"Ebb!" Kol shouted into the vacant prison. There were so many hallways and staircases Kol passed as he ran calling her name. That man had said he was keeping her here. Kol had not thought to ask specifically where in the prison and now he didn't know where to look. She wasn't on the main floor and she wasn't answering. He decided to try the staircase going down to a lower level. He ran through the musty hallways glancing in each cell as he passed. They were all empty. He circled around until he was at the stairs again. He would search the upper floor next. He put his foot on the first step when he heard a noise. It was so quiet that Kol was not sure it was real and not his imagination. He froze and listened. It was completely silent, but he noticed something he had not before. Behind the stairs he had come down was a small door that was cracked open. The worn wood once had words carved on it before they wore away. From what was left, Kol could make out enough to read that this was the way to the maximum security cells. He opened the door and the hallway he entered was smaller with fewer cells that all had metal bars instead of wooden doors. He heard the noise again and dashed down to the end of the hallway. It was the clanking of chains.

There in the last cell was Ebony. Kol's legs went weak with relief at finding her, but she wasn't moving. Chained in between the two stone walls, Ebony was slumped over and not moving. In two long strides Kol stood before her before dropping to his knees. There was blood on her neck and he feared the worst. He whispered her name as he lifted her head to see her face. Her crystal clear blue eyes blazed at him and she pulled away. Kol's eyes widened with shock.

"Get away from me," Ebony growled. Her wrists were raw from pulling against the chains.

"Ebb, it's me," Kol reached for her again. He couldn't figure out why she pulled away so violently.

She still fought to escape his touch. "Don't call me that! You monster!"

He did not understand. What had they done to her to make her like this? He tried to think of the right words to say to make her understand he was here to help. Gently he ran a hand over her cheek, but she still glared at him hatefully. Another potion perhaps to make her see friends as enemies…No, she had been imprisoned by a mockery. Now Kol understood. That is what made her distrustful of him. The mockery had probably put on many faces to scare and torture her. But why had it chosen his? "No, Ebb, look at me. I am not the mockery. It's Nikolaus. I've come to rescue you."

Kol's hand was still gently caressing her cheek and the hate in her eyes diminished to be replaced with cautious hope. She studied his features. "Kol?"

He nodded.

"You came," Ebony whispered. "They said no one even knew I was missing and no one would come."

Kol pressed a kiss to Ebony's forehead. She was always so brave even when she didn't think she would be saved. He would make sure that nothing like this ever happened to her again. She should not have been made to endure all that she had. "I will always come for you." He promised. "Who is it that did this to you?"

"It was Giselle. She has gone insane. It was her who poisoned me and it has been her plan all along to get me away from the prince. You were right; I should have never gone back to the inn. I just never thought she was capable of such a thing."

Kol was also surprised that her stepsister could have done something to wicked and heartless, but he had seen what dabbling in black magic could do to a person. Giselle might not have been capable of this before, but the moment she stepped into a witch's shop she was lost. He moved to examine the chains that bound Ebony's wrists. He did not know when or if someone would be coming by to check on the prisoner. If the mockery showed up, there was little he could do to fight such a beast. He would have to be swift. He took the dagger from his belt and started working on the locks. With a bit of effort the first one unlocked and Ebony gratefully stretched her arm. Once both hands were free she rubbed her wrists tenderly.

"Come on, we have to get out of here," Kol helped Ebony to her feet. "How do you feel?"

"I feel fine other than my arms ache a bit." Ebony said. She looked fine too.

Kol narrowed his eyes. "How long have you been here?" Something didn't add up right.

"At least three days. It's strange. I know I should be weak and tired, but I'm not."

It was curious and Kol would figure out what they had done to Ebb while they held her prisoner, but now he wanted to get her somewhere safe. Together they left the awful ruin of a prison. It was a long ride back to his mansion, but he had Ebb safe in his arms and for now that was enough. She might not be in love with him, but almost losing her put things in perspective. Her fool of a stepsister had unleashed a great evil into the city and it would target Ebb. Kol would do whatever he had to do to help her fight the mockery. He had been wrong to be angry at her just because she loved someone else. Maybe if he hadn't gone and lost himself, he could have prevented her from ever being taken to that horrible place.

"We will need to learn all we can about the mockery." Ebony announced once the lion gate came into view.

"My mother keeps a well stocked library we can look through. There has to be something in there about the mockery." Kol knew his parents were at some royal function and would not be home for another few hours yet. When they did return they would return to their bedroom and not the library. Kol and Ebony could look through books all night without being disturbed. Before they entered the gate, Kol had a thought and passed right by.

"Where are we going?" Ebony asked. She twisted around to look at the lion gate Kol had just ridden by.

Kol smiled. "You are going to need better clothes if we are to do research. Don't worry, it won't take long. My aunt is a bit eccentric and owns what she calls an 'adventurer's shop'. I think she will stay open a bit later for her favorite nephew."

