Entering back into the small prison Leaf stood straight up till the door was closed and the guards locked the door leaving her with her misery. This was going to be harder then she had anticipated. Coming from a family that didn't even clean up for themselves she was going to have to exert a lot of self control from crying out while Gabriel did his worse. Shaking she could still feel his fingers tracing over her body. Now she knew she could never go home again seeing how defiled she was. Didn't matter her family gave her up for this misery, but she did miss them terribly. Raising her head from the despair and misery beginning to claw around her she slowly looked around looking for Cleo.
"Leaf your back!" Cleo shouted as Leaf looked to the corner where she had first seen the young woman. Running towards her Cleo hugged her jostling her newly made wounds, "Your alive I was so worry that he would keep you their forever."
"I'm back now Cleo," Leaf whispered into her ear hugging Cleo back, "and I'll always come back he won't be able to send me to hell not till I've accomplished what I've set out to do."
"Why are you so set in trying to break him down and not just break down yourself?" Cleo asked drawing away from Leaf, "Its only hurting you not him, Josh says that you should give in but I know you won't listen to him."
"Of course I won't I can't," Leaf said getting to her feet to look out the small window that was to provide them with fresh air, "Josh doesn't understand that this is no way to live as you do. Maybe I understand this a little better cause of my lifestyle before I came here with my family."
"Your from the Tower of the Sun aren't you?" Cleo asked eager to here about a place she could never dare to go to, "What was it like? Did you have a loving family? My family didn't care to much about me, well except my older brother Jake."
"My family didn't care about me either not even my older brothers and sister," Leaf muttered, "While I lived there I always believed that we were nothing more then brothers of sisters. But I see now that we weren't even that. We were nothing but residents living together. I was so weak and I'm still so weak it takes everything for me to stand here talking about my homeland. The homesickness of missing the smell of aspens in the morning is cruelness that no human could understand."
"I didn't mean to bring up bad memories," Cleo whispered softly tears brimming in her eyes, "just well I thought it might take your mind off the pain."
"Its not your fault I suppose its mine," Leaf stated coming and sitting by Cleo, "You see I was a weird child and no one loved me very much I just figured it was cause I was sick and might make them sick. Doesn't matter now."
"Are you afraid Leaf?" Cleo asked.
"Terrified to the soul Cleo," Leaf whispered afraid that others might hear her, "I know that you all see me as strong but I'm not more than a child in elf terms and humans."
"Well your not alone I'll help ya!" Cleo stated smiling, "Your family may have been jerks but you know what I'm not like that! So if he comes for you again, which I know he will, I'll make sure just to smile and nod my head at you not try and stop you again."
"Thank you Cleo," Leaf said, "Now I'm sure that you've been waiting up for me to return so let us sleep allowing out minds to wander wherever, shall we?"
Falling quickly to sleep Cleo enjoyed the presence of Leaf so near her that she was happy that she was no longer alone. For once in the whole time that she had stayed in this prison she had a sleep that was full of the dreams that none even dream off here. Dreaming of all their freedoms in the world, and her family.
Leaf lay beside Cleo looking up at the ceiling. She wonders what would happen now that she had one of them on her side. What was to happen to them if she failed and she broke down telling Gabriel everything? Shivering from that thought she quickly turned to other matters like how she was going to convince Josh of her intentions of freedom. She couldn't very well show him freedom. He doesn't probably even remember the thought of green overhead and not a gray and cold stone above.
Struggling to keep awake knowing very well that if she fell asleep she wouldn't get up. She could still feel the burning sensation that her wounds still gave her. Sighing she figured that she would have to get used to that feeling till they saw that she wasn't going to give in like they all had.
Her thoughts wondering around she felt her anger rise as she realized that the Gods of Magic could have warned her about this fate for her. Why hadn't they even told her the story of this elf woman who had rallied her people giving them hope to fight for freedom? Was it cause she was so different from the others or that they didn't wan the others to be freed? Shaking her head she dismissed the thought as quickly as it had come to her. Why would the Gods do that? Weird and all-powerful they wouldn't mess with people's lives that much.
Closing her eyes she fell asleep her thoughts in turmoil as she dwelled on the thought of more betrayal. Tears streaming down her face as she fell asleep.
Pacing his room anger flaring from him. The stupid elf why couldn't she just tells him and let him concentrate on finding others?
"Damn it!" Gabriel cursed throwing a vase at the painting of his late master, "Why dose she have to be so damn stubborn. She knows very well that sooner or later I'll direct my wrath on the other worthless idiots down there."
"Maybe she doesn't tell you cause she really doesn't know anything my love," a seductive womanly voice stated from the corner.
