SHATTERED [Jadis, Lucy, Peter]

[elisiaaphine]

Aphine skipped along the caves humming a rather cheerful tune to a place so dark and deadening. Yet what was more eerie or sickening than a cheerful tune being echoed in such a place. Aphine had good reason to be proud. Little King Eddiekins was on his way to the Stone Table to die. Lillith would be much more than pleased to hear this heartwarming news. Continually skipping, practically bouncing through the caverns, she called out in a cheery voice. "Oh, Queen Lillith!" she called out in her singsong voice. "I have news for you on King Eddie!" She giggled to herself. Oh the message had been delivered, and a little girl had been there, but that was taken care of all too soon. This would be a glorious day indeed; all of Narnia would soon witness the wrath of Queen Lillith as she killed the young King and finally reclaimed her rightful title as Queen over all of Narnia.

(sorry its short, i got stuck)

[Jadis]

Even over the relative din of the meeting hall that she had claimed as her makeshift throneroom, it was not hard to hear the echoes of singing and an unnaturally childish, yet still completely grown-up, voice calling. It was even less difficult to guess who it was. Finally. With the flick of a hand she silenced the hag speaking to her and stood without any explanation. She had more important business to see to than this foolish hag had to offer anyhow. Her movement threw the entire hall into dead silence; well enough for them to be intimidated. Her interests lay in striking the same fear into all of Narnia, and hopefully Aphine's news would lend to that quite nicely. Without a word, she left the hall.

It did not take long to find Aphine, seeing as she was skipping and singing and carrying on even more so than normal. "What news have you, Aphine? Pray it is good." Judging by the woman's mood, it was, but it never hurt (her, at least...at that was what mattered) to add a small threat into it.

[elisiaaphine]

Aphine spun on the spot, giggling enthusiastically. Had she not known better she would have grabbed the terrifying Queen by the hands and spun her around as if she was her mother. Instead, she bounced down to the floor and sat with her legs crossed and her skirt spread out around her. She had the widest grin upon her face and her eyes sparkled and danced with a malice that would surely bring nothing but good news to the White Witch. Even in this sitting position, she was bouncing, almost like a dog begging for a treat after doing a trick or something good.

"I told Eddie!" she giggled, still bouncing uncontrollably. "There was another girl there eavesdropping, but I took care of her. Eddie promised he would be at the stone table alone just like you told him to be! " She giggled once again to herself, this time jumping up and dancing around. "King Eddie's gonna die! Queen Lillith will kill him!" She laughed once again before stopping her dancing and rocked on her heels, smiling uncontrollably up at the White Witch. "Does that please you Queen Lillith?" she asked her, her hands folded behind her back like an innocent child.

[Jadis]

Jadis smiled, which was about the extent of any sort of celebration she ever showed. "Quite. And now I have another job for you, Aphine. As I will be gone for some time, you are to keep an eye on our...guests. See to it that the High King and little Queen are...comfortable." Her smile turned cold and vile. "Your only restrictions are that they must remain in their cell in their restraints...and alive. Beyond that, you have my full permission to do whatever you see fit. Now, I must go set preparations for meeting the young king." Without another word, knowing that Aphine would be a fool not to follow orders or to take this chance to use her favorite little games and spells and whatnot, she turned and left.


((OOC: sorry so short. like keeping it to the point so we can get to the fun part ))

[elisiaaphine]

Aphine’s eyes lit up with a bright excitement, letting out a shrill shriek of laughter and jumping up and down. Now came the fun part. Lillith was going to leave and Eddiekins would die! Aphine would have asked to have the satisfaction of coming along and watching the fun, but Lillith’s task would be much more enjoyable, of that she knew. Nothing gave Aphine more satisfaction than watching and creating unbearable torment for others. With an evil giggle, she nodded, slightly swaying back and forth as she did so.

