Chapter XI
"Take a break." Ava's voice echoed in the narrow hallway, startling her sister as she straightened her posture. Morgan lifted an eyebrow in question.
"Lord Rahl told me-"
"Did I stutter?" Ava glared at the woman. Thankfully, she knew she could intimate Morgan into leaving. Had it been Dahlia guarding the Confessor, it would've been significantly more difficult.
"Why?" Morgan felt the need to question. Ava brought her face closer to the woman's and breathed,
"Because I'm annoyed and bored so unless you'd like to be my punching bag, walk away." Ava could've sighed in relief when Morgan broke into a grin.
"Just try not to kill her." She said. "I feel like he'd notice that."
"Thanks for your input. Now go." Ava took the keys from Morgan's belt and ushered the woman down the hall. When she could no longer hear her sister's steps, Ava placed the proper key in the lock. As she opened the door, she regretted not preparing herself better for the sight before her. Kahlan lay exactly where she had been deposited, hair obscuring most of her face and hands still balled into fists. Closing the door behind her as silently as she could, Ava approached the battered woman cautiously. She knew what it was like to wake up after a beating like that. Slowly, she reached out and shook the Mother Confessor's shoulder softly. The brunette's eyes snapped open immediately, haphazardly attempting to take in the room and its occupants.
"Please, don't." The plea was low and desperate as Kahlan undoubtedly assumed it was time for more training. Ava's heart tugged slightly.
"Kahlan, look at me." She said. "I'm not here to hurt you." The Confessor frowned, confused as to what she would be doing here instead. "I need you to snap out of it, ok? We need to talk."
"Ava?" Her name came out as more of a whine than a question but the Mord'Sith nodded nonetheless. "Help me Ava, please."
"Kahlan, you need to listen to me." Ava began sitting the woman upright despite the multitude of groans and gasps. After a minute or two, Kahlan managed to sit up against the wall and open her eyes. Ava took in the woman and almost winced. She was unrecognizable. The Kahlan Amnell she had helped chase down and capture was an entirely different person than the one who sat before her. Ava doubted that even the Seeker would recognize her now.
"Have you come to kill me?" Kahlan breathed, her senses beginning to return to her. Ava shook her head no. "Then leave me alone."
"You want to hear what I have to say." Ava insisted, lifting an eyebrow and tilting her head as Kahlan considered it. "It's about Cara."
"What happened? Is she alright?" Ava was astounded by the amount of concern in Kahlan's eyes over someone who had literally spent the past week torturing her. That's not Cara, she quickly reminded herself.
"She's alright." Ava reconsidered. "Well as alright as she can be."
"Then what is it?"
"She has memories of her old life- the life she had with us before Rahl fell." Ava told her. Kahlan seemed to consider the news for a moment.
"What does that mean to me?"
"It means that if she remembers that, she probably remembers her life with you and the Seeker as well." Ava said.
"So what, you want me to reminisce with her while she's wrapping pythons around my neck?" Kahlan took a moment to reposition herself with Ava's help, cringing against the pain in her entire body.
"Do I have to spell it out for you, Confessor?" Ava grew annoyed, wary of how long she had been away from Lauren. "If she remembers, then she still cares for you…deep down. If she cares she can be reasoned with and if she can be reasoned with-"
"She can be brought back." A light seemed to go off behind Kahlan's eyes and Ava couldn't doubt the fact that it brought her joy to see hope in the woman's eyes again. "Why are you telling me this?"
"Because…" Ava struggled to find the right words. "Because I remember what Cara was like before all this. We were friends. We helped each other through the most difficult situations and saved each other more times than I can count. But this…this empty shell that walks around here like a ghost…that's not Cara."
"You love her." Kahlan surmised but Ava shook her head.
"Not in the way you're thinking." She told the Confessor. "But yes, she is one of my oldest friends and…and Rahl's taken her from me just like he's taken her from you. It's what he does. He takes and takes and takes until there's nothing left but the remnants of what used to be a person." Kahlan surprised her by taking her hand and squeezing. Ava knew she had accidentally shared too much with the woman but couldn't bring herself to care. It was a strange yet comforting feeling.
"I'm sorry." The utterance almost made Ava laugh.
"You're sorry? For what exactly?"
"That you've had to live like this for so long. No one deserves that. I'm just sorry no one has been able to put a stop to it by now."
"Yea well," Ava swallowed hard, "I guess that's where you and your boyfriend come in." At the mention of Richard, Kahlan actually smiled for the first time in almost a year. Ava found it ridiculous, shaking her head slowly as she fought to suppress a grin of her own.
"So," Kahlan's bloodshot eyes looked at her new ally with renewed fire, "what do you suggest?"
The plan was simple- simple yet difficult. Kahlan and Ava had agreed that the best and only way to bring Cara back was by reminding her of her old life. However, Kahlan would be the one doing the reminding and the Mother Confessor had drastically underestimated the effect Cara was having on her. When she had voiced her concerns to Ava, the Mord'Sith's response was unambiguous to say the least.
"There is no 'can't', Kahlan. You either do this or you break. Those are your only options."
