*Warning! * - This chapter is dark. Sex, language, violence, nudity, and torture present.

I do not own FFVII characters – though I wish I did. lol

I do own my own character – Jalyne

Note: They will return to Gaia real soon

Chapter 17 – The Sorcerer

"Jalyne?"

"I'm ready." She replied. "Just thinking of the outskirts of the city." Jalyne turned to Solaria. The Queen reached to embrace her.

"We will be ready, Your Highness." She stated formally. "And thank you for letting me get to know Rude better. He is a gem." She whispered. "One day, I would love to see Gaia and visit him."

Solaria had escorted them to a nearby field of golden grass to say goodbye to her childhood friend. Each of them wore a bracer with the light shields available for when they enter Trerran. The breeze was calm and Jalyne idly thought of it as a good omen.

"It is really different, Sol." Jalyne whispered back. "But it is home."

Solaria tsked Jalyne lightly and turned to say goodbye to the Turks, fondly embracing Rude and whispering her goodbyes to him. He nodded curtly in response and Jalyne turned to give them a little privacy. She looked at Reno, who was slightly embarrassed for his partner, but turned nonetheless, glancing at Jalyne. Solaria turned to Reno and embraced him.

"Take care of her, My Lord." She whispered. "The truth will be hard for her. It may even be hard for you to understand why. But she will need you…more than ever in the next couple of days." She broke apart from him and looked into his aquamarine eyes. "You're partner knows more. I've filled him in last night on what I've learned and suspected." Solaria kissed Reno on the forehead in goodbye. "And don't you ever change that hair!"

The Gate was opened and the hills of Trerran loomed on the other side. The Turks started through switching on the shields for coverage, leaving Jalyne to look over her shoulder and nod at her friend. As she emerged on the other side, she stared at the ruins of the destruction she caused. Jalyne walked to the cliff overlooking the wreckage, a mix of emotions crossing her features as the wind swept her cloak to the side. Reno and Rude came up on either side of her.

"Jalyne?" Reno queried, studying her. With a minute shake of her head and a sigh, she turned to walk away.

"We leave." She stated. "There's a trail that will take us to the bottom just over there at the start of the tree line."

"Guess we're in for a hike." Reno said.

"Wrong shoes." Rude commented and Reno shot him a grin. Rude place a hand on his shoulder as they watched Jalyne walk away and his expression turned serious. "She is deep in thought. This isn't easy for her."

"Nor us, yo."

"She knows that."

"What did the Queen say?" Reno whispered.

"Another time." Rude stated. "Ears are everywhere."

They made their way to the ruins as the suns travelled overhead, passing midday. Stone and wood littered the pathways in great destruction. Buildings had collapsed in ruins and unstable structures were all around them. Jalyne stopped and lowered herself near a stone statue. Reno and Rude followed, waiting for her to move forward.

"There's something up ahead." She pointed at a nearby ruined street. She turned to them suddenly with an expression of thought in her eyes. Jalyne reached up and touch each of their temples and closed her eyes. "Noaw e trailavie."

Reno's eyes widened and even Rude blinked in surprise.

"I've given you the Trerran language to understand. You won't be able to speak it but will be able to understand the conversations."

Rude furrowed his eyebrows a moment. "Secrecy and observance. Smart."

"Why?" Reno asked.

"Because if anything happens, you cannot answer them."

"Jalyne?"

"I have a very uneasy feeling." She commented, looking back down the ruined street. "Much like I did with my test with Rufus."

"Premonition." Rude stated.

"Possibly. Though I'm really not supposed to believe in Fate."

"You're changing your mind?" Reno questioned.

"I will definitely have to rethink some things depending on what Father's answers are." Jalyne replied. "The more I understand, the more unbelievable it seems. However, it is logical, in a sense."

She stood up and edged along the street. She was hearing a noise up ahead and tensed as they came to the corner of the structures. Jalyne peered around and gasped. The child was crying, tears flowing down her face. She was dirty and dressed in rags. Her blond hair was mottled and dull and she was crying so hard that her words were jumbled and incoherent.

Jalyne put down her shield and walked silently over to her and knelt to look into her face. Reno and Rude stayed hidden but looked on from a few feet away.

"What is wrong, child?" Jalyne asked in Trerran. "Where is your mother or father?"

"They are gone." The child sniffled. "The elders have taken them, and I am hungry."

