Restrained

Ivy

I walk for miles upon miles with little breaks, wanting to put a distance between Maz and I, knowing he will try to catch up to me. Eventually he will, but he'll be too late.

I think about what Maz said to me earlier. How I need to try to remember something. Remember what?

After another hour or so, I find myself in front of Raz's. There's no guards so I guess my father is already there. I swing the doors open and go into the throne room to find my father sitting on the throne.

"There she is." My father says.

I ignore him and continue looking around the room. I see Raz in the corner, surrounded by his guards. Clearly my father is almost there to get what he wants. I look over by my father and see Leo, peering back at me. Wait. Leo? Everything comes rushing back into my mind and I remember. So this is what Maz ment.

I have this to my advantage here. Apparently my father thinks I've come to my senses, and will side with him, but he's wrong. I have no need to tell him of course, so that's my advantage here. If I play this out right we can all get out of here unharmed.

"Where's Maz?" My father asks.

I look up at him with a small smile.

"You killed him father." I let my smile falter as if I'm concerned. "Isn't that what you wanted?" I ask.

"Yes. That's correct. Why don't you come over here and see Leo?"

I nod my head and walk over to Leo and smile.

"I'm happy to see you again Leo." I say.

He smiles, but it looks forced.

"Same."

I wonder what's the matter with him. I just came back. Shouldn't he be happier than this?

"Daughter." My father says, grabbing my attention. I look up at him expecting him to continue. "You and Leo can go home if you'd like."

I see Leo look up at my father in the corner of my eye with shock. I'm treading on thin ice, but this is something I feel like I need to do.

"That's okay. I'll stay here with you and help around some." I smile.

Leo looks at me in frustration but doesn't say anything. My father smiles softly, but there's a terrible horror hidden behind the scenes of his smile.

"As you wish. You've been a lot of help lately." He says.

"Ivy. Snap out of it. I know you know better." Raz finally speaks, and it strikes me how calm he sounds.

I look over to Raz and smile.

"Snap out of what?" I ask.

Lying like this hurts, but I'm afraid that if I give them even the smallest sign, that my father will see it, or that they're not a very good actor. I really want to tell them, especially Leo. He looks really mad at me.

"Leave my daughter alone Raz." My father commands.

"She'll get through this one way or another John, and you know it." Raz says, still calm as can be, even when I just said his son was dead.

I look over at my father, still playing this game.

"Snap out of what father?" I ask.

"Nothing you should worry about Ivy. Raz is just in an emotional state because his son is dead." My father smiles at me.

"Right." I say, smiling back.

My father opens his mouth to speak, but we hear doors slam open, echoing down into the throne room to us. A few seconds later Maz comes barreling into the room, sweating and out of breath.