Suffering Part 2

With the knowledge her father, Arora decided to become as strong as could and defeat her captor. About twice a month, Vera would sneak out to go meet her father and Arora would help her. Between the two of them, Vera was allowed to leave their fortress in order to gather materials she needed for Arora, and it was a good cover to meet with Aeros. When they knew they were alone, Vera spoke of Aeros. Hearing of her father helped her get through the tortures that she had to endure.

Arora always noticed a look of adoration on Vera's face when she spoke of her father. She knew that her father must have found someone to love again. It didn't make her sad or angry, to her surprise, but she was happy. Arora knew how much he loved her mother and how much he hurt he endured after her death. He deserved happiness and was proud that it was a woman like Vera.

Vera explained to her about how they met. She was staying in a motel not far from where they lived when she saw him yelling at the owner about helping him. She assumed he was just another difficult customer until she noticed the injuries. That's when she forced him to lie down and allow her to look at his injuries. Vera said that he told her he couldn't sleep until he got Arora back, and about how he had failed his wife in protecting her.

"I had never seen so much pain in one individual in all of my years of medicine."

Arora began to tear up.

"That's when I began helping him. It took a long time to find soldiers willing to fight Phyrrus, and even longer to find where you were. Once we found you, Aeros knew he had to let you know that he was fighting to get you back. He was firmly against me going undercover like this, but it was the only logical way to get to you. Phyrrus wants you alive, and I knew he would look for someone to look after you."

"Thank you." Arora said. "When you see my father again, tell him that I'll be fighting too."

Training had begun to get more and more rigorous, and she began to notice Phyrrus' absence in each one. Just a day or so after, a new recruit among the other soldiers had started his training. Arora saw him on his first day before her first match, and he caught her gaze and held it.

He was rather handsome, which made him stick out among the other raggedy men that were already in Phyrrus' inner circle. Dark hair made his hazel eyes almost glow against his fair skin. She tore her eyes from him.

It's just another cocky brute to kick me in the ribs and laugh at my pain. Focus.

Arora planted her feet on the ground beneath her as her opponent began swinging his weapons.

It was a tall and slender man with black leather and silver spikes on strips on his uniform. He was twirling two curved blades and she noticed another one on his back. Probably a machete or something similar.

Her opponent had a wide grin on his face as he lunged for her. She dodged smoothly, and jumped to the side as he brought his other blade down.

Arora spun and landed a kick to his face. He stumbled only for a second and began attacking her again.

She grabbed his right sword popped his wrist, making him lose his grip. Arora threw the blade into the crowd around them.

Arora didn't need a blade. Hell's flame encircled her arms as she released it on her opponent. Blue flame met black as he shielded himself from the intense heat. Her flame subsided as the blue dragon swung his blade followed by a waved of his fire.

Arora countered it. The smoke cleared as she looked upon her enemy. He was smiling even when his defeat was inevitable. A sting shot through her leg as she spied a small needle in her thigh.

She yanked it out, but it was too late. The leg that was shot gave out and was paralyzed. Arora fell to the ground and looked into the crowd. One was looking at her with a cocky grin on his face.

There was a list of names she wanted to scream at him.

The blue Ryuu rushed to her with his blade in his hand. Arora took a deep breath and blew fire in his face right when he was within arms reach of her.

Using her arms and good leg she pushed herself out of the way and tried to get up, only to be met with and boot in her back from the crowd, throwing off her balance. Arora fell on all fours again and saw the attack too late.

The hilt of his sword hit her in the face and she was sent tumbling to the ground. He slammed his foot on her stomach, sending blood flooding from her mouth and choking any cries of pain she had.

The point of his blade was now in her face.

"Seems like you lost this one, pet." He said way to confidently.

"Not…yet." She choked out.

Arora grabbed his ankle and covered his leg in black flame. He screamed as he dropped his sword and fell on his back. The whole leg melted away and not even bone was left.

With barely a flick of the wrist, she stopped the flame from climbing higher as she pushed back the numbing feeling in her leg and limped over to him.

"No hard feelings. You took my leg, I'm just returning the favor, pet."

She turned and walked away when she heard the shhng of a blade being taken out of it's sheath.

Arora whirled around and held up her arms, only to see the new soldier hold on the defeated Ryuu's wrist.

"I think that's enough." He said.