"Oh she knows something Raven that I know for sure!" he shouted throwing yet another vase at the painting, "She will tell me sooner or later she has no choice."
"What you mean she has more time then you have," Raven snapped, "she is an elf barely in her adult stage you moron. Stop throwing things!"
"I'll throw whatever I want!" he yelled throwing a chair now at the painting causing the painting to crumble to the ground in pieces, "What do you care? Your nothing more then a blank!"
"Blank as I am I do have knowledge of her and understand what she's doing to you," Raven whispered, "After all she knows that you have a temper and are human so hence forth your impatient. While she is an elf and has been taught how to control herself and wait for the appropriate time till she can spring her plan."
"How do you know you all this?" Gabriel stated looking at her now breathing heavily from throwing things around.
"Cause an elf can understand an elf my love," Raven whispered coming into the light revealing her elf features.
Her bone structure perfect, her hair long and luxuriant flowing black as the raven she was named after. Smiling her teeth almost the same white as her pale face suggesting the origins of Silvanesti. Revering the moon and the stars she did, but not the white moon as all elves are supposed to but the black. Her robes pure black velvet with intricate elf runes around the sleeves and the cowl of her hood.
"Right you are my love," he whispered now calm, "but she still knows something and I plan to extract it from her."
Walking towards the door Raven quickly ran to intercede. Holding his hand she brought him back to the couch she had been sitting on. Laying him down she lay on his chest cuddling with him.
"Where are you going?" Raven asked playfully coming up to bite his ear.
"To Leaf she needs a more vigorous torture to extract what I want," Gabriel whispered trying to get up.
"Why?" Raven snapped pushing him down her hair covering some of her face, "Go later I've finally come home and you want to go and spend it with some do gooder elf babe!"
"I have to the sooner I find out what I want the sooner I can forget her!" Gabriel hissed anger seething threw him, "Now get off me."
"I think theirs another reason why your so in a hurry to get to her," Raven snapped.
"And what could that be?" Gabriel snapped back rolling his eyes, "Come now educate me on my alternative motive."
"You like her!" Raven stated narrowing her eyes as she always did trying to find the break that he always had when trying to lie to her.
"Like her of course I do!" Gabriel shouted pushing the shocked Raven off him and getting to his feet, "With her I'm not interrogated or goaded into a corner where your way is the only way!"
Walking out of the room slamming the door on his way out he made his way to Leaf who would now most likely be asleep.
Raven still where Gabriel had pushed her away was shocked that he had openly admitted liking Leaf. What was to like she was no more then infidel. Angry beyond belief that he had so embarrassed her diminishing her control over him. Getting to her feet she looked out the window. Chanting the language of magic she threw a fireball out the window only to watch it explode outside on the barren wasteland that was the land out there. Why he was so enthralled with this little elf? She didn't understand it; she wasn't even considered an adult elf or human terms.
"Well if he's going to be so stubborn as to try and blow me off," she whispered her eyes alight with mischief, "then I'll help Leaf to get to the gods world."
Raven remained in the room till Gabriel would come back storming mad. She plotted Leaf's death trying to make sure that it would look like an accident.
At that very moment when Raven was plotting and Gabriel was storming around Leaf was awaking from her light little nap. A small bird's chirp waked her. Looking to the window she saw the little bird, calling it over with a birdcall one of her friends had taught her. She watched the little thing come and rest in front of her. Petting the little bird Leaf observed the little thing climb up her arm and rest on her shoulder.
"Freedom?" Leaf whispered, "Do you think it's worth it?"
The bird began to chirp a lovely tune, which made Leaf smile. Joining in with the bird she made sure to keep her voice soft as not to awake Cleo. Singing along Leaf was reminded of her childhood friend who had been an outcast like her. She missed him, they rarely got along but they understood how it felt to be looked upon different. Tears brimming her eyes she sniffled. The bird stopped chirping seeing that his singing friend was distressed.
"I wish he was here to help," she muttered wiping the tears from her eyes, "What kind of hero I make out to be? Here I am crying over the fact that I miss my childhood friend."
The bird tried to cheer her up by chirping again but it only made her feel more homesickness. She shook her head signaling for him to stop the lovely tune.
"Sorry my little friend but that doesn't really help," she stated smiling down at the little bird, "go on and be free I'll join you soon my friend."
Watching the bird fly away she felt as though these were her first tender moment with an animal of the woods since she left her home. Smiling she felt tears brim her eyes as she kept looking outside.
"Leaf?" Cleo whispered stirring awake, "Where are you?"
