The Hunt for Sviederbach

Disclaimer: I do not own Shake it Up

A/N:

Chapter 24 (Self-Empowerment)

"He actually broke up with me once before," Mala said as she spoke on the phone to Art. "Actually quite recently we broke up, right after this whole hell began. He wanted to let me go, knew I was talking to you on the phone, and started to take me back your apartment..." She was hiding away in one of the rooms while Martin watched his westerns. He had DVDs and various other videos of old time westerns that often calmed him down. Hell, he knew every Eastwood and John Wayne quip in the book, and enjoyed quoting them. After what his cousins had done to Aveline, he was furious and asked her to stay out of his sight because he didn't want her to become subject to the anger he was feeling.

"He did? Why the hell are you two dating then?" Mala dipped her eyes towards the ground and tucked her lower lip beneath her teeth. The mist she'd seen the other day was still following her around, and on occasion, she'd spot it nearby. It wasn't there before, when they were in America. It was almost like it was trapped here in Sviederbach, within the confines of the castle. "Seriously, if you're not together, then why do you take that shit from him?"

"Because of his family…they forced it. When he broke up with me, 'set me free' or whatever, they told him to take me back. They forced him, they won't let me go, and any time he tries to let me go, they 'punish' him. At least Aunt Erin does. That, and I'm still afraid…mostly of his family, not him. I know you say that it's not true, but I can't help to think that no one else would want me. I'm trying to accept that's not the case, but you don't know how hard it is to do that." With Art telling her that he cared about her, it was building up her esteem little by little, but she didn't believe escape was possible. "His family has been more abusive to me than Martin ever has been. Martin's just angry, and I know it doesn't justify the things he's done to me, but…I'm scared that I can't escape."

"But just sitting there, letting him hurt you, letting his family hurt you…that doesn't solve anything, Mala." What did he want her to do? If she left, Martin would be pissed. Likely attacked by his own family. If she stayed, she was subject to more abuse than she wanted to handle, but likely not from Martin. It was all a part of life, however, and the only life that she knew. "You know what? I've been thinking about that mist you told me about…I really believe it's your mother."

She scoffed and shook her head disbelievingly. "Spare me. Like my mom would give a damn about me. The woman killed King Brustrum, she tried to take out both King Gunther and Mr. Bransford, albeit she was blinded by rage, sure…I highly doubt she gives two cents about me." Art hummed a tune. Mala heard water running, followed by the sound of a plate clinking onto another. She smiled sadly and wiped a stray tear from her eyes. "Any sign of Odo?" The man apparently hadn't returned to the apartment yet, so of course they were a bit worried for him.

"No, but that's fine, I've been cooking my own meals around here. It's kind of quiet."

"I imagine so." With three roommates gone, Art had to be lonely. During that first week, the apartment had been so filled with happiness and a sense of togetherness that was missed. "Not so fun watching the television alone, is it?"

"Not a bit." His tone was so lax and quiet that she couldn't help to chuckle. "Maybe you could come over and brighten the place up with your presence? It's so boring."

"I doubt I'd be able to make anything more interesting for you."

"Don't be so sure. I just ordered like a large pizza, god knows why, and there's nobody here to help me eat it up. Strangely enough, I can't stand to eat too much pizza!" She pursed her lips together and glanced at the door, she had a longing inside of her to go over to him. Maybe if she asked Martin if she could leave for a walk, he'd let her. Then again, if she told him where she was going, he might not want to let her go. If she didn't tell him where she was going, he'd get pissed at her. He desire to be with Art was great, however, greater than her desire to be cooped up in a crusty castle that wasn't even their home. "What can I do to convince you, Mala? Anything I can do that won't get me kicked off the campus? Like, not putting those lizards in the dean's desk…" She put her hand over her mouth and laughed.

"Are you that bored?"

"More so…I think I just handed in a paper to my instructor on how to play beer pong by yourself." She laughed again, smiling at the cool and collective tone in Art's voice. No one made her happy like this, she didn't think she deserved to be happy. "I've tried calling Odo, but the guy's just too terrified to come back. He says he'll come back soon enough, but I'm starting to wonder if he'll come back at all. Looks like I'll have to put in for two replacement roommates instead of one. Ah well, I guess that's just how things go. A shame too, because I'm pretty sure Odo would scold me for having burnt the beans and rice that I had last night. That dude knows his food."

"He is a good cook."

"You bet. I miss the scrawny guy."

