Chaos gathered her team in the 'board room' and did a quick head count. Then she frowned. Not everyone was there. One membr was missing. Even with the added appearance of Meeks, who was sitting on Nate's lap, it was still impossible for Chaos not to notice the fact that her newest crw member, the red headed fire elemental, Lexine was not in the room with everyone else. "Where is Lex?" She asked out loud and watched everyone else notice what she had. "I thought I said last night, this was going to be an important meeting?" She asked incredulously. "You did." Eire replied, looking about the room with a puzzled expression. Nate was scowling, suddenly having a bad feeling about this. "Has Lex even been here, this morning?" Meeks asked out loud. "Cause it's impossible not to notice the little imp. And I don't think I've seen him this morning..." "Aiyla's right..." Eire put in. "About nine-ish you almost alwys see Lex in the kitchen with a cup of coffee and a cigarette." "Was he alright last night?" Chaos asked Eire and Nate, who had been the last people to see the red head. "He seemed fuckin' damn cheerful t' me." Nate said, exchanging a serious look with Chaos. "I think he said something 'bout gion' home, taking a shower and droppin' off the face of the earth." Eire added. With a sigh, Chaos reached up and touched the earring in her left ear. "Sylvie, give Lex's cellphone and home numbers a call, find out why he isn't here yet." But Sylvie came back over the line, not but five minutes later. "K, I'm not getting an answer from either of them. The cellphone just keeps ringing and I got a disconnected signal on the home number." Chaos frowned even more. "What the hell? Alright Sylvie, give Rue a ring and see if she knows anythin." Chaos turned to Nate and Eire. "Nate, you and Eire run over to Lex's place, find out if the brat is just sleeping in. He's not answering his phones." Nate's frown deeped. He placed Meeks in his chair as he got up. She stole a kiss and gave him a silent expression to be careful. *** They arrived at Lex's apartment building in good time and headed up to the forth floor apartment. Nate however, was drawing his colt as they approached the door, which was cracked open. It appeared the lock had been busted in. "Fuck." Nate swore, chambering a round as he pushed the door open. Eire followed, pulling his own gun. Lex's cat, Aloysius was laying in a chair by the stereo, but the apartment seemed untouched. "Lex?" Nate called out as Eire ducked into the kitchen, he got no answer. Nate moved into the hall and down to the master bedroom and bath, but it was empty as well. He pushed the bathroom door open, surveying it for any clues, but there was none. He left and went back into the hall, meeting up with Eire. "I smell blood." Eire hissed, sniffing the air. "Lex's blood..." he followed his nose toward the other bathroom at the end of the hall, Nate behind him. Pushing open the door, he hissed sharply. This room seemed to be trashed, things knocked off the counter and scattered, the shower curtian torn down, the mirror shattered. There was blood in the sink and the bath tub. "Do you smell anyone else?" Nate asked between clenched teeth. Eire had to work around the scent of blood, he crouched in the doorway, his nose twitching. "Fuck..." He swore. "What?" Nate demanded sharply. "All I smell is Lex...but it's underlined with a scent of fear..." "Fuck is right." Nate agreed in a hiss. He turned from the bathroom and contacted Chaos. "Les is missing, and the only clue we have is his blood." He told her, hearing her swear sharply. "Are you sure it's his?" She asked. "Is Eire's nose ever wrong?" Nate asked back. "No. Alright, both of you get back here. I'm going to get a hold of Auron." She hung up with him. Nate turned back to Eire. "K, says to get back to the office." But Eire was staring wide eyed at something in the tub. Something black and way to familiar to be seen where it was. Nate moved past Eire and bent down, picking it up. "How the fuck...?" He breathed. In his hands lay Lex's black leather collar, the lock still on it. The collar Lex couldn't remove, the collar Nate had recently had a leash on, in an undercover assignment. There was no way in hell, the collar could be removed from Lex. There was no key to the lock. Yet it was still