Aesir

Aesir. A mystical land, connected to Earth by interdimensional portals. Magic, powered by the same substance that gave the world it's name, is rife, but, as we full well know, that is not always a good thing.

For info on how the magic works, go here. Just ask me if you have any further questions.

Countless independent organizations have sprung up, but only two have gained dominance: Aesir Academy, apparently a school to teach magicians of all ages, and Aesir Corps, a massive business corporation which regulates most technological production in the land.

Backstabbing, under-the-hand business deals, and magical mayhem is rife. What side will you choose?

Spoiler

Aesir Corps must kindly remind you that there are a few rules the denizens should follow, for their own safety and the public good. These are:

-- No godmodding
-- No Mary Sues/Gary Lous
-- Gore and extreme violence are perfectly acceptable, if/when necessary, however, fade out if sex scenes are employed.
-- No killing off other's characters without express permission of all parties involved.

Enjoy your stay, and try not to get killed~

*** *** ***


Lambda

Sunlight streamed into the half-shuttered office window, cloaking the suited man's body in shadow. A single white-gloved hand tapped a pen against the stainless steel desk.

"I can get you what you want," said another man. He faced the man in the white suitknown only as Lambda, and re-assessed his chances of getting out alive for the thousandth time.

The corner of Lambda's mouth curled upwards slightly. "How much?"

The man gulped. "Um... er..." he adjusted his tie nervously. He was sweating profusely now. "I'd say... five million. In gems."

"An adequate price... but for what, I wonder? Do you have it with you?" Lambda's voice was soft and professional, with just a tiny bit of underlying menace.

Wordlessly, the other man opened his briefcase and placed it on the table with a 'clink' that resounded in the empty booth.

Lambda's smile curled upwards. Delicately, he upheld a yellowing, cracked parchment. He nodded curtly.

"Your payment," he said, and opened a drawer. He tossed five bags onto the table, and out spilled fist-sized gems.

The other man grabbed them in relief, then turned and hightailed.

Lambda smiled.

A half hour later, the man, patting his pocket and humming cheerfully, parked his car in his home's driveway. There was a click, and the car exploded

Anastasia

I stretched, my legs sore and cramped from hours of riding my bike along rural roads, my pant legs muddy from the light rain that fell the previous night, but my shirt was spotless. My favorite shirt, light blue, easy to wear, easy to arrange your style around, easy to forget about, so you could think.

A car came flying around the turn, hitting a deep mud puddle, sending a wall of slop down over me.

"Jackass!" I screamed after it, flicking my arms, trying to get the mud off. So much for my shirt.

The car slid to a stop, and spun backwards, stopping mere yards in front of me. Two hard looking men in suits got out, glaring at me. My stomach did a flop, my mind began berating my reckless tongue. Two grown men pissed off at one 17 year old girl, in the middle of nowhere, with no witnesses.

They'll never find my body.

"Shit."

"What did you say?"

"I didn't say anything," I lied, grabbing my bike up.

"Sounded like you said something? Are you Derik's daughter?"

I narrowed my eyes at the mention of my poor, deceased father.

"Sure am, assholes," I said, as I pedaled away quickly.

Something struck me on the head, knocking me from my bike, making me see three of everything. The men started towards me, grabbed me, and shoved me in their car. I passed into darkness.

Lya
I paced the front of the classroom, behind my severe metal desk but before my board, a clear piece of class that had nothing on it for the moment. Facing my students, I smiled coldly. My skirt, a pale green, flared around me, and I tapped the board. A green starburst responded to the touch. Red was just around the edges, barely. It wouldn't be perceptible at any distance, even the children at the very front wouldn't see it. White was in the very center. "Name the five colors," I demanded. I listened as my class did and nodded in approval.

A hand rose tentatively.

"Yes, Mister Baron?"

The child paled under my gaze. "Ah... I've heard of people changing colors... before?" His voice grew softer and softer until it was almost unheard.

"It's possible," I murmured and studied each shiny new face. "Everyone has a place in this world," I began.

Someone grumbled in the back left corner.

I narrowed in on one young girl, red hair, red shirt, dark, almost black eyes. "Miss Kaye, it is certainly not my fault you are hearing this for the fourth time."

She blushed darkly and fell silent.

I continued, "It takes a great event to change one's color because that would displace you." I swallowed thickly and nodded. "It's a rare event."

Anastasia

I woke to find myself lying on the floor, the two men seated in chairs a few feet away from me.

"She's awake." The shorter of the two said.

The men rose. I forced myself to my feet, stablizing myself with the wall behind me. I glanced around the room fearfully, sure that I was going to find walls lined with cruel weapons designed to kill me very slowly; to my surprise I merely found four bare concrete walls, painted white, covered in reddish water stains. The floor was covered in a thin, worn, black carpet; the only window in the room was mostly covered by stained, holey, light blue curtains.

There was a bed in one corner of the small room, a small table with two stools in the corner opposite it, and two old chairs in the middle of the floor, facing me; aside from that, the room was barren.

