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     “Come on Min! Wakey Wake-“
     “I'm AWAKE.” She growled softly as she opened her eyes to slits. “Besides, you're just waking me up so you can take a nap...”
     “Uh.. well... yeah... so what?” He defended himself.
     “So you could have just let me sleep...” damn... cornered myself. “Thank you, then...”
     “You're welcome, I guess...” He replied as he scratched his head a moment. He shrugged off the thoughtful expression she had as he curled up in the shade of a tree to sleep.
     Asleep already? How has he survived so long if he can let his guard down so easily? “God... I envy you.” She looked down at Turick, frowning slightly. She sighed, falling down against the opposite side of the tree to rest as well.
     “We're coming for you...” She began to say to herself. The woman's words still stayed clear in her mind. “That lady was after Turick before... it is a guardian's job to defend those who enter the forest...” But then again, this isn't the first time I've defended the wrong person.
     She turned to look down at Turick, and smiled. “You always thought it was odd that I tried so hard to save you... and I told you it was because, 'that was how I was raised. But... truthfully, I had some less than lofty motivations.” She sighed, propping a hand under her chin as she thought about the past.
     The only person I can talk to, and I choose to tell him when he won't even remember. “I hope you have good dreams at least!” She poked his cheek playfully. She inhaled deeply as she began her story.
     “There was a man once-no-this isn't a sappy romance story...” she began to frown. “He ran into the forest blindly. Two others had followed him... they looked hostile... so I chased them off...” Mistake number one... “He fell unconscious after saying 'you look like you'll be useful...'” She laughed bitterly. “Isn't it odd? Oh... it was a lot worse than 'odd' later...”
     “I brought him back to the village... back then,” she gulped, “Lin's sister was the head healer...”
     “I left him to her care... I had been up top for days... it was my time to rest...” Her eyes began to drift off past the trees. “I didn't hear until it was too late what had happened. By the time I got there, he...”
     She inhaled quickly. “He was just a common murderer... the two who had been following him must have been Bounties, or Mercs'... or people after revenge.”
     “But he-he had Lin's sister in his grasp... and he-.“ She covered her mouth as her stomach lurched at the memory.
     “He snapped her neck...” She finished softly. “He smiled at me... I'll never forget the cold that seeped into my every nerve then. He said, 'You were very helpful, indeed.'” She felt her eyes begin to burn with tears. “He turned towards Lin. She looked back at me with horror. And before I knew it, I had already drawn the bow, and killed him. I was sick for days afterwards... I can't remember much... only the anger... and a sort of red haze... the calm of the forest...”
     “Straight into his ear...” She grinned a bit maliciously.
     “The senior guardians commended me... made jokes about, 'she's a real guardian now! No true guardian is clean of blood.'” She ended with a cold tone to her voice. “They were all mocking me... but what really bothered me... was... why hadn't they been there earlier? They were closer than I was to the healer's shack...” She sniffled, rubbing her eyes before sitting up. She looked down at Turick, and on a strange whim, kneeled down and ruffled his hair before whispering, “If I'm not here when you wake up, just go on without me. You won't miss me anyhow...” She sighed, standing up and wandering off to think.
     Turick opened one eye and watched her go. “What does she mean, 'If I'm not here when you wake up'? Probably shouldn't worry... she's a skilled warrior after all...” He closed his eyes again and slipped into an actual sleep.

     Minaiya sighed, looking longingly at the familiar sight of the forest. She rubbed her arms as she felt a chill in the air. She half expected it today, as they had said they wanted her gone. She looked up as Turesa appeared from the shadow of one of the large Oaks.
     “I'm ready... I've decided to leave him. He'll be better off without me...”
     “That is fine, kitten, but when did I ever say you had a choice in the matter?”
     Minaiya's eyes suddenly widened with fear. She felt the once comfortable silence of the forest seem to close in around her. Suddenly, she regretted heading into this meeting without her bow in hand. For a moment, she felt ashamed, because she had forgotten such a basic principle of her training-never let down you guard. Ever.
     “The glamoire has worked perfectly... you never even knew you were under my control...” Turesa giggled in excitement.
     “T-turick...” Min squeaked as she fell back to the ground, her legs not obeying her. “You're not trying to help him, ARE you?!”
     “I never said THAT either, now did I?” She laughed viciously as she silenced Minaiya by using the spell to thrust her against a tree. She smiled in triumph as she watched Min's unconscious body fall heavily to the ground once more.

