Random stuff:

First, THANK YOU to all the people who reviewed! I was veryvery happy Also sorry if the updates are a little slow. My S.S. teacher is very mean and delights in giving us enough homework to keep us up all night (not quite but exaggeration is good right?). hehe, anyway, since I have no idea how this story will turn out if you have an idea for what should happen pleese e-mail me or review me or anything! Thanks again.

To the story!

Disclaimer: Ablah, same as in chap.1 I don't own anything but the plot and Robyne and Raine hehehe.

Chapter 2: The Dragon's cave

I awoke to an immense pain in my shoulder and leg. Not an entirely pleasing way to wake. I lay still with one thought running circles through my head

"Why did he try to kill me? Why did he save me?" none of it made any sense. I would have said it was a dream, but my pain was quite real. When I finally managed to sit up I almost immediately fell back down. The place I was in was swarming with small black heartless. I had never seen one before but the sign on their chest was indistinguishably familiar. I felt small, lost and alone. Even at home were I had always been ignored I had always felt something. Now all there was was…. well….nothing.


Raine was in a dilemma; he sat uncomfortably in a large hard-backed chair, his head in his hands. What should he do? All his life Raine had felt in control, able to overcome any obstacle. Now he had an obstacle he had no idea how to overcome. He could continue as planned and use the girl's heart, but this would be harder as she was quite alive and probably very aware of the heartless' abilities. No surprise attacks from them. On the other hand he could let her go and forget this had ever happened. It sounded so easy. But Raine wasn't thick, he knew that as soon as she was freed it would be off to dear granddaddy Sora. Raine couldn't risk it, he needed her cooperation, he needed to get the keyblade he NEEDED to at least try to save his grandfather!

All of a sudden Raine sat up straight; it was so simple! He could have kicked himself. All he had to do was wait until the real keyblade appeared then use the girl as a hostage. He needed to maintain some sort of relationship with her, though. Some sort of immunity that would keep her within his reaches yet far enough away that she would still think she was safe.

It may have been because he was bleary with sleep or maybe he was thinking about the wrong thing because at that critical moment Raine forgot one important piece of advice Riku had once given him.

"Don't ever underestimate Sora's abilities, he is extremely clever and has all the luck in the world on his side. If you ever plan to go against him do it cleverly. Fight fire with fire and never EVER take something he hold dear to his heart, he would turn heaven and all the worlds into chaos to get it back."


"spellbound…" It whispered "spellbound.."

I suppose I must have fallen asleep, my dreams were filled with strange creatures that glided through shadows and haunted towns, For some reason I couldn't get a grip on reality. I tried but I suppose the blood loss had been too great. Concerned amber-green eyes looked down at me and I recognized the face of my assassin… and savior. I fixed my gaze on him giving him look for look as I silently asked the unanswerable. As he tore his eyes away I saw a glimpse of vulnerability. For just a second I saw the face of someone who has witnessed what no human should ever witness, I saw a great sadness and, as the boy's face grew closed once again I saw guilt. If the situation had been different, if I hadn't seen what I had I wouldn't have done it. But I trusted enough in my instincts. I weakly raised my arms my eyes cloudy with pain

"Help me, please" I whispered. And he did.


The bed was soft, soft and warm. I felt like I was drowning in pillows. I felt a cool breeze enter the room and disturb the stillness of the sheets. When I've heard people describe traumatic events they say they've woken up in the morning to have it all come "rushing back". I would categorize "almost dying" in the column of traumatic events but it did not come "rushing back". The memory was just there, an engraving in stone that could wear out and fade but never disappear completely.

I estimated I had been sleeping for about two days. I felt alive and full of life. All that remained of my injuries was a distant throb every once in a while. My brain was clear and was already beginning to formulate ideas and theories at it's own accord. I sat up slowly my eyes widening at the splendor of the small bedroom. You would never guess this place housed thousands of heartless. The walls were a shimmering blue that rippled when light touched it. Silky soft sheets covered the bed; the bed itself seemed to be emitting heat. I have to admit I was awestruck, but what amazed me the most was a small fountain in the middle of the room. The water flowing from an ornate ceramic sculpture fractured the light and sent it dancing on the walls, creating an overall underwater mood. I could have sat there all day watching the patterns dance but I knew that if I were to ever get out of here it would be now.

I was slightly guilty knowing that despite his hard first impression the boy had helped me, but I knew that the doors were closing and if I didn't act I would be trapped here forever. The boy wouldn't just sit and watch as I made my way out, he had gone through to much trouble for that. I would have to be sneaky.

