Timeless

13

"It's real." Is all Ariele can say, but so quietly that no one can hear it.

Grey doesn't say anything at all just stares at her almost as if he is in pain. He's never felt like that dancing with anyone before. When people come into the room he breaks his stare and goes over to the window. He's needs to think things through and the fountain always helps him do that.

The servants can feel that they've interrupted something and so hurry about their business. They cast occasional nervous looks at the nobles and hurry up. After all but one leave Anna moves over to the one left nearly visibly trembling.

She gently but firmly leads her over to Ariele who had once more seated herself on the couch. She's reliving the magic of the dance with Grey and doesn't even notice the girl before her until Anna calls to her.

"Ariele this is Alexa. She's the one that I thought you could use as your maid." Anna says by introduction.

Ariele immediately is touched by the bravery of the girl. She gently puts her hand on the girls arm meaning only to reassure her. Instead she sees the girl terrified as she stands before a man cloaked in shadow and hears the orders he gives. How she hates the orders and is thrilled at the chance to leave the environs of her former master. How she intends to ignore the orders.

Ariele is intrigued. She heard the orders of course and applauds the girls strength in her desire to ignore them, but there was something. Ah yes, a thread of something tied to the orders. Ariel follows the thread. She finds a web laid over the girls whole brain.

"Anna give me your hand please. Alexa tell me something of your former employer." Her words are soft but the command was there and the girl immediately started telling her about her former employer.

The cloak of shadows reappears. The orders issued. This time Ariele pulls Anna along as she takes her along the thread. This time she doesn't lose the thread and keeps hold even as Anna pulls out.

"Damn he's laid a compulsion on the girl. It's a strong one. I don't know how she's resisted this long." Ariele sends the girl to sleep with a whisper.

"I can see it, but I don't know how to get rid of it." Ariele says.

"I'm not sure you can without killing the girl. This one is deep and powerful. It'll take a lot of power but only along the web of the compulsion. That is one bastard that needs to die." Anna is furious that he would use the girl as he has.

Anna goes back into the girl to show how it's done. "No, Anna that will kill her. Let me." Ariele says and blows the magic she'd gathered. The compulsion disappears and no harm was done to Alexa.

Ariele not liking the spider web, it reminded her too much of the Aelven queen, went delving even further into Alexa's mind. And she isn't too surprised to find another compulsion. This one would be even more difficult to destroy than the last without harm. Ariele pulls the power to herself and sends it out as no more than a feather light touch on the spell. This time the reaction was far more dramatic, instead of just dissolving away this one went up in flames. She is afraid that this time harm was done to the girl.

Alexa screams in agony, but then falls unconscious. At her scream Grey pulls Ari away from the girl.

Ari shakes him off and returns to the now unconscious girl. She delves deep pulling Anna along to see if any permanent damage is done. She goes as deep as she can but finds no other spells on the girl.

She comes out shaking from the exertion, but otherwise fine. Grey isn't happy about the danger she put herself into, but doesn't say anything because that is the kind of person she is and he accepts that.