"Good Morning, Miss Derikson."

I crouched, watching them approach me, preparing to spring if they got much closer.

"You don't want to-"

I leapt at the larger man, clawing his face with fingernails, as I wrapped my legs around his waist. He cursed and grabbed my hair, yanking me off of him and busting me into the wall behind me. I snarled at him and leapt towards him again, but he caught be by the throat; he held me at arm's length, as he placed his right hand firmly on my shoulder.

I felt a burning sensation on the skin of my shoulder that quickly infected my blood, and ebbed all through my body. It felt as though all of my blood had been replaced by molten steel. I screamed and fell to my knees, struggling to get his hand off, yet unable to control my hands enough to yank his grip free.

I fell to my side, my vision fading...

~~~

Water rushed up my nostrils and flooded my mouth, washed over my face. I'm drowning I thrashed but found my limbs caught in something, probably seaweed. I coughed and spluttered and...realized that there wasn't anymore water.

I angrily opened my eyes, still blowing through my nose, trying to clear the water from it. The men were still in front of me, but this time they were standing on the ceiling. I blinked and scowled at the taller one, and then down at my own body. I was wrapped in thick, braided brown rope; large brackets were by my feet, suspensing me upside down in the air.

"As I was saying, welcome Miss Derikson."

"My name is not Derikson." I growled from between clenched teeth.

"No, I suppose not that you'd know of. You still don't have a last name, do you?"

"Sure I do. It's...uh...Konstanovich."

"Two things. First- you can't just make up a last name. Second- you really should at least try to feint a Russian accent if you want people to believe you're, you know, Russian."

I jerked on my bonds. "Oh, I see, I can't decide my own last name, but you can."

"Exactly. I suppose you're not as stupid as you look."

I cursed at him.

"Miss Derikson, I suggest you calm down. It will be a much more pleasant stay for you if you cooperate."

I continued cursing, so he took hold of the ropes by my feet and gave them a push. The room was a blur as a rotated and spun around in circles at the same time; my stomach tied into a knot. I was stopped abruptly.

"Now we both need to explain ourselve. Shall I start or shall you?"

"I ain't tellin' you a thing."

"Alright, I suppose I'll start then. We have brought you to Aesir. You'll be our agent, and in return you will recieve room, board, and training. Any questions?"

"Yeah. How do you figure on making me do it?"

He shrugged, "Easy. I can spin you until the end of eternity."

I glared up at him.

"Now, I'm Rekard, do you care to introduce yourself?"

"Screw you."

He spun me, fast; my stomach twisted into a tighter knot, and then emptied itself into the floor. I was stopped when I was gasping for air, trying to supress my retching.

"How about now?"

I was silent, and Rekard grabbed my feet, as if to spin me again. "No! I'm Ana!"

He hesitated. "How old are you Ana?"

Silence.

He shrugged and spun me again. I, again, puked, as I was trying to free myself. "You won't get away, so you might as welll give it up."

I only vaguely saw his dark outline as I spun around and around, trying to control my gagging. "S-s-s-seven."

He stopped me. "Sure. I bet you're seven."

"Teen. Seventeen." I replied weakly.

"Favorite color?"

I furrowed my brow, trying to figure out why he'd care.

"Fine. It's not hurting me any to spin you..."

"Blue."

"How many friends do you have, approximately?"

I closed my eyes, trying to remember life before my bike ride. "One."

"You only have one friend?" He asked skeptically.

I nodded.

"You expect me to believe a teenage girl has only one friend?"

"I don't like people."

"No? Why not?"

I growled, "They irritate me with their incessant chattering in my head."

He scoffed. "Where do you go to school?"

"I attend a highly exclusive private institution."

"Oh yeah? What makes your institution so special?"

"They tailor the course load to meet the needs of each student, giving each a quality education."

"So...you're homeschooled?"

I growled in irritation. Most people didn't figure out my ruse quite as quickly, "No...I used to be...but I'm kinda a self-schooler now."

"Why?"

"Because I can't very well homeschool myself."

"And your parents are deceased."

I sighed.

"I thought as much...Well Miss Derikson, you will now be attending the Academy."

"What academy?"

"THE Academy."

"That narrows it down."

"There's only one, Miss Derikson. The Aesir Academy."

I groaned, my mouth feeling digusting and burning from the bile.

"Cut her down."

Lya

The chimes rang, and I took a moment to sit down, resting my pounding head in my hands. Running my hands through my hair, I traced a rift hidden for many years behind the dark strands.

I glanced out the door and clenched my jaw when the headmaster strode in. His black shirt embroidered with blue thread merely accentuated his baseless pride.

I'll admit, I could live with black. I understand wanting merely what is best for yourself. I cannot stand blue. The color itself makes me want to vomit. Why change what is not broken? They are always seeking for cold knowledge and that makes them cold. It makes them cold and pitiless.

I may have a grudge.

I reached toward the single plant in the room that I had to sneak into the building and smiled softly as its leaf moved up in response to my silent call. "Yes, Mr. Condrair?" I looked up and gave my smile a sharp edge.

He stood over me, attempting to loom, and cleared his throat. "I have a student that requires tutoring."

I raised a cool eyebrow. This was fairly rare.

He nodded. "It's a shame how parent's keep their children in the dark about our wonderful society."

"That would be one thing we agree on, Mr. Condrair." If there was surprise in my voice, it was genuine.

"Shall I send her in?"

I drew a circle in the air with a finger near the plant and smiled at the red rose that bloomed, picking it. Standing, I slipped it in a button hole and patted him on the shoulder. "I'm surprised you didn't just bring her with you. It's not like you to ask permission."

His hand moved toward the rose before it clenched and returned to his side. He grinned, the expression dripping with unspoken sarcasm. "It was supposed to be a peace offering, but I can see it has been thrown in my face."

"I'm fine with me the way things are."

He shrugged as he turned away in dismissal. "But things are always changing." He looked over his shoulder and said in farewell, "I'll send the girl in."

Anastasia

The rope was cut and I fell on my head; Rekard cut the ropes around my body, and pulled me up by an arm. He pushed me down into one of the chairs, and pulled the other one around to face me; he took that seat, and gestured for the shorter of the two to stand behind me.

"As I said, my name is Rekard," the seated man said. "This is my associate, Zandy."

I glared at Rekard.

"You're not a very sociable person, I see."

"I told you, I don't like people."

"You see, that's that's the problem. You still think that you can tell me things, when the reality of the situation is that you merely need to listen-something that seems to be a challenge for you. We will-"

"I don't need to listen, I need to-"

Rekard waved his hand, and Zandy placed his hands on my shoulder, sending a pulse of electricity through my body. I yelped and started up out of my chair, but Zandy pushed me back down.

"As I was saying," Rekard resumed, "You need to learn to listen."

I slouched in my chair. "Fine. What is it you want to tell me?"

"As I said, you will be enrolled in The Academy immediately. The Academy will teach you how to control your magic, and-"

"I don't have magic."

I was zapped; and yelped again.

"Stop that, dammit!"

I was zapped again.

"I suggest you stop talking. You need to learn to speak only when spoken to, like a good child."

"I'm not a child, and I'm not a wizard."

"No, you're probably not." Rekard agreed.

I growled. "Continue."

"We'll deliver you to The Academy very shortly. We merely have to call Mr. Condrair, to be sure he's ready for you."

"And what will I do, at The Academy?"

"You don't listen to a word I say, do you? At The Academy, you'll learn how to control your magic."

"But I don't have magic!"

"Then they'll help you discover what magic is, and how to use it...you've used it many times before, you just never realized it."

"Oh yeah, 'cause I'm just awesome. I can accidentally use magic."

I was zapped.

"Cut the sarcasm," Rekard warned. "And yes, you can. It's typically the way magic is discovered: by accident...have you ever noticed how things go better for you when you get angry?"

"Yes."

"And you think that it's just a coincidence?"

"No. I know what it is."

"And what's that?"

"I get mad so infrequently, when I do, people know that they're being idiots and straighten up."

Rekard sighed.

After much more arguing, and me being zapped many times, Rekard called Mr. Condrair, and got permission to bring me in immediately.

"If you even think about trying to escape," Rekard warned on our way to the Acdemy, "You will be punished so severely, you'll beg me to 'zap' you again. Do you hear me?"

"Yeah, sure."

He zapped me.

"Yes sir."

"Yes sir," I grumbled, rubbing my neck.

