тнє ℓαυяєℓ fℓσωєяѕ NEW THREAD delete this please.

[mermaidva]

No comp yet, sorry ;~;

Why? ;-;

[katomorakwarrior]

Are you a new stalker or just a new username?

[mermaidva]

Are you a new stalker or just a new username?

I've always stalked this (by that I mean when I found it I started stalking it)

[.:A r i c a R e e:.]

You draw so pretty.
....
I like her eyes.
Laurel has pretty eyes.

Ahh, thank you x3

[*ajayred*]

It is a long story, a summery was it messed up, but i could write on it, send it to ree and get it posted. Then it got worse and i couldn"t even do that. Then, when the time came to send it in to etherbe fixed or replaced, calls got missed, calls where forrgotten to be made, calls where mot caught when called back. Ater all that, i have finnly talk to tech support, and they are sending me a box to send in my junky laptop, then, with in a couple os days after that i will get a knew laptop and TLF will be updated!

P.s i wonder why do so many peeps like avery?

[.:A r i c a R e e:.]

Cause hes funny! Thats my main reason. Heh. xD

[katomorakwarrior]

I didn't vote for Avery, but he's my second favorite. Being he's funny, and absolutely perfect. Don't ask me to explain what "perfect" means, ''cause I don't know.

[mermaidva]

to all of you just:

[*ajayred*]

Alright, little stalkers! I have had my laptop sent in, FINILLY! And why that face ? Merd you must not like avery then xD care to elaborate? - curiuos to see how peope veiw the charries-

[*ajayred*]

alright, i kept you all waiting, and here is :

Chapter 23

I had nodded, but kept silent until we entered my room, the pain gone leaving behind the memories. Ryker had sat me on the bed and took his place at the door and Audrey had pulled up a small chest and sat in front of me.

I slumped over, my arms wrapped around myself for a moment. “I…” I started, but no words came to my mouth.

“First, let’s start with why you started crying.” Audrey tested softer than I thought his voice could be.
“The pain in my head was too much to handle.” I answered curtly.

“A headache brought you to your knees? I doubt a little headache could do that.” Audrey argued. “I know you can handle a lot of pain, given I had inflicted some of it.” At that, Ryker’s eyes fell on Audrey.

“It wasn’t a normal headache.” I contended with narrowed eyes.

Audrey nodded, crossing his arms he asked “So, just the pain then?”

I began shaking my head but thought better of it and sighed. “I…remembered a few things too.”

“You must have strained yourself trying to forget it.” Audrey reasoned, leaning forward and looking at me. “To think even you can cry.”

I glared at him harshly, given, everyone cries at some point, men no exception; I liked to keep my tears hidden.

“Stop it. What do you want now?” I snapped.

“I guess even if I asked there is no way you’d give me an answer about what you wanted to forget so badly, but at least try and act like it didn’t scare you.” He scoffed.

I went wide eyed as I remembered something from the flash. “Ryker, hand me that hand mirror!” I exclaimed as I stood up, moving to the vanity.

Ryker hesitantly got the mirror and walked to me, a bit taken back when I began pulling the top laces on the back of my dress loose. I reached out taking the mirror and turning my back to the vanity, lifting the hand mirror up.

“What in Cymatilus are you doing?” Audrey barked wide eyed.

I pulled the dress back slowly over my right shoulder. I dropped the mirror, as it hit the ground it shattered across the floor like glitter. On my right shoulder was a brand, though I didn’t know what the brand meant exactly, I was shocked to see that I had it.

It wasn’t just me to freeze; it was Ryker and Audrey too. Audrey was looking at the mirror at the mark as Ryker grabbed a blanket and wrapped it around my back.

“That’s the mark of a Cyan slave?” Audrey alleged. “You have the mark…of a-“

“No! Don’t dare to repeat that!” I exclaimed retying the top ties.

“Do you know what that means!?” Audrey stood from the chest he sat on.

“I don’t want to know what it means.” I groaned.

“Only one person can give that bran-“

“Audrey shut up!” I snapped, rubbing my face. “I can take a pretty good guess.” My voice broke.

My bravery only being held together with string at that point, I was losing my hold to reality. It seemed like a nightmare I couldn’t wake up from, one that showed no signs of releasing me soon.

“You are going to need to hear it, sooner better than later.” Audrey advised harshly.

I stared at him and nodded, squatting down to help pick up the larger shards of mirror with Ryker. “Go ahead…”

“Cyan slaves cannot be released by anyone but the person who branded them. They go only where the Brander allows.” Audrey said slowly, as if unsure if avoiding his uncle’s name like so would help. “And to return them where he wants…all it takes if proof of the mark and the Cyan slave is back under his foot. He already knows who you are, and doesn’t seem to like you being here.”

“We have to be extra careful.” Ryker clarified what Audrey implied.

At that moment, the door knocked a few times and a maid flooded in holding a box. “Lord Kyran wishes you to wear this for dinner.”

