Ethereal

~Charlotte~

So there we were, one pissed off prince, one exploding wall, one ruined gown, one nasty gash, and a half of an escape plan later.

We ran towards the girl, she was huddled up, pressing her body against the post as she attempted to shield herself from the chaos.

"Koreask!" I heard Tennin's voice from far off

"Marcie, we don't have much time" I muttered to her softly.

"Marcie!" Ashan's voice now joined in the calls.

"No we do not." Marcie looked looked worriedly behind her as she helped Hagia along. But the old woman was going slower and slower, and while she was determined, I realized that this was probably the most excitement she had faced in years. I tested my leg, the pain had subsided slightly and it held weight. I glanced at Marcie and I knew we had, had the same idea.

I stopped the old woman.

"Haiga, stay here."

"But my granddaughter!" she looked at me, raw distress showing on her weathered face.

"I know, I know. I'll get her."

"She's all I have!" Haiga cried, struggling as I tried to sit her down. "Take your hands off me!" She was screaming now her voice betraying all her fears. I took her face in my hands and looked her in the eye.

"Haiga, listen to me! Listen to me! I wont leave here without her. Please. You have to trust me" She relaxed slightly and that was enough consent for me

Marcie was already a few yards ahead of me, and I sprinted to catch up, pushing the pain out of my mind. I reached the post a few seconds after her, she was already struggling with the lock. The little girl's eyes were wide as she stared at us. And tears began to pour down her cheeks.

"Hush now. We are going to get you out of here." I told her "Got any ideas?" I asked, turning to Marcie

"Maybe one.... Hold on." She looked around and found a small mettle shard. She inserted an end into the lock and began to work at it.

"Can you actually pick a lock?" I asked

"I dunno yet." she said, grinning at me. "I've never tried."

"Koreask!" I turned around to find Tennin right behind me.

"We need to go. Now!" He grabbed my wrist, gripping it so tightly I could feel my flesh bruising. I struggled to pull away but that only made him strengthen his grasp. I stopped flailing and stepped closer to him holding my ground.

"There they are! The Koreask and her friend!" We both looked in the direction of the voice and found the Prince's guards were heading our way from the other side of the room.

"Let me go Tennin" I said turning back to him.

"No. We need to go. Right now."

"I wont leave her!"

Tennin looked down at the girl.

"She is the descendant of a traitor. Leave her" his voice was cold, and I jerked back revolted.

"She is a child!"

"Of a traitor!"

"I Wouldn't care if she was the child of Hitler, I wou--"

"Hitler...?"

"Never mind. The point is, she is a child. An innocent child who has done no wrong to anyone. And I won't leave her." I tore my wrist away from him and turned back to Marcie.

"Any luck?"

"No." She said still frantically fumbling with the lock. I knelt down next to her, taking the mettle.

"It won't budge!"

"Let me try." I looked up to see Tennin beside me. I let him take my place. "If I can just..."

"What are you three doing?" We all turned to see Ashan coming up behind us.  "Have you gone mad?!" He said directly to Tennin.

"We need to get her free!" Marcie shouted at him.

"Oh for spirits sakes!" Ashan drew his sword and in one slice had cut the chain from the post. Marcie flashed him a smile as we all stood up.

"Here they come!" Ashan called

I swept the little girl up in my arms and we all began to run.

"Marcie! Haiga!" I shouted to my friend.

The six of us made it to the exit and we began to run through the city streets. Dodging the grey clad people people as we rounded sharp corners.

The little girl clung tight to me burring her head in my shoulder. I concentrated on keeping my feet from getting tangled up in each other. But it was no use, the pain from my leg coupled with my lack of coordination planned my inevitable fall.

"Ow" I gasped as I tripped on a bit of uneven ground falling awkwardly in my attempt to protect the child.

Tennin dropped down beside me and helped me up.

"The girl!" I winced

"I've got her." He muttered.  I shot him a grateful glance and kept going. Marcie slowed to my pace.

"Hows your leg?"

"It's okay for now, but I don't know how much longer I can keep going" I admitted to her softly.

"Haiga too, I think Ashan is going to have to carry her soon."

"Tennin, where are we going?"

"I don't know. Ashan has been taking the lead. Every place I know will have been compromised.

"Here we are!" Ashan was standing a little ways ahead in front of small broken down house. "Home sweet home." He murmured stroking the sunken exterior. Ashan flashed us all his famous smile, then opened the door.

"Mother! I'm home!"