Fast asleep Leaf dreamt of being home as always ever since she had come to live in this prison form hell. The green trees with leafs the billowing around her covering her fair skin from the sun. Leaf missed the trees but still had much to do here in way of convincing the others trapped here. Prying her eye lids open from her sleep she went once again to the window they had. Looking outside as she always did in the morning till Cleo awoke.
It had been over 2 months since the incident with Cleo. Since then Gabriel had left Cleo clear alone but kept his attention on Leaf as eternally tormenting her. She was beginning to become numb to the aching of having to sleep on hay in a corner. Though she never voiced her opinion in front of her Leaf knew that Cleo was beginning to have back issues from sleeping on the ground for so long. Knowing no sort of healer abilities Leaf had no way of helping Cleo with the pain, even if she did know anything how'd she get was a mystery even to her.
Mystery to her was still a problem for seemingly eternity she had been trying to figure out still why the gods had not told her the story that everyone knew so well. Why they had played with her by getting her angry? Why they allowed such misery to so young of a group? Still who was she? Shaking her head she always started the day out with a million questions, frustrating, as it was it was the only way to start the day. After all nothing to do in this hellhole but wait for pain from Gabriel. Why couldn't the gods just let her soul rest in eternal peace? Reeling from the emotional overload from the questions she decided to clear her head and just calm down.
So many questions and so little of time to answer them. She was losing this battle, if she had any hope of changing the others minds she was going to have to commit a suicide mission. She was going to try escaping from the guards when they came again. Maybe her power just like last time with Cleo would help her. Not relying too much on that she began to pace back and forth. She still had her wounds from last night, her wounds never healed. She never had time to actually rest and allows them time to heal. They were toying with her just as she was toying with them. Giving Gabriel knowledge but not the knowledge he wanted. Still deep within her mind set there by the gods as Cleo had told her she never wanted that knowledge to seep out and actually learn it. But according to Cleo Leaf didn't have a choice but to have the information draw closer and closer to her sooner or later. She'd go to the one place that might give her clues as to what to do next. Hearing moaning she realized that it was Cleo awaking. Of course she couldn't tell Cleo what she had planned but Cleo would trust her.
"Morning sleepy head," Leaf stated smiling down at Cleo, "they'll be feeding us soon so come on get up."
Cleo was a horrible morning person and didn't take to the earlier hours as Leaf did. Probably because she was human she didn't see the beauty of a sunrise or sunset as Leaf did. Most likely knowing that she wouldn't survive for as long as Leaf she didn't take to being lectured about it. So Leaf always waited till Cleo was ready to wake up herself.
"Yeah I know I'm awake," she muttered scratching her head absently, "You feeling any better then last night."
"Not really but I'll be fine," Leaf stated as the guards opened the door drooping food at the door, "How about you I thought that you might faint from all the blood that I had on me."
"Sorry about that I just you know aren't that comfortable with blood yet," she stated grabbing some food, "What about you? Should you be eating, Gabriel's going to come soon to retrieve you."
"Of course he'll come but I'm not about to starve to death so I don't puke while I'm in there," she stated grabbing a piece of the bread and taking a bite out of it, "Today I'm actually thinking of doing something out of the ordinary even for me. Its going to come fast so doesn't be so surprised about it."
"What you mean?" Cleo asked looking worriedly at Leaf.
"Just trust me I'll come back for you and the others," Leaf stated smiling at Cleo, "Now eat up your nothing but skin and bones."
"Oh yeah and your so much more beefy then me," Cleo stated throwing bread at Leaf.
"Ouch!" Leaf stated rubbing her right arm that had been hit with the bread, "Hey come on that breads about as hard as rock! Take it easy on me."
"Naw don't thin I will," Cleo stated sticking her tongue out at Leaf.
"Real mature Cleo," Leaf laughed at her.
Both began laughing merrily as though they were back at an inn enjoying wine and good food. Mutually they heard footsteps and knew it to be the guards coming for Leaf. But something was different about these footsteps, for one it sounded like high heels of a woman's boot. Leaf and Cleo both knew of no other women here, especially in fine boots like that, to live here in the castle. Unless this person had come to rescue them, yeah like that'd happen as soon as the next Cataclysm would come.
"Hide Cleo!" Leaf hissed, "In the corner now!"
Cleo quickly ran to the dark corner where light didn't tread. Leaf didn't know whom this new footstep was but she wasn't going to allow this new foe or friend to harm Cleo or her. She'd still execute her plan though standing tall and up right. As the door opened Leaf gasped to see a face she hadn't seen since she was little.
"In the name of the gods of magic what the hell are you doing here?" she whispered shaking her head not wishing to believe it.
