So, maybe you noticed I changed my name? Yep! I was bored..so there you have it. So I realize that some of you may feel homicidal towards me for not updating. I apologize. I will do my best to update regularly. I am almost done with my 1st semester of college! WHOO! so,... Continue on!
Grace's head had been aching all day. No one had come to see her since those guard's had thrown her in the white room. The brightness itself was blinding and certainly not helping her pounding head. All four walls were white, not even the door was visible. Where the lighting came from, was a mystery at this point. Grace has spent the better part of an hour feeling along the walls for anything that could be a door or maybe even a light. Nothing. Not a damn thing.
She'd given up any hope of escaping a few hours ago and now currently sat against a wall, her knees pulled to her chest. Grace's headache had intensified over the last 20 minutes, making hiding her face in her arms seem wonderful until not even the darkness it provided could keep the intense throbbing at bay. Grace felt her stomach turn over as as her head pulsed angrily. A sudden spear of pain sent her kneeling and dry heaving. Nothing came up, leaving her with the same sickening pain that rocked throughout her entire body.
Grace rolled to her side as her muscles seemed to give from beneath her. Moaning, she spread herself across the floor, letting it cool her hot skin. She threw her arm across her face, blocking out the harsh light that chased away every shadow. That's when she realized something: there was no window. When that black haired man came in, the window had lit some of his face, allowing her to see his sparkling green eyes.
Where the hell had the window gone?
The thought sent another wave of agony through her head, reminding her of the pain in her skull. Grace gripped the sides of her head and curled up, whimpering when the pain intensified once again. This time it was different, however. It didn't stop, it continued to intensify, pulling a cry from her throat. Suddenly, the walls that surrounded her exploded outward.
The pain vanished.
Grace peeled her eyes open to look around her. She sat up and stared at the hallway that ran in front of her and seemed to go on infinitely to the right and left. But it wasn't the hallway that stopped her, it was the thing pacing across from her in another white room? His walls seemed to be see-through though. The golden shimmer that ran in front of him, covering a span of what made the wall. She stepped through the newly blown door and warily approached the cell across from her.
The thing didn't hesitate to launch itself at her. Grace gasped as she fell back onto the floor when the creature was thrown back towards the opposite wall, and fell to the floor unconscious. She quickly stood and righted herself before picking up and leaving the creepy thing behind. picking up a light jog, she went to her right, determined to get out and go home.
After about a minute of jogging down the long hallway, Grace came upon a door: large in height, but not very wide. Grace dropped to the floor, pressing her cheek and tilting her face to try and get a better look to see if anyone was around.
No one. Convenient.
When she pulled on the door, it took a little more effort than she had expected, making her hands hurt. Once it was open, however, she heard the foot steps. Lots of foot steps coming at her quickly. A large group of heavily armored guards ran at her from the opposite end of yet another long hallway. Grace saw a door about half way down the hallway. She didn't hesitate to sprint at it. The guards that were rapidly approaching had a higher chance of reaching the door before she did. But that didn't stop her from trying, instead she sped up.
Slamming fully into the beautifully carved wooden door, she jerked at the handle. The door refused to give her entry, naturally.
"Fuck!" she quickly turned, narrowly dodging a grab at her by the first guard to reach her. Grace sprinted back down the hallway she'd come from.
Another sharp pain shot through her head as she ran. Grace slammed once again into another door, now at the other end of the first hallway. This door happily gave way to her small frame. She burst through the other side and kept running. This hallway was different however, the floor was cold and the walls were barely lit with lanterns while the walls themselves seemed to be rocks. Was this some sort of cave?
The foot steps behind her were getting closer once again. Grace's breath came and went quickly as she forced her legs to move faster. The rock-tunnel suddenly ended sending Grace out into the open and straight to what looked like an ocean. There was at least 50 ft. she would have to fall if she were to jump. The shouts for her became louder.
Fuck it.