Jalyne inspected the child further, allowing the child to turn around. She noticed scrapes and bruises, from beatings or tumbles, she couldn't tell. Looking at the child's markings, she gasped. This was a Lehan child.

"Do you not have a clan that will take you in?" Jalyne questioned lightly, not wanting to frighten the child. She shook her head fervently.

"He has forbidden it. He says we need to be toughened and learn to survive." She shook her head violently.

Jalyne glanced quickly at Reno and Rude, concern in her eyes. She reached behind her back and took a ration that she was carrying and handed it to the young girl. As the girl received the food, she finally looked at Jalyne, and as the dawning of understanding registered in her eyes, she dropped to her knees.

"I'm sorry, Empress!" she exclaimed, head bowed. "I did not realize it was you."

"I am not Empress, child." Jalyne comforted her. "There is no need to stand on ceremony." And reached down to hug her. "I must leave. Find shelter within the city." Jalyne turned to leave when a tug was felt on her cloak.

"Thank you, Highness." And the girl hugged her leg, turned, and ran in towards the rubble. Jalyne looked after her for moment and when she turned to the Turks, Reno saw the tear streaks on her cheeks. As she walked past them, she spoke sadly.

"We need to go. My people are suffering."

Reno looked after the child running through the rubble and his eyes softened, remembering childhood in the slums. They made their way through the chaotic rubble to the wall surrounding the castle, staying to the shadows as much as possible and using the shields as needed. The wall was broken through near the tower they needed to enter through, and Jalyne looked around cautiously, watching for guards. Her eyes narrowed as she scanned the tower in the distance. The suns were setting low in the horizon and Jalyne waited. Suddenly she stood as her eyes caught the reflective glint of the door she was looking for. Reno caught the glint also and motioned to her to go around through the shadows.

Rude held out an arm, stopping them. Both of them looked at the silent partner in question. Rude tapped the bracer and pointed at the suns overhead, indicating that charging the solar cells of shields would be wise. Reno nodded, switching his shield on with Jalyne following. The group walked out into the courtyard hidden by any eye. It took a quarter of an hour to reach the tower and Jalyne ran her hand over the stonework to find the latch to the door. A quick flux of her power unhooked the latch and slid the lock. Reno slide behind her to help her push the door open for them to slip inside. Once inside, they took a break, dipping into the rations.

"That was a heavy door." Reno commented running his hand through his hair.

"The stone is just a façade. Most of the framework is made out of the heaviest and strongest metals." Jalyne responded. Her eyes narrowed.

"Strange." Rude stated.

"I know." Jalyne said picking up on his meaning. "I was just thinking about that."

"About what?" Reno asked.

"How easy this has been."

"No guards." Rude inputted, eyebrows scrunching slightly. "Anywhere."

"Luck?" Reno hoped.

Jalyne leaned up against the stone wall and placed a foot on the first step of the stairwell, deep in thought. "He already won." She stated looking up the hallway. "He knew we were coming."

"Who?" Reno asked.

"Jurvien."

"What does he want?"

"Evidently for me not to see Father."

"No attack." Rude piped in. Jalyne furrowed her brows a minute.

"Because it's up ahead." She commented. "They're waiting a few floors up. They would have the high ground."

"Does he really have that much power? I understood it that he was a Lehan."

"He is Trerran. Sparing the details, he wants to upend the order of the hierarchy, so he aligned himself with the Lehans. He is a sorcerer, by our standards, dipping into powers of the Ancients that were best left dead." She stated with a shadow overtaking her eyes. "It is a game. One we have played for years."

"You knew him?" Reno pushed.

"Yes," she sighed. "His father was the advisor to mine until he passed to the Heavens. Jurvien assumed his place, but slowly became out of control and Father dismissed him. That's when he took up with the Lehans."

"Ideas?"

Jalyne nodded her head. "I have to see Father." She paused. "Jurvien planned this well."

"How?"

"He somehow knew that when I use Heaven's Gate, it drains me and I'm weakened. If I have to gate in and gate out, I'll be weakened greatly. He's counting on that."

"Why does he want you?" Reno asked narrowing his eyes and raising her chin to meet hers.

"Power." She replied instantly with a shrug. "But why would he not want me to see Father?"

"Secrets."

Jalyne snapped her head to him and then suddenly laughed. "I don't think I'm surprised at that statement, Rude." The shadow crossed her features again and Reno looked on, trying to figure her out.

"How did Jurvien know you were coming, now?" Reno suddenly asked. "It's not like we have an itinerary."

