Take Us Away

[taintedsoul]

She wandered the halls, still entranced by all the paintings her father had hung on the walls. They were distant family, but family none the less. She remembered being a child watching the wind blow softly at the tapestries making them dance. Rajani and she used to play in these very halls when they were toddlers. As they grew older, they started lessons and etiquette training. Her parents weren't bad people, but they had a habit of putting status first. Something she never really agreed with. The twins were trained more and more until they started relying only on each other for comfort. Memories started flooding back, manifesting as tears in her warm red eyes. In a fit of rage at being mistaken countless times as her sister, Pheobe had cut off her long platinum tresses with her mother's sewing scissors. Her parents had been furious, but Rajani had comforted her, which was all she needed. Running her hand through her hair, she fondly remembered how she had stood up on the dinner table to announce that she was keeping her hair at her chin. Apparently it stuck.
She soaked up the last bit of home she could, knowing this would be the last time she would ever see her family home again. A weight dropped in her heart. All the times she spent here were now fading into simple memories that no one but she and her sister would remember.
with a sorrowful sigh she headed for the entrance way. Her black dress was slightly disheveled from her usual tree climbing. Taking just a moment to straighten out the cinched sleeves and tighten the bow at her back, she stepped through the doors. The luggage had all been taken out to the carriage. Strangely she resented the empty space. Always begging to be left alone, and now she was alone in the room. she wiped away angry tears that collected at the corners of her eyes.
"Pheobe Elian Rozen, it's time to leave. Come out here now!" her mother screamed.
Mother always screamed, no matter what it was, she screamed. Pheobe made sure her boots were fastened and headed to the carriage. She bit back hate as she realized that her horse, the one she had kept since a foal, was not going to stay with them at the new house. He was to stay with her parents. Ignoring the comments to get into the carriage that instant, she wrapped her arms around the gelding's neck, allowing a soft sob to escape into his soft fur.
"I'm gonna miss you so much."
She didn't fight when her mother snatched her arm and dragged her inside the coach. Immediately she curled up next to her sister, laying her head on her twin's shoulder. She felt her tie a ribbon in her hair and the subtle sent of carnations. It reminded her of home. Not wanting to watch the house grow smaller and smaller, Pheobe closed her eyes and wished her feelings away. The rhythmic rock of the carriage lulled her to sleep, taking her away to happier times.
"I wish someone would take us away from here." she whispered sleepily. She had no idea that her wish would come true so soon.
She was woken by the sound of a crash. The coach was no longer rocking softly, but shaking back and forth viciously, tipping dangerously to either side. With one final push the entire thing fell over. Wood splintered, causing jagged edges to shoot up, catching whatever they could. Pheobe tried to open her eyes, blood streamed from a cut above her left one, causing her to immediately squeeze it shut.
"Rajani? Mother? where are you?" she called out.
there was no answer. Pushing herself up, she climbed out of the door now sitting above her. The ground was closer than she had imagined, but the fall still hurt her leg. Limping, she started searching for her sister. She never realized the bandits all around her.
"Rajani!Please be ok. Rajani!!" the tears stung as they fell down her face. She never noticed the sack go over her head. Suddenly she was hoisted onto something. Struggling was no use. Whoever had her was strong and had more than double her strength.
"Please let me go. I need to find my sister. Let me go!"
her response was a cold laugh and a rope biting into her wrists.
"You're stuck with us girly." if she hadn't been tied up on a horse, she would have said he had an attractive voice, but she was, so her reaction was quite different. Hate built up in her chest, and she hit with a well aimed headbutt. Her captor cursed, but instead of letting her go, held her to him tighter, keeping her head stationary.
"Fiesty aren't you." he laughed. The hit was fast and she was unconscious.

[Deleted]

Rajani had brushed her long platinum blond hair over night. She hadn't really slept when she was told that her sister and herself were going else where to live. She had acted very lady like when she had heard what was going to happen. She went to her room that night and curled up and cried with her sister. She hadn't wanted to show how weak she was in front of her parents. She was scared of what this move would mean for her and Phoebe.

She had walked the halls and when the Carriage had been brought around and done packing she had gotten into the carriage with the carnation ribbons she had made during the night prior to their trip. She had already tied her hair back with her ribbon and when Phoebe and her mother appeared she carefully and gently tied a ribbon into Phoebe's hair as if to say they would never be seperated if she could help it.

Rajani let phoebe rest in her lap and soon dozed off herself to the gentle rocking of the carriage. Soon though she found herself being awoke by the harsh jaring rocks of the carriage being attacked she was scared as her red crimson eyes widened as she felt one bump throw her and instead of hitting the door she kept going. She flew a few feet from the carriage and hit the ground hard enough to knock her out temporarily.

