We have both Valek and Yelena in this chapter. There is much less angst in Yelena's part so it is safe to read for everybody.

I'm so proud of myself, I have mastered my busy exam schedule and done a great job on all my exams, and I have still found time to write some :DDDDDDDDDDDDDDD

*instant de souriage momentaire* - that was french, and all those who can tell me what that means get to have one of their stories mentioned in the next chapter... *dramatic pause*

CHAPTER 25

Yelena POV

I couldn't move. Not because I didn't want to, but because every part of my body was in agony. I couldn't remember my name or anything. All I could think of was the pain. I was scared, tired and I wanted to die. I had attempted to kill myself. It didn't work. They caught me. But one good thing came out of it. I found out there were others here. Other girls who needed help.

I was dumped into a dark room, where only crying could be heard. My eyes adjusted quickly, being used to the blackness now, and I could see the sad scene in front of me. A handful of girls – many of them much younger than me, maybe fifteen or sixteen years old – sat in the darkness and cried. I crawled over to the one that looked the youngest.

"Hello," I whispered. My voiced rasped, I hadn't used it at all since I had gotten here. I refused to speak, for fear of revealing something I shouldn't.

She whimpered. "Who are you?" she asked. I could see that these people didn't help each other out much.

"My name is Yelena," I said softly. I couldn't say I was here to help. My situation was the same as theirs.

All eyes turned to me. Their thoughts were written plainly on their foreheads. 'No, that wasn't Yelena Zaltana. It couldn't be. She would never get caught and end up in such a state.' "Zaltana?" a voice asked. They had to make sure.

I sighed. "Zaltana," I repeated in confirmation.

"But–but–but you can't be," someone said. They were obviously desperate. I didn't answer. I didn't know how. "Yelena is supposed to be untamable. And if you're here, that means they know. What do they know? We have to warn the others. We can't let them all die."

I admired her bravery. I would never be able to do something like that. I was no longer able to say otherwise that I was broken far beyond repair. It wouldn't be long before I gave up what I knew. "They don't know anything," I whispered. I put a hand to my cheek. The jagged skin was beginning to infect – puss and other liquids coming out it occasionally.

After they made sure that I had really not given any information, the girls fell asleep one by one. But I couldn't. I wasn't in my usual cell so I didn't have Valek's shirt. I needed his scent to get a few moments of peace. Since I didn't have it, I curled up on the cold floor and cried. I didn't care that I was weak. I didn't care that I was going to die – if anything, it would be a relief. Something that would put a stop to all the pain.

The door suddenly opened and I was dragged out. I didn't bother protesting.

Valek POV

I got to my safe house at around midnight. As soon as I entered, I could hear my daughter's whimpering and questions. Swiftly, I made my way down the hallway to where I had directed Maren to go. Opening the door, I scanned the room. Both of the Power Twins and Maren were seated around Brielle, attempting to silence and calm her. Brielle didn't seem to want to hear any of it and was demanding where I was.

When I walked in, she looked up and started to struggle in Maren's grip. The advisor let go and said, "Valek, thank God. That child has been driving me berserk for the past few hours."

I tuned for out, though. Brielle was standing at my feet and reached up towards me. I lifted her and asked, "Why aren't you asleep yet? Aren't you tired at all?"

"You're not asleep yet, too, papa." Was Brielle's answer. Just as stubborn as Yelena.

I sighed. "What have you been up to, driving Maren insane like that?" The other occupants of the room were staring at me. I realized I had been stuck in my own little world with Brielle. I gave them all a questioning glance. What did they expect? How was I supposed to be towards my own daughter – cold and calculating?

"You truly amaze me sometimes," Janco said.

I sighed. "Forget it. We need to find her."

"No, offense, to you, or to Yelena, or to anyone else, but how can you be so sure that she isn't dead? For all we know, she could be long gone; buried under six feet of dirt," Janco said. I glared. "I'm just saying. But, seriously, what are we going to do then? I mean, she is probably our only chance at gaining any ground."