Jalyne thought hard on those words, working the events of the last two days through her mind.

"Spy." Rude shrugged. Jalyne glanced at him in thought.

"Solaria?" Reno questioned.

"Of course!" she through her hands in the air. "No, Solaria would never do that. She is for the change in the Empire and the light it can bring. The General is the spy." Jalyne closed her eyes a moment, then swayed to sit down on the step. When she opened her eyes, Reno wore the impatient look across his face and his right wrist was going in circles.

"I should have known." Jalyne said. "I'm getting rusty. When the warrior was trying to convince the General of who I was. The General commented I had black hair not white. I haven't been to Litrandan since right before my formal training. They wouldn't know that my appearance changed. That's why I flared my cloak – to show my Empire emblem." She thought again for a heartbeat. "And the child."

"What about her?"

"That was the spy here to let Jurvien know I arrived. She was a Lehan child. I would bet that she's started training."

"No way! She's a child!" Reno exclaimed.

"So?" Jalyne commented. "He will do anything to get me. Technically I started training as soon as I could walk. Our escape route just changed. We can't go the way we planned. Jurvien most likely knows which way we're headed."

"Next move?"

"We see father." Jalyne replied. "I'll Gate into his chambers. If Sol was correct, he's not faring well and will be in the suites."

"And afterward?"

"The Plains to the east. I can gate there. We'll need to sprint across them as fast as we can. I'm sure Jurvien will be in pursuit. From there I can Gate to Gaia."

"Are you sure?"

"Gating the short distances will tire me but it is the Gate to Gaia that I may not be conscious after we're through. I have to have a breather in between and concentrate." Jalyne stood and started to take a step up the stairs. Reno held her back and motioned Rude to continue. As Rude rounded the corner of the stone spiral staircase, Reno pushed her gently up against the stone wall and studied her eyes. He crushed his lips to hers in a passionate kiss, wanting to do so since they left Gaia. He felt wetness on his lashes and pulled back to look at her. Jalyne opened her eyes, reached up to trace his markings, and took a shaking breath.

"Be strong. Never be afraid of who you are." Reno whispered.

"It is who I am that worries me the most." She replied solemnly. "It is the monster within that I am scared of."

"You are not a monster." He asserted.

"And yet, it is the truth I fear." Jalyne whispered. "For you most of all." She barely spoke. "Scoraakie"

Reno dipped his head to hers, foreheads together, question in his eyes on the word she spoke. "We'll get through this."

"I desperately hope Faterian is watching." And turned to start up the stairwell.

When they caught up with Rude, Jalyne paused, concentrating.

"They're growing impatient and we're losing light. We may have an hour at best before the suns dip below the horizen. Time to Gate." She commented bringing her right hand up to her temple. Her energy sprang forth and when she outstretched her arm and the Gate opened. "Stick to the shadows. I'm not sure having Father know you are here is a good idea."

They walked through, keeping to the shadows of the darkened room with the only light coming from the opened window. Her father was standing near the back wall, judging by the woman hovering over him, adjusting his armor. She turned and raised her arms over her head and quickly brought them down, erecting an impenetrable shield around the room to keep the guards out. Jalyne stepped out of the shadows.

"Mirandria. Leave." She called out stepping into the light. "I would have words with Father." Jalyne paused. "And don't bother notifying the guards. They know I'm here."

The woman look surprised but scurried out of the room not raising question to Jalyne's orders.

Jalyne stepped forward, looking closer at her Father.

"Father, what have you done?" she whispered in Trerran.

Avrian opened his eyes to stare at the beautiful grown lady he exiled. "Daughter." he asked. "You have returned."

"Only for a moment. What did you do to your wing?" Jalyne's eye narrowed, spying the white wing hanging on a wall behind him and the black one drooping on his back opposite of his white other one.

"I did what I had to do to maintain power." The Emperor stepped further into the light and Jalyne's anger rose.

"By experimenting on yourself! Why?" her voice rose. She peered at him closer, noticing a great change.

"To obtain the power you have and rule with order and perfection!" he snapped staring his daughter down.

"You are degrading! It is killing you! You are white-haired and aged!" she yelled at him. "Was it worth it?"

"You tell me." Avrian sneered, throwing a bolt of power towards her. Standing her ground, Jalyne flicked her wrist as if it were nothing. He charged at her, scepter raised to strike, but he was slower than normal. She flexed her blade, taking him off guard and a leg sweep to follow. He faltered and she used her speed to throw him into the wall, blade at his throat.

