Mylo led me further from the gathering as we waited for Thalian. "Is this what you didn't want to tell me about the day you woke up?" Mylo actually sounded upset when he questioned me.

Shaking my head, I took a few steps back, my breathing becoming erratic. I didn't have time to panic; it seemed like a common theme. "I'm going to sick," I muttered, shaking my head as I finally bent in half as I closed my eyes.

"Leena, you have to talk to someone about this. I thought we were good, don't you trust me?"

His raised voice wasn't helping. "Mylo, just stop!" I snapped, not moving from my position, my breathing getting worse. I opened my eyes, but the darkness seemed to be everywhere, collapsing in around me. I looked up, and the twinkling of stars made my chest tighten. I stumbled a few steps further away as I pulled at the fabric on my chest, "I can't breathe," I gasped.

Mylo followed after me, reaching out and grabbing me, "Leena!"

His touch on my hand felt like fire and I couldn't stop my eyes from turning into slits and my talons appearing. I hissed at him and he quickly gave me some space.

I shifted at the wrong time as Thalian's group of men were just running over. One must not have known who I was or was a little too eager to please his boss. The next thing I knew I was being tackled to the ground. I let out a petrified scream as I was pinned under the weight of a man in full armour. "I have her, Sir!"

My arms were pinned above my head and I screamed at the top of my lungs as I kicked and fought as hard as possible, but it was a frenzied and fearful attempt. With a head on my shoulders, I might have been able to get free, but in my panicked state, he only pushed me harder into the dirt. "Darkris!" Thalian was protesting.

His verbal lashing was cut off as I continued to scream, it grew louder and more high pitched. I knew people were yelling, but I couldn't hear them as I squeezed my eyes shut and continued. My lungs burned with the lack of air, but eventually, the man on top of me let my wrists go to cover his ears.

When I was given the chance, I stopped screaming and scurried out from under him. I didn't go far, just so I was out of arm's reach as I sat up straight and gasped for air. It was like I was in my mermaid form, unable to get the air into my lungs. "Get back, all of you," Thalian said in a low tone.

I knew they were all staring, but all I could do was stare off as I tried to get air into my lungs. Tears of angst fell and I didn't even flinch at the burning sensation, I barely even felt it. I was disassociated with what was happening. "What's wrong with her?" Mylo spoke to Thalian, both of them staying a foot back.

"I... I think she is breaking. Something has her scared." Thalian spoke in a concerned tone, "I have never seen her like this."

For once, I didn't care that they were speaking about me while I was right there. Their voices actually helped me relax, like the dwarves who walked by talking about nothingness. I slowly allowed myself to lay down, curling up in the wet grass. My breathing slowed, but my entire body still trembled. "She's been shaking since before the speech. I told you two something was off about her, but did you listen?" Mylo growled, obviously blaming anyone except himself and me.

"Not helping," Thalian muttered as he knelt down in front of me. I flinched back, bringing my hands against my chest to protect my fingers. "Leena, we cannot help you unless you talk to us. What do you need?"

"Fire," I breathed, digging my nails into my chest.

Thalian quickly sent off two of his men, each of them brought back two torches. The light helped and I finally felt a full breath of cool night air filled my lungs, but the exhale was still forced and shaky. "What happened? What's got you like this?" Mylo chimed in.

Chewing my lip, I stared into the fire and they didn't rush me. A couple of minutes passed before I whispered, "Dwarves."

"Dwarves? Did she say dwarves?" Thalian shook his head.

Mylo seemed to understand a bit more, he somehow knew a bit more than the others. I knew he had spoken to the Doctor, but I didn't know who else. "I know they had you, Kalliope showed me the note they left. You were trial, weren't you?"

"What are you going on about?" Thalian snapped, but I slowly nodded.

Mylo shook his head and forced an uncomfortable smile as my eyes landed on him, it faded after a moment. "Why? What did they do? What was your sentence?"

He obviously didn't know that much, but this all seemed like news to Thalian. "Go get Ethan," Thalian said calmly to one of his guards who nodded and sprinted off, the torchbearers stayed.

When I didn't answer this time, my eyes flickering back off of him, Mylo reached out, holding out an open hand for me. "Leena, I'm here. You're not alone, just reach out and take my hand." Staring at his hand, I hesitated, before a trembling hand slowly released from where I hid them against my chest and hovered. My fingers twitched like I was playing an invisible piano, but slowly, I managed to reach out and take his hand.

In one smooth motion, the second he had my hand firmly in his, he was sitting in the grass beside me and pulling me into his chest. I wrapped my arms around his body, squeezing onto him tightly. "I'm here, tell me what happened," he whispered in my ear.

"What's-?" Kane started, but Thalian shushed him as I instantly jumped.

"I've got you," Mylo continued to speak in a soothing tone, running his hands along my back. "Did they hurt you?" I nodded, my jaw digging into his shoulder. "Did they torture you?" I was slower to nod this time.

Mylo's arms tightened around me, "What is she going on about?" Kane was speaking to Thalian.

"How long?" Mylo asked gently.

"S-Six weeks," I gasped out.

Thalian sighed sharply at that as Mylo nodded, telling me how good I was doing, how I was safe. "The dwarves told half-truths about why they had Leena in the first place. She was their prisoner for six weeks, they tortured her."

I heard Kane scoff, almost as if he didn't believe me. "Why? Why would they do that? She's the queen, why would they be bringing her Kalliope, Cora, and summoning me?"

"I have no idea Sir, I just know there is no way she is inventing a tale, not about this." Thalian defended me.

"What did they do then?" Kane raised his voice, asking me this time.

I swallowed and Mylo hesitated, "You don't need to answer that."

The problem was I did. I couldn't keep secrets, not when I couldn't think straight. I didn't know what was important and what mattered anymore. I pulled back ever so slightly and rested my head on Mylo's chest as I looked at Kane. "Th-They brought me into Baswin Rise," I spoke so softly I could barely be heard over the crickets as I stuttered and stumbled my way through a sentence. "I could barely see anything for 6 weeks. They kept me chained to a rock - boulder in a cave. I didn't get food or water, I was drying out and this girl came in..."

"It's okay, you can stop," Mylo offered.

"Keep going," Kane said coldly, his arms crossed over his chest.

I slowly nodded, more silent tears falling, "I was left alone except for her, they... they muzzled me. When she came in, she put pins under my nails, under my scales and left them there. I screamed, but-but no one could hear me. I couldn't see, I couldn't move, and every touch hurt."

They all stared at me, my breathing becoming irregular again, "That's enough, Ethan, can't you see you're making it worse."

"She could be using this to trick us all! I want her locked up."

"No!" I screamed and started to struggle in Mylo's arms.

He tried to shush me, "It's okay, I won't let them hurt you, no one will touch you." He quickly said to me, his words did calm me some as I clung to him once more. "I've got you, I'll kill anyone who touches you." He spoke louder so everyone around could hear him.

"How-" Kane struggled to get a word out before I spoke. "What was that?"

"She wanted me alone, she wanted me to know they were all going to die, that I was alone in the dark," I repeated myself. "The sorcerer, she wanted me to know I was alone, she won't come for me here because she already has what she wants. I'm isolated, I'm hated, and I make myself sick."

Mylo looked at me like my words physically hurt him, "She? It's a woman?"

I nodded and Mylo shook his head, "That's enough. I'm taking her home. If, and only if she wants to in the morning, I'll bring her to you so you can ask her questions. Until then, I'm taking her home."