clasp closed and the lock still tight. The ring seemed to have been ripped from the front and still lay in the tub. Nate picked it up as well, fingering it. "What the fuck has happened to him?" he breathed the question, starting to look from the ring and collar in his hands, to Eire, when he heard his best mate snarl. Nate stood, spinning in time to see Eire bound from his spot, twoard the front door. Nate crammed the collar and ring in his coat pocket and ran after Eire. Aloysius had vanished and Eire was bounding out the front door, still snarling. Nate followed close on his heels and thought he saw a figure duck into the stair well. Eire followed it. They could hear running footsteps and for a moment, it was unclear if the footsteps were running up, or down. Nate and Eire paused on the turn, Eire straining his ears, then he turned and buond up the acceding stairs, Nate followed, his gun still at ready. They caught sight of the cloaked figure, who was peeping over the edge of the rail down at them. Eire glared up at the figure, before bounding up the stairs after it. Nate sprinted behind him, then pushed ahead of Eire, pulling around the turn. The figure yelped and took off again. They chased the girue up to the roof, where the figure seemed to realize its mistake and spun, the black cloak style coat, swirling with the action. Eire and Nate came to a stop before the figure, Eire pulling his beretta. The figure suddenly whimpred, grimacing and flinching as if they'd hit it already. "Wait! Don't kill me!" Came a panicked voice. "Who are you?" Nate demanded, aiming the colt. The figure held up both hands quickly, to show he was unarmed. Eire growled in return, the figure slowly moved a hand to the cloak hood, lowring it, slowly. Eire gaped. "Lex?" He asked in shock starting to step foward. Nate stopped him. "No, it's not." he said firmly, knowing it wasn't Lex right then and there. The young man raised an eyebrow. He looked very much like Lex, except on close inspection was not nearly as feminine looking as Lex. There was something Lex had, that this guy could not imitate. It was as if it had been a plastic surgery job. Nate was staring hard at the young man, who was looking quiet pitiful and trying hard not to look at them. "Who are you?" Nate demanded again, cocking the gun. The young man struck another pitiful pose of trying to keep them from shooting him, ducking as if Nate had already pulled the trigger. "My name is Demyx!" He replied quickly. "Where's Lex?" Eire demanded. "Who?" Demyx asked nervously. "The guy's apartment ye were in, Lexine Mordant." Nate replied. "Where is 'e?" "Er...I don't know..." Demyx whimpered. Eire cocked his gun and Demyx yelped, dropping to the ground, covering his head. Eire glanced at Nate with a look of disbelief. Nate turned his eyes back to Demyx and stared at the young man a long time, before he holstered his gun. "Wha' were ye doin' in Lex's apartment?" Nate asked. He took a few steps forward. Demyx looked up at him from the ground, wide eyed. "I...I..w-w-was sent t-to bring 'im a message!" Demyx replied quickly, reaching quickly into his cloak and pulling out a narrow black box. "Get up." Nate ordered. Demyx scrambled to his feet, clutching at the box before him, trembling, eyes darting from Eire to Nate and back. "What message?" Nate demanded. Demyx held out the box, still trembling. Nate eyed him with cool narrow eyes and moved forward, while Eire covered him, and took the box. He opened it and raised an eyebrow. Inside the case, lay what could only be described as a diamond, ruby and emerald cat collar fit for a human. Nate turned the raised eyebrow on Demyx. "Wait, there's more!" Demyx said quickly, patting down his coat. He seemed to find what he was looking for and reached into an inner pocket. He next pulled out a couple of index cards and sorted through them, dropping one or two. Stooping to pick them up, he cleared his throat. "I was supposed t' tell, the Fire Elemental and Lock, that if accepted my master's proposal, Abandon's collar could be removed and he could be set free." Demyx dropped another card out of nerves and picked it up, coughing. "All he has to do, is accept a one night offer from my employer...who sent the collar..." Demyx flinched again as Eire growled. "Don't kill the messanger!" He