No Redemption

~Princess Shadow~

I had just meat him but yesterday, a mere stranger to me, yet I found myself in love with him. I was a strange girl, I had bright pink hair, my father was the king, with absolute power over who I fell in love with, my mother was the queen, who would not like my choice either, yet the thief who could be killed at any moment loved me still. But then, any of us could be killed at any moment, couldn't we? I had a bad feeling in the pit of my stomach. What would my father and mother say? What would Garrett think, though he was my brother, why should he care. And by the looks of it, he was set for that girl in the dungeon. I smiled at the thought of happiness. Maybe Garrett wouldn't disapprove if I didn't. I really wasn't bothered by who he fell in love with, I was just the little sister, but I'd rather him fall in love with a thief instead of a snotty royal girl.

Then, I pictured myself. Was I like that? Bossy and mean? Did my people look at me as a princess, or would they think I as a peasant in line for the thrown? I pondered this while Marroe kissed my forehead, looking at me puzzled. I realized how long the silence had dragged on.

"Is something wrong?" he asked, yet again. He knew something was bothering me, and it wouldn't end until I said something. But I wanted to keep my mouth shut. If I told him that I was thinking about what my parents would say about him, would he realize that it wasn't best to be near me? Would he just leave, and never come back?

No, you fool. He loves you, can't you see that? I told myself. Marroe waited patiently while I thought this over in my head. It was the way his fingers traced my jaw bone that gave me the strength--somehow--to open my mouth and say it.

MARROE

I smiled gently and pulled her onto my lap. "And why pray tell, should we let what your parents or your brother think keep us apart? I'm a criminal, remember? I stopped caring about that sort of thing long ago," I whispered, wrapping my arms around her.

There was so much we didn't know about eachother... but we had just sort of clicked. Something had went Ching! Destiny! the second I ended up running into her. And to think, my first thoughts had been to lure her into the forest and rob her... Wow was I suddenly disgusted with myself.

I heard footsteps just outside the garden gates and looked up to see... oh good lord not him. The man I owed a ton of money to was staring at me from the other side of the fence. Glaring was probably a better term.

"Marroe, you've really gone and done it now boy," he muttered, grinning coyly. "Darling, I'd be careful. He'll butter you up and take everything you got."

Shadow looked up and I held her tighter, glaring back at the man.

"Lovely to see you, too Twarl," I hissed, using the man's last name. "I've never buttered anybody up. Ever crossed your mind that a thief like me has the ability to love?"

He chuckled and shook his head. "Well, either way, I need that money. You're deadline's up. I'll need you to come with me."

I glared at him, releasing Shadow and leaning close to her ear. "I'll be back later. I love you, okay? Don't pay any attention to him."

~Princess Shadow~

I didn't like this man too much. I simply gave him a mock glare of the one he was giving Marroe. The thought I had earlier of giving him the money came to mind. I didn't want to bring it up, so I let him go with the man, giving Marroe one last pleading look that said "please come back". He nodded, and went with the man, Bobo running after him. Sophie sat down at my feet, looking up at me. For some reason, she looked like she felt my pain.

The man looked back at me and winked before turning back to Marroe. I felt my face turn red with anger. How dare he. He comes here and says things like Marroe will trick me and then take everything. I settled down a little and thought about it. I had to be kidding myself right? Was I really doubting his love? He came here with hopes of stealing from me probably, but ended up dancing in the rain with me, holding me and watching the sun go down. Then, today, he came back and kissed me, something I would expect from a thief, not even a cunning one.

Right now would be a good time to talk to Garrett, but I was sure he was still down there with the girls. I didn't want to bother them right now. But I really needed to talk to him about helping him. I knew I was his little sister, only sixteen, but I would do whatever he needed me to do to keep them safe. I didn't care too much about myself, but now, I would have something to live for, so I would try my best to do so. For him and him only. I wondered where my father was, and my mother, and if they would care about Marroe.

Not this again, I said, mentally slapping myself. I wanted to go talk to Garrett about my decision, but I didn't want to leave this spot in case Marroe came back before I did, thinking I ditched him. I wished that Garrett would, by some miraculous coincidence, came into the garden.

Raven
I smiled at Garrett. "Hi ya." I said cheekily. "How are you?" He asked. "I'm in pain my leg is broken my arm is fractured I am covered in cuts and I have a splitting headache. " I said cheerfully saracastic.

