The Evil Queen

Running Scared

Theo looked from man to man as they slept she jerked on the manacle and chains. The loudness of the rattle shocked her. She stopped and looked onto both of them. After satisfied that they weren't waking she checked the bloody mess under the manacle on her ankle. She looked around looking for something very particular. One of them had to have a piece of cloth she could wrap the thing in to relieve some of the pain. All the drug had worn off and she was alert, awake, and strong. As she jerked on the chain again the whole great tree shook. "Are you planning on bringing the whole tree down?" Dax was sitting up watching her. She jumped to the side in shock, "Huh?" He rubbed his eyes sleepily, "Well you can't break the chain or squeeze out of it, so are you planning to pull the whole tree down?" Her whole body bristled, she reminded him of a feral cat.

He stood up and brushed the leaves off his cloths as he looked over at Algar. As he took a couple steps towards her, she backed up defensively. "Please calm down." Wrapping the chain around her fist, Dax could hear the sizzling her skin was making. "Stop, you're hurting yourself!" Dax had both his hands up, palms out. Theo looked like a cornered wild animal, barely five feet she was intimidating at that moment. "Don't underestimate me Dax Hunter, I'll rip your entrails out and make trophies out of them." Her voice was low and threatening. He straightened, "I believe you. I won't harm you, I swear." Her green eyes narrowed on him, "You already did." He jerked back like she had slapped him. "It wasn't intentional." Her grip on the chain tightened, she took a step forward. Dax didn't move, his eyes surveyed her, he looked deadly serious. "Theoda, if you attack me, I will hurt you. Calm down, I implore you. "

Anger burst out of her, she flew at him and swung. The chain laden fist grazed his chin as he maneuvered to avoid her swing. Grabbing her wrist he twisted her around and pulled her into his chest. Ordinarily this would be an okay move for a woman this small, but she wasn't an ordinary woman. She charged backwards and slammed Dax against her and the tree. Her strength shock him, she had winded him and crushed his ribs. Their fists were pressed to her chest, she pulled but his grip was still strong. As she attempted to ram him into the tree again he wrapped a leg around hers and jerked back. A frustrated screech escaped her. With her free arm she elbowed him in the ribs and his hold loosen just a bit. But it was enough, she wiggled her arm free and pulled Dax over her and slammed him onto the ground. His eyes flew opened just in time to find her on top on him pinning him with her chain. Something in his blue eyes flashed, and she stopped, chain resting lightly on his skin.

Dax looked at her bewildered, his hands were holding on to her arms. He let go, and dropped them besides his shoulders. "Don't kill me Theoda, please." She swallowed hard, tears welled in her eyes, "I can't." She sat back dropping the chain across his chest, she looked at her palms. Wincing she looked back to Dax. "You can't?" He slowly moved his hands down and propped himself up on his elbows. She shook her head, her whole little body moved on top of him. "You really do not mean me harm. I'm sorry." She wouldn't look him in the eyes. He tried to get her to make eye contact, "Where did you learn to fight like that?" She looked up at him and he was smiling, he reminded her of Ashcroft when he was a young man. Before everything went to hell.

"Baby brother, I'm slightly impressed. I disagree with your choice of doxy." Dax jumped and gently pushed Theoda off his stomach. "Algar, how long..." Algar raised his eyebrow, "Long enough, what on earth is going on here?" Dax looked over at Theoda her look had changed to animalistic again. "Nothing, she's crazed with fear brother." He glowered at her, his smirk turned her stomach. There was something very wrong with him. "Dax, get us some more fire wood." Dax turned curtly, "What?" "Firewood, we need more." Dax kicked a pile of dirt, "If you want to talk in private, ask." She glared at his brother as he walked passed into the dark.

Algar turned his eyes to Theo, he stood and walked towards her. "Stop." He smiled, but continued till he was just out of her reach. "Tell me more Elf." She shook her head, "I won't." He turned looking behind him, then back at her, "My brother?" She sneered, "Is loyal enough, more than you deserve." His face pinched as he pushed back the urge to smack her for her insolence. "Is he a threat?" She smiled, "I didn't bond with him, I bonded with you." He gritted his teeth, and reached out and grabbed her wrist. He wasn't stronger than her, but his gesture frightened her. Looping the chain around her arm, she winced in pain. "Tell me." "You can have anything you decide you want. And you will hurt Dax in doing it." "I'd never hurt Dax, he means too much to me." Shaking her head she closed her eyes, "It will happen." She straightened up and pulled away from him. Algar jerked the chain causing her to stumble. Falling to her knees she tried to scramble up, but was caught by Algar who kicked her arms out from under her and laid the chain across the back of her neck. She screamed in pain. "What do you want from me? I told you what I saw, I can't control if it's not what you want."