Chapter 14: Capture.

Joanie sped down the corridors.

Turning into their part of the apartments she was alarmed to see that there were still no guards at the door.

"Skyla!" She shouted as she threw open the door. "Skyla…"
Lor-Master Robain Damodred turned around surprised to look at her, tightening his vice hold on his quarry. Skyla was in his arms, pale and terrified.

The dragon was perched on the balcony.

Joanie's mouth went dry as their eyes met.

The Maghestari's blood like eyes passed over her, making her feel as if every limb was frozen in place.
He smiled and turned around.

Joanie struggled for breath.

He was taking her.

"NO!" The cry tore from her throat.

"No! Leave her!"

Before she completely knew and realized what she was doing she was running forward, her legs feeling like toffee.

When the man turned around again to look at her, she slammed her small frame into his midriff. The three of them tumbled to the ground in a jumbled mess of limbs. There was a soft cry of pain from Skyla but Joanie closed her eyes and pushed the girl away from her as she tried to get a secure hold on the magician.

"Run!" She shouted as she scrambled onto his chest to hit him in the face as well as try to pin him down. "Skyla, get help!"

The girl's movements were slow and jerky as she tried to get up.

"Car…"
Joanie managed to get in two blows before the man got his arms out from underneath him. She had a split second to realize that she was in trouble when his eyes flared up with a red light. She gasped and tried to scramble up before he could move but he pushed his hands towards her, knocking her across the room with a force of powerful Nothing.

Landing hard, Joanie wheezed for breath as she felt pins and needles all over - but she scrambled up as quickly as she could and gathered her rough powers.
Without fully comprehending what she was doing she wove an intricate pattern in the air and focused.

A static cage of forked lighting formed around the Magician just as he reached the terrified Skyla. She had, unable to get her limbs to properly, crawled to one of the corners. When the man tried to move in the cage thin streaks of lightening struck his body. Joanie heard a grunt of discomfort but realized that it wasn't strong enough to do him a lot of harm. What it had done though was bring Skyla out of her stupor. Out of the corner of her eye Joanie saw her gasp, shudder and stand up on shaky legs.

Joanie turned her attention from the magician for a moment.

"Skyla please run!" She pleaded her as her concentration wavered. "I can't hold him…"

Lor-Master Robain turned towards her. The cage wavered.

"You try my patience Silver Feather."

Joanie frowned and balled her fists.

"You have no idea what you hold."

Joanie blinked and turned her head to the side.

"Wha…" Her attention wavered.

The mental blow came a split second before the door slammed in Skyla's face. Joanie screamed and clutched her head as the cage faded to nothing. For a few agonizing seconds her world pulsed painfully.

"Cara!"
She was barely aware of the cry but sobbed with relief and collapsed to the floor as the pressure around her faded. Blinking stars Joanie vaguely saw Skyla throw herself at the man. Everything felt sluggish and slow. She saw the man seize Skyla by the neck but didn't hear what he said to her. The young girl collapsed against him, deadly pale. Joanie closed her eyes and swallowed down a wave of nausea.

Lor-Master Robain Damodred roughly picked her up and went to the balcony. Before he left though he paused, put Skyla down and walked back to where she was still collapsed against the wall. He hunched next to her and turned her on her back.

Joanie was breathing very shallowly as she tried to summon the strength to get up and fight him but, at his mocking smile; she realized that it was useless.

"I'm a bit disappointed that he gave it out so lightly." He said and smiled. "Silver Feather, do not take this personally. This is not your place to interfere."

He turned around and went to the balcony.

Joanie closed her eyes, sobbing softly.