Chelsea and Astrid
Astrid stretched slowly as she awoke, sensing the advent of night. She rose from her bed and showered, changing into new clothes and generally taking care of her appearance before she left her bedroom.
Chelsea's head nodded forward, then jerked up as she watched Christian. She didn't dare sleep.
Astrid kicked her casually in the side and Chelsea looked up.
"Get up, make some coffee."
Chelsea scrambled away and went into the kitchen. Astrid fetched one of her swords and started to hone it, whetstone rasping over the slightly dulled edge, restoring it to keenness.
"Oh, and feed the hurrok. He gets irritable if he isn't fed."
Chelsea's eyes widened. Oh, bunnies. The hurrok?
Christian
Christian watched, having woken moments before Astrid entered the room.
Great. Today was the day. Back to Blakesley.
Astrid and Chelsea
Chelsea started making coffee, nearly swaying with tiredness. Astrid honed her sword, sitting comfortably and watching Christian with interest.
"If you free Varian...get a promise from it first."
Christian
Christian looked up, his curiosity not showing on his face.
"And what's that promise?"
Astrid
Astrid shrugged slightly.
"Well, not to kill you would be a start. It's quite likely to do that. Get a promise you don't state at the time, and could be anthing. Called a bitterbynde."
Christian
"If Varian wanted to kill me, it would have done it already I'm sure," Christian pointed out.
"And it wouldn't have bothered healing me."
He looked at his hand again - the one that had been partially eaten - as if to check it was still intact.
Astrid
"Dragons can't tell a lie," Astrid said.
"And they're fanatical about keeping their word. It will be quite powerful when it reaches maturity. Ask it for...a hundred years service, to be called in at your pleasure. It may give it, it may not. But most likely, it will."
Christian
Christian locked his eyes on hers for a moment as he thought it over.
Why would he want it? But you know... sometimes you gave these things away and regretted them later. It may have been worth it to be able to call on Varian up until Craig deserted him completely.
"I'll think about it."
Astrid
Astrid settled back onto her chair, gleaming length of metal across her knees.
"I've given you advice. It's up to you what you do with it."
She looked at Chelsea, then back at Christian.
"How do you like your coffee?"
Christian
"Black, no sugar," Christian replied, looking away.
He brought his knees up again and sat up. He cracked his knuckles, then just stared at the floor in front of him.
Chelsea and Astrid
Chelsea came over with a tray and knelt in front of Astrid, who took her cup. With barely a shiver of the china on the platter, the girl rose and walked over to Christian. She knelt again, eyes down and head lowered. Astrid sipped her coffee.
Christian
Christian grabbed his coffee, then leant back against the wall to sip at it.
He kept his eyes at the floor, then closed them for a moment.
"So are we going soon?" he asked between sips.
Astrid and Chelsea
"Yes, very," Astrid said.
Chelsea returned to the kitchen.
"Sure you don't want to use her before you're back in captivity, as it were?"
Chelsea dropped a cup and it smashed.
"Kitten!" Astrid snapped.
Christian
Christian held back a snort.
"I think I'll pass. I don't plan on being there long anyway."
He pulled the pendant out of a pocket, debating on where to put it. Blakesley wouldn't let him keep his shirt on, and he still had bare feet.
Pursing his lips, he began to tie it around his knee - under his pants - hiding it from sight.
Astrid and Chelsea
"Pity. You scare her," Astrid said.
"I'm not sure exactly why, but I'd really like to know."
Her eyes gleamed like embers.
"I'm sure I'll see why when you escape."
Chelsea dropped to her knees and started to clean up.
Christian
Christian considered Chelsea for a moment, then went back to what he was doing.
"You said she sees things as they are... perhaps she's seen some of the things I've done," he shrugged.
He pulled his pants down over the pendant, then took his coffee again.
Astrid
"A thought," Astrid said.
"She's terrified into insensibilty by the old man."
Christian
Christian chuckled as he took another sip, then took a deep breath.
"Yeah... a lot of people seem to be. He seems to have a bit of a gift to make people afraid of him."
He rolled his eyes and had another drink.
Astrid
"He's old. He'll die soon," Astrid said.
"He looks to be half dead already. If I didn't know better, I'd say he was some type of zombie."