In the doorframe was an elf it was an elf with a mean cruel demeanor. Black hair long as Leaf's eyes of cold and distant blue. Leaf recognized this elf and would never forget him. How could she? It was impossible to forget that intolerable knowledge of his. His long black robes rustled as he took a few steps into the prison.
"What else do you think I'm doing?" the man snapped at her, "I heard that there was a crazed mage up here."
"But your back in on northern Egroth with the others," she whispered trying to keep her rationality separate from her mind that was already beginning to dwindle, "You're a figment of my imagination aren't you!"
"You wish Leaf," he scoffed, "Nice accommodations you have here my dear little princess."
"Shut up!" she snapped, "Don't call me princess! Wait why are you wearing the black robes of Nuitari? You took your Test!"
"Why not?" he stating mocking her as he stepped into the small prison, "Why wouldn't I take my Test Leaf? Have you been down here for so long that even your brain has dwindle from little sense you did have?"
"Still as sarcastic as ever I see," she muttered shaking her head, "This can't be, it's just not possible. Why on earth would you be here? Crazed mage or no mage your still not supposed to be here."
"This mage Gabriel is a renegade," he stated in a casual tone as though he always dealt with renegades, "I've been asked to deal with him. He's stolen quite a powerful artifact from the Conclave and they wish it back."
"You presume to think that I care," she stated clenching her hands into fists too keep from hitting square in that oh so perfect grin of his.
"The Conclave has put up with him for too long," he stated ignoring her obvious anger.
"Really hadn't noticed that they were turning a blind eye on the crimes going on here," she stated rolling her eyes, "You think I haven't noticed what the Conclave has been ignoring. Gabriel has been taking young men and women and giving them the hope of riding them of horrible visions and an excruciating death."
Coming from the far corner from her hiding place, "Visions?" Cleo asked, "What visions? None of us have visions."
"What?" Leaf turned on Cleo, "What you mean you don't have visions? I have them, of terrible wars past and gone and of some I don't even recognize as in the archives."
"Everyone here doesn't have visions Leaf," Cleo whispered, "I'm telling the truth if you don't believe me."
"No I do believe you Cleo," Leaf muttered falling to her knees, "just I thought the others had visions like I do. It just makes me more of freak then I already am! Giving more evidence that I really know nothing about anything!"
"Please Leaf we don't have time for this," he snapped, "now get to your feet and let us go."
"Go, where are you going take her to?" Cleo asked putting an arm around Leaf, "She's in no condition to go on a journey right now. Look at her, she still have wounds and Gabriel is due at any time to come and get her."
"Come and get you?" he stated narrowing his eyes, "For what?"
"What she's been enduring for everyone here," Cleo snapped becoming irritated at this man's incompetence, "Torture! The gods gave her knowledge in her brain but the only problem is that she can't access the knowledge. Ever since then he's been torturing her none stop and it's breaking her heart as much as it's breaking mine."
"Torture, he's been putting you through torture," he whispered thinking on it lightly. Finally shaking his head, "Well that's in the past now so get over it. The Conclave has known that you've been here and they greatly apologize for not helping you in the beginning."
"Well the Conclave should come and get us they," Leaf snapped rising to her feet and leaning against the windows ledge. Watching the outside as she always did when thinking of what her next action would be, "They've brought enough pain by ignoring the people here for so long. Now they've sent you here to do what?"
"I need your help to defeat Gabriel Leaf," he whispered loath to ask for help from another.
"Help, you want help from me you sure about that?" Leaf inquired tracing a line on the ledge to keep her eyes from his, "Dalamar do you not remember that I still have no idea how to use this magic that Gabriel has stated I have. The one time I used it I used it to help another she stands before you."
"Then maybe your power isn't like magic is for others," Dalamar began, "Maybe its for helping others to aid them to redeem-"
"You say 'yourself' and I'll be sure to learn my magic just to set you on fire," Leaf murmured shaking from her memories of the gods of magic. They had started like this and had tried even to guilt Leaf into in the end figuring out the truth, "If I'm going to help people it will be the people here. They deserve the help as no others do."
"Leaf that's being selfish!" Dalamar snapped walking over to stand by Leaf, "Stop acting like the same spoiled little princess from your fathers court. Your out on your own so start to think like everyone else does and get-"
"Hush!" Leaf stated listening she heard footsteps coming from the direction of Gabriel's way, "Its him hid now Dalamar! We'll finish this conversation when I get back and then you'll see why I don't worry about the others of this world except those in here. So shut and watch maybe you might learn something. Cleo take care of him and try and play nice you know the routine."
Nodding her head Cleo grabbed Dalamar and brought him into the darkest corner hiding him there she sat in front of him, "Blend with the darkness here quickly!"
Leaf looked over at the corner looking straight at Dalamar hoping beyond anything that they all might be able to get out of here before too long. She sat down and waited for the door to burst open revealing Gabriel's hideous face and demeanor.