"Oh, look the newbie is giving orders!" Someone yelled from the crowd. You could see the anger start rising from everyone around them.

"I just don't think the captain will approve of this." At the mention of Phyrrus, all the men backed down and went on their way. He turned to Arora. "My name is Kai." He held out his hand.

What was it with shaking hands with the enemy?

Arora just stared at his hand and then his face. Awkwardly he put his hand down.

"You fought well, but was melting his leg really necessary? Now he won't be able to fight."

"They do not show mercy here, and I will not start with these lowlifes." A guard grabbed her arm and forcefully jerked her to follow him.

"Wait a minute!" He said as he caught up with the both of them. "Who are you?" Kai said, confused at the large Ryuu now dragging her away.

"Ask your captain." She said as she glared at him. He stopped, and she didn't look back at him.

Vera had patched up her wounds, and now was sitting beside her. Arora was lost in thought. Phyrrus' absence was bothering her to the point she felt sick.

"What's wrong?" Vera said.

"I haven't seen Phyrrus in days."

"Shouldn't that be a good thing?"

"It would, but I have this sickening feeling. What if he is planning something? What if he found out about you and father?" She lost her breath at the thought. She couldn't lose them.

"He won't find out. Not after all the measures we've taken. The only time he'll find out is when we can finally get you out of this place." Vera hugged her. "So don't worry."

The door opened, and Vera left her side pretending to get more medication.

"Phyrrus has summoned you." The guard said. Arora narrowed her eyes and held her fear back to keep a calmed expression. Arora stood and walked to the door. Two more guards took each side of her as the third led her to Phyrrus' quarters.

Not many people went directly to his personal room. She had never been there, and didn't particularly want to go. Considering how long she had seen him, she was nervous about why he wanted to see her in private.

The two guards stood beside the door as the third opened Phyrrus' chambers, pushed Arora in and shut it behind her. She growled at them.

"I see you are still lively in my absence. That's good." A voice slithered from the shadows. Arora looked for him, and her eyes fell on a body in the floor. She moved closer to identify who it was.

It was Phyrrus' body.

Confusion rushed through her. The body groaned as it reached out to her.

"Run…" He said in a weak and raspy voice. "Get out of here."

His eyes…

His eyes were….hazel?

Someone stepped from the left corner of the room.

It was Kai, no, no it wasn't Kai. Those gleaming crimson eyes stared back at her in amusement.

"Phyrrus, but how?" Arora stuttered as she looked at the man on the ground. "Kai…"

"Very lively that one." He walked beside his old body, the one that Kai now possessed. "I recruited him, thinking that his strength and youth would be useful since this old body was giving out. Didn't think that you would vex him in such a short time."

"What are you talking about?" She said.

"Every few years, I have to change bodies, otherwise I'll be tied to a decaying body." He stepped closer to her. Arora was too mortified to back away. "My soul has existed as long as the crimson flame has."

She had heard rumors of the Immortal Ryuu, but never really thought it was real. To be immortal, a Ryuu would have to possess two different flames. So far, no Ryuu has been strong enough to hold that much power. If they attain two flames, then the power would be too much for their body to handle and soon they would die.

Does this mean…?

"No, I do not possess two flame powers, and I am not immortal otherwise I would not have to change bodies every few decades. I've tried making an immortal out of one of my soldiers, but they always died very soon after attaining their second power. Nasty death, that is, they practically explode." Phyrrus took her chin. "But then there's you."

She jerked away from him. Kai began pleading for Arora to run again.

"Be QUIET!" Phyrrus said as he slammed his foot on Kai's neck. Kai choked and then went still, his soul leaving this realm.

"He did enough blabbering before I took his body. I told him exactly what I had planned to do with you."

"You're going to try and make me immortal?" Arora said. "Then take my body?" Phyrrus nodded.

"You see, no one has survived because every pathetic soul on this realm has been born from a flame Ryuu and an earth Ryuu. You, however, were born of two flame Ryuus. I've seen you fight; you're stronger than the rest of them."

Arora shook her head. She didn't want this to happen.

"Unfortunately, I cannot combine my flame with the black flame you possess, it won't grant me the immortality. Your flame will be forced out by mine, but if you gain the immortality before I take your body, then the power will be etched into your body." A crooked smile spread across his face as came closer.

Arora started backing up.