"Ander seems more your pal than Odo, though."

"This is true! I miss him too, but I know Aveline will be getting him back. At least I haven't totally lost a third roommate, but yeah, it's boring over here. Hell, I'll even break one of the rules for you and let you stay overnight in one of the empty rooms."

"You'd do that? Why?"

"Where else do you have to go off to?" This was a good point, she'd be safer with Art than she would with Martin and the Lamonts. She could easily take him up on his offer, but she was concerned that it would lead to his getting in trouble with the campus.

"What if someone found out you had a girl in the apartment overnight?"

"Eh, they're lenient anyways. So many people break that rule that the faculty's just gotten bored of enforcing it. Besides, as much of a stickler as I am for the rules, I'm willing to break them a little for you…"

"That's nice." She moved her eyes towards the window. She was only on the ground floor of the castle, if she slipped out of the window, she could make it. "I've pretty much stayed out of Martin's way since all this happened, so he probably wouldn't even notice if I left."

"If you do decide to leave, be careful. I'll do anything I can, but don't do anything to endanger yourself." Simply talking to him was likely an endangerment, but for some reason, she didn't care. She found it thrilling to be able to talk to him and to feel this sense of entitlement, this sense of teetering on the line of danger. Maybe it was due to how her mother lived her life, in a constant brush with danger, but when had she ever been one to take risks like her mom? She was never a risk taker! Maybe Art was right, what if that mist was her mother's spirit? In which case, was that mist having an influence over her? Was it because of this mist that she felt so empowered to take a chance on Art?

In her heart, she felt for the first time that someone actually cared about her. She wanted to know if he could make her truly happy, if he could take care of her. She wanted to look up to Aveline as her role model as well, to be strong like her, and not a weak and good for nothing girl that couldn't take care of herself. Even her mother had been a ferociously strong woman in life, whether or not she did something that was so heinous, Tabitha was a very powerful force to be reckoned with. Queen Cece was also a strong woman, having gone through so much and never backing down in her life. There were many role models to look at, and Art had pointed them all out once before.

With all these strong women around, Mala couldn't help but wonder what her problem was. Why couldn't she escape the oppressive thumb that was Martin and his family? She'd done so once before when he broke things off with her, but he had to come swinging back because his family was threatening him or his younger brother once again. Now he was wiping them all out, or Aveline was doing so, but he was very highly stressed because of it. In sense, he was angrier as well, and more likely to lash out and take his anger on just about anything he came near.

Fortunately for her, he was focused so intently on his westerns, using them to keep himself calm. This provided way for him to not notice her slipping away. "You know what, Art? I…I think I will take you up on your offer." She heard him gasp, and thought she heard a cheer. Her heart jumped to her throat as her eyes scanned the window once more. "Why can't I be like Aveline? Why can't I be strong, take risks, and be somebody?"

"That's the spirit, Mala. See, I knew you were brave, you just need to pull it out, you know?" Her lips curved upwards as her heart swelled with determination. "You have what it takes to be strong, to be determined, and to be just like the heroes in your life that you look up to."

"I never said I had any heroes."

"Oh really? Then who is Aveline to you?"

"The Princess of Sviederbach…a strong Princess who I look up to because she never gives in…"

"Therefore she is one of your role models. Maybe even your first hero, if you haven't had anyone before that." She chuckled and moved over to the window, putting her hand on the stony frame. The wind breezed in and blew against her face, and once more, she saw the mist hovering outside. She felt a pull towards the mist, a yearning to follow. "You have everything it takes to be whatever and whoever you want to be, you have the strength to stand up for yourself. You just need to reach inside and pull it out. I know it'll take some time, and you know I'll do whatever I can to help you out along the way…"

"It's hard for me to trust just anyone…"

"I know, but you can trust me."

"Yeah…" She glanced over her shoulder, smiling slightly, then started to bring her leg up onto the window. "I'll be there soon, Art…I'm just going to call a cab to pick me up. Thank you for this talk…" Maybe this decision would cause Martin extra grief from his family if they found out, and if so, she would feel guilty, but she had to look out for herself in this case. "I know the things he's been through...Maybe Aveline can help him, I can't, but Art will help me."

"That's what I'm here for." This determination was a new, strange feeling, but she wasn't going to give up now. It was best to move before the emotion and the feeling subsided and she became fearful once again. She hated living in that life of fear, and if Art could help her overcome that, then maybe it was best that she go to him.

So what do you guys think of this chapter?