Abduction

So bright.

Everything was so, so bright. 

Flames danced and curled within their casings, brilliant and radiant, illuminating the entire expanse of the great hall we had just been led into. 

Of course, only to be greeted by whom I could only assume to be the presiding 'noble' over the place. Either a king, a prince, an heir of some sort, or some gaudy rich boy who built himself a palace and declared himself king over it and the surrounding area. Surprisingly enough, the latter was a lot more common than one would expect. 

Naturally, he ignores me, goes straight for Merc, and only casts a sideways glance at Maelo and Casian. 

It's nothing but routine for me. 

I've grown to expect this by now, and wait it out as he leads us to a magnificent podium, casting a hand out over the railing of the overlook and gesturing to all that lie below. A main dance floor, ballroom I would guess, with either side a gradual incline, steps and levels with tables and other guests, servants and waiters drifting inbetween them and off to side doors kept hidden, mostly by shrubbery. 

In fact, the greens were everywhere. 

Providing a bit of shade and darkness for those who wished to dine in solitude, and darkened figures flitted about from time to time, moving from place to place and most likely serving the guests in more private zones. 

Naturally, we stood above the orchestra... Only a small drop down and we'd land on the conductor himself. 

With simple instructions, only to 'enjoy our stay' and 'feel free to have or do whatever you like', we were escorted down the stairs by his servants, while he himself hurriedly vanished, more than likely off to greet other guests. 

At the far end of the hall, there were curtains galore, looped over long sideways poles and glittering with decoration, the lighting beyond them also dim, kept quiet and soft, and hosting an array of 'buffet' foods... Drinks and things meant to be quick, grab and go, before the dancing called them back. 

It looked like fun, but I wouldn't be heading there first. 

No, we'd sit and eat, waiters immediately appearing from the darkness of the shrubbery to take our requests, our menus consisting of an unlimited variety of foods, with origins from all different countries. 

Our waiter, a tall slender man who switched between languages until everyone knew precisely what he was saying - English, of course, because I had yet to learn a second language - waited patiently, until we were ready to ask for something to eat. 

Of course I spotted something familiar and more American, as far as I could tell. 

So once it was finally my turn to order, I did so easily. 

"Could I have Lasagna with a side of assorted fruit?"

He nodded, scribbling on his notepad as he moved on, and soon enough he was gone, and I was left half-heartedly listening to what conversation Merc made with Casian and Maelo. 

Waiting. And waiting.

So very tired. 

How many places had we been to, that were just like this?

A party. A festival. A whatever. There was no way there was a holiday on the day we went, whenever we went. 

I fiddled with my fork until our waiter returned, a pitched full of water in tow and a pitcher of... Slightly golden, bubbly liquid. Both were enormous and took up the center of the table. 

In addition, our food was passed to our places, and I immediately started eating, happy to at least have some semblance of home in yet another strange palace, in yet another strange country. 

"Vikaria."

My eyes flicked up as I finished my bite of lasagna, swallowing. 

Merc's eyes were as cold as ice, about as soft as stone. 

"I'll be just a moment. I have something to attend to with Drajir."

He wasn't just talking to me, but getting my attention... 

Taking a pointed look at me, he continued. 

"I still expect you three to behave. Behave meaning to retain what manners you have and /socialize/. Perhaps you'll even learn something before I return." 

I nodded, lowering my gaze to my food once more before continuing to eat, happy for now and without much care for his instructions. 

Sure. I'd go dance and do whatever. 

Socialize with strangers I didn't really want to know at the moment.

Learning something from that, though?

Not entirely a possible thing. 

I watched Merc stand and leave, brushing past the waiter who had returned with shining glasses full of a slightly darker, more amber looking version of the liquid in the pitcher. 

I didn't intend to try it. 

Maelo and Casian, however, seemed more than happy to. 

Personally, I took one look at it, waited until the waiter was gone, and refilled Casian's and Maelo's cups with it, once they had finished. 

"You two can have the rest of mine... I'm sticking with water this time."