~~~~~~~~~

Mr. Condrair was sitting behind a large metal desk when I was shoved into his office. Rekard and Zandy followed close behind me.

"Ah Rekard, is this the girl you were telling me about?"

"Yes."

Mr. Condrair stood and walked over to us, moving until he was standing over me imposingly, his black shirt embroidered with blue thread. It was pretty, though far too near my face to suit me.

"She's a bit scrawny."

"She's stong." Rekard assured him.

"She looks troublesome."

"Isn't that the type you like?"

"She's awfully old for The Academy."

"She's standing right here," I growled irritably.

"Shut up," Rekard, Mr. Condrair, and Zandy said simultaneous.

They discussed my fate for a few more minutes, speaking about me as if I were no more than an object; and then Rekard and Zandy left. Mr. Condrair placed a large hand on my shoulder, and guided me down several long hallways.

"Wait here." He ordered, as he strode through a door.

I looked around and considered leaping out a nearby window, and running as fast as I could, but I had no idea where I was, or where I'd be safe, and I wasn't eager to make Rekard angry again; I sighed and rubbed my burned neck.

Mr. Condrair returned in a moment, a bright red rose slid in one of his button holes. He grabbed the rose and crushed it in his hand, before snarling at me, "In there. Now."

I sighed and walked through the door. A woman looked at me tiredly. "Are you the one who needs tutoring?"