"Right here Cleo," Leaf whispered back still keeping her back to Cleo till she regained her composure.
"Are you okay?" Cleo asked coming up to stand beside Leaf, "Getting homesick? We all feel it soon after down here."
"Yeah homesick for green grass and green trees," Leaf muttered.
"What about your family?" Cleo asked, "They must miss you so much unlike mine."
"Naw my family didn't like me at all that's one reason they let me go with a human man and not stay in the palace," Leaf stated looking over at Cleo, "What about your family they have to miss there brave young lady."
"Young lady yeah right," Cleo laughed, "I grew up in Solace and well didn't have much manners to begin with. But my family, my mom died giving birth to me. My dad had an accident working and lost his memory, amnesia they called it so he doesn't remember me. My brother lives in far to the north somewhere near the coast I think. He doesn't even know that I'm here nobody does."
"I'm sorry," Leaf, said putting a hand on her for comfort, "It must be hard."
"Yeah it is sometimes but I live with it you know," she stated trying to hide her tears.
Leaf felt such emotion that she embraced Cleo tightly, "I'm really sorry, I promise you that we'll get out of here and go and live in Solace till were old."
"Thanks Leaf," Cleo whispered hugging Leaf back crying into her shoulder, "Thank you."
The tender moment was torn asunder when the door to there quaint prison was abruptly thrown open revealing Gabriel.
"Ah how cute Leaf," he stated grinning at Cleo and not at Leaf.
Stepping in front of Cleo protectively seeing that he was interested in her, "What do you want now?"
Snapping his fingers the two guards came in pushing Leaf out of the way. They were after Cleo this time. Falling to the ground scraping her arm she quickly got to her feet delivering one of the guards a swift kick to the shins bringing him down. Jumping over the fallen one she directed her attack at the one with Cleo in his arms. Hurling herself at the guard she didn't notice that Gabriel had called other guards to subdue her. Feeling herself be grabbed she was pinned to the wall; one held her arms while the other held her legs down.
"No Gabriel your quarrel is with me!" she shouted unable to even see where he was, "Leave Cleo out of this now!"
"I think not Leaf she disrespected me by trying to stop you," he stated his voice loathsome as he came to stand by the guards who held her, "Your insignificant and always will be, you can't mange to even protect this one little girl. How on earth do you have hope to save the rest of the scum down here."
"Stop it I told her to do that!" she yelled trying her hardest to get Cleo back, "You asshole just take me instead I'm the one who's been talking shit behind your back."
Smiling wickedly at her he walked away from her laughing at her feeble attempts to save Cleo. What a fool she was and always would be. Slamming the door shut on her he left the guards in there to have fun while he was gone with Cleo. Hopefully being abused, as he was sure they were going to do to her would teach her some lessons of life. She was the scum and he was better then her. He could hear Cleo behind him struggling to get away from her captors.
Arriving in much the same torture room that Leaf had been in before he pointed the wall with chains. Screaming and kicking her captors Cleo thrashed about trying to escape. But in the end had no choice but to be chained to the wall. Tugging at the chains that were connected to the ceiling trying her hardest to find a weak point.
"If you don't stop that clanking of the chains this will take longer then ever before Cleo," he stated, "I'm still quite angry at your attempt to help Leaf to tell me, if she will not tell me of her own freewill what makes you even think that she'd to it for you."
"I was only trying to spare her the pain that you put the others and I through," she whispered meekly, "I didn't think that you'd be so mad as to hurt me. I thought you wanted to know what she knew."
"Yes from her own mouth through time," he snapped glaring at her, "You know nothing of the bond that will reveal what she truly actually doesn't know."
"What are you talking about?" she asked, "What she already doesn't know?"
"I guess I can tell you," he stated thinking out loud, "The gods have entrusted her with some secret knowledge as they always do with elf's. Unless subjected to some sort of mental stress or torture can the secrets really be unlocked."
"Trusted her with knowledge," Cleo whispered trying the words out for herself, "Does she even know what this knowledge is?"
"In good time it will be unlocked to her as it always is," he muttered angrily, "and then her mind her thoughts will be set upon that one course. But if altered before they are unlocked then I can manipulate her thoughts her being."
"Why would you want to do that to her?" she asked desperately terrified, "Why can't you just let her go and leave her alone?"
"Cause even if she's let go into the world the knowledge will be unlocked and will lead her back to me," he stated talking in a patient voice as an adult would with a child, "and she'll accomplish whatever the knowledge has been imparted to her. Whether it is for helping me or destroying me no one knows. But that doesn't really matter to you now does it? You and I have an old score to settle anyways my prize."
