Dragon's Dismay with Absent Family

Chapter 5

*Sting's P.O.V.*

The raven haired king took a deep breath as he took a seat in one of the chairs resting a crossed from Sting. None of them were in the mood for any rest right now, correction actually Rogue would go to sleep if he could but he was sure that if he did Sting would end up leaving and rampaging every inch of the land at the moment. The younger 'brother' was actually tempted to have Celestine go and get some guards to watch over Sting all night after she came back from putting Riku back into bed. The blonde roughly tugged on his hair to the point where someone would probably think it was enough to pull it out. Sting knew he wasn't the only suffering from a loss of family right now, Rogue had just lost his daughter just like he had but Sting wasn't like Artemis, he couldn't help but be selfish especially when he had just lost more than Rogue and when he had lost his wife and daughter on such terrible terms. The white dragon slayer's mind raced back to the time that his father had explained to him the reasons why he didn't want Sting and Artemis together and it hit the blonde like a ton of bricks. What if that was what was happening? Was Artemis's class the reason she had been taken from him? No that wouldn't make sense because they had also taken Peyton as well. His anger made him clench his hands so tightly into fists that his knuckles turned pure white and his teeth felt like they were sure to break because of how much pressure he was putting on them.

"Sting would stop that before you punch something and break it." Rogue mumbled leaning back in his chair with his head tilted back so that he was looking up at the ceiling.

"How are you so calm? You just lost Rio!" Sting shouted jumping up from his chair.

"I'm worried Sting alright, she's my little girl! I'm just trying to keep a level head so that my thoughts don't get clouded with rage!"

Sting flinched back slightly. It wasn't normal for Rogue to snap so easily like that. He was supposed to be the calm and collected one between the two while Sting held the opposite role of easily angered. It was a simple sign that he was indeed just as worried as Sting. Holding in a frustrated sigh Sting looked towards the library door along with Rogue as it opened slowly. Through it Celestine emerged without her little boy this time. She made sure the door quietly shut behind her before she turned and walked her way over to the small circle of three chairs and a small coffee table on the left side of the library. Sting sat down again and looked away from both of them, his head resting in the palm of his hand. He didn't want to see any of the affection either of them were giving to each other to comfort their significant half. It would only hurt to look because he couldn't do such actions at the moment with his wife being taken off somewhere in a carriage with strange men.

"Did either of you see any of their faces?" Celestine asked breaking the small silence drifting between them.

"I couldn't see them; they were too far away for me." Rogue sighed and rubbed his forehead in frustration.

Sting didn't answer as his eyes fluttered and closed half way making his beautiful sapphire eyes appear dull and lifeless. Celestine parted her lips to ask him but then decided against it. The blonde blinked as the images of Artemis being pulled into that carriage plagued his mind and tore through him like a raging storm making him feel nauseous and filled with guilt. His eyes became fully shut when he saw his own daughter, the product of him, begin torn from him as well. Those three men, whoever they were, weren't going to have a happy future once Sting got a hold of them the blonde would make sure of it. Growling slightly Sting stood up from his chair, his eyes flicking over to Rogue and Celestine for only a few seconds but that was enough to set him off again. The sight of those two holding hands and Celestine gently comforting him with her hand rubbing his arm just simply made Sting crack. It made him feel the ghostly presence of Artemis's own hand on his own arm, something that truly couldn't happen right now. Turning away he left them to the small sitting area as he made his way to the window, small streaks of rain designing the glass as dark clouds circled in the night sky above now. He pressed his hand to the window and looked up. Thunder could faintly be heard as well but so far no lighting had struck down yet. A frown setting the blonde's lips, Sting couldn't help but to at least hope that nothing happened to that carriage until it got to its destination. From there the eldest king was going to find Artemis and Peyton, wherever they had been taken to.

"Artemis . . . . Peyton, daddy's coming, just keep mommy safe for now."

*Artemis's P.O.V*

Slowly coming back to consciousness Artemis could feel herself being jostled around. It quickly reminded her that she had been stuffed in a carriage and kidnapped along with her daughter and niece. Slightly cracking one eye so that the three men in the back of the carriage didn't realize she was awake, she could make out the small figures of Peyton and Rio. Both were huddled next to each other and curled up into balls still unconscious but this didn't surprise Artemis seeming's how they were both only children who took large shocks of lighting through their entire body. Those two were probably going to be out for a little longer than Artemis would. The sound of Rio screaming could still be heard ringing in her ears and it was making her blood boil extremely. She could feel herself suppress her magic and a growl rising in her throat as she thought about what they did to Peyton after she was knocked out herself.

"How much farther until we get there, this weather is bound to get worse." One of the men, more specifically the man sitting next to her, suddenly spoke startling Artemis and making her one eye close completely again.

"Not far don't get so impatient Ryu." The driver in the front shouted back into the carriage.

"I'm not, Xander! I don't feel like getting stuck in a mud pit from the rain making these dirt roads turn to mush!" The man, Ryu snapped.

"Calm down would you? We all don't need to be electrocuted." That one had sounded like the man from the wedding to Artemis.

"You're one to talk Azazel; you use everything you can for knife throwing practice. Maybe we should be worrying about you using these three here for target practice." Ryu grumbled.

