Alice wandered for the better part of the hour, slowly making her way back towards the campsite in a forest she had come to know rather well, chewing over her own thoughts. Perhaps she shouldn't have shown them the crash site. Perhaps it would have been better to play the innocent passerby, who had just stumbled upon the strange things there. She shook her head angrily, knowing she would never have been able to pull it off. Artemis was right. She was bad at keeping secrets.
The pain of seeing the wreckage still lingered in her. She was still shaking slightly, and she couldn't seem to rid herself of the burning smell. Her mouth tasted like copper, and her ears rang with hollow echoes of screams and deafening ripping metal.
Again she shook her head, stopping next to a narrow tree. She leaned her forehead against it, resting her forearm over her head. Clenching her eyes shut, she banged her head lightly on the trunk. As if trying to dislodge the memories. But the harder she tried to push them away, the more potent they became. Her throat burned and her breathing tightened. Forcing herself up, she started walking again, hoping to distract herself.
A snapping twig pulled her from her thoughts, and she looked around. She paused, an unsettling feeling wrapping itself in knots in her chest. Something was wrong. But she couldn't put her finger on what. The woman looked around herself slowly, trying to ascertain the cause of her unease. Her ears rang as she strained them.
Rang… with silence… The realization dawned on her suddenly. There was no bird song. No chattering chipmunks nor rustling underbrush. The world around her had fallen still.
Another twig snapped behind her, causing her to jump. "Artem-?"
His name died on her lips as she turned. Or more, was swept away with a gasp as two figures leaped forward, grabbing her forcefully. She opened her mouth to shout, and one clapped his clawed hand over it.
Alice's eyes widened in shock as she looked at her attackers. Their skin was grey, as if the color had been sucked from it. One boasted a pair of horns and a tail whipped about him as he pulled her arms behind her back, the other nothing more than a deep scowl and pointed ears. Their plated leather armor was black, with dark grey fabric peeking out beneath it on their muscled arms and legs and about their waists. The same armor she had seen at the river. One of them was a full head or more taller than her, while the other had maybe a few inches on her. He kept his hand clasped over her mouth as the other got firm grip on her arms, his other hand on the back of her head.
"Let's go." Growled the one with the horns as he painfully twisted her arms together behind her back.
Alice let out a muffled cry of pain as the larger of the pair shoved her forward. The other released her head and followed close behind as she was dragged through the forest. She struggled and twisted.
"Let me go!" She shouted at them, trying to kick at one of her captors as he ventured closer.
He dodged her feeble attempt easily. Snarling, the elf backhanded her so hard her head snapped to the right. She gasped and stumbled, dragged sharply by her other captor.
"Silence!" He growled, twisting her arms painfully again. Her cheek throbbed from the blow, and she struggled to get her feet under her, slipping in the wet leaves and from being hauled forward without pause by the larger man.
Still, she struggled, ignoring the protest in her joints as she twisted against his grip. But suddenly he threw her forward, and she crashed to the ground with a gasp.
"Found her while securing the perimeter, my lord." Said one of her captors.
She managed to get her arms under her, rolling to her stomach. Large booted feet filled her view, and she started to stand. One of the guards shoved her with his heel.
"Stay down!" He snarled.
Finding herself on her side once more, the woman rolled again, back to all fours, coughing.
"Let me see her."
Before she could push herself up, a clawed hand grabbed the back of her hair and ripped her head backward. She gasped again, one hand instinctively reaching up to grab at the tiefling. His other hand caught hers, yanking it back.
Standing over her, towering over her, was a behemoth of a man. Though man was a loose term. His shoulders were twice her width, and on her knees her head barely passed his. His broad, muscled chest was almost bare save for some dark leather plating, and his skin was a dark grey-purple. Black hair tumbled in a wild mane about his shoulders, and four beastly horns curled from his head. He looked down at her with blazing umber eyes, his expression unreadable.
She glared back at him, twisting slightly as if she might free herself from the guard's grasp. He tightened his grip to hold her steady under his superior's scrutinizing gaze. She realized then they were back at the plane's tail, and her eyes darted around. Dozens of similarly clad warriors moved through the suitcases and things she had gathered. A few ducked in and out of the structure. Even more seemed to be coming and going from the forest around them. Surrounded.
