behind Sophia. She took Sophia hand to give her courage to confront her lost sister. "Well up until a moment ago I wanted your death. Ha, but now it seems you have something I need." DG looked at her confused, "What?" "The emerald; you know where it is. Don't tell me you haven't dreamed of it, heard it calling to you begging to be found from its dark hiding place." DG looked at Sophia, both shaking their heads. DG was hoping that maybe one of Soph's visions would come to help but she looked as confused as DG did. "No I haven't."
"No? What did she whisper in your ear?" Azkadellia demanded. "I don't remember." DG answered. "That's a shame." Sophia heard the threat in her voice. "Explain how she can tell you something she doesn't even remember." Azkadellia looked at Sophia, "You stay out of this; I'll be dealing with you and your father later." Azkadellia turned her back and walked back to the Longcoats. Cain saw Sophia take a step forward he put his hand on her shoulder to keep her in place. She turned her head a little to look at him and saw Cain shake his head no at her, telling her now was not the time to attack. She knew he was right and she needed to stay focused if they we going to get out of here alive.
Azkadellia had made what looked almost like a lantern to appear. Sophia could see the image of DG's mother in it, could hear her calling out to her daughter. Azkadellia tossed the object to DG. "What have you done with her." She demanded to know. "Put her away for safe keeping, like any good daughter would." Azakdellia answered. "Where?" "Somewhere you will never find her." Sophia took the lantern like object from DG and looked quickly to the door hoping the DG caught on. Without a second thought she threw it to the ground causing a small explosion and smoke to cover the area.
"RUN!" Sophia shouted and pushed DG toward the door. Glitch and Raw quickly followed DG. Sophia had followed after Raw and she was almost out the door when one of the Longcoats took hold of her from behind. She tried to fight him off but he had managed to get a hold around her arms and pulled her close to his chest. The Longcoat's grim was so tight that she couldn't move. Azkadellia smiled as she pasted Sophia, "Stay here and keep a hold of that bitch while I collect my dear little sister." Sophia saw her and two other Longcaots leave the room.
"Let's enjoy the show pretty." The Longcoat said to Sophia and took her over by the bed in the room. She saw that Cain was fighting against Zero and two others. At first he seemed to handling the fight but Zero got in a few good hits and Cain was down on the ground. Zero just strolled around the room fixing his hair; he was going to have the others finish the fight. He saw that one of his men had a hold of the Mystic Man's daughter and thought of truly wonderful way to get under Cain's skin. He walked over to her and looked Sophia in the eye and took hold of a strand of hair, twisting it in his fingers. Her legs were still free so he came over to her side to be safe from kicking, "You know Cain; I must thank you for this…..truly beautiful prisoner. I think before The Sorceress kills her that she and I will become…well let's just say that I'll come to know all of her." Sophia pulled her head back to get her hair away from Zero, "Over my dead body."
Zero smiled, "That's the point dear and my you have some sprit in you. That will make things very interesting." These words were enough to give Cain the will to get back up. He saw the other Longcoats about to come at him again. "Now I know why they call you Zero. Still can't fight you own battles." Zero looked back at Cain he was out numbered the fight was won but it wanted to cruse him. The signaled for the other to stop, "I do my share."
Sophia knew that there were just too many for one person. Zero had give Cain a few good hits again and then the other two Longocats came in. One of them held Cain while the other continued to beat him up. Cain managed to kick one in the chest and then elbowed the one behind him. Zero came right back to him hitting Cain in the Chest and kneed him in the head. Cain was down on the ground again and Sophia didn't think he would make it back up. She saw Zero walking toward Cain's gun on the ground. Her vision came back to her mind. She had to help Cain….she couldn't loss him now.
Sophia did the only thing she could think of to get the Longcoat to let her go. She stomped as hard as she could on his foot. When he let her go she remember how Cain had hit the back of her neck, she put her two hands together and hit the man with as much force as she could. The Longcoat went down like a sack of wheat. Sophia ran over to Cain, he was already starting to get up. She took hold of one of his arms and placed it on her shoulder. "No Iron suite for you this time. No sister, no child crying for years to free you from it." Cain heard Zero say while with Sophia's help he had managed to get up from the floor. "My family is alive…" Zero just smiled, "Hardly matters now." Zero answered as he took aim.
Sophia tried to pull Cain out of harm's way but Cain already knew it was too late for that. All he could hope to do is protect Sophia, he pushed her behind him right when the bullet hit. It had hit Cain with enough force that he lost his footing and fall backwards. Cain was too heavy for Sophia and when his weight came onto her she fall back into the window. The all thing she could think to do was hold onto him as they fall to the ice below.