Terrified she closed her eyes tightly waiting whatever pain was to come. Feeling a dagger of edged design pierce her stomach she cried out. One after the other she felt dagger pierce her skin only to come out and enter again. Crying for the pain was intolerable. For the first time in Cleo's life she wished she had her family to hold her and comfort her, to tell her it was all right. But she didn't even have a family that could remember her. As always she would be alone, born alone die alone. Feeling hopelessness cling to her as a leech clings to the skin for the blood.
As Cleo felt her loneliness in emotional shock, Leaf was feeling it too. She could feel nothing but numbness all over as the guards that had been left with her beat upon her boundlessly. She could sense Cleo's misery and cried for the pain the human child was feeling. It wasn't fair, why would fate do this to her and so many innocent people? Concentrating through the haze of pain she set her thoughts on Cleo, she wouldn't be able to protect herself from the guards but she would help Cleo.
"Cleo can you hear me?" Leaf stated in her mind reaching out with all her might to Cleo, "Please tell me if you can hear me!"
Cleo was shocked through the pain to hear the familiar voice that had comforted her in the small prison that she had spent 7 years of her life in. She knew it to be Leaf; only Leaf would make the effort to help her.
"I hear you!" she screamed out loud.
"Hear what?" Gabriel stated shocked to hear Cleo shout something so absurd.
Ignoring Gabriel Cleo concentrated on Leaf's voice and only Leaf's voice. It was hard through the pain but Cleo reminded herself that Leaf was probably going through the exact same pain with the guards as she was going through with Gabriel.
"Good now concentrate," Leafs melodic voice stated in Cleo's mind, "concentrate hard on a memory. A good one that makes you feels as though you're floating on air. Do it quickly!"
Cleo rushed through her memories to find a good memory. One as Leaf said made her float on air. Looking through them she found one that suited Leaf's description. It was when she was 5 her dad was still alive and was throwing her a surprise birthday party at the local inn. Smiling as she felt the warmness of that memory flood through every part of her body.
Leaf had to work hard to harness that energy of good and innocence into a shield for Cleo. She really had no idea what she was doing to her it was all but instinct to help her friend, and that's when it stuck Leaf. She had a friend. Working hard and fast she formed that decent energy to a shield. She could feel the energy forming; forming into a protective shield made of love.
"Just laugh and smile Cleo," Leaf's voice whispered into Cleo's head weak and exhausted, "do it for your father whom I'm sure misses you very much."
Cleo did just that, she laughed and laughed as she felt no more knifes enter and exit her body. The pain was gone; Leaf had helped her. How she didn't know, but she sure as hell was going to make sure to repay the debt.
"Leaf you did it!" Cleo whispered so that Gabriel wouldn't hear her, "You did it thank you!"
Hearing no reply from Leaf, Cleo began to panic. All that energy was from her not from Leaf, or was it? No Leaf had told her to do it; Leaf would be okay. She was a strong independent woman. She could feel the shield wavering she had to keep concentrating on the memory on the good feeling she was experiencing.
Leaf was out cold from all the concentrating she did with Cleo she had no energy herself left to defend herself from the guards.
"How did you do that?" Gabriel managed to gasp out looking astonished at Cleo, "Tell me right this instant or back to the prison!"
"I won't ever tell you!" she screamed laughing in his face.
Cleo was hoping he'd say that he'd send her back to the prison. She had to help Leaf. This time it was her turn to help Leaf.
"Fine back to the prison you go!" he yelled marching out of the room.
Guards came and untied Cleo holding her up as Cleo had barely any thing in her to keep her standing. The only thing that kept her from not falling asleep was Leaf. Oh lost gods if your out there please I beg of you allow Leaf to still be alive! Cleo prayed and prayed till they got to her prison. Entering they threw her in, falling roughly to the floor she saw that Leaf was knocked out on the other side of the room with the two monsters of guards over her. The guards all left her in the room slamming shut the door.
Rushing to Leaf's aid once she was sure they were all gone. She saw that Leaf had a slight glow around her hands, a soft faint glow of white, red, and black. Was she remembering what the gods told her? Cleo shook that idea out of her mind and quickly went to seeing how bad Leaf's beatings were. Most of them were already black and seeping out her precious red blood.
Crying as she worked to stop all the bleeding she ripped up anything in the small room and used is as bandages. She worked on through to the morning. Once she felt that Leaf's bandaging would do till she awoke Cleo dressed her own wounds. Laying down beside Leaf she managed to find one blanket still intact and throw it over the two.
Before falling asleep Cleo whispered to Leaf, "Thank you for being my friend."