Wow, my updates are really slow this time around. Sorry. x.x But I've been writing my Rurouni Kenshin fic!

Raine: So go bother them!

And Kenshin is a much nicer muse than you!

Raine: ...Hmm. Here's a thought. If you like him so much, leave me alone. How does that sound? -Sarcasm-

-Misses the sarcasm- Nope. Let's go!

-----------------------------------------

"Oww." Violet-blue eyes flickered open to stare at a wooden ceiling above her head. So she was still alive...Raine winced as she felt the familiar feeling of waves rolling beneath her. Alive, and on a ship, with Karla and her Crew. Wonderful.

"I see you've finally come around." Speaking of which...Karla had come up to her side and now looked down. "Welcome back to the real world, Lady Dukess. Did you sleep well?"

"Where are we going?" demanded the Half-Elf, wanting no part in the game Karla was trying to drag her into. She sat up slowly, smoothing her hair habitually.

"Off to Meltokio, we go," said the other, leaning against the wall with folded arms. "I've finally decided what I want to do with you."

"Well, if we have a destination, I trust that means you won't be tossing me into the ocean. Again." This last was directed at the three men who were approaching now, as well. That had not been a pleasant time for her, and she was quite sure Regal felt the same.

Regal...

She closed her eyes, a small, unconcious smile forming. At least he had listened to her. It seemed she always managed to get him into some sort of problem...after all, Deryn had only been after them because it all started with her race. Being a Half-Elf had caused Deryn and her little possy to get the idea of faking her murder, while they kidnapped her to use when needed. She had been a sick young woman. Very sick.

"What are you smirking at?" snapped Karla, her icy blue eyes narrowed into a glare.

"Nothing." The smile faded into a sigh. "So then, Miss Salri, what is my fate to be?"

"I was thinking about what you said before, Half-Elf. About what happened to Deryn...Dying alone, in a cold cell...sent by you and that idiot husband of yours to prison." Karla had an unpleasant smirk on her face, one that Raine didn't like at all.

"Really..."

"Yes. And so I've decided to show you just what being arrested feels like."

"And just how do you plan to do that?"

"Oh, brother." Karla rolled her eyes. "And I thought you were supposed to be half-way intelligent. I'm going to create a situation which sheds a very bad light onto you, my dear. How does...'Assault with a Dangerous Weapon' sound to you?" This was complimented with a rather disturbing giggle. "And, once youu're there, your darling lover will certainly find out quickly and make his way to the dungeon to see you. And then...we have you both just where we want you." She sighed, happily.

"I will not participate," said Raine, a flat edge to her voice.

"Oh, I think you will. We're he-ere." With that sing-song nstatement, Karla pulled Raine to her feet, and the four of them "escorted" her off of the ship, to the docks near Meltokio. It was just a short walk from there, one Karla was thoroughly enjoying. Too much for the mage's comfort, actually.

Before long they had passed through the gates of Tethe'alla's capital city. Karla tugged her up the stiars toward the castle, obviously where she knew guards would be present to witness this "crime." They veered to the side a bit, just slightly out of sight of any onlookers. She supposed this was so they could set things up.

David picked up her wrist and laid a rather lethal looking dagger in it, his gaze piercing her own. She csensed hatred from him, and knew that from then on, Karla wasn't the main one to worry about anymore. He had not appreciated what she had said about Deryn, and she knew he aimed to make sure they never forgot it. He loathed her - but that was fine. She didn't exactly adore any of them, either.

As he gave her the blade, Karla took a deep breath, and screamed as loud as she could. Raine flinched at the painfully high pitched sound, forgetting to drop the dagger and move away as she had wanted to. Before she could correct this mistake, David, Matthew, and Eric had hidden themselves, and Karla was half-sitting, half-laying on the ground with a terrified look on her face. She dropped the dagger quickly, but knew it was too late as she heard footsteps behind her.

"What's going on here?" asked a man. Raine looked over her shoulder to find herself staring at three heavily armored castle guards.

"She-she-she--" Karla was almost hyperventilating with fake horror as she pointed at the Half-Elf. "That woman...The Half-Elf attacked me! She was going to kill me!" She was a very, very good actress, something Raine resented in this instant. Tears were actually glinting in Karla's cold eyes. "You've got to arrest her! She's dangerous!"

One of them moved forward and picked up the discarded blade. "Is this the weapon she used against you, Miss?" he asked Karla.

She nodded vigorously. "She would have gone through with it too, if I hadn't screamed and scared her! Please, you have to arrest her!"

"It's true, officer." David had stepped out into view with a nod. "I was on my way to assist this young lady here when you showed up, and I figured it would all be taken care of. But I must insist now that you punish that Half-Breed."

Any normal person would have protested, would have denied ever doing any such thing. But Raine did not. She remained silent in this exchange, knowing full well that it would be useless to try and defend herself. Despite the law changes regarding Half-Elves, she knew her word would be disregarded again both Karla and David's together. It was injustice, but there was nothing she could do about it.

"Very well. You are under arrest by Royal Law, for assaulting an innocent citizen of Meltokio."

Hah. Innocent? She snorted as two men took her arms, and started to lead her off. They took her directly to the Dungeon, throwing her rather unceremoniously into an empty cell. She couldn't stop herself from crying out as her head hit the floor, and gritted her teeth against the lingering ache it caused. The only bright thing was that she was no longer wearing a wedding dress - she and Regal had changed before going to inform Sheena of their "vacation."

She sighed dismally, drawing her knees up to her chest, letting her mind wander back to her husband. Karla was going to use her to lure him there, where they could easily take care of him. And there was nothing she could do about it, as she was now considered a criminal.

Closing her eyes, she shook her head. It was hopeless.

---------------------------------

Ack, that's not good. Dang, those guards are gullable.

Raine: It's because of my race.

Racist pigs...

Raine: You wrote it!

Stay tuned...