The shop was just around the corner from Kol's house and a woman was just closing the door when Kol stopped her. The woman shared Kol's dark eyes and impish grin. She hugged him and said she would be happy to help his friend. The shop was small and filled with walking sticks, travelling packs, and sturdy clothes. Kol choose a red bodice with laces paired with a loose sleeved white shirt and soft wool breeches.

He handed the outfit to Ebb and motioned towards the stairs at the back of the shop. "Now, go and wash up. Those should fit you better than my sister's old wardrobe."

Ebony looked torn for a moment as if she was going to refuse. Kol shooed her towards the stairs encouragingly. He did not mind buying clothes for her one bit. He smiled at her figure as she walked up the stairs. That knight was lucky and Kol hoped that he knew it. He wanted Ebb to be with someone who treasured her like she deserved, even if it wasn't him. He was so busy thinking about Ebb that he did not notice his aunt was smirking at him. Her impish grin was turned on her nephew.

"Are you going to tell me who she is, Nik?" Kol's aunt asked when Ebony was upstairs and out of hearing.

"I told you, Aunt May, she is my friend." Kol answered quickly. The words still pricked because they were not the words Kol wanted. He wished to say that Ebb was the love of his life, his fiancée, his soul mate, his everything – but that wouldn't be completely true. She belongs to someone else, Kol reminded himself.

Aunt May's dark gaze stared intently into Kol's black eyes. "Don't lie to me, Nikolaus. You know it never works."

"I am not lying."

"You are not telling the full truth either. That woman is more to you than just your friend. You love her."

Kol sighed. It was the painful truth. "She wants someone else. He makes her happy and it is not my place to get between them."

"And what about what makes you happy?"

"As long as I know she is happy, that is enough for me."

"Oh, my Nikolaus," His aunt reached up to ruffle his hair affectionately. "Your heart always was too great for its own good. Have you met this other man? Do you think he is worthy of Ebony?"

Kol frowned at the image of Ebony and the knight. "I have not met him. Twice I saw them together and I know Ebb loves him."

May smiled and patted Kol's cheek. "Maybe you misinterpreted what you saw. He could just be a friend of hers. You should ask her about him. Maybe it is not as you think."

Kol stepped away. "I know what I saw." He could not bear to ask Ebb about her knight. He did not want to hear her talk about the man she loved. It was painful enough to just have the image of them seared in his brain; he did not need to hear Ebb talk about how much she loved him too.

"What are you afraid of, Nikolaus?" His aunt asked gently.

Kol didn't answer, but his jaw clenched tightly. What was he afraid of? He was afraid that Ebb did not love him at all, not like he loved her. He was afraid that she would say kissing him had been a mistake. He was afraid that she would say what he was thinking – that he was not good enough for her. He was afraid of how vulnerable loving her had made him. She had the power to destroy him with only a few words and he was terrified that she would. He knew even if she did say any of those words he would still love her even though she did not return the feeling. It was enough to just have her close for now. Soon she would be returning to her home since the celebration was almost over. If he could push his feelings aside for just a few more days…

There were footsteps on the stairs and Ebony came back down to the shop looking fresh and clean in her new outfit. It fit her perfectly and Kol had to stop himself from staring. He took some money out to pay, but his aunt stopped him. "You don't have to pay this time, Nik."

Ebony thanked May and Kol before they left the shop. May said goodbye and said it would be nice to see Ebb again. The ride back to Kol's house was quick and Ebb helped him put Lady back in the stables. Kol caught himself stealing glances at her when she wasn't looking. He could not help it. Friends, Kol told himself; that is all we are.

The library was a medium sized room with plush chairs for reading the books that lined every wall. There was a writing desk and wall lamps that cast a warm yellow glow over the room. Industriously, they both began searching the shelves for books that might mention mockeries. There were a few thin books solely on the subject, some heavier indexes of wild beasts, and many books of legends that they pulled off the shelves. Within the hour both of them were immersed in texts about mockeries and similar creatures. When they found something that might be useful, they would write it down on parchment Kol had found in the writing desk. Every so often they would compare notes and talk about their findings. The more they read the more bleak it all seemed. Mockeries seemed nearly invincible.

Kol was reading a particularly lengthy passage about the mockery diet when he looked up at where Ebb sat at the writing desk. She was slumped over the open books with a quill still in her hand. She was fast asleep. Kol smiled and closed his book. They had done enough for tonight. Gently, he removed the quill from her hand. He wrapped one arm around her shoulders and the other he placed behind her knees. As carefully as he could, he lifted her in his arms to take her to a more suitable place to sleep. When they left the light of the library into the darkened hallway, Ebb sighed and shifted in his arms. He stilled when she ran a hand over his shoulder and snuggled closer to his chest. Kol smiled sadly and continued down the dark hallway.

Angst!