Rude placed a hand on Reno's arm, restraining him from helping Jalyne, knowing that their compatriot could handle herself. Reno's fists were clenched at his side and his breathing was escalated and he continued to observe father and daughter.

"What are you hiding, Father?" she narrowed her eyes. Jalyne raised her hand to her temple as pain racked her head, keeping the blade at his throat and the visage of a lady in a tank with pink-purple eyes staring back at her. This she remembered from Gaia, and her heart sank to her stomach. "Father? Where did you get Mother's wing?" she stated deadly, as pieces started to fall into place.

"I severed it when I exiled her and kept it." He answered calmly. "Just as I should have taken your only wing. You are an abomination to this Empire!"

There was madness in his eyes as Jalyne stared into his red ones. "You are mad." she whispered and relaxed her blade a bit. "What was Mother's name?"

"Illyandria."

"No Father, not the one who raised me. My true mother." Jalyne stared at him intently, hoping he wouldn't answer, but reapplying pressure to her blade.

"Yelovria."

Her anger started rising, and she felt the apprehension coming from Reno behind her. He was putting pieces together also, and now there was no going back.

"WHAT WAS HER TRUE NAME?" Jalyne spat at him, furious now, raising the volume, as the idle thought that her father was too calm at the moment crossed her mind.

"Jenova."

Reno was taken aback at the revelation of Jenova and how that monstrosity was connected to Jalyne. It took everything he had to stay hidden in the shadows. Jalyne was the daughter of the monster that gave rise to three First Class Soldiers who damn near tore Gaia apart, one of which they are still trying to beat. Add insult to injury, he had developed some sort of feeling for the lady, though he wasn't sure just how deep they went, who was now in question on whether she was human or monster or otherwise. Disgusted with himself at the moment, his mind played out various scenarios in his mind. The possibility of execution played heavily in those thoughts, and darker and deeper his mind fell.

Reno found that he couldn't or wouldn't be able to do it, as images of when they were sent by Tseng to find two fugitives and bring them in, floated in his mind. He had later learned that the Ancient had played a role in this change of heart for Tseng, whereas Zack had befriended her and protected her. Whether feelings evolved in that relationship, he did not know, but the orders Tseng had given them made him realize that they were still, at the core, people. His jaw tightened and his fists clenched at his side as he watched Jalyne search out his gaze. Rude had remained stoic, silently placing a hand on his shoulder to calm him.

Then there were the thoughts of all the times he had spent with Jalyne. Reno's eyes softened, while gazing at the scene in front of him. How scared she was waking up in a strange place, no stranger than he felt in these worlds. How she pulled in her power during their initial battle and lowered him safely to the ground. The smile she had when he took her to the nightclub for a night out and the peace she instilled in him when they were together. The instinct of going up against Sephiroth with no inhibitions and protected the cargo ship so no harm would come to them, and the look of passion he received when he returned the necklace he gave her, all played through his mind. Reno gazed at her, as she turned back to the Emperor.

In the end he was a professional, angered that she would keep this from him and not trust him, angered that he allowed himself to feel for a monster, but he buried those feelings and stepped out from the shadows. He was on the job.

"Why would you do this to me?" Jalyne asked quietly, sensing movement behind her. "I am your daughter."

"Because that is what he wants. Her power." Avrian's eyes flickered to behind her. "Ahh. Your Lords." He sneered. And it was then that the treachery fell into place in Jalyne's mind.

"YOU—" she glared deathly at her father. "YOU BETRAYED THE EMPIRE! YOU BETRAYED ME!"

"I will hand him the greatest power there is!"

Jalyne glanced out the window, acutely aware that the second sun was getting lower on the horizon, doing her best to bury the flurry of emotions she was feeling. I am nothing but a weapon. And I walked blindly into this trap.

Jalyne looked at her aging and unnatural father with rage and understanding at the statement. "I will not be here when you pass into the Heavens. Your judgement is not mine to give. May Faterian be just in his decision." Jalyne turned to leave, noticing Reno's slight sneer, anger and most of all disgust flashed across his features; her heart shattered. There was no going back now – he now knew she was a monster by their interpretation.

Avrian raised the scepter to knock Jalyne at the back of the head, only she turned in time to block and swipe her blade across his chest, dislodging his armor and digging deep within his flesh, causing him to drop to his knees.