A scoff could be heard from Azazel as well as a few grumbled words that Artemis couldn't make out. She slightly stirred and she could feel Ryu next to her shift and jump probably surprised by the sudden movement. A finger could be felt poking and prodding at her arm, probably them checking if she was awake or not so that they could put their guard up again. Luckily for Artemis she had always been good at hiding if she was awake or not since she used to do it all the time to her mother and father when she was younger and wanted to sneak a cookie or something late at night. It seemed as if the three men had bought it too since they didn't bother with her anymore after that. It seemed like forever though until the carriage stopped even though they had apparently been not far from their destination. The queen felt herself sit still as the jostling stopped and the carriage doors proceeded to open. She was lifted up from her seat and she was sure that Azazel and that other guy who she assumed was named Conner since that name had been said before but never claimed by any of the others who had already been called something different, had grabbed Rio and Peyton who were curled up together on the seat next to Conner. Cracking one eye slightly again it was slightly to dark for Artemis to make out anything except a door being surrounded by vines and bushes of Mother Nature. Somehow Artemis would also make out a fourth man and she immediately assumed that he was the one who had been driver and the one that they had called Xander. He unlocked the door and pushed it open as it creaked quietly. Walking through the door, their footsteps sounded like they had hit stone flooring of some sort. Artemis didn't think that there could be any form of shelter this far into the woods; she was obviously confused as to how these four were even able to find it either with the way it was hidden so well. Torches that each had their own glowing fire were suspended on the walls every couple of feet apart. The hall seemed barren until it spread out to a large room that seemed as if it were a living room. A simple worn down couch rested in the room with a small rug beneath it and torches lit this room as well. There were four doors that Artemis assumed led to her captor's bedrooms and then a smaller sized door that she was being carried off to at this very moment. Behind it was a smaller hallway and at the end of it was a cell that was sure to be where the three of them were to be held until they were sold off for the money that these guys were talking about earlier. Feeling a growl rise in her throat Artemis quickly jostled herself in Ryu's arms and rolled out of his grasp onto the floor before flashing a shield up that sent him flying back. Turning to do the same with the men who had a hold on Peyton and Rio she was forced up against a wall and a knife pressed to the corner of her mouth.

"Well looks like little miss sneaky was awake after all." Azazel hummed as he pressed the knife harder to the corner of her lips. "Maybe I should give you a permanent smile and then I won't have to see you grit your teeth or frown at me again like the way you are now your highness."

"You hurt me in any way and Sting will have your heads, all of you I swear." Artemis growled gripping onto the man's wrist.

"Aw that's cute but your little knight in shining armor isn't going to be able to find you out here." He snarled into her face.

"Enough Azazel, she won't be worth as much if you mark her up." Ryu said taking Azazel's shoulder and shoving him away.

Artemis grunted as she was yanked back to Ryu and had her arms harshly pulled behind her. She was thrown onto the hard floor of the cell while Rio and Peyton were tossed down harshly like sacks of potatoes. Artemis gritted her teeth and glared at them for the treatment that they were showing towards her daughter and "niece". They slammed the cell door shut just before Artemis had a chance to reach it. She tried to put up a shield to shove them away but nothing seemed to emit from her hand no matter how hard she tried. Her efforts made Conner laugh as he watched and a smirk decorated Ryu's face.

"The material that these bars are made of prevents any use of magic if you're locked on the inside." Xander explained without opening his eyes to look at her.

"Looks like you're completely useless in there beautiful." Conner sneered.

The four of them turned and left leaving only Artemis, Peyton, and Rio in this part of their little base. The queen collapsed to her knees exhausted before turning and crawling over to Peyton. She took her daughter and cradled her in her arms while stroking her hair. Slowly the motion of Artemis swaying woke the little blonde girl up and her green eyes that she had inherited from her mother darted from one direction to another trying to figure out where she was. Artemis held her tighter to assure her that her mother was still there with her. Peyton gripped onto the collar of Artemis's dress and nuzzled into her mother sobbing softly. It wasn't long after that Rio had begun to wake up. Of course she panicked since she woke up facing the opposite direction that Artemis was in. The brunette quickly reached out and pulled her closer as well to comfort the little raven haired princess. Artemis knew that Rio was probably more frightened since she would rather have her own father or mother at this point and not just her aunt but Artemis was the only one there, the only one that could bring her a sense of security at this very moment.

"Mommy I'm scared! I want daddy, daddy will come right?" Peyton cried.

"Yes, he'll come; I promise you your father will find us. He won't leave you here, or any of us. Rogue will come too; your father will come with him Rio I'm sure." Artemis replied softly.

"Daddy didn't lie about the good shadows did he?" Rio asked as she looked up at her aunt, her small figure cuddling into Artemis's side.

". . . No Rio, you're father wouldn't lie to you, he loves you so very much I'm sure of it." Artemis replied hesitantly.

Both of the little girls were shaking so much that Artemis was sure that she herself was shaking from them. She stroked Rio's hair while rocking Peyton who sat in her lap. Looking up at the ceiling Artemis knew that she was the only thing these two had right now. They were frightened so young and the brunette didn't believe that two innocent girls like them should have to be forced to go through this. Artemis never wanted anything to happen to Peyton but Artemis knew well enough that being royal was a dangerous lifestyle and things were bound to happen in Peyton's life. She only wished that all of this would have happened later in her daughter's life, at a time where Peyton could truly control her father's inherited powers and protect herself like a strong and courageous woman. Artemis was determined to turn her little girl into a proud and beautiful woman that knew well enough how to protect herself. She wanted Peyton to be just like Sting in that way because Artemis was never fully brave; the queen was never fully capable of protecting herself to the end of any situation. She would always have to rely on someone else and that someone else would almost always be Sting. She could only hope that Peyton would take after her father, she really truly wanted that.

"Mommy . . . Daddy . . ." Rio whispered as Artemis continued to stroke her niece's hair.

"I want Daddy, I want Daddy." Peyton repeated in a hushed tone into Artemis's chest.

"Don't worry Peyton, Daddy will come, Daddy will always come for you." Artemis whispered as her eyes gazed down to her engagement ring, the tiny engraved words of "Sting + Artemis" Gleaming up at her.

"Sting will always come."