“Yes, Your Majesty,” she said bouncing; her head bobbing lightly almost like she was giving the White Witch a bow. “I’ll make sure to do everything in my power to make their stay the most unforgettable experience they’ve ever had.” She let out another giggle, her eyes dancing all the more. “I promise.” Aphine’s gaze followed Lillith as she moved out and left before Aphine let out a higher and more childish laughter. Without another sound besides her giggles echoing the cave and giving it an eerie haunting sound, she skipped toward the back of the caves where she knew ‘special guests’ would be held.

[Lucy Pevensie]

Lucy's spirits were still unnaturally high all things considered, though Vardin's visit had a good deal to do with that. She sat in her usual spot - not that she had any choice in the matter - and drew intricate swirls in what thin layer of dust she had managed to spread out on the floor in front of her. Though they were barely visible, it was still rather enjoyable watching the picture come together, though it had no true form or shape.

Her doodling was disturbed by a far-too-familiar sound echoing a little ways off and she stopped her quiet humming and looked up. Whenever Aphine was laughing, it tended not to be a good thing. Maybe she was just passing by though. Yes, seeing as the meeting area was past the entrance to the hall leading here, that was perfectly possible. Happened all the time with any number of other creatures she never saw but only heard. So she looked back down, though didn't resume her humming.

There was something different about it this time though. It was not so much something about the way the laughter sounded or anything like that, but the sinking feeling Lucy had. Something just didn't feel right. She stopped what she was doing all together, wiping away any trace of her drawings. Just keeping herself from biting her lip, she looked to Peter, wondering if he had the same sinking feeling she did.

[ADMIN the MAGNIFICENT]

Peter took to lying on his back, hands behind his head. He starred up at the ceiling letting his mind wander, now and then a pleasant thought would cross his mind and it was enough for him to get lost in it. Although it only lasted for a few minutes at a time and then he was forced back to the reality of his situation. He glanced over at Lucy and his brows knitted together. She looked happier, if Peter could even use the word, since the other night. There was something about her, the way she held herself that seemed different to Peter. It made him feel better.

Peter sighed and went back to starring above him. He closed his eyes and began to hum along with Lucy. A hint of a smile formed in the corners of his mouth. The laughter of Aphine caused Peter to flinch. He had not forgotten that laugh or the pain she had inflicted upon him back in the throne room that seemed like ages ago. Yet he could still feel a twinge of pain each time he so much as thought of her.

He rolled over on his side and looked to Lucy with glint of fear in his eyes. Peter pushed up and looked toward the door. He swallowed hoping that Aphine would not be the next person he saw coming through there. His eyes went back to Lucy trying to give her the impression that everything would be okay. Though he wasn’t sure he could promise anything right now.

[elisiaaphine]

Aphine’s laughter silenced as she came closer to the hold where the King and Queen stayed captive. Though no sounds escaped her voice, there was still a bright twinkle of excitement in her eye and a distinct skip to her step. She had followed Lillith’s orders many times before, this order like the rest was no different. It was more of a privilege. The only thing she had to do was not kill them. Easy enough, after all death only spoiled the fun as it ended it. The only thing Aphine was sorry about was that they had to be kept in their shackles. Though this made detainment easier, it certainly pulled some of the fun and excitement out of it.

She took the key from the wall and placed it into the lock. The hard metal was the only sound that came and echoed in the halls of the caves. Aphine’s grin only widened at the loud click with the unlocking of the door. She placed the key back on the loop and pushed the door open. Her figure stood silhouetted in the doorway until she stepped inside the room. The lighting seemed to play tricks, almost like the dark red stain running down her dress was from her, not from a girl she had killed earlier and just didn’t bother changing her dress. It was only on second glance that one could tell that the blood was dried; the sickening question was, whose blood was it?

“Well, well, well,” she said, taking a few slow steps into the room, her body moving gracefully as though dancing a waltz with an unseen partner. With one hand she reached out and gently closed the door behind her, her eyes lingering on both pairs of the prisoners’ before they looked up at the ceiling. She let out a soft giggle. “Should I tell you the news now? Or let it linger as a surprise to your ears for when the Queen returns? Though that will be a while if she is going to have fun with little Edders. I doubt she’ll kill him right away.” She quickly put her hand to her mouth and let out an excited squeak. “Did I say that aloud?”

