A fallen prince and his princess (Candira and Rage)

[Candira]

The times were changing in many kingdoms, but Theranan was remarkably stable. Its royal family, well-loved for their fair and generous nature, was still in power. Despite the rumblings of change all around them, the kingdom remained strong and stable. It seemed as though the only thing that could change it was some kind of international incident or war. Both were unlikely, however. Diplomacy was a strong suit of the royal family--especially of its princess, Rosa.

Though it was her duty to ensure friendly ties with surrounding kingdoms, Rosa was having a rather difficult time lately. The kingdom to the East had recently been taken over--the family dethroned. Among them was a dear friend, very close to her heart. Since the upset, she hadn't heard from him--hadn't been able to get word as to whether or not he was alright. Her heart ached for him and she feared the worst--the prince she'd come to know and love was most likely dead. While Theranan waited for its neighbor's government to align itself, Rosa couldn't hope to ask anything.

As it was, the princess was just seeing off dignitaries from newly formed governments of kingdoms to the north and south. Both were reasonable and kind gentlemen. Both seemed to have wandering eyes when it came to being in the presence of the princess. Rosa, of course, was a lovely woman. A man would have to be blind to not want to examine her features more closely. Tolerating such behavior was key to a successful relationship, but so was guiding their attention back to more political matters. As Rosa pondered these things, she slowly made her way back to her chambers. It had been a very long day.

Her ladies in waiting greeted her at the door and she smiled at the two of them--sisters from the castle town, if she remembered correctly--returning their greeting with grace. "If you'll please draw my bath for me," she said softly. "I'll need your help removing my gown, but you can leave afterwords." The two blonde girls turned down her bed for her, laying out her night gown and taking the next day's dress out so that it would be ready. While the bath was being drawn, one of the girls helped Rosa out of the elaborate gown and she sighed softly. Was it her? Or were the dresses getting heavier each time?

She slipped into a silky robe and thanked her ladies before letting them go for the night. In the mean time, she sat down and began to remove her jewelry, looking in the mirror. Her name, Rosa, had supposedly come from her coloring. She had a creamy complexion with light, rosy undertones. Her eyes were a deep blue--almost violet in the right light. They sparkled back at her as she removed earrings and carefully placed them in her jewelry box. As she took off her necklaces and other decorative gear, putting them away, she considered her lovely red hair. It was long, shiny, and the color of a rose just bloomed. She combed it out and then pinned it up for her bath.

She entered the large room. It was lit by a few candelabras and only had an entrance from her room, and the servant's quarters--her ladies in waiting and the maids could easily get here. There was also a large closet filled with linens, scented oils and salts. Tonight's bath had the scent of roses and peonies. Her thoughts drifted back to her friend as she stepped down into the warm bathwater. They had played in the gardens here once--the smell of flowers all around them. Such fond memories brought a smile to her face, even as they brought uneasiness to her heart. She sighed softly and sank down a bit, letting the water cover her before she began to clean herself up.

Had she been more aware, she might have noticed that the door to the closet wasn't completely closed. She might have been aware of the feeling of someone watching her if she weren't so lost in thought and in the process of bathing. Had the royal family been more cautious, they would have realized that not all was right within their kingdom. A usurper was waiting for the perfect chance to strike. The princess might not be so vulnerable to the attack that was already planned.

 

[Rage]

Her life was in immediate danger as soon as she stepped into the room.

As she stepped into the soothing warm waters of the bath, the slightly cracked door of the closet to the room opened even more... sickening red eyes watched her, it's silent breathing coming in faster and harder from anticipation. The creature knew better than to just charge in... if it immediately took its chance, there was a risk that it could be interrupted. The beast was acting purely on instinct, yet the strange scented candles and the alluring smell of the bath slowly began to confuse it greatly. The mixing aroma's in the room fought its senses, causing the hidden monster to have wrong reactions at the wrong times.

The creature itself was a monster of murder and death, yet even it couldn't avoid its pure beast instinct. It slowly opened the door quietly behind the bathing princess, its dark form coming into light as it stepped silently onto the tiled bath floor. The physical appearance of the creature was reminiscent of a dark plant, but there was an obvious animal trait to it. It dragged itself over towards her, its claws digging into the ground as it heaved. Dozens of tendrils sprouted like tails from its back, waving silently through the air and thrashing as if each tentacle had a mind of its own. The body of the beast was scaled, massive jaws like a wolf holding rows of sharp teeth. It's eyes were a blazing red, the majority of its body a complete black.

The creature's breathing was beginning to grow much more audible, and its huffs of air were becoming visible even in the steaming room. Its senses were confused, its body ever-changing... strong tugs of arousal coursed throughout its body, its tendrils whipping through the air aimlessly as they tried to focus on their main objective.

But the creature could no longer hold back its urges... and for now, its task had been obliterated from its mind.

