[center][H2][color=slateblue]Ariella[/color] [color=D35F56]&[/color] [color=ef82a5]Annie[/color][/h2][/center][hr] [color=gray] Ari froze. [i]Missing…[/i] Feeling the pit of her stomach turn as the color slightly drained from her cheeks. She knew something was wrong, she had felt it since that night but the confirmation that there really was something wrong…she felt sick. Cal… After what felt like a lifetime, Ari finally smiled softly attempting to mask any concern. [color=ef82a5]"Can we please talk in the hallway, Ari?"[/color] Nodding, she led them towards an empty hallway leading towards one of the many stairs but not before swiping some drinks from a tray. Tucking themselves out of sight, Ari offered Annie one of the glasses of… well she wasn’t sure what it was she just hoped it was strong. [color=slateblue]”Why are you forbidden to look for him? [/color] she whispered, keeping mind to keep her voice down. [color=ef82a5]“My father increased the number of guards by perhaps… I don’t know, a million,”[/color] Anastasia began, then took a deep swig of the liquid she had been handed. It burned her throat in a familiar way, and she sighed as though the drink had answered her prayer. [color=ef82a5]“ My brothers and I have not been permitted to leave the castle, or barely even our rooms without some sour-faced man standing three steps behind us as if we might burst into flames if left unattended.”[/color] She nodded along, understanding her words. Leaning against the hallway wall Ari let out a sigh. She understood the feeling of being trapped, but she was lucky it was Nikolai and not some royal guard who likely said nothing but followed Annie around. Her mouth curved, but it was not quite a smile. [color=ef82a5]“Ari, it has been the strangest week of my life, which is saying something given my past choices.”[/color] She looked down at the cup in her hands, thumb tracing the rim. A breath of laughter then escaped her though it was humorless, [color=ef82a5]“I feel like I have been imprisoned, even though everyone tells me it isn’t so. They’re hoping if they make the cage pretty enough, I won’t think it’s one.”[/color] Lifting the glass to her lips Ari thought about her words for a moment, a look of sympathy on her face. [color=slateblue]”I’m sorry Annie…I have to agree with you that this is imprisonment. He’s keeping you on a leash so he can control you. Control your movement and know where you are. Even I can see that.”[/color] Scoffing, she took another sip of her drink. [color=slateblue]”My father even has someone watching me too, can’t leave his sight. At least he’s somewhat tolerable.”[/color] [color=ef82a5]“Oh? Who? Like a guard?”[/color] Anastasia asked curiously. Peeking around the corner, Ari took another long sip of her drink while she looked over at Nikolai. She lingered for a moment, watching as he spoke to a rather attractive looking women she had not seen before. So many new faces tonight. [color=slateblue]” His name is Nikolai, that’s him over there. The tall one, dark hair, embroidered jacket.”[/color] taking another sip she turned back to Annie [color=slateblue]” My father instructed him to watch me.. Every single step he has to be there. Atleast, in eyesight. He is even staying in our home. After the situation at the tavern my father didn’t want to risk anything and Drake has given him his full support. Come to think of it… Why doesn’t Drake have a personal guard?”[/color] Her brow furrowed. [color=slateblue]”I could take care of myself better than he could….”[/color] she muttered under her breath, the alcohol loosening her tongue slightly. Anastasia glanced over, and her brows lifted. [color=ef82a5]“The tall, dark, and handsome one.”[/color] She appraised with a nod and then returned her gaze to Ari. [color=ef82a5]“I haven’t loved guards hovering over me either lately, even the handsome ones. “[/color] Next, she considered Ari’ question for a moment, then. Why was it that she had a personal guard, and Drake didn’t? [color=ef82a5]“...Knowing Duke Edwards, I imagine it’s out of love, at least.”[/color] She murmured. [color=slateblue]”There is more to him than just his looks, I will admit. [/color] Ari added before taking another long sip of her drink. A silence filled the moment as she too took another long drink, then Ariella’s voice filled her ear once more. [color=slateblue]”Do you know where Cal might be? Any kind of clue or hint? Maybe I could go looking for you, just to help ease both our minds…”[/color] She whispered softly to her. [color=ef82a5]“...I know where he might have gone… or rather, [i]who[/i] he might have gone to,”[/color] she admitted quietly. [color=ef82a5]“But I think he’s dangerous. I don’t know that you should go after him—especially not alone.”