FF : Curiouser and Curiouser!(Ch17pg104)DISCONTINED.See Pg106 - Page 24

There was a pregnant silence. "What?" he said disbelievingly. "No. No, Princess, I cannot allow you to leave this castle-"

"You don't understand," she said desperately. "I need to find out who killed him. I need to find out about this rebellion. I need to escape from here!"

"Your Healing duties no longer required?" he said sarcastically. Piya hesitated, then she said, "No. No, Abhay, I want to get out of here. They won't let me go- I need you to help me."

"No." His answer was flat and cold. "You have no idea of the danger you can be in. you have no experience or training to handle the type of creatures you might encounter. I can't run this risk."

Piya looked resigned, but then she sighed. "Very well. As you wish."

She said no more, but paced the room back and forth, biting her lip. Abhay watched her, an odd premonition filling him. It struck that when the Princess wanted something, she usually got it by hook or by crook.

After a while, she stopped pacing and sat down on her bed, pulling out a very thick notebook.

"Come and sit here," she said, patting the space next to her on the bed. Abhay's eyebrows shot upwards in shock. She looked confused, then understanding flashed across her face. "You can get off if anyone comes," she assured.
I won't tell anyone, you know."

"I'm fine, thanks," he said unsurely. She shook her head. "It's creeping ME out, you watching from there," she said. "At least here , I can talk to you."

After a long pause, he hesistantly came over to sit on the very edge of the bed, she clucked irritably. "Would you prefer a direct order from me? Abhay, come here and sit next to me."

He obeyed, coming to sit next to her. Piya shoved away the awkwardness she had now become almost familiar with, thanks to his deep blue eyes. Instead she said(to break the tension), "You were from one of the first batch of Mutants, weren't you?" Abhay nodded. "How old are you?" A ghost of a smile twitched on the edge of his lips. Piya caught herself wondering how he would look if he smiled. Could he smile? She wasn't sure. She had never seen a Mutant smile.

"I was nineteen when I was..brought here. It's been-three decades, I suppose." Piya nodded, her eyes unfocused. Then she came back to the conversation. "How long do humans live?"

Abhay shrugged. "Depends. Sixty to seventy, maybe longer. Sometimes."

"But that's so short!" exclaimed Piya. "We live for hundreds of years!"

He said nothing in reply. His eyes were staring out into space, and he seemed very far away...

Piya wanted to ask more, but something told her not to press him. She showed him her book.

"Isn't it nice? It took me sixty years to get this much done." Abhay stared at the notebook. In it, she had made diagrams and notes of all the ingredients she used for her medicines, from the bile of an armadillo, to the spit of a dragon, to the root of a Zeus plant which was native to Faye. Each entry was accompanied by annotations describing observed side effects.

For a long time he pored over it with her, as she explained the differences between an Arasemia leaf and a Bordis root.

Then, feigning tiredness, Piya blew out the candles and lay down on the bed. "You sleep, too," she told Abhay. "You must be tired, right?"

"I really don't think-" Abhay began. "Resting a while won't hurt you," said Piya obstinately. "Just like down for a few hours on the bed."

Abhay stared at her dark shape, somehow smelling a rat. He decided to humour her, and pulled off his boots and lay down rather awkwardly on the bed. She smiled and lay down on the opposite side of the bed, and though Abhay could not see her, he suddenly realized what she was planning and he almost smiled.

He made his breathing even, trying to angle himself in a position that might easily pass for a sleeping person, though he was slightly unsure...he closed his eyes and waited.

It was several hours before he felt her move. She sure had patience, he'd have to give her that.

Piya did not make a sound as she reached down, still sitting on the bed, and carefully put her prized notebook inside a bag. She then put a few bottles of blood in the bag, wrapped in wool so they wouldn't clink against each other. She then tied the knotted strings of the bag securely and began to get off the bed.

And then several things seemed to happen at once.

As if by lightning, a hand shot out and snaked around her from behind, and then she was jerked back to the centre of the bed in a motion so fast it had happened in the blink of an eyes. Piya found herself half-rolling, half falling on the bed, and when she came to a halt, she was looking up at Abhay, who was above her, almost-but not quite-squashing her, for he held his weight well above her. Still, Piya found him, and their positions, too close for comfort.