"If Yelena is alive—which I strongly believe she is—we are going to win." The statement sounded true to my ears, if only I had imagined how wrong I was…

We set out at dawn. Brielle was still with us, but I knew exactly where I could bring her.

I stopped in the middle of the jungle and looked up into the trees. Yelena had told me about this spot and her cousin Nutty. They others were looking at me as if I was insane, and I knew I would just reinforce the idea if I shouted into the trees.

I took my chances, "Nutty!" Hopefully she would come down, even if she didn't recognize the voice. Janco was already leaning closer to Ari, whispering that I had gone mad into his ear. Then a rope ladder came down. A tiny woman with childish pigtails jumped down from the treetops. That was the Nutty from Yelena's description. But was she the real Nutty?

"Someone called?" she asked, turning to the group. "Who are you?" She looked me up and down.

Hesitantly, not sure of the Zaltana customs, I held out a hand. "I'm Valek." She stared at my hand until I gave up and let it drop.

She cocked her head to the side, observing me. "You don't look like I imagined you would," she finally stated. That was not the reaction I expected. "What are you doing here? And how do you know my name?"

"Yelena told me about you, and… I need to ask you a favor." Nutty looked at me attentively, with a small smirk on her face, as if to say, 'The great Valek asking me for help, this should be good'. I sighed. I knew that Yelena hadn't exactly told her family about Brielle. She told Leif, but neither of them had shared the information. "I need you watch my daughter."

"Your, what?" she shrieked. Well, that was a slightly stronger reaction than I expected. "Just when exactly did you get a daughter—and my cousin pregnant? And you'd better hope that Yelena is the mother, or you won't be around for very long," she threatened. Her hands were balled up into fists.

"Two years ago. And yes, Yelena is the mother."

"Where is she? I want to see her," she demanded. Her voice was full of authority—she expected me to obey. And, for once, I didn't mind.

I turned to Janco—Brielle was hiding behind his legs. I crouched down and said in a soft voice, "Brielle, come here. You have to meet somebody." Slowly, my daughter looked out from behind Janco, but continued to hide behind her shoulder-length curly hair. She came forward and closer to me and Nutty. I turned her towards Yelena's cousin and moved the hair out of her eyes, revealing their intensive blue.

Nutty gasped. "She looks nothing like her. It's all him," she whispered quietly, obviously to herself. She knew that I—as well as the others—had heard her, because she added, "She's beautiful, of course."

Nutty crouched down in front of my Brielle and held out a hand. "Hi, I'm Hazelnut. What's your name?"

Brielle gave her an odd look and didn't take her hand. "Brielle, but uncle Leif calls me Bree. You can call me that too, if you want," she said. Her chin perked upwards confidently. Nutty smiled at her.

She got up and said, "You're very lucky she's as adorable as she is." She gave me a sweet smile. For some reason, I knew I would get it from her.

"Thank you so much," I said. "And I'll find Yelena and bring her back."

"Wait. In return for keeping her, you have to let me punch you."

"Umm… What for?" I asked; this girl was honestly amusing.

"For getting my cousin pregnant and not telling me." She crossed her thin arms over her chest, showing me there was no opening for negotiations. "Also, I want to punch the most feared man in the world."

"Nice. Fine," I said. Nutty jumped up and down in her spot. I watched her for a moment.

"What're you looking at?" she asked. Then she turned and started helping Brielle up the rope ladder. She turned when I didn't follow. "Aren't you all coming?"

Janco was the first to go after her. We all climbed up. We didn't expect the small army that awaited us. Armed Zaltana's were waiting atop the ladder. They poked at, not trusting our Ixian appearance. They were right, in a way.

Nutty took a step in front of us. "Stop, you can trust them."

"But they're Ixian," someone protested.

"And since when are Ixians the enemy? Last I heard, it was the Blood Magicians—Sitians, people from our own country," Hazelnut retorted. "So shut up about Ixians and focus on the Blood Magicians."

"Who are they anyway?" someone else asked.

"This is Ari, Janco, Maren, Brielle and Valek." Wait for it… There! The dramatic gasp.