Mira gaped in shock at Sinafay. He thought she was Lina. In all her life, she had never been mistaken for her sister, everyone always saying she was too much like a pixie. While Lina's features were definitely Fae in nature. But this Drow thought she was. Instantly, doubt started to plague her. Did this man just want to play with her sister's heart? For if he truly loved her, he would know the difference between the two sisters. But before she could say anything at all, he peered at her in the dim light. "Who are you? And where is my Lina?" he asked, his whole posture relaxing, but just a trifle. "And why do you look so much like her? Are all Fae alike?" With that, it dawned on Mira. In the dim light, he had seen a Fae that resembled Lina and jumped to conclusions. And in his current state, she couldn't blame him. For while they weren't exactly alike, Mira and Lina were definitely sisters.
"I'm Mira, Lina's little sister. I'm here to try and help you," she whispered, coming towards him, still nude. He tilted his head a little and looked her over then snorted. "And how do you propose to do that when you are in there, naked, and locked up?" he asked, one brow arching sardonically. She looked down at herself and then around her and sighed. "It didn't go how I planned. I'm new to all of this," she explained, spreading her hands wide in a helpless gesture. "And in answer to your earlier questions, Lina is fine, for the moment. They have her locked in her room, but I don't think they are going to leave her alone for much longer. She believes that Lakin will try and get her to miscarry so he can still marry her. And the thought of what they have planned for you is torturing her. You have captured her heart quite thoroughly," she added, a warning note in her voice. But Sinafay just sighed and turned to pace the small area of his cell, his hands rolling into a fist then relaxing repeatedly. With a sudden growl of rage, he slammed his fist into the wall next to the barred window. Mira squeaked and jumped back, her eyes widening in alarm.
"I never should have talked to her. I should have just kept going instead of stopping. But she looked so tempting, so beautiful, that I couldn't help myself," he muttered. And even though she was right there, it was obvious he wasn't talking to Mira. But, as headstrong as her sister, she stepped up to the bars again, reaching through and grabbing his arm as he passed. "And do you think she would have been happier then? Lina has never been content here. But when she talks about you, her eyes light up in a way I have never seen. Sinafay, I don't like this any more then you. But I wouldn't change it, and I am sure Lina wouldn't either. And besides, I don't know about you, but I can't turn time back to change the past. So there is no use dwelling on what ifs and might have beens." She smiled softly as he just stared at her. Finally, he nodded and set his jaw.
"So, Mira was it? What do you propose we do to get me out of here? And you from what I can tell," he asked, smiling a little at her. Blushing softly, in a way that made his heart clench because she looked so much like her sister, she shrugged. "I honestly don't know. I messed up. I came down here with the plan on seducing the guards into trusting me, but instead, I think I fell for one. I hurt him terribly and allowed him to capture me in here. But, that doesn't matter. My sister needed my help." Her words trailed off as her cerulean eyes filled with tears. Sinafay recognized the heartbreak there and squeezed her hand comfortingly. But then, the sound of the door opening made him look towards it.
Slipping in the small crack of light was the same guard who had carried Mira in before. He whispered something to someone outside before closing the door and turning towards them. His eyes narrowed as he saw Sinafay holding Mira's hands, a soft growl rumbling in his throat. Sinafay chuckled and dropped Mira's hands and stepped back, hands raised before him. "Peace. I make no claim on her. Except as friend and sister to my beloved," he said, trying to placate the Fae. But then, Mira turned and ran towards the Fae, her face lighting up as she recognized who it was.
"Jalrin!" she cried happily, reaching through the bars for him. And despite his better judgment, Jalrin stepped up and opened the door to pull her into his arms. Dropping his lips to hers in a bruising kiss, he folded his silver wings tightly around her. "I am still angry with you Mira. But I can't stop thinking about you, and what you said. And anyone who would help her sister so unfailingly as to deal with my wretched brother is a noble woman," he said after releasing her lips. "I don't know what spell you put on me, but don't ever take it off."
"What spell? I didn't put a spell on you dearest. If anything, I thought you had on me. For me to feel this way for you, after having just met you; I don't know how it happened," she replied, nestling closer to him.
"It's called love. And it isn't a spell, it's just you finding your mate," Sinafay interjected. The entwined couple turned towards him and grinned, Mira looking amazed. "Love? But so quickly?" Jalrin asked. Sinafay shrugged. "It's how it was with me and Lina. A tying of our souls together. And I can only assume from the look on your faces that you two are experiencing the same thing," the Drow replied.