"Her clothes, how very peculiar." Came another voice.
From behind the warlord came a much more slender man, with the same colorless skin and a shaved head. His garb was of cloth, with many layers of dark shades piled on top of each other. Only the collar was metal, a worn silver which rested on his collarbone and shoulders with an intricate pattern etched into its flat face. Alice met his gaze as he approached, scowling stubbornly.
The tiefling warlord did not even offer the man a passing glance, his eyes focused upon the woman postulated before him. She turned her sapphire glare back to him after a moment, tightening her jaw.
"Where did you spawn from, girl?" The robed man asked, stepping up and reaching out a hand as if to touch her. She yanked herself away from his fingertips. He smiled. "No need for that. Be quick in your answers, and you can be on your way."
She highly doubted that, and her continuing glare must have led credence to her mistrust. The older man chuckled and withdrew his hand. He looked over his shoulder at the broad chested tiefling.
"Her garments are like nothing I have seen before." He noted, then gestured to the campsite beyond them. "Save for here."
Alice couldn't keep herself from casting her eyes downward at his words, if only briefly. It was enough to betray her to the watching tiefling though. He gestured to the guard holding her, who yanked her to her feet by her hair.
"This shelter is of your making then." He rumbled.
She gritted her teeth.
"The upturned earth is fresh." The man chimed in, and Alice glared at him. "I would venture to say the same age as our artifact."
The warlord reached out and grabbed her chin, forcing her to look at him. "How did you find this place?"
She scowled at him, which made his expression darken, sending shivers down her spine. The man behind him waved the guards off, and with a bow, they released her and went back to their work. Her hands free, she grabbed his wrist as if to pull him off her. But his grip merely tightened.
"What power did you find?" He growled, "Where have you hidden it?"
Alice tried again to twist herself from his grip, but he pulled her closer. His hand slid from her chin to her neck, his muscled fingers closing about her throat. His face was barely a hair's length away, his breath hot on her cheeks.
"Answer quick, girl. I have little patience." He warned.
"Perhaps, Lord Asmodeus, the girl does not know to whom she speaks." The man behind him offered. "Perhaps she does not understand the might and power of the Netherese." He gave her a twisted smile as she glanced at him from the corners of her eyes. "Nor how her cooperation might be rewarded."
Asmodeus slowly released her neck, pushing her back a foot. "What is your name, girl?" He demanded quietly.
Alice didn't answer, one hand rubbing her throat as she looked between the pair and at the activity beyond them. The man with the shaven head watched her quietly, carefully considering her expression.
"I am Ianric," He offered her, "And this is Lord Asmodeus, of Shadowfell."
She glanced at them as he spoke their names, then over her shoulder. As if she might flee, or was looking for someone.
"If you are trying to bide your time until help arrives, let me assure you, there is more than a score of Lord Asmodeus' men patrolling the forest." Ianric told her, a smirk playing across his lips. He crossed his arms. "And I can also assure you, if you would rather forgo pleasantries, Lord Asmodeus would be happy to use a less pleasant method of information extraction." She looked back at him, and he raised an eyebrow. "But perhaps you would be more persuaded by a reward? I assume you can speak?"
She debated that momentarily, trying to decide and weigh her options. Fear tickled at her chest, and she had to keep her hands clenched to keep them from shaking.
"I grow tired of waiting, Ianric." The warlord rumbled.
The man approached her slowly, his mischievous smile thickening her unease. "Let us make this easier on everyone, shall we?" He told her. "Start with your name."
"...Alice.." She said softly after a few moments.
Ianric clapped his hands together in pleasure. "Ah! So she can speak. How wonderful."
"Alice?" Asmodeus echoed. "That is a strange name."
"Where are you from, lady Alice?" Ianric pressed, taking a step closer.
Alice took a step back. "...Far away."
The warlord narrowed his eyes at her. "Do not think yourself clever for avoiding questions." He warned her. "You are merely adding another stone onto your grave."
"You must be hungry, tired." The human offered, extending a hand. "Come, eat with us. Tell us how you came upon this place."
"...No thanks."
