Chapter Four: Too Close for Comfort
Yay, more writing fun!
Partner, tell me what you think, then add some of Mana to it and we can continue on! Hope you like it.
To say he was...suspicious, was an understatement.
The Dictator was used to everyone being intimidated by him. Even his most loyal of followers were quite shaky and timid when they reported to him. but this time it was ( Read more... )
Partner, tell me what you think, then add some of Mana to it and we can continue on! Hope you like it.
To say he was...suspicious, was an understatement.
The Dictator was used to everyone being intimidated by him. Even his most loyal of followers were quite shaky and timid when they reported to him. but this time it was ( Read more... )
As he spun round to look at the flustered girl, the thief was surprised to find his lips curling into a small smile, something he had not done in what seemed like years. The last was probably with Milo when...
Shaking his head to dispel the more upsetting thoughts that would set in, he busied himself again with cooking for the young mage. It didn't take long for him to prepare some salted first with a mix of vegetables, as well as figs and honey for something sweet afterwards. Finally pouring out a cup of water, Amelda sat the modest spread in front of the girl hoping to calm any more nervousness she had towards her 'kidnapper'.
"It's not poison, honest." he shrugged lightly in a teasing manner. Why he was being so carefree with her he wasn't sure, but still, it was nice to feel at ease for a change. "It's probably not as nice as what you're used to...but eat as much as you like, you were asleep for a quite a while, so you must be starving."
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"It smells so goooooood!" Mana said enthusiastically, as she grabbed a plain utensil and dug into the food. The first bite melted pleasantly in her mouth. It was definitely more coarse than the food she was used to, but it wasn't bad at all. She took another bite and another bite.
With the warm food in her belly, she felt her strength begin to return, little-by-little. It would feel bad to be poisoned, right? And surely, if he wanted to "get rid of" her, he would have done it sooner (still, the thought gave her shivers).
The magician girl licked the saltiness from her lips and took a sip of water. "Thank you so much, Amelda!" She placed a hand over her heart as a sign of respect. "Thank you for taking care of me."
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Seeing how happy and energized the girl was as you tore into the the meal, the mercenary could only look fondly at her; at least she wasn't so nervous now, almost like she trusted him.
"Well, there's plenty there so help yourself." he replied, just nodding politly at her gratitude. He was unsure how to respond to it, after all she should at least be a little worried about these three men who were keeping ehr against her will. Though he liked the lack of tension between them, he couldn't comprehend it. How could she forgive so quickly?
It had been years and years...and he still couldn't move on...
Dispelling the less pleasant thoughts once more, Amelda took the jug sitting on the table and began pouring cups of water for himself and the mage. However, all it took was a loud bang of the dorr slamming shut for the pitcher to slip out of his grip, smash on the table, and cause water to splash everywhere, including over Mana and the thief.
Which is exactly why Varon rushed into the room, only to halt at the sight of the two people sitting in their chairs, dripping from head to toe.
"What is wrong with you?!" the redhead shouted, storming towards his friend, the water dripping down his face not helping cool his temper."Why the Hell-"
"Because we have big trouble!" Varon interrupted hastily, before suddenly pointing at Mana, still sitting in her chair. "You, have to hide, NOW!" he stated, completely forgetting his comnrade, until he was roughly pulled back by the collar. Amelda glared fiercely, refusing to let go until he knew exactly what was going on.
"What? Why does she have to-"
"My my, cramped, rustic, practically falling to pieces, I can see the attraction." an icy voice chuckled from outside the door. But even though they couldn't see the man, Amelda suddenly loosened his grip on Varon's shirt, his face pailing considerably.
"That's why." the brunette muttered, knowing now his associate fully understood what was happening. Before he could say another word, the cokcy thief found himself free from the others clutches, only to see him grab the magician girls wrist and rush out of the kitchen. It was only a split second before he heard the trap door to the second floor creak open and bang shut again. He only hoped Amelda could hide her in time.
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Pressing close to Amelda, the only person she trusted at the moment, she tried to keep her knees from shaking. "Amelda..."
The noises from downstairs seemed to be growing louder.
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He had to act fast, or the poor little mage would be killed on sight.
Abruptly letting go of Mana's form, Amelda knelt down and hastily began pulling out a large chest that had been stored under the bed. He had realized that in moving the large object, there was just enough space for the girl to squeeze in underneath. It was cramped, but the best and only hiding place available. Listening as the trap door slowly began to creak open, the mercenary knew they had no more time, and only one choice.
"Quick, under here!" he instructed, tugging the girl to the floor and helping her crawl into the tight space underneath the bed."Now, don't move, or make any noise, or he'll find you." he whispered, as quickly pushed the chest in front of the bed to hide the girl more. As he did so, the trap door snapped open, and Amelda immediately sprang up at attention, as the Ruler of Dragons entered the room.
