Graceling

[Cara]

Kasta turned to Lorn. "Go. I want this castle in total lock down. No one gets in, no one gets out," Kasta said. "I'll deal with Levia," she said. The girl was starting to come around.

Right before Elliot was about to jump, Levia woke with a scream.
"No!" she cried, almost in a dream, before opening her eyes, and realizing where she was. She looked confused, her bright green eyes wide with fear.
Kasta was standing before her in a split second, blade hovering at her throat.
Elliot froze, not sure what to do. Kasta might kill her, and she was the only person who would know anything... But Dedelean... he had to help her...

Dedelean gave a cry, as the boy pinned her down. "Now!" he hissed. The little girl; she must be around nine years old, sat upon Dedelean's stomach. She reached out and placed her small hand on her chest.
"It is the Master's wishes... You are his servant to his good will...." the girl said, all the while, her black eyes gleamed. Dedelean stopped struggling as a wave of happiness to obey came over her. "You are one with the Master," she said, standing. Dedelean smiled drunkenly. Yes, she thought. She had to obey the Master...
"Good job, sis..." the boy said, standing. "The Master is coming," he said, smiling. The little girl gave a cruel laugh.

Levia froze. "Defend yourself! Prepare! For the Master is coming!" she screamed, trying to struggle free of the bonds, but they held fast. "He'll get us all! Please! You must listen!" she cried.
"Who is the Master?" Kasta asked.
"I... I don't know..." Levia said, frowning. "He's... he's... my Master," she said, trying to shake off the last of the hold. She could feel his force pushing back into her mind. She gave a soft moan, as her eyes rolled back in her head. "It's too late... He's already here."

[Galadas]

Elliot opened his eyes widely. Dedi! He stared from Levia at the outside world. He changed back in human form, he needed the speak, why was this so difficult, always. "Kasta, put her down! She back under his power!" He yelled, scared. If this was so close, if the Master was so close, Dedelean could already been falling at his hand. That Master needed to die! He changed back, mountain lion, it didn't matter, as long as he could get to Lean before anyone else could.
He jumped out of the window, down on the street, he could smell Lean's scent. It had been here, and here it had been changed. The new scent... it made him sad. He knew what it meant, he lost her. He growled of pain, his heart was broken. He promised to save her, and he failed. He turned into a cat and jumped up the wall again, appearing in Kasta's room, he hadn't even been away for a minute.
He changed, faster than he had ever changed before, jumping in front of Levia, in front of Kasta's sight. "Where that Master of yours!?" He snapped.

[Cara]

Levia's eyes wavered from bright green and to dark grey Graceling eyes to a pure, onyx black with a tint of red. For a moment they were hazle and a dark grey. She just shook her head. Elliot shook with rage. Without thinking he slapped her. The sound echoed across the room.
To everyone's surprise, Levia began to laugh. There was something sinister in the sound. She looked up, her black and red eyes flashing. "We have her," Levia said to Elliot. "She's the Master's now... In good care, don't worry. If you would like to be with her, join us. She'd be happy. She wants you to be with her again..."
"No!" Elliot screamed at her. He grabbed Kasta's sword from her hand and swung it at Levia. Kasta was there in a second. Before he knew what had happened, the sword was back in Kasta's hand and he was lying flat on his back with the wind knocked out of him.
"I don't think doing that would do any good," Kasta snapped. "Be rational!"..."Besides, I should know when there's a need to induce pain..." Kasta hissed.
Elliot got to his feet, still trying to get his breath back. He could feel where she'd hit him. It felt like a rock in his chest.
Kasta turned back to Levia. Her eyes were back to normal. "You don't know what you are up against..." she murmured, her face distant. "He's too powerful. He'll come back... For you two, for me..." she said. "The bond must have been fractured, damaged. Please... please have mercy. Kill me!" Levia said, her voice rising. "I... I don't want to return to him!" she pleaded...
"Gladly..." Elliot grumbled. Kasta shot him a look.
"Can you tell us anything about your master?"
Levi was shaking. "He's powerful. More powerful than you can imagine..." she said. "His words are your breath, your every moment of life..." she said, her eyes wide.
"What's his Grace?"
"Grace?" Levia said, before it registered. "I don't know... I never found out. But it's vast. He can control anyone's mind. Even the strongest can't fight it. No distance dampens his hold over you once he has given you the Mark."
"Mark?"
"Yes... Our job is to 'seduce' those his wants to join him. His words alone are powerful. His touch even more so. You believe with your soul that his words are true. Then our job is to wait for the Master to come. To deliver his touch and mark you as his..." she said, pulling down her shirt. Right below her collar bone was a red-looking intricate mark.

