*POV* Cassy Iris Aleera
Mink slumped to the floor beside me, and laying her head on my shoulder she sighed. Kristine had returned and Clay had taken that moment to escape. I was glad he was able to leave, I knew it couldn't have been me, Clay would be back.
Kristine had returned a shell of her former self; she had cried into Mink's arms until she fell asleep. The soldiers had fed us dry bread and water, now I just sat waiting and wondered what could be so awful.
I felt no different than a year ago, the feeling of power gone. It almost felt natural in a way. Not having Monique limited me but I didn't dwell on it long.
Dixie passed the floor grumbled to herself and I wondered if she was mad Clay got away without her. She had yelled saying he could have just waited one more second, maybe knocked out a couple guards.
Dixie and Mink had been thrown back in the cell and their attempt at escape was not in vain. Time passed slowly and I couldn't tell how long we had been there.
The meals were nothing to go by because it seemed they fed us in an odd and irregular pattern. I hadn't eaten much, my body was cold and I wasn't really hungry.
Mink soon fell asleep, my eyes landing on Dixie as she watched Kristine silently. The cell was quiet for the most part.
Time passed and soon the cell door opened. None of us moved, I held tightly to Mink's arm as we waited to see what the two large soldiers wanted.
They entered and I stiffened, Mink glared at them, her strength dimmed by the darkness and the lack of action.
"Get up! All of you!"
We didn't give much resistance as we were marched through the dim stone halls. 2 large doors were opened and we were shuffled into the middle of the floor, and forced to kneel.
My eyes landed on the king, he had grown grayer and his face looked sunken, but his eyes swum with life. He laughed.
"You are a sick person!" Dixie spat, fighting with her cuffs. "If you would give me the chance.!" The king laughed, slamming his fist into the hard wood of his chair.
"Dixie, still with the temper I see." Dixie grimiest, "I could use someone like you." Dixie cursed.
"I would rather die then-" the words had hardly left her mouth before she let out a scream of horror. I flinched, but I couldn't see anything that would have produced such a reaction.
She scrambled backwards and Mink reached for her, but she stopped right before touching her, Dixie's eyes were wild with fright. A second later she slumped to the floor.
I gasped silently. "What in the world!?" I screamed to myself. His eyes turned to us and I could see a slight glowing of a mark that inked his face staring at the temple and disappearing below his collar line.
I swallowed the fear rising in my chest, Mink didn't make a sound and if I didn't know any better I would have thought she was the mute one.
"Now you miss Cassy, you are very interesting." He tapped his chin and my stomach clenched, his power was scary.
At that moment I wondered if maybe I should have been the one to run.
"You're a silent one. And a great mistake, so I am going to ask you one question." He paused for a minute. "How did you do it?" I could answer, but I knew it was Monique who had instructed me on how to survive.
"She doesn't speak." Mink's loud words surprised me and I flinched. "Is that right? Good to know, thief." His eyes moved back to me.
"How about we have a real fight? A duel if you will." He smiled. My heart sank, I had nothing left. How was I supposed to fight him?
He motioned for his soldiers to move Mink aside and to take my cuffs off. I questioned his sanity, but his idea was sound. I guess he probably thought me easy, and I was.
The cuffs were released and I was stood on my feet, he stood and step down from his platform,
"You start."
I felt silly standing there in my filthy clothes covered in who knows what staring down the man who had just made my friend unconscious.
"Don't worry I am here!" A soft but powerful voice entered my head. "Huh!?" I questioned.
The voice sounded neither masculine or feminine, but it sent my heart racing.
"Calm down child. Take a breath and focus on me." I wasn't sure how to do that.
I rubbed my arms while I stood 8 feet away from Magnur, he was grinning. It was unsettling. Clearing my mind I thought of my family and friends, taking a deep breath.
Light filled my hands and I was blinded, squinting a little at the brightness, I straightened my back and looked up at Magnur, his steps faltered and his smile was replaced with a scowl.
"What have you done girl?!" He hissed.
Taking a step forward I eyed him curiously, he halted in his retreat and whispered a spell, a large wild cat shaped black substance ran at me.
On instinct I threw my hands up to shield myself from the attack. "What is going on!?" I questioned the voice in my head, as the darkness incinerated.
"There is no balance with dark magic in our world so, I have lent you my power even though I am not beside you." I couldn't understand how, but I nodded.
Another attack came from Magnur I blocked it, it was followed by attacks from the soldiers still in the room.
"Watch out Cassy!" Mink yelled staggering to her feet. I realized too late that I had looked at her, a burst of air slammed into my side sending me flying into the stone wall.
My breath faltered, I coughed. I had to get out of here. Getting to my feet I sent blasts into the soldiers direction before I ran for the door.
The large doors opened outwards and I slammed into someone. I was pulled aside and I watched in surprise, Monique slightly more grow followed by 2 other white tigers shoved through the wide door.
I took a breath, looked around in surprise. Clay held onto me with an arm around my waist. I leaned into him and was surprised to see Destiny hugging Mink.
"What happened?" Clay asked as his friends ran into the throne room, magic flying. I shook my head. He laughed uneasily. "You are full of surprises."
I gave him a slight smile and turned to look into the room again just in time to see Monique and another tiger get thrown across the room by a large black cat.
Taking a breath I turned to Clay, pulling away and meeting his eyes before I turned and ran into the room.