Its black tentacles fired out, wrapping around the princess's arms as it lifted her suddenly out of the steaming bath, its skin feeling cool against her warmed body. More tendrils reached forth, wrapping around her torso and soft thighs like ropes. Drool slowly began to drip from its massive mouth, the creature's eyes unfocused as it tried to gaze at the woman it held within its grip.

 

[Candira]

After she had cleaned her face and most of her upper body, she began to hear something odd. It almost sounded like breathing--but no one was in the room. If someone had been, the ladies in waiting would have noticed. Perhaps it was the wind? But how odd for it to sound like uneven breathing. She began to tense up, fear building inside her. What if someone had managed to sneak in and hide? Could someone be watching her right now? She started to look around as the sound grew louder, but she failed to see the monster in time to save herself.

A rather loud scream left her throat as the monster's tentacles wrapped themselves around her arms, dragging her out of the bath water. She shivered as the cold things wrapped around her waist and thighs. She struggled, absolutely frightened as she stared at the now drooling creature that was all too visible in the light. "W-what the hell is that?!" she screamed again, struggling in vain against the monster's tentacles as she tried to free herself.

 

[Rage]

The creature held her struggling body with his massive tentacles high in the air, its smooth tendrils flowing over her soft body. The tendrils that constricted her would tighten and loosen at random occasions, almost beating like a pulse. Its breathing was heavy, its large body crouching and digging its sharp claws into the tile bathroom floor. Its tentacles thrashed around in the air, and most of them smoothed over her warm skin as though it was feeling for something.

When she screamed, a bit of common sense fluttered into its mind but it was quickly gone. It reached out one of its cold tendrils and brought it over to her soft lips. It parted them eagerly, sliding itself slowly into her mouth in order for her to be quiet.... and perhaps for other reasons. A single tendril flicked over her soft breasts, teasing her sensitive flesh. A thinner tentacle reached forward, wrapping itself around her throat to constrict her even more. The tentacles continued to pulse and flick, the creature growling as more drool leaked from its mouth.

The tentacles holding her legs slowly attempted to part them, a few of its tendrils reaching up and gliding over her skin as it appeared to desperately searched for something...

 

[Candira]

Rosa tried to keep her mouth closed when she realized what was happening, but it forced her lips open and slid in so that it was already in her throat. Even if she bit down, she doubted it would help at this point. Her screams, however, were considerably less effective when muffled quite so much. She shivered and continued to try and struggle against the monster as it held her high in the air, the cool tendrils running over every inch of her warm, moist body. Her heart raced as they came lower and lower, realizing the only reason she probably wasn't dead now was because the creature wanted something else entirely from her.

Her screams died in her throat as one of the tendrils wrapped around it. She groaned, wishing she could stop the creature from violating her as it played with her nipple. The sensitive pink bud began to harden and perk up thanks to the stimulation and the cold touch of the tentacle. She could see that her body was appeasing its normally violent persona, but it was of little comfort to her, as this fate wasn't much better. Her eyes widened as it started to part her thighs. She struggled against them, using all of her strength, but it was no use. The creature was much to strong for her and soon, more tendrils were sliding over her skin, searching for...well, she tried not to think of that.

 

[Rage]

The monster raised her higher into the air, her legs completely parted as its tendrils licked, smoothed, and flicked nearly across her entire body. The tentacle in her mouth twitched and starting to move in and out, the tendril on her nipples continuing their horrific teasing. They were like tons of miniature fingers lingering over her body, teasing her and rubbing up against her. It nearly seemed as if it wouldn't end.

The monster finally lifted a single thick tendril and waved it through the air as it closed in on her body. It slid lightly down her chest and painfully slowly over her belly, pulling away slightly before coming to pause directly at where it was most feared. It twitched and pulsed once again before pulling back, the creature ready to penetrate her with its cold tendril. The monster snapped it forward, ready to violate her completely.

But the tendril never reached it.

The tentacle suddenly flopped onto the ground, writhing around like a worm as red liquid oozed from a clean cut. The monster bellowed in pain, its tentacle leaving the confines of Rosa's mouth. All of its tendrils suddenly loosened, and without warning they suddenly dropped her from high up in the air, aiming her down towards the hard tile floor.

Before she hit the ground, however, something strong and wrapped around her soft waist, catching her before she made painful contact. The figure stood above her, its arm still around her as it gazed over her naked form.

The figure, obviously a man, wore a cloth over his mouth and nose for an odd reason, as though he was trying to hide his identity. The hair atop his head was short and a dark blonde, his eyes an icy blue. Strangely, they gave out a sense of familiarity...

He wore a long black coat over his shoulders, a shirt that appeared to be chainmail lay underneath it. His pants were black, and his boots were armored yet seemed to be impossibly light. His dark demeanor and choice of clothing suggested that perhaps he had snuck into the castle.

