Chapitre 11:

° Disclaimer still in the prologue.

Once Ripper was back to his room he checked that all the things he needed were safely packed and prepared himself to wait for the time to free Ethan. He hoped that Ethan would keep his faith in him and survive this last night of torture…

At three o'clock in the morning Ripper was silently listening to any noise; that would tell him if anyone was still up. They had all went to bed an hour ago but he wanted to be sure that no one would caught him. He couldn't make an error now; they would leave the house at seven and it was only a four hours wait. He had to be patient and careful for everything to go well and he had been waiting for this long enough, to know that he didn't lack in patience.

He could practically taste their freedom, so with his hope held high he left his bedroom silently taking with him a marble, a necklace and finally a piece of paper with a rune drawn on it. He walked down the hallway to his "parent's" bedroom making sure that they were asleep, and continued down the staircase to where Ethan's cage was situated.

Once there he waited a few minutes more to make sure that no one was awake, before closing the door of the cellar and lightening the room. He could allow himself to use the light, because the door prevented it to be seen from the exterior. Though the room was lightproof and soundproof as a mean to torture the one being held in the cage, depriving him of his senses; in this case it was helping Ripper in keeping his presence unnoticed.

Taking his first look at Ethan he was shocked to see the extent of the damages caused by his "parents", Ripper wasn't even sure that he boy was still breathing. The boy was completely black and blue with bruises, his back was covered with whipped marks some still bleeding. He could see a broken arm, leg and he was sure that his fingers weren't spared as well. Seeing at how he had positioned himself in his sleep he could tell that his shoulder was dislocated too.

Shaking himself out of his shock, he whispered with despair the name of his young friend tears streaking along his jaws, and rushed to the cage where a hand was laying limply on the floor. He finally let out a breath of relief after taking it in his hand, and feeling Ethan's pulse through the boy's wrist.

Beside himself with joy that the young demon was still with him, after all he had to endure three days of unwavering torture and Ripper wasn't sure that he himself would have had the strength to survive it. He let his magic calmly flew through Ethan and began the process of healing him. He wasn't aware of his tears as he was concentrating all of his attention on the intensity of his magic, he was scared that too much of it would do the opposite of what it was suppose to and harm the boy. So when a finger weakly reached to wipe his tears, he could only look at it completely shocked out of his mind.

A few minutes passed before he regained his wits, and his eyes decided to look down to the other's ones. A smile finally appeared on his lips at the awe and love coming from Ethan at his presence. The boy looked as if he couldn't believe that he had really come to free him, as if it was all a dream and he would disappear in a second.

Ripper knew he had to do something to reassure him but didn't know what, so he decided to listen to his instincts and reached for the boy. He cupped his face in his hands and slowly, carefully he pressed his lips against Ethan's in a tender and chaste kiss letting all the love he felt for him passed through. It connected them through another different level, one that only soul mate could hope to reach and they could feel the other's love as well as the love the other felt coming from themselves. The intensity of what they were feeling shocked them through the core, but had the advantage to assure each other of their feelings and that Ripper was really there to free Ethan.

The intensity becoming too much for them, they decided to break the kiss on a common accord. They stared at each others as a smile of pure happiness was beginning to appear on their lips; Ethan reaches one of his fingers to his lip with a look of wonder. Ripper didn't want to break the mood but knew that they should return their attention on healing him, so taking his hand he began the healing process again.

This time though, it would be easier for him as Ethan was conscious, their magic would be able to merge and heal him without the scare of hurting him in the process. Even with the strength of their combined magic, it took them an hour for Ethan to be able to get up and walk with Ripper's help.

Reaching in his pocket Ripper felt the necklace, paper, and marble making him thought back to that night a few days ago. He had gone to the cellar to see Ethan as he was used to and was happy that they were finalizing their escape plan. They had worked on it since Ripper received their letters, and he was proud to say that they had made sure that their plan was full proof; they even thought of a planB in the case something went wrong. This night they were going to realise the last stage of their plan.