She laid there in the darkness and soon she heard Phoebe calling for her. Groggily she opened her eyes, she tried to lift herself up she saw everything so fuzzily. She shook herself a little as she got up onto her hands and knees. She was disoriented not sure what had happened. "Phoebe?" she said weakly as she saw a tree nearby to help herself up with. She made it to her feet in time to see Phoebe knocked out.

Rajani was scared as she saw the men. She saw her mother off someways blood running down her temple. She was not sure what to expect as she staggered along and hid in the shadows wanting to save her twin sister. Please be safe phoebe, she thought as she waited for the man who had knocked her sister out to leave her and allow her to get her sister.

[taintedsoul]

When she woke she could feel the clip clip of a horse's hooves. It took her a few moments to realize where she was. The rope still bit into her skin, halting her struggle to free her hands. Her body ached from the uncomfortable way she was strapped to the horse. she forced her mind to remember everything that had happened to get her into the predicament she seemed to be tied up in. She never had found her sister. *dear goddess, please let her be ok.* She wanted to cry, was almost going to when she remembered something her grandmother had told her "nothing's as bad as it looks." This seemed to be as bad as it looked to the girl, but she bit her lip and held back her tears. Then it hit her...she could see. The sack had been taken off her head. Looking around, trying to get her barrings did little to help. She was in a forest....There were tens of forests just in the area alone. Attempting to roll over to get a look at her captors face did little to help either. The man wore a mask and hood. *he kind of looks like an executioner* she thought to herself. fiercely she pushed that thought out of her head. Now was not the time to be thinking she was a dead girl. She needed to find a way back to the carriage and look for her sister.
"So...where are we going?" she asked, surprised to find her voice level.
the man merely ignored her and kept going. Frustration weaseled it's way through the fear.
"The least you could do is answer me you giant oaf!" she growled, wriggling herself to what she hoped was freedom. A hand pressed down on her abdomen, stopping her slow but sure dismount of the horse. Once again they lapsed into silence.
"Can you at least tell me what you want to do with me?" she sighed.
"Sell you probably. There aren't many girls that look like you around." he said it so matter-of-fact that Pheobe almost dislocated her jaw. he was going to sell her, just like that. It took a great many minutes of gaping to get her voice back.
"You vile disgusting-"
"Shut up or i'll gag you." he hissed. Immediately she was silent, only occasionally grumbling to herself.

[Deleted]

When the man road off with Phoebe she ran after the horse only to reveal herself to other bandits. She couldn't find her voice to say anything as she ran trying to catch up but stumbled and fell. "Phoebe," she said softly as she laid there. She felt like she had failed her sister. She didn't know what to do as two men grabbed her arms. She struggled as they pinned her down into the dirt as they brought her hands back and a third tied her hands together.

She winced into the dirt as she was held there. "She's such a lovely little thing," said one of them as they ran their hands down her back. She struggled and flailed her feet knocking two of them off her. She got herself to her knees and one of the men that she had hit with her shoes watched her struggle to her feet and start to run. They laughed when she was stopped by another man.

"Let me go! please i have to get my sister," she said as she looked at the man who had her. He had a scar over his eye and he smirked evilly at her. She was so nervous she stepped back and fell. She watched with wide crimson eyes. She felt someone grab her and she screamed. Soon though she felt some cloth invade her mouth. She felt it tied securly.

"She's a screamer it seems, maybe the bosses will enjoy having her," one said as he pulled out a cloth and pressesd it against her nose and knocked her out without laying a hand on her. As she passed out she felt one of the men pick her up. Her last thought was about Phoebe and getting free.

She was put onto a horse and carefully one of the men got up on the horse with her and started to take her towards their base camp.

Off in the base camp a blond boy worked with one of their kills and getting it to the Cook. He sighed as he joined his brother in the largest tent. "So do you think our men have gotten anyone in the trap we set a week ago yet?" he asked as he sat down in one of the chairs in the tent. He adjusted his wrist band and wondered if they would find anything worthwhile on their hunts.