"Sorry I'm late, " He said through his cloth mask, his icy eyes moving up to glare at the wounded creature in the bath, "This'll only take a second... so hold on tight, okay?"

 

[Candira]

Horrified, Rosa felt the tentacles move all over her body, teasing her. Though she was thoroughly disgusted, her body began to react out of defense for what it instinctively knew was coming. That terrified her even more. She shuddered as the largest tentacle took a journey over her body, the rest of them keeping her in place. Tears began to form in her eyes as it found her sex. And she shut her eyes tight as it pulled away. She knew it was happening, but she wanted so badly for it to stop.

Then, as if her prayers had been answered, she heard the monster cry out in pain and all of the tentacles left her body quickly. She gasped for hair, hardly able to scream as she headed for the ground. Rosa tried to hurry and brace herself for the impact she was sure to feel on the cold floor, but it appeared that she wouldn't need to. Someone had caught her. Her eyes shot open as she coughed from the stress on her throat. When she calmed down a bit, she looked up at him, trembling and weak.

He was strong, warm, and mysterious. She got the distinct impression that they'd met before, but judging by his apparel, he was someone of...unique morals. A thief? But why would a thief help her? Had she been calmer and less dazed, perhaps less weakened, she might have noticed that he was handsome...and that he was obviously spending too much time staring at her body. However, as it was, she could only give him so much attention at once. She was more afraid of the monster and its tentacles.

He spoke as though he'd intended to come all along--that she should have expected him to save her. But how could he have known? How could she? Still, who was she to argue with her savior. She carefully stood on her own, shaking legs and put her arms around his neck to hold onto him. "O-okay," she said softly, her voice still not quite working properly after her ordeal.

 

[Rage]

He kept his arm around her waist strong and tight, his full attention now on the monster. The strange creature let out a powerful bellow, the room beginning to shake from its audible scream. It's tentacles reached back, snapping angrily at the two humans. The man kept a tight grip on her as he quickly dodged to the side, the tentacles smashing into the wall and giving it a noticeable crater.

The man brandished a sword, its hilt decorated and very regal looking. The blade had imprints of runes, and it was obviously a sword that a normal thief or warrior wouldn't have. The man spun it around in his hand as he charged straight for the creature, holding it above his head.

The creature leaped high up into the air, its tentacles waving before swinging down hard and fast. The man grunted, leaping to the side as fast as he could. The tentacles broke through the floor where they had been running not that long ago. The man still had a strong grip on the princess, and it was a surprise that he was able to move like he could while holding her.

He charged once again, aiming his sword for the creature's face. It growled, its tentacles swarming around them to engulf them. He spun his sword quickly in his hand, hacking away at the tendrils that snapped over at them. After a few slashes, many of the tendrils were severed and left writhing and twitching on the ground.

The monster growled before pulling back, avoiding a powerful swing of the sword by the man. Bleeding, angry, and weak, the creature quickly charged towards a window, slamming its body through the glass and disappearing straight into the night.

"Damn, " The man huffed, letting the princess down, "The bastard got away..."

 

[Candira]

Rosa had never been part of any battle before--let alone one for her life. Not having any power, however, was more terrifying than she imagined holding a sword and actually fighting would be. But the man who held her seemed strong and skilled. Somehow, she felt she could trust him. At the very least, he seemed to want to protect her. When this battle was over, she could worry about why he was really there. She held onto him, watching as he battled the strange beast, trying to move with him so she wouldn't be more of a hindrance than she already was. Still weak from the prior attack on her body, though, she may as well have been dead weight. Still, he moved remarkably well, even with her.

Every time the tendrils drew near, she flinched, turning away to bury her face into his shoulder. Finally, after what seemed like forever and no time at all, the monster crashed through her bath's window, falling to the world below. It probably wouldn't have trouble getting away, however, unless the guards saw it first. Still trembling, but mostly from adrenaline rather than fear, Rosa finally let go of him as the man let her down.

Realizing that she was still naked, the princess covered herself with her arms and hands the best she could. She sank to her knees and just sat there for a moment, trying to process what had just happened. It was then that she noticed the sword he held. It was familiar, but she couldn't quite place it. She got the feeling that the man before her was quite a different kind of thief indeed. If he was one at all. Once her thoughts settled a bit she looked up at him, her hair slipping around her shoulders to cover her a bit more. "Thank you," she said, her voice still a bit on the raspy side.

"May I ask who you are? Or perhaps just a name." It was best, she thought, to know who it was who'd saved her. Perhaps then she would figure out why he'd done so, and why he was here now. "I'd like to know my savior," she said with a weak smile.

 

[Rage]

The took a quick look around before grabbing one of the curtains from the window. He yanked it off without a care and draped it over her shoulders, making sure it covered her entire body before being satisfied. "Me? Your savior?" He smirked underneath his mask, sheathing his decorated sword onto a scabbard on his hip, "Nah, I'm not your savior, princess. I'm actually your kidnapper." He said it so positively, looking proud as he towered over her.