cried. Nate gave Eire a look as he closed the case, pocketing this as well. "Whos yer employer, or master, or wha' ever?" "Er...Mr. Xaldin Giovanni..." Demyx muttered. "The Billionaire?!" Eire remarked. "Er..yes..." Demyx was busy shoving the cards back in his pocket. "Wha's Giovanni want with Lex?" Nate asked, eyeing Demyx. "Er..." Demyx blushed. "Well, he's... you know...this and that...birds and bees... embarrassing to say man!" He cried. "Is that why you look like him?" Eire demanded. Demyx blinked innocent eyes at them. "Look like who?" He asked softly. "Like Lex." Nate replied sharply. "I look like Lex?" Demyx asked, his tone was so innocent it was impossible not to believe him. Eire glared at him. Nate turned to Eire and motioned him closer. "Wha'd ye think?" He whispered. Eire looked over Nate's shoulder at Demyx who seemed to think they were deciding on rather or not to kill him. He was clutching and ringing his hands, looking distressed. "I think we should take him back to Chaos..." Eire whispered back. "I THINK he's telling the truth...but...you know...why does he looks so fuckin' much like Lexi?" "Good question..." Nate replied, before turning back to Demyx. "Yer comin' with us." He said sternly. "No! Please, I really didn't mean to do anything wrong! I wasn't tryin' to hurt anyone, just delievering the message, honest!" Demyx cried, his blue eyes wide. Eire sighed and holstered his gun, moving over and taking Demyx's arm. "We're not gonna hurt you...we're gonna take you to OUR boss. Our team mate, and friend, Lex is missing, and you're the only clue we have!" Eire replied, a firm grip on Demyx's arm. "Y-you wont hurt me?!" He asked desperately. "Not unless ye fuckin' do somethin' to make us hurt you." Nate replied. taking Demyx's other arm. They took him down stairs and to Nate's vehicle, putting him in the backseat. Eire got in the passenger's side and watched Demyx closely. Nate paused outside the driver's door and contacted Chaos, telling her they were bringing Demyx back. *** The room was cement, walls, floor, ceiling. It was dark, and it was cold. And it didn't help that every muscle in Lex's body was on fire, even if he moved less then an inch. He couldn't get comfortable and stayed perfectly still, curled up in the corner of the windowless room on the floor in fetal position, begging his head to stop throbbing. His left ankle hurt him severally to, and he had a feeling, from it's frozen feeling and odd angle it was probably broken. He tried hard to remember what had happened.He remembered leaving Chaos Inc, after talking with Nate and Eire for awhile when their work was finished. He remembered getting home and feeding Aloysius. And he remembered heading toward the guest bathroom, choosing to take a shower there, rather then the master bathroom. Then it came back to him and he groaned. He managed to move his arms and ran his hands over his face and neck. There was a split lip, and cuts on his face, from the mirror if he remembered correctly. He ran his hands over his neck, sliding his fingers gingerly under the collar around his neck, feeling more cuts. He remembered the attack, being over powered and knocked about the bathroom very hard. He remembered hitting his head on the sink, and blood. But he'd still been conscious and the worst wasn't over. He remembered the dagger in his side, that'd forced him over the edge of the tub. He remembered, painfully, the raping. That was about the time he'd lost consciousness, rather then face any more of the pain. He realized numbly, in this room he was only covered by a wool blanket. One hand dragged it tighter over him and it racked against the wound on his side. He hissed in pain, curling up tighter under it. He didn't know the man who'd attacked him. He hadn't known why. The man had never said a thing. Lex couldn't even remember his face. He didn't even think the man had shown his face, perhaps thats why the mirror had been broken. He had no idea where he was, or what time it was. He turned his head painfully, toward what he thought was where the door was, when he heard footsteps and heard the lock being turned. A shaft of light fell on his bruised and bloodied body as the door was opened slowly. Two figures stood against the light. "Clean him up." Came a harsh voice and the