The Embers That Still Burn

[Felicity Hjort]

Bathroom
January 16, 2008
2:27p.m.

This really was not going well at all. First with the faceless people interrupting dinner, then everyone giving up their wands, in which she still believed everyone had, fighting with Drew, then the little bit of venom shown from a girl she hardly knew, problems that come with being female, and then Drew was gone? What else could possibly go wrong?

Oh, right, she wasn't feeling to the top most ability she thought she should be. Angry with Raynor for calling Drew out, for letting him leave, she cried even more than she had when they'd been fighting right after the faceless figures emerged from the depths of the castle. True, she'd been relatively calm earlier when she'd spoken with Lily, but the main part of the reason behind that was because she'd forgotten Drew was no longer there.

With the anger, her stomach was doing something major, putting her in an even more hostile mood, merely because of the emotion wave that seemed to be over-flowing.

The blonde couldn't barely move, was stuck in one of the stalls, sitting in front of the toilet, trying her best not to get sick, to keep herself from getting overly frustrated with the whole situation. And to top it off, once more there wasn't any soap in the girl's loo, and Drew wasn't there this time to let her into boy's to get some.

Rocking back in forth, as much as she could, she heard an oddly strange sound, something that sounded as though it didn't belong. Situating herself so she could peek through the gap of the door and the floor, she was quite frightened, as well as surprised, to see bright green eyes staring back at her.

"Emerald?" she croaked, reaching out and pulling the cat under, into the stall with her. Although she wasn't a fan of cats, this one was a comfort. What felt like hours, the brown-eyed girl just sat there, cuddling the animal as though it were a last life resort for an occasion of the sort, soaking the animal through with her tears she shed. No matter how much she struggled, Felicity didn't let go, she didn't care about the scratches she received in the process, she needed someone there.

After a while, even Emerald knew she wasn't going to be able to help, as she managed to get from her arms, under the stall, and started clawing at the door to get out. Sighing with resignation, knowing there wasn't much else the cat could do, she started to open the door, only to pause and wonder if it was possible.

Picking the animal up in her arms, she started whispering to it, asking it if she could get Celina for her. What was she thinking? Cats didn't understand, it was a ridiculous thought.

And just as she was about to open the door to once more let Emerald leave the confines of the bathroom Felicity knew she was unable to, another thought struck her.

Even if Emerald didn't understand fully what Felicity wanted...she would understand Celina. And Celina understood her.

Quickly, without even hardly thinking, she pulled the necklace out from the confines of her robes, and wrapped it around Emerald's neck. It was the one from Lucas, Celina knew about it, Felicity had told her. And with Emerald's smarts Celina believed her to have...she'd understand.

Felicity just needed a friend right now.

((CLOSED!))

[Celina Jedynak]

Celina stared at her lunch that she couldn’t seem to even put in her mouth, let alone swallow any of it. She couldn’t eat again. Celina was too concerned with what was going on around her. Raynor was back, but still Celina felt as if this whole horrid event was never going to end. It was even worse than a reoccurring nightmare, it was real life and finally Celina was accepting this. A tear trickled down her face and all she wished was that she could crawl into Alfonz’s arm and fall asleep.

She looked around for Emerald and sighed. Not even she was around this afternoon to comfort her. Celina was utterly alone, and for the first time at Hogwarts, she was feeling the effects of it. She needed to get up, and walk around. She needed to do something, so slowly she swung her legs over the bench and weakly stood up.

Celina was pale, shaky and more tired than she had ever been in her life. Drew was gone, Felicity was nowhere to be seen either, and still Emerald was lost to Celina, she decided to go and search for her brother. He was there after all to protect her, so he should be willing to see her. Even if it was just for a little while of comfort.

Walking out of the Great Hall, a familiar meow came walking toward her. A small smile came across the raven girl’s face as she slowly fell to her knees to great her cat. She was just outside of the Great Hall entrance as she watched a few Deva just passed her by, and she cuddled Emerald close to her chest and cried a bit into her. “Have you seen him, Em? Have you seen brother?” she asked the cat, hoping for a meow in response. However, as her face rubbed up against the cat’s fur, something hard scratched against the teenager’s face.

“Ow…” she said, trailing off a bit pulling away from Emerald and looking at the black cat’s neck. Emerald’s green eyes glowed and looked back into Celina’s chocolate brown eyes. It was as if Emerald was smiling at Celina and asking her why she was looking at her so strangely. “What’s this?” Celina asked Emerald as she took off the locket and cocked her head a bit, putting Emerald down. The cat circled the girl, walked a bit away from Celina and sat down. Emerald tilted her head as well as if to ask the Ravenclaw why she was still sitting on her knees.

