<span style="font-size: 12px">There had been the faintest shadow of an amused grin on Analee’s lips at his remark. She could feel the static rippling from him, something that sent a tingle to her body as she sensed it. Even the tiny hairs on her arms reacted, raising as if goosebumps would soon take over, but they never did. A faint rumble coursed her throat at his biting promise. <span class="fixed-color" style="color:#00ffff">“I’d like to see you try.” </span>She tested quietly. There was a heavy clanking of the rings that held him as he moved, least he could move…it had been hard to tell as she walked up, what sort of state he had been feeling…but he sounded just fine.<br/>
<br/>
<br/>
As she took his pain away, as much as she dared, she felt almost a slow pulse of pain filter through her own body. Her face hidden from his view as she moved around him, she closed her eyes a moment only to steady herself. To take another's pain, she had to feel something of it. She remembered the first time she had ever tried to attempt something, she cried out in shock. Nothing could ever be so simple as anyone really wanted it. Her eyes lifted at his words and she took in a quiet breath<span class="fixed-color" style="color:#00ffff">. “…Maybe one day I’ll be able to truly heal you the way I’d like.” </span>She whispered quietly. She would take away his scars, those nasty wounds if she could…but it was a risk that she couldn’t afford. If the slightest idea of her healing came about…who knew what she would be made to do…or even the punishment she would receive. <br/>
<br/>
<br/>
She held her breath a moment, she was not here to tell him what was right and wrong, but it pissed her off to hear that he so willingly took punishment for another. Maybe that’s why she slapped him. The sound echoed once in the area before going silence and she relished the sound of his gasp as she saw his body stiffen. A catlike grin on her light pink lips as she met  the glare before moving away. Her footsteps paused though as he told her wait, curious she paused and looked over to him. A sight for sore eyes he was at the moment, someone as strong as him, chained for show.<br/>
<br/>
<br/>
<i>Tomorrow night. </i>Her lips parted, what could be so special about that? She blinked, curious as she folded her arms a moment, her eyebrows raising for him to continue. His excitement…excited her, her eyes widening as he spoke of his idea. <i>A storm. </i>Things were always less…watched during that time. No one wanted to stand around in the rain, everyone was more so locked up and left till morning…those that were less trusted. But Analee..she hadn’t had a locked room in a year or so now. The trust in her…was there, there had been many storms since then, plenty of times for a crazy idea like that to happen and not. <i>It </i>could be a perfect time. But it was quite the deal…she shouldn’t let herself get to excited. But if he was going to leave…she didn’t want to be left behind…even if it didn’t work out. No she couldn’t think like that. She should hear him out tomorrow. <br/>
<br/>
<br/>
She only gave a nod. Tomorrow at practice, she would hear more. She kept like she could kiss him in the excitement of it all…but she made no move to get back closer to him. Instead she turned and headed off, a little quicker than she had returned and a whole lot quieter as her feet seemingly didn’t even touch the ground as she made her way back to the room that had been her own for the past few months.  Maybe for the fact another sort of demon visited her on occasion. A secret she had to keep, less she wanted to lose her tongue. <br/>
<br/>
<br/>
In reality it would have been a very long night if Analee couldn’t leave herself in those moments. Late in the night when one couldn’t hear the steps of another. The quiet opening of a door, the scratch of a chair against it, to keep it closed. The first time was the worse, a hand over her mouth so she could hardly breath. The strong smell of liquor and a stale smoke.  During the day she saw him, standing guard, watching her practice, a grin on his lips every so often. His build was lean, he was nothing but muscle and tanned skin from long days in the sun. His hair like the sands she use to walk through when she was younger. But the second time it happened, something strange happen and suddenly...she felt lighter, freer. She gasped as she saw him over her form, she was weightless. Her hands tried to grab him, but she could touch nothing, she flew without wings and soared out of the room, she was afraid of herself. What she had done. She didn't stray far. She sat on the roof of the cold building as she stared out at the sky. The stars were so bright that night and each night she made an effort to do it again. But without something to give her that push...she couldn't find a way. <br/>
<br/>