[/color] Ari watched Annie with a concerned look, seeing just how serious she was sent a chill down her spine. Then there was the matter of Callum himself, and what he had been doing. Given the state of things, Anastasia did not feel safe speaking of his magic, even if it was seemingly just the two in the hallway. Perhaps that secret was the only thing keeping Callum safe now. Still, she wanted to tell her. Anastasia hesitated, her folded arms tightening around herself. [color=ef82a5]“There is something else,”[/color] she began carefully. [color=ef82a5]“Something I haven’t told you about Callum… I-I…think it might be important he remains hidden right now.”[/color] Has the magic got to him? They spoke about dark magic often, though he certainly was far more advanced than her own skills. Ari reached for her friend, putting a hand on her shoulder gently. [color=slateblue]”Annie…”[/color] She said softly, inching closer to her so their words wouldn’t travel. [color=slateblue]”Cal and I were closer then I think some even knew…”[/color] she said softly unsure of how to even describe their relationship. [color=slateblue]”We shared a lot of similar interests and he told me …[/color] She paused glancing around [color=slateblue]”... I know. I at least I think I know. If it is what I am thinking, then he needs help Annie… keeping him hidden… [/color] she let out a soft sigh, it may even be too late but Ari had to know. She had to try. [color=slateblue]”I’m worried.”[/color] Her hand tightened in desperation and worry. Anastasia’s eyes slowly lit up with sudden recognition of what she might have meant. Without hesitation, she pulled her into an embrace. However, her next words made her brows knit together–did Ariella also do magic? She wasn’t one to pray, but she found herself mentally praying to the Gods that she did not… At the least, Ariella seemed to be insinuating that she knew Callum did magic, and that she knew how dangerous it was every day that passed that Callum was lost. [color=ef82a5]“...I am worried too,”[/color] she whispered with a sigh. Ari nodded in acknowledgement as she pulled away from her hug slowly. [color=ef82a5]“We have to find a way to help him. That hunter with the white hair, the one that has the girl on the chain, he frightens me. I could tell without even speaking to him that he would not care who Callum was… [i]He would simply kill him[/i].”[/color] [color=slateblue]”It’s why my father has instructed me to stay with Nikolai…[/color] Ari admitted. Though she hated the idea of being watched, she was scared too. Trying to hide it wasn’t so easy. [color=slateblue]”I shouldn’t say this here but, there is a reason for it. A good one. However, it's all the more reason why I'm so worried. Cal…he’s been changing for some time. Ever since that monkey, it’s like he became someone else. First it was just small little things, but then his personality.”[/color] she paused, [color=slateblue]”Every part of him that I cared for seemed to be shifting into this darker version of himself and I just let it happen… maybe if I had said something or done more-”[/color] The look in her eyes became less filled of worry and became more sadness. They glistened slightly amongst the lights as she fought back her tears. Annie didn’t need her crying on her shoulder, she just lost her mother. [color=slateblue]”He was at the Auction, the one on Drunkards day.” [/color] her voice cracked slightly as she remembered. [color=slateblue]”I wanted to share with him some things I had found but he was so far into his bottle and that damned monkey likely wouldn’t have allowed it. So I left.”[/color] She looked back at Anastasia. [color=slateblue]”I left… Maybe if I had stayed-”[/color] Her voice cracked again as a tear danced dangerously along her lashes. Anastasia finally pulled Ariella into a tight embrace. [color=ef82a5]“Ari, sweetie, there’s nothing you could have done.”[/color] She stroked her friend’s hair soothingly, then brushed a loose strand back from her face. [color=ef82a5]“We’re all in so deep, and none of us know how to swim.”[/color] She held her there for a moment, before finally adding, softer this time, [color=ef82a5]“Maybe tonight, let’s just try to forget about it all and have some fun… Like old times?”[/color] A faint smile tugged at her lips, tired but trying. [color=ef82a5]“It’s not as if either of us are getting out of here tonight to do anything about it anyway. So maybe we use tonight to get some relief, drink something sweet, dance until our feet hurt, and then tomorrow…”[/color] Her smile grew a little. [color=ef82a5]“Tomorrow, we focus on helping Callum like the bad bitches we are.”[/color] Sucking back any tears that lingered, Ari nodded with a somber smile. [color=slateblue]”You’re right. Plus I see an empty bar not too far from here I may visit.”[/color] Looking at Anastasia, Ari’s eyes lingered for a moment [color=slateblue]”You out of all of us deserve a night of fun. So let's make that happen. Maybe I can steal you from Farim for a dance later, like we used to do when we were kids.”[/color] She suggested laughing at the idea. [color=ef82a5]“I’d really love that.”[/color] Anastasia said earnestly with a smile. [/color]