As always the door busted open revealing Gabriel and the guards that would carry Leaf there and back. Sighing she got to her feet but was surprised to see not only a young woman elf by the looks but another man dressed in black from head to foot. Strange why would Gabriel bring this person now and not before she contemplated to herself. Glaring at him he noticed this quickly and laughed at her.
"Come now Leaf don't be angry you must have been becoming annoyed with just myself torturing you," he stated making grand gestures and smiling wickedly, "So I've brought friends one you might recognize."
"Yeah cause you know I recognize all your crazy ass friends," she stated her voice really unconcerned who tortured her today as long as it happened and got over with it, "Lets go then, off to the merry land of torture for me!"
Leaf got to her feet and walked towards the door. The door slamming shut behind her as the guards as rough as ever grabbed her arms and hoisted her off the floor. Being held up by two guards a few inches of the ground was incredibly uncomfortable. She was still wondering who these people were. These new people come to torture she smiled as she thought maybe it was her family. But that was a ridiculous idea her people should all be somewhere in the Egroth area. Sighing she figured she would just have to wait till she could have a good look at there faces before she could figure it out.
Arriving at the torture are she sighed and stood still as the guards tied her to the wall as always. Finally she saw whom the woman's face was when she stepped accidentally into the light. She should have known that this woman would come to haunt her for the rest of her days. How long had it been since she had been exiled? Due to Leaf finding out about her plans to kill off the royal family. Almost 7 years now.
"Well Raven its nice to see you well and alive," Leaf stated grinning at her, "Should have known that you would enjoy Gabriel's company as unpleasant as it is. You were always a user of anyone with power to bad it didn't work on Heidi. Well you've found yourself another boy toy so it'll have to do."
"How did you know her name?" Gabriel questioned a puzzled look on his face, "She hasn't come to see you in your prison has she."
"No not at all but I would've enjoyed the reunion," Leaf affirmed out loud, "After all we did grow up together didn't we. Weren't well friends but we were familiar with each other's activities. Especially Raven's she's been a very naughty girl in her past. What's the matter Raven to shy to say anything? Well that's not nothing liked you at all."
"Shut up!" she yelled stabbing Leaf with one of the jagged daggers into her upper thigh leg area. Raven wasn't going to listen anymore to some snot nosed little elf, "This time its you who pays the ultimate price. Were the same now I'm not the only dark elf here am I?"
"Afraid you are Raven," Leaf whispered closing her eyes, "In spite of everything that I've done my slate is clean compared to yours. Anyways my father just gave me up, I'm allowed back into our homeland whenever I want to. I will return and you know what I'll be happy to."
Taking another knife she stabbed Leaf's arms over and over splashing blood all her. As Leaf opened her eyes she saw a small hand tinged with gold grabbed Raven's hand. Raven finally resting curbing her anger dropped the knife and went to sit over by the table with all the tools and chemicals for her torture.
"You have a gift of angering others causing them to do something that when rational would never have done," he whispered literally his voice was so cracked it sounded like he was an old man, "I commend you, it is not an easy task to anger Raven over there. But enough with trips down memory lane, Gabriel states that the gods of magic have entrusted you with knowledge. Will you not relinquish that knowledge?"
"If you ever had ears listen up," Leaf stated glaring at the man, "Who ever you are I don't care and no matter what you do that knowledge will stay buried till it wants to come out. I though Gabriel would have told you that. The knowledge I haven't access to, only the gods have access to that and they aren't whistling Dixie to come down here and help me out. So you're all going to have to learn patience, after all it's a virtue so learn it god damn it!"
"Well unfortunately we don't have patience as you do," he spoke softly lifting one of his hands, "So do hurry up and learn how to contact that knowledge and do it quickly. Reason be is this is going to hurt and we wouldn't want scar that pretty flesh anymore then we have to."
"Sorry can't do that and I won't do that!" Leaf vowed watching intently what this man was going to do to her know, "So get on with it I'm not afraid okay that a lie, I am pretty frightened but I'm still not going to tell ya!"
Leaf could hear the odd man murmuring some words that were all spiders like and just a tad creepy for her. She couldn't help but shiver as he went on and on with the chanting and such. Finally he had summoned what looked like a ball of lightening or electricity. Whatever it was Leaf knew it was going to be thrown at her. As he threw the ball she took an a breath and clenched her teeth. Feeling the electricity flow through her body shocking and burning her all over. She could suppress the urge to scream she knew that this scream wouldn't end this time. This time she knew if she didn't find some way to escape them she was going to die.
She was going to have to go against her feelings and beliefs and help Dalamar to get out of here. Gabriel would never quit till he found out that knowledge and Leaf had no way of getting to that knowledge. Screaming more and more she waited for the pain to end only to know that it would be accompanied with more torture more heinous torture.