Suddenly, Asmodeus snatched her by her neck again, yanking her up to his face. She gasped, her toes dangling just above the ground uselessly. Ianric protested softly but the tiefling ignored him. "Then we shall clap you in irons and put you on the spit yourself." He snarled, his lips so close she could almost feel them move as he spoke. "You have lost the last of my goodwill, girl."
He moved as he spoke, carrying her over to a large tent that had been pitched near the edge of the forest. Alice clawed at his hand, desperately trying to get air into her lungs. He slammed her roughly against one of the poles holding up the tent inside, and her vision spun.
The warlord released her, letting her crumple to the ground, coughing and gasping. He watched her sputter for a moment, rubbing the palm of his hand almost eagerly.
"How did you find this place?"
She wiped at her mouth with the back of her hand. "I just did." she stated hoarsely.
She was rewarded with a sharp kick to her stomach, which had her wrapping her arms around it and falling back to the dirt with a groan.
"It speaks finally. How did you find this place?" He demanded again.
She shook her head, starting to roll back to all fours. "I found it. Same as you."
This kick lifted her off the ground, sending her flying a few feet before knocking into a post again and dropping like a sack. She gasped and coughed, cradling her abdomen and rolling in pain.
"Tell the truth." Ianric suggested, standing by the entrance.
"Are you alone?" Asmodeus walked slowly over to her.
She spat at him. He hauled her up by her hair, throwing her against a wooden table that lined one side of the tent. He chuckled as she spun to face him, her hands braced against the edge of the table.
"How eager you are to receive punishment." He grabbed her neck again, squeezing tightly until she opened and closed her mouth like a fish out of water. "I assure you, I am just as eager to grant that wish." He ran the back of his other hand along her cheek. He loosened his grip on her throat, but pushed her backward, bending her painfully over the table. She gasped and thrashed with her legs. "Who else lives here with you?"
Again she didn't answer, instead tugging at his hand on her throat and trying to kick him. He batted her feet away as easily as one might an irksome fly.
"Get off me!" She grunted hoarsely.
"I will do with you as I please." He declared, hauling her back up until they were nose to nose. "And you will answer your betters." She jerked from side to side, trying to pull away from him. "Where is the power of this place?"
Alice swung her head forward, but he dodged her easily. "Gone." She snarled sarcastically. "You just missed it."
He threw her back to the ground. "How brazen of you." He told her, then kicked her hard in the abdomen again. "But it is a useless bravado." Crouching down, the tiefling grabbed her chin, twisting her to face him. "Who are you really?"
She tried to smack him across the face, but he caught her hand and bent it until she screamed.
"Go to hell!"
He laughed, flipping her over and digging his knee into her stomach. "Tell me what I need to know." With one hand he tugged her shirt until the fabric began to rip. "If you want this to stop, all you need do is answer me." He slid his massive hand beneath her clothing, caressing her stomach and ribs teasingly, pushing up the hem. She twisted and struggled desperately. "Where is it?"
"There's nothing here!" She shouted at him, "Beat me all you want, you're wasting your time!"
"I beg to differ." Piped up Ianric from the entrance, "The strange relics here, while they may hold no power themselves, tell us all we were promised was true." He grinned as Asmodeus stood, dragging her by one arm along the ground. "There is great power to be found here."
"Where have you hidden it, girl?" He demanded, tossing her the last few feet along the dirt ground.
She shook her head, struggling to get her feet under her. "I don't know." She spat.
The tiefling turned to face her, dark smile settling on his lips that sent more shivers down her spine. "You know what it is," He walked back over, grabbing her by the back of the neck with one hand, "You are not very good at keeping secrets, girl."
He brushed the blood off her face with his other hand, wiping it slowly on her chest in dramatic sweeps. Alice tried to shove his hands away and wriggle free. But he tightened his grip.
"Who else knows about this place?"
She gritted her teeth and glared at him. "...Fuck you."
His eyes widened slightly in surprise at her words as he considered their foreignness, then he gnashed his teeth angrily. His backhand sent her back to the ground. Then he crouched down, grabbing a clump of her hair and yanking her head up again. "Next I get my blades." He hissed in her ear, his hot lips right against her flesh.