"Avriandroktnoktre e T'Karvriandria, remember the gift I just gave you." Jalyne snidely stated and turned to the Turks, bringing her arm up and opening the Gate to the plains just behind them. As she neared Reno, she subtly reached for him, only for him to turn away harshly. She steadied herself and they turned to enter the Gate with Jalyne bringing up the rear.

When they came out to the plains, Reno turned on her, hurt and conflicting emotions within his eyes. "Tsk. You should not return."

Jalyne tried to reach out to him, only for him to turn from her in revulsion. Rude looked aghast at what Reno said, knowing his partner well, and knew that he was just upset at the revelation and trying to process it. The hurt that crossed in her eyes was only for a heartbeat before she straightened, raising her chin. She pointed further to the east.

"We need to get to that point in the plains, before Jurvien catches up to us. We have maybe 30 minutes until nightfall." She buried all her emotions. "There, I will open the Gate."

Reno turned and sped across the plains in bursts, using his speed, leaving her and Rude together. His thoughts were jumbled, running together, and using his speed always calmed his mind. As the wind touched his face, his thoughts became clearer and he realized that he shouldn't be as harsh with Jalyne as he was. One should not judge because of circumstance and she had exhibited time and again her resistance to the pull of evil. All people have dark tendencies and thought, he understood, and he was no different. He paused in his sprint and looked back at his partners.

"He's upset." Rude commented.

"I know that, Rude."

"Will you come back with us?" he asked solemnly.

Jalyne did not answer and turned to sprint across the plains with Rude keeping up, following Reno who was a distance ahead. She slowed down as she spied the shadows getting longer and a tingle came up her spine, letting Reno and Rude take the lead. Jalyne looked around the plains, trying to assess her surroundings and the danger they may hold. Her green eyes narrowed as she caught a glint off to the southeast. She lifted lightly off the ground, rapidly heading towards the appointed destination, flying low. She reached out and grabbed Rude's left hand lifting him with her and gained speed to catch up with Reno. Jalyne reached down to take hold of Reno, a look of surprise crossing his face as she grabbed his wrist, though he returned the hold and secured his hand on her wrist.

It came out of nowhere, the binding and chain that attached to her right wrist, and she dropped Rude, taken off balance in the air. He tucked and rolled into a run and kept going. Jalyne nudged Reno forward lightly and let go of his wrist, allowing him to do the same. Her wing flared out to keep her steady in the air and she threw the Gate open, her patio looming fifty yards in the distance.

"GO!" Jalyne screamed to both of them. She was yanked to the ground and landed awkwardly, sliding across the ground backwards and flipping over. She pulled on her right wrist, trying to dislodge her cuff. She felt strange and realized he had found a way to bind her. Jalyne was losing her power slowly. She reached behind her cloak and pulled her swords and followed the path of the chain, alert. A rustle in the grass caught her attention and she parried left, blade catching an unseen warrior. One by one, the solar shields were dropping and Jalyne was surrounded.

Reno and Rude managed to sprint to the Gate and hesitated, turning to look back at the daughter of Jenova. Warriors in foreign armor began appearing all around her as the shields were dropped. Jalyne had lashed out with lightning to strike a few, though it was weaker than Reno remembered. Rude tapped his shoulder and pointed at the cuff that adorned her wrist.

"GO!" She screamed again. "I can't hold it!" Jalyne pulled the chain that bound her wrist bringing three warriors with it and she bladed each of them, dropping them where they stood, dead. She curled the chain up, preventing another from grabbing it and leaped into the air, faltering but coming down hard on another warrior.

"Partner?" Reno asked, glancing at the Gate behind them.

"She's family." Came the response.

"We protect our own." Reno stated looking across the field to Jalyne and nodded with a dangerous glint appearing.

Rude adjusted his gloves and Reno withdrew the mag rod and extended it and placed it on his left shoulder in his usual stance. Shields began to come down all around them, showing them the odds of what they were up against. Jalyne outstretched an arm, calling the wind to blow them aside, giving the Turks room to maneuver and she closed the Gate.

Rude ran to the right starting with shockwave to knock the warriors aside, then without hesitating, went headfirst into the group, fists raised and deflecting attacks easily. The armored soldiers were taken aback at the fury he exhibited and took a defensive stance, raising their weapons. Rude charged in, disarming one of them and throwing him over his shoulder into five others, knocking them back. Another came behind him with a jab only for Rude's leg to snap outward in a kick followed by a punch to the neck to disable him and take his weapon. Four more encircled the silent Turk and each took their assorted turn in trying to take him down. Raising his fist in defense, his glasses cracked and with a hump, extracted a new pair from his blazer and continued on.

