Liadan in the dark

[Ayshe]

Liadan groaned as her eyes cracked open. At first she feared she had
gone blind, only to realize that it was dark, and there was not much
to see. It looked like she was underground from what little she could
make out.

Where am I? Liadan wondered. What happened- Yehudit!

Liadan almost panicked, until she remembered leaving the baby in
Aislyn's kitchen. Left her in there with Nelek to get Difyr for
Aislyn. She had left Aislyn and Nelek's place, went down the lane
towards the healer's cottage. She remembered getting halfway there,
then she found herself here.

Liadan patted herself down. She didn't feel any injuries anywhere, but
she felt far from secure.

[Muffin Puffin]

Aron walked rapidly through the streets . "Lia!" he called out.
"Liadan Buckley! Where are you?"

[Lazey Winde]

A red dusty cloud puffed around Aron. Galina laughed.

"Why are you looking for her? She never gives you what you really need."

[Cindy]

Aron glowered at Galina and turned away. "I love her."

[Lazey Winde]

"In every way but what matters." Galina taunted. "You're wasting your time on her."

[Muffin Puffin]

"You will never come between Lia and me," Aron spat. "Her heart loves me and that's all that matters."

[Lazey Winde]

"Her heart." Galina scoffed. "What's the fun in that? I know secretly you're glad she's gone and hope she stays gone."

[Muffin Puffin]

Aron's eyes burned with rage. "Of course I'm not. I have loved Lia since the moment I set my eyes on her. We're a family now, her and I. I own't let you destroy it."

On Tue, Jul 1, 2008 at 7:05 PM, Lazey Winde <lazey...@gmail.com> wrote:

"Her heart." Galina scoffed. "What's the fun in that? I know secretly you're glad she's gone and hope she stays gone."

--
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[Lazey Winde]

"A family, or a trap? I can free you." Galina's arm snaked around Aron's waist.

[Muffin Puffin]

"A family," Aron hissed, trying to free himself from her arm. Yet, as evil as he knew Galina was, she touched something, a need, deep inside of him.

[Lazey Winde]

"She never makes you happy." Galina whispered. "I'm not cold like she is. The Black Raven is not far."

[Muffin Puffin]

"Lia needs me. I need her.  We complete one another," Aron replied. He shook his head. "No Galina."

[Lazey Winde]

"She'll never give you children, just that bastard." Galina said bitterly.

[Muffin Puffin]

"The baby is not a bastard. She has a father, a mother, a family who loves them. If she never gives me a child, we have already discussed adoption. There are always ways to build a family to love." Aron shrugged, "Relations are not the most important thing in a marriage."/

[Lazey Winde]

"Maybe she'll give you another bastard." Galina scoffed.

[Muffin Puffin]

Aron jerked away. "Lia would never lay with someone else, not willingly. That would never happen."

[Lazey Winde]

Galina laughed cruelly.

"You don't even know your wife." She said and began moving away.

[Muffin Puffin]

"I know that she would never be unfaithful." Aron glowered again at her. He wished he knew how to get her out of the village.

On Tue, Jul 1, 2008 at 7:32 PM, Lazey Winde <lazey...@gmail.com> wrote:

Galina laughed cruelly.

"You don't even know your wife." She said and began moving away.

[Lazey Winde]

"After you don't find her you'll wish you went with me to the Black Raven." Galina taunted and continued walking away.

[Muffin Puffin]

"What have you done with her?" Aron accused, walking after her. "You obviously know something about where she is."

[Lazey Winde]

"Why do you suspect me? All I know about Liadan is that she;'s not as good for you as I could be." Galina said in false innocence.

[Muffin Puffin]

"It was because of what you just said. I know you know something." Aron advanced. "Where is she?"

[Lazey Winde]

"Have you checked your bed?" Galina asked

[Muffin Puffin]

"I am certain she is not there. She was going to see Difyr," Aron shot back.

[Lazey Winde]

"Maybe she's being unfaithful to you with some other man." Galina said.

[Muffin Puffin]

"It would go against everything Lia believes in. She would never be unfaithful. Never."

[Lazey Winde]

"I'll bring you to her if..." Galina looked at Aron with a disgusting smirk.

[Muffin Puffin]

"If what?" Aron spat, horrified by the expression on her face.

[Lazey Winde]

"You come with me to the Black Raven." Galina said casually.

[Muffin Puffin]

Aron about choked. But he was clearly torn. His concern for Lia was powerful, and Galina knew where she was. "Fine. For a drink."

[Lazey Winde]

"A good way to start." Galina said, slipping her arm into Aron's. "I'll buy."

[Muffin Puffin]

Aron grimaced and murmured a prayer for his soul and his marriage. He followed her numbly toward the Black Raven, wondering if there wasn't some way to find Lia on his own.

[Lazey Winde]

Galina practically hung off of Aron as they walked into the Black Raven. A tired looking young woman was behind the bar.

"Two drinks!" Galina ordered, dragging Aron along to the bar. "A special one for my man here."

