Chapter X

After the incident with the chairs and that old lady, I had been reluctant to return to the valley. But after the recent events in the castle, I couldn't take it any longer. The place was becoming more and more like a prison. I had gotten used to the place after a while, but now it was just like old times. The reappearance of Jesse had certainly strengthened this feeling.

And so, with my legs curled underneath me, and my dress billowing out and swaying in the light breeze, I was sat directly in the middle of the vast expanse of grass – with the storms to my right, and the sun and white, fluffy clouds to my left.

But as I sat there, I realised how truly alone I felt. I desperately wanted Abbey. I needed someone to talk to, and she had always been there for me. I had just blew it, by so many insecurities that had manifested over the years of betrayal and hurt. But now I was betraying and hurting others – Will and Isabelle especially. I had still not forgotten the incident in the dungeon, something I would always try to make up for. And I would make up for that. By helping them any way I could, even if it put me in danger myself.

What had happened in the room with the blood necklace earlier had given me courage. I could prevent things from happening. Okay, so Paul could have easily sorted out that situation – especially with the aid of the guards -, but I had made Jesse doubt his actions. He may have been more forceful, put up more of a fight, if it wasn't for me telling him that he shouldn't. That I hadn't wanted him to.

That thought had frozen me. Why hadn't I wanted him to? I told myself over and over that I couldn't let him risk the kingdom. But was it just that? Was there another reason why I could not break the bond between Paul and I?

I didn't really want to think about it. But I had stopped him. And now I felt that maybe the old Suze was returning. And that the old Suze could be strong enough to fight for Isabelle and William when the time came.

This new hope gave me hope for another situation. I would go and find Abbey. I had to find her, and tell her what I had done. I needed to apologise, to explain, and just to… talk. To be with my friend. She was, after all, the only friend I really had. I was not going to let the 'new Suze' get in the way.

-&-

It was as I was leaving the castle – through a window left ajar off the maids' headquarters – that I realised that I had never been in the city alone. To be honest, I had very rarely been in the city at all, and the times that I had were just by travelling somewhere with Paul. So walking through the streets on my own was certainly an… interesting experience. I had found a black cloak in my expansive wardrobe that covered my face but allowed me to see where I was going. I wasn't sure if people had ever really seen me, and I did not want to be recognised. Especially as being in the city unaccompanied was prohibited.

I felt a rush of adrenaline at the thought. The old Suze was returning. And it wasn't exactly an unpleasant feeling.

It was this adrenaline, the pure thrill of doing something I wouldn't have even thought of days ago (hell, even hours ago), that pushed my feet further, winding round the crowds of people and lean-to shacks typical of the city. Every now and then I would look up quickly, to check where I was going. I vaguely knew where Abbey lived – most people like her lived in an area east of the castle, just out of the city limits. It was a fair walk, and maybe not one I should have been making if I didn't want anyone to recognise me, but it gave me the chance to really see the city. Not that the city was interesting, but I knew I wouldn't have seen it any other way.

Abbey lived with others who had come from out of the area, in small towns and villages beyond the mountains, on the plains. Most of these areas had been destroyed ten years ago by Paul's father, who had been king at the time. He had been trying to gain as much land as possible, and thought the best way of doing that was to annihilate all other towns in the area. Anyone who put up a fight was immediately killed, and the rest were taken by the kingdom. Abbey had told me that she spent just over a year in one of the dungeons – I presumed that this would not have been like the dungeon me and Izzy had been in, but one of the large communal cells. Most of the females were taken as maids, like Abbey, and the males were put into agriculture. It was horrid to see – the people were so kind and innocent, but their lives had been destroyed by the demons and were now taken as slaves. It was no wonder they kept to themselves, and away from the city.

I was still heading east, and I noticed with chagrin that the city held no signs of thinning out – the wooden buildings were still tall and cramped, and the roads were busy. Thankfully no one had seen me yet, or paid any attention, but I was still sticking to the shadows.

My feet were soaked from walking through the puddles, and the water was rising up my cloak, so it was now just above ankle level. The rain had started not that long ago, and although it was light at the moment, the dark clouds above me showed that more rain was on the way.

Which is just great. There was at least another few miles to go, and there was no doubt that I would end up stuck in the middle of a storm. How did Abbey do this every day?

It was as I was turning another corner, which looked much the same as the last ten I had gone round, that for the first time I bumped into someone.

"Oof!"