     Turick bolted upright, a cold sweat dripping from his brow.
     “Min!” He scrambled to his feet, instinctually running in the direction he thought Min had wondered off in. “Min! Min! Where are you?! MIN-AI-YA!” He shouted as he went. “Damn it Min! Answer me!” He stopped as he heard something crumple unnaturally under his foot. He turned slowly to see the piece of paper that lay conspicuously on the ground. He glowered as he read the contents to himself.

     Dear, royal, prince of Dan'Rok ,
     Your presence is requested by the King's grand advisor. If you decide not to attend, we may be FORCED to take out our anger on your traveling companion in your place.
     And be for-warned, the advisor's anger is not to be tested.
     Sincerely,
          Turesa Vanness
          OXOXOX

     Turick heaved a sigh as he fell against the inside wall of the Inn's entrance. No sooner had he thought to rest a moment then he heard one of the anonymous-looking guards beside him ask, “Are you here to see the advisor?”
     Turick growled in response, “Yes. Where is HE?”
     The soldier smiled smugly. “I'll take you to him. And QUIETLY, I might add, if you want to see your friend alive.”
     Ugh... if this hadn't gone wrong, I'd at least have been able to SLEEP before I was demanded answers from... They slid quietly through the crowd to a side entrance, and from then on, Turick was lead through the darkest of the alleys and what seemed to be the farthest from the main street that was possible.

     They reached the castle after nightfall. What time it was didn't seem to matter once they entered the castle itself; there were no windows, few torches, and absolutely no way to tell what time of day or night it was as you walked along the great stone halls.
     Turick looked up from the dim reflection of his image in the polished limestone to the great wooden door that stood before them. The guard stood to the side of the door, suddenly quieter than the halls themselves. Turick took his subtle hint, and pushed the door to the room open confidently, glaring before his eyes even met those of Turesa.
     “Alright Turesa! Here I am! Get that bastard advisor out here!” He bellowed, ALMOST scaring a response out of Turesa. She remained calm, however, and responded to him with an annoyance and even bored tone to her voice that unnerved Turick.
     “Turick... it's about time you got here. Give me a minute to pull him away from his current activity...” Turesa growled in return as she left the room from a different entrance.
     Before the door closed Turick thought he saw steps leading down a dark, candle lit hallway.