He pulled her up by her hair, slamming her face first against the post. Sparks danced in her eyes. The behemoth pressed his body against her back, squishing her painfully against the wood. He pressed his lips against her skin again.
"Or perhaps... I have another use for you." He crooned, his voice husky.
The tiefling dragged his lips along her neck, biting her at its base. His hands slid down her thighs, and he ground his hips against her buttocks suggestively. She shook her head, struggling. But he had her completely pinned. Completely surrounded.
"Do you wish to be defiled, lady Alice?" Ianric piped in again, ever lingering in the entrance, watching, "To have your dignity stripped away from you with your clothes? Your honor?" A twisted smile. "Who would want you after that?"
"Perhaps I'll allow you a turn after I've had mine, Ianric." The warlord mused, pulling at her clothes slowly until she could hear the fabric ripping again quietly.
She couldn't stop herself from shaking then, and her legs felt weak. The warlord spun her, slamming her against the thick post so hard her head knocked painfully off it. He grabbed her face with his hand, flexing his fingers into her soft flesh. Pinching her cheeks together.
"Are there others?" Growled Asmodeus, his other hand sliding into the back of her pants.
She wriggled, but he merely pressed himself against her, stilling her struggles. His opposite hand started to push down her pants.
"Tell me!" He hissed against her neck.
The air snapped and crackled about them suddenly, and electricity seemed to flash beneath her skin. The warlord jumped back suddenly with a snarl, clutching his hand and staring at her. Just as suddenly as it had come, the sensation was gone. She held the post behind her to keep herself standing, gasping.
"What in the nine hells was that?" Snarled Asmodeus.
He spun and looked at Ianric, who looked equally confused. He seemed to be searching the air around them, then strode over to the girl. His hands quickly patted her down, searching for pockets, feeling her wrists and neck, checking her ankles and shoes. She wriggled under his touch, but he moved quickly, ignoring her protest, dodging her flailing arms.
When he found nothing, he rose slowly, considering her. "You did not find this place, did you?" He asked her softly.
She was still shaking, her breath ragged as she stared at him.
Asmodeus glared at his subordinate. "What nonsense are you babbling?"
Ianric turned to face the warlord. "She did not find this place." Then he looked back at her. "...She came with it."
Alice steeled her will, tightening her jaw and forcing herself to glare at the pair. She hoped she looked much more intimidating than she felt. Because fear threatened to buckle her over.
Asmodeus approached slowly, and she tensed. "Speak quickly, mage. I have little care for riddles."
"You were seeking the powerful artifact, my Lord?" He questioned, glancing towards the tent's entrance. "It is not that scrap out there. But this girl, right here." He smiled widely at her.
Her head swirled with his words, but she tried to keep the confusion from her face. Asmodeus, for his part, glowered at her thoughtfully. Considering the implications. She nearly crumpled beneath his gaze.
Finally he nodded. "Then we have what we came for. We will depart imme-"
A commotion outside the tent drew their attention, and the warlord strode over to the opening angrily. The sound of ringing metal and shouts was fast growing, and the warlord raised a hand to Ianric.
"Stay here." And with that he departed.
Ianric turned to consider the girl, offering her a smile. "I tried to warn you. Tried to help you." He reminded her, approaching her casually, "I am only here to be of service." He was very close now, and she almost flinched at his unsettling giddiness. "But I can protect you from Asmodeus. I can keep you safe, teach you about the Netherese." His grin was twisted and frightening. "Let me be your ally, nay, your friend. We have much to learn from each other."
He raised his hand as if to stroke her cheek or touch her shoulder, even as she pulled away. But suddenly he shrieked, retracting a bloody stump where there was once a hand. The mage staggered back and Alice looked over at Artemis in surprise as he lunged forward sword first from seemingly nowhere. Ianric pulled an item from his belt with his remaining hand and shouted something, throwing it at the ground even as Artemis charged at him. In a puff of smoke, he was gone.
The assassin quickly spun back. "Let's go." He hissed, grabbing her arm.
He led the way through the slice he had made in the back of the tent, and the two ran into the forest a few feet behind that. A roar announced the approach of a pair of shades, and Artemis quickly pushed her behind him, raising a borrowed sword and dagger.