She fell, hitting the water hard enough to knock the wind from her lungs. She surfaced quickly, gasping and coughing. Forcing her breathing to calm, Grace looked up towards the hole she'd fallen from. A group of very pissed off looking men stood there, yelling at one another. No. Not at each other. At her. Their cries seemed frantic, worried even. She laughed to herself nervously as she swam towards the closest spot of land she saw.
Something slimy slid itself around her ankle, pulling her down beneath the water quickly. Grace pulled at what felt like seaweed but with every tug the tighter it became. Little tiny needle like spines suddenly penetrated the flesh of her ankle, causing her to cry out, losing air when she did so. Grace opened her eyes to see what looked like a blurred gigantic eel that seemed to be glowing blue with electricity. The thing turned back towards her, opening its mouth and letting out a high pitched screech that pierced her ear drums.
Spikes slid from the eel's side and launched at her. One of the spikes lodged itself in between her last and second to last rib on her right side. She let out another cry as she gripped that side. As the eel opened its mouth and began pulling her towards it, Grace did the only thing she could think of: she ripped the spine from her ribs and as soon as she was close enough, stabbed it into the thing's eye.
The eel cried out in pain, releasing her from its grip, allowing her to frantically swim towards the top. When she resurfaced, she saw that she was close to the shore than she had been. Grace pulled herself, dripping and bleeding onto the soft sand. Rolling onto her back, Grace let a moment of pain sweep through her.
Light, hurried foot steps pulled Grace from her dazed state. She sat up, ignoring her screaming body, and prepared to fight her way out.
"It's only me." The black haired man stood in front of her, slightly breathless.
"Get the hell away from me!" She yelled. He hair stuck to her face and across one of her eyes. She wiped it away quickly.
"Easy, easy," he approached slowly, "I'm only trying to help."
"No. You-you've been holding me captive for who knows how long and I'm done! I want to go home!"
Something swept through his eyes briefly, "I understand but you are injured and those spines are poisoned so we need to get you to the infirmary."
"Like hell. I will die before I let you take me anywhere else!" she screamed.
A small smile grazed his lips, "You will die from the poison. But there is an antidote."
Grace suddenly realized how close he was to her. Too close, close enough to grab her if he wanted. She took a step back, her heel barely touching the water.
She saw a flash of green as he was suddenly behind her, using his magic to deflect the giant eel's tail from striking her. Grace gasped as she whipped around to see the eel tail receding into the water.
The man turned back to her, carefully, "Now will you listen?"
Grace turned right back around and found herself running once again. She didn't get very far before she felt him wrap his arms around her waist and lift her straight into the air and back against his solid chest.
"Please! No! I don't want to go back! I want to go home!" Grace sobbed, kicking and screaming despite the pain that ripped through her.
"Grace! Gracela! Stop and listen to me!"
That name. She froze suddenly.
She wiggled free from his arms, and whipped around to face him.
"What the hell did you call me?" She took a defensive step back.
"Grace, please listen to me. You are safe. No one here will harm you." His whole front half of his clothing was wet.
"No, you called me something else. What was it?" She demanded.
His jaw clenched as he let out an impatient sigh, "The poison in your body is going to kill you, you need healing."
"No! Answer me!" She held a hand to her side as a sharp reminder made its way through her lung sending her coughing.
He rushed forward and caught her just in time as her body gave way to the poison that coursed through her veins. He raised his hand, motioning for the guards to come and take her to the infirmary.
The Lorezian king pushed his way through the large doors, not bothering to wait for the Asgardian guards to do it for him, "I demand a reason as to why Gracela is injured and in an Asgardian infirmary instead of a Lorezian!"
Odin looked up from his black haired son and eyed the angry king, "She is there simply because that is where she can be watched carefully while she heals from the poison her body had ingested."
"This is your fault! I told you to stay away from her." The Lorezian pointed directly at Loki.
"If it were not for my son, your daughter would not be alive." Odin roared as he stood and glared down at Tretzenan, "Now, maybe next time you should get all of your information before you start pointing fingers."
"What. Happened."
Odin quickly gave the king the run down of what had happened.