They noticed that the tortures were beginning to worsen with each day that passed, so they decided to charm the three objects they needed before Ethan was too weak to use his own magic. It was Ethan that thought of it, he could charm small objects which would be easily hidden to help them free him.

First they needed a spell that would replace the boy in the cage while he would be safely recovering his strength in Ripper's bedroom, and Ethan knew exactly how he would do it. All he needed was a small object that would be easily hidden in the cover that he was using as a bed.

That was what the marble was for; he would charm it to take his place as a doppelganger. Even though it would be an illusion anyone coming near it would be able to touch a body and see it breath, not suspecting it was really a marble. Ethan was a natural with illusion's charm; they had helped him all along his childhood to cause mischief and with his magic being based on chaos, illusions were instinctive to him.

Then he charmed the piece of paper in triggering an illusion thirty minutes after they would leave the house and it would be sure to wake-up his parents in a complete and total chaos. Ripper leaving before the illusion was triggered, they would never thought of searching Ethan at his school, and it was the perfect alibi. And to be certain they made sure that any magic couldn't be trace to them, the illusion once set off would destroy any hint of their deception. They would hide the piece of paper in the cover with the marble as well.

Finally came the turn of the necklace, this one was to be spelled for another use; it would be charmed to make the wearer invisible to the others. It would be the perfect way for Ethan to leave the house with Ripper without being seen and none would be the wiser. It was a mean trick that Ethan had learned and mastered from his parents not long ago, it needed a lot of magic and energy for it to work properly and rare were the persons who could use it. Lucky for them Ethan was one of those.

Ripper came back to the present when he felt a hand softly and hesitantly stroked his wrist, and tenderly smiled at Ethan who was looking at him shyly, a question and confusion dancing through his eyes. He couldn't help himself but kissed the boy's lips lovingly and smiling brightly took out the three objects from his pocket. He gave Ethan the necklace then hide the piece of paper and marble in the cover, while the boy chant the last few words of the spell, the marble took his appearance.

It was strange to see two Ethan in the same room, but he was happy to finally free the real one, he took his hand and they exited the cellar. They made their way back to Ripper's bedroom without a problem and helped Ethan sat on his bed. Knowing that they were secure in his room, he softly reached for the back of his head and took the necklace off, making the young demon visible once more. Then he went to the bathroom reheating the water that was still filling out hi tub. He had prepared it that evening after his shower knowing that Ethan would need the bath to help him relax and it would help Ripper to disinfect his wounds as well.

He didn't know how Ethan would take it but he couldn't let him bathe alone, he was still too weak. Ripper was scared that he would fall asleep and drown, so he went back to his bedroom and helped him stand up. He let him lean on his shoulder and began to lead him to the bathroom, there he helped him against the wall and began to strip him of his clothes.

Ethan blushed at being naked in front of Ripper but he knew he didn't have the strength to do it himself, and was thankful that Ripper cared enough for him to do it himself. He felt himself smile as he was carried carefully to the tub and then tenderly sat in the water. A cloth was given to him and he began to wash himself knowing that Ripper would be there if he needed help or slipped under the water. It was really reassuring and comforting and sighing happily continued to wash himself without real difficulty. Though once it was the turn of his back, his injuries seemed to be too tender for him to wash and after a few tentative he had to give up. Finally coming to a decision, he turned to the other boy and asked shyly;"Ripper could you help me please? I can't reach my back with my injuries and I know it's dirty enough to cause an infection."

"Of course I will Ethan; it's no problem at all. It's the part of your body that has suffered the most, and you are right we need to prevent an infection. I will be extremely careful, but I'm sorry it will hurt…" Ripper replied.

"Don't be sorry it wasn't your fault and you are the one who is helping me now, so please do it, I trust you." Ethan said with conviction.

These words warmed Ripper's entire being as he had felt powerless during all this time, being unable to stop his young friend's tortures and feeling unworthy of his friendship. He didn't know how he could continue to trust in him so readily, but he made the promise to himself that he would never betray his trust. A whimper made him focus back to what he was doing and with a whispered apology continued to cautiously wash the injuries caused by the whip.

