Authors note- sorry for the long time delay in getting this flick updated, ive just been very busy and been on holiday. if there is any spelling mistakes please correct me. thanks.

Daine

The air crackled like electric currents were being passed through it. Every hair on Daines body stood on end, she felt like she was slowly being compacted into the size of a pea. Staring around the red room frightened, Daine saw that no one else had noticed the electric pressure, in the air. It felt to Daine, like she needed to pop her ears, as the pressure was building and building.

Daine closed her eyes, as she panted to breathe. Abruptly, as the pressure was starting to make Daine feel like being sick, it stopped. As quickly as it had come it had departed, like a flash of lighting. Daine stumbled and fell to her knees. She was taken aback when her hands touched lush grass instead of hard carpet.

Cracking one eye open uncertainty, to cheek if she was losing her mind, Only to be more puzzled then before.

'How?' Daine questioned to herself.

The sun was shinning down onto the fields, making the scene glimmer emerald. Picking up a poppy, the only other colour in the fields apart from green, she twirled it in her fingers as she stood up, and brushed of the dirt from her dress. The scene before her eyes, made Daine question her sanity. Daine thought, sadly, even this fantasy was better then reality, insanity was better then reality.

Staring down at her clothing, she noticed that her curly hair had reached all the way down her back to her waist; she looked like a dark princess from the stories that her grandpa used to tell her. Her dress, a rich purple with golden hemming, was beautiful far away but close up, you could see the tatty and broken stitching.

Sighing Daine, decide to walk around the field. To enjoy the fresh clean air was a rarity, as getting out of the brothel was strictly prohibited. It was like a prison. In this reality she wasn't trapped, but still thoughts and guilt wrapped up her mind into a complicated maze.

The air was damp as if the sea was not far away. It made the air taste bitter, but searching around the only blue Daine could see was the sky, which had no cloud in it. It frustrated Daine to find that she still couldn't communicate with any people. Over the months, nearly a year, Daine still hadn't got used to being separate from the people, she felt as if she had been slashed in half. The area was so silent that even the breeze made no sound. Her hair streamed back as tears stung her face. Daine stared into the distance over the many fields into the uncertain future.

In the hush, as a unknown husky voice soothingly sung words that made Daines eyes stream even more.

"In the place where the past is a myth,

And the futures a distant dream.

Where life's currents

Get swept out to sea.

Still honestly and courage,

Must prevail,

If there is any chance to save the

Nation of the pearl."

The words struck a cord deep within Daine, even though she didn't comprehend the meaning. Breaking free of the force that had kept her still throughout the speech, Daine turned to try to find the speaker, only to find thin air.

" Daine my daughter" said the husky voiced speaker.

Daine twirled to face the speaker. Daine stood their gob smacked, until she realised it was impolite to stand with her mouth open. Daine bowed to the Goddess standing in front of her. The Goddess was elegantly clad in a simple emerald dress. The lady almost blended into the background if it wasn't for her fiery red hair, which was an abrupt contrast to the background.

Daine's eyes travelled along the posed Goddess, almost frightened to look the lady in the face. Feeling a pull, Daines eyes hit the Goddess's eyes, creating a jolt, which travelled like lighting down Daines spine through to her tingling toes. In the Goddess red eyes, there was wisdom and knowledge that her youthful body concealed.

"Daughter, you are not on an trouble-free path, and I apologise that" the Goddess held up her delicate pale hand to stop Daine asking any questions.

" The passage that you have been forced to walk, isn't simple and it isn't kind. What's more I have been urged to burden you with even more hardships." The Goddess paused, and hesitantly her eyes searched the landscape.

Daine was shocked and amused that a Goddess was unable to find the words to explain herself. It made the Goddess look almost human.

"Gods shouldn't mess with human quarrels and wars, for we are beyond it. But times of chaos and devastation was yet again are upon the human realm. Once again chaos pawns are running free." The Goddess sighed.