"Well, it's this a charming little rat-hole." Seto smirked, his accompanying guards and the two other thieves following behind him.
"Good evening Dictator." the redhead bowed in respect, trying not to let his voice waver, or let his glance slip to look behind him in case he caused suspicion. "It was very nice of you to drop by."
"It's no trouble, besides, I always wondered whether you all lived in conditions suiting your position. I can see I was right." the icy male snickered, advancing close to the hired mercenary. He stopped walking mere inches away from the girls hiding spot, his shoes kicking dust underneath the bed as he did so.
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This was the Dictator! The terrible, horrible, murderous Dictator of the Dragon Kingdom! There were so many stories of his legendary ruthlessness. He would leave magicians in agony on the battlefields, roasting in the noxious flames of dragon breath. Mothers used to threaten naughty children with, "The Dictator shall send his dragons after you to gobble you up!"
'I don't wanna be dragon food!' she thought. With her heart pounding in her ears, Mana tried to concentrate on relying on her repertoire of spells...
...And then, she sneezed.
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"What was that?" Seto questioned, eyebrow raised as he peered down at the floor. He was certain he had heard something.
With a quick glance exchanged between the three thieves, they knew they were in trouble. If he found Mana hiding now, not only would he have her killed, he would slaughter them as well for hiding her. Though the frightful consequence of being dragon bait was not a pleasant thought, Amelda couldn't help but worry more about the girl shivering in fear just a few footsteps away. It was his fault she was in this mess; he couldn't let someone so kind, gentle, and though he denied it, cute, from being another victim of the Dictators wrath.
Without thinking, he stepped in front of the tall man, letting the cold azure eyes burn into him. He had to say something -anything- to stop him from finding the apprentice.
"Mice. I'm so sorry, this why we didn't want to come here to this filthy place. We have mice scurrying all over the place." Amelda blurted out. Now he knew hiding the enemy was one thing, but lying to the Dictators face would mean a painful and humiliating end. And yet he was risking it to protect this girl. "We have a little infestation problem, but we're taking care of it."
A moment of silence passed, and the stoic expression on the rulers face turned into a small smirk. As he nodded briefly, there was an inward sigh of relief between the trio of mercenaries; he believed the story.
"I see, it's not surprising in such a filthy place I suppose." the leader chuckled. "Well, let me at least do you a favour, and get rid of the one hiding under that bed." he spoke, taking little note of the clear panic in the eyes of his hired men.
"We wouldn't want to trouble you..." the redhead flustered, watching in horror as the man dismissed his pleas with a wave of his hand.
"Oh by I insist. It's the least I can do for you." he smirked, before snapping his fingers, and one the the guards walked past them all towards the bed.
He knelt down, and slowly bent his head forward to look into the dark space to see what was hiding underneath.
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Meanwhile, the little "mouse" was grinning. 'Thank Ra I remembered Master Mahaado's invisibility spell!'
Dictator Seto frowned and shrugged his graceful shoulders. "See to that infestation problem of yours," he ordered in a bored tone. "Vermin carry disease."
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While Varon and Raphael saw the Dragon ruler and his guards out, the other thief knelt down on the floor, peeking under the bed. This was fortunate of course,. Seto took far too much pleasure in destroying anything he deemed useless or a threat to him, so it was little surprise he was disappointed he didn't get to see the 'mouse' squished under the guards foot. if he got that much of a thrill from a tiny rodent who's only crime was being alive, he shuddered to think what he would have done if had found the young magicians apprentice.
And speaking of which...
"Mana?" he whispered questionably, gazing in the dark but seeing no sign of the girl hiding under the bed. She couldn't have just disappeared...well, anyone who used magic might be able to disappear, but Amelda didn't know enough about the subject.
Just where did she go?
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Despite her dusty state and the small space underneath the bed, Mana managed to launch herself at the caring thief, wrapping her arms around him and causing them to roll across the floor. She was so relieved to be alive. To think that she survived an encounter with the Dictator of the Dragon Kingdom! Well, she just didn't know any other way to react except in her usual, hyperactive way.
What she didn't realize, however, was the awkward position that she placed Amelda in when they stopped moving.
She was still on top of him, still hugging him tightly, with his comrades still in the room.
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Needless to say, Amelda's suprise of the girl's sudden reappearance was quickly replaced with embarrassment at how she was sprawled on top of him, and how Varon and Raphael had come back just in time to witness it. With a clear pink flush on his face, any explanation he tried to make only caused the other two mercenaries to smirk and snicker more.
"Look, this isn't what it looks like." he spluttered as he attempted to sit up with Mana still on top of him.
