(Mal)
At first, when consciousness started tugging on her mind, Mal believed herself trapped in another nightmare of reliving her past, but the reality of every stimuli her mind picked up pressed into her before she could even open her eyes. This isn't a dream. This is real. The throb in her brow, the pain encasing her wrists and ankles, the sizzling of her skin, the metal draining her strength; it was all real. When a sob broke through her battered senses her head immediately snapped upright as she pried her eyes open, a low growl escaping her lips as her vision cleared enough for her to recognize the figure in front of her.
"Let her go!" Mal ordered, her voice sounding weak due to the lack of magic coursing through her veins.
"I knew that would be the first thing you said."
Head stepped into her view, but she couldn't remove her gaze from the girl tied to the chair in front of her, appearance screaming that she hadn't been restrained easily. That's my girl. She only wished the same could be said for her.
"Love makes people so predictable," Head continued, stepping directly into Mal's eyesight and blocking Evie from her view. "Your girlfriend's quite the fighter, and she caused quite a struggle when we brought her in, but I'll tell you what," his lips curved in a gruesome, ghastly smile. "I'll let her go if we get the necklace and you."
"You're not getting anything you want," Evie spoke from behind him, catching everyone's attention with her venomous voice.
The agents lining the walls glanced at each other in confusion and surprise before looking to Head for instructions. Clearly, they didn't think she'd be this difficult. Mal couldn't help but laugh internally; then again, I had no idea she'd be as difficult as she is. Though difficult wasn't the word she would use to describe the beautiful girl, not entirely. Evie was insistent, she was astoundingly intelligent, she was stubborn, and she was definitely a fighter, but she wasn't difficult as long as you knew how to handle her.
Seemingly assuming that he'd get a different answer from Mal, Head ignored Evie completely and kept his attention focused on her. "Well? What will it be, Mal?"
It sickened her that Head thought he could get everything he wanted with such ease, and it amused her that he thought she believed him. Letting out a dry laugh, Mal lifted her head to meet Head's twisted gaze, her emotions burning brightly in her eyes.
"Go fuck yourself."
An angry hiss released itself from Head's throat as he surged forward, his fingers closing around Mal's throat as he invaded her personal space. "How dare you speak that way to me! Do you have no respect for the man who raised you?"
Mal didn't flinch even in the slightest. "I raised myself."
Head laughed cruelly, shoving Mal's head backward as he stood back up, beginning to pace back-and-forth. She watched him until the pulse of fury in his eyes shifted into the presence of an idea, and he only laughed again as he turned to face her.
"How about this, I'll make you a deal," Head began, moving to circle around Mal. "You beat me in a fight, and I'll let you both go."
Eyes narrowed, Mal studied the look twisting his features, debating whether he was lying or not. She knew he was, and she screamed at herself to not take the deal, but a voice in the back of her head told her that they might have a chance of escaping if she could take Head down. However, she didn't get the chance to give an answer before Head knelt down in front of her to unlock the iron chains from around her ankles. Wrong move. As soon as her legs were liberated she didn't waste a second to grab hold of the opportunity. Shooting her legs forward, she closed her ankles around Head's neck and tightened until he was trapped, using the strength still inside her body to turn him around until she could press her boot into his throat and limit his air supply.
"Still want to fight me?" She hissed, increasing the pressure on his neck until he was gasping for air his lungs couldn't find.
This victory was short-lived, however, because four agents came forward and easily freed their master, and before she could strike again something was circling her neck from behind and causing her to scream out in agony. Iron. The makeshift collar clicked into place, and with her hands still bound she couldn't search for a way to remove it. She heard Evie screaming, her voice clouded by the tears that had formed with the cry that had escaped Mal's body.
The iron braces were removed from her wrists and she was forced to her feet, only to collapse to her knees due to the searing pain exploding through her entire body. Immediately, she reached up to the collar and closed her fingers around it, ignoring the way her fingers burned as she attempted to pry the item off with broken hope. Finally, she gave in and her hands fell back to her sides. Fight it, Mal. Fight it. Inhaling deeply, she pressed one foot into the ground and forced herself to stand through the pain; I can do this. For Evie, I will do this. Her fingers closed into a fist as she brought her gaze to lock on Head, her eyes blazing with unwavering hatred and determination.