These kinds of bubbly drinks were just... Not for me. 

Not at all for me. 

I was all for soda- but this was not soda. 

"Thank you, Vikaria."

I nodded quickly, setting the unusually shaped glass down and picking up one of those stacked and waiting for filling...

Either by water, or what was labeled as champagne. 

Finishing my meal, and quenching my thirst with water (which tasted /really/ good), I stood to go and 'socialize'. 

Or rather. Pretend to do so. 

Following in Maelo and Casian's footsteps, as they had already disappeared. 

Stepping back into the brighter light of the ballroom floor, I was blinded for a moment by all the shining, sparkling reflections cast into my eyes, even as a hand reached out, a head bowed ever so slightly, and an invitation spoken from quiet lips. 

"Would you care to join me in this dance, miss?"

Blinking, I quickly referenced what I had been taught thus far in 'manners' not expecting to be approached, and especially not quickly. 

"I would be... Pleased to accept, sir."

He lifted his head, dark, midnight hair gleaming in the light, his face soft but pronounced, with high cheekbones and gentle, pale, amber eyes, a handsome man, if he didn't have an unnerving smile, or at least unnerving to me, with sharpened, long canines, gleaming white like silver. 

But even then, it didn't bother me much. 

I'd seen stranger in these travels. 

He guided me into the crowds, his gloved fingers delicately placed under my palm, guiding me close and into a proper dancing position, with all the grace of someone who had likely been doing this for a very long time. 

And so, we danced. 

Silent at first, until he smiled and broke the ice. 

"What might your name be, miss? Surely, it is as beautiful as you are..."

I blushed slightly, answering quickly, a little nervous, the light pressure of his hand on my back and the way he led me about, dancing and twirling making words hard to find, but they came. 

"My name is Vikaria... And yours?"

He flashed a grin once more, seeming genuinely happy. Surprising me, he lifted and twirled me along with every other dancing pair in the room, as if it were expected and a part of some already predetermined dance...

Which. 

Made sense? Maybe it was?

"Miss Vikaria... I suppose it would be rude to fail to introduce myself. You may call me Aven."

He leaned in closer, towards my ear, his voice lowered to a whisper. 

"I am Arcantine, and at the moment, I'm being followed. Please don't be alarmed, they'll give up searching soon enough if they can't find me. Which they won't, if we stay within the crowds."

Leaning back, he pretended as if he had never mentioned anything to me, guiding me further into the crowds and masses, blending us in, making us nearly indistinguishable from the rest. 

I paused for a moment, my mind processing these thoughts, a little shocked, but still functioning well enough. 

"A-Aven... You have a pretty name. Where are you from?"

He shrugged slightly. 

"Oh, here, there, everywhere. You could call me a Nomad, and you wouldn't be wrong."

His eyes shifted, glancing right, tracing some distant figure.

And then, he sighed softly, his voice hushed once more. 

"Oh... Good. They weren't after me, after all."

He paused, examining my face for a moment. 

"I suppose I should lead you back to where I met you, hmm? Or perhaps to the refreshment tables... Yes, that would work. That way if you needed air, the balconies are only a curtain away. I intend to take my chance to escape before they notice my presence."

I nodded.

Not looking for him? But then who were they looking for?

And just who were 'they'?

"Who was it that you thought was looking for you?"

I whispered back as his steady hand guided me once more through the throng of people, all the way back to where shade started to relieve my eyes from such brightness, where Arcantine lowered his head in farewell. 

"Bounty hunters, I suppose. But you needn't worry about them, it seems they've found their target. I wonder who the poor sap is."

I looked around, searching for these... Bounty Hunters of his. 

"Found a target? Where? And where are they?"

I took a small plastic glass of water, sipping it and listening. 

"They're on the edges, with white servant suits? The women are wearing whatever they please, so they're harder to find... But..."

He craned his neck, looking, eyes darting here and there. 