I stood carefully; relief flowing over me as I realized my days in bed had not disturbed my physical strength. I was still in the clothes I had arrived in but someone had neatly bandaged my wounds. There was no visible door in my room and as far as I could see the only way out was the large bay window. I made my way carefully, thinking a thought through. I paused and examined a light beam as it hit the fountain. There was something funny about the way the light fractured. I looked closer and saw that there was a tiny mirror hidden beneath ripples of water. I followed the light beam towards the wall were I noticed a small indent. It would be impossible to notice unless you knew what you were looking for. I walked over and brushed the indent with the tip of my finger. It was too symmetrical to have been made accidentally. I pressed firmly and smiled as a hidden mechanism went "click". How extremely cliché.

Without making a sound the small fountain slid out of its niche, revealing a narrow stairway. Barely hesitating I headed into the darkness. The small corridor completely contrasted with the peaceful haven I had just left. The dim lighting gave me some limited visibility but the walls seemed to be closing in on me. My imagination started to create monsters and every corner I turned seemed to be my last. I wished then, with all my heart that I had the comfort of spellbound. The blade's handle, worn with wear, had fit perfectly in my hand; I could almost feel the warmth of the wood….


Raine knew the second the girl awoke he felt her vital signs quicken as she scanned her room. He had put her in his favorite room. He didn't know why. It must have been the way her eyes seemed to pierce his soul as she whispered

"Help me, please". It was if she had caught him in a trance, he vaguely remembered carrying her to that room and cleaning her wounds but….

He frowned; it seemed the girl was quicker than she looked, it had only taken her all of five minutes to find the hidden door. He didn't start to worry, not yet, he could sense everything in this castle he knew what each and every one of the heartless were doing, and, more importantly he knew exactly where the girl was headed. Raine yawned and stepped out the door, before you could blink an eye he was gone, enveloped into a cloud of green magic.


I stiffened as an arm encircled my waist. I bit my lip to keep from screaming while I tried in vain to get away.

"Where are you going?" A voice drawled in my ear "we haven't even been properly introduced."

The boy, my assassinating savior spun me around, keeping a firm grip on my arms. For the first time I was able to get a good look at him and was surprised by how much he resembled the pictures my Grandfather had assembled of the friend he once had…Riku. His silvery hair waved gently in the drafty corridor and his amber-green eyes were cool and emotionless. If there was anything left of the boy who had saved me, I couldn't see it.

"I won't run" I said stiffly and slightly relaxed as the boy relieved me of his grip.

Suddenly the boy's icy eyes softened, he held out his hand and said formally

"I am Raine, and you are?" His question echoed through the halls and I wouldn't have answered if I hadn't seen a hint of a smile in Raine's face. Was he teasing me?

"Robyne" I answered keeping my voice neutral.

"Ah" he said as if by simply telling him my name I had revealed my deepest secrets. "You don't look like your grandfather" he said rather offhandedly "You have you grandmother's eyes and hair but your face seems all your own."

I was shocked, he knew my grandparents? Though, if he really was related to Riku that would make sense. Despite myself I was pleased with his observations. I didn't let it show, however, and soon grew suspicious of this overly charming Raine. I might still have a chance, the doors were not yet closed, if only…..

Almost as if reading my mind spellbound appeared in front of me, the red-black blade shimmered slightly, something it had never done before as it was held in suspension by Raine's magic. I looked warily at Raine, who nodded slightly. Without any hesitation I took hold of spellbound, it fit even better than before. Someone had fixed up the chips in the paint and all that was left to remind me of its harsh trial were two deep dents.

"You fought well before" said Raine, as a dark blue blade appeared before him "Let's see how well you fight when your life is not on the line."

Without warning Raine attacked, I defended quickly my arms remembering long hours of drills. Even as I fought I admired the boneless grace of Raine's attacks, each pattern bled into each other making it seamless. There was no opening for me to switch the tables so I concentrated on defending while using as little energy as possible. The blades clashed, over and over the sound echoing eerily throughout the hallway. I finally saw an opening; I attacked bringing spellbound in a crescent to meet with Raine's blade. The simple attack brought us into a body-bind. Extremely bad for me as I was significantly weaker than Raine. He forced me back a few paces until my back was flush with the wall.

"Nice fighting" he said as he broke off.

As I gasped for breath, trembling from the use of adrenaline. I noticed with a twinge of jealousy that Raine hadn't even broken a sweat. He held out his hand and spellbound disappeared. This guy was smart, he knew I wouldn't leave without spellbound. I was trapped. The doors were closed.

Yay! That's another chapter finished. I hope you liked it

É.A.