[taintedsoul]

By the time they had reached what she suspected as the base camp, Pheobe had whined, kicked and eventually worn herself out. Like a sack of potatoes she lay across the horse, so bored she literally started counting the twigs she past.
"What's happened to my sister?" she asked quietly.
she wasn't bored anymore. She missed her sister. If they had to live somewhere else, to marry her cousins...anything was better than this. the man stopped the horse, cradling her in his arms.
"I don't know. Maybe she was trampled." he shrugged.
She would later wonder if he did it on purpose or to annoy her, but it worked. With as much flesh she could get, she bit, and bit hard. He dropped her..or would have if she'd had let go. She tasted blood in her mouth, but still she bit harder.
"Let go you little minx!" he pulled her off, glaring at her on the forest ground.
Blood was smeared across her lips, but still she glared daggers.
He sighed tiredly, "She's probably with my brother if she was found."
He checked his wound, hissing as he pulled the fabric from the bite. She tried to roll over, to get away...her captor threw her over his shoulder and headed for a large tent. "He can deal with you." he growled.
Pheobe's stomach rolled. What was to happen to her here?
"I wish i knew if you were safe sister...I miss you so much."

[Deleted]

The men brought the knocked out Rajani to the camp and took her to the boss. They had not hurt her beyond getting her subdued. They made their presence known and when their boss came he smirked. "Such a lovely girl," he said taking her limp form from the man and he retreated back into the tent to hide the girl away.

He touched her hair and ran it through his fingers. "I think my brother will enjoy you, and its a shame you don't have a sister," he said not knowing what gift his brother would bring him. He removed Rajani's shoes and bound her ankles. He didn't want her to think she could get away. Being such a gentleman he was he left the room and sat in the kitchen where he could watch both the door and the girl.

Rajani felt a softness beneather her and was confused as she came to. She noticed her feet were bare and she couldn't move them. She was scared as she opened her eyes weakly. She felt a throb in her head. ok so im tenitvily safe, but Phoebe, where is Phoebe? she thought as she closed her eyes again

[taintedsoul]

He dropped her on the ground with a thud. She hoped he hurt something badly. She wished a thousand deaths on him, all of which were physically impossible to accomplish. Her wrists were raw and bloody, making her wince at even the slightest shift of the scratchy rope.
"I hate men. Hate hate hate ha-" Something stabbed her palm making her jump.
Tentatively she ran her fingers over the edge of whatever it was. Her heart started to pump faster as she realized she could use this to cut her bonds.
"Wow you got quiet all of the sudden." He leaned down, suspicion evident in his squinted eyes.
she needed an excuse fast, this would probably be her only chance to get away. And she needed to find her sister. The scenarios of what had happened since the carriage crashed had grown more and more elaborate and sinister as the sun moved across the sky.
"Wasn't it you who told me to be quiet. Actually if my memory survived, you knocked me out to shut me up. Now you ask why i'm quiet?!" she hissed.
A bead of sweet rand down her spine *please believe it please believe it* she silently begged. apparently her wish was not to be granted. He leaned close, reaching behind her, to feel her wrists. The rope was almost cut through.
"Clever girl aren't you. but, it's time to move anyway. The sooner you see my brother, the sooner i'm rid of you little wildcat. i prefer someone a little more...feminine. Perhaps if your sister's ever found she'll be the opposite of you." he teased. once again she was thrown over his shoulder, to be carried to who knew where like a sack of potatoes.
"Here we are. Home Sweet Home. Well for me at least." He dropped her in front of a tall wooden post. Her heart lept with the prospect of another chance to get away, until he pulled something up from the dirt. Chains. Metal chains to keep her there. She couldn't rub those off, couldn't cut them with any sharp thing. She was stuck, she was tired and she was alone. knowing nothing else to she called out for her sister...wherever she was.
"Rajani! Rajani! Rajani! Rajani! Rajani! Please." she cried. the tears she had held back the entire time broke loose. Her sobs were harsh, racking her body.
"Screaming isn't going to bring her back...she's probably dead or sold as a prostitute somewhere." he didn't even attempt to talk over her cries, instead doing the one good thing he could have. He left her alone.

[Deleted]

Rajani heard Phoebe's voice call her name "Phoebe?" she said softly as her eyes opened and widened as she struggled against the ropes. She hated that she knew nothing of how to get free. She was scared as she heard someone standing up. The person came and leaned over her and said in a cold voice "don't try to escape this is the only place you will be safe from those other men who would have their way with you in a second." he then moved away and went to the entrance.

He stood there waiting for his brother and looked over towards the direction that the yelling girl would have been tied up. He wondered if he could break her spirit. He smirked and couldn't wait for his brother to get here so they could talk.

Rajani had stilled when he said the men would try to use her. She squirmed and knew her sister was out there. She needed to find a way to get to her and to get them out of there. She was scared, but her fear was for her sister more then herself since, though she didn't look it she was a skilled swordswoman. it was the only thing she had picked up that she enjoyed with her sister.