He gave it a few more seconds to really soak in and then he suddenly grabbed her, hoisting her up into his arms bridal style. Without another word he left through the doors that he kicked down, running out into the hallway.

"Hmmm... " He looked around, "No guards, like before... don't you find it odd that no one else came to you rescue while you were screaming?" he suddenly darted over the floor, his feet padding softly and silently over the royal corridor. Through the winding and confusing hallways and over zigzagged stairs, he navigated his way perfectly through it. It took servants and guards weeks to know the right directions, but he knew the exact way out. It was like he had been there.

They finally ran into some guards on the 1st floor, the men in the shining armor shocked at seeing the princess being held by some sort of... well, vagrant. There must have been dozens between the kidnapper and the princess and the huge doors out... and they were closing fast.

"Okay, Rosa, " The kidnapper heaved, "Hold on tight... don't want us running into any spears now, would we?" He smiled underneath his mask.

 

[Candira]

Thankful for the cover the curtain gave her, she wrapped it around herself securely and snugly. She found the gesture oddly endearing and somehow comforting. He hadn't wanted her to be harmed, and he was protecting what little modesty she had left. It became clear that he wasn't here to hurt her. So then what did he want and who was he? His next words took a moment to sink in. Her eyes widened as he said them and she desperately tried to wrap her head around that.

Before she could do anything in the way of resisting or calling for help, however, she was in his arms again--this time so that her legs were harmless. She was so surprised, that she didn't say anything until they were in the hallway. "Why? Why are you doing this?" she asked, genuinely confused. "And who are you?" He seemed so familiar, not to mention that he seemed to know his way around the castle. She had so many questions. Really, she should have been fighting back, but she was well aware of how powerless she was to stop him in her current condition. Oddly, she wasn't really afraid. He was carrying her like she was something precious--she wasn't just thrown over his back like a sack. He was being careful with her, protecting her. It was hard to be frightened when you were being treated so well.

Frowning, Rosa looked up at him again. He made a good point about there being no guards. Why weren't they at their posts? They certainly had been when she'd gone in for the night. Someone should have heard her cries for help while she could still make them. Worried now, she got the feeling that something awful was going to happen. Before she knew it, they were on the first floor near the exit to the castle. And so there the guards were. When the kidnapper told her to hold on, she felt her body automatically respond. Her arms went around him and she wondered just who the hell he was. Who was he to make her feel safer with him than in her own home? Who was he to know how to get around here? And who was he to know she was in danger when no one else appeared to be aware?

 

[Rage]

The guards raised their weapons, slowly closing in on the two, "Don't move!" They called warily, "And hand back the princess if you want a quick death!" The man rolled his eyes, making sure that the princess was secured tightly in his arms, "Okay, princess!" He exclaimed, "Make sure that curtain doesn't come off!" He suddenly took off, storming towards the guards with a confident smile behind his black clothed mask.

The guards did't know what to do... they certainly didn't want to risk endangering the life of the princess, so they completely hesitated... and the man certainly took advantage of this. His body moved with speed, elegance, and flow. He maneuvered himself through the guards like water, twisting and turning, ducking and jumping as he worked around the guardsman. They finally dropped their weapons, reaching out to grab the kidnapper instead to ensure no harm to Rosa.

The kidnapper grinned, finding his time to fight back. As he stormed through mobs and mobs of guards he constantly ducked, kicked, spun, and jumped his way through the reaching hands of the men. With his long coat flowing behind him, he somehow managed to be quick enough to pull it out from their grasps when they were inches away.

With the doors closing quickly, and only a small crack to lead on to the outside, the man gripped her tightly and jumped through, turning their bodies so that they barely managed to leap through, landing onto his back painfully with the princess on top.

"...Ow... " he groaned, sitting up as he rubbed the back of his head, "...it looked better in my head before I did it... not to mention I had a princess slamming into my lungs." he chuckled, helping her up, "Anyways, we need to get out of here. Getting out of the castle was one thing, but leaving the castle walls and heading into the village surrounding it is another. Luckily, I planned this all out!" He heaved her back up in his arms, immediately taking off into the courtyard.

Sounds of alarm bells rang out from the castle, the sound of men yelling and preparing themselves. The archers were already preparing themselves at the walls, but they knew that they could not fire... none of them wanted to harm their lovely princess. It was making the kidnapping so much easier, and the man was definitely taking advantage of that.

"There it is!" He smiled, heading towards a specific part of the walls, "You remember that giant crack that had been in the wall? The one that you always played near that made your mother nervous?" The castle walls were made from beautiful white stone, and were several layers thick. It was declared impossible to breath them, and many had tried and failed to successfully make their way through it.

