Jazmee27 
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MOST OF THIS DRAFT, LIKE THE FIRST, IS GONE FROM MY FILES (AGAIN, I LIKE THE BEGINNING ONLY [in its entirety; I do like some of the phrasing elsewhere, but don't consider it worth keeping])
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Shortly before the guards came to drag one of us off, Qodi informed me he was “itching for a fight.” “Remember the last time you tried something,” I asked, my voice strangled. “All too well,” he replied calmly, pressing one of his remaining fingertips on my right wrist, “and I’ll likely lose the rest, but at least I’ll have done something.” “Perhaps if we regain our strength—“ I began, but he cut me off. “How are we supposed to do that when They sap our energies with more and more torment?” I fell silent. What sort of argument could I possibly make to that?
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Reply #1461. Jul 01 12, 2:15 PM
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Jazmee27
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When the cell door opened, we were both waiting in the center of the room. “Don’t panic,” Ontario whispered just before the key turned in the lock. “We’ll get out of this, same as we’ve escaped other scrapes in the past.” “There’s one difference,” I pointed out, my voice low but strained, “this is a place from which nobody returns.” “Rhozestheynta Rhozeynta tuveyro,” he replied simply—roughly, “so long as the Overcomer of Darkness and the Sustainer are together, both shall survive.” “But—“ At that moment, the guards swarmed in as if a dozen hostile prisoners, and not two weak and beaten captives, stood on the other side.
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Reply #1462. Jul 01 12, 2:16 PM
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Jazmee27
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Without hesitating, Qodi used his magical energies to lock onto one of the demons’ legs, eliciting a howl of pain and the smell of burning flesh. I was clumsier, but I managed to find another of our tormentors hear his shields collapse on themselves as I held onto his wrist with all my might. But there were too many of the guards, and we were soon subdued once more. “You shouldn’t have done that,” drawled a familiar voice—that of a woman known as the Fairy Empress, who just happened to be Qydra’s mother. “Silvia,” my twin groaned, and I cursed inwardly. We hadn’t counted on her becoming one of the wardens!
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Reply #1463. Jul 01 12, 2:17 PM
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Jazmee27
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No one really knew what she was capable of, so when she blasted us with this malevolent Power, we just sort of lay there. I was hit hardest, being closer to her, but somehow I managed to grab my brother’s wrist and cling to it. Wave after wave washed over us, and still we held on—that is until Qydra arrived and added his abilities to the mix. With a cry not unlike that of an injured animal, Ontario and I fell apart. Fighting back tears, I pulled away from the hands tearing me away from my twin until Qydra’s hand seized my left wrist, squeezing until the flesh melted from around the bone. Barely conscious, I sank into myself and allowed them to cart me away.
Sometime later, I heard Aleksandr’s voice informing me I’d been “a bad boy”—a line I’d have laughed at if my body didn’t ache all over. I lay still as first one wrist, then the other, was secured to the table, and the same was done to my ankles. “I’m not doing your feet or hands because the straps would get in my way,” The Surgeon explained. I coughed, weakly at first and then moreviolently, as I fought the urge to either scream, wretch, or both.
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Reply #1464. Jul 01 12, 2:19 PM
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Jazmee27
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The agony I endured that day seemed to stretch on into the next day, and the one after that, though in actuality I couldn’t have been in that room more than a few hours. In another part of the building, I heard a piercing scream that I knew to be Ontario. Twins in torment, twins in all things.
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Reply #1465. Jul 01 12, 2:20 PM
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Jazmee27
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The words of the Prophecy slap me in the face again and again, seeming to mockk me. “Neither can live without the other,” they say, the words increasing in volume until they are piercing shrieks battering against my skull. I want to drown them out, but have no more voice to speak. I want to press those blasted words from my brain, but cannot because I no longer have hands with which to do so. I want to…
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Reply #1466. Jul 01 12, 2:20 PM
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Jazmee27
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I am back in the cell, awash in my own blood, barely breathing yet still holding stubbornly to the faint life within me. I ache from more than external injuries; something inside is in danger of shattering in a thousand miniscule pieces. I feel the pull of consciousness, and yet I don’t want to obey…
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Reply #1467. Jul 01 12, 2:21 PM
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Jazmee27
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Qodi’s thigh rests within touching distance of mine, his breathing steady but ragged. “I thought,” he gasps, “for sure…” He pauses for breath, and I insert my voice into the silence, finishing the thought: “thought for sure They’d kill us.” We lay there, not quite touching, but still taking comfort in the other’s presence.