I was surprised that someone was actually talking to me again, rather than at me, but I nodded. "I-I guess- I mean...I don't really know...what's happening."

The woman smiled. "Who are you?"

"Um, Ana."

"Ana?"

"Just Ana."

"Alright, Just Ana, my name is Lya. I'll be your teacher and your tutorer. Are you pretty quick?"

"I'm the fastest girl in town."

She sighed. "Oh goodie, a sarcastic pupil. My favorite."

"Well what am I supposed to say? "No, I'm dumb. Not pretty dumb, like thouroughly retarded."?"

She looked at me flatly.

Lya

"I'm fairly sure you're not dumb, just uneducated. One can be fixed and the other can't." I studied the girl, Ana, tapping a finger against the desk. She certainly didn't look dumb. "Well, sit down." I waited patiently, holding her angry gaze with a dull one of my own, and smiled in what I hoped was somewhat friendly when she trudged to one of the student's desk in the front row. I waved at the window, and a gust of wind blew through, slamming the door shut without upsetting a single paper.

I cleared my throat and walked to the front of my desk, sitting on the top. "Let's start with the basics. Do you know the colors of magic?"

She stared at me blankly, a sneer curling on her lips. "Look, lady-"

I held up a hand. "Ma'am, Miss, or even Lya will be sufficient. I do deserve respect however. I'm taking time out of my day to help you catch up." I leaned forward to make sure she was listening and continued, "I'm as happy about you being here in my class as you are about sitting at that desk." I pressed a forefinger against my pounding temple, in the mood to beat my fists against something. There would have been a time when I would have done so... long ago.

I leaned back and sighed. "You don't know your colors."

She sat up. "You mean like blue, yellow, purple..."

I frowned at her. "You really don't know any of it." That was shocking. Even the stupidest child from the dumbest parents knew the basics. I worried my lower lip. "You know you're at the Academy, right?"

She rubbed the back of her neck and grimaced. "I definitely learned that." She said it as if she hadn't always known.

Something was fishy. "You know about Aesir Corps?"

She squinted, sighing in frustration. "What is Aesir?"

My mouth dropped open before I could stop it from doing so. "You don't know?"

Anastasia

"I'm fairly sure you're not dumb, just uneducated. One can be fixed and the other can't." The woman said as she examined me. "Well, sit down."

I glared at her angrily, trying to instill some sort of fear in her- it had always worked for me before- but no one in Aesir was scared of me. She met my gaze with a dull, tired look. She smiled half-heartedly; it was friendlier than mocking, but you couldn't be too sure. People were tricky. And this one seems smart

I plopped down in a desk in the front row and watched her resentfully- she carelessly waved a hand, and a gust of wind rushed through the window, slamming the door shut. I shifted uneasily in the desk- I never had been able to stand the darn things.

I stopped when she walked around her desk and sat on it, clearing her throat. I couldn't-wouldn't- give her the satisfaction of watching me squirm. I didn't want her getting any notions that she had caused my discomfort.

"Let's start with the basics. Do you know the colors of magic?" She asked.

I stared at her for a moment- having no clue what she was talking about- but I had to do something. I curled my lip in resentment. "Look lady-"

The woman held up a hand. "Ma'am, Miss, or even Lya will be sufficient. I do deserve respect, however. I'm taking time out of my day to help you catch up." She leaned towards me, keeping her eyes locked on mine. "I'm as happy about you being here in my class as you are about sitting at that desk."

She paused, letting her words sink in, pressing her fingers against her temples. In a moment she leaned back and sighed. "You don't know your colors."

I sat up with a sigh, deciding to at least try to get along with her- after all, Rekard might be bullying her too. I didn't know. "You mean like blue, yellow, purple..."

Lya frowned. "You really don't know any of it."

She hesitated a moment and then asked, "You know you're at the Academy, right?"

I rubbed my neck and grimaced. "I definitely learned that."

She looked at me suspiciously. "You know about Aesir Corps?"

I narrowed my eyes at her and sighed. I was getting SO sick of being the only person not to know things. "What is Aesir?"

Lya's mouth dropped open. "You don't know?"

I growled in frustration, trying to keep my anger from turning to tears. It didn't work- large, wet tears began rolling down my cheeks, though they weren't accompanied by sobs. "Look, Miss, all I know is that I was kidnapped, I haven't eaten in about ten hours, I haven't slept in two days, and have been being tortured by two brutes." I roughly wiped at the rebel tears, trying to make them stop. "So no. I don't know what Aesir is.I don't know how to wield magic. I don't know what I'm supposed to be doing...I don't even know where I am."

Her demeanor softened some; she stood, walked over to me, and gently patted my back.

Lya

She began to cry, which made something inside me loosen for a moment. "Look, Miss, all I know is that I was kidnapped, I haven't eaten in about ten hours, I haven't slept in two days, and have been being tortured by two brutes."