"I've always told you she was stronger than any walls you could put her behind."
"That you did, I will have my eldest tell you when she has awakened."
"No. I demand to see her now." The silver adorned king straightened to his full height.
"You are in no place to be making demands," Odin stated, "If you had sent for her when you said you would, she would not be in this state."
"How dare you say that any of this is my fault! She was under your roof when she tried to escape!" He pointed an accusing finger.
Loki stood from his kneeling position in front of Odin and made to approach the damned Silver-head.
Odin slammed his staff down, stopping Loki and the king from going at it.
"Enough."
"Norrah will collect her within the hour." The Lorezian king left without another word.
"You cannot let him take her." Loki turned back to Odin once the Lorezian was gone.
"Those words could cause a war, my son."
"I do not care! She belongs here!"
Odin walked up to Loki, "She is not the same woman! She will not be the same woman! Ever! Her mind is gone!"
"No! I refuse to believe that!" tears of anger sprang into Loki's eyes. The anger at the fact that he knew Odin was right.
Norrah sat at the end of Grace's bed. Having already explained what was to come, Grace was slowly pulling herself from the bed. Defeated, she limped over to a curtain to dress herself in the designated clothes Norrah had brought for her.
The dress was of silver fabric that hung to the floor. It fit her perfectly, hugging and hanging in just the right places, the sleeves draping loosely at her wrists. Norrah had to help Grace into the shoulder coverings and metal belt that arched up to a point just below and between her breasts. The shoulder pieces covered the upper half of both her arms, graceful swirls were etched into the metal. The metal belt looked as though individual strips of metal were wrapped around her stomach and and were then welded together, five strips in total making up the entirety of the belt. Grace wore dark silver heels with the whole outfit, making her feel awkward and uncomfortable.
"You look ravishing, my lady." Norrah smiled sweetly at Grace.
Grace gave a half smile, still feeling a little sick from the poison antidote.
"Here is your coat, my lady."
"There's still more? How am I supposed to move?"
Norrah laughed lightly, "Very carefully."
Grace laughed. The middle aged woman had been very kind to Grace when she'd first woken up. She'd helped her understand fully where she would be going and why. Though the why portion was a little vague. Grace simply didn't care at this point. Her body ached with every movement and the added clothing weren't helping. Grace had decided that, by one way or another, she would get back home, no matter how much it hurt her, she was done. Letting them take her some where else may give her the opportunity to escape and maybe trigger the light tunnel again.
Norrah turned away and turned back to Grace with a silver band in her hand. It looked like it had been made of silver tree branches, all carefully intertwined with one another to make a beautiful head piece. Norrah placed it upon Grace's jet black hair carefully.
"Now, my dear, you are done." She stepped back from Grace.
Grace turned towards a mirror to assess herself. The sight shocked her, her pail skin seemed to match the silver that adorned her entire body. Even her eyes turned from their natural green to a silvery gray.
"What am I?" she asked quietly, not expecting anyone to hear her.
"You, my lady, are very special."
Grace looked at her, the weight of the metal that hung on her caused her to be unbalanced. She tilted to her left where Norrah caught her easily. The woman stood a few inches taller than Grace making it easy to support her and guide her to the bed to sit.
A knock on the door startled Grace.
"My lady, you have a visitor." Norrah stepped aside with a large grin on her face as the tall figure entered, "Prince Loki wants to wish you fare well."
"Prince?" Grace looked from Norrah to Loki. He stood with a small, sad smile on his face.
"How are you feeling?" He asked gently.
"Better. Thank you." Grace said awkwardly.
"Well...I- Have a safe trip, my lady." Loki knelt and kissed the top of her hand gently, his lips cool on the back of her hand. They lingered there for a second longer than she'd expected. When he rose, he left quickly without another word.
It had taken them another hour to travel down a sparkling bridge that reminded Grace of her Light Tunnel. Grace and Norrah rode in a carriage down the bridge to a large golden dome with a huge point on top of it. When they'd entered the dome, a tall bulky man who'd introduced himself as Heimdall gave them instructions as to where to stand and they did so without question.