     The darkness broke suddenly. Min shakily looked up through blurry, half-waked eyes towards the doorway of the cell they had thrown her into. She did not recognize the elf who stepped into the room, and the light that glared behind him did not help her vision any either. But as her eyes adjusted, his colors began to darken until she realized he was in fact a drow.
     “You-are you Yarven?” She asked.
     “Yes I am. I'm-heh heh-afraid to tell you that Turick is either taking his time in reaching us, or is not coming to save you at all...” A strange grin crossed his face, and Min braced herself farther into the corner of the cell. Noticing this, he strode forward, signaling for the door to be shut to te cell.
     “Why do you seem frightened, my pet?” He grinned wickedly.
     “...”
     “Should you not be screaming, 'he will come! I know it!'” He cried in a mockingly high, feminine voice. “Or perhaps, 'I know Turick will come to save me!'” He leaned over, a hand supporting his weight against the wall near her head as he stared into her eyes, lit only by the small glow from the bars of the door.
     She felt as if she did not blink as she tried to think of a response, but she never admitted defeat by taking her eyes from his.
     “Because you know he won't come for you-least of all because you are a woman.”
     “No...”
     He smiled, expecting a different response than the one he would receive.
     “I won't say those things, because I don't want to give youy ears the satisfaction of hearing them-and because-I believe in him, and that has nothing to do with love.”
     His smiled twitched slightly, growing into a lop-sided grin, and then to a malicious gritting of teeth. Finally, he let out a spiteful laugh as he slapped her harshly against the ground. He crawled over to her, a strange ravenous anger covering his face. She gritted her teeth a moment before spitting the blood from her lip at him, “You're lucky I'm in these bonds, you KUR!” She grinned cat-like, her cheeks straining.
     “Why, yes, all prisoners say that-especially those who are then sold as slaves.”
     Her grin faded quickly. “What do you mean?”
     “I have arranged-“ He slid one hand up the inside of her leg as the other wiped the blood from his cheek. “A very 'unique' set of circumstances.” She locked her knees on his hand as it brushed past her calf. He simply used his other hand to pry her legs apart despite her cries of protest. His hand quickly slid between her legs, to places she had hopes he would never touch.
     “My, my-the lovely lynx is still a virgin to boot! Why, far to great a treasure to leave in the hands of my DEAR.” He ran his finger experimentally into her, reveling in her squeak of outrage, the tears starting down her eyes, and the slight shaking of her hips. “-dear brother...” his lips parted with amusement.
     “Why are you doing this?” she tried to say between tears.
     “Why?” he responded absently, eyeing her shirt as he ran the less occupied of his two hands down her neck, slowly feeling each curve, never bringing his eyes from hers, enjoying all the emotions he saw through her tear-swelled eyes: anger, sadness, fear, panic, pain, pleasure, but for the most part, despair. He loved the feeling of control, and he was going to make sure he kept it-even if it meant using a spell. “Because I can...” He whispered into her ear before nibbling his way down her face, and finally pressing his lips down onto hers until he felt the tears of her cheeks pressing up against his own, mingling with sweet saliva. He withdrew as his concentration moved back to the simple knot holding her shirt closed.
     Shoving her roughly to the floor, he brought out a knife, running it along her back as he found the spots he needed to cut. He enjoyed most of all the cold, frightened little shivers he felt of fear as she was uncertain what he was doing. He allowed himself a smile as he pulled the knife from behind her, showing her the blade momentarily before cutting one side of her pants and underwear.
     “Now, admit that you want this, and I'll make you happy the entire night....” His smiled seemed grew hypnotic and sugar-coated. Minaiya forced her eyes closed, feeling the spell he cast with his gaze. She knew, if she tried to say anything, it would be exactly what he wanted her to say.
     “...”
     “Come, answer me, child!” He yelled, flipping her over again, trying to force her to face him. He moved his hand from her thigh, reaching down between her legs once more. She gritted her teeth as he slowly felt into her labia, running his hand slowly over her clit as he violated further into her womanhood.
     A rustle of feet bean outside, and she turned her head to the side as the door opened and the snake-woman strode in. She couldn't stand to see her face now...
     COUGH. “SIR!”
     Yarven turned to glare back towards Turesa, removing his hand, and licking his fingers slowly, as if he had not even been interrupted.
     “SIR!” She repeated.
     “What IS it, Turesa?” He grumbled.
     “There is a visitor... for the advisor...” She said, hinting.
     “Tell them to wait or leave.”
     “It's Turick.” She said smugly, allowing herself a menacing glance down at Minaiya before returning her stare to Yarven.
     “Excellent.” He grinned, looking pleased once more. He snapped his fingers for one of the guards to retrieve his glasses.
     They left, closing the tiny opening to the torch-light of the hall. Only a small, weak beam of moonlight shone in on the cold cell.
     So the darkness returns, and the tears remain.

