Thorn

Brenton traced the wall where the faint out line of a door still stayed imprinted on the stone wall. He held his breath concentrating on the residue of magic beneath his fingers. The shade had been clever enough to cover his tracks pretty effectively. He could not glean from it where he had taken Treasca. Pain filled his heart anytime he thought about her in that monsters clutches. He shook himself trying not to think about what it might be doing to her if she was alive at all. Delyn had gone to check on the patients that where still recovering. Brenton doubted they had even known the Shade had been there, but just in case he didn't want them stressing about it. Delyn had seemed a bit taken aback by his request for him to care for the patients over Brenton. He stood finally sure what he was looking at. He couldn't simply retrace the spell, and step through. He would have to make the educated guess as to where it lead, and pray he was right. Finally he stood hands nervously running through his hair. He had two clues, one the door was cold to the touch, and two a slight misty and salty smell hung in the air tickling the back of his memory. They had gone some place he had been before. He racked his brain trying hard to remember. He sat on the cold floor head in his hand and thought.

After Treasca had eaten Ladon took her by the hand dragging her to her feet. The amusement on his face had been replaced with serious concentration. He looked as if he where trying to come to a decision. Finally after several long moments of awkward silence finally he took her back toward the door he had made appear in the wall. Treasca followed him quietly trying to think of a way to keep herself intact. Not so much for Brenton, but more because she didn't want to give the shade anymore power over her. The look on Ladon's face had gone back to a fierce hunger that didn't look like it could be redirected so easily this time. The Shade was definitely more powerful than she was physically and probably magically as she hadn't had the training he seemed to have. Her human teachers had done the best they could, but in the end they didn't have a quarter of the capabilities the other races had. The room looked the same as before, but now was dimly lit with soft flickering candles. The Shade turned passion flooding his eyes. Treasca flushed trying to not meet his fierce stare, but she was drawn to them despite herself. He pulled her to him roughly making her body press into his. He pinned her against the wall lips tracing her jaw with small nibbles making her squirm. He dipped lower kissing along her collar bone then back up her neck. His hand massaged her breast through her gown. Treasca was about to protest when a jarring bell like alarm began to sound high and shrill. Ladon whirled cursing leaving Treasca to catch herself on the frame of the bed her knees buckling.

"What is it?" She yelled over the too loud sound. Ladon began drawing on the opposite wall yet another door. He pressed a hand to it creating a large black iron gate. It looked extremely heavy and impenetrable. Ladon grabbed Treasca hand and ran through opening the door with a struggle. Once they are through he slammed it shut wiping away the magic leaving nothing but a faint outline where the door had been.

"What is wrong?" Treasca tries again.

"He found me too fast." Ladon grumbles turning to sift through items that lay piled around the room.

"Brenton?" Treasca asked trying to keep the hope out of her voice.

"No the other thorn in my side." Ladon said fruy coloring his a deep red.