shorter, slender figure was shoved into the room. "Bastard!" Came a woman's voice as the door was slammed behind her. Her arms were full of something, and she turned, moving toward Lex. He couldn't move from the pain, but he watched her every movement. She stopped close to him and knelt, sitting something down and a soft light filled the corner, a lantern lit. Her hair was cut short, at her chin and mousy brown. She had a heart shaped face and deep colored eyes, that were impossible to tell in the soft light. But he knew instantly, she was an elemental. She sat down the large first aid kit next and turned her eyes on him. "My name is Fairlan. I'm afraid I've been ordered to clean you up." She said softly, opening the case. "Ordered by who?" His throat was dry, his voice cracked and broken, softer then he normally spoke. "He doesn't have a name." She replied simply, taking a gaze and a bottle of paraxoid. She soaked the gaze, and reached over, to take his chin, but Lex snapped his head away, even if it brought a whimper of pain. "It wont do you any good to resist...you're injured, your ankle is broken and if your side isn't bandaged, it'll only make things worse for you." She replied kindly. "I'm not going to cause you harm...and I'm the only help you're going to get around here." "How do I know I can trust you?" He replied in a whisper. "You don't have much choice." She replied, before taking his chin and cleaning the cuts on his face. He hissed in pain, and squeezed his eyes shut. She sighed, leaning forward and blew softly on the cuts. Her breath was surprisingly warm and comforting. "What's your name?" She asked softly, getting another gaze. "Lexine..." He replied in a whisper, his eyes still closed. She soaked another gaze in paraxiod and looked at his neck. She reached for the collar, turning it around to remove it, but stopped, looking at the lock. With a snarly she sat back on her heels. "Should have known..." Lex opened his eyes slowly, and he didn't even have to ask what. He simply waited for what he knew was coming. "A bloody slave." She hissed. He still didn't reply, but cast his eyes away. She glared, and grabbed the blanket, yanking it off of him. "You have a leash to go with that collar too?" She asked in a snide tone. "Once..." Lex muttered simply, suddenly very cold and in pain from the jerk, which had caused him to wince hard. "Who do you serve?" Fairlen asked with a sneer, as she mercilessly poured the peroxide on his side. Lex cried out, buckling and whimpered even more, hissing through clenched teeth. "I was Abadon's slave." This stayed Fairlen's hand and she looked at him with surprise. "The Gate Keeper?" She breathed. "My whole life...Look at the old scars..." Lex breathed, his eyes closed again. Fairlen was more gentle with cleaning the wound and bandaging it. "I'm sorry..." She whispered. Lex didn't reply. Fairlen finished what she could, cleaning his wounds and took an ace bandage wrap from the box. "I can't cast it, but maybe I can splint it...to keep it from getting any worse...and I have some pain medication." She said softly, finding a few dow pens and the wrap and did her best to splint the ankle, while Lex whimpered and moaned in pain every time her fingers touched it. When she was finished, she moved back to the kit and took out a bottle of painkillers and a small eight ounce bottle of water. Pausing for a second, looking at him, she took two painkillers from the bottle and unscrewed the cap off the water. "These are strong...and they'll make you sleep." She said softly, before placing the pills between his lips. The water bottle followed and Lex managed to take them with out gagging on them. Fairlen retrieved the blanket and shook it out, covering Lex with it. She didn't blame him for staying in the postion he had. When she'd covered him good with it, she settled against the wall, after closing the med kit and softening the light more. "What is your element?" She asked. "Fire...yours?" "Lightening..." She replied with a slight smile. She watched him silently after that, watched the pain medication take hold and watched him drift off to sleep. "You poor thing." She whispered, having no idea how right she was... Nate and Eire marched Demyx into the building and upstairs. They escorted him down to Chaos' office. He