She kept her stride steady, even as the others kept enough distance not to be seen at first glance. Because one misstep might not harm her, but it could get them killed. And that was a lot more persuasive.
The plan was simple enough, get spotted, subdue the guards, save family. And with such vague ideas, there were a million things that could go wrong. Anything she did could screw it all up, she was playing with fire here.
She'd been right, and she'd been wrong. Two guards stood by the stairs, and she could take out the newbie. But she hadn't expected for there to be an experienced long coat standing on the other side, one that she knew she'd never be able to fight for long. "An unexpected surprise." He kept his eyes cool, but his smile disarming. Zero, she should have known she'd have freed him. And it only confirmed the last denial in her heart. They were right, Az hadn't changed a bit, not really.
"I can't say I'm happy to see you." She bit as the other grabbed her arm tightly. You could tell your man here not to cut off circulation. It's not like I'm actually going any where."
He ignored her. " She was right about you, you know," He reached out and dared to caress her cheek with his icy hand and she could do nothing. Not if she wanted to get this over with. "Your love for your family, and for your friends, is your weakness."
She whipped around at the commotion behind her. They had them, bound and disarmed, all three of them. Cain had a bloody nose, Glitch looked paler than ever, and Raw was shaking like a leaf. "You already have me." She looked at Zero, and knew. They'd known she'd come, this whole thing had been a nice big trap. Because now, she could do nothing but submit. "You don't need them."
"But we do." Zero kept his hand where it was, on her face, he stepped even closer to her. She refused to flinch, because he wanted her to be scared of him. And she couldn't let him win. "See, by now there are people who know there's trouble, who know that all four of you are together. So, even if they each took an oath never to say anything, which I highly doubt would happen, people would know something was up when they returned without you. We have no choice but to kill them."
He moved in to kiss her, she didn't stop him. She hadn't expected him to really do it. And now, she was frozen in her place. And as he pressed his lips hungrily to hers, his hand moving from her face to roam her body. She trembled in fear at his touch.
He was going to take her, a voice said in the back of her mind, he was going to take her where they stood. To think, she'd been saving her self for the one, she'd finally found him, and this snake was going to take what she thought of as Glitch's. He was going to rape her and steal her virginity from the man she loved.
Almost as if he could hear her, Glitch struggled against the grip of the longcoats. He called out, words so vile they'd make normal men blush, and thrashed enough to loosen his bindings slightly. The other did nothing, just smirked at them men who couldn't help but react.
But she couldn't see that, she couldn't even hear the things he tried to tell her, the things he spat at others. His voice was enough, the sound of it brought a new wave of alarm. And a million thoughts ran through her head. She would fight, because she wouldn't be taken, not now, not like this. Her free hand came up to cup his neck as she ordered herself to kiss him back. Forgive me, Glitch, she pleaded in the back of her mind.
The other man let go, surprised by her reaction as Zero wound his arms tightly around her. He thought he was winning, that she was giving herself to him, and those male reactions left no room for thought. And when she knew he didn't expect it, she bit down as hard as she could on his bottom lip and twisted so that it split. Her nails dug deep into his neck, drawing blood, and her knee came up fast and hard. He was down before the other had a hold on her again.
Zero got himself up, his hand came up to his mouth to wipe at his split lip. His fingers still wet with blood, he struck out, his hand hitting her face with a loud and painful smack. She just looked at him, nothing but defiance in her eyes. And she didn't let that low ball of fear in her stomach dictate how she stood, but in his eyes she could see death. She fought, and she lost, and he'd kill her twice as brutally, however that would be. "I'm going to enjoy this." He told her, before giving a nod to Glitch. She looked now, saw the gun pressed against the side of his head. "Him first."
And then someone else was there with them, she almost didn't recognized the voice. So cold, so evil, but still Az. "Wait." She reached over and used her iron grip on Zero's shoulder. There was vengeance there, and DG reminded herself not to have hope, because that vengeance was in her direction. "We do it right this time. There can be no mistakes."
"Yes, sorceress." Zero bowed his head, stepped away.
"Put them with the others." She stepped in front of DG for a second, gave her a look. One that DG wished she could read, but she wouldn't let her see what was going on in her mind. "Make sure their cuffs are tight enough. We don't want one to slip away now, do we."