Christian
"I wouldn't be surprised," Christian raised his eyebrows.
"He seems a little... annoyed by the fact that I'm not afraid of him. But he doesn't show it. Scratch that, he doesn't show anything."
Astrid
"Most terrifying people are annoyed when you don't show fear," Astrid said.
"But you don't care, so there's nothing to *make* you afraid."
Christian
"Pretty much," Christian shrugged.
He finished his coffee, then just sat back against the wall.
Astrid and Chelsea
Astrid smiled slowly.
"I could get to like you, if I didn't hate everybody but me."
She stood and walked through to the stable room. Chelsea walked out and got hers and Christian's cups before quickly going back into the kitchen.
The hurrok tossed his head disdainfully.
Let's eat sky, little sister.
I do agree with you, brother mine. Let's fly.
Christian
Christian wrapped his arm around one knee, watching the doorway the hurrok's stable was through.
His eyes moved to the kitchen, hearing Chelsea bustle about.
Astrid
Astrid crossed to the door to the outside and watched it appear, before she opened it. The heat rose upwards towards the blackening sky, as the desert cooled in the night.
The hurrok pranced past her, tossing his head and whickering eagerly. Gleaming white fangs showed up against his ebony coat. Rearing suddenly, his hooves crashed to the earth and something wailed, squirmed, then disappeared into his mouth with a toss of the hurrok stallion's neck.
Good hunting.
Christian
"I guess that means we'll be going?" Christian raised his eyebrows.
He leant against the wall to stand up, and followed them to the door.
Astrid
"Yes," Astrid said.
She stepped through to the desert and turned her head to the sky. She whistled to the hurrok and he trotted over to her. She mounted with an easy swing of her leg. He reared slightly and she kept her seat easily, patting his neck until he calmed and made a whuffing noise with a shake of his head. She wheeled him in a tight circle and came back to where Christian was standing.
"Need a hand up?"
Christian
"You might wanna move over."
When she did, Christian mounted himself, and held on.
"Chelsea coming?"
Astrid
"Goddess, no."
Astrid clicked her heels lightly against the hurrok's sides and they were airborne.
"She stays in the house. Being a good little slave. Except when I need her eyes."
Christian
Christian shrugged.
"Fair enough."
He settled to feeling the wind through his hair and closing his eyes.
Astrid
"If it wasn't for the fact that the only other person with her talent is a complete babbling lunatic, she'd be dead already," Astrid said.
"She's at best, an inferior tool."
Christian
"Mhmm..."
Christian wasn't listening. For the moment, just enjoying the ride.
Astrid
Astrid fell into silence as they travelled on. Eventually, she roused herself and started to guide the hurrok down.
The glittering lights of a city spread out beneath them.
Christian
Christian felt the descent and opened his eyes.
As he saw the lights below them he began to quickly decipher main roads and where they led.
Astrid
They landed in a clatter of hooves. Astrid slid a dagger out of its sheath and held it against Christian's kidneys.
"This won't kill you, but it will hurt a hell of a lot. We;ve done so well...let's not mess it up now."
Christian
"I know what it feels like," Christian scorned.
"Don't underestimate the amount of times I've been stabbed or shot or... whatever else."
He looked up at the house, seeing a low light through one of the barred windows.
Astrid
"Fantastic. Then we understand each other," Astrid said.
She prodded him down off the hurrok and to the front door. She kicked on it with her boot, still holding the dagger to Christian's back.
Blakesley started slightly, then stood up.
"I'll get it."
He went to the door and undid the locks, before opening it.
Christian
Christian took a deep breath before the door opened. Well, that was that.
He looked up as Blakesley opened the door, and just looked him up and down.
Astrid
Blakesley stared back at Christian and Astrid, before stepping back to allow them in.
"I expected more damage."
Astrid rolled her eyes as she dug the knife in slightly in Christian's back, encouraging him to step inside.
Christian
Christian rolled his eyes and walked in, feeling the pendant still tied around his knee.
He spied the old man on the couch, not even bothering to move.
Astrid
Astrid slid the dagger back into its sheath.
"I expect you'll be alright now."
"Quite possibly," Blakesley agreed.
"Nevertheless..."