Now, as Kahlan waited for the beginning of another day of training, she trembled at the very thought of being around Cara and her Agiel. Would she even be able to speak, let alone think of ways to get through to her friend? The terror only increased when she heard footsteps approaching her cell. She held her breath as the key was inserted and the door was thrown open but released it the moment she saw who had come for her.
"Get up." Ava's voice was hard, completely different from the one she had used when speaking to her last night. While she knew Ava wasn't alone and that the pain she was heading for was unimaginable, seeing her ally helped soothe her slightly. Regardless, Kahlan struggled to comply with the order, her body screaming at her to stop all movement. Ava stepped forward and grabbed her arm, hoisting her up in what came off as impatience. Kahlan knew the woman was just trying to help. The two exchanged a quick glance as Ava and Morgan began dragging her to the other room. Locking the chains around her wrists once again, Kahlan could see no hint of worry in Ava's eyes. She wished she shared the woman's confidence in their plan. It was either that or Ava was extremely adept at hiding her feelings. Kahlan preferred to pretend like it was the first option. It didn't take long for the fear to return as the two Mord'Sith swiftly left the room leaving her alone to await Cara's arrival. She never knew how long it would take for her training to truly begin. Once, Cara made her wait until long after the sun went down, forcing her to jump at every footstep and opening of a door for the entire day. It had done terrible things to her psyche and Kahlan knew that Ava was right. She will break if they didn't do something soon. Unsure of how long had passed, eventually Kahlan heard what she knew to be Cara's footsteps approaching. It was strange how in tune she felt with the woman now. She knew when she was approaching, when she was having a bad day, and even, to a certain extent, what she was thinking. Kahlan knew that this was a terrible sign- a sign that she was losing herself to the magic- but a part of her didn't care. She had spent months trying to understand her traveling companion and now, she had the best insight she could ever ask for. Shaking her head, Kahlan struggled to force those thoughts away. She knew they weren't hers. She also knew that if she could understand what Cara was thinking, it was doubly as easy for the blonde to discern her thoughts in return. She would have to tread cautiously.
"Deep in thought, my pet?" Cara's voice caused Kahlan to jump as she entered. The blonde tilted her head, taking in her beaten form with pride. "Care to share?"
"Don't call me that." Kahlan found new resolve in the plan she and Ava had hatched. Cara raised an eyebrow in surprise. With narrow eyes, the blonde approached her slowly, her face centimeters away.
"I will call you what I like." She told her captive with a frown. "Pet, Kahlan, Confessor. Murderer."
"I am not a murderer." Kahlan locked eyes with her torturer, something she hadn't done in weeks. She couldn't deny the rush it gave her to act like herself again.
"Sehra would beg to differ." Cara grinned, seeing the expression on the Mother Confessor's face change immediately. "As would Adrianna and undoubtedly many others that you've sent to the Underworld before their time."
"I defend myself and those I love." Kahlan swallowed hard. "That's not murder." Cara surprised her with a laugh, hand coming up to stroke the Confessor's cheek. Kahlan hadn't realized she'd been crying until Cara swiped her tears away.
"Whatever helps you sleep at night, pet." Cara patted her cheek lightly but it didn't stop Kahlan from flinching. "Tell me, do you remember when you tried to kill me?" Kahlan bit her tongue but Cara was not pleased with her silence. "Let me rephrase: the most recent time you tried to kill me? No?"
"I wasn't trying to-"
"Don't lie to me." Each word was emphasized as Cara grabbed the Mother Confessor's face in a tight grip. "I remember your hands around me. The change in the air as you released that disgusting magic. The blackness in your eyes as you realized that you had failed."
"You asked me to do it." Kahlan tried to remind her. "Begged me even!" She should've seen the blow coming as Cara wound back a fist and connected it with her cheek.
"I would never beg you for anything." Cara snarled as Kahlan fought to reorient herself. Blood pooled in her mouth and onto the floor as she looked back up.
"Please," Kahlan breathed, "just listen."
"Listening to you is what got me into this mess." Cara made a point to whisper the accusation in Kahlan's ear as if she was wary of someone listening. Kahlan perked up immediately. This is what Ava had been telling her about. Cara knew.
"I would never hurt you." Kahlan began. "You just have to think. Think back to what we discussed in the cell- the cell that we shared for months while you fought against Rahl's magic."
"Lord Rahl saved me the moment he realized you were willing to sacrifice me to escape." Cara spat. "When you tried and failed to confess me, he took me out of there and brought me under his wing- protected me from a monster that would sooner watch me suffer in agony and die before feeling an Agiel herself."
"No!" Kahlan cried, angered at the very thought. "That is not what happened and you know it! I didn't want to confess you, Cara, you asked me to." Another blow caused Kahlan to groan.
"Mistress Cara." She corrected. "Curious- you seemed to have changed almost overnight. Just the other day you were begging me to save you from a mere snake and now your disrespect has reached new bounds. Perhaps I should bring back my cold-blooded friend to remind you of how you should speak to me." The threat struck a chord in the Confessor as she blinked fast. Cara's grin made her stomach flip and was the only thing that kept her talking.
