When Raine walked out of the bathroom, dressed only in a sheet, she handed
her wet clothes over to Lee. "I'm sorry I did not have clothes for any of
you. You're friends are much bigger then my father, and you are quite tall
compared to me."
"That's okay. You've done quite enough for us already." A frown creased Raine's brow. "We did pack spare clothes, but those along with the rest of our belongs had to be left behind."
"Left behind?"
"It's a long story."
"Oh, well, Azrael and Brendon are in the room just down the hall. There's food waiting there for you."
Raine grinned. " You left them alone with the food! There will be nothing left!" Both girls chuckled a bit as they opened the door. Brendon and Azrael were sitting on cots, wolfing down as much of the food in front of them as they could. "And I thought elves were supposed to have grace." Azrael looked up at the new arrivals, a carrot hanging out of his mouth.
"Grace my foot…" Taking in Raine's appearance, a mischievous glint entered his eyes. " Hey Raine."
"Yes?"
"That sheet looks big enough to share." He wiggled his eyebrows to emphasize his point.
"Keep on dreaming Az!" Grinning herself, Raine reached out and took the carrot from him.
"Hey! That's mine!"
"Not anymore!" Raine popped the carrot into her mouth.
"Are they always like this?" Lee sat down beside Brendon watching the two elves wrestle over another carrot.
"Always." Brendon chuckled. "They are the most non-stereotypical elves I've ever met." Lee giggled. Brendon looked at her and realized he liked the sound. "Thank-you again for your kindness."
"It's nothing, really." Lee yawned before she could stifle it.
"Maybe you should go to bed. We'll be fine."
"Are you sure?"
Brendon smiled "Of course. You've done enough. More then enough actually. I wouldn't want to keep you up any longer." He stared down at the small girl beside him. Actually by no means was she a girl; she had reached the age of maturity. But her demeanor gave off the impression of youth. Her black hair cascaded all around her and her green eyes were large and innocent looking. From being around her for the short time that he had he already felt a sense of protectiveness welling up inside for her. Sleepily she stood up.
"I'll be heading off to bed now. If you need anything, just wake me up. My rooms at the end of the hall."
Brendon stopped her before she had fully walked out the door. "I'm sure we won't be needing anything more. Sleep well Lee."
She smiled at him, liking the sound of him saying her name. "Sleep well."
* * *
Brendon awoke to the smell of smoke. Acting on instinct he bolted up from the bed and woke the others. "Huh? What is it?" Raine wiped the sleep from her eyes.
"Fire." It was all he needed to say. Both Elves got up from their beds following him out of the room and into the hallway. "I'll get Lee, go get the old man."
"Az, go get him, I'll get the clothes." Raine moved down into the room where their garments were hanging.
As Azrael disappeared down the stairs, Brendon moved off, down to Lee's room. He tried the door but it wouldn't budge. He could hear Lee coughing on the other side of the door. "Lee. Unlock the door."
Her voice was muffled when she replied. " The door isn't locked!"
He could hear the panic ion her voice. "Okay back away from the door." He waited a few seconds before throwing his shoulder against it. Still it wouldn't move. Once again he tried and the door gave a loud crack. On the third try the door splintered under his weight and he tumbled into the room. Lee stood there looking like a frightened deer. "It'll be okay, we just have to get out of the house. Give me your hand." She obeyed. Her hand felt cold in his. "Az and Raine are taking care of your father. All you have to worry about is getting yourself out of the house." She nodded and followed him as he led the way. Once they reached the first floor, they both started coughing. The smoke was thick and Brendon could actually see the fire. It licked at the walls and spread itself over the bar. He felt Lee stiffen beside him. "We can make it. Just keep hold of my hand." When he looked at her he saw the glassy eyed look in her eyes. "Damn…" without a second thought he picked her up and ran out of the house. Azrael and Raine were waiting for them outside. They were alone.
"Where's Jamieson? He must be still back in the house!" Trying to pull away from Brendon Lee tried to run back inside.
"Wait Lee stop! You can't it's too dangerous."
"He wasn't there." Lee spun around when Raine spoke.
"What do you mean he wasn't there!?!?! He had to be there!"
"He wasn't. We checked. But we did find these…" Looking where Azrael was pointing her eyes widened as she saw the torch and the empty oilcan. " They were in his room. It's where the fire started."
It took her a moment to see what he was insinuating at. " No! He didn't do it!"
"They're not saying he did!" Brendon tried to calm her down.
