A/N: Getting closer to where I want to be in the story! Hope the action with the kids hasn't bored you. If not, let me know by your reviews. Hint, hint.

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At least a few days passed, and no one had figured out how to escape. Xellas was feeding them regularly, and the food was actually quite good. The room was neither too warm nor too cold, and really their only concern was entertaining themselves. There wasn't a lot of room for physical activity, and so Lecia, Val, and Alfred had taken to playing round after round of cards with a strange deck they found in a desk drawer, or one of the odd board games stacked on a bookshelf. Lecia wasn't so sure they were actually board games, since all the pieces were marked with strange symbols, and the boards were like nothing she had ever seen, but she decided to go along with them. The two boys would fight for her attention almost constantly, but instead of favoring one or the other she was heartily sick of both of them.

I wonder how Mister Xellos and Miss Lina are doing, Kerra asked one day, echoing the thoughts in Lecia's heart.

Well, at least we know they're alive, Val muttered, pushing one of the funny-shaped stones onto one of the nodes in the circle drawn on the board.

But Mom doesn't know that Daddy's alive, Lecia replied, moving her own funny-shaped stone.

And now she'll be looking for us, too, Alfred added, finally moving his funny-shaped stone. Oh, I think I can take your stone.

Lecia examined the board. Which one, the one with the squiggles and square or the one that's all branched out?

Alfred peered at the pieces. The one with the squiggles.

Lecia's playing so badly that you could have taken more than that, if you knew what you were doing, Val mumbled, scratching a pointed ear.

Lecia didn't know whether to be upset because he was insulting her or because he had insulted Alfred yet again. It's not like you know what's going on any better, Alfred retorted. We all just made up and agreed on these rules an hour ago, after all.

Yeah, shut up, Val grunted.

Alfred was about to reply when Gorran wandered over. Lecia noticed that he'd been buried in Xellos' old books for days. She couldn't read most of them, and the ones she could had looked too complicated for her to want to read. Gorran, however, had instantly dove in and was making Kerra help him wade through them. Not that Kerra looked like she minded, in Lecia's opinion.

Gorran leaned over the table, examining each of the pieces carefully. He traced some of the symbols with his finger, referencing a book he held in his hand every once in a while. The three teenages observed him for a few moments, then went back to their game. Suddenly Gorran's hand flashed out and snatched up the piece that Lecia was about to use. she cried out.

Gorran mumbled, wandering back over to the desk, where he had some papers spread out.

I was using that, she snapped.

he repeated, not looking up.

Well, at least he's keeping himself busy, Alfred commented as he glanced over at Kerra, who was sorting through piles of paper.

Lecia clenched her teeth. That's it! she cried, standing up explosively. I'm sick of being cooped up in here!

But we've tried everything, Val reminded her. I've done Laser Breath, Alfred's tried Flow Break, and not even your Dragon Slave makes any sort of portal open up. The last time you tried you almost killed all of us. If Alfred and I hadn't put up a barrier in time, we would have been burned to a crisp.

Lecia roared with frustration and stormed out onto the balcony, chanting a quick amplification spell before beginning the formal recitation. She was dimly aware of the sound of chairs being knocked over behind her but had no time to dwell on it as she let loose her spell, the Dragon Slave speeding towards the horizon. A yelp sounded out and some hastily-screamed barrier spells were erected, and only a few moments passed before the spell came ricocheting back, blasting her face with heat as it exploded on the facade of the building she stood in front of. She scowled at the air snapping with heat, then exhaled loudly and turned back. This was why she hated pocket dimensions. The pocket dimension they were currently in was sealed tightly and was very small. It consisted of only a few rooms and the balcony, the view from the windows seeming to stretch forever. The border of the dimension, however, had proven to stand only a few feet away in any direction.

Are you crazy? Val shrieked as she strolled back into the room. You knew that wasn't going to do any good!

Shut up, Lecia growled. I just wanted to make sure nothing had changed.

There are other ways, you know, Val grumbled.

Are you all right? Alfred asked, suddenly at her elbow. She smiled at him and nodded her head, giving Val a dirty look.

I'm fine, thank you, Freddy, she said as he led her over to a chair.

I know it's hard, but we mustn't give up hope. Something will happen sooner or later, Alfred reassured her.

She thought it was a bunch of garbage, but she smiled at him anyway. The only way they were going to get out was if they broke themselves out. Unfortunately, the magic of her grandmother was so strong that she couldn't begin to touch it. If only her mother had taught her some Nightmare magic! Sooner or later, Lecia muttered, and put her head down on the table.