Daines eyes bulged. 'This isn't possible' she thought, she had been there herself when the Goddess of chaos was sentenced to incarceration until the next star was born.

Interrupting the Goddess, Daine stammered " but…but…how?"

Daine hadn't meant to disrupt the Goddess, but in doing so Daine had shocked herself, and quickly clamped her hand over her mouth. The Goddess stared at Daine, eyes boring into Daines eyes, neither one willing to looking away first. After minutes the Goddess sighed and wearily said,

"The gods have failed, father and mother flame have underestimated Ursula's power and last summer a tentacle of chaos struck out, unleashing itself onto the human realm. Though they wont admit it, the Gods feel guilty of plaguing Humans with theses problems, that's is why I have been sent here. I myself feel guilty for, I am the Goddess of safety, and you are not safe."

Daine didn't need someone to tell her that she wasn't safe. Only last week, one of friends, Yrnnen had been murdered in one of the upstairs rooms of the brothel. The murderer had still not been caught; Daine suspected that it was some titled gentleman, who had got away with it by pleading with the emperor.

Daine stared at the Goddess; surly the Goddess isn't taking responsibility for Daines own stupid mistake? Before Daine could contradict the Goddess and say it was her won fault for getting herself into the mess, the Goddess continued speaking.

"Time is falling fast. I cannot keep you here for much longer. Tortall is disintegrating fast, without its king, or wildmage, there is no hope. You, as a wildmage and half god, have the power to solidify a crumbling land. Listen, you must keep your eyes open, understand that following the path that you walk like a sheep, will get you slaughtered and with that, any hope for humankind. Watch, and take the risk and a path will revel itself."

The Goddess glanced at Daine one last time, searching for Daines understanding, and she must have found it or run out of time, because a heartbeat later the Goddess vanished. Daine wondered whether the Goddess should have been the Goddess of riddles instead of safely.

As the pressure started to build again, Daine closed her eyes as she tumbled back into her reality, back into herself own created hell.

The quiet hush that Daine had been experiencing with the Goddess was shattered as Daine opened her eyes to a scene of laughter and dancing. The room was crowed; a clear difference to the lush empty emerald fields. Daine went to join the rest of her friends in entertaining men, in the red room. This reality was a mix of pain and pleasure.

Through, Daine told jokes, smiled, giggled and ultimately participated in her unpaid job, it was a grim routine, one that she had been doing for almost a year. It was a routine that she could almost do in her sleep. On that night Daines mind was on the Goddess riddle, she was almost detached from the scene. Daine understood that if she stayed working in the brothel it would eventually kill her, but what she didn't understand was how she could escape. The only options were, either to run away and get strangled by her brass collar, or get sold of as a mistress to some rich merchant.

Daine was more frighten of being sold, because at least in death you are truly dead. A mistress is someone who is dead inside while, having to trade everything she's got; her morels, hopes and dreams to keep her heart beating. Daine really didn't want that life every slave feared it. Stories often floated though the brothel, of girls getting sold into being a mistress, to be abused, beaten, humiliated and then eventually murdered by their masters, when they grew tired of them.

The days faded into more weeks. But still Daine hadn't thought of a way of escaping, never mind helping Tortall. One more problem was, if she did escape how could she get home, with not a penny to her name? It seemed that all hope was lost before it had even had chance to bloom.

"Daine have you heard?" Laura asked smiling.

"No what?" Daine enquired, while finishing putting on her make up for tonight's work. Laura answered excitedly,

" A few of us girls have been invited by the emperor to the palace banquet! Just think, freedom, to feel fresh air on your face, and earth beneath you toes" Laura sighed and daydreamed of feeling human again.

The banquet was legendary in sacrara. It was a night of dancing, elegant food, music and many many women. It drew men to it like a moth to flame. The emperor of scaran hosted the banquet; and invited important people from all around the globe. Fear flooded Daines body, as she prayed that she wouldn't be chosen, for she would hate for some of the important people to be present to be her friends.