I frowned. The red inside me was stirred by this poor girl and her strange story as she tried to keep her tears at bay.

"So no. I don't know what Aesir is. I don't know how to wield magic. I don't know what I'm supposed to be doing... I don't even know where I am."

I stood, understanding far more than I would let this girl know. I softened the lines of my face as I approached her and patted her on the shoulder. "Okay, darling, let's calm down." I waved at the plant, and a vine flew from it, grabbing the chair. "Let's get you out of this uncomfortable desk. I hate them too. This chair isn't much better."

I transferred her to the chair and ran a hand through my hair, looking around with a slightly different view.

I had been the strict, mean teacher longer than I thought.

How was I going to get this girl something to eat?

I left her side for a moment, reassuring her that I would be right back, and began rifling through the drawers in my desk. "I don't know if this will make you feel any better, but I happen to believe that everyone has a path." I looked up to meet her watery but calm eyes. "You could be meant to be here." Finally I gave up my fruitless search of my desk and waved at the plant. "You're getting a lot of work today," I murmured.

An apple grew slowly.

I picked it when it was fully formed and threw it at the girl who seemed fairly sharp. I smiled, the first true smile in a very long time, at her suspicious hesitation. "It's safe to eat." I leaned on my desk again. "Of course, that view," I continued, returning to the previous topic, "that view didn't keep me from becoming a hateful bitter woman."

I watched her eat her apple, pausing to rub her neck. Frowning in a moment of thought, I circled her. "Do you happen to remember what color your torturers were wearing?"

Anger sparked within me at the angry red mark on the back of her neck. Who could do this to a girl?

I put my hand on the burn as she began to answer and felt her stiffen as she fell silent. "I can heal you... if that's okay?"

Anastasia

"Okay darling, let's calm down," Lya said, as she waved towards a plant. "Let's get you out of this uncomfortable desk. I hate them too. This chair isn't much better."

I allowed her to guide me to a chair, and watched her run a hand through her hair. She assured me that she'd be back in a moment, went to her desk, and began rummaging through the drawers. I began to calm, ashamed that I had cried like a fool- I never cried. Especially not in front of people.

"I don't know if this will make you feel any better, but I happen to believe that everyone has a path." She paused and looked into my eyes. "You could be meant to be here."

She waved at her plant again and whispered to it. I watched in amazement as an apple began to grow from her plant. Lya picked the apple and tossed it to me; I plucked it from the air, and turned it over, examining it suspiciously. Snow White and the Huntsman began to play in my mind- the poison apple- and I didn't see any prince nearby.

Lya smiled. "It's safe to eat." She leaned back on her desk. "Of course, that view," she began again. "That view didn't keep me from becoming a hateful, bitter woman."

I greedily scarfed most of the apple down, stopping as a twinge ran across my neck- a burn far worse than any I had experienced before. Lya frowned and walked around me again. "Do you happen to remember what color your torturers were wearing?"

"I think-" Lya's hand landed on the burn, and I stiffened my back, stopping short, determinedly biting back a yelp. I took a deep breath, trying to let some of the pain go, before it overwhelmed me again.

"I can heal you... if that's okay?" Lya asked.

I shrugged her hand off. "I...I don't think he'd like that."

"You don't think who would like it?" she asked sweetly.

I swallowed, trying to decide whether to tell her or not. Why shouldn't I? She's offering to heal me. She fed me- the fat girl in me smiled I mean sure, she's got a rather harsh sense of humor- but so do I...It's not like I have any loyalty to him.

"Rekard."

Her body stiffened, her eyes flashing angrily. "Rekard did this to you?"

I looked at her worriedly. Obviously I had struck a nerve- though I wasn't sure what it was. I shouldn't have told her/

"Um- uh...no?"

She placed her hand on my neck- I felt heat running into my neck, pulsing, as Rekard's had done. I tried to twist away from her. "Don't! I didn't mean to-" I cut off short as the heat turned to a soothing cold, dulling the pain on my neck.

I sighed as she took her hand away; I felt my neck- perfectly healed, feeling great.

"You didn't have to-"

"Come now, Ana. I need to talk to someone."

She stormed out of her classroom- I bewilderedly stumbled behind her.

She shrugged my hand off. "I...I don't think he'd like that."

"You don't think who would like it?" I asked, sweetening my voice in an attempt to be friendly.

She took a moment, and I gave her the necessary time. It would be hard to reveal a torturer to a stranger.

"Rekard."

I froze and pressed my lips together, attempting to control the anger mounting within. There would have been a time when I wouldn't have attempted to control it, when I would have thrown the first thing my hands could land upon, when my skirt would have been red instead of green. "Rekard did this to you?"

She looked up at me worriedly, and I didn't try to hide the anger and, to my shame, fear flashing in my eyes.

"Um- uh...no?" she tried to start again.

I placed my hand on her neck firmly, determined to heal her burn. She wriggled under my unrelentless grasp.

"Don't! I didn't mean to-" She cut herself short as my magic began to work.

