"Why does she have to be so infuriating?" Dalamar ranted pacing back and forth in the tiny prison, "She's always been this way you know that don't you?"
"She probably doesn't trust you to keep your word and let her have freedom," Cleo stating rolling her eyes.
Ever since Leaf had left Dalamar had been irritating as to keep asking the same questions over and over. Cleo was beginning to see why Leaf didn't want to help him. She could see that Dalamar liked it when he was in control. Leaf being an elf that didn't care to be controlled by anyone, above all else another elf. Throwing back her hair she tied it up and sighed. Cleo was still worried about Leaf, those new people that were with Gabriel looked dangerous. Gabriel must have brought them to torture Leaf crueler then before.
"What is taking so long?" Dalamar ranted more, "Does it always take this long for them to bring her back? Or are they just being more incompetent? Maybe Leaf is provoking them more then usual to get back at me."
"Oh shut up!" she snapped, "Dear gods are all you elf males like this? I've never met someone so annoying and I grew up here with Josh."
"Someone rang?" a head poked through the floor revealing Josh, "Ah Cleo thought I heard you. I came to see what all the fuss was about."
"You mean you were spying on me to make sure I wasn't plotting anything with one of the guards seeing how you couldn't recognize Dalamar's voice," Cleo scoffed giving Josh aid to get out of the hole, "What you want?"
"You're so untrusting of everyone ever since Leaf and you met," Josh stated brushing himself off, "So this is Dalamar, nice to meet you I guess."
"This would be?" Dalamar asked looking to Cleo for answers.
"Josh him and I have been friends since I arrived here," Cleo stated sitting down again, "But back to our conversation before we were interrupted by Josh. They are taking longer then normal and Leaf wouldn't provoke them anymore then usual. She may have a death wish but not that much of a death wish."
"Are you certain?" Dalamar questioned, "How long have you known Leaf anyways? I mean you're human so you must've met here when she was brought here."
"Well she's been keeping track and I think its been 2 months since she arrived down here with the rest of us," Cleo stated smiling, "She's been looking out for me making sure that none of the guards or Gabriel come to get me ever again. She's like my best friend."
"Yeah the two get along more then ever," Josh said rolling his eyes, "One of the main reasons that Diane sent me here."
"Diane sent you!" Cleo shouted jumping to here feet, "What does she say? Will she be apart of Leaf's plan? We've been making sure that nothing bad could possibly happen."
"Settle down Cleo," Josh stated sitting down by the tunnels hole looking down, "Come on in Diane Cleo's here but Leaf's not off with torture again."
"No she can't be!" Diane jumped up quickly coming out of the hole, "Where is she? She can't go not this time this time it'll be worse then ever before!"
Diane paying no heed to anyone else around looked all over the room. She was unconcerned about Dalamar watching her as she went around. Cleo tried to calm her down but found it harder then she had anticipated. Dalamar coming to sit by Josh watched the two women run around the room over and over again.
"What's Diane so worked up about?" Dalamar asked looking over to Josh, "What could be so bad about her be tortured this time. She's had it done to herself many times, what's different this time?"
"Gabriel's had-" Josh began silencing himself off as he heard footsteps, "Diane quickly we have to get back there bringing her back."
"No I've got to be here for her I have to tell her myself!" Diane was raving now grief stricken that Leaf had gone before she could talk to her, "I have to apologize to her Josh!"
"God damn it!" Josh muttered jumping to his feet and dragging Diane back to the hole, "If Gabriel finds out about these tunnels he'll not only kill Leaf he'll kill us all now get going. Cleo will come and get us when Leaf's up for visitors. Right Cleo?"
"Of course just go Diane and take Dalamar with you so that Leaf can have some peace and quiet for a short time period," Cleo stated directing her glare upon Dalamar, "Go all of you now!"
When all three of them were gone Cleo put the stone back in place and began to cower in the corner where Gabriel always saw her. She wasn't really cowering but Leaf had told her that if Gabriel felt as though he was still in power he wouldn't become suspicious of them. Wouldn't separate them either in to different holding cell. Cleo listened to Leaf because she felt for some reason that she knew what she was talking about.
Now that she thought about Leaf had said that she had visions of past wars and wars to still come or something like that. She could be drawing on the strategies of these wars and not even knowing. Could that mean that maybe if she concentrated hard enough she could search for the knowledge the gods left her with? Why hadn't she brought these visions up before? Scolding herself she realized that Leaf must have thought that they all had them and stating something that another already knew would make her look unsuited for fighting for their freedoms.