[taintedsoul]

Derik made his way to where he expected his brother to be. He had had great experience drowning out the screams and cries of others.
*the girl will shut up soon enough* he sighed to himself.
"Brother? i brought you something, though i'm not sure you'll like it once you know it's the screaming out there." he laughed to himself.
He stepped into the kitchen, snatching an apple from a bowl on the table. The juice dribbled down his chin, but he didn't care. The sweet fruit was his greatest remedy to a long ride and lousy company.
"Bro-" he noticed the girl. She held the same carnation as someone else he knew.
"Oh this is just too perfect. You've got to be the sister to that little banshee outside." He snatched the flower from her hair, sniffing the light fragrance.
"She'll be happy to know her sister's alive." and that...was genuine emotion.

[Deleted]

"She's not a banshee!" she snapped then gasped at how harsh she sounded. She saw he took her hair ribbon carnation. her hair now fell loosely around her shoulders. She looked at Derik her crimson eyes holding fear and worry. "Please just let her be beside me, she'll be quieter that way," she said as she pleded.

Elric smirked when Derik took the girl's ribbon from her hair, he always did have a thing for flowers from girl's hair. "Maybe if she quiets down we can move her here, i'll go see to her if you want time with your little lady here," he said smirking at Derik. He stood there for a minute then turned to leave.

Phoebe be careful, Im worried about you, don't cause trouble just be a lady like you were taught, though i know that is asking alot of you,' she thought as she tried to scoot away from Derik. She didn't want to be near him if he was going to be ungentleman like. She was not sure what to expect when she saw her sister again if she was allowed to see her again. Rajani just laid there and moved as much as she could away from him which wasn't much since she was bound.

[taintedsoul]

Pheobe had run out of breath, her sobs now dry and raspy. Her throat burned hatefully, reminding her of her tirade.
*It's no use. I'll never be able to get out of these chains* her heart fell like a dead weight at the truth in her own words.
As though refusing to give up, her arms strained against the cold steal. It didn't even budge. She pulled again, desperately hoping that this time, maybe this time would be different. Still the iron chains held fast. Her wrists were now bleeding, her hands swollen from the pain. Her half attempt at getting free turned so feeble the chains barely clinked from moving.
"You bastards. Let me find my sister. I have to make sure she's ok. Just let me find her!" she cried out weakly.
"Rajani. Please, whatever happens, please be safe." she whispered to herself. She hoped her sister could hear her words, though they were all but silent.
She curled herself into as much a ball as she could manage and wept silently into her bent knees. She wished she could be stronger, like her sister...but she wasn't, she was a coward.
A random bandit walked by, believing that her spirit was finally broken and the head ringing screech she let loose for the last 20 minutes was gone. Taking the risk, he walked up to "check the boss's merchandise".
Rajani's plea would go unanswered. Pheobe used the little strength she had left from crying to launch herself at him. Her emotions teetered from depression to rage at the drop of a hat.
"Stay away from me you giant buffoon. Just get close enough i dare you to try." She snarled.
Her voice was little more than a rasp, but she could see she'd gotten her point across. Like a feral cat she bared her teeth, watching him in the same manner one watches her prey.



Derik walked around the bound girl, eying her up and down, as though memorizing the way her body looked.
"You know, if i had to hazard a guess i would say you two are a bit more than sisters. i'd say twins." he bent close to her.
"i wonder if that twins link works. can you feel her pain?"
he stood again and resumed his circular pattern.
"Now see, you two were a rather unexpected surprise. It was a wealthy family, old money from the looks of things. Who would have guessed that those two had children."
He twirled the flowers around in his hand, staring at them as though they had the answer to his question. pulling his eyes away from the alluring red he looked back at his prisoner.
"Lady fortune smiled on us today. Tell me girl...Do you know how much a wealthy girl like you and your sister would go for? Not only are you certainly unspoiled, but albino twins to boot. A rarity in this day and age." He smiled to himself.
he found himself annoyed as a flash of some wealthy old man lay his hands on this creature. Pushing it out of his mind, he resumed his light teasing.
"Such fair skin," he ran the flowers down her cheek, "eyes the color of fire against your complexion certainly makes a statement doesn't it." He found himself held by those eyes. Clear as the water, yet the color of a fire at it's best.
"Tell me, what's you're name little priss? Unless you prefer we just call you girl for the duration of your stay."
Tired of walking around her, he took a seat across from her and contented himself to get lost in the flowers and the feel of the silk ebony ribbon.

[Deleted]

Rajani shivered when the flower was ran against her skin. She was scared by what he said. "Why not just let us go? Why do you have to hurt us?" she asked as she looked at the wall she made herself face. She wanted nothing more then to find her sister and get out of here. She didn't want them to get into trouble more then they could handle. She wanted to cry but she would not give him the satisfaction of seeing or hearing her cry.