~Princess Shadow~

I was impatient. I needed to talk to Garrett, and I wanted Marroe back here. I stood up, it might take him a while. I told Sophie to stay and I told her I was going to find my brother and if Marroe came back before I did, for her to find me. It wasn't weird to me, though it would be to others, that I was talking to a wolf. It was only strange that she dipped her head in acknowledgement. I patted her head, then I was off to find Garrett. I checked the dungeon first, keeping to the wall. I heard him talking to the girls, and I listened for a moment. The poor girl from earlier was in here too, with the other girl, who was mute. By poor, I mean poor them. I felt sorry for them, really, I did. I peered around the corner, and the mute girl looked at me, scribbling something down in her notebook, then showing it to them.

Garrett turned, and I ducked back, sure he saw my bright pink hair. I wasn't sure if I wanted to tell him yet or not, but I did want to help. Why was I so scared to tell him that I'd do anything to help him and his friends as much as possible? Oh yes, because I was going to make him promise to keep my friend alive. I took a deep breath, and steadied myself before he came around the corner, his face a little less angry than I thought.

Taleon

I felt restless. I had to do something at least, I couldn't just sit here. It wasn't in my nature. But at the same time, Keiko needed rest. And maybe if she got bored enough, she would sleep.

Yeah, right.

Keiko

I was starting to reveal the reason Hunter only called me Twitch- that is to say, I was getting more twitchy than a drunken chipmunk. And yes, that is possible. Tal looked like he was too, and Hunter. Elle was the only one who looked even remotely content. I finished off my muffin and started pacing, trying to piece together a plan of action. In doing so, I started mumbling my thoughts and drawing it out with my right index finger in the air.

"Eureka!" I shrieked after a good ten minutes of planning. The guys looked up with incoherent "Mm." 's. I grabbed a sheet of parchment and dipped my finger in a jar of ink. Tal was about to say something about aforementioned finger-ink-dipping, but Hunter shushed him. I repeated the finger motions I had done while pacing. I beamed as I whirled the map around to face them.

"Well, lads," I said, grinning. "We're going to storm a castle."

Taleon

I stared towards her.

"Storm the castle? What?" Elle said, looking stunned. "How... we could never do that on our own."

Keiko smiled a little bit. "Maybe other people can't be we are not 'other people'."

"So whats this plan?" I asked.

Raven
I felt a pulse of pain then laid my head against the dungeon wall letting out a whimper that was trying to escalate into a scream. I felt another and I couldn't help myself I screamed a raw sound.

SHANAELA MARZ

The princess was down here now. Great. Needless to say, I was still wary of her, even if she hadn't done anything rash earlier. I glanced over at Raven and sighed. I hated seeing my friends in pain, especially the stubborn ones who followed me when I ran off. My mind drifted to Hunter and Keiko. I had thought of them a bit, but I had been so preoccupied... I hoped they were all right, fairing better than I was at least.

I sighed again, unsure of what to do next. I smirked at the unconsiouse Jaykob, suddenly remembering the day after my fathers death. Some twit had decided it would be a good idea to mess around with me. He had actually had the gall to slap me when I didn't answer him, and I ended up knocking him out...and slicing my initials deep enough into his arm to leave a scar. Jaykob would look good with a big, fat S.M. carved on his cheek. And by good I mean he would look horrible, which was exactly the point.

Garrett said something that I missed and I snapped out of my thoughts.

"Did you hear that?" he asked, sighing.

I smiled sheepishly and shook my head. Raven screamed and I cringed, giving Garrett a pleading look. If she didn't make it through this I didn't know what I would do. The girl was more or less a sister to me, and God help me I was going to protect her.

KING TORRAN

A guard approached us, Glug trotting merrily behind him. I hadn't seen the beast in a week, he had been helping some of the elites search the city. I smiled and gave him a scratch behind the ears. "Hey Glug, how you doing buddy?" he responded with a low growl of satisfaction, which made me smile.

"We should be leaving now you majesty," the carriage driver chimed.

I blinked and helped my wife into the carriage before turning towards one of the three servants standing by. "Make sure to get Garrett's consent on what he wants to do for his party. Both of my children are to be watched carefully. Oh yes, and let Garrett do whatever he wants during his party."