[Galadas]

"Where is he!?" Elliot growled, he could only think about Dedelean. Where was she? Was she Marked? How fast could he kill that Master? He wanted to rip him apart, pierce his claws into his warm flesh and tell him about hell and fire, watch him die. "Where's Dedi!?" He wanted answers.
"Elliot! Shut up!" Kasta snapped.
Elliot smashed his hand against the wall, surprised about the pain. He thought the talking had no use, his plan was much more simple. Kill the girl, find the Master, kill the Master. But, he would allow Kasta to do her job. "What will you do, Kasta? Try to find the Master, or stay in your little castle and be happy with your Order? I need to know, else I'm here for nothing."

[Cara]

Before Kasta could respond to the insult, Levia screamed, making both Elliot and Kasta cringe. "No!" Levia cried, struggling against the bonds. Kasta suddenly cut Levia's ropes.
"What the hell are you doing!" Elliot shouted, as Levia jumped free. He was ready to grab her, but Kasta grabbed his arm as a steel vice.
"Her Master or whatever is calling her back. Locating her..." Kasta said, pointing to Levia's mark. It shown a blood red. "Let's not lead him to us, but rather find him ourselves..." she said. Levia was on her hands and knees, gasping, before she gave another sinister laugh and fled.
"Lets go! Follow her!" Kasta snapped, as she ran out of her room, Lorn following.

[Galadas]

Elliot changed shape from human into a great watchdog, being an animal was his biggest weapon. Besides, he was probably naked as a human, but who would care, animals were naked too. He ran after Kasta, being angry at her for making the girl flee, he could've used his good senses to track the master down. He growled, not understanding why he'd chosen to work with the girl. but it could make things easier for him, she was graced, he had no idea with what, but it must have been something really awesome, else she wouldn't be the King's one and only killer.

[Cara]

Levia moved with amazing speed, running through the crowds. At one point Kasta lost sight of her wild silver-blonde hair, but she used her sense of smell to follow. It wasn't as good as Elliot's animal nose, so she had to let him lead for a while.
They hid themselves when Levia stopped just a few miles out of town. She was at a total stand still. "Master, I have returned..." she murmured, so soft that Kasta only barely understood.
Kasta squinted as she made out a dark figure standing below a large tree. Kasta couldn't make out his face at all. He seemed a tall man, thin but strong under the dark red robes. He had a large hood that concealed his face.
"Good, my daughter..."
"That's her daughter?!" Elliot whispered. Kasta shushed him.
"You were detained I suppose?" the man said, frowning. A few others came out of the trees to stand besides their Master.
"Yes, Master. I..." Levia frowned. "I can't remember," she said. "I was detained though. The girl... the one you sent me for. I failed you," Levia said, bowing her head.
"Ah, Kasta Sarce, she is challenging. But with good time. She will come..."
"As you are willing," Levia and the other people responded together.
"I'd like you all to meet our new member. Welcome her into your family," the master said.
Kasta automatically grabbed Elliot's arm, her nails digging into his skin. A warning. She knew what was coming.
Elliot would've jumped out of their hiding spot, had Kasta not held him back, while Lorn covered his mouth. He let them, though he could've fought, kicked, scratched, bit... as he saw Dedelean stand before the Master.
"Master, I am willing," Dedelean said, as she knelt down before the master. He smiled.
"I know," he said as he reached down to mark her.

[Galadas]

"Let me go!" Elliot snapped, his eyes wide open. "You can't allow him to mark her." He tried to cut loose from the grip, he needed to save her. He cut loose, ripping his arm open, but it didn't stop him. "Dedi!" He screamed, not sure what would happen. How fast could the Master get someone under his spell? He growled and changed into his biggest form; a bear. He roared, as heavy as he could, hoping to scare, to startle.

[Cara]

The Master seemed unperturbed. Elliot even saw him smile. "Ah, welcome. Glad you could make it in time. I was worried that you'd miss out on all the fun!" he said. "Kasta, dear, you may join him," he said, keeping his eyes on Elliot only.
Kasta stepped out with Lorn, eyes wide. How had he known? Did the man know they'd been there all along!?
Dedelean stood then, standing by the Master's side. "Elliot!" she said, smiling. "I'm fine, see? Please, it's safe here. Join us!" she said eagerly. "You don't have to hide any more. Don't have to run or conceal who you are! Isn't it amazing?" she said, looking at Elliot with hope in her eyes. Elliot changed back. Everyone stood back, not attacking, though they had numbers on them. They hardly seemed threatening at the moment.
"What are you talking about!" he stepped towards her. "Can't you see what they've done to you? Twisted your thoughts! Get away! Come with me while you can!" Elliot whispered firecly.
"Elliot..." Kasta warned, but Elliot waved her away. He grabbed Dedelean's wrist as to lead her away.
Dedelean pulled her arm from his grip. "No. I want to stay with the Master..." she said, her eyes flashing. "And you should to."