The door opened and Leaf was hurled inside only stopping when she hit the wall. Cleo ran to help her looking over Leaf she saw that she was smoking. What had they done to her? Looking to the door the small black figure that Cleo had seen when they had come to get Leaf came forward. Holding his hand out Cleo saw that the man's hand had something there. She hesitated before she realized that he wanted her to take it. She grabbed it and saw that it was a jar of poultice.
"It'll help with the burns that's she's endured," he whispered his voice harsh and raspy, "Tell her that I'm quite amazed that she lasted so long against such pain. Such strength for one so young but she's being a fool."
"If she's such a fool then why are you wasting your time with her?" Cleo asked still trying to play the side of being the innocent one, "You'll have to tell me a name she rarely remembers what happens to her when she comes back. Now who shall I say this is from?"
"Raistlin Majere," he whispered, "Tell her we'll leave her for tonight and come around noon tomorrow."
"But that's so early!" Cleo shouted losing her innocent look and replacing her shocked more perplexed look, "Why so early?"
"Yes early is that such a problem?" he stated looking down at her with suspicion, "I don't believe that these tortures are for you but for her. Tell her we'll be back for her at noon tomorrow good evening to young lady."
The man turned and left the room the door to the cell slamming shut. Cleo felt her skin shiver as she remembered the man's voice. That man's voice could probably freeze the ocean it was so cold and heartless. Leaf began to stir and instantly Cleo forgot all about the odd man. Whoever he was Cleo made a mental note to get revenge for Leaf. Cleo had a feeling he was the one who caused the burns.
Feeling tears brim her eyes as she began the heinous task of looking at Leaf's wounds. Diane was right they were worse this time then ever before. Looking at Leaf's face Cleo asked herself what they did you. Shaking her head she bandaged the various blade stabs that had Leaf had endured. Always with the blade what was with these people? Learn better torturing techniques you idiots this is getting annoying. She saw though that these knife wounds were different. Usually Gabriel likes to slowly put the knife through Leaf so that he could watch Leaf's face twist in agony. But these looked like they had been stabbed with hatred.
"Who'd you anger so much that they'd do this to you?" Cleo whispered looking to Leaf's still face.
Ignoring her questions she began to apply the poultice to the burns and cuts, it would sooth the pain and hopefully speed up the process of healing. Cleo could only hope they'd be more healed for tomorrow at noon.
"So tell me now Josh what was so different during this torture session?" Dalamar asked once again sitting down beside him while Diane cried in the corner unsure what to do with her, "I'm waiting."
"You know for an elf you don't have much patience," Josh snapped ruffling his hair.
"Of course I don't especially when it concerns Leaf," Dalamar hissed, "Now get on with it and tell me already."
"Alright calm down already," Josh stated sighing putting his head on the cool stone wall, "Gabriel wasn't alone this time when he came to get Leaf. He had friends and dangerous they were."
"How do you know they were dangerous?" Dalamar asked looking suspiciously at Josh.
"It doesn't take a genius to know," Josh whispered, "Couldn't you hear the screams that Leaf was making? They were heart captivatingly horrible. The type of scream you couldn't help but listen to."
"We couldn't hear any scream from where we where," Dalamar whispered, "I'm wondering if she's alright now?"
"Yeah she'll be fine she always is," Josh spoke softly and fondly, "When she first came here I hated her. She had stole Cleo away from me. I had told Cleo that I wouldn't help her out never help her. Cleo had told her and Leaf didn't care. She simply stated that this was her fight and that she would not place others lives on the line. It's as though she thinks she has nothing to live for. I wonder why?"
"Leaf knows deep in her heart that she could go back home but," Dalamar muttered, "What's the point? She knows that she would only be put back into a room and locked in again. It doesn't matter who she was she could never truly go back to her old home. She only home knows is well practically here. She has no other home to go to."
"So she's pretty much stuck being alone," Josh whispered, "I never knew that. I wonder dose Cleo knows?"
"Probably they seem close," Dalamar mumbled looking over at Diane, "So what's with her anyways? Why was she freaking out so badly when she found out that Leaf went?"
"Diane has ability that well it's not exactly normal even for this race," Josh stated blushing a bit.
"What you mean?" Dalamar asked looking over at Josh, "You can tell me I've seen enough and heard enough that nothing could shock me now."
"Her boobs help her to tell when something worse then it is in the present already is going to well become worse," Josh whispered turning crimson.
"You're joking right?" Dalamar asked laughing a little, "That can't be true, can it?"
"Anything can be true when it comes to Solana Dalamar," Cleo's soft voice sounded from the tunnel hole.
"Cleo!" Josh shouted running over to help her out, "Is everything alright? How's Leaf will she make it?"
