"Um… I killed one, caught him by surprise and… stole his keys, then I… I ran…" she hid her face in her hands not wanting these strangers to see her cry. She tried not to think of the details, but one just couldn't be ignored, and she choked out "I left her there, my sister. I tried to free her…but the keys… didn't fit… None of them fit!"- her voice broke, and she began to cry harder.
"You done interrogating the poor girl?"
In response, the dark-haired man glanced down quickly, then threw his hands up in a frustrated surrender. He turned and walked away to lean against the far wall, arms crossed, his dark eyes still drilling into her.
She looked away wiping her tears and tried to ignore him, but she could sense his penetrating stare and see him out of the corner of her eye as she tried to pull herself together.
"Where was it located this cave entrance you escaped from? And about how many demons and captives do you think there are?"
She took a minute to get ahold of her overwhelming emotions. "There were about 11 captives in the lower cells and at least 20 demons, I think. I don't really know, they came and went, and I don't know if they stay there or just pass through, we didn't ever get to see more than what we could from our cells… I'm sorry, I don't know much."
She paused but began again after a deep breath. "The cave was probably about 2 miles away from where you attacked those demons," she continued "thank you by the way I'd have been dead if not for you, and it was in the opposite direction I was running. Unless I got turned around… but I think it's at the base of a volcano. It was always hot, and I saw lava on my way out and lots of glass coating the worm-like tunnels."
"Anything you can remember is good thank you." the blond said encouragingly. The other one however still glared at her from across the room making her grow more and more nervous.
Trying to quell her nerves she tried to focus on just the facts. "They're trying to build up an army of hybrids. I don't know how long they've been doing this though. At least 20 years or so if they age like we do, I saw a few of the hybrids."
There was a long silence and six eyes stared at her and she couldn't help but spew a string of questions. She tended to talk a lot when nervous, mostly in the form of questioning. As she had said in her own defense before 'the more you know about something the less scared or nervous it will make you and questioning is the fastest way to get answers'. "Dose he always glare? Do you guys fight demons often? Could I help you? Could you teach me how you fight? Can you help save my sister and the other prisoners? "She begged.
"A little eager for someone who just went through something so tragic… and very inquisitive too." The dark-eyed one said suspiciously.
"Come on Takal, lighten up, she's an injured, defenseless little girl that needs our help can't you even try to be nice?" the blond said.
"I'm not defenseless!" she countered irritated at the comment, she had never been defenseless, a little over her head at times, but she was not one to ever give up without a fight. Unfortunately, her comment triggered something behind the cold dark eyes that had been studying her and she immediately felt like it had been a bad idea.
"Exactly, she's not." Takal narrowed his dark eyes at her but spoke to the other boy. "Don't you find it at all suspicious that a 'little girl' as you say could kill her captor and escape a demon lair, all while so injured? Though, she seems remarkably better already. Don't forget she just happened to come running straight for our fortress batting her teary eyes at the woman-starved soldiers, while asking lots of questions and trying to lure us back to their lair begging us to save more damsels in distress? Does none of this sound like it could be a trap to you?"
Nieka was so furious at his accusations that she threw her blankets off and leapt up from the bed, wincing only slightly her anger masking some of the pain, and stalked over to him, eyes blazing with rage and tears. "I'm not a little girl, I'm seventeen. And I'd been planning my escape for, well I'm not sure how long because it was hard to measure time down there, but it felt like a long time! And I can't help the fact I heal quickly it runs in the family. Nor would I want to, it's been very handy; especially now. And I'll have you know I killed more than just one demon and at least injured a few more, but I didn't exactly stop to look, if I had I'd probably be dead!" he raised both eyebrows at her rather embarrassing tirade but she wasn't done, his stupid face just reminded her of another thing she was mad at.
I didn't bat my eyelashes at anyone! Especially you! I never begged for help. I don't need your help, nor do I want it! But who wouldn't want help? Have you never seen those things? Do you know how many there are? Would you want to fight them all alone? He said" she pointed in the blonde's general direction without looking "you guys kill demons. That it's 'what you do'. If you don't want to fight them, maybe you should pick another job." He opened his mouth like he was about to say something but she still wasn't done and she didn't want to hear anything he had to say right now.
"If killing them in their own territory is too much for you, that's fine; you don't have to go, but I do! I'm not going to leave them in that hell if I have any way to get them out. When I'm all healed and a bit more prepared, I'll go get my sister myself or die trying! It's not a trap but it sure as hell won't be easy; can you blame me for wanting to learn the best ways to kill those, despicable, sickening… things? I'm not some helpless damsel in distress here to trough myself at your miserable feet." All this would have sounded a lot harsher if she hadn't been full-on crying by the end.
"But you, you are… insanus, non bonus ineptus vos malus nequamque, sterculinum!" she did not learn enough bad words in their language to properly describe him so she reverted to her own and spun away. She was just so MAD. She stomped off towards the nearest door and swung it open. Just my luck she thought; a broom closet. She was too upset to care, she walked in anyways and slammed the door. She just wanted to be alone. It was dark and quiet inside. She sank to the floor hugging her knees and sobbed into her arms. She hoped when the time came that she would be able to do exactly as she said, but part of her was afraid that she would chicken out and forever be tortured by her cowardice. She did leave her there, after all, her own sister. She was sure that if it had been the other way around, Cinna would never have left her there.
"She knows that's a closet, right?" she heard the nicer one mutter through the door.
Please just leave me alone she begged silently.
"Just leave her." The mean one ordered and relived, she cried in peace.