     The doors opened again to a pair of armed guards, Turesa, and a light elf that Turick did not know. He could only assume it to be one person.
     “Advisor.” Turick growled flatly towards the elf that stepped before him.
     “Yes. You'll come to call me that with respect, boy.” He snapped his fingers and the guards grabbed a hold of his arms. “Do you realize, boy, that you are royalty?” He chuckled slyly.
     “I had a hunch...” Turick replied, shrugging off one of the guards long enough to show him the letter.
     “Oh my, and sarcastic to boot.” He laughed, and Turick imagined holes in his head.
     “What have you done with Min? She has no part in this. Why, you!-“
     “Patience, boy. You must learn your place here.” He glared Turick down.
     “Place! My ASS!! I'm nothing like you! If you harmed her-“
     “I swear I'll rip your intestines out from your mouth?” Yarven finished flatly. Turick hissed at him a moment, his cheeks burning. “You do not realize where you tread, BOY.” He enunciated the last part. “Not only is it a year until you can claim the throne, but until then, I am as powerful as that senile old fool you will come to call your father.”
     Turick gulped. “I will never bow to or be anything like you-you-slime.” He ground his teeth against the anger he felt welled up inside him.
     Yarven stared down at him with interest. “Fine. Guards. Take him to see his little friend.” He chuckled as he pushed his glasses back in place.
     As they neared the cell, he took Turick roughly by the back of his hair, and ordered the door to be opened. He leaned down to whisper in Turick's ear, “But you will soon realize we are more alike then you think-“
     “-BROTHER.” He took great pleasure in seeing his eyes light up just before he shoved him into the cell.

     Min glowered down at the ropes tied around her feet. She felt so stupid for believing that woman, but even stupider for having put herself in such a position, and a glamorie worked on her, to boot. She growled in frustration, rubbing her wrists angrily against the cold stone walls.
     “Damn yellow creedlings at least have the sense to tie my arms to my back...” This is getting me nowhere.
     She sighed, falling back to the ground on her side, the cold stone chilling her exposed side and leg. Damn him. I feel so used. She inched her way back against the wall, a few new angry tears adding to the puffed skin around her eyes.
     The voices rose outside of her cell, and she lifted her head up from her chest as they unbarred the door. She could instantly make out two of the three voices-Turick and Yarven-as the door opened fully. They quickly pitched Turick inside before closing the door once more.
     “Turick?” She asked softly into the dark. Her eyes would take a moment to adjust to the half-light once more.
     “Min!” He cried back happily.
     “I told you... I told you not to come...”
     “You idiot!!” She cringed as he yelled, “How could you think I'd be heartless enough to let such a... such a horrible-so horrible a thing as one of my relatives have their way with you?”
     Her heart sank slightly. She did feel like a complete idiot. “Relative?”
     “He claims to be my brother-but I don't know... Min, what happened to you?” He finally asked as his vision adjusted as well.
     “NO! Don't come near me!” She cried in panic, afraid or him seeing her as she was.
     “What? Min? What the hell's wrong?” He asked as he crawled over towards her.
     “No-stop!”
     “Holy spider! What the hell-Min?” He grabbed her shoulders as he shook her gently, “Did Yarven do this to you?”
     “Please... let me go...” She said helplessly as she fought back crying again, to no avail.
     “...Min...”
     “Don't touch me...”
     “Min.”
     “Please.”
     “Calm down.”
     “It's too shameful-“
     She opened her eyes in surprise as she found herself mouth-to-mouth with Turick. He drew away quickly; she stared back at him in silence.
     “Min... I'm not going to ask what happened,” He touched her cheek to make her look him in the eyes, “And I'm not going to assume anything more than you're willing to tell me...”
     They stared at each other a moment before she finally had the courage to ask, “I-I thought you were gay?”
     “Gods! Is that all you have to say or ask at a time like this?!” He could feel himself blushing, even if she wouldn't see it in the low light. “As much as I talk, have you ever seen me with a guy?”
     “...No.”
     He sighed, “Exactly. I just-started doing that-for many reasons, but... it was just the easiest way to frighten people away.” Stupid sisters made me start. “For the past 5 years, I've just wanted to be alone.”
     “I'm sorry.”
     “Don't be.”
     And their talk paused again with what seemed to Min an unbearable amount of silence. “He... I.” She gulped, unable to say what she wanted to without tears. “He touched me...” She could feel them begin to bead up angrily under her vision. “Gods...” She gritted her teeth, “I wanted to kill him... the nerve.. using a GLAMORIE!” She felt him move closer, and leaned against him as he put his hand over her shoulder.
     She felt his hand reach under her chin, and opened her eyes as he was leaning down to kiss her again. “You...”
     His eyes opened as she spoke.
     “You're no better than he is...” She said softly, looking away from him with embarrassment.
     He ground his teeth together as he thought he heard her sniffle, and took his arm off her shoulder. “I'm sorry.”
     “Don't be.”
     “But-“
     She smiled, even though she was still crying, “If you were like him, you wouldn't be sorry...”
     He looked at her a moment before he smiled as well.

