Damane
Chapter 1
Disclaimer-see prologue
Days went by in much the same manner for quite a while, Lina awoke with a headache. Quickly, she would banish it from her mind, convincing herself that she'd felt worse several times before. She longed for breakfast, or any food at all for taht matter, and grumble under her breath until she began yelling, nearly tearing her hair out. At first, Lina had tried to grab the bracelet from the hook on the wall, but as soon as she reached her hand out, it froze and cramped horribly. Eventually she stopped that tactic and tried to use her magic, only to find an emptiness where oncee a warm, filling sensation encompassed her, then her head exploded in pain. Now, everyday, Lina tried something new, even biting on the cord linking cthe collar and bracelet, resulting in teeth pain so bad she couldn't have eaten anything for days, had she any food. Througout the day, she thought and tried, starved and moped, and endured the pain that seemed constant until either she passed out or exaustion took her into sometimes pleasant, sometimes greatly disturbing dreams.
She dreamt of Gourry, of a warm spring day, a warm feeling only exhulted by his bright eyes, perfect stature, and gleeming hair. She trembled just looking at his silouette, not a cold, fearful tremble, but a warmth, as if something had been restored within her. And then, there were the dreams of another tall man. Short red hair framed his very angular face, two bangs hung down on either side of his face like cruel red splinters. Avid green eyes glared at her, holding something else, as if it were trying to escape but his cold exterior wouldn't allow it. Men and women in sheer robes bowed around them, jseeming as if not even alive. Lina didn't see them, just KNEW they were there, and alive.
"T'dama noman falsa'adar mejil?"(1)
A command in the form of a question, familiar it was, but Lina could not think of what it was. "Excuse me?" She asked none-to-politely. She could tell from the way he carried himself and how those around him spoke not at all and kept themselves to the floor, that this man was royalty, with great power or influence at least.
"Iolata?"
Suddenly, Lina's eyes were no longer on the cold green ones, but they now were wide and staring at the royal greens, blacks, and golds of his robes. They were soft, unlike the wearer, and Lina found herself clutching at them, feeling arms around her. Her breath hitched and she shook her head clearing a fog that had descecnded on her mind. Something cold and metal fixed on her neck and Lina suddenly clawed at it, writhing in his grasp and yelling incoherently.
"Sadosai Iolata! Beh ki'andan tu nai segan!" (2)
"Ichen! Ichen dai-"(3) Lina was cut off as she was yanked down to the floor before the man. She glared at him with her defiant red eyes. Instantly, she conjured an image of Gourry in her mind and clung to it.
"SADOSAI!" He backhanded her sharply, but not before that warmth filled her once again and she let a fireball fly at him. It all happened so quickly that she was pulled out of the dream.
Lina awoke holding her head, not from pain, but confusion. That man, he was familiar, he called her a different name, familiar, but strange. "Io- Iolata...." everything so familiar somewhere in her mind, Lina shook her head, "I NEED FOOD!" Her stomach growled louder than her yell.
"A'dam do not raise their voices above appropriate levels, no matter who you are." A cold voice belonging to a colder woman with knee-length black hair and hard grey eyes snapped at her. The glare the woman gave Lina was enough to freeze fire and quite the most savage beast. "You may look much like her, but as soon as His Grace lays a finger upon your useless, unworthy hide, you'll be sentenced to death for immitating her. As for your food, you will have it later when your conditioning period is over." A smirk broke over her face, making it all the more frightening, "I did not expect one such as you to make it past this stage. Such a tiny woman, pity he may have to be sated with you. His Grace deserves so much more."
"What are you talking about?!" Lina made herself ready to dive at the woman should she try to retrieve the bracelet. The woman didn't scare her, nothing stronger than any dark lord she'd fought before.
"Ahka! You are forbidden to be in here! Must I tell Lady Tahn that you are outside of your boundaries? Perhaps she has a collar for-" The first woman Lina remembered being here stepped inside the room, interrupted by Ahka's mummerings and rapid exit. "I believe she meant to take up your bracelet. The woman patted Lina's head before Lina could object, "I am to be your sul'dam until you are deemed worthy of a new one, however, that gives you no right to speak up to another sul'dam or quetion them in any way.
Lina bit her bottom lip and forced calm into her mind, she'd get no answers unless she were remotely reasonable to this person, "Please, I ask what this is all about."
The woman smiled brightly, "You see, being proper and acknowledging your position works. Though I would not suggest asking any other sul'dam any questions, I am being extremely generous." The woman stopped when she saw Lina's eyes fixed on her, Lina immediately averted her gaze and the woman went on, "I am called Kaile, and you are chosen to be presented before His Grace and expected to submit to him. You are not worthy yet, but with training you will be domesticated.
"I won't submit to some cocky man who thinks he can control the world with a hunk of metal!" She yank against the cord, "I won't lower myself to groveling to a pig just because some control freaks cause me a little bit of pain!"
Lina was quite unprepared for the feeling of every bone in her body shattering. In her shock, she noticed Kaile was no longer standing in the doorway, but she was against the wall with the bracelet on her wrist. She looked rather calm, but dangerous anger seared in her eyes. "You will NEVER speak of His Grace in such a manner!! Insolent a'dam, you deserve to be killed slowly and painfully this instant. I will settle with teaching you this lesson, your spirit will be broken along with your attitude. You will do this, there is no option for you a'dam." She said in a deathly calm voice.
Lina was on the floor, darkness already closing in around her. She cast one more quickly glance up at Kaile, watching carefully as she removed the bracelet. A weak smile graced her features, she knew now at least how it was done.
Translations:
(1) You have a reason to see me?
(2) Stop Iolata, you are mine, not his!"
(3) What? What are- ---- Lina doesn't know she is speaking the language here.