TAKE TWO, kotlc

Chapter 12- Oralia

Oralia woke up to voices.

"...but they don't look as...?" a light voice was saying.

"Neither did their mother, and look what it did to us," a deeper voice growled in response.  Something banged against her shin and she bit her lip to restrain a yelp as she felt a bruise forming.

"I didn't expect the Song girl," the other voice said.

"Me neither, but the more the better," the deep voic answered firmly.

"One of them is waking up," another voice warned.

Oralia pretended to force her eyes open as if she hadn't heard their conversation.  "Where am I?"

Braelynn and Arella were already conscious, but looked gagged.  They were being restrained by two cloaked figures, their dark hoods covering their features.  The three elves that she'd overheard talking stood in the middle of the cold, deserted room, their hoods also lowered.

"Oh Oralia," the third voice said.  "How kind of you to join us today! I understand that you were less willing to come, am I correct?"

A million questions burst at her lips but she forced herself to say, "Yes."

"The unwilling are set backs," the lighter voice said cheerily.  "And setbacks are diversions.  Hopeless follies.  Spares."

Oralia felt herself physically shudder at the word.  "Never."

The last figure shrugged.  "It is no longer a matter of willing or unwilling.  We want revenge.  Your parents will do anything for their precious children.  Anything.  They will lie for you, spy for you, die for you- and little children always make the perfect bait, don't you think?"

The deep-voiced figure must've been a Pyrokinetic.  A ball of Everblaze formed on his index finger and he pressed it hard against Braelynn's arm.  The sound of skin singing made Oralia feel faint.

"But anyways, our plan is not for your parents," the third figure cut in.  "They've had their time.  But you, the next generation.... so many things can happen.  You can grow up their way..." the elf shrugged, "Or you can grow up ours." 

"I'll never help you,"  Oralia managed to snarl.  For once she wished for her sister's confidence- even cockiness.

"It's not your choice," the light voice insisted. 

Oralia's eyes burned as the Neverseen member burnt Braelynn a second time, pressing his entire palm against her bare thigh. 

She broke free of the figures grasp, managing to whirl around and hit him straight in the nose.  All three members lunged for her, but she managed a shaky levitation, hurrying over to cut her sister and Braelynn free.

"Let's go!" She yelled, over the shouting, ducking beneath a ball of Everblaze.  She could feel the heat licking at her skin as she helped Braelynn out of her chains.

"Where? Our home crystals are gone-"

"There!"  

She spotted an Eternelia crystal hanging around one of the figures necks.  It was a clue- but also a way out.

She used her telekinesis to yank the crystal off of the elf's neck, and felt herself fading away...

But as she fizzled out of the cold, somebody screamed so loudly that she almost stopped.

Something pierced Braelynn straight in the back, the tip jutting out to the front of her chest, right before they faded away.