"He didn't do it…He couldn't do it." As tears slid down her cheeks she sat down on the floor. " He didn't do it…"
"Shh…" Brendon knelt beside her and put an arm around her shoulders.
"She's right…He didn't do it." A new voice spoke. Brendon and Azrael gripped their sword hilts, ready to do battle. "I mean you no harm." The voice was soothing but they still held their swords. Slowly the figure walked out of the shadows and the hilts were released.
"Loki!" Brendon greeted the man in front of him.
Loki smiled at the group " Long time no see Raine." Raine smiled at him.
"Too long." She walked over and hugged him.
"I think Az is getting jealous…" Loki spoke into Raine's mind.
"Let him, serves him right!" She answered back. She winked at him as she released him, his grin growing wider.
"Azrael." Loki nodded in the elf's direction, who in turn grunted in reply. Loki then looked at Lee. " But as I was saying, the young lady here is right. Jamieson did not do it."
"Then who did?" Brendon moved back beside Lee who was strangely silent.
Loki shrugged non-chalantly. " Your enemies, both hers and yours."
"Cerberus." Azrael's voice was full of disgust as he practically spat out the name.
"Cerberus?" It was the first thing Lee had said since Loki's arrival.
"Yes. A very evil man." Loki felt pity for the frightened girl in front of him. If she only knew it was only going to get worse.
"But I've never heard of him before. How could he be my enemy?"
Loki sighed, " It's time I guess to tell you. But it's a long tale and it isn't safe here for you right now. Come with me and I will tell you."
"I'm not going anywhere!"
"Don't worry Lee you're safe with us. He's a friend of ours." Reassuringly Brendon placed his hand on Lee's shoulder.
"I just met you. All of you! How do I know you didn't start the fire?" She took a step away from them.
"Lee.." Brendon's voice was pleading.
"Oh for the love of…" Raine rolled her eyes to the sky. Lee shook her head and took another step backwards.
Suddenly, a glint behind Lee caught Brendon's eye. He lunged forward and took Lee to the ground, just as an arrow whizzed by, catching him on the shoulder before lodging itself into the ground. "Hey! That's one of my arrows!" Raine growled in outrage, reaching behind her only to realize that she was still out of arrows.
A volley of arrows rained down on them. " Let's go Brendon! Our friends from earlier have caught up with us!" Azrael spun Raine around who was still glaring into the dark from where the arrows had come. Brendon on the other hand rolled to his feet, taking lee with him and ran in the direction the rest of the group had disappeared. He didn't give Lee time to protest.
The group ran through the neighboring trees, Loki in the lead. Their pursuers were having a hard time following them as they tried to shoot arrows as they ran. Looking ahead, Lee saw that the group had stopped in front of a large tree. Loki placed his hand on the trunk and the tree seemed to glow. Lee gasped as a door opened showing a set of stairs descending down right into the tree. As she watched each person went down the stairs without a second thought. As if it was an everyday thing to find stairs inside a tree and go down them. When Brendon nudged her to go she wouldn't move.
"Lee Please. Just trust me." When she looked up into his eyes she saw kindness there. She swallowed slightly and looked back to the tree. Fear was evident on her face. She felt Brendon's warm hand clasp her own and she looked up at him again. He smiled down at her. " I'll be right behind you." Her fear seemed to melt away as she gazed up at him. With a determined nod of her head she plunged down the stairs.
* * *
The halls echoed with heavy footsteps. The walls were made of cold black stone. "MARDUK!" The man jumped as his name was bellowed and quickened his pace. Fires blazed on either side of him as he entered his master's chamber. When he stood right in front of him he dropped to one knee. His head bowed and eyes downcast. "Your report!" Marduk cringed. Cerberus was not going to be pleased.
"Your highness. My men have returned."
"And the girl?"
"Has eluded us."
The king growled in anger. " WHAT? Are you incompetent? Twice now you have had the opportunity to kill her and twice now you have failed."
"Sire, she had help."
"Help? Who?"
Marduk gulped. "Raine, Princess of Daegonwroth; Azrael, Prince of Sildrin Forest; Brendon…"
"Brendon?" Cerberus threw his head back and laughed. " So the wayward son is trying to do good?" he sighed through his laughter. " Are you sure?"
"Yes your majesty."
"Very well. I want them all dead. Most importantly, the girl." The King gazed down at his commanding officer. " You give me no choice. Go now. You are not to return until they are dead. If you do…" His eyes took on a cold glint. " It will be YOUR head." He waved a hand dismissing the captain. Marduk got up and left the chamber. Cerberus sighed again. "Loki, Loki, Loki. You are trying to build a small group to go against me. Don't you know that you will fail now, as you failed before?"
