Arisa: Hey this is the second chapter. I wanted to get it published before Thanksgiving Break. Numair please do the disclaimer.
Numair: Arisa doesnt not own characters, places, or Black Blood/Doolb Kcalb. Tamora Pierce owns characters and places.
Daine: Special thanks to Crystal King for the suggestion of Black Blood/Doolb Kcalb!
Daine/Numair: Please R&R!
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Baron forced the mage to lie back down. He used a speaking spell to have Alanna bring some tea to Numair's chamber. Within minutes Alanna came into the room with hot, black tea. She handed a cup to her husband, then look over at Numair and said, "Drink this; it will help calm you for the time being." Numair nodded, not having the energy or will power to fight anymore. Soon after drinking the tea Numair, he fell into an unpleasant sleep.
Meanwhile, Auguste had hid Daine and himself at his castle in Dunlath Valley. He has put a magical net around the castle to ensure that no one comes in and Daine wouldn't be able to escape. Auguste chuckled looking at, what he thought was wonderful, net and went back inside to check on his victim, or should I say soon to be wife. Daine was still crying and fighting against the chains that held her against the wall. She could hear Auguste coming up the stair case. When he walked in she cried even harder fearing for her life and that she may never see Numair again. Auguste walked and knelt beside Daine, saying "Soon love; soon I'll let you free once I have you as my wife." He kissed her cheek before leaving, making Daine cringe and think 'I'm living a nightmare.'
The next day, Numair was packing and getting his mounts ready for the long journey to Dunlath Valley. By the time Numair was ready to set out he saw Baron and Alanna coming with their mounts as well. "Didn't think you would leave us behind now would you." Baron said as he and Alanna made it to Numair.
"It's nice to have help. Auguste will take most, if not all the strength I have to defeat him." replied Numair. By afternoon they had stopped to rest in Snowsdale. "It will take us at least another day to reach Dunlath Valley." Numair said, like he had the weight of the world on his shoulders.
"She'll be fine Numair. She's a strong girl for putting up the abuse Auguste has given to her." answered Alanna.
"You're right about that Alanna. I'm just worried for her even more now." Numair replied. After resting for an hour, the group switched mounts and continued traveling to Dunlath Valley.
Daine was still chained against the wall the next day. She whispered "Numair, where are you?" A tear ran down her cheek when she heard the door to the dungeon open. She turned her head and saw Auguste smiling wickedly.
"My dear you should not be crying. Today you should be happy, because you are officially mine." Auguste said, while kneeling to kiss Daine. Daine turned her head and squirmed to move as far as she could away from Auguste. Auguste just laughed and smiled. "Daine, there's no use fighting me. Numair is dead." lied Auguste.
"Wha…what are you talking about? He's not dead he can't be." cried Daine, "He…he's supposed to come to get…me."
"He is dead; he died coming to your rescue. Died by my hand, well magic, but still my hand." gloated Auguste, "I suppose you should feel disgusted with yourself sending your Numair to an early grave." By now Daine was crying even more. 'Did I truly just lose him? Is this just a sick game Auguste is playing?" Daine had asked herself. While Daine was crying Auguste had slipped out of the room and went into the study. He used a map and a jewel on a chain to locate Numair. "Damn it, he should be this close yet. Though it will make for an interesting time telling him his precious Daine is dead." said Auguste laughing malevolently.
The sun was setting when the group had stop to make camp. Numair wanted to go onward, but he wouldn't have gotten far in the dark. That night Numair wished he could go into Daine's dream. Tell her that everything would be alright. Numair fell asleep wishing and dreamt a horrible dream. He had made it to Daine, but Auguste had put a spell on her which was making her sick. She lay dying in his arms. Numair woke up in a cold sweat. How could he have dreamt that? She wouldn't be dying when he reached her would she? He pushes those thoughts out of his mind and went back to a restless sleep.
Daine had awakened hearing a strange noise outside. She glanced out the window and saw ripples of colors. With each ripple of color the castle would shake, and the strange noise would sound. Daine's mind began to wonder. 'What are the colors and why are they rippling like that? Why is there such a weird sound when the colors began to fade? Why does it feel like an earthquake when the colors first appear?' Daine was snapped out of her thoughts when she this loud crash. It almost sounded like shattering glass.
"Numair your using you Gift too much. You won't last against Auguste long if you keep doing this." Alanna said fiercely.
"I'll be…" replied before he got cut off by Baron.
Baron answered, "Numair you need our help. Alanna and I can break down the net. You need to save your energy." Not too long after Baron made his comment, the net came shattering down. "Okay Numair, you hold Auguste off while we go get Daine." Baron said, before he and Alanna took off running.
Numair walked pass where the net had been when he heard Auguste voice. "You're late old friend. I'm afraid Daine is gone, dead, perished, departed, or whatever word you would like to use." Spoke Auguste coming from the building. "She killed herself, tired of waiting for you. It was a sad sight really. She would have made a good wife, but you took too long."
Numair just stared at Auguste. He grew angry and it showed through the magic threads covering his hands. Numair whispered, "Black Blood" and the black and red magic threads were sent out to Auguste. Auguste tried to dodge Numair's attack, but no matter where Auguste went "Black Blood" would follow.
Back in the castle Alanna and Baron were searching for Daine. Daine could hear the noise from the fight from the dungeon. Suddenly she heard voices coming from the staircase. She struggled against the chains trying to get lose before, whoever came up the stairs. Daine tugged and pulled at the chains until she felt a cool liquid running down her arms. She turned her head as best she could to look at her right arm and saw the blood. She went pale just looking at it. The door to the dungeon opened and Daine saw two people walk in. "Daine, are you alright?" Alanna asked, before she noticed the blood. Alanna gasped and yelled, "Baron, get her out of these chains she needs to go to the healers!"
Outside the castle Numair and Auguste were breathing hard. Auguste was in bad shape, and Numair wasn't much better. "It ends now Auguste." Numair said, before whispering "Doolb KcalB" and his magic surrounded Auguste. "I won't kill you personally, but others might." replied Numair. Numair's magic had transformed Auguste into a tree. Numair collapsed to the ground from exhaustion.
"Numair we found her!" screamed Alanna, running out of the castle with Baron carrying Daine. Numair smiled and said "My Magelet…" before he let the darkness take over.
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Arisa: Thanks for reading! Will update again after break.
Daine: Now its time to review! Please do Arisa will love you forever.
Numair: Well, maybe not forever, but you get the idea.