When he'd slid his sword into the center console of the dome the walls began to spin. The next thing Grace knew, she was flying through the light tunnel once again. Only, this one was much larger in width where as the other had been just big enough to wrap itself around her.
Grace an Norrah landed gracefully next to another carriage, this one made of nothing but noticed that the trees that surrounded them were a bright vibrant green that seemed to glow. The inside of the carriage was as dull as the outside. Silver and shiny.
"Why is everything silver?" Grace asked Norrah after about an hour of traveling.
"It is the color of the kingdom." she answered simply.
"Kingdom?"
Norrah didn't reply.
"What do you mean? What kingdom?"
When Norrah didn't reply again, Grace let out an irritated sigh. What the hell is wrong with these people?
Grace continued to stare out of the window at the passing forestry. A knock on the roof made Grace snap her head towards Norrah. The woman leaned towards the driver behind her and listened. Their hushed words were inaudible to Grace but as soon as they were done, Norrah quickly shut the curtains, blocking Grace's view of the outside world.
"Why did you-" a bump in the road knocked a small part of the curtains back just enough for Grace to see the black ash ground they rolled over. She ripped the curtains open once again and stared in horror at the sight in front of her. It was the small village from her dream. The one that burned. The one where the old man died.
"Grace! Stop." Norrah gripped Garce's hands and made her look at her.
"No. Stop! Stop the fucking carriage!" She ripped the door open and stepped out quickly.
"Gracela! Stop! Your father will be angry!" Norrah clamped her hands over her mouth at realization of what she'd just told Grace.
"M-my father?" She asked astonished, turning to face the woman, "You said I was being taken to see someone who could help me get home! What do you mean my father!?"
"Please, come back to the carriage."
"No, what is this? What the hell is going on?" Grace angrily unlatched her coat and let it fall to the ground. Next the ridiculous metal armor fell from her shoulders.
"Stop! You don't understand!"
"No! I'm done! I was going to just wait and see what would happen, to see if I could get home! But all you people are doing is lying to me!"
"We have a schedule to keep to my lady!"
"I don't care! I recognize this place and that shit," she pointed to the heap of clothing on the ground, "is heavy and uncomfortable and I am tired of it. I've been here for who knows how long and I just want to see my mom and have a boring life!" Grace fell to her knees and sobbed.
"I know," Norrah wrapped her arms around Grace and let her cry, " I know you don't understand now but you will. It will all be OK. I promise- NO!"
The shot rang out in the silence. The driver fell from his position and hit the ground. Norrah pulled Grace to her feet and made her run. The ashes that clung to the ground flew up with every step they took and with every shot that missed. Norrah launched herself at Grace, covering the girl with her own body as the bullet tore through Norrah's back.
Grace quickly turned the woman over, "Norrah! Norrah!" Norrah's eyes were open and blood covered Grace's dress she held the her.
"Run, child!" Norrah raised straight up and landed on her feet, two blades slipping from her sleeves.
Grace looked at what Norrah faced. It was the creatures that were cloaked in black.
"No fucking way..." they raised their weapons.
"Go! NOW!"
Grace stood and ran quickly. She rounded a corner, leading her deeper into the village. All of the huts around her were either burned down completely or slightly charred. One of the figures now stood not but a foot from Grace top her dismay. It gripped her throat tightly and tossed her like a rag doll backwards.
Grace landed with a thud, rolling a few feet before she was able to sit herself upright. She scrambled backwards as the thing began to approach her.
The familiar ache that resonated throughout her entire body made its presence known. Grace accepted the pain in hopes that maybe this time it would kill her. End her fucked up world. Instead the colored tunnel engulfed her being again. Grace shot through the light and crash landed in the pavement in front... of her house.
She was home.
But it was all wrong.
A/n: well that was exciting... :) I am sorry for this taking so long so I added more craziness just for you! I hope you enjoyed it! Let me know what you think cuz I love them reevooz!
Luvs yooz,
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