Soon, hundreds of guards were spilling into the courtyard, flaming torches in their hands as they yelled and screamed until their voices became raspy and raw. The kidnapper stopped before the large crack, turning around with the princess still tight in his arms. The mob of guards circled around them, completely surrounding the two with their backs to the wall.

"...You might want to cover your ears and close your eyes, princess, " The man smiled, "There's going to be a little... well, bang."

 

[Candira]

Rosa honestly didn't know what to think anymore. Her instincts told her that the man who was currently holding her was to be trusted. He seemed to know the castle very well, and only someone who'd grown up here could know them as well as he did. The grounds were expansive, and the castle itself was almost maze-like. Somehow, he seemed to know it as well as she did. Nothing was adding up. Why did she feel like he was rescuing her again?

She squeaked a little as he took off, rushing right into danger. While she knew none of the guards would want to hurt her--there was the distinct possibility that someone would be hurt. As it turned out, those people were guards. She felt a pang of pity for those who were injured by the dark man in their mad dash for the exit. Holding the curtain to her with one hand, she kept her other arm around him, not really sure why she was just accepting it all. The man had impressive skills--strength, speed, stamina. He was even a little elegant.

Just as the doors were closing they managed to squeeze their way through and she had to snatch the fabric away from the door before it closed. With a painful thud, they both landed--though she was protected a bit more than he from the fall. She blushed softly as she realized she'd probably crushed him, and then managed to pull away a bit, careful not to hurt him more. Her violet eyes stared at him as he helped her up. "I..." Should she apologize given the circumstances? It wasn't as though she'd wanted to be dragged out of her bath, nearly raped or killed, and kidnapped all in one night. But he was being so good-natured about the whole damn thing! What the hell was going on?!

Before her annoyance and frustration could bubble to the surface, the castle alarms were going off. She accepted his help and then got to her feet, only to be swept off of them again and carried away to the courtyard. When she realized where he was going, her eyes widened in alarm. "Are you crazy?! No one's ever made it through!" But rather than wait for punishment to find her she took his advice, closing her eyes and covering her ears as he prepared to do the impossible--or get the both of them caught.

 

[Rage]

The kidnapper grinned, before looking up into the sky, "NOW!" He yelled out before suddenly crouching to the ground, covering Rosa's body with his suddenly. The guards froze, suddenly growing stiff at his sudden command. Silence filled the courtyard as the guards stood like statues, not quite sure what was going to happen next.

A few moments passed... and nothing happened.

"I said... NOW!" he shouted back at the sky.

A few moments passed... and still nothing happened.

"Sonava... " He growled, "I SAID N---!"

Suddenly, a loud violent bang echoed through the courtyard, causing powerful tremors and quakes throughout the ground below their feet. The explosion knocked many of the guards onto their bottoms, large stones and heavy objects being thrown around the air. The archers standing on top of the walls were thrown by the explosion, landing roughly onto the grassy earth groaning in pain. A few rocks and bits of debris landed on the kidnapper, but it wasn't anything too big or painful. Grumbling, he stood up with Rosa still in his arms and looked back at the wall.

The mighty stone castle wall now had a great sizable hole, the stone surrounding the explosion site now blackened. The kidnapper quickly stepped over some debris and a few grumbling unconscious guards before leaving the castle courtyard and entering the outside world.

The part of the village that surrounded the castle was the nobility district. The buildings were sparkling with architecture, the streets paved with wondrous brick. The people were dressed in expensive silk clothing, each of them holding a glow given to them by their wealth.

The kidnapper's accomplices were nowhere to be found, and he was a bit angry at that. "Stupid, " He mumbled, "I'm going to kick their asses for making me nervous like that... " he immediately took off, the shock from the explosion still keeping the guards disorganized and unfit. He sprinted through the streets, making his way straight out of the district and avoiding any patrolling guards on the way.

He soon finally began to show signs of fatigue... his breaths were coming in heavy, his running slowing down. After a few more dashes he headed into a dark alley, slowing to a walk as he tried to regain his breath, "Oh... *huff* kay... " He heaved, "It's.. *huff* not too far... *huff* I'm... *huff* sure... *huff*... you have... *huff*... questions... *huff*..."

 

[Candira]

Rosa was afraid--if there was going to be a bang, likely that meant an explosion of sorts. Someone was definitely going to be hurt. She heard him yell and curled up as small as she could as he covered her. But nothing happened. After a moment, she opened her eyes and looked up at him. He yelled again and she quickly shut her eyes, keeping her ears covered. Still nothing. She looked up at him, suddenly quite worried. "Umm, are you sure...?" But finally, the big bang happened and the explosion was devastating. The courtyard was a mess and she was sure that the guards would be severely injured if they had been caught up in the blast. She felt the man's body press against her again as debris showered over them.