Ryker gently took the box and sent the maid out of the room before ether Audrey or I could snap at her intrusion. He placed the box on the bed and put his hands behind his back. I took it as my queue to walked over and pull the lid off. I only had to see the color to pick the box up and toss it across the room.

“Lara…” Ryker said slowly, walking over to the pick the follow purple and red dress up. “You don’t have to wear it, he is just trying to shake you up.” He added, noting there was only one sleeve on the left side.

“He wants to make sure you stand out.” Audrey affirmed.

“Get out, I’m changing. Servant girls bring me some dresses!” I grinned. I was always one for accept a challenge.

Audrey blinked a few times and walked out the door as more ladies walked in, Ryker soon to follow out without another word.

…..

I sat at the long table, Audrey on the other side three chairs away from mine and Ryker nowhere to be seen. I nibbled at the food in front of me, keeping my eyes low.

“I could have sworn you had short hair!” a girl next to me bubbled; I assumed she was Audrey’s relative.

“I do, the flower pins hold the shorter pieces back in the bun, making my hair look longer. I once had hair down to my shoulder blades. “ I informed the black haired girl.

“Well, you should have kept it that long, how dishonorable could short hair be on a woman?” the girl scoffed.

She had been maybe two years younger than I; her hair was straight and long, reaching the small of her back. Mine only reached my neck, and I was much happier with it.

“I don’t see it as a dishonor, because it just reminds me what terrible ordeal I survived. When it grows longer, I will be able to say it was once cut to my scalp, and it didn’t turn green like my mother said it would if it was cut so short.” I added in the last part for a giggle, which I received. I hadn’t thought it to be funny, but the girl apparently did.

“That is a beautiful dress. The blue is very vibrant and the cut is very modest. I think it might have been mine, but I am much to petite for it, if you can fit it so well you may want to slow down on those sweets.” She giggled.

I arched my brow under my bangs and nodded, as if really taking in her advice. “I am afraid if I lost any weight, my bones would peak through my skin-“

“Oh that is much worse!” she shrieked. “No groom would want a skeleton bride. My, speaking of brides and grooms, weren’t you going to become Audrey’s? “

“That is what I believed, but I was against it honestly.” I said slowly and carefully, not liking where this might turn.

“Well, that is a good thing, what with your differences and you having been living…like you were…” She said, pale blue eyes staring intently at me.

I smiled at her and looked down; under the table I was bending my spoon wishing for my sword.

“So, dear Laurel…How was your stay with those Rulitian dogs?” Kyran asked from the end of the table.

“Uncle, let us not take her back to that time and speak of something more entertaining.” Audrey said, gently trying to move the conversion elsewhere.

“Oh that reminds me, you learned how to sword fight, hadn’t you?” Kyran purred, eyeing me like prey.

“I have.” I answered honestly. “But, that was far before being pulling into the rebellion..”

A round of gasp came around the table, someone even dropped their spoon. I wasn’t sure where that would take me, but I was sure it was going to take me where I wanted.

“Why would you do such a thing? Swords of for men.” The girl gaped; I still had yet to catch her name

“They say that is.” I said softly.

“Lisette, think of it this way, if you and laurel went on a trip, and ruffians attacked you, wouldn’t it be good if she could pull a sword from her skirts and scare them away?” Kyran chortled.

I knew he was just making fun of me, but I was going to make sure it blew up in his face.

“Yes, it would. I think every woman should learn a few defensive moves in the sword arts, it makes them much safer. Abductions would greatly decrease if women learned how to use a sword like they do a needle.” I smiled and kindly tilting my head I added. “Wouldn’t that be so?”

Kyran’s mismatched eyes narrowed; in return I narrowed mine with a smile.

“A man should be strong enough to protect the women around him, if a man isn’t he shouldn’t be called a man.” Kyran explained. “And if the man isn’t around, and the woman is in trouble, it is likely her own fault.”

“So, say in the case, Lady Lisette was with you, and dart came from a hidden place, and stuck itself right in your neck and released a sleeping poison. During the time you slept, Lady Lisette would be forced to fend for herself, isn’t that correct?” I tilted my head as though I was confused.

“Kyran, I hadn’t known you are one to get into debates with young girls.” Audrey beamed in.

I knew all eyes were on us, but I was happy with it because most shame would fall on Kyran for following my young banter.

“I happen to like this young lady.” A sweet voice chimed. “My name is Isana, I was once supposed to be your mother in law.” The woman informed me, lavender eyes looking ahead into nothing.

I blinked; turning my head to the voice I knew belongs to Audrey’s mother. Just as I had done so, a hand gently took my elbow and pulled me to stand up. I stared at Isana, her unseeing eyes seeming to stare at me like I was her own daughter who did something troubling to others and amusing to her.

“I will escort her back to her room, she seems to be causing trouble, and because I had brought her, I shouldn’t let her cause anymore.” Audrey’s voice declared.

He pulled me away, my feet complying with no protest as I watched the woman. Something about her seemed strange, captivating and familiar.

