Disclaimer: I don't own any of the characters except for Evalyn.
Frog: I'm back! Ugh. I have major writer's block for Free to Sing. I have so much planned for it, but for the chapter I'm working on I have absolutely nothing! Anyways, I do answer questions that people ask me in reviews, so I'll get to that.
izzy: I think that all of your questions get answered in this chapter, but I'll answer them here anyways just in case. Zane isn't a prince, therefore they aren't at war. Danica's country, Avia (avians) is at war with Falcane (falcons). She is being kidnapped for ransom by Zane, who is...I'll just let you find that out. Hey! He's got to make a living somehow!
tenneyshoes: You didn't actually have a question, but I have something to say anyways. I'm not meaning to make Vasili a jerk, just snooty. But it doesn't really matter how you see him. I'm going to make things be not so great between Zane and Adelina as well, since I don't like them as a pairing anyways.
Frog: Thanks you two and IWABABY for reveiwing. Here's the chapter.
A shriek managed to escape her, but remained muffled by his hand. She stepped on his foot as hard as she could, and recieved the desired result.
He let go of her waist briefly enough for her to get away. Both of their attackers were wearing cloths over their mouths. She opened her mouth to scream, but suddenly found someone else had grabbed her from behind. So she struggled again. This person was having a bit more trouble holding her. By now, Evalyn had fainted, and was hanging loosely in her attacker's grasp. He didn't really seem sure what to do with her. The first man took hold of Danica again. The third intruder, with the appearence of a woman, giggled a little.
"Looks like our little princess has got fangs, eh Zane?" she mused.
Zane. Danica was sure she had heard that name before, but wasn't sure where and why. However, given her current situation, whatever she may have heard probably wasn't good.
"Indeed she does," the man holding her, Zane apparently, agreed, "But you had better not bite me!"
"I wouldn't give her any ideas," the man holding Evalyn muttered. Danica had to admit, it was a pretty good idea. But she soon found a cloth tied over her mouth. Zane turned her to face him.
"Now come along quietly, or we'll have to hurt your friend," he explained simply, gesturing to Evalyn. The princess of Avia gulped and nodded obediently. He carefully loosened the cloth from her mouth, and grabbed her wrist.
Then he lead them all down the hallway. Danica was horrified to see so many unconscious bodies on their way; several with darts imbedded in them. They would stop suddenly every so often, and the three kidnappers would look around momentarily before continuing onward.
Eventually they reached the garden. Danica wasn't sure how they got there. The castle looked so differant when it was dark, and there was nothing else to distract her. They made their way through the maze of paths, the only sound being her slippered feet and heavy breathing. They were all so deathly silent.
Another thing that she realised with fear was that they knew exactly where they were going. How did they know their way around so easily? She was sure they didn't work there, judging by the professional manner of doing this.
In minutes they had reached one of the outer garden walls. They lead her into some brush. She squeaked when a branch hit her cheek. Everyone froze for a few long moments, before continuing. They came out, and Danica realised they were on the outside of the wall. She didn't have time to pin-point the hole they had come through, however, as Zane yanked her away.
She turned to see a covered wagon with two work horses and an older woman holding the reigns. The other man placed Evalyn inside, and Zane pushed her in soon afterwards. She backed up against the wall as the three kidnappers entered as well, and closed the flaps. The woman sitting at the front clicked her tounge, and they lurched forward.
"Aw. Don't look so scared," the girl cooed as she sat across from Danica.
"Excuse me for being a bit edgy. Getting kidnapped can do that to a person," she snapped back. The girl removed the cloth from her face, and watched her with an amused expression. She was pretty, with curly, ink-black hair, and a bit of make-up. Not overly so, like some of the barmaids Danica had seen drunken guards give tours around the castle sometimes.
"My, my, my! Fangs and venom! I like," she beamed. Danica just glared at her. She noticed that the other two had also removed their face masks.
She had to admit, Zane was one of the most handsome men she had ever laid eyes on. He had short hair, the same color as the girls, well built, and crimson eyes. The man next to him wasn't too bad to look at either. He had white hair, and looked very bored at the moment.
"What do you want with us?!" Danica demanded.
Zane snorted indignantly, "Well if you're going to be bossy like that, we might not tell you anything."
She glared disapprovingly at him, and crossed her arms, impatciently tapping her arm. He glared back, only making her already thin patcience run lower. What right did he have to kidnap her, and then not tell her what was going on? At the very least she would like to know if she was to be handed over to Falcane.
They continued to glare at each other for a few more minutes, like to long-time rivals. A battle of wills in general. The other two kidnappers shared a glance.
"What's her name?" the girl blurted, trying to ease the tension. She was pointing at the unconscious girl on the wagon's floor. Danica turned and looked at her, startled.
"Your servant. What's her name?" the girl repeated. The princess of Avia blinked, completely at a loss for words at the moment. Though she soon regained her senses. Since she was their captive, it wouldn't hurt to answer their questions so long as they didn't fall into dangerous territory. She still didn't know who they may be working for.
"Evalyn," she answered quietly.
