A/N: I'm going a little AU with this. At least I'm back. And trying. Italics is physic communitcation from Elara to Phobo's.
xXx
The redhead glared at Phobos, defiant look in her eyes. Elara giggled silently to herself. Phobos raised his hand. Elara stopped her giggling. The roses twirled around the girl.
'Where is the heart?' shouted Phobos.
'I don't have it.'
Elara winced at the sweetness of the girls voice. The roses tightened. Elara grimaced and ran out. She reached the bottom of the castle when she heard voices. She walked down the corridor towards them. It was the other girls. Elara stood still as they walked right past her.
You have visitors. She thought sarcastically
She knew the dreaded whisperers would have told him. She was about to follow the girls but roses sprang up blocking her path.
That's mature
She sighed and turned back towards the throne room. She flung the door open. Cedric had transformed back into his vicious snake form. He moved past without a second glance in her direction. Vathek took the young red-head towards the dungeons.
He'll fail you know.
Phobos growled. Roses gripped her and carried her towards him. She landed on her knees in front of him. She glared at him. Then she grabbed the roses, her hands starting to bleed. Worry past his face, but he saw the smirk on her face. It was the same old game. They tested each other's weaknesses, would the pain be to much for her or would watching her suffer be to much for him. It was sinister but a release from inner anger. She didn't know how long this was going to last. Finally she screamed and with a flicker of the hand he released her. He reached out towards her but then withdrew his hand.
'What?' she gasped.
'Cedric.' he growled.
Cedric entered. The look on his told her everything. He had failed.
I hate it when you don't listen.
-xXx-
Elara sat on the floor braiding a strand of her hair. She barely listened to the converation. Only when he spoke.
'If Vathek is telling the truth the key is still here...'mused Phobo's.
He looked at her. She sighed abandoning her hair. She smiled at him as she exited the room. She wondered aimlessly through the castle. Where was she supposed to find a key? Stupid Vathek losing the key. She turned to her left and then heard movement behind her. She turned around to find Cedric standing in front of her. He walked passed muttering to himself. She stood there, glaring at him. She carried on walking through the castle until eventually reaching the dungeons. She strolled pass the guards, willing him to make them stop her. But either he must no know or didn't care. She reached the prison cell where the red head had once been. They were gone now, so was the leader of the rebels. She carried on walking until she was outside the castle. Suddenly there was a blue flash and some kind of portal formed. She stood mesmorised, and shocked as the guardians passed her. What was this? Suddenly the red-head's crystal began to glow. Elara watched the portal close. Suddenly she felt weird. She looked at the girls and found them staring back at her. She took a step back.
Phobo's?
She listened but heard nothing. It was the jewel. It took away the glamour and the psychic connection. The girls stared at her in fascination.
'Umm...does anyone else see a girl there?' asked the petite brunette.
'You mean the girl with black hair and red dress.' asked the blonde.
'Guess I'm not crazy.' responded the brunette.
Elara looked at the girls. She felt a shiver run down her spine. She was free. Or was she. She called out to Phobo's in her mind but still couldn't hear anything. She sighed and looked at them.
'You're the guardians, right?'
'Yeah, I'm Will.' replied the red-head.
'I know. I was there when Phobo's interogated you.'
'Look...'
'Don't tell me anything. Phobo's can read my thoughts. Well, not when I'm around that crystal. Why are you here? You escaped didn't you?'
'We needed to bring this key back.' said Will.
'No problem. Give the key to me and I'll say I found it lying around.'
'Ok-'
'Wait, Will we can't trust her.'
'Irma she hasn't tried to kill us in the past five minutes. I think we're safe.'
Will handed the key to Elara and she put in her pocket. She then looked around the swamp. She could hear a noise in the thicket.
'Is Vathek okay?' asked Will.
'He'll be better if-'
Elara heard the noise again. Before she could finish her reply an arrow shot her arm and she fell down. Cedric appeared out of the trees and with him his minions. Elara cursed. He'd probaly kill her on site.
'You guys should run.'
'What about you?'
'I'll be fine. I live here.'
'Okay, guardians let's go.'
The girls flew off and Cedric followed them. Soon he looked around in her direction. She felt a weight press her head again and realised Cedric couldn't see her anymore. She took a deep breath and hurried back to the castle. Her heart was pounding and her ears were ringing.
Phobo's?
Just hurry.
She burst into the throne room, arm bleeding. She rushed towards him and he grabbed her. His hand gripped her arm as he healed her. she took deep steady breaths before holding up the key.
'I found this. Then the guardians appeared. Cedric shot me and they flew away.'
'They've escaped. And I've used all my power.'
He grabbed her chin and brought her eyes up to meet him.
'You are never to leave the castle again.' he snarled.
He dropped her chin and stalked out of the throne room. She stood frozen. She didn't dare respond. It was one of those rare times he had used his cold, ice glare on her. And for once she was afraid. No, she was terrified.
-xXx-