She coughed a little as the dirt settled and looked up at her kidnapper. Had she not been so shocked by the enormous hole in the wall, she might have asked if he was alright. He didn't seem terribly concerned, however, so she forgot altogether as he picked her up again and nimbly navigated into the district of the nobles. No one seemed to be out at this time of night, so the streets were empty, which made it easy for the two of them to get around the patrols. Though she was still not sure what they were running from or where they were going, she felt as though he would eventually tell her.

Before long, they were in an alley in the village and he was running out of all that incredible stamina. "Please, set me down for a moment," she said, looking up at him. "I have no idea what's going on here, but I have no choice but to rely on you now that I'm here. Please rest for a moment so you can catch your breath. If wherever we're going isn't all that far away, then a little break shouldn't hurt right?" Genuinely concerned for him, Rosa looked him over. He'd protected her the entire time, fought for her--albeit for a strange reason, and he hadn't once given her reason to fear him. Maybe it was silly to feel compassion for the person who was kidnapping you, but he seemed to have a good reason behind all of this.

 

[Rage]

Haine gratefully set her down before placing his heads against the wall, leaning towards it and dipping his head down as he took in more heavy breaths, "It sucks... that I finally get tired right when we're running away... but at least we're practically there." He stood up straight, sucking in more of the cold night air, his lungs once more inflating with oxygen. When he started breathing like a normal person he turned to her, his mask covering his mouth and most of his expression.

"Thanks for being concerned." He nodded, "It's really just right down this alley and through a door. It's our base of operations in this town, but I bet none of my guys are going to show up anytime soon since I happen to be a little pissed off by the delayed explosion..." he grumbled, "Man, it was going to be so cool... ah, forget it. Come on." He took her hand without asking, holding it gently in his fingers as he led her.

"Whatever that monster is that attacked you is sure to come back, " He stated, "It knows your scent now... and I think he likes you a little." he joked, "I don't want to think about what would've happened if I was even a second late." At the end of the alley was a wall with a wooden door placed on it. The building that it led to was unknown and unnamed. He pushed open the door and led her inside.

The interior wasn't too impressive... there was a single table in the middle of the room with half a dozen chairs lying around it. On the walls were a few sets of weapons and tools hanging up, and the place looked abandoned and deserted at the moment. The kidnapper led her over to a room, opening it for her.

This room was also very empty. A single bed lay in the corner, and there was a trunk on the floor by its feet. A dusty looking closet was in the corner, and there were no windows to be found anywhere. "Welcome to my room, " he stated, "It's not much, but its something, huh?" he brought her over to the bed and made her sit down, "Okay... I don't think I have any women clothes, but let me check..." He walked over to the closet and opened it up, "Seeing you like this is... kinda distracting...."

 

[Candira]

Rosa stood near by, letting him catch his breath against the wall. She glanced back down the alley now and then to make sure no one was sneaking up on the two of them, but mostly her eyes stayed on the mysterious man before her. When he had himself back together she was surprised that he was thanking her. "Well, it wouldn't have been good for us to have fallen over, would it?" she teased, trying to lighten the mood just a little. So he had a base of operations...was he really a thief? Whatever he was, he was shady. She tilted her head, a little confused that he'd planned all this in advance and had accomplices, but none of them had been around to help. Somehow, that didn't sit well with her. More confusing, however, was the fact that he had been trying to be impressive--cool even. He really must have been out of his mind.

When he took her hand, she paused for a moment to gather up the excess fabric and hold it to her as she walked with him. When he mentioned the monster, she froze for a moment, going pale as she remembered everything all too clearly. Suddenly she felt sick. That thing was going to be after her from now until the day it died. She didn't want to think of what might have happened without him there either. Shuddering, she tried to think of something else.

Thankfully, she had plenty to distract her as he led her into what appeared to be a deserted storehouse. Frowning, she returned her gaze to him as he led her into his room. When he made her sit down, she felt herself just sink there. She felt a little numb now that she could think back on everything. Honestly, it was a little surprising she hadn't passed out from the sheer terror of it all. She was grateful that he'd saved her--no question there. More-so that he was attempting to find her real clothes. Suddenly she remembered he'd seen much more than what she was currently showing and blushed a little. "Well if you'd given me a moment, I might have grabbed something of my own," she said.

"Now will you please tell me who you are and what I'm doing here? How did you know I was in danger when no one else did?" Funny. Now that she was sitting down, free of danger, she seemed the most vulnerable and frightened. She almost seemed to panic because she'd had time to think about it all and let it sink in. Something had tried to kill her tonight--or possibly worse--and that creature couldn't have gotten in and past all the guards on its own. That could only mean that someone had tried to kill her.

 

[Rage]

"Well, it was a kidnapping... I wasn't going to take you to your room and wait a while for you to pick out something that would like nice while being carried away." He went through clothing after clothing in the closet, frowning. "Damnit... I guess I don't have any women clothes... ah well. I'll just let Ruby handle it when she gets back. She probably has something that you could use." He scratched his head before turning to her, crossing his arms.