"That's okay. You've done quite enough for us already." A frown creased Raine's brow. "We did pack spare clothes, but those along with the rest of our belongs had to be left behind."
"Left behind?"
"It's a long story."
"Oh, well, Azrael and Brendon are in the room just down the hall. There's food waiting there for you."
Raine grinned. " You left them alone with the food! There will be nothing left!" Both girls chuckled a bit as they opened the door. Brendon and Azrael were sitting on cots, wolfing down as much of the food in front of them as they could. "And I thought elves were supposed to have grace." Azrael looked up at the new arrivals, a carrot hanging out of his mouth.
"Grace my foot…" Taking in Raine's appearance, a mischievous glint entered his eyes. " Hey Raine."
"Yes?"
"That sheet looks big enough to share." He wiggled his eyebrows to emphasize his point.
"Keep on dreaming Az!" Grinning herself, Raine reached out and took the carrot from him.
"Hey! That's mine!"
"Not anymore!" Raine popped the carrot into her mouth.
"Are they always like this?" Lee sat down beside Brendon watching the two elves wrestle over another carrot.
"Always." Brendon chuckled. "They are the most non-stereotypical elves I've ever met." Lee giggled. Brendon looked at her and realized he liked the sound. "Thank-you again for your kindness."
"It's nothing, really." Lee yawned before she could stifle it.
"Maybe you should go to bed. We'll be fine."
"Are you sure?"
Brendon smiled "Of course. You've done enough. More then enough actually. I wouldn't want to keep you up any longer." He stared down at the small girl beside him. Actually by no means was she a girl; she had reached the age of maturity. But her demeanor gave off the impression of youth. Her black hair cascaded all around her and her green eyes were large and innocent looking. From being around her for the short time that he had he already felt a sense of protectiveness welling up inside for her. Sleepily she stood up.
"I'll be heading off to bed now. If you need anything, just wake me up. My rooms at the end of the hall."
Brendon stopped her before she had fully walked out the door. "I'm sure we won't be needing anything more. Sleep well Lee."
She smiled at him, liking the sound of him saying her name. "Sleep well."
* * *
Brendon awoke to the smell of smoke. Acting on instinct he bolted up from the bed and woke the others. "Huh? What is it?" Raine wiped the sleep from her eyes.
"Fire." It was all he needed to say. Both Elves got up from their beds following him out of the room and into the hallway. "I'll get Lee, go get the old man."
"Az, go get him, I'll get the clothes." Raine moved down into the room where their garments were hanging.
As Azrael disappeared down the stairs, Brendon moved off, down to Lee's room. He tried the door but it wouldn't budge. He could hear Lee coughing on the other side of the door. "Lee. Unlock the door."
Her voice was muffled when she replied. " The door isn't locked!"
He could hear the panic ion her voice. "Okay back away from the door." He waited a few seconds before throwing his shoulder against it. Still it wouldn't move. Once again he tried and the door gave a loud crack. On the third try the door splintered under his weight and he tumbled into the room. Lee stood there looking like a frightened deer. "It'll be okay, we just have to get out of the house. Give me your hand." She obeyed. Her hand felt cold in his. "Az and Raine are taking care of your father. All you have to worry about is getting yourself out of the house." She nodded and followed him as he led the way. Once they reached the first floor, they both started coughing. The smoke was thick and Brendon could actually see the fire. It licked at the walls and spread itself over the bar. He felt Lee stiffen beside him. "We can make it. Just keep hold of my hand." When he looked at her he saw the glassy eyed look in her eyes. "Damn…" without a second thought he picked her up and ran out of the house. Azrael and Raine were waiting for them outside. They were alone.
"Where's Jamieson? He must be still back in the house!" Trying to pull away from Brendon Lee tried to run back inside.
"Wait Lee stop! You can't it's too dangerous."
"He wasn't there." Lee spun around when Raine spoke.
"What do you mean he wasn't there!?!?! He had to be there!"
"He wasn't. We checked. But we did find these…" Looking where Azrael was pointing her eyes widened as she saw the torch and the empty oilcan. " They were in his room. It's where the fire started."
It took her a moment to see what he was insinuating at. " No! He didn't do it!"
"They're not saying he did!" Brendon tried to calm her down.
"He didn't do it…He couldn't do it." As tears slid down her cheeks she sat down on the floor. " He didn't do it…"
"Shh…" Brendon knelt beside her and put an arm around her shoulders.