"All I want is to help you." Kahlan groaned. "All I've ever wanted is for you to escape this life and be free like you were with us."
"Oh, you mean the 'freedom' that literally got me killed?" Cara tilted her head as she inquired. "The 'freedom' that got me arrested in my own hometown? That had me scavenging for scraps across the Midlands like some peasant woman?! That freedom?!"
"Yes." Kahlan almost smiled. She did remember. "The freedom that got you a family. The freedom that let you do and say whatever you wanted without fear of repercussions. The freedom that showed you love." At the mention of love, something in the blonde changed. Kahlan watched as an internal battle waged inside her friend and took it as an opportunity to keep going. "You remember don't you? You remember Leo? He cared for you and you for him. Don't you remember how it feels to have someone like that?"
"I remember," Cara's voice was low along with her gaze, "I remember how he died…because of you."
"No, Nicci killed him." Kahlan shook her head. "A Sister of the Dark- a Sister of the same order that Rahl turned to for help when he couldn't break you himself."
"I didn't say you killed him, Confessor." Cara looked up at her with a menacing glare that caused Kahlan to freeze. "I said he died because of you. Nicci was trying to kill you- not him. He sacrificed himself for you."
"If you remember that then you also remember that he was the Seeker. It was his duty to ensure that the prophecy-"
"Ah yes," Cara crossed her arms, "the prophecy that stated the world would be safe as long as your pure heart beats." She scoffed loudly. "So I suppose we'll just add him to the list of subjects who have died in order for you to live."
"I didn't ask for any of this!" Kahlan snapped, tears streaming down her face from both physical and emotional pain. "I didn't ask to be born a Confessor and I definitely didn't ask to be the last one! You know that all I've ever wanted is to be normal- to live a simple life away from Rahl and the Keeper and Sisters of the Dark! I would never choose to be the reason someone gets hurt and especially not when that someone means so much to you!"
"So now you're going to pretend like you care about me?" Cara frowned. "Like I was anything more to you than just another weapon to protect the Seeker?"
"I do care about you." Kahlan cried. "I may not have in the beginning but everything changed! You changed! Please, I am begging you, remember who you really are, Cara!" Surprisingly enough, Cara had no response. When the tears fell from Kahlan's eyes and her vision was slightly more clear, she could see Cara's frown deepening. However, it wasn't in anger- it was in pain. Just as she opened her mouth to ask what was wrong, Cara flinched. She ground her teeth as red and black blemishes suddenly appeared on her skin, seemingly spreading across her body and up her neck. Kahlan watched helplessly as her friend gasped and cringed, the dark magic inside her refusing to set the real Cara free. The blonde dropped to the floor, Agiel rolling away as her hands clawed at her face and neck. Kahlan panicked, her worry for her friend heightening by the second and she did the only thing she could think of.
"Help! Please, something's happening to her!" Kahlan cried out, hoping it would be Ava who came to their aid. Several shouts later, Ava and Morgan burst through the door and took in the scene. By this time, Cara had been completely enveloped by the force within her, writhing on the floor soundlessly as her sisters quickly surrounded her.
"What did you do?" Morgan rounded on Kahlan who frantically shook her head.
"Nothing!" She swore. "I would never hurt her. Please, do something. She's in pain." Ava was struggling to maintain Cara's weight on her own as she began to lift her sister into a standing position. Morgan rushed to help but just as the two reached the exit with an incoherent Cara in tow, Darken Rahl appeared in the doorway.
"Leave her." He commanded coldly. Morgan and Ava exchanged confused looks before one of them spoke.
"But My Lord, something wrong. We have to-"
"Do not presume to tell me what we must do, Mistress Ava." Rahl snapped at her. "I am well aware of Cara's situation and I assure you that it is well deserved."
"My Lord?" Morgan questioned, already releasing Cara leaving Ava to bear the weight alone.
"Leave her here so our guest can witness Cara's ordeal for herself. After all, it is her fault anyway." Three pairs of eyes went to Kahlan.
"This, just like everything else, is your fault." Kahlan spat at the man. "Whatever magic you used to turn her against me is still hurting her."
"The magic is doing its job, dear Kahlan." Rahl explained. "This is what happens when Cara gets…ideas about leaving us. This is what happens every time you try to turn her against me. Consider that the next time you try to poison her against her true family."
"You're a monster." Kahlan shook her head slowly, her eyes taking in Cara's pained expression.
"No, Kahlan. I didn't do this." Rahl's grin made her stomach lurch. "You're the monster." With one last glare, Ava reluctantly placed Cara back on the ground. "Why don't we leave these two to their thoughts for a while?" Morgan was quick to open and hold the door for her Lord Rahl. As he stepped out, he turned his head and called to Ava. "Draw a bath and wait for me there. I'll be needing some…comfort after such calamity."
"Yes, My Lord." Although Ava didn't miss a beat to answer, her gaze did not leave Kahlan's. The two women shared equally pained glances, both at their plan's utter failure and what Rahl's order meant for Ava. Kahlan struggled to make out the woman's features through her tears but seconds later, she heard the door shut and lock behind her, once again leaving her alone with a tormented Cara.