Restrained

Ivy

 "Ivy? Is that you?" A voice asks

"Who are you?" I called.

A man comes out of the shadows, facing me with a warming smile.

"Leo!" I run into his waiting arms.

"What's wrong? You're acting like you haven't seen me in forever." He laughs.

"What?" Confused, I looked up.

"Nothing Ivy. I'm just glad you're home. Did you get the bread?"

"Bread? What bread?"

"Ivy. You were at the market to get bread." He laughs.

"Was I?"

"Yes."

"Oh, I guess I forgot." I sigh.

Leo wraps his arms around me. I bury my face into his chest with a smile as something warm and wet drips onto my cheek. I wipe it off and see blood smeared on my hand. I look up at Leo in fear and see him looking down at me, face ruined and bloody.

"Ivy." Leo sputters. "You should have saved me."

I wake up with a start, escaping from the horrid dream. Maz shuffles beside me with his arm draped over my body. My heart immediately calms down as I feel safe. I look over at Maz and see his face, sleeping. He looks calm and open, hiding no secrets. He pulls me against his chest with a sigh. I look up and see him looking down at me with sleepy eyes.

"Um, hi." I whisper.

"Hi." Maz smiles for a moment, then his face falls into seriousness. "We're leaving tomorrow."

"W-What?" I stumble, confused.

"We're leaving. Your mother is gone and is safe. He has no one to threaten to force you to stay. We will leave tonight."

I sit up and look down at him.

"Tonight?" I ask.

"Yes. The sooner we leave the better."

I can see the well hidden pain in his eyes as he covers it with a warming smile.

"What's wrong?" I ask.

"Nothing. I'm sorry that you have to go through this when you should be at home with your family."

"It's okay. I love trying to kill my father. It gives me a rush." I say, throwing him a sarcastic smile.

He laughs once and looks up at me.

"How's your hand?" He asks.

I lift my burned hand up for him to see, but there wasn't anything there. Confused, I lift up my other hand, and sure enough there was nothing there. Maz sits up, taking my hands in his and looks at them with fear and seriousness.

"Where did it go?" I whisper.

"It's gone."

"Oh really? I couldn't tell?" I roll my eyes at him and smile.

"This is why your father wanted you, and so did my father."

"English please."

He sighs, looking up at me with an apologetic smile.

"You healed yourself. You're the missing piece your father needs to rule the leagues. With you, they have no choice but to obey."

"What do you mean?" I ask, looking down at my healed hand.

"I'm willing to bet that your father is almost at his full strength."

"And that means what exactly?"