Reno flashed to the left, wielding his mag rod and electrifying warriors in his wake. They were unused to his type of speed and when Reno launched into the air, he came down with his electro burst, fanning them outwards. Reno's eyes narrowed, surveying the scene. He knew there were too many of them, but the warrior were purposefully keeping them separated from Jalyne. Reno suddenly spun, raising his rod in deflection of an incoming sword and with a roundhouse kick, leveled the warrior. This, however, provided an opening for another to strike him across the forehead, knife gashing Reno's temple and blood gushing into his right eye. Reno dropped to the ground, stunned for a moment.

Jalyne saw Reno fall to the ground and instinct took over. Wrapping the chain around a soldier's neck, she snapped it and vaulted over five of them to get to Reno. Her blade soared through the air, making contact in the chest of the warrior ready to strike fire haired Turk. The chained wrist yanked backwards, stumbling her back and when she tried to pull it, the chain wouldn't move. Snapping her head in that direction to follow the resistance, the other warriors overpowered her, binding her left wrist. They pulled her arms outward to make her stop and she watched as the others overpowered Reno and Rude.

The soldiers brought the Turks to Jalyne and forced them to their knees fifteen feet from her. Both of them looked up to her and Jalyne stayed as still as possible. The outcome was dire, but she tried to remain as stoic as possible for her partners. Reno's cut had stopped bleeding as it wasn't as serious as originally thought and Rude bore a bruised cheek bone with scratches around his face. Jalyne closed her eyes and tensed, each hand wrapping around the chains and lightly tested the tautness. As the wind shifted behind her, she opened her eyes and raised her chin in defiance.

"Well played." The silky tenor voice stated in her ear. Jalyne felt her hair move and the collar placed around her neck, effectively sending a jolt through her.

"Well played, indeed." She responded curtly.

"Tell me, Jalyne," He said while yanking her cloak off of her and throwing it to the ground. "Where is it?"

"Where's what, Jurvien?" she felt the knife trail down from her left shoulder to the shoulder blade. She felt pressure then, digging into her skin, tracing the shadow of the feather that was missing and she clenched her jaw, willing the tears not to flow. She concentrated on the sounds around her as the warriors were busy putting up the tents for nightfall.

"Your feather, my dear." He silkily stated, tracing the outline of her markings as blood began to run down her back.

Her eyes flickered to Reno and she barely moved her head. Do not let him know how much I mean to you or you to me. He will use that against us. She thought out into Reno and Rude's mind. Jalyne could feel her power slowly disintegrating. "I lost it in battle."

"Now, Now." Jurvien chided, kicking her behind the knees to make her kneel. He grabbed the two chains that were at wrists, forcibly bringing her wrists together behind her. He grabbed the chain at the collar, hooking it through the other chains, arching her back. Jurvien walked around to face her, red eyes staring into her green ones. "We both know it doesn't work like that."

Jalyne looked at the sorcerer and then to the background at Reno, and closed her eyes. The similarities were uncanny between the two. Though Jurvien hair was raven, he wore the similar spiky style as Reno, though longer and fuller in the back and they both had a lithe build to them. Where Reno wore his goggles, Jurvien had the emblem of the Sorcerers in the center of the forehead. Even his tone and mannerisms were as similar as Reno's. Could I…have been wrong? She thought, remembering the picture that Solaria had shown her in the book.

"Fine." Jurvien smirked, grabbing her chin to make her look at him and he looked at one of his warriors, giving a nod. "Another method then?" The soldier grabbed Reno by the hair, exposing his neck and placed a sword blade to his throat.

"NO!" Jalyne screamed in horror. "They are innocent, Jurvien!"

"Then tell me where it is!" the sorcerer stated exasperated, staring deadly at her.

"Why is it so important?" she countered. He lowered his lip to mere millimeters from hers.

"Because the Forge cannot be completed if you have given it to another." He whispered seductively. Jurvien pulled away to look at Reno and Rude.

"What is it you really want, Jurvien?" Jalyne countered.

"You. For one night." He said turning his attention back to her. "So, I can break you." He added deadly.

"Never!" she spat, understanding his meaning. He motioned to the guard again and the blade against Reno's neck dug into his skin. Jalyne looked on in horror. "I accept." She hung her head.