     Turick looked up somewhere towards morning, and smiled as he saw Minaiya leaning against him. He worried for a moment if she would ever be unbound, and if he would be free of this cell, royal life, or his family, but then sleep took him again, and he shut his eyes.
     He opened his eyes the second time to the stark artificial light of one of the castle's inner chambers. He felt as if in a haze as he watched his brother and the snake woman appear before him.
     “Good morning, your highness.” Yarven said with as much slime oozing from his words as possible. “Heh.”
     “Can't be a good morning with you in my sights...” Turesa grinned as Turick answered, “Either of you.”
     “I'm afraid you're going to have to get used to it dear brother... and since you go to see the king today, I must ask you to be on your best behavior.”
     “Like hell-“
     “YOU WILL!” He finished coldly. “For if you haven't felt the haze of 'Dead Man Walking” by now, you will soon realize that you have no say in the matter.” He smiled as he pushed his glasses back into place.
     “...” Now that he thought about it, he could feel the icy grip taking over. So this wasn't that 'early morning haze' I felt.
     “And, don't worry. I'll take good care of your precious kitten.”
     “Don't you... touch her.” He hissed with the last of his strength.
     Yarven leaned close to Turick's face as he spoke, “Maybe you should have taken advantage of the time you had-for now, it seems I'll have my way with her after all... it's only fair-it was you that interrupted as things had just gotten interesting before...” He smiled, reveling in the slow loss of control that spread over Turick's eyes. He laughed as he ordered Turesa to lead him away.

     Minaiya hissed and struggled as best she could as they dragged her from out of the cell. She could tell from the light coming in that it was day now, at least. She ceased struggling as she watched Yarven walk in, Turesa and Turick following behind him. She careened her head, wondering why Turick walked so obediently.
     “Good morn', my sweet pet.” Yarven said in his usual, cloying way.
     “It might have been, had I not seen you.”
     “I expected as much,” Yarven sighed, adjusting his glasses. “And I was going to allow you a last look at your precious companion before your sentence is carried out...” He spoke mockingly, pretending to be hurt by her words.
     “Sentence?” She looked at Turick again. “What have you done to him?”
     “What YOU have done. Why, you are the only survivor of a bandit troop that attempted to take the prince's life. Tsk tsk, so sad.”
     “You-you LIE!” She spat at him as she barred her teeth in a feral growl.
     “Unfortunately, no, and you were tried yesterday. Your sentence is... a-heh-servitude to the royal family which you wished to harm. Specifically: me.” He grinned, watching her face slowly pale. “Turesa, take her to my room. Make her more... acceptable.”
     He chuckled as Turesa dragged her down the hall. He stopped, however, as he heard Minaiya call back, “Be careful, sire, that I do not claw your throat out this night...”

