Everything hurt.
Jess woke slowly, wincing from the pain in her sides, head, and back, to see a pair of ocean blue eyes staring straight back at her. Jess tried to sit up, and she was rewarded with a sharp searing pain that coursed through every nerve in her body. "Easy!" a gentle voice advised. The owner of the voice put a hand on her forehead, soothing her brow. He was handsome, Jess noted. He had shoulder length black hair, well toned mussels, and a drop-dead-gorgeous smile. Jess felt instantly relaxed when he smiled, and, suddenly, it occurred to her. She knew this boy.
"You're one of the rebels!" she said with a laugh.
"Yes. And you're one of the guardians of the veil!"
"Guilty." she said quietly. He smiled. "Where am I?"
"Cavigore."
"Great," she grumped, remembering the awful prison she had seen only once, and that was enough. He smiled again.
"Well, it's not without it's charms."
"How long have you been here?"
"Only a few days longer then you have."
"I think it's time we escape." She tried to sit up again, and was, once again, discouraged by the sharp pain in her side. He put his hand gently on her waist.
"You are still healing. You will not be going anywhere for a while-"
"Then you-"
"And I will not be leaving you. Here," he said, picking up a cup of water, "drink this." He gently cradled her head and touched the cup to her lips. She accepted the drink gratefully, her mouth feeling like sandpaper. "My name is Alexander."
"I'm Jess," she said. "I have an idea for our escape."
"Are you sure you're up to this?" Alex asked for, what seemed like, the thousandth time.
"Yes, damnit, yes, I'm fine." Jess said for, what also felt like, the thousandth time. She stood, which had, after a few days of recovering, became manageable. Alex put a gentle arm around her waist to steady her. "I'm fine," Jess repeated, pulling away. She leaned against the wall and used her wings to steady her. She was hovering. "I hear the guard. Are you ready?" he nodded. She darted up to the cell's roof, where she rested on one of the rafters. The cell door was opened and a guard entered for a head check. Alex, who had been laying in the straw, pretending to be asleep, sat up with a sleepy grunt.
"Where is your cell mate, the lightning guardian?" Alex looked around.
"I don't know. She was here when I fell asleep." Jess suppressed a giggle. What ever they may be, the Meridian guards were not intelligent.
"A PRISONER HAS ESCAPED! SOUND THE-oof!" Jess dropped down, landing on his head, knocking him unconscious. She grabbed Alex's hand and flew out of the cell. She knew the other guards were in pursuit now, and she laughed at the thought of them trying to catch her. She felt Alex quiver from where their hands were joined. She knew how nervous he probably was to fly, so she opted not to do any back flips like she normally did. She weaved in and out of pillars, dodging guards, who hollered at each other. She finely saw the exit, and she flew up towards it. They reached the roof, and she sat Alex down.
"That was some ride." he said with a laugh. Jess giggled.
"Sorry. The faster and wilder you fly, the harder it is for them to keep up." He was panting.
"We should get back to the Infinite City. I'm sure that's where your friends are." Alex said, and Jess smiled.
"Lead the way." She was still hovering, unable to walk well. Suddenly, they heard a crash as several soldiers came charging at them. Jess summoned her powers and was just about to strike when she felt someone clasp her hair, and give it an unmerciful jerk.
"You're not getting away this time, Sparky." said a voice and Jess swore, recognizing it as Cedric's . She heard Alex's grunt as he was shoved her into the wall. Jess stomped down hard on Cedric's tail, and he released her. She electrocuted two guards who were converging on Alex. Cedric slammed her into the wall and she crumpled to the ground. He raised a bow and struck her in the shoulder with an arrow. Jess cried out in pain, and he was preparing to send another at her, when Alex leaped in front of her, his hands outstretched. Cedric smiled wickedly. "Pathetic boy. You think you can save her? Nothing can save you now."
"Wanna bet?" he asked as he grabbed one of the fallen soldier's swords and thrust it into Cedric's tail. He yelled in pain and Alex fell beside Jess, jerking the arrow out of her bleeding arm. She was barely conscious. I hoisted her on his back and wrapped a rope around one of the pillars. He made sure that the lightning guardian was secure and repelled down the wall. He then took off running, never stopping until he reached the Infinite City.
He climbed through the tunnel, and rushed to the main room, scanning for the woman he sought. "Althea!" he hollered as he slid Jess off of his back and into his arms. "Althea!" He hollered again. An older woman entered the room and took a quick look at him, before her eyes fell to the girl in his arms.
"Alex, what happened to her?" He handed Jess gently to Althea.
"She's hurt. Can you save her?"
"I'll try. She looks awful. Get me a blanket." Alex obliged. "Sweetheart, everyone's been so worried since you were capture. Why don't you go see everybody."
"I'm not leaving her Althea." The women smiled knowingly.
"Ok. Give me some room."