Where Lies the Truth?

Alex glowered into the mirror, she was standing hands in water, repeating motions that carried no weight. For the umpteenth time she doused her face with cold water attempting to clear her muddled brain. She was afraid, the past hours were catching up and try as she might she couldn't quell the fear in her soul.

Alex saw, felt, touched, smelled, drowned in blood. At first enemy's blood, then for the worse turn of events she had ever experienced Violet's.

Alex took the abrasive bar of specialized soap from the sinks edge and once again began scrubbing her hands.

Jace had finished working on Violet a mere twenty minutes ago, he had excused Alex and sat on the ground facing Violet his expression unreadable. Alex bad ambled out, past the twins, past Zen, past doors and into the restroom. She had been there ever since.

The soap had long ago done it's job, all remnants of Violet's blood on her hands were gone. Those on her clothes and etched into her minds eye remained and she feared their longevity. She jumped when a hand touched her shoulder, "Alex" the same warm hand came to hold her. "You were great out there, it's perfectly fine."

Alex gripped Zen's waist as she fought tears, burrowing herself into his chest, "she looks awful! Her wrist is crushed, she's deathly pale, she kept crashing out.... Zen... what if she dies! All of our lives we've been prepared for death, to kill, to torture. We've practiced over and over, ruthlessly, but... it's never meant to be one of ours." Zen's arms tightened around her, for once he seemed at a loss.

Of course Alex was correct, it was never meant to be one of them. Violet joining the fray, and being such an unstoppable force of nature had almost solidified, in their eyes, that they were untouchable. Correction, they were almost untouchable, what had transpired today surpassed logic. What in the hell was that light? Who was the user?

Zen caressed Alex's soft blonde hair absentmindedly, they had all killed for the first time today, not for show, not for glory, not for the Ruenen. Equal parts for the command issued to them, boiling in their blood, and out of rage for the mangled body of Violet.

His relationship with Violet was the least bit harmonious, truth be told he both feared and felt jealousy for the spark of hidden knowledge that lurked at the edge of her personality. He sighed, "it's up to her now and knowing how stubborn she is, I doubt she's going anywhere."

Alex wiped away a tear and looked up at him, the question they feared danced on the edge of their lips as their eyes locked.

Alex opened her mouth determined when a loud noise startled them. "Kieren.." Zen gasped out and together they raced out of the restroom.

The twins met them in the hall and they raced to the front door. Kieren had a young man who was shaking pinned to the door, blood trickled from a broken nose. "Who the fuck are you and what are you doing at my house?" It appeared Kieren had opted for hurt first and ask questions later.

Several other bodies entered their frame of vision and they stiffened, weapons emerging as their leader's lingering command bubbled up viciously.

"Please Lord Zordyk," the approaching four members lifted their arms into the air, the eldest, a gruff looking man with red hair called out. "We are from the standby teams. We've been looking for your group for hours. You vanished, we've come to ensure your safety." The man pulled a calling slab with the number six inscribed. "I am John, captain of squad six, squad nine is also nearby. Are you all safe sir?"

"I do not need your help." Kieren threw the young man he was holding out onto the cement.

He walked past Tom, opened a closet door, pulled an unconscious Dimitrox -bound and gagged- from within and tossed him out next to the rescue squad. "I will not be completing this assignment."

Alex frowned, she had forgotten about Dimitrox, now that the mission was botched she was surprised Kieren had not simply killed him.

John looked up into the prince's face, it was obvious something of grave concern had occurred, he could feel Kieren's rage simmering, barley concealed. John repeated, "We are here to help, your mother sent us."

Kieren sneered, "oh you are? Very well, what ability would someone need in order to remove another members ability John?"

John shook his head, "that is impossib-gahh"

Kieren had moved in a flash, John was on the floor, Kieren on top, one of his daggers scratching Johns throat. The rescue squad panicked unsure of what to do as they were in turn cornered.

"Impossible? Then why is Violet laying there John? Why can't she heal herself John? Who did this John?"

John took a steadying breath motioning for his team to remain calm.

"Do not lift a finger against him."

He faced Kieren

"Violet is injured? Very well sir, let us transport her to a well prepared facility."

The knife pressed in as Kieren's eyes glowed, "you will not touch her."

"Kieren!" An unmistakable voice rang out, Anastasia ran forward closely followed by squad nine and several other Ruenen members. "Are you alright, what happened?" Kieren rose from ground, his expression remained unchanged. Looking at his mother chillingly he repeated his question.

"What ability would someone need in order to remove another members ability?"

Ted groaned as he ruffled his wet hair through a towel. It had been several hours since the queen and her entourage had arrived and then departed. He felt at a loss, what could they do? He winced remembering Jace's words. What monsters.

Kieren's question had caused a stir amongst the arrivals with their faces displaying an array of different emotions.

Zen had recounted, with extreme detail the transpired events, upon realizing that Violet had saved Kieren's life and was on her deathbed for it the Ruenen members had backed down.

The queen and captain of squad nine had tried, like John had, unsuccessfully to convince Kieren that they should transfer Violet. Kieren wouldn't even let them see her, it was clear his distrust was peaking and with every 'that's impossible' his rage mounted. Anastasia realizing that Kieren was nearing his limit -small sparks kept flying from fingers- ordered that they all return.

Squad six was left to guard the boundaries of the house -and told sternly to stay clear or Kieren- while Anastasia touched her son's shoulder and promised she would demand an answer from the Ruenen. Kieren had simply nodded.

As soon as they had re-entered the house they had been met with a wearisome Jace. Kieren had leaned against a wall fearing Jace's expression when Jace called out, "She's alive Kil, not out of danger so to speak, but she's alive. There's something else I need to speak to you all about."

They followed Jace into the living room who seemed consternated. He sat on the couch, let out a sad sigh and questioned after a long pause, "Was Violet physically abused before this? Do any of you know anything about her?"

He met Kieren's eyes as the weight of what he was asking hit them.

"But... she's a healer... she doesn't leave scars behi-" Kieren interrupted Alex, "what happened to her Jace?"

Jace rubbed his eyes, he felt distraught, he knew the pain this would cause Kieren. Well aware that now that he had opened his mouth there was no turning back he began.

"I've never seen anybody so physically damaged, so scarred, she...." his words failed him. Jace took a deep breath, "yes, she's a healer, and apart from the one on her palm she's not left behind a single external scar, but you can't hide internal scars. Or maybe you can, the first and the third time, but the hundredth? Violet was abused, fuck more like mauled, and tortured probably."

He balled his hands into fists, "not probably, definitely tortured, over and over and over again. Tortured until she probably couldn't cry anymore. Her bones show multiple fractures at the same places continuously and even simultaneously. Stab wounds, burns, lacerations, her nails pulled off, all of it. Everywhere. Someone did this to her, over years, they tried so hard to break her.

He rubbed his eyes again, "It even looks like they did something, so she couldn't immediately heal herself. They prolonged her pain every single time. She has seven wounds which I cannot identify, like injections but red and chemically produced on her right thigh. I was not prepared for this..."

Jace looked up at the horrified expression on their faces, all of them. Alex and Ted were crying silently, Tom and Zen were nauseated, pale, and enraged. Kieren had not moved, compared to them he was devoid of emotion but Jace knew better. He was after all the only one who knew.

Kieren turned to walk away, they all shivered as his aura fluctuated. "If the Ruenen sends an answer contact me immediately"

He disappeared through the door and they all heaved a sigh of relief. Kieren was too dangerous to be around. His long lasting control had burned out, anybody who found themselves in his path would pay.