[Muffin Puffin]

"No, really, water or ale will do for me, please."

[Lazey Winde]

"Only the best for him." Galina said firmly, guiding Aron onto a stool.

[Muffin Puffin]

Aron sat on the stool stiffly and sighed. "But maybe ale is the best for me," he shot back, feeling contrary.

[Lazey Winde]

Galina sat on Aron's lap. Her hair smelled strong of perfume. "I know what's best for you."

[Muffin Puffin]

Aron wrinkled his nose and held his breath. "The hell you do," Aron countered. "What's best for me is having my wife at home with our family."

[Lazey Winde]

"All in good time." Galina said and leaned back against Aron. "What you need right now is some fun."

The girl set down two mugs of a thick looking liquid with a strong alcohol smell.

[Muffin Puffin]

Aron recoiled from the drink. It was not his type of drink. At all. He pushed the cup slightly away and grimaced. "I love Lia, I won't hurt her. Just tell me where she is. You don't have to take me there. Just tell me where."

[Lazey Winde]

"Kiss me first." Galina said. She took a long sip from her mug.

[Muffin Puffin]

Aron felt sick. He didn't know if he could even force him self to do this. And could he trust her to release him after just a kiss? He doubted it somehow. "There's not enough alchohol in the world."

On Tue, Jul 1, 2008 at 9:02 PM, Lazey Winde <lazey...@gmail.com> wrote:

"Kiss me first." Galina said. She took a long sip from her mug.

[Lazey Winde]

"I'll leave your wife to them then." Galina shrugged.

[Muffin Puffin]

"Them who? What the hell have you done with her?" Aron demanded, his blood boiling. "I want my wife safely back with me.  Right now."

[Lazey Winde]

Galina smirked.

"Maybe I can arrange for you to get another brat."

[Lazey Winde]

Liadan slowly stood up, her arms stretched out before her to feel if there was nothing there. Her hands touched nothing but stale air. Slowly, because staying still was getting her nowhere, Liadan slowly took a step, then another. After taking a few steps she noticed a dim gray light ahead of her. She could see nothing else, but a light, even dim, was something.
She moved in that direction.

[Lazey Winde]

"Hurry up and finish your drink." Galina said, "I want us to go upstairs."

[Muffin Puffin]

Aron eyed her for a moment. "And you swear to me that nothing will happen to Lia and I will have her back once I've..." he glanced down at his drink. "Once we've done the deed."

[Lazey Winde]

"Of course." Galina grinned. "Though you won't want her so much afterwards."

[Muffin Puffin]

The air on the back of Aron's neck stood up. "You said you weren't going to hurt her after we did this."

[Lazey Winde]

"I'm not." Galina said. "But after you are with a real woman that scarred wench will hold little appeal to you."

[Muffin Puffin]

"Don't hold your breath on that. I love Liadan. And love is stronger than any other force in this world."

[Lazey Winde]

"You don't know women." Galina scoffed and slipped off Aron's lap and onto the floor. "Are you coming?"

[Muffin Puffin]

Aron stood there and stared for a moment. He knew Lia would never forgive him for this but he also knew this would be the only way he could find and save her. Why hadn't Kegan had a crystal that helped one read minds? Reluctantly he hopped off of the stool to follow Galina.

[Lazey Winde]

Galina led Aron up the stairs and to her room. She locked the door behind him.

"Ah, let's get some more light in here." Galina threw open the shutters over the windows and tied back the drapes. Galina seemed to be hoping that people would see Aron up here with her.

The stained piece of cloth was bathed in sunlight. If Aron had a mind for remembering clothes he might recognize it as having the same color and texture of a dress Liadan had worn shortly before running away from Buckley Village last year.


Liadan was slammed with a powerful flashback. She gave a whimper, turned from the direction she was walking in and ran blindly.

[Muffin Puffin]

Aron moved toward the window and picked up the scrap of cloth. It looked familiar...very familiar. He frowned slightly  and stared at it. Was it something of Aislyn's? Cloth in hand, he turned Galina with a questioning look.

[Lazey Winde]

"What's a dirty old rag to you?" Galina asked, wrapping her arms around Aron and kissing him.

Liadan tripped over something and fell hard on the ground. She curled into a ball and breathed deeply.

[Muffin Puffin]

After Aron broke the kiss, he pulled back. "Perhaps I could ask you the same. You seemed to have it in a place of prominence in the window. It looks familiar to me."

[Lazey Winde]

Galina gave a predatory smile.

"I guess you could say it is something of a reminder for someone." She tugged at one of the laces of Aron's tunic. "A little bit of magic. Nothing to concern you."

[Muffin Puffin]

Distracted, Aron slipped the fabric into his pocket then moved his attention to Galina's hair, running his fingers through the tresses.

[Lazey Winde]

Galina kissed Aron hard. She was determined to put Liadan out of his mind.

Liadan's breathing grew more calm. She looked about her but saw nothing but darkness. She sat up.

