Chapter 14
It took Alyson a long time to notice the fairy hovering beside the door.
"Tink?" she gasped, causing the young Italian in her arms to stiffen and stare at her in confusion.
The fairy forced a small smile and waved tentatively at the American teenager, her bright green wings fluttering dejectedly in the air.
"A-are you okay, Aly?" the fairy whispered hesitantly, her golden eyes bright with magic and tears.
Alyson shrugged, her emerald eyes tightening in a wince as the movement sent another throb of pain through her jaw.
"Can't complain, I guess," she muttered, her gaze flickering down towards the small trickle of blood that continued to leak through Cielo's hair.
Tink winced. "I-I'm sorry, Aly," she mumbled.
Alyson shook her head and reached out to brush her finger against the fairy's silky hair.
"It's not your fault, Tink," she murmured. "Can you help us get out of here?"
Tink nodded and flew towards the door, only to hesitate the moment she caught sight of the scribble above the door.
"Aly..." she whispered.
"I know," Alyson sighed.
"Will you stop talking to the fucking air?" Cielo growled weakly, his bloodshot amber eyes still hidden in the American's shirt.
Alyson sighed but remained silent, her green eyes narrowed anxiously beneath her tangled blonde hair as Tink disappeared through the half-rotted wood. A smile flickered across her features when the door opened, her first true smile in hours. Cielo stiffened and hesitantly lifted his head from its perch on her shoulder, his amber eyes wide.
"Che diavolo? (What the hell)" he whispered.
Alyson grinned and reached up to give Tink a small high-five, her eyes flashing with triumph.
"Fairies rule," she informed the Italian smugly.
Katerina was dreaming.
She had to be dreaming.
She had to be.
Otherwise...
"Oh, look. The princess decided to join us."
She was in hell.
Katerina slowly opened her eyes, a low moan breaking through her swollen and cracked lips as bright, merciless white light slammed into her eyes and sent lightening bolts of pain through her skull. She reached up instinctively to shield her eyes from the glare, only to shriek as another wave of pain washed over her. She glanced down at her arms warily, her violet eyes widening in horror when she saw the impossible angle that the appendage was bent in. And... was that blood?
I can't see clearly... Where are my glasses?
"You done looking, princess?" a voice sneered.
Katerina flinched and glanced in the direction of the voice, her heart hammering against her ribcage when she caught sight of the familiar black eyes that still haunted her dreams.
"M-M-Miss A-Annette..." she squeaked.
The Canadian woman smiled thinly and reached out to brush her fingers along the Russian girl's jaw. Katerina whimpered as the woman's nails began to dig into her skin, causing thin rivulets of blood to run down her neck. Annette merely smirked and removed her hand, her heels clicking smartly against the concrete floor as she walked to another corner of the room. Katerina whimpered again, her eyes widening in alarm when she caught sight of a knife and a pile of rope huddled in the shadows.
Annette smirked again at the sight of the girl's alarm and crouched, her thin fingers gently caressing the hilt of the knife, her black eyes narrowed thoughtfully.
"Did you miss me, cherie?" she murmured.
"Н-нет (N-no)," Katerina whispered honestly. She sucked in a sharp breath as Annette straightened and moved towards her, her pale fingers curled lazily around the knife.
The Canadian woman paused and cocked her head, her lips curving into a humorless smile.
"So honest," she simpered. "I suppose you haven't forgotten what I do to liars."
"Нет (no)," the Russian girl replied, her violet eyes glowing with the smallest hint of pride when she didn't stutter.
Annette's lip curled. Without warning, her white hand flashed in the shadows, her skin colliding with Katerina's cheek with a sharp crack. Katerina whimpered and instinctively flinched away from the pain, only to have sharp nails dig into her chin as the other woman's hand latched onto her jaw.
"You dare to speak to me in that language?" she hissed. "You communist."
"I-I'm s-s-sorry," Katerina whispered. "I-I-"
Annette slapped her again, her eyes narrowing into slits as stars erupted in front of Katerina's eyes.
"You should be sorry," the Canadian hissed. "You, your brother, your father." She turned and spat onto the cold concrete floor, her expression twisted into one of disgust. "That creature that tainted my country and created you... you demons."
Katerina shuddered, her lips parting in a quiet scream as the hand on her chin moved up to yank mercilessly at her wavy blonde hair, Annette's fingernails digging into her scalp until her golden hair was stained with red.
Annette smirked and drew closer, the blade of the knife rising until it rested against the Katerina's collarbone.
"We will have such fun together, cheri," she murmured. "Don't worry, little demon. I will not let anyone interrupt us this time."
Dude, what is it with me and short updates? Alright, this chapter was absolute murder to write, and I have a sinking feeling that the next few will be hard too... So, um, please don't kill me for the delay? /shot/ Anyways, hope y'all enjoyed this one, and please tell me what you think! Thanks to everyone who has read/reviewed/favorited this story! You all rock!