Astrid sighed slightly, then stepped in after Christian, closing the door behind her as Blakesley went to open the door to the room.
Christian
Isaac closed his eyes.
Christian kept his eyes on Kaleb, looked around the room one last time, glanced at Astrid and followed him.
Astrid and Varian
Astrid stalked along after them, holding her wings in close. Dammit, she hated being indoors.
Blakesley opened the door and entered.
Varian looked up and hissed through dagger-like teeth.
Christian
Christian followed Kaleb after a last look down the corridor.
When he spotted Varian, he smiled slightly.
"Hey Varian, did you miss me?"
Varian and Astrid
Varian huffed flame, then shifted.
"Admit to a little disapointment, seeing you back so soon."
She sat up, chain attached to her ankle clinking slightly.
"But someone intelligent to talk to won't come astray."
Astrid yawned slightly.
Blakesley moved to a cupboard to fetch some stronger restraints.
Christian
"Yeah, you're not the only one a little disappointed..." Christian murmured, looking around.
Not much had changed.
His eyes turned to Blakesley as he braced himself.
Varian and Astrid
"I think he should redecorate," Varian said.
"Paint the walls a different colour...move out all the torture instruments for a start. So middle ages."
Blakesley picked up a pair of handcuffs and came back over. Astrid grabbed Christian's arm and held his hand out for Blakesley to cuff it. He did so with a snickt sound.
Christian
Christian chuckled slightly, having made the sinking feeling in his chest dissipate through practice.
"You have a point there."
Varian
Varian smiled faintly, head propped up on her folded hands held over her knee.
"I usually do."
Blakesley put the other handcuff on Christian and then went to lower a chain from the roof.
"And he's running out of ideas," the hybrid observed.
"We're not breaking easyily."
Christian
"If at all."
Christian pulled a face when he saw what Kaleb was doing.
Here we go again.
Varian
"I don't plan on doing it," Varian said.
"What about you?"
Blakesley gestured for Astrid to bring Christian over. The winged woman bristled slightly at being treated like a servant, but pushed the alien forward anyway. Blakesley hooked a chain through Christian's handcuffs and secured it, before starting to raise it up.
Christian
"I find it very hard to break under these conditions," Christian said to Varian, flicking his ponytail back over his shoulder.
He looked up.
"This, for example, is getting tedious."
Astrid
Blakesley slapped Christian hard across the face.
Astrid yawned again, bored.
"I'm going now."
She turned and left, boots thumping softly on the floor.
Christian
Christian left his head to the side - the result of the hit.
"You know..." he began, "slapping is generally considered a form of physical violence carried out by the female population in general."
Varian
"Point," Varian said, "to the alien. Humans, zero."
Blakesley smiled unpleasantly, then punched Christian in the stomach.
"That was just to get your attention."
Christian
Christian would have hunched over, had his arms not been held up.
He took a moment to get himself together.
"That's... more like it," he said finally.
Varian
"Alien, two, humans still...nada," Varian said.
Blakesley flicked a knife out and slit Christian's shirt across the shoulders, not particularily caring if he sliced skin or not. He pulled the rent fabric off Christian's body and dropped it on the ground.
Christian
Christian shook his hair out of his face again, feeling a small sting in his shoulder - but glad to have his shirt off.
"$#it it's hot in here," he murmured.
Varian
Blakesley went and picked up a whip.
"That would be Varian."
Varian snorted.
"Hey, look who's throwing stones. You created me this way, asshole."
Christian
"Reckon you could cool the place down as well? Or at least give it a shot?" Christian raised his eyebrows at Varian.
"Although not enough to freeze my ass off... right?"
Varian
"Metabolic process," Varian said.
"Can't exactly turn it off. It's what you get for creating something from mostly dragons."
Christian
"Damn."
Christian ground his teeth a little, and twisted his wrists. The restraints were heavy and tight, showing that Kaleb wasn't taking many risks this time.
Varian
Blakesley ran the thongs of the whips through his fingers then brought it crashing down against Christian's back. Varian's eyes glowed eerily as she scented blood.
Christian
Christian cringed, having almost forgotten what it felt like.
He pulled on his wrists a little, then took a deep breath.
"Oh yeah. That brings back memories."