She dipped her head and the three turned back to the palace. I hopped up into the carriage and sat down next to Adola, patting the ground for Glug to come up. He jumped up gracefully and lay at my feet, yawning.

MARROE

I frowned at Somar Twarl, who claimed I owed him twice as much as I did. "Look, I owed you this much. No more, no less. I am not going to rob again unless it's for myself," I hissed. Bobo schreached in approval.

"Get the damned monkey to shut up or I'll slice his fluffy little head off," Somar shot back. "And you will bring me that money, or we may have to do something about a certain princess..." he smirked at me and my gut churned.

But he couldnt' touch her... not for all the guards surrounding the palace. Of course, Somar was a sneak. He had this strange ability to find a way to do the impossible. My stomach twisted into tighter knots and I swallowed. "Fine. I'll get you your money, but it won't be here for at least two weeks."

Somar grinned. "Agreed. Two weeks, Marroe. That's it. One day later and our princess will be nonexistant. Understood?"

I sighed and nodded. I had a funny feeling I would be doing quite a bit of robbing, and I doubted Shadow would be thrilled to hear it.

Raven
I crossed my arms ignoring the pulse of pain it caused. "I'm fine." I said between gritted teeth.

~Princess Shadow~

I tried to keep myself hidden, but why? He was my brother, I had no use to hide from him. This was our home, our dungeon, and those were his friends, and in that case, they were mine. I sighed aloud, and Garrett asked if anyone had heard something. Then, one of the girls, the one I had helped, screamed. I jerked my head around the corner to look. Poor thing. I wished there was some way I could help them. I knew it. I would help them escape, no matter what trouble I got in. I would take the blame for Garrett. He was such a good brother to me, I had to show him I cared somehow. I wanted to just jump out from around the corner and explain to them what I was going to do, but the mute girl, as harmless as she looked, gave me a death glare.

Maybe it wasn't a death glare, but it seemed like it to me. I sighed, and slid down the wall, tears filling my eyes. I had no clue why I was crying, but I just knew that the tears were rolling softly down my cheeks, and I was trembling. I had to pull myself together. I was the princess, and she was tougher than that.

Raven
"Come out Shadow we aren't going to hurt you." I called quietly. She came out tear tracks shining brightly on her cheeks and I smiled gently at her. "Hello Your Higness I never thanked you so thank you." I said quietly bowing my head.

Keiko

"Alright, see this circle?" The guys nodded. "That circle is the observatory. That's our goal. Get in, get there, and stay there."

"Stay in the castle?" Elle shrieked.

"Yes. Stay in the castle."

"But that's suicide!"

"It's suicide that'll give us a chance to be who we are, Elle! I can't take one more day of hiding, of containing myself! Don't you ever feel that?" I exploded. She looked at the carpet. I cleared my throat.

"Right. We have at least six pairs of guards, one, possibly two patrol sweeps, and the princess; she walks around at night. The observatory is our best bet at a safe place for us to stay. As far as I can tell, and that's pretty far, not a lot of people use it anymore, and if they do, there's plenty of boxes, crates, boards, anything we need. We'll wear black, of course, and put our things in black bags that we'll tie to our backs." I paused for breath.

"Are we going to go through with it?"

Hunter practically shouted, "Yes!" and Tal laughed and agreed, then looked pleadingly at Elle.

"This is suicide, I'm telling you."

I looked her in the eyes. "But weren't you ever curious to know what death felt like?"

She looked down. "Yes." she whispered. I smiled.

"Then, boys, let's get ready."

~Princess Shadow~

I really didn't know what to say, but I crept around the corner slowly, eyeing Jaykob, who was on the ground. I stayed halfway around the corner still. I didn't want a thank you, I wanted to say what I had to say and get it over with. Garrett looked at me, a little bit of anger mixed in with confusion and worry on his face. He seemed confused about my tears, but I wiped them away, ad came all the way around the corner, taking a deep breath, and standing up strait. I didn't know how to start, but I'd give it a try.

"I want to help," I whispered. "I want to do as much as I can to get them out of here safely. I know I'm young, and I know I can't fight all that good, but a friend of yours is a friend of mine, and I protect my friends." Garrett seemed a tiny bit confused still, but I saw a smile pull at the corner of his mouth.