[Galadas]

Elliot growled heavily, something he had never done at Lean before. "You need to come with me!" He snapped, she wasn't herself anymore, just asking wouldn't get her along. He turned to the Master. "Let her go! Or I'll cut your troath!"

[Cara]

The Master only laughed. He held his arms out, palms up, as if in an embrace. "Really..." he said, amused. Turning to Dedelean, he asked her, "Do you know this boy?"
"Yes, Master."
"Do you wish to go with him?"
"No, Master," Dedelean responded, watching Elliot with frowning eyes. "Elliot, I don't want to go..." she added. "But you are welcome to stay."
"And if I chose to go?" Elliot growled.
"As she said, you are welcome to..." The Master said, smiling, "though I'm sure we'll be seeing you both very soon."

Kasta looked around. While Elliot and Dedelean had been talking with the Master, more of the Master's followers had come. Kasta saw Levia standing amongst them, her eyes black once more. There must at least be two dozen, two and twenty. Kasta wondered what their Graces were.

The Master looked at Elliot. He could feel the Master's eyes piercing him from somewhere in the darkness of his hood.
"You will stay with us. You want to stay," he entoned.
Elliot found himself nodding. Yes, he wanted to stay...
"You want to obey my every word. I am your Master..."
"Yes..." Elliot said, as he frowned. Why was he doing this?
"Good... I am your Master..."
"NO!" Kasta shouted, tossing a dagger at the Master. It immeditally shattered in the air, as a boy stepped forward. That was his Grace... The Master was also protected by these Gracelings!
Hands were on her in a second. "Let go!" Kasta hissed, tearing away. She sprinted off, grabbing Elliot as she ran.
"Elliot! Elliot!!! Snap out of it!" Kasta screamed. It took a moment, before the glaze from his eyes disappeared. Kasta paused, after a moment. They weren't giving chase! She stopped, helping Elliot to his feet.
"What?" Elliot asked. "What happened? Dedelean?"
"She's one of them..."
"No! I have to go back!"
"You can't! He was about to brain wash you! That's is Grace! He'll control your mind...!"
"Why weren't you affected?"
"I wasn't listening..."

[Galadas]

"So, he enchants us with his voice!" Elliot said hopefully. "Then I'll cut his tongue out!" He was angry, angry and afraid. He wanted Dedelean back, he had promised to protect her, he failed time after time.
"Yeah, good luck with that. If you haven't noticed, he's protected by a dozen of Gracelings." Kasta replied.
Elliot nodded, working out his plan. "I got my own tricks..." He paused looking at Kasta, he needed her help, which, if he played it well, she would grant him. "This Master, and his little army of Gracelings, he could mean a good deal of trouble for your little order. I think we should work together in order to stop him." He stayed clam, hoping she would agree.

[Cara]

Kasta shrugged. "He poses some threat, I suppose. But not enough," she said. "The Order isn't just Gracelings... In fact most are un-Graced. Anyway, it's not my problem until it becomes my problem," Kasta said.
"What?! And when does it become your problem?"
"When I chose to make it so," Kasta replied. She was in a foul mood as it was. "I'll see what the Order can do..."
"Kasta! You have to help me! Think! It might be too late! He's building up numbers! You think once he has that much power he'll want to just sit back and watch the sceneary?"
Kasta smiled. "Then I guess it is my problem," she said with a laughed. "How may the Order be of service?" she asked, a sharp light in her eye.

[Galadas]

Elliot smiled, his heart making a jump on the spot, hope. "Take down the Monster!" He said, grinning. "Do you have a plan?"

[Cara]

Kasta pursed her lips. "Lets sneak back to see if they're still there..."
As they made their way back from where they came, they saw the group still standing there, talking. Even more Gracelings had gathered! Like a small Graceling army!
"We have some business to attend!" The Master shouted above the Gracelings. "Let us depart!" he said. Immediately everyone touched each other's shoulders. There was one Graceling girl in the center, who held the Master's hand. She had a pale complexion with almost white hair. Her eyes were pale too, a light blue and gray. She closed eys, and then suddenly everyone vanished.
Kasta felt Lorn give a small gasp. "They're gone!"
Kasta stood. "That girl, in the center besides the Master. She must have the Grace to teleport! That's rare..." she said. "I didn't even know such a Grace was possible!" she said.
"Oh great! What now!" Elliot demanded, upset.
"Oh hush!" Kasta snapped. "I wanted to see if we could follow them, which of course isn't an option right now... But I never would've attacked. Not with everyone there. That'd be suicide! They'd have us too under his control...." Kasta shuddered. She never wanted to be under someone else's control. Her lord and king was enough. But to be some else's body and mind? That was too much. The Master had to die. But how? He was already so powerful...