[Cindy]

Aron turned and pressed his body against Galina's, hard enough to slam her into the wall. He breathed hard as he kissed her back.

[Lazey Winde]

Galina ran her hands down Aron's body, one hand slipped into his pocket as she reached for the piece of stained cloth Aron had put there. Galina wanted Liadan to suffer while she did this. The combination ought to destroy Aron's wife.

[Muffin Puffin]

Aron slammed his hand down on hers, the other going for her throat. "Where is Lia and what are you doing to her with this piece of cloth?" He demanded, his eyes blazing angry fire. "And tell me the truth. I wouldn't think twice about breaking your neck."

[Lazey Winde]

"I'll tell you later." Galina said, her free hand going to Aron's belt buckle.

[Muffin Puffin]

Aron applied pressure to her throat. "You'll tell me now."

[Lazey Winde]

Galina toyed with the buckle.

"Men that come here have better things to do than talk about their wives."

[Muffin Puffin]

"I came here to save my wife," Aron hissed. "Tell me what this cloth does!"

[Lazey Winde]

"Take it out of your pocket a nd see." Galina laughed.

[Muffin Puffin]

"I think you just need to tell me. You are too anxious for me to remove it, which tells me it will cause Lia some sort of pain."

[Lazey Winde]

"Forget about her for a moment." Galina whispered. She brought up her hand and began to undo the laces of her bodice.

[Muffin Puffin]

"I can't forget her. I've sworn my heart and soul to her. I would have her safe.

[Lazey Winde]

"Thar doesn't mean you've sworn off ever having any fun." Galina said, articles of clothing falling away.

[Muffin Puffin]

Aron pulled her hand from his pocket, making certain the piece of cloth remained.  "You wouldn't understand this concept,. but I love her."

[Lazey Winde]

"Yeah yeah." Galina muttered. "Let's get to it sometime today, shall we?"

[Muffin Puffin]

Aron picked up Galina and tossed her violently on to the bed, moving fast so that he was pinning her down with his weight.

[Lazey Winde]

Galina smiled up at Aron, she ha d gotten Liadan out of his mind, and hopefully he would forget about the piece of cloth as well and she could get it back.

[Muffin Puffin]

Aron's eyes were black with rage. His hands went to her throat and he slowly, methodically, cut off Galina's air supply.

[Lazey Winde]

Galina did not want to be strangled to death. She struggled.

[Muffin Puffin]

Aron slapped her, hard, His face was a mask of rage.

On Mon, Jul 14, 2008 at 4:27 PM, Lazey Winde <lazey...@gmail.com> wrote:

Galina did not want to be strangled to death. She struggled.

--
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20% on Artecy Cross Stitch Memberships or CDs please visit
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[Lazey Winde]

Things were not going as Galina had planned. She kneed at Aron's stomach.

[Muffin Puffin]

Aron dodged the blow and slapped her again. Then using one hand to block off her air, he reached for  the tie on the bed curtains and yanked it off.

[Lazey Winde]

Galina's vision swam. She kicked at Aron again.

[Muffin Puffin]

He wrapped the cord tightly around her throat and tied it off to the headboard, dodging her feet as he went. Aron tied an intricate knot and then stood up, putting his clothes back on. "Going to tell me where Lia is now?" he snarled. "Since I'm the only one who knows you're up here so you can be untied before strangling yourself."

[Lazey Winde]

"You'll never be able to find her without me." Galina rasped.

[Muffin Puffin]

"I can't trust you to take me to her," Aron growled. "I can't trust you at all. So I guess we're at an impasse. See you in hell, Galina." Aron headed for the door.

[Lazey Winde]

"The door is locked." Galina said as coolly as she could manage.

[Muffin Puffin]

"And the key is laying right here on the table. Not too smart Galina. I thought you were." Aron unlocked the door and opened it. "Last chance, Galina."

[Lazey Winde]

"You'll regret leaving me." Galina said stubbornly/

[Muffin Puffin]

Aron turned and sneered. "I will regret that I don't find Lia but I won't regret ridding the world of something like you."

[Lazey Winde]

"Your nights will be cold and lonely." Galina gritted out.

[Muffin Puffin]

"At least I won't be rotting in a room at the Black Raven."

[Lazey Winde]

"Your wife will suffer and die." Galina said.

[Muffin Puffin]

"You could stop that and spare your own miserable life if you just tell me where she is."

[Lazey Winde]

"In a place so dark no one will ever find her." Galina laughed weakly, then stopped.

[Muffin Puffin]

Aron growled then marched over to Galina. "All you have to do to save your miserable life is to tell me the truth."

[Lazey Winde]

"It is true." Galina said. "No one can find Liadan."

[Muffin Puffin]

"Then you take me to her. But if you pull one trick, you will wish you had never started this game."

[Lazey Winde]

Galina sighed. "It would be a lot more fun if we stayed here and got better acquainted."

[Muffin Puffin]

"I know you don't understand the concept of love, but when I love someone, I don't want to be with another." Aron looked at her soulfully. "Please. Just take me to Lia."