"I figured you'd work all of that out somehow... " He said behind his mask, "No guards? No maids? A monster that slipped into the bath from the closet? It seems all too convenient, doesn't it? Well, its a set up. You're the target. Somebody wants you dead... somebody with money, exotic creatures, and probably some high social status and with very good connections... " He walked over towards her, "Well, when I said kidnapping, I guess it was more of rescuing you from certain death by living in your castle unaware."

He took a seat beside her, "I guess it all seems convenient that I was there too, huh? I knew just where to find you, how to navigate through the castle, and the weakest point in the castle wall." He scratched his head, "And I bet you want some answers..." he reached up to the black cloth on his face, untying it on the back and pulling it off. He looked over at her, his icy blue eyes on her.

"It's been years, and last time I saw you was when we were kids... but it's me. Prince Axelius... er, I mean the former prince Axelius. And I still prefer to be called Axel by the way... " he chuckled, "Nice to see you again, Rosa."

 

[Candira]

She had figured out that she was some kind of target at this point, but she'd wanted confirmation. There were plenty of people with the kind of money, power, and connections to order this kind of attack on her. All of them were well connected with the king--people she herself interacted with almost daily. To think that any one of them could have done this...was actually quite believable to be honest. Behind the veneer so many nobles struggled to uphold, they were mostly power-hungry. But which one could it have been?

She frowned at the rather indelicate way he was talking about all this, considering everything she'd already been through. But then, sugarcoating it wouldn't have helped her either at this point. It seemed silly to hold back at this point. She stared at him as he explained that he'd really been rescuing her. That much she'd intuited, but it was also good to know that he saw it as such. He was spot on about her wanting answers and thinking it was all too convenient. Why was that icy gaze of his so familiar?

And then he removed the mask. Her eyes widened as recognition hit her like a ton of bricks. The features were more refined now, more mature, but that was a face she knew all too well. The face of a friend she thought had vanished in the revolt. Tears formed in her eyes and before she could stop herself or think of the consequences, she was on her feet with her arms around him in a warm embrace. "Axel!" She pulled away, holding him at arms length. "I'm so glad you're alive. I thought..." She shook her head and the tears started to flow before she sat back down.

Well there was one mystery solved. It explained how he knew the castle so well, not to mention how he had treated her and why he seemed so familiar. But so many questions were still unanswered and now that she was here, she had no idea what to do. The stress of it all finally caught up with her and she started to cry, her body suddenly so very tired. But there was one thing she could finally stop worrying about. Axel was alive and well, and so was she.

 

[Rage]

"Yeah, " He laughed, "Getting dethroned... wasn't a fun experience in my life, I tell you. Especially having your entire kingdom get conquered and thrown from your home. There's a lot I'd like to tell you, but then we would be staying up for quite a while." He unhitched the sword from his belt, the blade still inside of the scabbard, "I thought you were going to recognize the sword of my family. You know, the over the top jewels and gold and stuff. I was hesitant to use it at first, but turns out the blade is incredibly sharp and useful." he laid it down onto the bed next to him.

When sh e burst out into tears, he had no clue what to do. "Um... " He blinked, running his hand down her back, "I... erm, I know that its probably all so crazy and everything.... getting attacked by a big tentacle monster, getting kidnapped, escaping the castle with an explosion, and then finding out your kidnapper was an old friend whom you thought was dead... but you're safe now. You're probably exhausted, so I don't mind it if you sleep in my room tonight."

He stood up, "Anyways, I have a few things I have to do. You know.... planning and stuff. Getting everything all sorted out and figuring out what exactly is after you. I'm not the annoying little punk I used to be." He chuckled, grabbing his sword off the bed, "If you need anything don't be afraid to call. I'll be in the next room. Anything else you want to know or anything really quick?"

 

[Candira]

He was just so...so...light-hearted. He was downplaying all the bad things that had happened to him to keep her calm, or possibly himself. After all that worrying she'd done, here he was--alive and well. Very well. But it was no wonder she didn't recognize him at first. She wanted to just talk to him for awhile. To hear all he had to say. But if she took any more information in right now, she'd be even more overwhelmed than she already was. She felt a little guilty for crying and so she tried to stop, but it was really just all too much. His hand on her back was comforting and she took a long moment to collect herself, wiping her eyes on some of the spare fabric of the curtain she was wearing. Having him repeat everything she'd been through made her impossibly tired. Everything about her suddenly felt thick and heavy. His offer to let her stay with him was also quite comforting. "Thank you," she managed, watching him stand to leave her alone again.

There was so much she wanted to know it made her head ache to think of it all. But he he probably had things to attend to, so she needed to prioritize. Her eyes locked onto his and she nodded. "Just one thing. How did you know? How did you know something was going to happen to me? How did you have time to plan all of this?"