"Looks to me like they're targeting some young fellow. What he could have done wrong, I don't know. I do know that I need to leave before I'm noticed."

He moved, slipping in between refreshment tables and off through a curtain, the fabric left swaying as he disappeared behind it. 

Leaving me behind. 

Well. 

It would probably be best to try and find Casian and Mae-- never mind. 

I already found him, and he looked rather... Dazed. 

With a girl probably his age, giggling and conversing quietly on a couch, her arm supporting her as she leaned over, talking with him, her hand pressed against his leg, her other hand on his shoulder, her fingers slipping around his curls, her face so very close...

I felt a small twist in my gut, my face growing warm as I watched them from afar, her advances far from rejected, and when she stood, pulling him with her and towards the balconies, slipping behind curtains with him as he followed, a little unstable, almost as if he were drowsy. 

I followed, slipping behind the curtain of the balcony next to theirs, straining to pick up even the slightest of conversation. 

Was I curious? Was I being a little protective? Clingy?

Maybe. 

And so I listened, picking up on the soft hisses and 'pop' sounds made by what little bits of their voices I could hear. 

Peeking around the corner, I could see them leaning against the balcony, his arms on either side of her, her arms around his neck, her eyes just as bleary and dazed as his, pulling him closer and closer until he made a move... His face slipping closer to hers and his hands settling on her waist...

Lips meeting, a sharp inhale, and...

I turned away, some deep burning in my stomach almost... Angering me. 

I returned inside the ballroom, determined to find Casian. 

Determined, and slightly... Upset. 

It wasn't hard to find him, dancing, a hazy smile on his face and his demeanor just as foggy as Maelo's. 

...What was with this place?

I moved closer, hurrying over as he bid his guest goodbye with a kiss on her hand, waving slightly before I tapped him on his shoulder. 

"Casian..."

I didn't know what else to say. 

His grin, ever so contagious and bright as always, greeted me, and I couldn't help but smile back. 

"G'evening, Vikaria... Enjoying this?"

His voice slurred some, and skipped some, showing just how...

I don't know. 

"Casian... Please... I... I..."

He hugged me then, drawing me in, oh so wobbly on his feet and so...

Warm. 

"m'soooooooo tired..."

I hugged him back, nodding into his chest. 

"Me too, me too... Should we see if we can find your room? It's been a long day, hasn't it?"

The softest of sighs came from him, the noise filling my ear from his chest. 

"Hmmhm..."

I stepped back a little, looking up at him. 

He... Really did look tired...

"C'mon... It should have your name on the key and the key should be hanging right by it..."

I started to guide him, moving towards the halls right off from the rear end of the ballroom, heading once again into quieter, dimmer places. 

Where the air was cooler, easier to breathe, and our footsteps echoed louder than the muffled party long behind us. 

And... Echoed a lot. 

We began to pass by doors with keys hung by the doorknob, and I silently read the names, passing by hundreds that didn't belong to either of us, nor Merc or Maelo. 

...Maelo. 

Such a bitter taste left in my mouth, for whatever reason. 

Unfortunately we didn't make it far, Casian sagging to the ground with a groan. 

Dragging me with him. 

"Casian... C'mon... We can't be that far away... Please? Can we at least make it to your bed before you fall asleep on me..?"

Nothing but an incoherent mumble escaped his lips, and his grip on me somehow remained inescapable. 

That was when I realized...

Our footsteps were still echoing- no. 

There were other footsteps. 

I looked back, and the first face I see coming around the corner is our waiter, who merely smiles and keeps coming, soon followed by others. 

I struggle to escape Casian's hug, maybe defend us, or at least stand, but he's got me so snugly wrapped up...

As if I were a stuffed animal, a nighttime companion of his... Or something. 

White suits...

White servant suits... And a variety of dresses...

I opened my mouth to yell for help, anything, anything at all, but before even the first of sounds escaped my mouth, it was filled with a stinking rag, one that left my vision in tatters, several versions of the man who stood above me swaying from side to side until everything was finally dark.

So, so dark.