"Using my crimson flame, I can burn my enemies from the inside out. You know what else I can do?" His eyes glowed as he motion for Arora to come to him. She felt something grab a hold of her and her legs began moving on their own.

Phyrrus put his hands on her hips as pressed his lips to her neck. She fought back as much as she could from his touch, but her body barely moved.

"I can control your every movement." He said against her skin. "What a shame to have to take this body…" He moved lower.

Arora yelled in anger as black flame circled her arms. She slammed her fist into the side of his face. She moved to strike again, only to have her head slammed into the ground faster than what she could counter.

"You still have some strong resistance against me. We will have to change that." She heard him say. "You're new training begins now." Phyrrus said as he released her.

Arora pushed herself up as two guards took each of their arms and pulled her to a separate room.

A torture room.

There were bloodstains everywhere along with long tables with ropes and chains. Different tools littered the floors, from small prods to large blades. Arora couldn't help the fear quaking through her now. That fear erupted at the sight of a metal chair in the center of the room.

"Do you like it? I had it specially made." They strapped her in and pulled a metal clamp around her neck. It began to burn.

"Let me go!" She screamed, and pulled at her restraints in vain. When she tried to use her mother's flame, nothing happened. She looked at her hands. "What?"

Phyrrus laughed.

"That collar prevents you from summoning your fire. It makes it a little easier on me."

Arora used every bit of her strength to try and pull free. Phyrrus propped his knee in her lap and put both of his hands on her head.

"Let's begin, shall we?"

A shot of lightning went through her skull as her strength drained and Phyrrus made his way into her mind.

It had been a day. A WHOLE day since they had taken her. The guards had locked Vera in their room. She was worried about what was happening. The door suddenly opened, and Vera jumped at the sound.

"Phyrrus has summoned you." She nodded and swallowed the fear in her throat as she followed the guard.

She had never been in this far in the old war castle Phyrrus now called his fortress. When the guard opened the door, Vera had to bite back her scream.

Arora was sitting in a metal chair, tied down. She was limp and her head was low to where Vera could barely see the blood running out of her mouth. Arora's clothes were torn and blood ran down both arms. Vera ran to her, and held her face in both hands.

"Arora?! Arora, can you hear me?" She said frantically. Arora's eyes were blank and lifeless. The only way she could tell she was alive was the slow movement of her chest.

"It took longer than I thought." Phyrrus said from the other side of the room. When he emerged, Vera didn't recognize his appearance, but she couldn't mistake that voice anywhere. "But she finally broke."

"What did you do to her!?" Vera yelled, suddenly not afraid of the tyrant in front her. She could see Arora's blood on his face and clothes. And the smile he had told her that he enjoyed every minute.

"So caring, tell me, did the two of you grow close?"

Vera just stared at him.

"Tell me how you got her to open up to so. What did you have in common?" He smiled as he circled her. "Was it that you knew her father?"

Vera's eyes widened as she grabbed a blade off the ground and shielded Arora.

"Or better yet, you are Aeros' new mate come to save his only daughter for him."

"How did you know?" Vera said.

"How could I not? You honestly think I'm stupid enough to not know?" Vera gritted her teeth.

"I am going to take Arora out of here, and I'll kill you if you get in the way." She said, bluffing. Phyrrus laughed.

"I won't interfere, I will let the both of you go. Under one condition: Arora has to want to go."

"Of course she does! Why would she want to stay here with the likes of you!?" Phyrrus still held a confident smile as Vera unstrapped Arora and pulled her to her feet. "Come on, let's get out of here." Arora stood and grabbed Vera's arm firmly. "Arora?"

Vera's eyes widened as Arora's hand went through her core and out the other side. The last thing Vera saw was Arora's red eyes and Phyrrus' voice.

"I think she wants to stay." Arora yanked her hand out as Vera's body fell to the ground.

*Okay, so. This chapter will be split into three. This next section being the last. I have a lot of background to cover here, because, well Arora has been through some crap to say the least.

But anyway, on another subject, I really need to hear from you guys. If I don't get any reviews, I can't see where I need to improve. Reviews are super important even if it's only three words.

If I don't receive any reviews on this chapter, then I will have to cancel it. I hate to, but even if one person writes a review then I will continue.

I'm going to continue writing so if someone posts a review later on, then I will post a chapter.

So sorry if this makes me seem like a jerk or whatever, but I need some feedback.

Thanks a lot for reading this! Hope to hear from you!

-RB*