     Minaiya eyed Turesa warily as she tied her hands above her head. She gazed at her surroundings. The advisor's private chambers were rather plush, but the surroundings themselves only made her more uncomfortable. Having another woman cutting her clothes from her was a new low in itself.
     “What are you doing?”
     “Just what my liege has asked.” Turesa said softly, taking a little too much pleasure in slicing her pants to ribbons. She scowled at the woman, but Turesa merely smiled back. “Though it will be a hard task to transform such a half-fed scrawny misfit of a tomboy-“ Minaiya squeaked in surprise as the snake-lady felt up her chest. “-and under grown, I might add-into anything nearly as appetizing as a real woman.”
     Minaiya turned her head as far as the restraints would allow her, growling low in her throat. This woman thinks of me as nothing more than a doll...
     “You should forget that boy.”
     “What?!”
     “Yarven will never allow him to awaken, and even when he does, it will be as a slave to his blood as much as to Yarven.”
     “Why are you telling me this?” Min asked coldly.
     “I have my reasons, and besides, what fun would having Turick be if I couldn't watch you squirm?” She smiled, holding out different outfits.
     “What do you mean?” Minaiya felt oddly suspicious suddenly.
     “Why, he can't complain when he can't move. Yarven and I can have him do whatever we want.”
     “oo-so!” Minaiya squealed.
     She walked over towards Min, and as she was about to try to slip something over Min's head, she snapped at her, “Don't touch me, SNAKE!”
     She stood staring at Min a moment before smiling. “Yes-I guess this is Yarven's kind of 'acceptable'.”
     “I swear I will hurt you the moment these bonds are loosened...”
     “Certainly...” Turesa said as she left.

     Presented to my brother? Damn it all! Was this what they had planned for me the entire time? Turick scowled within his mind. I'm not going to be his personal TOY!
     “We have found your son, your majesty.” Yarven said grandly as he bowed to the king.
     “This is a welcome sight! You have done well dear advisor.” The king smiled, the wrinkles of his face rising to show his eyes.
     “Why, thank you, my liege, but I'm afraid we arrived too late. The bandits which had attempted to take his life had the chance to cast this spell upon him before they were all but decimated by my guards.”
     “I still thank you for rescuing our son, whatever the condition, he is still our sole heir...”
     “Do not worry, sire. The spell will wear off eventually, though I have no remedy and cannot say when.”
     “Yes. Please watch over our some until then.”
     “As you wish, my lord...” Yarven smiled as he bowed, and cast a giddy gaze towards Turick.
     Turick could only blink in fury.
     “Sire, I'm sure the prince is still weary, and you have other business, do you not? I'm sure the prince will appreciate a visit later, sire...” Yarven bowed as the king left, agreeing to visit later.
     Yarven turned to his sibling as they entered Turick's “private” room, grinning profusely. “How did you like the visit from your father, my bastard brother?
     Turick blinked at him rapidly.
     “I'm afraid I do not know how to speak in blinks; though, knowing you, you're damning me to hell.” He chuckled at Turick's continued blinks. “Ah yes, did I tell you? Your little kitten is warming my covers this night. In fact, she'll be seeing you in a few minutes.” He cackled as he cast a spell over himself.
     He beamed Turick a cat-like grin. “Goodbye, dear brother Turick.” He chirped hauntingly in Turick's own voice as he began to leave. “I'll be sure to tell Min 'hi' for you.” He waved as he shut the door.
     Turick glared towards the doorway Yarven had left from, wriggling his fingers into a fist. Just wait, you. I'll break this, and you...