looked wildly around with large eyes, at everything. Eire was still holding on to his arm, tightly, glaring at the strange young man. Nate eyed him, before turning to Chaos' door and knocking. "Its open." Chaos replied. Nate opened the door and Eire shoved Demyx inside. Chaos was standing by her desk with Auron and both raised their eyebrows as the three entered. "What is this?" Chaos asked, looking Demyx up and down. "We found him snooping around Lex's apartment, claimed he was sent to bring Lex a message." Eire growled, still holding Demyx's arm. Chaos eyed him. "Who are you?" "My name is Demyx..." Demyx answered, eyes on the floor. "I was just sent to deliver a message..." "What message?" Chaos asked. "This.." Nate handed Chaos the case. She opened it and raised a perfectly sculpted eyebrow. "What is this supposed to mean?" She asked, looking at the bejeweled cat collar. "My...my employer sent it...with...a message..." Demyx was patting down his coat with his free hand, and looking like he was trying to remember the message. "If...Lex..." Demyx glanced at Eire to make sure he had that right. Eire glared but nodded. "Accepted my employer's invitation for one night only, my employer would remove Abandon's collar." "Who's your employer?" Chaos asked. "Mr. Xaldan Giovanni..." Demyx answered. Auron was eyeing the young man with a cold, calculated look "What is his interest in Lex?" He asked. Demyx actually blushed. "Well, I...that is to say...I mean..." "I think he wants to have a date with him..." Eire put in with a look. Chaos snorted and looked at Auron, who shook his head. "Right," Chaos turned back to Nate and Eire. "I want you guys to take...Demyx here and go see his employer, ask some questions. You know which kind." "Yes ma'am." Nate saluted her with a slight grin. Eire grinned more, grabbing Demyx's arm again. "Lets go, dude." Demyx grimaced, but let Eire lead him out the door. Nate began to follow, when he remembered. "Give me a minute, Eir, I need to speak with Chaos...bout what we found..." "Alright, we'll be down stairs." Eire said, before dragging Demyx out of the office. Nate turned back to Chaos and Auron and took the ruined collar out of his pocket with the ring that was supposed to be attached to it. "We found this in the bathtub...there was blood in and around the tub, and in the sink. The mirror was smashed up, pieces everywhere." He told them, handing the collar and ring to Chaos. "Lex's collar?" Chaos asked in surprise. "Couldn't be..." Auron replied, reaching around Chaos, his arm brushing her side, and touching the lock that was still holding the collar together. "Theres no way it could be removed, not with out the key...and the lock is intact." "A rouse?" Nate asked, looking at the lock. "Somethin' to make us fuckin' think more then what's goin' on?" "Probably." Auron answered in agreement. Nate swore. "Were ye able to get ahold of Rue?" Chaos sighed. "No, Sylvie tried, I tried, Meeks tried. Meeks is on her way over to the Raven now, to see if she find out what the hell is going on..." Nate sighed, shaking his head. "He should have taken me offer last night for a ride home rather then walk...least then I might've saw the fucker that got in there..." "You know Lex...has to be independent as hell, and do the opposite of what he's told..." Chaos said with a slight smile. "Don't beat yourself up over this, Nate. We'll find him...get going." "Righ'." Nate saluted Chaos in a wave good bye and headed for the door. Chaos turned to Auron. "What's your take on all this?" Auron sighed, looking at her. "I never assume judgement this early on...it tends to lead one down the wrong path. But you were right to send Nate and Eire with this Demyx to question his...employer...I don't trust him..." "Neither do I, and neither does Nate." Chaos answered. "Nate is a good judge of character." Auron said with a nod.  *            *             *    The door was jerked open again and several items of clothing was tossed in at Fairlen. "Get him dressed, the master is ready to see the two of you." The gruff voice ordered. Fairlen caught the clothes with a flick of her wrist. When the door was slammed, she reached over to the little lamp and ran her finger around the bulb, which flickered and shed a dim, soft light again. She rifted through the clothes, inspecting them. The shirt was faded black and long sleeved, sitting off around the shoulders. She realized, with disdain, that the bottom was long black skirt, slit on both side just above the knees. "Real fuckin' brilliant joke..." Fairlen muttered and picked up the undergarments, a pair of black satin boylegs. That was all that was sent. Fairlen didn't need a change of clothes. But it was kind of cruel of them to send girls clothes for Lexine, even if he did look very much like a girl. "I'm used to it." Came his soft spoken voice from the floor beside her. She looked down to see him awake and looking, almost, amused at the selection of clothes. "It's still a bit unfair..." She replied. He smiled slightly. "Not a lot in my life has been fair, Fairlen." He replied, sitting up slowly. He took the clothes from her, inspecting them himself and barked a soft laugh. He took the knickers and with a little maneuvering, slid into the boylegs, lifting his hips to pull them on, while hissing in pain. He pulled on the shirt next, it sat off his shoulder all the way aruond. "Here, I'll help you with the rest of it." Fairlen said, standing. She helped Lex to his feet, balancing on his good ankle. She had him put both hands on her shoulders and got him into the skirt. Standing up, she supported him as they leaned against the wall. "Don't expect me to break out in a chorus of 'I feel pretty'." He said sardonically. Fairlen was forced to laugh, giving him an amused look. "You've got nice legs for a skirt, though..." "Yeah, I've been told that before, thank you..." Lex replied with roll of his eyes, but a slight grin. "Only time I feel like a fuckin' fool..." "How do you feel?" Fairlen asked him as she wrapped an arm around his waist, putting his arm over her shoulder to adjust supporting him better. "Like shit...but I guess I'll live..." Lex answered with a sigh. "I've still got some pain medication..." Fairlen said, glancing at the box. They heard the lock being turned on the door. "I'll take you up on that after this..." Lex answered, watching the door open. "Move!" The gruff voice commanded. "Lean on me, as much as you need to." Fairlen told Lex and slowly, they made their way toward the door. Lex got a good look at the man in the hall, tall, powerful, looked like a bull. He was holding a wicked looking spear. Lex raised an eyebrow, but the man gave him a cold smile and moved his coat to reveal a mini uzi. "Right..." Lex muttered, turning his head away. "Move it!" The man ordered, marching them forward. They were shuffled along as fast as Lex could manage, down the stone hall, through a door, and down another hall toward a stair case. Lex looked at it with a groan, not wanting to climb it. "Do we need to carry you?" The man asked sarcastically. Lex's eyes flashed as he managed to look over his shoulder and glare at the man. A moment later, the man's spear caught on fire, causing the man to yelp and drop it. The man retaliated by striking Lex back handed across the face, causing him to lose his balance and fall against the stairs with a cry of pain. Fairlen wiped around and threw a punch at the guy's face for the action. She stood over Lex, glaring at the human bull even as he raised a hand to strike her. "Larson, that's enough!" Came a snap from the top of the stair well. Lex, who was biting his lip hard enough to make it bleed, from the pain, looked upward to see a handsome young man with dark hair. He was tall, broad shoulder and athletic. As he came down the stairs, glaring at the man who'd stroke Lex, Lex saw that his hair was a dark dark red, almost like Rue's. The young man, who was a bit older then Lex, stopped next to the fire elemental and leaned down, assisting Lex back up. Fairlen spun around and was there to help Lex as the young man moved past him. "I don't fuckin' know what ye were fuckin' told, Larson, when ya were ordered t' pick him up, but so help me, if I bloody damn well catch ya hit him again, yer gonna find that fuckin' spear of yers up yer fuckin' arse!" The man spoke with a sophisticated Irish accdent, minus the swear words. Lex was forced to smile painfully, reminded greatly of his best friend Nate. He wondered briefly if Nate and Eire and the others had discovered him missing yet. He leaned on Fairlen, wincing in pain and watching