"Whoa, watch where you're going, lady!" The man said gruffly, as his large and calloused hands were on my shoulders to steady me.

I mumbled an apology and tried to side step him. He saw what I was about to attempt, and caught my arm. I looked into his grey, almost celery coloured eyes, ignoring the rain hitting into my face. "Excuse me?"

A slight smirk was playing on his lips, "Where you goin', pretty lady?"

I stalled. Why was he so curious? I was definitely heading into Bad Territory. "Home."

"You don't sound like you're from 'round here."

"That's why I'm heading the other way." Once again, I tried to get past him, but he still wouldn't let up.

"Where to?"

"Look, would you let me go? It is raining, in case you haven't noticed, and I would like to get inside."

He raised an eyebrow at my outburst, but continued to smirk. "You can come to my place, if you'd like. It's closer."

Was he trying to hit on me or something? This was not cool. And I did not want to cause unwanted attention my way. "Err, you know, it's really not that far, so I'll just be going-"

I ducked under his arm, and ran down the street, hoping that no one would be paying much attention. I could hear his shouts, but I kept running, and turning down more alleys until I thought I'd lost him.

Annoyingly, I had turned down so many alleys without paying much attention that I wasn't sure what direction I was facing. I may have been using the looming castle to help my directions, but I was so deep in the city, and the buildings were tall enough that I couldn't even see the flag. Great. Now I was lost. In the rain. In a mucky alley.

I really didn't know how I got into these situations. Okay, so I may have been in prohibited areas, and I may have been alone, but I was still being inconspicuous! I think I was just a danger magnet.

"Hey!"

I froze. I recognised that voice.

"Come back here, pretty lady!"

Danger Magnet was in full force. Celery eyed man was behind me, and I could tell that his footsteps were getting closer. I ran for it, towards the dull light at the end of the alley. Just as I was getting closer, two more figures covered the gap, so there was no way out.

I turned around, to see that the celery eyed man was only a few metres away and getting closer.

"Such a pretty lady…" One of the figures said.

"Can't be a demon… surely not…"

"Yes, much too polite. And small."

"Hey! I am not small!" I answered indignantly, glaring at the figure where the last comment had came from.

I was figuring out my chances of escaping. Very little. It was three against one… could I talk my way out of it? Probably not – these were demons, after all. I shuddered at the thought. Demons capable of anything.

They laughed, and got closer. I was circled by three large demons, with no way out.

"You know… it's raining… Sure don't want to get a pretty girl like you all wet. Come with us-"

"You know what? I think I'll pass."

The taller of the three came closer, leaning into my face so I could feel his breath on my cheek as he spoke, "You don't have a choice."

Not good. Really not good. How was I going to get out of this? And if I did, how would I explain all this to Paul?

And why did this guy's breath have to stink so much?

"You know, next time you go and invade my personal space," I said, waving my hand around me to show which areas were a No Go Area, "Could you consider the fact that I have to smell you? I mean, God, haven't you had a shower? EVER?"

After my bad case of verbal diarrhoea got the better of me, I realised that that probably wasn't the best thing to say to someone twice your size, and who seemed to be intent on killing you. But then again, what was the best thing to say?

It was at this moment that my body decided to take over from my traitorous mouth, and show me another bad idea of what was Not The Best Thing To Do.

Which was hit the man in the face.

"Ow! She- she hit me!" he was surprised, but that surprise turned into anger very quickly.

The other two had the same reaction, and promptly threw me against the muddy wall. My head hit it with a thud.

"Hey! Mind the merchandise!"

"Enough talking! You will come with us, you slut!"

Before I even had the chance to register what he just called me, the man took me by the elbows, and started dragging me out of the alley. "Get off me!!" I was screaming, but no one took any notice or tried to help out. At first I was thinking how rude the people must be. Until I realised that they were all demons too.

All three of them were on me now, holding me up and restraining me so I could barely move. My heart was pounding, terror pulsing through my veins twice as fast. These were demons! And demons that wouldn't care to off me, like Paul would.

It wasn't long before I was chucked into a carriage unceremoniously, and hit my head on something solid. Just before losing consciousness, I registered a faint metal scraping of a lock.

Crap.

Does anyone have anything they want to know about this story? I'm thinking of putting in some flashbacks, but I'm not sure what. If anyone has any good ideas, please tell me in a review! I'll even, errr… dedicate the chapter to you!

Or maybe I could give you a mini-preview of the next chapter… but that means I'll have to finish the chapter, lol. .

Review! Please. :)