The first he dispatched quickly, so eager was their charge that they found themselves directly in the path of the assassin's sweeping sword. The other dodged his attack more effectively, coming around the right side of the human's dagger hand with a downward swing of a mighty broadsword. Artemis crossed his weapons, barely blocking the blow with a solid grunt. The shade bared down, trying to force his blade through. For his troubles, he got a boot in the gut, knocking him off balance. Artemis swiped his dagger out, feinting to expose the swordsman's side, then plunged his own sword in deep. The man fell to his knees with a thump.
The assassin didn't waste time to see if he would rise again. Sheathing his borrowed dagger, he grabbed Alice's hand and ran.
She was not sure how long they ran. She lost track of her surroundings, focusing on keeping her feet beneath her. But each breath ripped through her throat and each footfall shot pain through her torso. Finally, Artemis slowed, looking this way and that as he released her hand.
"I told you it was dangerous." He snarled, sheathing his sword as she fell against the nearest tree, her back to him. "I told you your stubbornness was going to get you killed. You stupid, stupid-"
He cut himself short as she slowly sank to the ground, shaking and gasping for air. One hand clasped at her throat, as if she could hold it open to get more oxygen it. It was already tender to the touch, and her other arm quivered from the effort of holding her up. Midday had come and gone, and as Artemis crouched beside her, resting a hand on her shoulder, it was late afternoon sunlight that fell upon her swollen cheek and bloody lip. She flinched at his touch. A gash had opened at her hairline by her ear, dripping blood steadily down her chin. The skin on her neck was turning purple in the shape of a large hand, and she felt a sharp pain in her side each breath she drew in. She looked up at Artemis, who remained silent as she caught her breath. As he took in each of her wounds, he felt his wrath and rage at the Netherese grow until it was a blazing wildfire in his breast.
"...I'm sorry…" She gasped softly, and her eyes stung with tears. She couldn't seem to stop shaking, even as she leaned back to support herself with her knees. Her lips quivered, her hands shook. She raised those hands to her face, wiping at the blood and dirt there.
"You are safe now." Artemis said finally.
His words broke her, and despite herself, she threw herself into his arms, burying her face in his shoulder. The assassin stiffened at first, his arms out as if unsure and surprised. But then he wrapped them around her, squeezing her to still her shaking.
"We have to keep moving." He told her after a time.
She nodded, and he helped her slowly climb to her feet. She winced, grabbing at her side. Artemis scowled, reaching out to roll up her shirt slightly and reveal the red and purple bruise spreading there.
"Broken rib." He guessed, letting her torn shirt fall back down.
Alice nodded weakly, drawing in a slow breath to avoid the sharp pain. The assassin took her arm gently and led her through the forest. He picked his way around the worst of the trail, finding the easiest walking path. But still the sun was fast sinking and her legs grew weaker and weaker.
When he had to catch her from a stumble for the twentieth time he growled stubbornly. He stepped in front of her and crouched down, grabbing the backs of her knees.
"Hold on." He told her, starting to hoist her up before he had even finished speaking.
She squeaked in surprise, wrapping her arms about his shoulders as he lifted her up onto his back. He settled her comfortably on his lower back with his arms hooked around her legs.
"I can walk." She told him hoarsely.
"You are slowing me down." He argued. "Now hold on and shut up."
She rested her chin on his shoulder weakly. "Where are we going?"
Artemis was indeed able to move much quicker with her on his back, picking his way through a more direct route.
"The others created the distraction so I could get you out." He said, "We are meeting them just beyond the plane."
She nodded, and he couldn't help the goosebumps that rose on his skin from her breath on his neck. Couldn't help noticing that her strangely familiar scent was laced with the smell of blood. It made his scowl deepen. Covering ground even faster and more direct than before, they reached the edge of the trench in short time. Yet despite their speed, he felt her slackening with each step. Artemis made his way carefully down the slope she had shown them earlier, and her head lolled against his shoulder, then jerked before drooping once more. She gave a humming sigh softly, stirring as he skipped down the last stretch. The sun had reached the horizon and was beginning to set as he made it to the opposite side of the trench and back into the forest. A magical, smokeless fire guided him to the campsite.