Ivie's Dark Bargain

AT the end of the night Ivie returned to the palace to a rather irritated Manfred with Dannielle by her side.

"I'm sorry we're late!" cried Dannielle immediately, "I was just having dinner with Ivie and—"

"—and you probably dropped in to see your mother." Manfred did not sound happy.

"Yes, sir…"

"You weren't supposed to do that."

"I know… I know I just missed her."

Ivie resisted the urge to speak, for if she did Dani would merely be in trouble for helping her.

"Dannielle, we had a—" he seemed to remember that Ivie was in the room, "Ivie, go to your room, I'll tend to you later."

'She already knows," said Dannielle meekly.

He sighed, it was quite clear that Dannielle was in trouble.

"Well then. I have a feeling it's going to be a long time before you see Jackson."

"Please!" cried Dani, falling to her knees, tears running down her cheeks.

"Do better next time," he said coldly.

"Please, give her Jack!" said Ivie causing Manfred to look up in surprise.

"Yes, I have my voice, and no, Dannielle did not have to do with that!"

"Then how?"

"I ran off from Dannielle and I found the river of Henei—prosperity—and that just about fixed me up!"

"Why did you run off from Dannielle?"

"I…I… wanted to be cured… I'm sorry, sir."

"You will be, and to answer your previous request, I will not give Dannielle her brother.

"I'll… I'll stop defying you, I'll help you find endowed without complaining, I'll work for you… I'll stop annoying you, just please, give her Jack."

Manfred considered for a moment.

"Ivie no!" cried Dannielle, horrified at the thought of Ivie giving up her life to Manfred for her.

"I'll accept that offer, Rowan."

Manfred waved his hand and a black door appeared on the wall, Manfred opened it and a boy of about five or six stumbled out, he looked stunned at first—then he saw Dannielle.

"Dani!" he ran into Dani's arms.

Dannielle looked glad to see him, tearful even, but when she looked up at Ivie's smiling face, she sighed.

"Jackie, you should thank my friend, Ivie for saving you. She sacrificed a lot to rescue you.

He ran up to Ivie and hugged her knees.

"Thank you, Miss Ivie… I can tell that you're probably not from around here so I should tell you that in Japan we honor people who selflessly sacrifice with a ceremony."

"Manfred, can we please give Ivie her ceremony tomorrow morning before you make her work for you?"

"Yes, but I have to come, seeing as there's no guarantee you'd come back."

"Thank you!" cried Dani taking her brother by the hand before swiftly rushing out as though afraid Manfred would take her brother again.

"I'm not going to wait until tomorrow to work am I?" sighed Ivie.

"Obviously not," said Manfred with a smirk.