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Reply #1468. Jul 01 12, 2:22 PM
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Jazmee27
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Our visitor came then, not even bothering with the outer door. This surprised me; it meant he was one of the Odomahra. This assumption on my part was confirmed when he touched first me, then Ontario, and said “qatranyehva”—literally, “healing energy,” sometimes used synonymously with “restorative energy.” Almost immediately, I blinked; my sight had been completely restored—even if only temporarily. “Unfortunately, for various reasons, I can’t heal you properly. In order for that, we’d have to get you to safety. So, for now, illusion will have to suffice.” Qodi and I both nodded, glad at least for what we had. “My first visit, we weren’t officially introduced,” said the other, passing a hand nervously through his hair. He was in his early twenties, with short, wavy brown hair and piercing eyes so brown they appeared black. He wasn’t very tall, but carried himself in a way that spoke of quiet confidence. “The name’s Somahri,” he continued, his eyes downcast. “At our meeting, I was afraid they’d destroy the paper I gave you and—“
I cut him off. “You *knew they’d torture us, and still—“ He held up a hand, palm up in a sign of entreaty. “I didn’t know,” he said in a low voice, “but I suspected.” Again, he put up a hand, this time to stop me from objecting. “I couldn’t be sure,” he continued, “and for that reason my actions were limited.” I shook my head, not understanding. “You could have—“ He laughed, a sound without humor. “I do what my half brother tells me to. Without him, I can do nothing.” He paused for breath, then added, “it was he who asked me to hand the message to one of you, and he who was the first to fear that Aleksandr or Silvia would disregard it.” “They both did,” Qodi replied quietly to my left. “Yes,” responded Somahri, “but only with the proper proof could Xiveydo have given me other orders.” |
Reply #1469. Jul 01 12, 2:25 PM
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Jazmee27
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“It seems to me,” my twin commented, “that your Xiveydo was just covering himself—“ Somahri nodded ever so slightly, and the room fell silent.
Suddenly our visitor tensed. “They wait in the hall,” he breathed. Qodi and I looked at each other. We could hear nothing, yet—“I’m one of the Odomahra,” Somahri told us, “which means I can sense energies regular magic folk can’t.” Then he added, “I’ll come again, but we must part for now.”
My brother and I remained quiet after our visitor left us. Silently, we lay back down, our legs touching, arms stiffly at our sides.
A second later, the door rattled, and two guards stepped into the cell. As if by some prearranged signal, neither of us put up so much as a fuss as we were hoisted onto shoulders and carried off toward the Surgery—and our next appointment with pain.
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Reply #1470. Jul 01 12, 2:26 PM
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Jazmee27
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BY "EYES" HE MEANS THAT HIS LIDS ARE STILL INTACT, SO ANYONE NOT LOOKING CAREFULLY WOULDN'T EVEN KNOW THOSE ORGANS WERE MISSING
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My eyes kept falling shut despite every effort to keep them open. [AMAZING WHAT MAGIC CAN DO.] My muscles jerked in uncontrolled spasms. My limbs were completely numb with shock and pain as first one, then two red-hot pokers were applied to my bare flesh. Already, I was drifting in and out of the blackness, partly desiring the escape it provided, while a part of me still resisted… I had to stay alert, had to protect Qodi…
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Reply #1471. Jul 01 12, 2:30 PM
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Jazmee27
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In another room, the sounds of anguish rose and fell, and as with the day before I knew he was in there. If only I wasn’t tied down, if only I could go to him, if only… if only… … …
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Reply #1472. Jul 01 12, 2:30 PM
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Jazmee27
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Cool hands prod my latest injuries, and my eyelids flutter. Again, I’m in the cell I share with my twin. Again, Somahri’s present, except this time he’s tending to my hurts. I groan, try to tell him to see to Qodi, but all that comes out is a squeak. “Shhh,” the visitor says softly, “he’s being taken care of.” I am surprised: I couldn’t have voiced such a question even if I wanted to. “Magic, Qori,” he remarks softly, and I would have smiled but for the agony pulsing through me with every breath. “Unfortunately, my Powers don’t work so well within the Center.” He falls silent, his hands continuing to move over my scorched flesh. I imagine him frowning in concentration, trying not to mutter darkly about how much time it’s taking for any of it.