Once done he let his hand touch the water and feeling that it was getting cold, decided to help Ethan out of the tub. As the boy was leaning on him he reached for the towels and began drying him tenderly being careful of his injuries, then he took him in his arms and carried him to the bed. After helping him to sat comfortably, he went back to the bathroom and took the emergency kit from under the toilet; he went back to Ethan who was beginning to fall asleep in his sitting position. Knowing they had little time for the boy to rest, Ripper quickly but carefully cleaned and bandaged his wounds, then he helped him lay down under the covers and curled protectively around him.

An hour later saw Ripper uncurled himself from Ethan and began the process of preparing himself. He knew that the personnel has already began to woke up, so he had to make it seem like he was just wakening and preparing himself for his departure to his school. He had to make it sound right and believable because he knew his parents would ask them a report on their "son's" actions this morning; they were worst than paranoid some times.

So he eagerly started a shower and washed himself, drying himself he made his way back to the bedroom and made sure that Ethan was still sleeping soundly. He still had an half an hour of sleep and he didn't want Ethan to miss it. Happy that Ethan hadn't been disturbed by his preparations he dressed himself and took out the comfortable clothes he had chosen for Ethan to wear on the train, mindful of the injuries he had received.

Ripper silently exited his bedroom and locked his door behind him; not willing to take the chance that someone would enter in and saw Ethan. He went down to the kitchen and politely greeting the cook, asked for his breakfast. He stayed at the table silently thinking of what was to come, when he was suddenly awoken from his thought by his breakfast being served in front of him. He was happy to see it was his favourite and smiled his thanks at the cook, he had always loved pancakes. Spying the bowl of fruits he took two apples and thanking one last time the cook he told him he had to hurry if he didn't want to be late and that he would eat the fruits once he was in his taxi.

He said his good byes and hurried back to his room where he unlocked the door and gathered all of their baggage. Seeing as they only had ten minutes left till the taxi arrived, Ripper went to wake Ethan up. He whispered the boys name as he gently shook his uninjured shoulder; he had to smile at the sleepy eyes that were watching him in confusion. Fondly he kissed Ethan forehead and told him that he had to get up if they were to catch their taxi in time.

A glimmer of excitation made his way in Ethan's eyes and he said laughing; "Well what are you waiting for? Help me!"

"I knew you would see it my way!" Ripper said smirking. "But wait a minute; you have to wear this before I can lead you outside."

With that he helped Ethan fasten the necklace around his neck watching him disappear from his sight. "Now lean on me and we will be outside before you know it!" he told him. He took all their things and began to lead the way, when Ethan asked him if it wasn't too heavy but he explained him that he had asked one of the clerks to do a lightening spell on their bags and he had even shrunk all the things they wouldn't need before they were at the school.

Reassured he only clasp one of Ripper's shoulder before they went back on their way, not meeting anyone was an added bonus and they left the house without anyone noticing that the 'demon' wasn't in his cage anymore.

Once they were hidden by the wall outside of the property, Ethan took the necklace off and placed it in his pocket, smiling in nervous anticipation. Ripper squeezed his hand in comfort but couldn't do or say anything more as their taxi was already stopping by them. Relieved the boys placed their baggage in the trunk and took their place in the car, then asked the driver to take them to London's train station after greeting him.

They couldn't believe it! They did it! They were free and the beginning of a new life was waiting for them. They were silently basking in the addicting feeling of being free, when Ripper said; "If I wasn't so happy to be with you and finally away of that hellish house; I would have loved to be there to see their faces as the spell triggered itself…"

The two of them looked at each other blankly, when they couldn't restrain themselves anymore and broke into peal of laughter. The driver looked back in his rear-view mirror at their sudden laugh, and smiled softly shaking his head at the silliness of the youth.

Half an hour later at the hellish house…

A.N:

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