Aeila hadn't slept one single second that entire night. After the events of the day, sleep would have been a welcome release and it would have allowed her to recharge most of the energy that had been spent travelling to the castle and then unsuccessfully fighting off a trained Drakken. Most of the night, in fact, was spent beating herself up over the fact that she couldn't just get rid of him herself. She needed her older brother to even stand a chance. And now, he was gone, and the Drakken who had claimed her was quickly healing up which naturally meant a great deal of trouble for her. The serated dagger she had silently placed in her belt was a quiet reminder that she still had a choice but she knew she would never use it. Killing was something she could never do, even if it meant escaping from a horribly inevitable fate.
And so, when the dawn brought the other Gem girl to life, she sat quietly in the chair that she had claimed as her own. The girl herself seemed a gentle thing with way too much curiosity. Oddly, she reminded Aeila of herself, or the half-cast girl that had entered the castle only a day previous. That girl held on but Aeila knew she would have to drop her soon. She was permitted to be weak because the strong protected her but now, she had no protection.
Shifting in her seat, her hand ran through her red tufts of hair as she watched the other girl. She seemed much more... hopeful. It was completely irregular in her position but Aeila understood why it was there. If she didn't have hope then she would break. Content that there was no clear threat around her, Aeila'a defences slipped and her eyes slowly blinked closed.
She must have slept for only an hour or so before a familiar voice woke her from her slumber. "
In a way, I guess it is permanent. After all, Gems caught trying to sneak back across the border are captured and often times killed without a second thought. I can offer you protection seeing as I owe you for not slitting my throat in my sleep, but do not expect any further kindness from me. You'll earn your keep like everyone else in my estate, that goes for you too Sprite." Her eyes widened as she looked up to find Azilon in relatively good health. Rynek had practically left him for dead. How he evaded that death was beyond her but she began to feel her heart pound in her chest. She was practically useless - how could she earn her keep? Naturally, her mind took her back to the day previous when he had grabbed her hair and for a second, his eyes were filled with a dark lust to slit her throat before anger took over and his lust changed utterly. She had a feeling her work wouldn't be a physical one.
Shivering at that thought, her eyeshaking narrowed at his back, constantly watching as he disappeared into another room to run a bath for himself.
The other Gem had disappeared in the meantime, taken off by the strange man who had spent his night healing Azilon. Aeila knew that she had a window and she could do something with it.
Slipping up onto her bare feet, she stretched lightly before carefully withdrawing the serated dagger her brother had left with her. Her breath became shaky and she remembered the fear she had the day before. She remembered how they slowly surrounded her and closed in, baying like wolves. He saved her but he was dangerous. She knew it wouldn't take much to kill her and he wouldn't be above it. Plus there was the other girl - he would hurt her too. Throwing her earlier thoughts out the window, she gently edged the door open and peered through to find him asleep in the bath. It would only take one quick slice.
Holding the knife in her two hands, pointing in front of her, she advanced slowly, her feet barely even producing sound as she padded towards him. In no time, she was on him and her heart was beating so fast she was beginning to worry it was audible. She
had to do it. He would kill her just like he had made that man deaf. He would beat her and humiliate her. She didn't want to do this and tears formed in her eyes but her hand slowly advanced forward, finding a good position to press it into his throat.
Golden eyes flickered open, capturing the soft light of the room and savouring the silence of the world around her. Then reality came crashing back to her, shattering every semblance of peace inside her. Her mind went back to the night before. She was trying to knock Aery out but the girl was stubborn and the last thing she remembered was... Her vision going black. She let out a choked splutter, her eyes going wide as she reached down between her legs. No pain, no numbness. She hadn't been touched by Lugft. But Aery. Aery didn't blackout.
She sat up, her eyes hunting the bed sheets for any sign of the other girl. What she found was a small spot on the sheets; so small she nearly missed it but it was clear what it was upon further inspection. Her stomach curled at the realisation that what caught her eye was no less than dried blood. She felt the sudden urge to throw up.
A short time later, she was curled up against a wall, her eyes already dulled. She had one reason for her existence, one simple job - to protect the innocent. And yet, she wasn't even capable of that. Aery had been defiled while Atallia slept peacefully. While she wept and screamed, Atallia was dreaming of home. Her breaths were shaky, her mind too full of panic. What use was she? She was meant to be strong, to sacrifice her life so her people could be happy and here she was, thoroughly untouched in place of a weaker girl.
Talli didn't remember picking herself up off the ground. She didn't quite remember slipping on her shoes and leaving the room. Nor did she remember the long walk towards nowhere but she did remember wandering into a large dining room and picking him out easily from the crowd. A frown etched into her features. Where was Aery?
Stumbling forward, her eyes went wide before a rumbling fire began to form in them and the gold suddenly became molten hot. Her fists began to heat and a single spark would have been enough to ignite her.
Finally, she rounded on him, her eyes dark and fiery as she curled her hands into fists.
"What did you do to her!? Where is she!?" She exclaimed and the tables around her went silent as she stared down at him, unflinching and not caring that nearly every eye was on her.