the young man and this Larson. Larson drew back as if the young man had hit him as the young man stood between him and the other two, glaring coldly at Larson with his arms crossed. "I'll take 'em the rest o' the way. Go back t' yer other duties." The young man said. Larson turned and grumbled something. "I didn't quiet 'ear that, Larson..." The young man sneered coldly. Larson instead just walked away. The young man turned to the other two. Fairlen glared at him, but Lex studied him, grimacing in pain as he shifted. "Had I known, ye were in this bad o' condition, I would've seen t' things me self. My name's Doyle." "Well that's all generous and kind of you, but why'd you all kidnap me in the first place? Not to mention who ever did had their...fun with me first off." Lex replied, swallowing hard as he said that. Fairlen glanced at him, but seemed to silently put together what Lex meant and she sighed deeply. Doyle seemed to put together as well and he frowned, casting a look back down the hall, saying in a hiss. "It'll be dealt with. Ye have my apologies...although I know it don't help..." He turned back look at them. His expression toward Lex was kind. Lex studied his face. It was sharply defined, darkly handsome. His skin had a slight pearly cast to it, his eyes looked like fire opals. "Better arrangements will be made." He said softly. "What are you? You're not elemental..." Fairlen observed as she helped Lex up the stairs, as they followed Doyle, who took his time, even offering to assist, but Fairlen wouldn't let him, not yet anyway. "He's fae." Lex answered softly, meeting Doyle's gaze as they paused, Lex leaning against the wall painfully. Doyle turned and his fire opal eyes sparkled mischievously a moment. "Indeed, I am." He said, then titled his head to the side, regarding Lex. "How'd ye know?" "I've been around enough Fae..." Lex replied, breathing hard from the pain. "I know the crowned prince of Ter Nah Nog." He informed Doyle, who's eyes widened. "Estehl Errin is still ALIVE?" Doyle asked, stepping closer. "Yes." Lex answered, eyeing Doyle. Doyle shook his head ruefully. "Maybe there's hope after all..." He muttered mostly to himself. "If your fae, you can heal wounds." Fairlen said, eyeing Doyle. "Mostly, yes." Doyle replied, knowing what was coming and he began unbuttong the cuff of his left sleeve. "But I can't...all I can do is ease the pain for the time being." He pulled back his sleeve to show the odd looking gold bracelet, that seemed to have no catch or clasp. "Yer not the only one's bein' held against yer will..." Doyle answered softly, before crouching down next to Lex. He placed his right hand gently on Lex's ankle. A warmth that didn't have to do with Lex's fire control spread over him and the pain lessened considerably to a dull throbbing. Doyle looked up to see if that helped. Lex nodded his thanks and Doyle stood. "Who has us?" Lex asked. "He dosen't 'ave a name..." Doyle replied, stepping closer to the two as if some one could be listening. "Most just call him Sin..." "Appropriate name..." Fairlen grumbled irritably. "Ye have no idea..." Doyle answered. Lex sighed, leaning against the wall. "So you have no idea why we're here?" "You wont like what I have to say on that..." Doyle answered with a look. "Point taken." Lex replied with a look of his own, knowing all to well what Doyle had to say on that. Fairlen looked back and forth between them. "Right, well, lets do something..." She said softly. "I'm t' escort ye to the throne room..." Doyle seemed to snort at that, but nodded to the hall. "Well, what choice do we have?" Lex asked with a sigh. **** The chamber was dark, tall, the ceiling disappearing into blackness. Tall collums lined up and down the great hall. And at the far side the room was a black stone dias, with a black throne. Lex shifted his weight a little, leaned on Fairlen and rolled his eyes. "It be cliche, ain't it..." He muttered. Fairlen spared a momentarily amused look at Lex's dry humor, but they heard a rather soft chuckle from Doyle. They stopped with in reach of the dias and a dry voice, that could only described as old parchment spoke. "Excellent..." Lex started, putting pressure on his broken ankle and he winced, stumbling against Fairlen. A pair of red eyes appeared from the middle of the