She could his fingers fisted under her, grasping the fabric of the dress at her back. He was looking down at her, and his eyes were impossibly dark...darker than she had ever seen them. Perhaps it was just the lack of light...but his eyes were dangerous. He was dangerous. He didn't make her feel safe and happy like Kabir had, but he made her feel as though she was as helpless as a leaf in a tornado.

And all the while, he had not said a word...

She felt a sudden flare of anger shoot through her as she realized she was comparing him with Kabir, "Get off!" she snapped, her voice echoing in the silent darkness like breaking glass. She pushed him off herself and made to get off the bed, away from him and possibly to run, but-

His hand was still grasping her dress- and as she tried to move away, she felt it loosen suddenly, and then she felt cool air on her bare back.

She felt a tremendous amount of mortification, followed by fury, hit her as she realized what had happened. She reached around to her back, and realized that the ties of her dress had come undone, leaving her back bare.

"You imbecile dimwit!" she raged, holding the front of her dress for dear life. "How dare you?"

"I'm- I'm sorry!" he said hastily. "I didn't - you took me by surprise, so I didn't think it through- is it completely undone?"

"Wouldn't you like to know?" she hissed. "Who, for the love of Satan, told you to grasp the strings of my dress! I cannot imagine how you could sink to such-vulgar-depths, merely to restrain my flight!"

"So you admit you were running?" he cut in.

"Never mind that!" she snapped. "Turn away right now! Don't you dare look-!"

"I really can't see much," he admitted. "Your eyes glow slightly in the dark, but apart from that, I don't see much ..."

"I don't care!" she raged. "What I going to do now! I can't tie it back by myself, and if I call Erika- what will I say to her? Oh, you foul, loathsome-"

"I sincerely apologize," he said, sounding genuinely contrite, and perhaps it was this that colled her down slightly. "I- I could send for a female Mutant- any friend of mine-if you'd like?"

"No," she said coldly. "There is no need to call anyone. Draw back a bit of the curtains and tie back my dress. And if you dare leer or make a single inappropriate comment-!"

Abhay groaned internally, then took a deep breath, and drew back the curtains slightly. It was daytime, so the sunlight entered the room, illuminating it-and Abhay regretted it extremely when his eyes fell on her. He thanked the stars that they were not facing each other.

Counting backwards from nine thousand nine hundred and ninety nine, he went back to the bed and did his best to avoid looking at the pale skin of her back. More than once, he fumbled with the strings, only to be admonished by a click of her tongue. If she knew what he was thinking...oh, if she knew...

He went back to counting again. Most unfortunately, though, as he was tying the final one, his fingers slipped , inadvertently touching her surprisingly warm skin. He'd always thought it was cold...

And then he noticed it. A faint scar, whitish and barely visible, running downwards and disappearing under the fabric. He traced it lightly with his index finger, and she shivered, then gasped. "What are you doing?"

"I apologize," he murmured, hastily typing the last of the strings. He mentally resolved never to touch her again if he could help it. "Could you draw back the curtains?" she finally turned to him, not meeting his gaze. He drew back the heaving curtains, plunging the room into darkness once more.

"I would like to rest," she said formally, then lay back down on the bed.

She knew she ought to feel angry that he had seen and touched her scar, but she felt relieved and grateful that he had not asked her to explain it. He had made no untoward comments and he had seemed genuinely contrite. What actually bothered her though was her own reaction to him. Sure, she hadn't been touched like this for many years, but that didn't mean-she was not supposed to recall in such detail exactly how his fingers had felt on her skin. It was not his fault either- he was probably just surprised by the scar.

She mulled it over before coming to a simple explanation : it had been her anxiety, and mortification. And with Kabir gone-she felt a lead weight drop into her stomach at the thought- she was probably a bundle of nerves anyway. She dozed off into a fitful sleep. Her dreams interspersed with Kabir's smiling face and another pair of deep blue eyes.