"Please, Mal," Evie pleaded with a broken voice. "Please, don't do this."
"It doesn't seem like I have a choice," Mal replied quietly, never looking away from the man in front of her.
"You always have a choice," Evie whispered, but Head was already taking the first swing.
And Mal was already dodging his fist and throwing her shoulder into the area just beneath his ribs, the force behind her own blow buckling her knees and giving Head the chance to push her away. She stumbled, her legs unsteady under her. Not weak, but a fighter. Not useless, but talented. Not hopeless, but recovering. Not forgotten, but rescued. Not unloved, but wanted, she found red-brown eyes; not unloved, but a lover.
She made the next move, making it seem as though she were aiming for his head, but throwing her foot into his knee at the last second. The sickening crunch that sounded through the room seemed to echo, and as soon as Head cried out in pain and reached for his shattered knee she lunged again. However, he had the advantage and wasn't afraid to use it; she had known that all along, but it still took her by surprise when he threw his palm into the collar encasing her neck. All he had to do was close his fingers around the object and press the metal further into her skin, and that's exactly what he did. For the second time, a cry of agony found its way from her body, the metal searing her neck feeling as though it was tearing through her entire body and severing every connection she had ever had to her magic.
Her knees met the ground in a painful collision, every ounce of strength she'd had left in her body having been drained by the iron collar, leaving her with no way to protect herself when an iron knife glinted in Head's hand.
(Evie)
As soon as the first move had been made, Evie had begun struggling even harder against her binds in attempt to escape, but the rope wouldn't ease even the slightest. Panicking, Evie brought her gaze back to the fight when she heard a bone snap clean in half, her heart stopping its beat until she saw that it hadn't belonged to Mal, however, the second her heart continued she found it leaping into her throat as she watched her girlfriend collapse to the ground in agony. The scream that echoed around the room had Evie's throat and chest constricting tightly, but it sent her into a iced over rage that seemed to have all the answers.
She knew what to do.
Twisting her hands, she gripped the rope and sliced through it with ease, the magic she had summoned pulsing with life through her veins as she stood and ripped the necklace from her body. Her magic sparked around her as well as inside, and by the time she had the crowned heart dangling in front of her, the necklace and her hand were both surrounded entirely by electrical bolts.
"Don't touch her!" Evie shouted, thankful that her voice was now perfectly stable.
The knife paused in the air, and the cruel man turned to look at her, letting go of Mal the second his gaze reached the necklace. She could see the surprise etched into his features, the surprise etched into all of their faces as they studied the bright-blue electricity dancing around her hand; none of them had known she possessed her own magic.
"I can see there's something you left out, Mal," the man spoke delicately, holding up his hands and letting the knife drop to the floor.
Mal laughed lightly, her voice weak. "I didn't leave out anything."
"Make one more move and I swear you'll wish you were never born," Evie warned, rage boiling her blood and threatening to blind her completely. She wanted this man dead, and she couldn't shake the feeling that it was the worst outcome she could possibly want. "Get away from her."
Making a show of surrendering, he took a few steps away from Mal. "Let's not be irrational here."
"Bit too late for that," Evie scoffed, the power building inside of her steadily and bringing a panic with it; the amount of power she possessed was beginning to scare her.
Mal was right. Mal always seemed to be right; about her, about her power, about sneaking away. She made a note to trust the girl's instincts more often when they got out of here. When, she emphasized; we will get out of here. I won't let you die for me, Mal.
Glancing briefly toward Mal to make sure she was alright, Evie made a move closer to the girl, however, three steps into her journey the man lunged suddenly at her, his intentions clear. With a loud cry, Evie let her power take over as she reeled her arm back, letting her family heirloom find its way to the ground harshly. It shattered, her power bursting from the small object and lighting the entire room as it surged outward in a terrifying force, throwing everyone into the walls; everyone except for her.