"Oh don't mind us, next time we'll knock first." the taller blonde man spoke politly, though it was obvious he was holding back his chuckles at the scene. Meanwhile, Varon wasn't even trying to stifle his laughter; he looked as if he would burst any moment as he clutched his ribs.
"Or just bolt the trap door shut, then we'll know if you're occupied." the brunette snorted, the noise only increasing at the reddening face of his friend. "Well, at least this means you won't be uncomfortable around each other tonight."
Blinking in confusion at the statement, Amelda tilted his head in question; what were they talking about?
Varon was about to blurt out the discussion he and the other bulkier male had earlier, but was stopped by Raphael. It was only fair that the redhead heard this from someone who wasn't going to take as much pleasure as the brunette would in giving him the news; he had been humiliated enough for one night at least.
"Well after tonight being such a close call, we thought it would be best if our 'guest'..." he explained, gesturing to the girl still atop his friend. "...was guarded at all times until she leaves, in case the Dictator tries to snoop around again. And since you vouch responsibility, well, you get the job."
Hearing this, the thief lying on the floor sighed. It did seem fair; he brought her here, so he should be the one to look after her. However, he was still shocked at the sight of his belongings from his room being dumped on the floor beside him, along with some blankets and what could be dinner for two on a tray. Before he could even question the action though, the other two males were already exiting the room.
"Wait a minute..."
"Well you have to keep an eye on her all the time. If she tries any magic tricks to escape in the middle of the night you can make sure she doesn't run off, it's for her own safety after all." Raphael shrugged, disappearing through the trap door.
"But remember, some of us will eb trying to sleep, so...keep the noise down." Varon smirked, pulling a cute kissy face before leaving the room as well and abandoning his friend for the night; he was just lucky the redhead was unable to get up and strangle him.
Amelda growled to himself, muttering profanities about getting back at both of his comrades in the morning. However, that thought flew out of his mind when he turned back to the form that was still lying over his, and looked into Mana's bright blue eyes, and the horror of the situation finally sunk in, making him blush even more.
They we're going to have to stay in the same room, all night long.
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"Your friends are strange! Why would we be making noise? I know I talk loudly, but I can talk in a quiet voice, too," and for a moment, she whispered to prove her point. Then speaking in a normal voice, she added, "I never thought about escaping in the middle of the night. I don't like the darkness, though. Am I really kidnapped? When can I go home?"
She placed a hand over her mouth. Her teacher would tell her to quit babbling right now, which indeed, she was. Thinking about the dark made her nervous all of a sudden. Mana couldn't imagine trying to find her way back home in the dark, all alone.
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However, the young mage didn't have much time to worry over such thoughts, as a soft bundle was tossed her way, which she caught with little effort. On closer inspection, she realized it was a large night robe...a mans robe!
Amelda was standing at other side of the room, having just gotten off the floor, with his back facing Mana.
"You, better...change into that." he stuttered, closing his eyes even though his gaze wasn't in the girls direction. At least this way she couldn't see how red his face had become. "And you can..uh, take the bed...I'll just...just sleep on the floor." he continued nervously, trying to distract himself by rolling out the straw mat onto the floor and unfold the blankets.
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Not only were his friends strange. What kind of people were these thieves, anyway? She tilted her head and stared at the back of Amelda's head, as if she could see into his mind and read his thoughts. No such luck though - she hadn't mastered that spell yet.
"Okay, I guess. You don't have to sleep on the floor if you don't want to, though, since the floor's not very comfy." Mana didn't quite understand the implications of sharing a bed with the opposite sex. She snuggled her cheek in the soft cloth of the robe and smiled. "I'm glad you've been so nice to me, Amelda."
Then she, too, stood up and went to him, embracing him from behind. "Thank you!"
Stepping back, she turned around and pulled his robe around her.
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Still fighting off the remains of pink tint on his cheeks, Amelda hoped he wouldn't screw things up, as he carefully pulled the shirt he was wearing over his head. It was too warm for his liking, so he preferred sleeping with no top. Another reason he felt it wasn't the best idea for him to actually share the bed with Mana.
"No, it's okay, you can have the bed, I'll be fine." he finally replied, trying desperately to break the tension. "I'm told I snore anyway, so it's probably better you don't sleep near me." he laughed a little, before settling himself as comfortably as possible on the mat.
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"Amelda?" said Mana quietly. "Sweet dreams..."
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On hearing those words, the theif rolled over from his place on the floor, to see the young mage already drifting off to sleep. Without realising it, a smile formed on his lips as he lay back down, trying to get as comfortable as possible.
"Yeah, you too Mana." he whispered as he closed his eyes.
An for the first time in so many years, Amelda had a peaceful and tranquil slumber.
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