Chapter sixteen:

Ray pauses as he arrives to where the chains have all gathered. He notices Ryan curled up as if sitting with the chains wrapped around himself. He isn't noticed yet since he is behind the other and his footsteps don't make a sound here. "Ryan."

Ryan turns as Ray stops nearby when Ray can feel the edge of the invisible platform right by his familiar.

Ray can't get any closer to where Ryan is floating in the air just out in front of him.

"How did you get here? Why are you here?" Ryan questions as he isn't sure what to really think about seeing Ray standing there. He slightly glances around suddenly realizing the space around him.

"Ryan. You need to break those chains." Ray's voice reaches to Ryan who once again turns back to his witch partner. He smiles softly. "I know you can do it. Unleash yourself."

"But I'll hurt you. You felt me attack. Then I dropped you out of the sky. I can't hurt you again." Ryan shakes his head closing his eyes. "It will always hurt others without my opinion."

"Ryan. I understand how you feel. I gave myself up wanting to be able to reach you. However I should have realized that they wouldn't let me see you. I felt horrible for failing you. For making that mistake. And I am very sorry." Ray crouches down as his partner watches him do so. "We will have our rough patches. Both of us will. And that will be okay. We will have each other even during those rough patches. You're a fighter. I know you are. Don't take any of this lying down. I can sense the fighter in you. Unleash it. Don't let them hold control over you." He offers a hand to the other with his smile on his lips.

Ryan blinks then smiles and wiggles until he can reach out towards Ray.

As soon as their hands connect the chains crack then shatter causing them both to close their eyes. They open their eyes to find each other standing floating in the space with their linked hand still together. They are now on the same level as if the breaking of the chains has put them on the same level. They smile at each other and hug.

"No more holding back. I am going to show you how much of a fighter I can be. Lets pound those fuckers into the ground." Ryan tells Ray whose smile widens upon hearing this.

"I am so happy to hear that Ryan. And I'll be with you don't worry. Pretend to still be in their control. We don't want them to find out and find a way to stop us. We'll keep our bond strong enough to resist them without them even knowing. See what you can do and let me know anything that might help the next time we see each other. I will gather what I can as well. Focus on me and send me a signal through our bond by reaching out to me within yourself when we can talk again."

Ryan nods his head in understanding then the two of them see darkness before opening their eyes in reality.

"How did it go?" Burnie leans forward gripping the bars on his cage tightly as he sees Ray's eyes open. He hadn't heard any words exchanged as the Ray in reality did not move or even speak.

"Ryan is going to pretend to be on their side." Ray tells Burnie who listens to what he has to say. "He will gather whatever information he can. I told him to let me know when it was a good time to contact him again. We have a way to talk to someone outside of this part with the cages."

Burnie sighs in relief. "That is wonderful news. Clearly they made the area below big enough for familiars to turn into their other forms. Ryan might not be able to reach up here without getting suspicion placed on him. We might have to focus on what we can do without getting too much suspicion."

"Maybe Ryan will be able to find out something that will help." Ray tells Burnie who makes a soft sound of agreement. "I will let him know that we are just above him. Maybe he will find a way to get to us or something."

"Let's hope so. We'll see what we can come up with in the meantime." Burnie agrees to this.

"By the way. Why aren't we taught to do that with our familiars?" Ray brings up and Burnie lets out a breath.

"Well it helps in situations that need it. If we just used it right away then it is often seen as going into their souls without real permission. Even though it is okay to be taught it. Getting to know your familiar and treating them as your partner is what being partners really means. In other words. Getting to know them in both forms is where the real bond comes from. Besides there has to be a connection there to start with. It's better for emergencies like this one or other emergency times where it is the best option. I made sure that this would not be taught unless it really is needed. I want to make sure the real bond is formed between partners. As does pretty much the rest out there as far as I am aware. Though they keep it as an option to be taught, if the need arises that is." Burnie explains and sees that Ray understands. He turns, as well as Ray, when the female that had spoken to Ray when he came here shushes them.

She signals for them to be quiet gesturing to the door to say that someone might be coming.

Burnie and Ray turn away from each other and wait. They now hear the footsteps heading towards the area with the cages. They keep their focus on where they hear the footsteps.

A few people come up carrying bags on their backs that they toss to the ground once they are up.

"Here's your food for today. Be grateful. You can either eat it or starve." The one who was the first in the room snaps to those in the cages. He looks like he doesn't care about his appearance. He has scruffy light brown hair, a goatee, and dark blue eyes. He has on a black leather jacket that looks thrown on with a dark grey tank top underneath. He has black sweats and black boots with white fluff poking out from the top. He gives the signal and a paper bag is taken from the bags to be tossed into each cage.

Once everyone has their food the rest leave though the scruffy man turns back.

"I don't really care if you starve anyways. It'll make our jobs easier anyways. If it was up to me you wouldn't be fed. Though the boss tells us to feed you. Don't know why." The scruffy man then leaves after that.

Ray looks inside of the brown paper bag he had gotten thrown into his cage. He finds that food has been carelessly tossed into plastic bags. He pulls it out to look at it. He finds a piece of shepherds pie just stuffed into the bag. He puts it to the side and pulls out another bag. He notes that this one is a few squished raspberries that he puts by the other bag. He pulls out a bag of water that is luckily not leaking. He finds that it isn't much but it'll keep them from starving or dehydrating up here. He resigns himself to digging into the meal given to him. He'll get some better food when this all over with Ryan.

Ryan is in his dragon form doing his best to imitate those who are still under control. He feels more in control of himself than he ever has before. He keeps Ray in his mind and knowing that he can feel the connection with his witch helps him out. He glances down as a dead rabbit is tossed into where he is being held. He supposes that this is his food though he isn't really impressed with it. He leans down and eats it anyways. He knows that Ray is okay and that they need to stop this group. He'll have to deal with what they give him. He will do it for Ray.

Night falls over the land and Gavin looks out the window of the living room where Cassandra has set the two of them up to sleep; Geoff and Jack are set up to sleep in another room for tonight. He wonders how well Ray and Ryan are doing out there.

"Gavin." Michael speaks up from where he is on the air mattress given to let them sleep comfortably tonight. "We will get them help. Come on. Lets get some sleep. We are going to start our flying journey tomorrow after all. I just don't want you to be too tired. I'll worry about how you're doing if you don't sleep."

Gavin turns around to look to Michael with a soft smile. "Yes. I am coming Michael." He confirms and heads over joining his witch under the blanket.

The two of them cuddle close letting themselves fall asleep together to prepare for their journey to the castle tomorrow.