Reno shook his head minutely for her not to do this and blood trickled down his neck. I will be alright. He heard her thought, though faded. He would take her word, but the images that shadowed his mind did not agree and he damn near was sick to his stomach. Instead of their connection weakening, it was strengthening, and Reno surmised he was seeing her fear through her thoughts.

"From the time the second sun is hidden by the horizon and until the first sun sliver appears in the east, I will be yours." Jalyne stated formally, bowing her head in submission. "On one condition."

"And that is?"

"Reno and Rude are not to be harmed. Your people cannot touch them, even should they strike out." Jurvien look inquisitively at her and narrowed his eyes. "Your word, Jurvien." She pushed.

"Agreed." Jurvien without hesitation and nodded at the guards to allow her up and they stepped away from Reno and Rude. "Looks like you have perhaps five minutes." He backed away from them looking to the west as the last sliver of sun was on the horizon.

Jalyne stood and walked to the Turks, dropping back down onto her knees in between them. Reno looked away from her. She bowed her head and reached out subtly to touch each of their knees, the chains rustling.

"With the last that I have, I give to you." She whispered for only them to hear with her eyes closed, concentrating, and Reno snapped his head to her as she recited a spell. "No harm shall come to you, no weapon will pierce you, no strike will mar you, and no will be imposed upon you until I choose to lift this, or death becomes me."

Reno's eyes softened a little staring at her and he felt the tingle of power emanate up his leg and flow throughout his body. He glanced at his partner, who nodded minutely, indicating he felt the same thing.

"No one can break this shield." She whispered. "You will be safe." She looked at Rude, nodding at him. "In the interim, tell Reno what the Queen imparted to you. It may help shed light on another path."

"You know?"

She smiled softly. "I know Solaria. She requested your presence for a reason, and not just for her personal amusement." Jalyne looked at Reno and his eyes widened lightly when he noticed the blue tendrils fading from her eyes. She had given what was left to them.

"Don't do this." He whispered. "Don't give yourself to him." For the first time, he saw fear in her green orbs, a genuine fear he has never seen in her.

"I have given my word." She whispered reaching for both of their hands. "and so, did Jurvien. No harm will befall you. You will be given a tent under guard, with food and drink."

"Like we would trust him." Reno scoffed.

"The penalty for going back on one's word is death by the offend's hand." Jalyne asserted. "If anything happens to you, his life is mine to do as I please. The gods do not take kindly to a word that is broken." She pulled each of their hands into hers in a grasp, and formally gave the greeting and farewell symbols between the three of them. Jalyne reached out to Rude, kissing him on each cheek in farewell and turned to Reno.

"You know what he is going to do to you." It wasn't a question but a statement, as his eyes flickered to the sorcerer.

"I do." Jalyne looked into the aquamarine orbs and allowed the tear to drop from her eye. "I will not be the same after this." She conceded. "But I will be stronger."

"You've seen it?" Reno hoarsely whispered, heart in his throat.

"I have." She paused staring at him. "I know you hate me and there's nothing I can do to change that, but please, stay as strong as you can, and I will return you to Gaia, where we can part ways." Jalyne reached for him, her heart tearing in two at the words she spoke, kissing him on the cheeks as she did to Rude in farewell and stood and bowed to them. "I will see you on the morrow." Stepping back as the last of the second sun dipped under the horizon and turned to Jurvien and gave a bow in submission.

The guards lifted Reno and Rude and escorted them to the nearest tent as darkness began to fall upon Trerran. Reno kept twisting to look at Jalyne. She stood in front of Jurvien, chin high, and he presented something to her. Reno stopped as he witnessed the minute shake of her head, which enraged Jurvien. The sorcerer placed something in his mouth and crushed his lips to hers as she struggled and yanked her collar by the chain. When he broke from her, he placed his gloved hand over her mouth, forcing her to swallow. Rude placed a hand on his shoulder as Reno visibly shook in anger. The guards tapped them lightly as not to be forceful, to keep them moving towards the tent. With a last glance at Jalyne before they were ushered into the tent, he saw Jurvien blow dust into her eyes and she reared back stunned, though she did not make a sound.

She felt the drug ingested making its way through her system. Jurvien planned well, subduing her power, and knowing that she could withstand the most arduous torture, he took measures to ensure she wouldn't resist. It was the blinding powder that Jalyne was uncertain the reason for its use and made her fear the night even more. He led her into what she surmised was his personal tent, feeling the soft material of carpeting under her feet. She felt her arms raise and heard the rustle of the chains being attached to stable hooks, making her immobile.