Another piercing laugh, this time much louder and filled with life, rang round the closed room tenfold. She danced over closer to the two of them, though far enough away that neither could still reach her in their chains. “Don’t worry,” she promised the both of them. “You won’t be worried about your little brother for too long. The Queen said I get to play with the both of you while she’s away.” Her eyes flashed with malice. “Don’t worry, I’m not allowed to kill you. But that doesn’t mean I can’t have fun with you.” Her gaze remained focused on Peter, a knowing look in her eye. It seemed to read, ‘You will feel pain.’

But she didn’t send the curse toward him. Instead her lips curved upward into an evil grin and her head slowly turned to look at Lucy. She didn’t send her a pain curse. Not yet. “I did promise that boy Vardin I wouldn’t touch you while he was pretending to be the High King. And I never break a promise once made.” She remembered his name from when Jadis had that group meeting in the wood. “But lucky for you, I don’t have to touch you to have fun with you.” Her lips curved upward even more as she allowed the words to sink in both to Lucy and Peter. But she didn’t curse the small girl just yet. No, she would wait to see what would happen first.

[Lucy Pevensie]

Lucy couldn't bring herself to smile with that foul witch's laughter getting closer by the minute, so she merely nodded. She trusted her brother with her life and his reassurances were always so easy to believe. Her attention snapped to the door as a jingling noise came from just behind it. Click She scooted back on instinct, not wanting to be anywhere near whoever - and she had a pretty good idea who - was about to enter. There was a brief pause and the door swung open.

Lucy couldn't help but flinch just seeing the witch, remembering the havok she had wrecked last time they met. She glanced at Peter, imagining the sight of the witch that had tortured him was ten times worse for him than it was for her. And the fact that the witch was soaked in blood was more than a little disturbing. She swallowed hard and tried to pay attention rather than imagine what she could have done that would have soiled her dress like that. Nothing good, at that was as far as she wanted to think right now.

At Aphine's words, however, it became quite easier to pay attention. Jadis was going after Edmund too!? She looked to Peter with horror. Oh no. She felt her heart sink. This was all her fault. If she hadn't been so moody, hadn't just outright trusted Cain without question, none of this would have happened and they would all be safe and sound at Cair Paravel. All four of them. But now it seemed no one was safe. She wanted to cry, but she couldn't let herself. Not in front of Aphine.

The topic changed faster than Lucy could follow, lost in thought as she was. She snapped out of her thoughts at the sound of a shiek of laughter that seemed to be joined by the walls themselves. And then, if possible, some of the few news that could actually distract her from Edmund's predicament. She saw Aphine focus her attention on Peter and, fearful of what was soon to follow, made to shout for her to stop when her voice caught in her throat.

Lucy scooted back reflexively as Aphine turned intently on her instead. She was quite thankful for Vardin's trick however long ago, and that Aphine was somehow good enough to keep her word. But Lucy knew the alternative, had seen worked on her own brother. She glanced at Peter as if pleading for help she knew he couldn't provide.

[ADMIN the MAGNIFICENT]

Someone above obviously didn’t hear Peter’s prayers because Aphine was the very next person to come traipsing through the door like she owned the place. He sat up crouched on his feet watching her cautiously as she walked in. Peter imagined himself doing terrible things to Aphine, things he was sure Aslan would not even approve of. He glanced at Lucy for a moment but upon hearing about Edmund Peter’s gaze shot back.

Peter launched to his feet and made a run for Aphine. He didn’t get very far, his chains held him back causing him to fall to the ground landing hard on his chest. The wind knocked out of Peter for a second but he pushed up and glared at Aphine with all the hatred he could muster. It wasn’t too hard. He couldn’t think of an appropriate curse to fit what was on his mind.

He just huffed angrily at the witch. Peter’s anger faltered the longer she watched him, his eyes began to show fear. If only his legs were free. He would do what? Attack her? He wouldn’t get a single step before the pain. Peter looked away and starred at the ground. Peter looked up slowly at the mention of Vardin. His eyes followed over to Lucy. The color drained from Peter’s face, the thought of Aphine even—Peter couldn’t stand to think of it. He began to shake with anger.