She sighed in relief as I took my hand away. It looked as if nothing had been done to it.

"You didn't have to-"

I waved my hand to silence her gratitude and strode toward my door. "Come now, Ana. I need to talk to someone."

I swept out of my classroom, hoping she would follow. I was on a war march. Students obviously skipping skittered away under my gaze, but today I was taking care of larger matters. I opened the door of a fellow teacher and glared at him. "I need to speak to you."

He glanced at his class and then back at me, surprised. "Ah... now?"

I smiled sharply, ignoring his class. "At this very moment."

He glanced at his students again, looked at me, looked at his students. "Um..." He nodded and turned to his class. "Students, turn to page two hundred seven. You will be answering questions on the mixing of colors and the consequences in those who have such a phenomenon." He left his room, following me and closed the door. "What is so important that you had to interupt my class, Lya?" he began dryly.

I stood with my hands on my hips and said softly, afraid someone in the hall was listening, "I have another one, Kor." I stepped to the side to reveal Ana.

Anastasia

I timidly followed Lya as she stomped down the hall- scaring students lingering the hall far worse than she was me. She threw open a door. "I need to speak to you."

I couldn't tell his response.

"At this very moment."

I'm in trouble now. Maybe...I should make a break for it...

Lya stepped back, and a large man followed her out into the hallway- he shut the door."What is so important that you had to interupt my class, Lya?"

Lya put her hands on her hips and began quietly. "I have another one, Kor."

She stepped to the side, allowing the man a good look at me. I squirmed beneath his penetrating gaze. "Oh god, you don't mean...?"

"Yep, Rekard is at it again," Lya said with a sigh.

The man stepped forward- he towered over me, but not imposingly, as Mr. Condrair had done. He bent slightly, and looked into my eyes. "What's your name, dear?" He asked kindly.

I stared at him dumbly, scared to speak. All of the men I had met so far had made my talking very uncomfortable- and he was bigger than the last ones. "Um...Ana."

"Ana," he repeated slowly.

I nodded timidly.

"Rekard is...tormenting you, Ana?" he asked.

I nodded slowly. "But don't tell him I told you. I don't think he'd like it."

"Screw what he likes."

My eyes grew wide. "Yes sir."

The man sighed and rubbed his face. "No, don't...I'm Kor."

"Okay." I said stupidly, unsure of how to reply.

"What are we going to do with you?" Kor asked slowly, absently.

"Well, I was thinking, you have an extra bedroom, and...well..." Lya said with a nervous grin.

Kor looked at her flatly. "I don't have enough energy for a kid."

"She's not a kid. You're what? Eighteen? Nineteen?" Lya asked hopefully.

"Seventeen."

She nodded. "See? Seventeen."

Kor looked at me carefully. "What color are you?"

"Uh..." I looked at Lya panickedly.

"She doesn't know how to wield magic."

Kor's eyes grew wide. "Well, how did- what? You...aren't from around here, are you?"

I sighed angrily. "I don't know where here is."

"Well where are you from?"

"America."

"Earth?" Kor asked incredulously. "Why would Rekard kidnap an Earthling?"

Lya shrugged. "That's what I've been trying to figure out."

Kor looked at me. "Do you know why he kidnapped you?"

I shook my head. "No sir."

"Well what did he tell you?"

"Um, well, he decided my last name is Derikson, and that-"

"Whoa, you said that he decided that your last name is Derikson?"

I nodded.

"Why?"

I shrugged. "I don't know. I guess he figured I needed a last name. He wouldn't let me make one up, though."

"But...you didn't have a last name?"

I shook my head.

"Your parents didn't see fit to give you one?"

I shrugged again. "I don't know. I really don't remember them. I've fended for myself ever since I was about five."

"Five...that was twelve- oh Lya. You don't suppose she's-?"

Lya looked at me with wide eyes. "What was your Father's name?"

"Derik. That's how-"

"Oh my god, she is Derik's kid! That's why Rekard wants her. She's got the strong Genes- he wants a mercenary." Lya exclaimed.

Spoiler

I know 'genes' typically isn't capitalized, but I thought that we might refer to 'Genes' as the trait that decides how strong a magician can be. If you want, Meg.

"We've got to get her to someplace safe-" Kor started.

There was a bright light- and Rekard was there. Half a second later I felt myself being jerked through the air; suddenly the hallway and Lya and Kor were gone, and darkness enveloped me.

Spoiler

I'm fine with Lya and Kor rescuing me- if they want to. I was just adding drama

I smirked as Kor stared in shock for a moment before collecting his wits and approaching her, towering over as she did everyone. "What's your name, dear?" he asked softly. I recognized the slight shake of controlled emotion in his voice.

Ana seemed just as shocked as Kor though she was speechless from his mere size which had a similar effect on many people. "Um...Ana."

"Ana," he repeated slowly, as if he could glean information from those two syllables.

She nodded timidly.

"Rekard is...tormenting you, Ana?"