throne. He had to narrow his eyes through the pain to actually make out the shadowed outline of a figure sitting on the throne. Then there was a distinctively sharp pain in the back of Lex's head and he almost doubled over, a hand going to his neck, with a cry. It was as if he could feel nails racking through his brain, and he whimpered in pain, clutching at his head with both hands and tumbling down. The pain in his ankle caused by the fall couldn't even match what he felt in his head. Then just as suddenly it was gone, and he was left with only the throbbing, numbing pain in his ankle. He just lay there a moment, breathing hard. He suddenly understood what had just happened as he every painful moment of his life so far. The figure on the throne had just scryed his memories and in the thought of that, Lex rolled over, starting to get up with a snarl. There was a chuckle, then other robed figures, that seemed almost to familiar to Lex, moved forward, grabbing both him and Fairlen, yanking them upright. One grabbed each of their left wrists and yanked them out, while the others held them fast, and another robbed figure stepped up. A simple gold bracelet with no seam was locked on to Fairlen's wrist. but a band of what looked almost like blackened steel with a large red gem was placed on Lex's wrist, which it shrank to conform to his wrist and was seamless. Lex cried out in pain again as the robed figures releashed him and rolled over, clutching his head once more. Doyle spun on the figure. "Why that one?!" Doyle sneered. "You question me, slave?" The voice asked and Doyle went down to one knee, in pain. With a groan, he lowered his head and snuck a glance at the withering Lex, where Fairlen was beside. *** Lex was dragged by two figures back to the cell, still withering and whimpering in pain. But Fairlen was allowed to remain with out. She started to enter, but Doyle grabbed her arm and shook his head grimly and the door was shut and locked before she could pull away. Doyle leaned up against the wall beside the door as the figures disappeared, his arms crossed over his chest and inclined his head, listening to whimpering and crying coming from the other side of the door. Fairlen glared at him. Then demanded. "What did they do to him?!" "Bind him int' slavery with full compliance." Doyle said, with out raising his head or moving, "What?" Fairlen snarled. "It's brainwashin' him, the shackle...makin' him the perfect slave...he's jus' fightin' it." Doyle replied evenly. "But...He's already been a slave once! You saw that collar! Surely you know who uses that collar?" Fairlen demanded. "Abandon." Came the short reply. A silence fell, only sound was the slowly dying crying. Then Fairlen snapped. "So what?! You're not going to do anything?!" "There isn't a fuckin' thing I can do, me dear. He has t' accept it...it'll be easier...on him." Doyle replied, still not moving. Fairlen turned with a grin, leaning her head against the wall. Then she slid down it, putting her head in her hands. *** She must have nodded off, because she came to, with Doyle shaking her awake. She looked up to see the robed figures opening the door and she scrambled to her feet. Still Doyle held her back, preventing her from entering the room. He shook his head at her demanding look, then nodded to the room. Fairlen looked back. It took a moment in the torch light to realize the figures were dragging Lex from in the room. He was conscious, but his eyes were closed, and he wasn't struggling. There were freash raw claw marks on his arms and dried blood under his finger nails where he'd clawed at his own arms from the pain. The figures said nothing, but proceeded to drag Lex down the hall and out of sight around the corner. "Where are they taking him!?" Fairlen demanded, turning on Doyle. "Ye don't wanna know..." Doyle said with a sigh. "Come with me..." Fairlen paused, then raised an eyebrow, and asked. "Did you set out side the door all this time as well?" "'Course I did..." Doyle answered as if it were so odd that he hadn't had.He motioned for her to follow him and started down the opposite direction then the figures had dragged Lex.

 

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  Skye, Ruex, Sage, Washu & Miss Frost .
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