“You do anything to her, anything and I swear I’ll kill you.” Peter shouted his voice echoing in the room. It was a threat full of promise but Peter knew full well in the back of his mind he wouldn’t be able to get near her with the power she had. “You hear me? Don’t even think about doing anything to her!”

[elisiaaphine]

Aphine enjoyed their reactions to the news of Edmund, almost as much as she knew she would enjoy inflicting pain upon the both of them. Peter's reaction was priceless, and Aphine couldn't help but giggle at his useless attempt to attack her. In fact, she didn't even curse him for it, because she knew he could do nothing about it. Instead, she drew out the agony of waiting just a bit more for what they knew was inevitable. She gave a small giggle when Peter threatened her, as he was obviously not in any position to negotiate or make threats.

"Sorry," Aphine said, her eyes still watching Lucy as though she were some sort of prized possession. She didn't sound the least bit sorry, but rather quite proud. "I already thought about it." Her voice was a poisonously sweet as it rang softly through the air. "And the beauty of this part is, I can torture both of you at once without using that much magic. How much fun is that?"

She laughed again before focusing her entire attention upon Lucy sending her the same curse Peter had felt back at Cair Paravel, only now the High King would be the audience while Lucy felt the curse. He would know exactly how she felt, exactly the torment that raged through her body, and just like Lucy had been before, he would so now be useless to help her. Only this time, there was no Magus to stop her. There was just Lucy, Peter, and Aphine. After about a minute she lifted the curse and giggled to herself, turning her eyes to Peter to simply revel in his reaction.

[Lucy Pevensie]

Fear mingled with something like regret as Lucy watched Peter shouting his unfulfillable threats out of the corner of her eye, not daring to look away from the witch. Peter was already beating himself up over so much and blaming himself for near everything that went wrong, it seemed; he shouldn't have to add to that list. Try as she might to hide it for his sake, though, she couldn't help but flinch when Aphine spoke again. Of course the witch was thinking exactly along the same lines as she. Oh, she would gladly submit to twice the punishment - or more! - if only Peter didn't have to be here to witness it. But there was no such luck. The witch was quite enjoying her game, as her sickeningly-sweet smile attested.

There was no warning. It just struck, driving every thought from Lucy's mind save a pleading desire for it to stop. There were no words to describe it. It was as though every cell in her entire body was being ripped apart savagely until the shreds could get no smaller and what remained was being slowly consumed in a violent inferno. She screamed, but her mind was so lost in trying to comprehend what was happening that she didn't even hear it. She didn't hear anything. She didn't notice anything. Nothing but the pain.

And just as suddenly as it came, it was gone. She felt terribly numb and her muscles were more tense than she could remember them ever being. Aphine's giggling brought her, for the most part, back to the present though, and she remembered. Peter. She had to be strong for him. Gritting her teeth, she pushed herself slowly back up to sit, her hand slipping back a foot or so once when she overestimated her arms' strength. The effort had her shaking slightly, but she was still sitting. She looked to Peter, almost afraid of what she would see, and forced a faint smile to show she was alright.

And the witch, so pleased with herself... Lucy turned her attention to her, determined not to give up so easily. She remembered Peter having actually fought after undergoing the same curse. Though she herself felt too shakey to do anything of that sort, she wanted to show she wasn't entirely weak; she had to do something. And if she couldn't fight back physically, well, she still had one thing on her side.... "M-my faith...is in Aslan.... Next to Him, you're nothing, Aphine...nothing..." Her voice was weak and her words slower than normal as the effects of the curse lingered in her chest and made simple speech a chore in itself. But her conviction showed beneath the strained words and was clear in her blue-granite eyes.

[ADMIN the MAGNIFICENT]

Peter scowled at Aphine with all the hate he could muster. It wasn’t hard to do. He kept trying to claw his way toward Aphine trying reach Lucy before anything could happen. Peter knew what was coming, he knew it would begin any second and he wouldn’t be able to handle it. His stomach knotted and his mouth became dry. Then Lucy screamed.