     Min coughed as the overpowering scent from the numerous candles only grew stronger the longer she stayed in the room. She was doing something about that, however.
     She had already cut herself free of the ropes hanging her arms from the ceiling; it still took some time to undo the knots around her wrists-even her claws couldn't reach those knots while her hands were together. She stopped chewing on the ropes as she heard hurried footsteps in the hall.
     She wriggled her hands free quickly as the door opened. She gasped, not expecting the person she saw.
     “Turick?” Min said, confused and surprised to see him.
     He waved a solitary greeting, “Yo.”
     She suddenly felt weak in the knees; she assumed it was because she had been strung up so long. As much as her hips hurt from being in a nearly-kneeling position for hours, she paid the sensation no second thought.
     “Turick... why are you-?”
     He held a finger to her lips as she was about to finish. “I escaped.” He put his hands gently to her shoulders as he touched his lips to hers, his tongue parting her mouth open as he pressed against her mouth, slowly pushing her back against the mattress. She hadn't even realized until she felt the cloth against her back that she had been falling. Suddenly the candles seemed warm and inviting instead of cold and stifling.
     He kissed her softly on her cheek, touched a hand to her lips as he kissed her neck, her shoulder, her chest, and finally her nipple. He sucked, listening to her soft moan and feeling her light frame shake. He bit lightly at her, feeling fine hairs bristle, hearing her cry, and reveling in his own domination.
     She stared past his head, reaching a hand shakily to ruffle his hair, the on thing she could do as she felt the strength leave her.
     He moved downward, looking up a moment at her distant expression before he leaned down, one hand unbuttoning his shirt, the other brushing softly down the sides of her waist as it rested on her thigh.
     He breathed in, and she hissed against the feelings that were rushing over her. She felt her feet arch, tiny hairs along her waist moving as his breath caressed her skin. This all felt so odd... she had the feeling...
     “W-why are we doing this now, Turick?” She asked out of the blue.
     He looked away from her gaze, and she realized why in a moment as she felt the warmth of his tongue sliding a lot her slit. She cringed, stifling a moan.
     He looked up once more, his hands resting heavily along her hips. One began to move towards her arm as their eyes locked. :The virginity of a woman is a treasure to be taken only once-every 4 years, at least, I've heard.” She gasped, as his hair changed subtly in the light; the eyes narrowed and he began to sneer.
     She moved to escape, and he pinned down her arms. She realized too late why she was so weak, as she finally felt the binds of the spell closing around her.
     She wriggled, and her spirits sunk the longer she did so, as she finally realized her feet were still tied; there was no way she could run, and she had no weapons to use against him.
     She cried out as he stopped her attempt, and she glared at him with all her fury; she had nothing else left. He took her arms roughly, lifting her up and tossing her against the bed once more, her face shoved into the suffocating pillows. Even when she turned head she couldn't see what he was planning, but as she heard the clinking of his belt, her hopes finally died completely.

     Turick cried out from the half-sleep of his delirium. The visions were always painful, this he had realized long ago, but this vision was painful for another reason Through the vision he saw Min-first seduced, then raped mercilessly by his brother. He screamed as the pain swept over him again, and he rolled from his bed, feeling his insides reeling to escape. He lungs burned as he vomited, the acid searing his throat and tainting his breath. He ground his teeth as the tears welled and he felt the pain again, watching Min's own screams of protest as Yarven pushed himself into her. He cried again, feeling the same shame as Min as she was violated, her insides throbbing with each thrust. He swore he felt Yarven's own voice in his ears, crying that she was just a tool of pleasure...
     “Yarven...” Turick held his mouth as his stomach roiled in another wave. “I swear... tonight you shall die... one way or the other...” Just as he thought he was able to shake off the nightmare, he clamped his hands to his ears as he heard the screams more clearly. He dropped to the floor, feeling Min's last sensations of weakness, and finally, unconsciousness.

     Turick's face pressed against the cool tile of the floor, thankfully numbing the cheek which had fallen towards it. He groaned, shaking his head free of all the blurred specters of thoughts which hung about his head. He suddenly scrambled to his knees as he realized two things: the spell was broken, and Min was in trouble. These two thoughts became a third: Yarven's going to pay.
     He froze as Turesa opened the door to the room, gawking in surprise at the unexpected sight. He licked his lips in thought, tasting the blood of a cracked lip along his tongue. They eyed each other warily until Turick made a mad dash at the snake woman. She tried to leave, and he caught her around the neck, holding her in as tight of a choke-hold as he could muster.
     “Now-you're going to show me where Yarven is, wench!” Turick coldly commanded.