"She's right…He didn't do it." A new voice spoke. Brendon and Azrael gripped their sword hilts, ready to do battle. "I mean you no harm." The voice was soothing but they still held their swords. Slowly the figure walked out of the shadows and the hilts were released.
"Loki!" Brendon greeted the man in front of him.
Loki smiled at the group " Long time no see Raine." Raine smiled at him.
"Too long." She walked over and hugged him.
"I think Az is getting jealous…" Loki spoke into Raine's mind.
"Let him, serves him right!" She answered back. She winked at him as she released him, his grin growing wider.
"Azrael." Loki nodded in the elf's direction, who in turn grunted in reply. Loki then looked at Lee. " But as I was saying, the young lady here is right. Jamieson did not do it."
"Then who did?" Brendon moved back beside Lee who was strangely silent.
Loki shrugged non-chalantly. " Your enemies, both hers and yours."
"Cerberus." Azrael's voice was full of disgust as he practically spat out the name.
"Cerberus?" It was the first thing Lee had said since Loki's arrival.
"Yes. A very evil man." Loki felt pity for the frightened girl in front of him. If she only knew it was only going to get worse.
"But I've never heard of him before. How could he be my enemy?"
Loki sighed, " It's time I guess to tell you. But it's a long tale and it isn't safe here for you right now. Come with me and I will tell you."
"I'm not going anywhere!"
"Don't worry Lee you're safe with us. He's a friend of ours." Reassuringly Brendon placed his hand on Lee's shoulder.
"I just met you. All of you! How do I know you didn't start the fire?" She took a step away from them.
"Lee.." Brendon's voice was pleading.
"Oh for the love of…" Raine rolled her eyes to the sky. Lee shook her head and took another step backwards.
Suddenly, a glint behind Lee caught Brendon's eye. He lunged forward and took Lee to the ground, just as an arrow whizzed by, catching him on the shoulder before lodging itself into the ground. "Hey! That's one of my arrows!" Raine growled in outrage, reaching behind her only to realize that she was still out of arrows.
A volley of arrows rained down on them. " Let's go Brendon! Our friends from earlier have caught up with us!" Azrael spun Raine around who was still glaring into the dark from where the arrows had come. Brendon on the other hand rolled to his feet, taking lee with him and ran in the direction the rest of the group had disappeared. He didn't give Lee time to protest.
The group ran through the neighboring trees, Loki in the lead. Their pursuers were having a hard time following them as they tried to shoot arrows as they ran. Looking ahead, Lee saw that the group had stopped in front of a large tree. Loki placed his hand on the trunk and the tree seemed to glow. Lee gasped as a door opened showing a set of stairs descending down right into the tree. As she watched each person went down the stairs without a second thought. As if it was an everyday thing to find stairs inside a tree and go down them. When Brendon nudged her to go she wouldn't move.
"Lee Please. Just trust me." When she looked up into his eyes she saw kindness there. She swallowed slightly and looked back to the tree. Fear was evident on her face. She felt Brendon's warm hand clasp her own and she looked up at him again. He smiled down at her. " I'll be right behind you." Her fear seemed to melt away as she gazed up at him. With a determined nod of her head she plunged down the stairs.
* * *
The halls echoed with heavy footsteps. The walls were made of cold black stone. "MARDUK!" The man jumped as his name was bellowed and quickened his pace. Fires blazed on either side of him as he entered his master's chamber. When he stood right in front of him he dropped to one knee. His head bowed and eyes downcast. "Your report!" Marduk cringed. Cerberus was not going to be pleased.
"Your highness. My men have returned."
"And the girl?"
"Has eluded us."
The king growled in anger. " WHAT? Are you incompetent? Twice now you have had the opportunity to kill her and twice now you have failed."
"Sire, she had help."
"Help? Who?"
Marduk gulped. "Raine, Princess of Daegonwroth; Azrael, Prince of Sildrin Forest; Brendon…"
"Brendon?" Cerberus threw his head back and laughed. " So the wayward son is trying to do good?" he sighed through his laughter. " Are you sure?"
"Yes your majesty."
"Very well. I want them all dead. Most importantly, the girl." The King gazed down at his commanding officer. " You give me no choice. Go now. You are not to return until they are dead. If you do…" His eyes took on a cold glint. " It will be YOUR head." He waved a hand dismissing the captain. Marduk got up and left the chamber. Cerberus sighed again. "Loki, Loki, Loki. You are trying to build a small group to go against me. Don't you know that you will fail now, as you failed before?"