In so much shock Peter was unable to cry out to her. He was sure that if he did she wouldn’t hear him anyone. Peter’s bones and muscles ached as he watched the torture of his youngest sister. He remembered what it was like, his bones still felt like they were on fire just by watching the curse affect someone else.

[His lips formed the name Lucy, and stop even the word please. But the sound never escaped from his throat. He sobbed as he and Lucy met eyes. Then it was over. Peter was breathing heavy feeling as if he had been under the curse as well. He watched her helplessly remembering what he had said earlier. He wasn’t sure if he could save her, not this time. Right now it felt like it was coming true.

His darkest nightmares were coming true. And soon Edmund would be…Peter didn’t want to think about it. He heard Lucy speak of Aslan and while the name should have been a comfort to Peter, he had to wonder why Aslan would allow this to happen. He slammed his fist on the ground and looked away from Lucy. What if he had actually died sometime shortly after the Ball, and his punishment for whatever reason was to suffer, or what if this was a test by Aslan? Alyissa, Lucy, and soon Edmund they were all tests Peter would have to pass. He wasn’t sure he would be strong enough for it all.

“Please, stop.” Peter begged at Aphine. “Punish me. Leave her alone.”

[elisiaaphine]

Aphine laughed once again, watching the effects of her curse. Oh this was wonderful! Absolutely wonderful! If only Lillith were here to witness this. But she was busy at the moment on much more important matters. She could hear all about it when she returned. Her laugh died down when Aslan's name was mentioned. Her smile quickly turned to a frown and her head cocked to one side, genuinely confused. Aslan? She had never heard of an Aslan before. Who was this Aslan anyway?

Peter pounding his fist to the ground diverted Aphine's attention away from Lucy momentarily her look of confusion quickly turned to one of happiness again. She let out a giggle and sat at the ground, still far enough away so neither could touch her, and positioned herself so that she was facing Peter. "Oh, my dear High King," she said, her voice turning sing-song again. She let out a soft sigh and her eyes danced in what light they had. "I am punishing you." Her grin widened she slowed her voice down so that he would understand. "I'm hurting your little sister, and you get to be hear to hear her screams, and watch her wither around in agony. And you can't do a single thing about it." She let out a giggle. "Things certainly would have been much more interesting if I could release you from the shackles, but I can't do that." She let out another childish giggle.

"Now!" She quickly shifted her position, and turned to face Lucy. She sent another quick jolt of pain at the girl just for spite. "Who's Aslan?" she asked, a wide grin on her face, though no indication that she was dishonest. Perhaps if she was lucky Queen Lillith would allow her to play with this Aslan once she returned from toying around with Edmund. That certainly would be fun. She let out another soft giggle at the idea.

[Lucy Pevensie]

Lucy looked to Peter as he pounded his fist on the unforgiving stone and turned away from her, though she had caught a glimpse of his agonized expression just before he looked away. Her heart wrenched at the sight. How she wished she could help him! If only these shackles were gone, she would go to him, do anything she could for him! Though the inklings of doubt pressed on the back of her mind: maybe there was nothing she could do. So much had happened to him recently, he’d been through far too much, and Vardin was right: he never seemed to go to anyone else at all for help. He just let it sit in his mind and stew and grow. What if it was too late to try and help him? What if Aslan was his only hope now?

Aphine’s laughter and musically taunting voice pulled Lucy’s attention sharply to the witch. ”You stop it right now, you despicable old hag! Leave him alone! You’ll pay for your deeds, mark me! You’ll pay if I have to fight you myself to ensure it! I’m not afraid of-“ Her words were cut short, though, by another spasm of pain. She winced and her body seized up briefly, but that was all; she did not cry out, and it was gone hardly a second later. She glared at the witch, shivering noticeably from the curse, though not terribly. ”Aslan is the Great Lion, Son of the Emperor Beyond the Sea. It was He who originally killed Jadis and He’ll be the one to get rid of her this time too. He’s more powerful than anyone, and you’d be terrified of Him if you had any sense about you.”