Her power seemed to lessen when it collided with Mal, however, only knocking her from her knees and throwing her onto her back. Despite the different effect the blast had on the girl, Evie still rushed over to her in panic, dropping to her knees and pressing her hands into the ground on either side of her.
"Mal?" Evie whispered brokenly, the fact that the girl wasn't moving not slipping her notice. "Mal, please answer me."
Eyelids flickered, and sea-green appeared slowly. Mal looked around the room briefly before bringing her gaze to Evie's face. "Shit," she breathed out, the crack to her voice showing she was still in pain. "You are powerful."
A sob of relief escaped Evie's lips, and she quickly pulled Mal into her arms, holding the girl tightly against her body in fear of what would happen if she ever let go. Fingers weakly closed around the sleeve of her shirt, and she only found more tears falling from her eyes due to the light touch, the knowledge that the girl had gone through so much pain in her life squeezing her heart until it burst into several pieces.
"Did the iron keep me from hurting you?" Evie questioned, unable to accept the idea that she could have killed Mal along with the others.
Mal shook her head. "No. Iron only hurts fairies."
"Then..."
"Your magic must have known to protect me," Mal answered before she could even ask the second question, a small smile curving her lips. "Or you subconsciously threw a barrier over me. Either one is possible."
"I could..." Evie's voice broke, and she had to close her eyes in order to calm her breathing. "I could have killed you, too."
"You still could," Mal pointed out, not helping even in the slightest. "But you didn't, and you won't. That's what matters, E."
Overwhelmed by everything, Evie pressed her forehead against Mal's, inhaling deeply and allowing the feeling and scent of the girl to spread relaxation through her. However, when laughter suddenly filled the room and startled her, she pulled away quickly, her eyebrows knitting together in confusion.
"What could possibly be funny about any of this?"
"Think about it, Evie," Mal struggled to control her laughing enough to answer. "All of this started because of the necklace, and now it's broken."
"I fail to see how that's funny, Mal," Evie was baffled, unsure whether she wanted to hit, or kiss, her.
But Mal didn't seem to want to give an explanation, instead moving onto something else. "If I had known you could take out Head this easily, I would have gotten captured sooner."
Completely oblivious as to how the girl could be laughing in a moment like this one, Evie pushed her back onto the floor, smacking her arm, which only seemed to encourage more laughter from her. Well, Evie sighed, a frown etched into her features; everyone copes differently. Her laughter fading with each passing second, Mal stared up at her, and Evie couldn't see passed the love and amazement brightening sea-green eyes. Lips curving into an adoring smile, Evie reached down to grab hold of the collar of Mal's leather jacket and pulled the girl up as she leaned down, connecting their lips.
"What am I going to do with you, huh?" Evie mumbled against Mal's lips, bumping her nose against the girl's affectionately.
"Keep me?" Mal suggested, one eyebrow lifting in amused curiosity.
Evie laughed lightly. "Sounds like a plan."
Leaning back in, Evie kissed the girl like her life would end any moment, her lips working flawlessly with Mal's as the smaller girl settled her body back onto the ground. Evie shifted so her upper-body hovered over Mal's, her forearms resting on either side of the girl's body as she pushed her lips harder against plump lips, taking control of the kiss. A hand came up to brush over her stomach just before Mal pulled away.
Clearing her throat, Mal glanced around the room. "I don't really think this is the time."
Evie lifted her gaze to find the immobile bodies scattered haphazardly by the walls, understanding what the girl meant; however, that didn't mean her entertainment had come to an end. Letting one corner of her mouth curve into a mischievous smirk, she brought her gaze back to meet sea-green before leaning down until her lips ghosted over Mal's.
Well aware that the girl was holding her breath, Evie husked: "Don't think this gets you out of anything."
When she backed away from Mal she noted the widened eyes and the presence of desperate curiosity swirling around sea-green irises, and she couldn't help but laugh with relief again due to how incredibly fortunate they both were.