"My name you will have to earn by treating my sister and I with respect, maybe when you can treat us like ladies you will get that privilage," she said as she got her resolve. She wouldnt let him bully her around. She didn't care what it took she and Phoebe would be safe.

Elric walked and told the random bandit to go on about his buisness. He looked at Phoebe and smirked. "you look like a little minx," he said as he smiled and crossed his arms. "Much more feral then that girl they laid on my bed that was similarly dressed, but longer hair," he said as he stayed just out of her reach as he walked around her.

[taintedsoul]

Her blood ran cold as he said those words. Her strength drained and her face lost what little color it had.
"L-laid on your bed?" she said stupidly.
The words tried to work their way into her brain. they seemed to have gotten stuck somewhere. Her mind refused to comprehend the words that he had just spoken. It was a surreal feeling, as though she was watching from far away as this happened to someone else. Someone not her sister.
"Laid in your bed." she spoke again.
Her tongue went dry. Her eyes widened, as if getting larger would help her take it all in.
Emotion flooded her. she forgot she hurt, that she was captive. She forgot everything except this man. This sick twisted man that had all but told her that he had taken her sweet, innocent sister and ravaged her like some kind of animal.
"You...You....What the hell did you do to her you bastard! What the hell did you do to my sister?! You animal! How dare you...How dare you do that to her! Let me go, God damn it let me go! I'll rip you limb from limb. Take off these chains and we'll just see who wins! I'll make you pay for hurting her! I'll kill you, i swear i will!" she ranted, rushing against her chains.
a part of her mind registered that if she kept rushing them the way she did she would cause irreparable damage to her shoulders. Pain twinged lightly as the bones were jarred. Her muscles pulled too hard. She strained at her bond, a wild animal that has realized she's trapped. The metal bit into her wrists again and again, making the blood flow freely, but still the bonds held fast.
"Let her go! How could you harm her! How could you...she's so sweet! she's never hurt anyone." her voice broke.
*No i won't give him the satisfaction of tears.* she gritted her teeth, biting back the waver in her voice.
"Raja, i'm so sorry i couldn't save you in time. I'm so sorry!" she leaned against the post now.
She had let her sister down. She was supposed to protect her, that's why she had taken swordsmanship lessons from the guards. She had wanted to protect her twin from the evil in the world. She had done everything to protect her, and still she had failed.

"Sounds like your sister got her second wind. Pity, i liked the quiet. She was quiet enough when i took her." He knew the implications his words gave.
Let her make her own assumptions as to what i mean, he thought.
"You hungry?" he asked, plucking a grape from a near plate.
It burst inside his mouth, filling it with the sweet tartness.

[Deleted]

Rajani heard Phoebe. She Heard what he said. He had touched and hurt Phoebe. She struggled against her bindings. She found them not giving anything but rope burn. she turned and looked at him and said surprisingly calmly "If you hurt her to where she won't be untouched for when she gets married you can bet you will find yourself with a sex change." she said this her eyes going cold and dancing like a frozen flame.

She kept working her hands until she slipped one free and pulled that hand around her nails curved ready to cut and scratch his face. She brought them down like a cat's claws. She growled softly as she was ready to draw blood.

Elric was shocked and stepped back "I didn't hurt her my little minx," he said as he looked at her and said "She was just laid down after she arrived here and the safest place was my brother and my tent" he said as he looked at Phoebe worried about her body. "Calm down you don't want to hurt yourself," he said as he then wondered how his brother controlled his little minx.

[taintedsoul]

Her bit back a scream as she felt her shoulder muscles give way. Pain shot through her arm, piercing her heart. It overwhelmed her, exhausted her and painted black at the edges of her eyes.
"I don't...feel so good." she mumbled.
She felt her knees hit dirt, but she wasn't quite sure how she had gotten there. Her eyes were getting fuzzy.
She wasn't quite sure what possessed her to be so generous, but the words were out before she could think.
"I'm sorry, but i think i may faint."
True to her word, she dropped. her last thought?
*He didn't hurt her. I can still protect you Raja, you're still ok.*


Derik almost jumped from his chair as her nails narrowly missed his cheek.
"Goddess above woman. What's gotten into you?"
He skirted around her, careful to stay out of her reach.
"You're sister is still pure as the driven snow. I wouldn't try that with a sword at her throat. She'd probably bite me again." he grumbled.
Unconsciously he rubbed his wound, hissing at the sting of cloth over a raw wound.