WARNING: PHYSICAL ABUSE

Raven rode comfortably on the camel, resting against Damian occasionally. Her mind was still spinning from the information she learned the night before. Themyscira was still around! And, there was a reason Raven had never been able to locate it with her powers. "The entire perimeter is surrounded by iolite," Damyan explained the night before. "When Slaede began searching for every bit of iolite in the kingdom, my grandfather immediately ordered his men to begin mining."

"Damyan's grandfather had access to his own iolite mine," Jhon added.

"I remember grandfather's men mining for months," Damyan said.

"And Themyscira?" Raven asked.

"A safe haven for those running and hiding from Slaede," Damyan paused, debating whether to continue. "They've created a resistance. We're going to dethrone Slaede."

"Are you okay?" Damyan asked as they came across a caravan.

A shudder worked its way through Raven's body when she felt his breath on her ear. "Um…yeah," Raven answered.

"Do you need water?" Jhon looked up at her with his large eyes.

"I'm fine. I'm – Viktor!" she screamed. Damyan and Jhon followed Raven's gaze, and Damyan's jaw dropped. A dark-skinned man beamed at her. "Hey, Rae!" the man beamed at her, "thank the gods I found you."

"Wait," Damyan frowned. "How are you not dead?"

Maya sat on the floor of Slaede's children's prison, arms wrapped around herself, tears in her lime green eyes. "Maya! Maya!" several voices screeched, running to her. Maya turned to look at the other prisoners, her siblings. "What happened?" a small child asked. "You've been gone for forever."

"Why are you wearing fancy clothes?" another child asked.

"What did Slaede want?" an older girl asked.

"Raven is missing," Maya cried. A chorus of 'oh no' echoed in sparsely furnished room.

"What is Slaede going to do?"

"I don't know," the words barely left Maya's mouth when the door slammed open. One of Slaede's personal guards stormed in and grabbed Maya's upper arm. "What's wrong?" Maya asked in horror.

"The king wants to see you," he gruffly replied.

"But…I just left him," Maya said as the soldier nearly dragged her way.

"Let's go."

Maya hit the floor with a thud. The palace physician was there as well. She looked up at Slaede with tears in her eyes. "I know the exact number of soldiers in this castle," Slaede didn't turn to look at Maya. He looked down at the city below. "I know the names of my personal and secondary guards." Maya trembled as Graent walked slowly towards her. "My mind has been so addled lately, I didn't realize until moments ago that something slipped my attention." Slaede turned to Maya. "Raven's personal guard, Viktor. He'd been mortally wounded, close to death. I didn't think to check on him because the physician could do nothing for him. Moments ago, the physician said not only had Viktor made a miraculous recovery, but he was also missing." Slaede glared down at the young, trembling sorceress. "I'm sure Raven has told you – no one gets healed in my castle without my say-so." Slaede squatted in front of Maya, and his glare hardened. "You healed him, and now he's missing. Where is he, Maya?"

Tears fell from Maya's eyes. "I-I-I don't know what you m-m-mean," she stuttered.

Slaede stood to his feet with a sigh. He then glanced at his son over Maya's head. A pain exploded in the back of Maya's head, and she cried out. "Ow." Her vision momentarily blackened as her head hit the floor. Graent walked around to stand in front of her, wiping the butt of his sword, smirking down at her. Maya placed a hand to the back of her head and slowly withdrew it. She gasped when she saw it was covered with blood.

"I don't take kindly to betrayal," Slaede said, "I'll only ask once more. Where is Viktor?"

"I don't know," Maya cried.

"How did you get to Viktor's body?"

"I – I – "

"How did you get to Viktor's body? How'd did you even know he was injured?"

"I – I heard the soldiers talking when the castle was in lockdown," Maya cried.

"How did you get out of your room?"

"I – I picked the lock."

Slaede looked at Graent. Maya's vision went white, and the right side of her face went numb as Graent backhanded her. "Tell the truth," Slaede ordered calmly.

"I am," Maya sobbed.

"Who taught you?" Slaede demanded to know.

"I-I taught myself."

Slaede looked at Graent again.

"I swear I'm telling the truth!" Maya cried out as she brought her hands up to block an oncoming blows.

Slaede held up his hand, stopping Graent mid-swing.

"All we do is sit around and have visions," Maya cried, "I taught myself because I was bored."

"Why did you heal Viktor?"

"He's always nice to us."

"Tell me everything you discussed."

"I revived him. H-h-he said someone had taken Raven, a-a-and he knew who; b-b-but he had to leave right away."

"Is that it?"

"I swear."

"This is all rather convenient," Graent circled Maya. "Father, are we sure this wasn't planned?"

"Raven is innocent," Maya gasped.

"And how do you know?" Slaede turned his cold gaze to her.

"She-she-she would never leave us behind," Maya stated confidently.

Slaede clenched his jaw. "She's right," he said to Graent. "Raven would never willingly separate from her family."

"So…this…Damyan is making use of his family's iolite?"

"Send a message to Mara," Slaede ordered his son, "I want the Shadow Clan here by tonight."

"Whatever you say, Father."

"Yes," Slaede glared, "whatever I say."

"Maya healed you," Raven sighed in relief. She threw her arms around Viktor and breathed a sigh of relief. "Thank Azar."

"But what about you, Raven?" Viktor held her at arms' length and looked at her up and down, checking for injuries. "Are you okay? Have they hurt you?" He glared at Damyan and Jhon.

"No, they've been nice," Raven answered.

"Nice?" Viktor repeated incredulously. "Gods, Raven, he nearly killed me. I was on the brink of death."

"I don't know what to tell you," Raven frowned. "Jhon has been especially sweet."

"Well, I'm so sorry they've put you through this. I…I wasn't aware there was a change of plans."

Raven gave him a confused look. "A change of plans?" she repeated. "What do you mean?"

"I mean," Viktor sighed, scratching the back of his head. "Raven, I'm with the resistance."