Freeing Cinderella

Ch.12 Power Within

He sat there, locked in a cell, his arms chained and shackled above his head, his arms hanging lazily, or more like tiredly. Yami sat in that damn cage for nearly three days now, or was it four? He couldn't really tell anymore... The days just seemed to merge... For once, Yami felt helpless, powerless to help Yugi. Those cries of pain and agony, though faint, echoed throughout the halls, just barely reaching Yami's ears, but that's all it took for him to cringe and grit his teeth. However, Yami held his tongue, even though he wanted nothing more than for Dartz to mark him instead. The way he saw it, if Dartz marked Yami, the prince, it would just give him another reason to put that lowly bastard in a coffin. Oh, how he longed to be free so he could hold little Yugi in his arms. Suddenly, the sound of soft footsteps caught the prince's ears. Could it be Dartz? No, he has loud, thundering footsteps, not soft and quiet ones.

"Yami..."

He slowly lifted his head to reveal his face, which seemed drained of all life. His eyes were slightly red and puffy as well; had he been crying? Well, when you feel powerless to save someone you so desperately care for, you tend to shed a few tears sooner or later... But the person at his cell door slid down to sit on their legs and gently grasped the metal bars, big blue eyes shining with worry and sadness staring back into near empty crimson red ones.

"T-Téa?"

She gave him a small smile. "Are you alright?"

His eyes trailed down, but he didn't reply. "I know it pains you to have to listen to Yugi like this, and I am doing all I can to bandage him up to keep him alive, but I did not know Dartz would turn on you so quickly the way he did, though I had my suspicions from the beginning..."

Yami gazed at Téa again. "Why did you call him by his name?"

She gripped the bars tightly, her hands trembling slightly. "He is not longer my father, if you recall, only my stepfather. However, someone who does such horrible things to innocent people for no good reason is no father of mine." She turned her gaze back to Yami, determination shining in her sky blue eyes. "But I swear, I will do what I can to help you get out of here alive!"

Yami smiled weakly. "Thank you, Téa..."

She smiled and nodded. "Anything to bring my father to his knees once and for all."

Suddenly, Téa reached behind her back and pulled something out from her dress, Yami raising an eyebrow, until she opened her hand as something fell, but dangled from her index finger. Yami's eyes widened at seeing a set of keys in the girl's hand and she grinned. "Come on, I believe it is time we put an end to this once and for all, don't you?"

Téa got to her feet and stuck a key in the lock, turning it until she heard a click. Removing the key, she opened the cell door and got to her knees again, sticking another key in the shackles around Yami's wrists. Once unlocked, his arms dropped and he weakly rubbed his aching wrists as Téa hid the keys in her dress. After the keys were hidden, she helped the prince to his feet and put an arm around her shoulder as she held onto his waist. As she helped Yami exit the cell, she noticed he was still wearing the outfit he arrived in, but it was a bit dirty and his cape had a few rips on the bottom, though she could care less about his appearance. All she cared about was getting him and Yugi out of here as soon as possible. After quickly getting Yami something to eat and drink to at least help him regain some of his strength, she had him sit down as she explained what was happening to Yugi.

"What all has Dartz done to Yugi?" The prince asked.

"Too much... Beat, kick, hit, cut, whip, maybe more... He's covered in mostly whip marks on his back, with a few littering the rest of his body. There's some cuts, some bruising, and who knows what else... He's been through hell and back, Yami... I just want him to get out of here and away from Dartz..."

Yami sighed. "Then let's get him out of here..."

"What?"

"I am getting Yugi out of here one way or another. How long have I been here?"

"Almost three days..."

He sighed again. "I will go for Yugi myself."

"What!? No! Please, let me help you!"

"Téa, I need you to be on lookout."

"Lookout? For what?"

"My sister must have gotten worried and come looking for me by this time with the help of an old friend of mine, I would hope. I need you to stay out here for when they arrive so they may come to aid me escape with Yugi safely."

Téa was silent for a long moment before nodding. "Alright, I understand..."

"Thank you, Téa." And with that, Yami walked off.

___________________________________

Yami walked down the halls, a glare on his face and a kind of determination one should not experience, especially through blind rage, and you could've sworn Yami's eyes were glowing red with anger. But once he reached that door where loud cracks of a whip and cries of pain were heard, the angered prince stared at it for a long moment, that is until a yelp in pain reached his ears yet again. He clenched his fists and grit his teeth before bursting through the door in which everything stopped, two sets of eyes widening -- one in shock and the other in happiness.

"Y-Yami...?" Yugi croaked.

"How did you manage to escape!?" Darts exclaimed.

"A helping hand." Was all he replied with, making Dartz growl as he raised the whip in his hand. "I highly advise you do not continue." Yami warned.

"And what if I do!? What in bloody hell are you going to do about it!?" He raised the whip higher, causing Yugi to flinch and begin to tremble, more tears sliding down his face.

"You are already treading in dangerous territory, Dartz; as far as I'm concerned, I could end your life right now and no one would even bother to ask what happened. Strike Yugi one more time and I promise you will regret it."

Dartz growled again. "Mai! Lock this fool up now!"

Suddenly, Mai ran in and managed to grab Yami's arms and clasp the shackles around his wrists. She then kicked his feet out from under him before chaining his wrists above his head, running out and feeling rather proud of herself as Yami began to struggle.

"Release me at once, Dartz!" He shouted.

Darts laughed. "Now all you can do is watch helplessly as this pathetic excuse for a boy takes his punishment!"

"NO!!"

Crack!

"Ahh...!!"

... ... ...

"YUGI!!!"

Suddenly, a glowing light appeared on Yami's forehead. When the light dimmed a bit, there was a symbol, but it was shaped like that of an eye, except it was closed. But suddenly, once that glowing eye opened, the shackles around Yami's wrists were shattered into pieces. With the chains shattered, the glowing eye closed before disappearing, Yami opening his eyes to see said chains in thousands of little pieces. At first, he was stunned and confused until he realized it was the ancient power sealed within him his mother had told him about when he was a child, but now he understood what she meant.

"How--!? Wha--!? What the hell did you just do!?" Dartz exclaimed.

"An ancient power is sealed within me, Dartz, and I was able to reach deep down in order to free myself." Yami explained. "Now then, release Yugi immediately. I will not ask you again."

Darts growled yet again, raising the whip once more as Yugi gasped, knowing what came next as he braced himself. "Let's see if you can save your pathetic little slave!"

Crack!

Gasp...!

... ... ...

"YAMI!!!"