Daine stared at her reflection, her pale face, shone aluminous, her eyes looked wide, partly from the eyeliner, and partly from the fear. She didn't want people to see her, she didn't want her friends to know what she did for a living, and she didn't want people to know how low she has sunk.

Sighing Daine walked up the stairs to the red ballroom. The room was packed

Staring around the room, Daines eyes gaze fell on James. James was a young man from the Yammi islands, who regularly came to sacrara on his father merchant ship. When he first came to sacrara he was persuaded to come into the brothel. He was the only man she could safety say she was happy to ever see. James was scared and nervous when he first arrived so Daine was told to go over to ease the man.

Soon Daine got to know him, and soon they became friends. There was no sexual tension between them and Daine felt good to be in tho company of a man without being petrified.

Since then whenever James came to sacrara he would go and see her. Daine enjoyed his company and he respected her and found friendship in her as she had him.

Daine hadn't seen him for two longs months. She almost ran over to him, she had to carry on remaining her feet and legs of calmness and pose. Walking up the older man she noticed new scars on James hands but before she could ask where they has come from she was wrapped up in tight embrace. Daine let herself sink into his large arms, his blond hair tickling her nose, till she had to laugh. James let her go, allowing her to breathe but before she could catch her breathe he dragged her onto he dance floor.

Soon Daine was smiling and laughing at James dancing.

'What you laughing at girl?' James roared over the music

'You' whispered Daine into his ear.

James stared at her quizzically,

' What have I done that is so funny?' he twirled her around in time to the music, but managed to trip her over, but graceful caught her before she fell onto the floor. Picking her up, she laughed again. Daine has to stop him before he injured someone.

'James you can't dance!' Daine said smiling.

James stopped dancing; he was the only still body in the room, among the swaying crowd. He looked at Daine embarrassed, blood rushing to his cheeks.

' I know I cant dance very well. It was the only thing that I'm not very good at' Daine thought this was a very arrogant sentence but let it slide.

He stared around the room, admiring the talented dancers.

' Ok, Daine seeing your such a good dancer' he said very sarcastically. ' Show me how to dance'

He hadn't meant what he'd said, so was shocked when Daine grabbed his hand and dragged him up the grand steps into a large dingy room beyond.

Pushing the large bed to the side, Daine glances as James face, which wore a stricken face.

'James whatever is the matter?' Daine enquired turning to face him.

' Well…I've never been in a room…alone with you… Before' he stammered. His face, if possible got even more red, Daine laughed, she had never had a man embarrassed about being alone with her, normally that would defeat the purpose of these places.

'James don't worry I'm not doing to seduce you. You're my friend' she smiled at him trying to ease his worry. He has obviously thought she was going to ravish him.

Daine slowly walked over to him, playfully swaying her hips. Daine found it amusing how scared James looked; he had the whole, rabbit coughing in the headlights look about him. His eyes went even wider as Daine reached for his left hand, to place his hand on her waist, and to hold his right in her hand. Slowly Daine started to hum and song. Together, but with Daine taking the lead they began to waltz around the room

After a while Daine began to sing the words to the song. He granddad had taught her the song to her as a little girl. It was a sad song about a foolish girl who wondered of into the word one day and got lost. Grandpa always used to have a tear in his eyes as he sung that song. As a young girl Daine had wondered why it made him so sad, considering the little girl found her way home eventually. When she has asked, he just looked at her with hidden understanding and muttered to himself

'She'd understand some day when she was older' but she hadn't understood till know, that her grandpa seemed to know what would happen to Daine, and that what made him sad, that he couldn't protect her, or change her path.

By the end of the night, James could finally dance without permanently injuring someone, although mishaps like stepping on her toes were still common. It was one of the few enjoyable nights she had been graced with in a while and it melted a bit of her iced heart but it made her crave Numair all the more.