Jalyne felt hands run along her hips and the zipper to her bodice came down. It only took a moment for Jurvien to strip her naked, save for her gloves that were within the chains of her bindings. He unhooked the collar and let it drop to the ground, trailing his fingertips along the marks on her back. Jalyne felt the leather of the switch caress her ass and she raised her head in defiance.

Jurvien leaned into her ear. "That is the defiance I will break from you." And the switch crossed her skin with force.

Jalyne couldn't move her body and the drug made its way to the extremities. She grabbed the chains within her hands before the drug made it final move to immobilize her completely. Her mind was still awake but was slowly succumbing to the haze of pain that Jurvien was inflicting upon her with the whip. Jalyne heard the switching of instruments and the pain along her hip intensified as he carved each and every wing mark along her back, feeling blood oozing down her back and legs. Jurvien crossed to stand in front of her and she could feel his breath close to her.

"Open them." He commanded, grabbing her chin. Jalyne opened her eyes, seeing nothing and blankly staring the direction of his voice. "That's my Lady." He squeezed her cheeks, forcing her to open her mouth, placing the ball gag and securing it with her mouth. "I wouldn't want you to crack that beautiful smile of yours."

Jurvien crossed behind her again, slowly moving her hair aside to see the marks along her neck. "That's the one thing I love of you, Jalynemidenovia e T'Karvriandria. You haven't made a sound. Your resilience and defiance is legend, but I will make you scream." He traced her markings. "Lovariae." He commented in her ear. "I want to know who you gave your feather to. I want to know who you love." He yanked her head back. "But I know who could make you talk." He whispered and she felt his arm leave her body. "If I'm to rule with you by my side, I need to know who to kill. I don't like sharing, but I'm willing to allow it this one time."

The chuckle that she heard, chilled her to the core and her heartbeat escalated even more than the pain that was inflicted. Jalyne raised her head slightly in recognition.

"Ooo." Jurvien commented from behind. "She knows your chuckle."

Jalyne felt someone lift her legs up and apart. She couldn't move, the drug making her sluggish though her mind was travelling the speed of light. Jalyne put the pieces together. She had denied Trayvor as a suitor and so he struck a bargain with the sorcerer. It was him, not Jurvien, that persuaded her father to experiment, all for the power that was currently bound. They wanted to break her, make her submit, but she withstood the pain, though not without its mental and physical consequences. Jurvien knew she wouldn't take kindly to Trayvor being there and that is why he took her sight.

"Scream, Jalyne." Jurvien whispered from behind. "And I will spare you the feeling of him ravaging that pretty body of yours. Say you'll be mine, and we'll rule together. You have seen the Writings and know that you will never rule alone. It is not allowed, and Avrian has no son."

Jalyne felt Trayvor's thicker hands grab her hips and she screamed within her mind. I will never submit! She turned her head away from them in defiance, the only move she could make and tightened her grip on the chains, as the drug was losing potency. Jurvien snaked one arm around her, bracing her against him for Trayvor's thrust and wrapping the other around her waist. He stroked the crescent moon behind her ear and whispered.

"I really want to know who captured your heart, Jalyne." He breathed as he placed a light kiss on the moon, inciting a reflexive shiver. "Though I suspect it is one of those Lords of yours."

Jalyne did the only thing she could as Trayvor pushed into her savagely. She threw her head back into Jurvien's shoulder, bit down on the ball gag and closed her mind, protecting the two Turks she still held dear.

Reno paced the floor, the quiet of the night grating on his nerves. Rude sat in a chair watching his partner.

"It's unreal." Reno commented in Gaian. He picked up a few words in Trerran but heeded Jalyne's advice to not speak it, even if it was only a word or so. "The quiet."

"…"

Reno sat down as the guards shot wary glances at them. "And we're just supposed to wait like nothing is happening?"

"That's the deal." Rude said. "One wrong move and her life is forfeit."

"I felt her fear." Reno continued. "She knew what was going to happen. She's shown me some of her training. It's gruesome."

"…she is strong. Period." Rude stated. "She made the only choice she could to protect us."

"I know." Reno conceded. A grunt caught his attention and his head snapped to the door. Reno listened for a moment and knew what those sounds meant. The anger rose even more at the realization of what was happening to the woman he would not admit that he loved. He shook his head and clenched his fists with the only sound in the night was two distinct male voices grunting and the sound of chains grating against metal in the distance.