     Yarven looked into the mirror smugly. Feeling refreshed and self-assured, he hardly considered the opening of his chamber door.
     “Yes? Is that you, Turesa?” Sigh. “I'm afraid I'm in no mood to entertain your looks today, woman!” He paused in adjusting his collar as the person did not answer. “Turesa?” He asked as he turned.
     “No, brother.” Yarven gawked at the voice as he was thrust back into his dresser by a strong kick to the chest. He lay on the ground, couhing and regaining his breath a moment before he was pinned to the ground by the foot of his assailant. “I'm afraid it's no woman here to see you this time.”
     Yarven looked upwards, lifting his hand angrily, and screamed in pain as Turick crushed it against the tile by his heel.
     “Oh my.” Turick said flatly. “You can't cast magic without your hands, can you?”
     “Bastard!” Yarven spat as he lifted his other hand, wincing to try and cast the spell. Turick held his hand against the wall as he crouched down, putting more pressure onto Yarven's already immobilized and injured hand.
     “No. You won't get away so easily today, brother. Never again.” He looked around the room, glancing at the ropes which hung from the ceiling before he returned to Yarven, a smile playing on his lips. He drug Yarven up from the ground, and threw him to the bed.
     Yarven looked towards Turick for the first time with fear, nervously laughing, “Why brother, I realize you like men, but this is incest!”
     Turick grimaced. “When I say, 'fuck you' I mean it, but that doesn't make it an offer. You'll hang by the same noose you tried to put around the neck of my friend...” He glared down at Yarven as he brother looked up in panic. Hauling him up by the collar, he forcefully grabbed his hands above his head, and tied him by the ropes.
     “Guards! Guards!” Yarven yelled hopelessly.
     Turick shot him one last nasty look before he kicked him upside the head. “Tell it to the king...” My father...

     “Your highness-father-I hope, though you don't know me, you will believe me.” Turick began from his bowed position before the steps to the throne of Donn'rok. He lowered his head into the white bundle where he held Minaiya, who still had not awoken from the physical and mental ordeal she had endured.
     “You are blind to the spiders you have invited from my mother's kingdom. Though my birth was meant as a sign of peace-or at least tolerance between our nations, with no male heir, save myself, and my coming of age, the opportunity, it seems, was to great a chance for my brother to pass up. He wove a web underneath you. His purpose: to control this nation through me. My brother is your once-advisor, Yarven F'Arn. He undermined your very guards; hired mercenaries without your permission or knowledge, and fooled you by using magic he claimed not to have.” Turick sighed.
     “I-on a different note-do not want this. I do not long for my birth, status, or position. I only want freedom from my family and my heritage. I hope I do not displease you in asking my indefinite leave-...” He paused, considering his next point, as he searched the king's face for some kind of reaction to his plea. It seemed he would at least hear him out, if not let him out.
     “As... though 18 is a year of decision for humans-no-never mind; I can only say I will leave... with or without your permission, with the one thing that drew me into this hell. Affection...” He looking one last time to the face of a man he only briefly came to call his father, before leaving with Minaiya in his arms.

     Cold. Nyu.
     Itai.
     Nyao... it hurts... it's cold... inside and out... and the tears burn so much...

     It's warm. Comfortable. I can feel... cloth?

     It still hurts...
     I think I can hear Turick's voice... his arms...
     Gods... what has happened?
     Is that Turick... oog... my head... it hurts... and there...
     It's so bright now. It must be the sun... it's warm. I can tell someone is holding me.
     Bundled in warmth... I feel... calm.

     Gods... it's so good to see him. I don't want to interrupt this moment, even by asking him... but still, I wonder, as my head is resting against his chest, how we ever made it out of there... of there... gods.
     "Gods... “Minaiya whispered as she began to open her eyes.
     Turick looked down with guilt in his eyes, as if he had reverted to a mere pup. “You're awake?” He whispered back.
     “Turick... he...”
     “THAT WASN'T ME!” He said loudly, the guilt clearly cracking through his throat, and disrupting a few birds by the road.
     “I .. I know... but...” She stopped as he touched a hand to her head, brushing back a few stray strands which floated in front of her eyes.
     “I know too, kitten... I... I saw everything... I'm sorry. The visions came too late...”
     She closed her eyes again as she nestled back against his chest.
     “We're gonna have to decide where to go soon...”
     “Where are you going?”
     “Anywhere you go...”
     “...” She smiled. “Same here...”