"One question at a time Josh," Cleo whispered standing up and brushing the dirt off her, "I really have no idea how she's doing. She hasn't awoken yet which might be good. The sooner she awakes the sooner they'll come again. And he'll come again.
"Diane you were right. These wounds were worse then anything that has come before this torture. I cried so much, how can Leaf withstand this was all that kept running through my head. I felt so bad. Diane is you sure you want to help Leaf? She'll be elated that you're going to help us. But still you're going to have to see her wounds to fully understand the risks that you would be taking."
"Please I just can't ignore the feeling any longer Cleo!" Diane stated standing in front of Cleo her voice barely even a whisper, "Just as you saw it I see it now, Freedom is worth fighting for even if I have to be used as life bate."
"Hold your thoughts for when we get back when you see the wounds," Cleo stated with remembered agony of having to bandage the wounds, "I'm still on Leaf's side and I'll stay by her side."
"When should she regain conciseness?" Dalamar asked getting to his feet.
"It could be a little longer cause well they are worse Dalamar," she stated looking over at him, "Is it true that the Conclave just wants her to help because Gabriel's out of control?"
"How did you know that?" Dalamar questioned sadistically, "I didn't tell Leaf so how do you know that?"
Pointing to her head, "I read your mind I thought after learning about Diane's magical ability that you would learn to expect anything from us. You should actually see Diane's one spell, its called rain spell that's how we all stay free of lice. It's beautiful the incantation and the dance she does with it."
"Rain spell?" Dalamar asked obviously not believing it, "That's not corny not at all."
"Oh go jump off a cliff!" Diane snapped at him, "All you've done since you've come is complain and ridicule."
"Relax down Diane," Cleo said laying a hand on Diane's arm, "Don't listen to him he's just trying to get on your nerves. Dalamar leave her alone she's been in this life a long time, same with us all you have really no right to make fun of her spells. You still haven't answered my question yet."
"Yes the Conclave actually deems your kind to dangerous to even live among other humans," Dalamar stated turning away from Cleo's probing gaze, "They were actually the ones that had Gabriel chosen to find your kind and imprison you."
"What!" Josh yelled, "It's the fucking Conclave's fault that we have to live this way. That we've had nothing but horrible torture and mice ridden little cells."
"Well to be truthful Gabriel's only the descendent of the family that's been doing this for generations to come," Dalamar whispered, "I only recently learned of all of this."
"Do you believe us to be dangerous?" Diane asked.
"Well not you I doubt that your power could really perform any sort of trouble for everyone," Dalamar stated rolling his eyes, "But say Leaf who was able to use her power to help Cleo that could be a danger. Not the least that Leaf doesn't now how to control her power. That really none of you know how to."
"That's cause no ones tried to teach us," Josh shouted punching her fist against the wall, "Tell me Dalamar does little Becky deserve this sort of life. She's no more that ten and she's had to play with adults and hay and old rags. When she should be playing with dolls and other kids. She shouldn't have this type of life!"
"There is nothing I can do," Dalamar whispered, "Maybe if Leaf helps me then she'll prove to the Conclave that you're kind aren't anything to be feared at all. You never know what could happen."
"No use arguing about it now and getting mad about it," Cleo snapped looking at Josh, "So curb your attitude and anger and come on, Leaf should be awake by now. If not then you can continue along with punching the wall Josh."
Crawling back into the tunnel the four of them made their ways back to the small room that held the already awake Leaf. Before they even arrived Leaf had some time to think to herself. She had never been tortured to brutally before. If she didn't figure out how to escape from here then she would be dead within the month. She couldn't survive that for too long. Crying softly to herself she tried her hardest not to scream as her crying jolted her body. Every part of her was still burning; she could still see those hands working the magic into the lightening that hit her body over and over again. The remembered panic and the wanting of death to release her.
Struggling to sit up she leaned against the wall for support. Sighing she bit her bottom lip to keep from screaming. She didn't care for tears but she didn't want to bring the attention to herself by screaming. By allowing them to know that they had extinguished the hope in her heart. She wouldn't let them have that happy thought without a fight. But it was only a matter of time before she begins to not care as everyone else here did. Soon she'd be nothing but a mush for Gabriel and Raven to poke at. Her eyes burned dry and stingy pain that she couldn't help but close her eyes against it. Looking down at her body she saw that she had twice as many bandages as normal. But what really caught her attention was the jar of now empty poultice. How did Cleo get that? Correction where did she get and from whom? Something was wrong with this picture, Gabriel wouldn't give this to Cleo neither would Raven. But that new figure the magic-user would he gives this to Cleo?
Shaking her head she would just have to wait till Cleo came back from wherever she told Dalamar to hide. Questions to be answered while solutions and plans are to be planned to escape from this hell hole once and for all.