She nodded again. "But don't tell him I told you. I don't think he'd like it."

My heart twisted at the fear evident in her voice.

"Screw what he likes."

I frowned at that and kicked him softly on the leg.

Ana took it very seriously. "Yes sir."

Kor glanced at me and sighed, obviously wanting to say something. Instead he just rubbed his face. "No, don't...I'm Kor."

"Okay." She swallowed, glancing from me to him.

"What are we going to do with you?" Kor asked slowly, absently. He looked at me...

Which would be my entrance.

I cleared my throat and licked my lips. "Well..." I began, drawing out that one word. "I was thinking... you have an extra bedroom, and...well..." I slowly stopped speaking at his dull glare and tried a small smile.

"I don't have enough energy for a kid."

"She's not a kid!" I said desperately. I thought anyone with half a brain could have seen that she had been through too much to be a child. I turned toward Ana. "You're what? Eighteen? Nineteen?"

She tore her gaze from Kor and stared at me for a moment. "Seventeen."

I nodded, withholding a grimace. "See? Seventeen."

Kor studied her carefully, sizing her up as he was prone to do. That was a plus for me. "What color are you?"

"Uh..." Her eyes grew wide in panic, and she turned to me for help. The poor girl.

"She doesn't know how to wield magic," I snapped.

Kor's eyes grew wide. "Well, how did- what?" He huffed and frowned at me, dumbfounded. "You...aren't from around here, are you?" he asked her quietly, trying to process this as quickly and calmly as he could.

She sighed in frustration, and I felt another pang of sympathy. "I don't know where here is."

"Well where are you from?" he asked, looking at me for an explanation.

I looked to her because I hadn't thought to ask such a question.

"America," she replied, looking as if she was afraid that it was the wrong answer.

"Earth?" Kor asked incredulously. "Why would Rekard kidnap an Earthling?"

I shrugged. "That's what I've been trying to figure out." I studied him, waiting for him to think of the correct question to ask. I figure he's got some blue in him, but I ignore that fact.

Kor looked at Lya. "Do you know why he kidnapped you?"

She shook her head. "No sir."

"Well what did he tell you?" I was about to kick him again for being to intense and scaring Ana when she looked thoughtful.

"Um, well, he decided my last name is Derikson, and that-"

Kor started and looked at me with eyes that must have been as wide as mine. "Whoa, you said that he decided that your last name is Derikson?"

She nodded hesitantly, glancing at me for help again.

"Why?" His eyes bored into hers fiercly.

She shrugged helplessly. "I don't know. I guess he figured I needed a last name. He wouldn't let me make one up, though."

"But..." He frowned in confusion, putting a hand to his forehead. "You didn't have a last name?"

She shook her head.

"Your parents didn't see fit to give you one?" he demanded in what could have been a sarcastic tone.

She shrugged again, looking small before Kor's huge form. "I don't know. I really don't remember them. I've fended for myself ever since I was about five."

"Five..." He did some math on his fingers. Kor had never been good with numbers. "That was twelve- oh Lya." He visibly paled and ran a hand through his hair as he turned to me. "You don't suppose she's-?"

I stared at Ana who was looking increasinly lost. "What was your Father's name?"

She frowned, obviously tired of being in the dark. "Derik. That's how-"

I backed away in complete shock, a hand over my open mouth. "Oh my god, she is Derik's kid! That's why Rekard wants her. She's got the strong Genes- he wants a mercenary," I cried, using crazy hand gestures as I spoke to an equally, if not more so, surprised Kor.

He, of course, gained his wits before I did. "We've got to get her to someplace safe-" Kor started.

I will admit, I forgot Ana was there for a moment... but not for long.

There was a bright light- and Rekard was there, a sneering monstrosity in the too bright light. I barely had time to call to my handy plant when she had disappeared.

"Ana!" I screamed. I turned to Kor, in hysterics. "She's gone! He's got her! We've killed her! She as good as dead!"

He took both my arms in an iron grip and lifted me from the ground, shaking me. "Have you lost your mind, Lya?"

I continued screeching.

"Shut up!" he yelled in my face, effectively silencing me. He looked around, hissing, "You've just let half the school know that something very important has happened, and we are in the center of it. What happens to people in the center of important things?"

They die. I had just answered mentally when I saw a bad sign over Kor's shoulder. "Kor?" I murmured softly.

He was still ranting.

Mr. Condrair and two goons were barrelling down the hall, not looking very pleased or friendly.

"Kor!" I shrieked and pointed.

He looked over his shoulder and swore. "We've got to go."

"What about your class?" I asked and lifted a hand at his demeaning sneer as soon as it had left my mouth. "Nevermind." I called my plant for the second time and grinned as it responded much quicker than the first time. I grabbed Kor's shoulder, not minding the fact that he had yet to put me down. A ball of energy was hurtling toward us. Then everything went white.

I was being pushed off of Kor's lap, and a car was being started before I could realize what had happened. I suppose there are pluses to having magic outside the natural world.