At hearing her name, the servant girl sparked to life. She remained where she was on the floor, wild eyes looking around in confusion as the situation sunk in. Then she sat bolt upright with a painfully high-pitched squeak. Everyone winced, and Danica noticed that Zane's hand had fallen to his dagger. Evalyn scooted close to her friend, and buried her face in her shoulder.
"Don't touch her," Danica warned between clenched teeth, keeping a steady gaze on the knife.
"If she alerts anyone of our presence, I will have no choice," he growled back. This brought Evalyn's attention to the danger she was in, and she just about fainted all over again.
"W-who are you people?" she asked shakily. Zane smirked a little, and let go of his weapon. The girl had gotten the message.
"See? That's how you're supposed to ask questions," he explained to Danica, albeit, a bit teasingly. As expected, she glared at him. The girl across from her rolled her eyes.
"My name is Irene," she began, and glared at Zane, "The annoying one is my older brother, Zane. Our mother, Charis, is the one driving. And the quiet one is our friend, Ailbhe.
"It's a pleasure to meet you all," Danica muttered sarcastically.
"Irene," Zane scolded playfully, "Why do you sell us so short? These fine young ladies have a right to know exactly who they are dealing with," he turned to them, smirking, "Tell me, have you ever heard of the Black Serpent Assasins?"
Danica's eyes widened in recognition, and she inwardly cursed herself for not realizing it sooner. The Black Serpent Assasins were an organized gang of theives and killers known all over the continent. Though no one knew where their main base of operations was located. It was said that none were more skilled at what they did, and to get on their bad side did not only mean certain death, but potentially being erased from history. Many a king or politian had hired them from time to time for various tasks that they wanted to be kept out of the publics eye, including her own father.
Zane Cobriana (I don't have the book with me right now, so I may have spelled that wrong) was their current leader. Already, in his short time on this world, he had the blood of a few kings on his hands. Some rumors said that by the time you noticed him reaching for his daggers, it was too late. Danica was relieved that, asuming these rumors had some truth, he apparently had enough restraint to spare Evalyn. Speaking of her, the poor girl had no idea who these people were.
"I'm afraid I don't," she murmered softly, "Should I?"
"Nah. You don't have to," Ailbhe spoke for the first time, "Let's just say that we're not the kind of people you're used to dealing with."
Danica coughed, "Obviously. I believe this is the first time eith of us has been kidnapped."
"True," Irene nodded.
"Fun new experience for you then, isn't it," Zane exclaimed, grinning.
"They're assasins," Danica explained to her friend, softly.
"Y-you mean," a few tears came to Evalyn's eyes, "They...they want to...kill us?"
"Of course not," Irene crooned, comming closer, and brushing some disheveled hair from the girl's face. She looked at her brother expectantly.
"We are using your princess for ransom. You're just along for the ride," he explained.
"And I suppose I'm to be given to the highest bidder," Danica sighed. Falcane was a much wealthier country than Avia or any of its allies.
"Well...the highest bidder that won't mar your pretty face," Zane shrugged. She looked at him questioningly, so he continued, "It wouldn't be nice of us to send you to your doom, especially when we could do it ourselves in a much more humane manner. No. I'm too much of a gentleman to do something so heartless."
Danica couldn't help but wonder when it became a good thing for gentlemen to kidnap people, but she pushed that thought aside. She still had more important questions to ask instead of snotty comebacks.
"How much are you asking for?" she asked hesitantly.
"Well that depends on how much people think you're worth. I'll let them make the first offer. Although I don't plan on taking less than one million gold," he shrugged.
Her eyes widened in horror, "No one on Avia's side can afford that! Not with this war going on!"
"Well I guess you'll be staying with us for awhile."
Danica just shook her head in disbelief, and sunk into a corner. Tears burned at her closed eyes, but she wouldn't let them fall. She must appear brave; for Evalyn's sake if no one elses. She only opened her eyes when she felt a hand on her knee.
"No one is going to hurt either of you," Irene assured.
Zane nodded in agreement, "I've already told everyone that you are to be treated as our guest. We aren't as bad as you think once you get to know us."
"Here," his sister handed glasses to both of them, "It has some herbs in it to help you sleep. You both need it."
Danica was hesitant to drink the tea smelling concoction, but Evalyn swallowed the entire contents. She was eager to get away from this, even if her only retreat was her dreams...or nightmares. The Avian princess wasn't sure she trusted their...hosts enough, but decided she might as well.
Irene got them both pillows, and a blanket. Evalyn remained close to Danica, afraid of what may happen if they were barely an inch apart. Her friend didn't mind. It was comforting to know that she had someone familair close by. The herbs worked quickly, and soon she was in a deep sleep.
Frog: I hope you all liked how I portrayed the characters. I want there to be some parrallels (ugh, my spelling) between this and Hawksong, but I don't know if I should let Charis die. Please let me know if she should live or not. I like her, but I don't know what to do. Anyways, I'll try to update this soon, though I'd like to finish the next chapter of Free to Sing. Stupid writer's block. Please review! I'm take constructive critisim. Bye!