She frowned and wondered if her mother or father were in danger now, too. By this time they must be worried sick. They'd have found out that something had happened to her in her bath, and that a strange man had carried her away with him. If he had had time to save her, couldn't he have sent a warning of some kind? But then he didn't seem to know all the details either.

 

[Rage]

Axel hesitated for a second, looking back at her as he crossed his arms. His eyes wandered a bit, trying to think of what to really say. "Well.... " He said finally, reaching up one of his hand to scratch the back of his head, "I've always... um, kept tabs on you. After my kingdom was dethroned and a few more things happened, I was worried that the same thing was going to happen to your family. I know people who get information, and I was always watching for anything that might happen... and it was then that I sort of, well, discovered a big plot, which I won't tell you right now since it'll overwhelm you."

"I hope it doesn't come off too stalkerish, " He chuckled, slightly embarrassed, "I mean, I sorta was keeping an eye on you from the shadows and everything. I just heard about the monster being sent to kill you last night... I rode back here as quickly as I could and I had to make a makeshift plan pretty fast. That's why I wasn't exactly on time. But here you are now! I'll tell you the rest tomorrow if you'd like. I'm a little tired as well." He laughed, opening the door to leave the room.

"Oh, and if you're worried about your family, don't be; they only wanted you out of the picture, and they still do. In the meantime, you're going to stay here and be safe while the kingdom is in an uproar."

 

[Candira]

She wasn't quite sure what to think about his keeping tabs on her. Rosa found the idea to be more sweet than creepy, but she was still a little upset that he hadn't bothered to get in touch with her. Still, she could understand why he hadn't. It lessened the upset a great deal to just know that he was alive. But that brought up the question--just how far away had he been while he was watching? But he had saved her life, so what did it really matter?

"I see...Thank you, Axel. It might not seem like I'm all that grateful just now, but I am." She smiled softly and shook her head. "I'm a little bit glad that you were so stalkerish," she teased. "If you hadn't been, I probably wouldn't be alive right now...or at least not intact," she said, shuddering a little at the thought. "I want to talk to you more, but it can wait until I've wrapped my head around all this. If it's alright with you, I think I'll just lie down for awhile. I'm not sure what there's left for you to do, but be careful." With one more smile, Rosa closed her eyes and then lay back on the bed, carefully arranging herself so that she was still covered by the fabric he'd wrapped her up in.

As she drifted in and out of sleep, everything that had happened that day replayed itself. She came to the realization that she was, indeed, in danger, and that Axel had been a truer friend than any other. He'd risked a great deal to save her. The thought that he'd remembered her and thought of her after what had happened to him brought warmth to her heart. If she was going to survive and expose those responsible for all this, she was going to need to steel herself a bit for what was to come.

 

[Rage]

Haine gave a little laugh, "I guess you're right... I guess being creepy sometimes pays off, huh? Anyways, I'll let you get some rest. It looks like we might have some long days ahead of us, and you'll probably need it." He blew out the lamp to the room and slowly shut the door, sighing to himself as he turned to wander into the room with the single table. He pulled out a chair and collapsed in it, completely exhausted. Even though he had looked tough with all the fighting, running, and jumping, in truth it took everything out of him.

He folded his arms onto the table, letting his forehead rest on them as he closed his eyes, yawning quietly. His mission was complete, but it was also far from over. He hadn't planned anything beyond this, and he was going to have to speak to his team in the morning about this. They were small, but they were damn good, and he knew that he was going to keep Rosa as safe as he could. With his thoughts satisfied, he slowly drifted into a deep slow.

A few hours later, when the sun rose from the horizon, he was already up. He sat up in his chair, rubbing at his stiff neck and grumbling to himself. He slowly stood up, wiping the small amount of drool at the corner of his mouth. He glanced around absentmindedly before slowly walking towards Rosa's room, cracking open the door to see how she was doing.

 

[Candira]

Rosa fell asleep moments after her head hit the pillow. A deep sleep brought on by exhaustion--physical from fighting the monster and emotional from everything else that had happened. Despite the circumstances, it was probably the best sleep she'd ever had. The redhead lay toward one side of the bed, half on her back, and half on her side. Her red hair was sprawled out on the pillow and the bed behind her and her body was still wrapped in the fine material of the curtain he'd torn down. It had come loose from her tucks in the night, but it still covered her--and that was the most important thing.

She looked peaceful there, even in the darkness. Normally, she'd have been awake at dawn to prepare for the day ahead, but given the chance for some extra sleep, her body was taking it. Still but for the gentle rise and fall of her chest as she breathed, Rosa kept right on dreaming. She wasn't a heavy sleeper--not normally. If he tried to wake her, he'd have little trouble. If he let her sleep, she would probably stay under, her body grabbing at the chance for a few more hours of rest.