PeaceMaker

"I HAVE TO GIVE IN! I DON'T HAVE ENOUGH SPACE ON MY BACK FOR MORE SCARS FROM THEIR WHIPS!!" Kalmin yelled, "Whenever you asked, I would stay behind but is there a use of that now why you don't even try to protect yourself. I'd rather be used too than be the only one watching my own family suffer."

Alice looked up at his blurry figure as tears kept falling from her eyes, "is- is there another reason why you keep allowing yourself to be used? IS SHE GIVING YOU SOMETHING TO HELP ME? O-OR ARE YOu HaVing unnecessary and forbidden feelings?"

Kalmin's heart fell to the ground at the last question.

Alice looked at him, her eyes begging for an answer she wanted.

"Is that all you care about? Whether or not I have felt what I shouldn't have?" Kalmin asked.

Alice looked away.

A chuckle squeezed out of his quivering lips, "ok, yes I do. Somewhere in-between the hate I have for her is something I should not have but at least I'm honest enough to admit that. I just wish I'm not the only one who knows how to tell the truth."

Kalmin picked up the key and pushed it into the lock, opening the cage. He turned to leave when a hand held him back.

"Please, don't go. Can you rethink this?" Alice asked softly, his voice wavering.

Kalmin looked down at her hand, shaking as it held him back. It was funny how he would always stop when this weak hand held onto his. Slowly he pushed her hand away, his heart throbbing as it slipped off and hit her side limply.

"I may have a lot of time from whatever life span I have but not enough to deal with this," Kalmin sighed. He stepped out of the cage and slowly closed the iron bars behind him, then slid the key back into the hold in the lock and locked the door, "I hope you'll be ready to talk by the time I'm back."

Alice whimpered as Kalmin turned away and rushed up the stairs, "wait… please don't go. Don't leave me here alone."

She fell to the floor and crawled into a corner of the cage, where she was hidden away from the light, hoping to blend into the dark shadows on the cold wall. She looked up at the tiny light from a crack in the ceiling, a slightly orange beam seemed through. The warm light sent shivers down her back. It was almost time for his appearance.

"Kalmin," Annabeth called as she opened her wardrobe.

"Yes?" Kalmin quickly replied, rushing to Annabeth's side, "what can I do for you?"

Annabeth paused, her hands briefly running through some clothes, "when it's just me and you, don't treat me like that. I am not like my sisters."

Kalmin hesitated for a second before answering, "ok."

A brief smile flashed on Annabeth's face before she continued to flip through her clothes, "get undressed."