"Of course not." He replied curtly.
"Then lock the doors." She kept her instructions brisk, trying to remember everything. "Then we go into Finaqua. There should be someone there, someone interested in the disappearance of the royal family.
She just watched as they were led down the dark stairs, none of them bothering to say a word. And she felt victory already. In a few months, she'd "stumble upon this place" with someone and find them all dead, starved to death. But until then, she would play the distraught daughter/sister.
DG felt her blood run cold as she looked around the dark, damp room. It was huge, and she knew they'd get lost if they wandered around. So when they were led to what seemed to be the center, she did her best to remember what turns they took. But they wouldn't get out.
She was secured by two large cuffs hooked to the wall by thick chains. This was something out of a bad movie. She smiled at the thought for a second before she saw them. They were directly across from her, both looking as if they were wasting away. Niether of them had any life in their eyes. They'd given up and accepted the fact that they were going to die. She knew she couldn't let that happen, she had to at least try.
It wasn't until they heard two metal doors shut and click that anyone talked. Ahamo raised his head up to meet her eyes, a small twinkle of humor in them. "We are getting too old for this."
She didn't answer, just looked at Raw, who had been chained up next to the queen, three on each wall. And as she was in the middle she could see everybody. "Is the cuff around your glove, or around your wrist?"
He looked at his hand for a moment. "Glove." And he understood what she meant. Because his gloves were thick, though they looked thin. He only hoped he could get it off.
"Glove?" Cain gave her a funny look, "He's covered in fur, Kid."
"Your not very observant for a tin man." Glitch snickered. DG just rolled her eyes. How could he not notice the leather gloves on Raw's hands, or the V neck line on his fur shirt. Sure, he was half animal, but it seemed that the fur didn't cover his body like one, that she knew of. She wasn't even going to think too far into that though.
"Got it." Raw declared as one wrist came free. The other one was faster now that he had a free hand. Triumphantly, he let out a laugh.
"Good," She grinned with him for a second, his energy was contagious, but that didn't get them out of here. "Anyone know how to pick a lock?"
"That'd be me." Ahamo waved his trapped hand as much as possible, a whole two inches. Every one stared at him. "Don't ask. Hate to disappoint you, DG, but I left my tools behind at the state fair."
"Can you use a screw driver?" She remembered finding it in her pocket as they walked, because she'd just stuffed it there after working on her motorcycle so long ago. Then, of course, she hadn't worn this jacket since then.
"I can try." He shook his head. "But it probably wouldn't work."
"How about we just use these?" The queen uncurled her hand to reveal a ring of small keys.
"Mother!" DG laughed as Raw took them from her and tried almost all the keys before releasing the queen's cuffs. "How?"
"When you practice," She gave her daughter a knowing look, she was young once and she too had skipped magic classes. "You learn that you can do certain kinds of magic without hands. Like lifting keys for example."
"Way cool." DG couldn't help but admire her mother for a moment. Even being so prim and proper, she wasn't stuffy. She'd have to remember that next time they were arguing about whatever it was that was getting between them.
Another few minutes and everyone's cuffs were gone. Glitch's arms were around her as she rested her head on his shoulder. "I'm sorry." She told him finally.
"For what?" He pulled her back, surprised at her sudden apology.
"I kissed him." She said slowly, his hand was on her cheek, not like Zero had touched her. No, his hand was warm as his fingers traced the obvious red mark on her cheek. "Glitch, I kissed another man, why aren't you angry with me? Your not even disappointed."
"DG." He shook his head, pressed his lips to her forehead before looking at her again. "You kicked his ass. Not even Cain could do a better job of knocking him down a couple of levels." His lips were on her unmarred cheek, "He'll probably have a couple of scars for the rest of his life because of you." And finally his lips were on hers, not the same, she smiled, never the same. Because here was love.
"Now what?" Cain spoke after a moment of watching them, because he wanted to see them happy but he didn't want to see too much.
"Now," She looked around the small room, and through the open entrance. She could remember the way, and that was a start. "We go to Finaqua." She looked at Cain now. "After that, I have no idea."