A lone candle flickered in the room. Though his other senses were well developed, he was taking no risks as far as the Princess was concerned. He doubted that anyone besides him knew the amount of danger she could be in, if she were to leave the castle.

Recalling her bid to escape, he couldn't help the conflicting feelings of admiration and frustration that arose in him.

Piya wasn't his. He had no right to even be thinking about wanting her. She didn't even welcome his touch. He felt a sudden surge of anger at Kabir, who had had the rise to hold her, touch her, kiss her, wipe away her tears...ask her about her scars...

No. he had to focus.

He moved to the corner of the room and blended into the semi darkness, watching...

Mutant 14003 had been given leadership duties of the perimeters of Faye, and she was right then, patrolling, her movements quick and light. Once in a while, her eyes darted around, making a mental note of her fellow Mutants.

She glanced towards the makeshift tent, where a group of five Strategists sat. They were too far away to see her face, so they did not see the raw hatred in the the attractive planes of her face.

Aiza wanted to kill all of them. She wanted to see them suffer the way they had made her kind suffer. Her cat like eyes narrowed in disgust and anger as she recalled how horribly they had tortured Abhay for not being able to save the Head Strategist, Kabir, then the huge, elaborate funeral. She almost snorted, but kept herself in check.

Out of all the Mutants, only Abhay had shown sadness after the incident, which Aiza assumed was because of his misplaced love for the vampire princess. She herself was not sorry Kabir was dead. No, she was not sorry at all.

Then she felt a pressure on her mind. It grew more and more invasive steadily, like a battering ram with spikes on it. Her companions remained unaffected, but she recognized the call of a thirsty Strategist. If she did not go soon, they would use the Diablo on her, and that was something she wanted to avoid.

She had been the only Mutant they had recently modified so that she could obey mind commands. What the Strategists has no idea of was that she could also hold conversations through her mind link. So far she had only tried it with one person- Abhay.

She knelt in front of the Strategist who had called her and tilted her neck towards him. As he plunged his fangs into her neck, she reached out to Abhay. It was several moments before she got a response, and at once she sent him a mind's eye view of her pain. And Abhay responded, layering her troubled thoughts with calmer ones, numbing her pain, and she could have cried in relief and gratitude. She would never dare ask anyone else.

It was several hours before Piya awoke, to the sound of Erika scurrying about, lighting the candles and bringing her breakfast. Piya wondered if he had gone, but then she saw him, half hidden in shadows.

Erika took her to the bathroom, and after helping her wash and bathe, she helped Piya put on her her dress, and Piya blushed again as she remembered the events of a few hours ago.

Breakfast was gerbil blood and the stew of Zeus. Though it had been recommended to her by a Healer, she knew well and good that gerbil blood had a nasty side effect of causing sleepiness....sleepiness. as she swirled the red liquid in the goblet, an idea hit her...simple, and effective. If she played her cards right.

When Erika left, Piya turned to Abhay. "You can come and sit here," she said graciously.

Abhay rolled his eyes. "Why are you being so nice to me now? You and I both know-that I will not let you leave now. So why the act?" Piya looked up, eyes widening in surprise.

"You think my being nice to you was an act?"

"Wasn't it?" he countered.

She was silent for a moment, fidgeting with the folds of her dress. "Well, maybe, I was nicer than normal," she conceded. "But- I wasn't completely acting- I mean, I have no objections to treating you like a normal person-so you can come and sit here."

"No, thanks," he said quietly. "I don't need your pity, and I'd really rather not get used to this."

She stared up at him again, trying to figure him out. Were all Mutants treated this way in general?

Focus, Piya! Her mind shouted at her. Right. So..she needed to get to the Omnius. And for that, she would have to bide her time...

"The sun burns us," she said, remembering an old curiousity. "Does the moon affect humans in a similar way?"

"No, of course not," said Abhay. "Sometimes, humans with sensitive skin can get a bit sunburned, but the moon does not affect us- them, I mean."

"Oh," she said, surprised. " So then..why do they sleep at night?"