"But, she noble...and I'm just a guard. We can't love each other." Jalrin murmured, looking dumbfounded. Mira's face dropped, thinking that he was rejecting her because of her higher rank. But Sinafay once more was the voice of wisdom. "And what does that have to do anything? Lina and I fell in love and we are two different species. Love does not follow rank, or age, or species even. It follows its own rules." And after thinking about that for a moment, Jalrin looked down into Mira's eyes, an unspoken question in them. At her silent nod, he grinned and pulled her in for another kiss. Sinafay sighed and watched, wondering briefly if they would do a repeat performance of their earlier activity. When he had first looked over after the two had started, the dim light had made him think that the girl embracing the guard was his own Lina. And despite his body's reaction to the scene, his heart had been tearing into pieces with each soft moan and cry of pleasure he had heard. It was only when he realized that it was not Lina, but someone who looked an awful lot like her that he had been able to think rationally again. But, that did not mean he wanted to watch them love each other again. Not when he couldn't love Lina at the same time.
But his fears were groundless. For in a moment, Jalrin pulled away and walked over to open Sinafay's door, Mira tucked against his side. "Tell me the truth Drow. Mira has convinced me to help you, but only if I don't think you are lying to me. Or that you intend to hurt my Mira and her sister in any way," he said, navy blue eyes meeting crimson ones. Sinafay nodded and launched into his tail, starting from when he had escaped to when he had been brought here. Mira blanched visibly at the rough treatment he had received at her people's hands. If only she could make them pay. But she knew that Lakin was far more powerful then she, and held the council under his thumb. This explained why her parents had catered to him for so long, and bartered away their daughter's happiness, all for a little more standing in the Court.
Jalrin cursed softly when Sinafay finished. "I apologize for my people's treatment of you. I know that it doesn't take it away, nor does it make it any better, but it's the least I can do. I am now ashamed to be called a Fae," he said formally, bowing slightly. Sinafay recognized the attempt and the gesture for what it was. This noble man was indebting himself to him to pay for his people's abuse. "There is no need for such shame. In every race, there are bad seeds. And unfortunately, some of those are in positions of power. My own race is full of them, so I do understand, and I do not hold you accountable for anything. My main concern right now is getting out of here and to Lina. I'm terrified for her and what this Lakin might do to her. And any help you can give me to achieve this first step will be greatly accepted," he said, holding out his hand. Jalrin grinned and nodded, clasping his hand with the Drow, hands to wrist.
Mira sighed softly and rolled her eyes. "You two are wasting time with all this formality and flowery words. Lina needs us, now!" she said, stomping her foot to emphasize the point even more. Jalrin chuckled and nodded, reaching for his keys to open Sinafay's cell door. "My brother is guarding the hallway. But there is another way out of this dungeon that few know about. It leads up to the third floor passage, and from there, we can easily get to Lina's rooms," he said, stepping aside for the Drow to step into freedom. He turned and looked down at Mira and grinned. "Though, you, my dear, might want to find something to wear. I think that ribbon contraption is salvageable. Let me retrieve it from Tunrid." Mira blushed and looked down at herself, nodding.
And within moments, with her new beloved's help, was clad back into the skimpy outfit. As soon as that was done, Jalrin led the way to a dark corner, tapping his quarterstaff against the floor and walls at odd intervals. And, when Mira and Sinafay began to doubt his memory of this secret passage, there was a loud clear click, as the quarterstaff sunk into the wall and floor, the stone giving way. A panel of wall slid back and then to the side, revealing a narrow spiraling staircase. Wrinkling her nose, Mira braced herself for the dusty tight trip up to the third floor, keeping her sister's heartbroken image in her mind to keep her going.
A short time later, they were all slipping into Lina's rooms, the two Faes slipping aside. Sinafay gaped in shock at the sight of his brave, fiery Lina curled into a ball on her bed. With a soft cry, he rushed to her side, gathering her into her arms. With one large, dark hand, he smoothed her tousled auburn curls back from her face, whispering softly into her ear. After a moment, Lina's eyes fluttered open to stare up in disbelief. "Sina?" she whispered, wanting it to be him, but fearful that she was just dreaming him there again. At his nod, she sobbed softly and threw her arms around him and clung. Mira turned away from the scene with a smile curving her lips, her eyes finding Jalrin's as she led him into the adjoining room. Things were going smoother then she could have expected them to. Almost too smoothly. Surely, something was going to go wrong soon. Though, she prayed to the goddess that it wouldn't.
"Lina, we should get going. Things have been going too smoothly for my liking. I'm sure Lakin will be returning at some point to either check. Either that or he'll be paying Sinafay a visit to rub in his imagined superiority. If he does any of those before we are gone, we are done for. Not only will Sinafay be sentenced to death, but so will the three of us. Our parents will lose face even more, be cast down from Court, as will Jalrin's family. So, let us leave now, while we can. And pray that the Gods smile kindly on those left behind to take the fall," she said, stepping towards the still entwined couple. Lina sighed and pulled away from the searing kiss Sinafay had given her. She understood the logic of her sister's words, but all she wanted was to be with Sinafay, her body screaming out for his to reaffirm that it was really him, that they were really together again. When Mira whispered her name, her tone urgent and scared, she nodded with a sigh.