Blakesley
"Ones that will remind you how much more I can hurt you, I hope," Blakesley said.
"Perhaps you will learn that even if you do escape, as long as I think I have need of you, you'll come straight back here."
Christian
"If I wish to disappear, I will," Christian began firmly.
"And what need do you have of me apart from punishment at the moment?"
Varian & Blakesley.
Varian coughed slightly.
"He's having fun. In his own twisted little way. You think he's compensating for something?"
"Actually, I intend to test Varian's healing abilities," Blakesley said.
He whipped Christian again.
Christian
Christian cringed again, more at Kaleb's words than his actions.
"Oh how did I know you were gonna say that?"
He rolled his eyes and sighed.
Varian & Blakesley.
"Because he is mindnumbingly predictable," Varian said caustically.
Blakesley leant over and stamped down on her hand, breaking the fragile bones. Varian screamed, a high pitched.
Christian
"Well done for stating the obvious," Christian scorned sarcastically.
He flicked his hair out of the way again, slightly annoyed at it.
Varian & Blakesley.
"F*ck, f*ck, f*ck, f*ck," Varian cursed, cradling her hand to her chest.
"God DAMN, you sick sorry motherf*cker."
She glared at Christian.
"And f*ck you too, bitch."
Christian
Christian shrugged, unfazed.
"Any telepathic abilities included in your box of magic tricks?" he raised his eyebrows, "cos that could come in handy sometime soon."
Varian & Blakesley.
Blakesley rolled his shoulders slightly, before he brought the whip down on Christian's back again.
"Chriiiist," Varian moaned.
"Talk about when the whitecoat leaves."
Christian
Christian threw his head back that time, straightening his back for a moment then making it relax.
"Ok," he agreed.
Varian & Blakesley.
Blakesley whipped Christian's back to shreds before he left. Varian concentrated on healing her hand.
"So, how was the outside?" Varian said conversationally.
Christian
"Cold," Christian replied, "you know, snow?"
He rolled his neck for a moment, concentrating his sense of touch on places other than his back.
"So, about this telepathy thing... what can you do?"
Varian.
"Yes. I miss snow."
Varian nodded thoughtfully, then resettled with a small sigh.
"I can read people's minds. And influence them sometimes."
Christian
Christian hesitated thoughtfully.
"Ok. There's some things I need to know," he began in a business- like tone.
"Can you still influence Kaleb, or is it hindered by whatever non- damaging spell they have on you? And, is that spell held by your collar?"
Varian.
Varian chewed her lip for a minute.
"I can't make him slip and hurt himself. But I have made him forget his keys, and things. Minor, annoying little things, but nothing that will harm him in a physical manner. And yes, I think so."
Varian looked at him closely.
"Why?"
Christian
Christian bit his bottom lip for a second, his eyes on the door.
"If we figure a way out of here..." he began slowly, "Astrid gave me the key. To your collar. There's just the matter of Kaleb and his father to hinder us."
Varian.
Varian estimated how close she was to Christian, and gave up a vicious lunge for the key as something to be ruled out for now.
"And what exactly did she say about the key?"
Christian
"That it was for your collar," Christian said in a 'duh' tone.
"She also said I could use it. Make you give me your word for something such as being a servant. But..."
He shook his head and trailed off.
Varian.
"No one ever does something for nothing. What do you want?" Varian said.
Christian
Christian looked up at Varian for a moment, then away.
"I don't believe in caging something as young as yourself. By bars, or by promise. I'm happy as long as we both make it out."
Varian.
Varian cocked her head.
"I believe you mean that. How odd."
She licked across her previously broken hand, cleaning it of blood.
"Still, I will feel...indebted."
Christian
"I'm sure you'll get used to it."
Christian looked up, then down. Then he pulled on his wrists enough to bring his legs up and set his feet against the roof.
This way, he got a better look at what was on his wrists. Once he had a look, he let himself down again.
Varian.
"I can't get free of this and until I can move closer to get the key," Varian said, "the topic is slightly superflous. Good night."
Her form shimmered and flowed into jewel-like scales as khe curled up on itself.
Christian
Christian just hung and watched Varian for a moment, before letting his eyes wander around the room.
All he needed was a small piece of wire... And it was all he didn't have. Or did he?