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………………………

Betrayal?

She had been gone for three days.

Not that it mattered. She was probably hiding out because she didn't want to marry. It was funny; everyone thought that women liked that sort of thing. Then again, Zia was not your ordinary woman. But still…

Thor walked in silence as Tiz tried to get him to talk. The wind was picking up, and he could barely hear what she said. Third was also walking in silence.

They made their way to the Sun-Ring, where the leader sent for them. At last, after hours of walking, they reached their destination. A man came up to them and exchanged a few words with them before leading them to where the Sun-Ring's leader was.

…………………………

The floor was warm. One expected to be put in a hard, cold cell, but obviously, my captor didn't mistreat his catch. I lay facedown on the floor, breathing, trying to make sense of where I was. My head was foggy. I realized that I had been drugged. With a soft groan, I pushed myself up, and saw a small pool of blood just behind where my head was. With a start, I felt around the back of my head, and felt dried blood. I shivered. Whoever it was, the person who had hit me was strong.

"Awake, are you? Phoenix?"

I sat up and whirled around, putting my hands behind palm down to the floor so I did not fall. "The Blanc Wolf!" I gasped.

Zagi raised an eyebrow at me. "Why so surprised? You came near our territory in the first place."

"I did?"

"Of course." He smiled. "If you want to wash up, you can do so now, then Karim will bring you to see me. Okay with that, Karim?" he looked at the beautiful auburn-haired woman behind me.

"Yes Top." She looked at him with respect, but I could see, in her eyes, that she had the same look that I gave Thor. I realized that she loved him, but dare not say anything, whether for the same reasons I haven't told Thor, I do not know. But I did know that we were almost the same.

Karim took me to a bath, and stood by the door as I rinsed out all the blood and dirt on me. When I came out, she handed me new clothes, which I put on. I tried to make small talk with her as we went to see Zagi, (for example; do you like your Top? How long have you been Second?) but she replied in monosyllables, hardly saying much.

She opened the door to where Zagi was sitting, and nodded to me. I walked in, and she behind me, closing the door shut behind her. Zagi waved me closer, and nodded to a chair. I sat.

"So," he began. "As you are my prisoner–"

"I am nobody's prisoner," I interrupted.

He laughed. "You are now." I felt a cold finger trail my spine and shivered.

"As I was saying, as you are my prisoner, you'll have to do something for me. Only then I will let you go back to Ochre Ring."

"What is it?" I asked warily.

"Pretend to be my wife as we go to kill the Sun-Ring's leader," he said simply. "With you at my side, they'll not dare to fight back."

I blinked. "No," I said softly. "Not now, not ever. I swear to God, I do not, and will not, marry!" I stood up, slamming my fist on the table. The whole place shook.

"This is what I meant. Your strength is enough to frighten all of them into not fighting back! And once you help me, you can go back to the Ochre Ring, and live as though nothing happened."

I hesitated. If I didn't help him, I would never see Thor, Tiz and Third, and I would stay here forever, unless I escape, but then Zagi would track me, and declare war on Ochre Ring. If I did help, whatever he may say, he'd probably kill me once we were done and I still won't ever see Thor, Tiz and Third again. So, either way, he won. But my friends' safety would be more important than my own.

"All right," I said reluctantly. "Tell me your plan."

…………………………

"Ah, Silver Hawk!" Yuki, the Sun-Ring's leader, said. He looked at Thor up and down. "Young and handsome. No wonder the fiery Tiz fell for you." Tiz gasped, and jumped on Yuki. "I'm not fiery!" she cried, beating him with her fists.

He chuckled, as Tiz's beats were dulled through layers of cloth, skin, muscle and fat. Then, he noticed that Zia was not with him. All the Rings have heard about Ochre Ring's Top's protector.

"Where is the Phoenix?" Yuki asked.

Thor breathed out. "Gone."

"Where?"

"We don't know," Thor replied. "She's probably hiding out because we were forcing her to marry someone."

"I don't blame her," Yuki said with a grin. "But anyways, let's talk."

……………………..

I felt as though I was betraying Ochre Ring as I walked next to Zagi, on his left. The rest of the troops followed us. We marched through the Sun-Ring, and finally stopped in the middle of the street. Zagi gave a few terse orders, and the troops fanned out, leaving five with us. Then, the seven of us marched on. Zagi turned to me suddenly. "You know what you have to do," he said softly. I nodded slowly, pulling down my hood.

We reached a house. "Leader of the Sun-Ring, Yuki, come out and fight!" One of the men yelled. Nothing.

Then, at last, Yuki came out. His face was calm. He looked at all of us, and his gaze came to rest on me. "Zia. So you'd joined the Blanc Ring. I'm surprised. I thought that Ochre Ring would always stand strong with you to protect their Top, but I guess he's vulnerable, now, isn't he?"