Tonight she was ready, she easily lifted from that physical body as the door opened. Maybe he didn't care she didn't move to much, he came for what he wanted than left...and when he left, she knew some how, she could feel it. A freedom on her body that let her return. She felt dirty each time he left and cleaned herself the best she could with the bucket of water she kept in her room that was filled before bed. Still, she couldn't touch anything..but she realized it gave her an advantage, to see ahead..to check for things. Maybe..that could help them tomorrow night. Satisfied with the thought of that, she tucked the same chair to her door, to barricade herself in. After each visit she did this, not that she really expected anyone else to come in. But for a few months now, this had been happening. How she wanted to drive a blade right through his neck.<br/>
<br/>
Oh wouldn't Karas be surprised at this little trick she had up her sleeve. There was a single pound on her door that brought her awake. She got from her bed quickly, moved the chair just as fast and dressed for the day. Those leathers covering her form, the boots on her feet. She found a single leather cord that she used to braid her hair and tie it to hold. The cord wrapped around before knotting, keeping her hair free from being grabbed or falling in the way. She quickly learned to keep it pulled back in one way or another when she was practicing. Fighting dirty was a common thing, whatever it took to win as they said. <br/>
<br/>
Analee knew what she was going to be walking out into as soon as she heard the lingering mutterings of others. One never was punished and left for the night only to be released the next day. No, you were the center of attention the next day. Rest was for the weak and by no means were any of them trained tirelessly for no reason day after day.  Even with a job well done when you went out, you were treated no differently. Your food might be a little warmer, you <i>may </i>get the chance to sleep just a tad bit longer, but you weren't pampered. The chains were jerked, straining Kara's already no doubtfully sore arms. A wide grin on that lean guard who had visited Analee last night. As if he knew some secret he unlatched those chains. <span class="fixed-color" style="color:#ff8000">"You've got a long day ahead of you. Better keep on those feet, less you us to think you didn't learn your lesson." </span>The chains swung with a released momentum, back into the structures they were coming from. They jingled heavily, an eerie sound that one day Analee hoped to leave behind.<span class="fixed-color" style="color:#ff8000"> "One of you goes down! The next one comes in. Cross the line and you'll be skipping lunch and getting hooked in the sun!"</span> He bellowed.<br/>
<br/>
Her breath sucked in quickly. Hooked in the sun. Her eyes shifted towards near a rooftop, a hot place that held no shelter and had to be loads hotter than where they stood now. Her toes wiggled in her boots. She had never been up there, but she heard the stories, the screams from above. On the hottest days, giant scavengers soared the sky, their dark beady eyes cast down on those unluckily to be up there. Once a boy was left up there, burnt and left...a flock of those giant birds that were probably as large as her tore him apart...course...she wasn't sure how true it was. But she had seen the birds...those miniature beasts..she didn't doubt a guard could have left someone up there...she never wanted to find out how true that was either. Boy did someone have something up his ass today.<br/>
<br/>
<span class="fixed-color" style="color:#ff8000">"Ah. Analee...Why don't you have the honors of waking him up.</span>" He stepped back, dusting his hands off as if they had become dirty. A short blade was in her hand and she swung it lightly in her grip. Those still linger knew better than to <i>just </i>watch. Being aware was another thing they were taught. So they dispersed. Everyone had an order. When one person was called, the next person to show up already knew to be ready. So as Analee came closer, her eyes focused on Karas, she could feel the tension behind her breaking off, people pairing up in even and odd groups. The odds were never known and you had to be ready. It felt...like she was cheating, blade in hand to someone who had been punished and left out all night...but she was most likely the first of many and he would find a way to pick up a weapon. He had a strength one that pushed her....so many she could really knock him out..then he would least get some rest.<br/>
<br/>
She stood a few feet from him. She had the thought to let her wings show, but...it was always a risk she didn't want to take.<span class="fixed-color" style="color:#00ffff"> "Hope your not sore of bug bites."</span> A quiet tease off her tongue to gain Karas attention as she let her foot dig into the ground. Her knee's slowly bent and at that moment she pushed off, rushing towards him. Leather arm bands were bound to her forearms, protecting them during battles. A faint pain shot in her body, she never was right feeling after those visited nights and something in her step showed that twitch of pain, the curl of her lips as a faint hiss escaped. But she pushed through it, the dull side of her blade out, she wouldn't draw blood from Karas. It was a quick movement to hide that, the morning sun glinting off the polished metal.<br/>
<br/>
<br/>
<br/>
<br/>
</span>