“Alright, this was my fault. I should have given you a few more rules to follow. “Audrey growled under his breath, bringing me out of my thoughts.

But only for a short while, as before I could reply the hall I was walking down with Audrey seemed to grow.

“It’s alright, you won’t be here long, my little flower.”

I looked up into violet eyes of Isana, her playful gaze masking the fear she felt as she lead me down the hall to my escape.

I came to a dead stop, my breathing fastening.

I’ve been here before? I questioned myself. Pieces of a puzzle I didn’t know I had to put together kept falling out of nowhere, pieces I didn’t know what to do with.

“Audrey, I think I’m losing my mind.” I mused, rather calmer then my first few flash backs.

“You still have some left to lose?”

“Apparently…” I muttered.

“You certainly are an interesting girl, I will give you that. We can talk about it tomorrow when your new body guards are here. “Audrey said, opening my door.

I had not even realized we walked so long until he shoved me in my room. I stared at the closed door a moment and blinked.

“What do you mean body guards?!” I bellowed once.

Grumbling, I made my way over to the bed as I unlaced the stupid overly puffed up dress I was put in. It was already on the floor with the dreaded corset when I reached it and I didn’t bother doing anything else but taking out my hair pins and jumping on the bed.

First, I’m orphaned, then branded and brought to the slave trade. That order made sense to me, but where did Isana come into play? How did I get here amongst all of that? I had to remember, I was sure if I didn’t I would regret it, if it the missing memory didn’t resurface at a terrible time.

Maybe I had come here before he took me to the trade market, to see if the king wanted me. Then, maybe Isana had took and set me free. But then Kyran found me and decided it would be better to go to the slave trade?

My thoughts ran rampant, leaving more questions than answers with even less to go on, I closed my eyes and tried to think back to that time.

I had suppressed the memories that I should have never forgot, so as I thought it was harder to think back. I only got flickers of memories; it wasn’t nearly as whole as I needed them to be. I wasn’t even sure if I wasn’t unintentionally making memories ether. At least until I got drowsy, every time I’d blink I would see a piece of the puzzle fit into another.

“You just stay in here, like a good mutt.” Kyran whispered and walked out the darkened room. “Isana, don’t look at her with such pity, she isn’t more than a mutt.” Kyran complained as he closed the door, giving me only a look at his head through the small gap closed off with bars.
“She is a scared little girl, despite her hair!” Isana corrected boldly.

Kyran growled and his head disappeared, his and Isana’s retreating footsteps clacking down the hall.
“She is my way to getting a higher rank!” Kyran resolved loudly before the footfalls faded into silence.

It seemed I had sat there for hours and hours, my own humming my company. They had took my cloak away, I hadn’t dare let them know of the dagger in my boot, but without my cloak or a blanket I was freezing with not only the chilly air around me, but the fear inside me.

I heard a click of the door and scuffled to the corner of the tiny room, not even relaxing when a warm smile appeared in the door way, a smile belonging to Isana.

“Come here child…I won’t harm you…I know where you belong, so come with me. Quickly now, we have to be hasty.” She told me, but I dared not move until she pulled a cloak out from behind her.

My father’s cloak, my cloak, I leaped for it like a starving puppy does food and with that I agreed to walk with her. She hurried me down the hall, which was in harsh contrast to the room I was in. it was lovely, decorated with sapphire, azure and silver. Before I knew it I was in the back of a carriage.

“Your family will find you, I promise you child.” She whispered, wrapping me in my cloak and daring to place a kiss on my forehead as though I was her own.

I opened my eyes, finding myself surrounded by a melancholic atmosphere. I let out a deep sigh, I then knew how it happened, but how did I get to the slave trade, where Kyran seemed happy to have me? I shook the question away and tried to find the answer again.

“I don’t know how you got here, but you should enjoy your stay.” Kyran growled, throwing me into the cage with the other children. “Maybe after this you won’t be so willing to try and escape.”

He must have thought I escape and got found out by the other knights. But he was right. I didn’t want to try to escape after that, because a few days after that I saw the shinning lite that was my adoptive mother, standing behind her firm as stone was my adoptive father. They took me own, and my life began anew.

“I wonder how the others are doing…” I pondered out loud, referring to my family.

I had hoped I could find out soon. At that time, what once seemed to hit me like an anvil was barely leaving an impact. It was all so surreal, yet I could process it as though it was nothing, I had only one explanation and that was I was getting used to it.

Well. After becoming a boy…getting recruited by mere chance into the largest rebel group, getting found out about my gender and not being downgraded, then being dragged through a prison, and an noble home, I think it is normal for me to get used to it at some point. Despite how not normal the situations were.
How different my life would have been if I hadn’t tried staying for revenge and if and stead left, like I’m sure my mother hoped for. I purposely and knowingly took the path that would lead me down trouble, strife and pain, physical and mental. Instead I could have left down the path of comfort, happiness and peacefulness as well as one thing I couldn’t live with; Regret. If anyone asked me ‘do you regret you’re choice?’ Wether now or then my answered would be the name. No.