Eventually, our visitor stands up to stretch. “I needed Xiveydo’s help,” he states softly , his voice full of sadness. “They didn’t make it easy for either of us. But now…” I heard what sounded like papers shuffling, and Somahri stood. “I must go,” he whispered, “but I’ll return as soon as I can. Try to rest; you’ll be quite safe now.” And with that, he left the cell, leaving me with unanswered questions. I wanted to call after him, but the blackness pulled me down once more into its depths. I sighed, surrendering myself willingly to the promise of nothingness.
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Reply #1473. Jul 01 12, 2:33 PM
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Jazmee27
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Several pairs of hands held me in place as the Universe shifted around me. Where were we going? Who was taking me there? I tried to open my eyes, but my lids felt like they were weighted down.
One of the pairs of hands shifted, and soothing words were whispered in my one remaining ear. “Apologies,” the voice said, “but we had to get you out of there.” The hands resumed their gentle pressure, and I felt the blackness surround my thoughts once more.
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Reply #1474. Jul 01 12, 2:33 PM
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Jazmee27
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NONSENSE SEEMS TO BE THE WORD OF THE DAY
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I woke to the sun slanting in through the bars. This cell was different, cleaner. Where am I, I wondered.
As if in answer, a key turned in the lock and a head peeked in. “Oh, good,” the voice exclaimed, and quick footsteps crossed the floor. “We thought—“ a hesitant voice began, then gentle hands were probing my injuries, pressing lightly where the skin was most damaged.
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Reply #1475. Jul 01 12, 2:35 PM
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Jazmee27
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After a while, I cleared my throat and croaked, “where—“ “Try not to talk,” the voice whispered, then paused as if searching for the right words. “This is Scenoria, the new prison to be exact. You and your twin are both here under Vhoteyra’s orders. We couldn’t have left you in Xaitora one more second, not and keep you safe at the same time. “Why—“ I croaked, feeling an overwhelming desire to understand. “It’s complicated,” answered the other, “but it all boils down to this: our law clearly states that we can’t harm you without charging you with some crime. Since you’re already injured, we’re required to nurse you back to health before we can do anything.”Like a scene from the past, I thought, restoring me to full health so I can be tortured anew. Difference being, part of my mind pointed out, back thenyour rights under the “law” weren’t upheld.
“I must leave again,” the voice informed me, “some sort of meeting. Just lie back and rest, and you’ll be back to yourself in no time.”
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Reply #1476. Jul 01 12, 2:36 PM
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Jazmee27
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DRAFT THREE [OH, YEAH, THAT'S ONE OF THE GIRLFRIENDS]
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I guess you could say I never appreciated him until it was nearly too late. I’d always considered him a friend, but after the Dark summoned them before that so-called Assembly of Theirs…
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Reply #1477. Jul 01 12, 2:38 PM
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Jazmee27
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It’s true I used to care deeply for his older brother, but that relationship didn’t last long for reasons I’m unwilling to go into.
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Reply #1478. Jul 01 12, 2:38 PM
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Jazmee27
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The way magic works, nobody can afford to resist being Summoned. It only weakens us; maybe, for a few moments, we can fight against the Call, but eventually we find ourselves unable to do so anymore.
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Reply #1479. Jul 01 12, 2:39 PM
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Jazmee27
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I’ll always remember the day the Gonzales twins were Summoned to Xaitora. It even seemed Ontario knew it was coming—later, I figured out he likely had a vision, like I do sometimes.
“We’ve been Called,” he announced in a strangled voice. Anastasia and I looked at him, our expressions conveying the same shock.
I didn’t hear what Alonso whispered to my sister, but whatever the words were they seemed to comfort her. I think Ontario tried to reassure me, too, but I didn’t listen. I couldn’t. I felt like my heart would break if I so much as LOOKED in his direction.
That night, I had the most horrible dreams, filled with my friends being tortured relentlessly until the fight had gone out of them and their life energies transferred o the Dark. All the while, I watched, heartbroken and helpless to prevent a thing.
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Reply #1480. Jul 01 12, 2:40 PM
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