I swallowed. "You're wrong!" I cried, my voice cracking. Zagi put a hand on my shoulder, reminding me. I took another deep breath, and turned away to hide the tears starting in my eyes. Then, there was a bang, and one of Zagi's soldiers fell. I looked up and saw Chen. She held a gun. All the troops turned on her, and Yuki shot down another three, while Chen took out the last one. "Turn now!" Zagi hissed in my ear. I didn't. I couldn't.

He started to walk away with me. I followed him. Then, I heard a sound behind me, and whirled around, my sword in my hand, to block the attack. I had thought it was going to be on me, but it turned out that Yuki was aiming for Zagi. I could have killed him then and there, but I didn't want to. Let Zagi do his own dirty work!

I pulled my sword back, sliding it neatly into the sheath. Then, I backed away. Zagi glared at me before turning around to face Yuki. Yuki lunged, and he dodged. Zagi didn't even need to use his sword. He was tiring out Yuki!

So that was the way he managed to kill the Tops. Tire them, then go for the kill. I wanted to scream out warning, but I knew that Zagi's other troops were watching, and then they'll all kill me. So I could only stare in horror until Zagi pulled off his cloak and threw it onto Yuki. Then, Zagi thrust his sword into Yuki. Blood was everywhere.

I pulled my eyes away to see Thor, Third and Tiz standing there. They were all staring at me as Zagi suddenly smirked, pinned my arms to my body and kissed me. I knew he had done it because he knew I loved Thor. I couldn't do anything. I felt Thor's eyes on me, felt his betrayed feelings. At last, Zagi pulled away, leaving me panting. I walked back to my friends, past them. He had known that they were coming. He had done this to make a fool of myself.

Once I was sure that no other person was around me, I leaned against the wall of a beat-up building and burst into tears, shuddering as I wiped away the kiss from Zagi. I felt… wrong. Exposed. Ashamed. I wanted to die.

Thor found me later. He looked betrayed as he said to me, "If you had loved him, you could have told us. I would have let you go."

I shook my head, desperate to let him know that I didn't love Zagi. "I didn't! I never loved him!" I cried. But he was already walking away.

I jumped up, indignant. "Listen to me! Listen to me, Thor!"

He stopped. "There is nothing to listen to," he replied flatly. "Go ahead and join the man you love."

I was heartbroken. "But the man I love is you," I said, softly. But he didn't hear. He kept walking. I could only stare at his back helplessly.

…………………………

Why did he feel so betrayed? He didn't even know. And he supposed he never will.

The sight of her kissing his rival… it was indescribable. He knew that Tiz and Third were furious; Tiz wouldn't see her and Third disowned her. But he wasn't angry. Just betrayed. And a little sad.

She had come back two hours ago, saying nothing to anyone. She wouldn't go anywhere. Once, when he was passing her room, he heard soft crying. It serves her right, he had thought. Let her cry. She deserves the shame she feels. But he felt bad as he walked on. He felt as though he should hear her out.

Now, two days later, Thor was standing outside her room. "Zia?" No answer. "Zia, it's me, Thor. Can I come in?"

"Go away."

Thor opened the door and saw her, sitting cross-legged on her bed, her back to the door. She had stopped crying. "Zia," he said gently, shutting the door behind him as he came in. The silence was awkward. "You missed dinner."

"Who cares?" she asked bitterly. "It's better if I starve, isn't it? I'm already alone. I don't need more pain. So go!"

What did she mean by she doesn't need more pain? He went on, "If you want to tell me exactly what happened, I'll be sitting on this chair by the door." He sat down there, and looked at her back. Slowly, as if she knew that he was not joking, she turned to face him. "That's better," he said softly, going to sit beside her on the bed. He made no move to touch her. "What happened?"

She shrugged.

"Please Zia. Tell me."

"I was captured," she said, in a voice so soft that it was barely audible. "They hit me on the head and I was knocked out."

"They? Who are 'they'?" Thor asked.

"The Blanc Ring soldiers. He planned his timing exactly right, Thor. He was using me!" Her breath came out in gasps now. "Then… then… he said… that if I didn't help him, I would have to stay there, with him… forever! Oh, Thor!" She threw her arms around his neck, sobbing as though her heart would break. He didn't know that it was already broken.

He held her tight. "It's all right," he said softly. "It's all right."

She pulled away from him slightly. "You forgive me?"

He nodded, and she sighed. "But the only thing I don't understand," he added, "is why he kissed you. He likes no one, it is said."

She shrugged. "To make me feel bad."

"But why?"

She took a deep breath, as though she was going to tell him something, but then shook her head and let it out. "I can't tell you," she murmured. "I can never tell you."

So they left it at that.