Abhay looked slightly perplexed at this question, "Because, Princess, humans work during daytime, and then they get tired, so they sleep at night to recover their-um-eergy."

"So they don't sleep to escape the moon light, then?" said Piya confusedly.

Abhay's lips twitched. "No, they don't need to do that. Why do you ask?"

Piya flushed. "Oh, I- I've been interested in humans ever since we found out that , you know, Mutants were being developed from them, but no one really tells me anything, so...I don't know if you noticed, but the people of Faye aren't exactly-they don't really like me. They respect my title, that is all. And my parents, of course."

"Is- is there a specific reason why?" began Abhay, but Piya was quick to shake her head. "I can't tell you," she said sadly.

"That's- I'm sorry," he apologized quickly. "I know I had no right to ask-"

"No, it's not that," she said. "I would tell you, but I'm not sure myself..."

"Oh...right." he said awkwardly.

Piya smiled slightly. "Do you read?" she asked.

He shook his head. "You mean, as a hobby? No- I don't think we're allowed to."

"But that's awful!" she exclaimed. "Everyone should be allowed to read. I love reading, myself!"

"I noticed," he said dryly.

"Do you want a book of mine?" she offered, but he shook his head. "No , Princess. I am supposed to be on duty."

"Oh very well then," she said resignedly. "You wouldn't mind if I read out to you, would you? What would you like? A human story or one of our books?"

"You have human books?" he said in surprise.

"A few- but don't tell anyone," she admitted, then her smile faded. "Kabir used to get them for me."

She stared off into space.

"How long did you know him?" he asked suddenly. Piya started. "Oh-Kabir?" she said. "For two and a half decades, I guess."

He moved closer, coming to kneel in front of her.

"You've known me longer, though-haven't you?"

His words reminded her of a dark, stormy night decades ago...

She reached out as if in a trance, lightly pushing away the cloak from his neck, her fingers resting lightly on faint scars. "Yes," she said quietly. "I met you before-I have known you longer." His eyes bored into hers, holding her gaze, till Piya felt that now-becoming familiar twisty feeling envelope her, and she averted her gaze. Abhay got to his feet. Something about the way she looked at him disturbed him. Something happy, but also something terribly sad in her gaze. He found himself wondering about her life before he had known her.

But he must not ask...

Footsteps pattered into the room and Piya got to her feet as well. Erika had come in to get her breakfast things. "Princes, have you not finished the blood?" said Erika, holding up the bejeweled goblet. Piya looked adorably flustered. "Oh-that- why don't you come back after a minute? I'll finish it off by then."

The moment Erika had left, Piya hurried to the goblet, picked it up and offered it to him. "Please, please finish it off," she said pleadingly. "I can't stand to drink gerbil blood. Please?"

Abhay seemed to hesitate, but only for a second. "As you wish, Princess," he said, raising the goblet to his lips and draining it. Piya closed her eyes firmly, not wanting to let her real emotions show through. When he kept the glass down, she smiled gratefully at him.

Soon, Erika came over and took away the things. Piya settled back in her bed, reading "The Faye Witch" to pass away the time...

She glanced up surreptitiously from her book.Abhay, sitting on the chair,was holding his head in his hands...till his hands fell and his head lolled sideways, his eyes closed and his mouth slightly open.

Piya knew she had about an hour or so before he woke up. She therefore began to pack as quickly as she could, pulling out a larger bag and packing her notebooks, a few bottles of blood, her "human" books... Then she pushed away a portrait of Galborough I and opened a trunk which was kept behind it. She took out trousers, cloaks, and a few shirts and packed them as well.

Strapping the bag to her shoulder, she cast one last look at the still motionless Mutant, then opened her eastern window and looked out into the approaching dawn. It was a hundred feet above the ground, and a dense forest grew below.

She climbed upon the sill, braced herself and leapt downwards.

Once she reached the ground, she covered herself with a cloak, and began to take slow, measured steps away from the castle. She must not look like a runaway. She knew she had to get away from the castle, and then she would focus of finding her way.

She did not hear the person following her till he grabbed her arm none too gently and shoved her roughly against a tree.

"Hello, Princess."