Kor reversed out of his parking spot and pealed out of the parking lot. "I think we are now wanted, Lya."

I nodded, lips tight, face white. "We've got to find her."

He sighed, rubbing his face, and nodded as he barely missed hitting another car.

I winced. "And this is why I don't have a car."

"No," he corrected, running a red light, "You don't have a car because you're afraid of advancement."

I stared out the window and frowned at a wail.

"Damn," Kor murmured, along with some stronger language.

Anastasia

I felt energy coursing through my body- setting my blood on fire, burning every speck of my body. The pain overwhelmed me- making me dizzy- stealing my consciousness.

~~~~~~~~~~~

My eyes fluttered open to find Rekard standing in front of me, fuming mad.

"You little bitch!" Rekard shouted, as his fist landed on my cheek- sending a twing of pain up my jawline.

I put my hand to my mouth- it came away with blood from my busted lip; I spat a mouthful of blood into the floor. "What are you talking about?" I demanded

"You think you can get away with spilling your guts- well to hell with you." His fist landed on my cheek again, this time a staggering blow that knocked me into the wall.

"Now listen here, you bastard-"

He hit me again, knocking me over. He grabbed a fistful of my hair and threw me towards the far wall- making me trip over a stool, and fall on my face in the middle of the floor. I rolled onto my feet, grabbing the stool, and bringing it down over Rekard's head as he advanced on me again.

He paused, stunned at the blow. I leapt in the air, swinging my fist at his face as hard as I could- bringing my elbow around after it, swatting him twice with one swing. Blood flew from his nose as I landed- his large hand grabbed a fistful of my hair. He spun me around and grabbed my throat with his free hand.

He lifted me above his head and slammed my back into the wall. He squeezed, choking me, making it hard to breathe- suddenly the electricity was coursing through his hands again, burning my throat, making it even harder to breathe.

I fought the pain for a long moment, glaring into his eyes as viciously as I could- but soon the pain overwhelmed me and tears began streaming down my face wildly, as I weakly continued to claw at his hand. Finally I collapsed in his grasp- too weak to fight any longer.

"Rekard," Zandy said warningly. "She's no good to us dead."

Rekard squeezed for another moment, glaring at me murderously, but finally dropped me, letting my head hit the concrete floor-hard.

"I hope that apple was worth it, bitch. You won't be seeing any more food for a long time," Rekard sneered, and slammed the door behind him.

I heard the door locking, and footsteps receding down the hall. I weakly lifted my head, and tried to push myself up- but couldn't, and collapsed in the floor once more. Darkness quickly followed.

I bit a nail and pointed at a tree by the road. A branch flew down and crushed the persuing cop car. I winced at the image flashing in my mind's eye of the mangled state of the cop's head.

Kor glanced back and paled. "Oh, dear God."

I nodded, mouth dry.

A whirring sound began above us.

I rolled down the window and stared at a helicopter. "Kor-" I began.

He took my hand. A voice began to float down from the helicopter, but I couldn't make out what they were saying.

Everything went white.

I opened my eyes to see the twilight of a thick forest.

Kor looked around and nodded. "I was hoping that would work out." He waved at me. "It's your turn, Botanical Woman."

I paced for a moment. "We've known for a long time that Aesir is just completely corrupted."

He leaned against a tree trunk, watching me, and nodded again. "Yes."

"They now have Ana, who happens to be Derik's daughter, which means she has strong Genes. They're going to use her to do something amazing, but before that happens she has to learn what the heck goes on around here."

He nodded. "You've covered it."

I glared at him. "This is no time for joking."

He only shrugged.

"Now we have to find her before she is subjected to all kinds of..." My voice trailed off. I probably went as pale as a sheet, and I looked up at Kor. "All kinds of abominations that can hardly be spoken of in decent company," I croaked out behind a hard lump in my throat.

Kor looked at me sympathetically. "This one hits close to home for you, huh?"

I shook my head, straightening my shoulders. "Rekard will rot in the lowest levels of hell for all he's done." I looked around for some inspiration and sighed. "We just need a hint to get us started."

He nodded, gracing me with the favor of not going deeper into the touchy subject. "That's true as well."

I looked up suddenly, snapping my fingers. "Water! I need water!"

Kor frowned. "Like what?"

I stared at him. "The clear stuff that we all need to survive?"

He raised an eyebrow. "This is no time for joking." He waved to his right. "If childhood memory serves correctly it's just beyond those trees."

I broke off into a run in the direction he had pointed out. His memory had served him well. There was a small pond in the midst of al the trees. I fell to my knees beside it and focused hard on Ana and what I could remember in the hour I had known her.

An image began to take shape. The water was unnaturally still. There she was in a dark room. She lay still on the floor. Her face was beginning to bruise. Her neck was covered in burns.

I plunged my hand into the chilly water and watched the image fade away. I looked up at a gasping Kor and sighed, tears burning. "We've got to find her.