Celina looked at Emerald and then back at the locket. Opening it, she looked at a familiar squirrelly face and smiled again. It was Sammy, Felicity’s pet squirrel. The locket was the one that Lucas had given her for Christmas, and Celina remembered the story from the many letters the two had sent back and forth to each other. But why did her cat have Felicity’s necklace? Hadn’t Felicity been wearing it? Celina had no idea that Felicity had told Drew that she wouldn’t wear it anymore.

“Em, what…..why do you have this?” Celina asked Emerald and Emerald meowed in response walking a bit further away and then sitting down again, looking back at Celina. Celina rose an eyebrow at her cat, and got up. The cat walked a bit away again, and then took a seat as if wondering why Celina wasn’t walking faster. “Do you want me…..Ok, I’m coming.”

Celina walked toward her cat, and the cat got up and walked. The passed students, Deva, and others alike. Celina didn’t notice anyone, not even Alfonz and passing she almost wondered if Emerald was just playing hide and seek again. “It’s not the time….I’m tired, Em.” Celina sighed and rubbed her eyes as Emerald pushed the bathroom door open, entering it and meowing once more.

Celina wasn’t amused, but she did have to go to the bathroom so she just gave in once more. Entering the bathroom, Celina looked around not even seeing where her cat had gone. “Em?” she called out. Now where did that cat go to?

[Felicity Hjort]

As soon as the black cat was gone from the picture, out the door and hadn't tried re-entering, Felicity had ran right back to her stall, trying to ignore the feeling of what little she'd eaten in the past few days get to her too horribly. The fact that she hadn't been eating nearly as much as normal, on top of not feeling well as was, just made all the nerves in her stomach go haywire, and not in a good way. There was no light, fluffy feeling to it, the way Drew made her feel, it just wasn't possible at the time, not with what was going on.

Though, he had made her feel pretty good about things when he'd let her into the boys loo to get some soap. But, the feeling he gave her hadn't shown itself too much, not under the circumstances and the few times they'd managed to get together for a moment or two. Before, it'd been constant, now it was a constant sickness for many reasons.

Holding her stomach, curled on the floor, she was startled when the door opened. It wasn't as though it hadn't happened before. With the amount of time she'd spent in the loo that day, it really wasn't all that surprising to hear the door open and nothing out of the people who entered. Either they were too scared, or there was no reason to talk, and a blonde Gryffindor dealing with things wasn't exactly high on anyones list.

When the door opened again, Felicity figured whoever had entered was leaving, obviously just as angry as she was about there being no soap to wash properly...

"Celina?" she called tentatively. "Is that you?" If that was the crazy Ravengirl, she'd never doubt Emerald's smarts again. Not standing, she switched herself around to once more look under the door, to see if it really was someone she could talk to. While she'd been sitting there, most of the day, there had been so many things she wanted to talk about, just say, but there hadn't been anyone to say them to.

[Celina Jedynak]

A familiar voice this time rang throughout the stalls of the loo, echoing a call that almost seemed sickly to Celina. It briefly brought back the memory she had of the first meeting she had had with Felicity. A loo, just as the one she stood in now, except this time, Emerald was alright and Felicity was the one who didn’t sound all that well.

“Felicity?” Celina called back, pretty sure that it was her, but still not taking any chances. For all she knew, it could be a Deva playing tricks out of boredom. Celina wiped her face of tears that had been long gone, making sure even if they were not visible, her face didn’t look streaked either. “Where are you?”

Celina looked under the stalls until she found her friend sitting on floor looking directly at her. It was weird the way her friend looked, all upside down like. “Are you alright, Felicity?” she asked her as Emerald wrapped in and out of the two, rubbing her black body on theirs, meowing every once and a while.

[Felicity Hjort]

When she heard the voice call out her name, she was more than sure it was the Ravengirl. Emerald was definitely going to be getting a treat for this as soon as Felicity could get her one, for now, she was more than content to just be on the cold floor. She'd give Emerald a good scratch behind the ears as soon as she could reach her, well...as soon as she felt well enough to not have to hold her stomach.

"I'm in here," she called back, only to be surprised to see her friend's face appear a minute later. The blonde wasn't feeling well, it was written all over her face. Lack of nourishment, and her anger about Drew not being there, it didn't lead up to a pretty sight. The normal flushed face was pale, the freckles on her nose standing out in stark contrast to her skin, her brown eyes were watery, remnants of the tears she'd been shedding, and on top of it all, she hadn't showered anymore recently than anyone else.

Shaking her head in response to her friend, she didn't even want to move. The stall door was locked, but it wasn't as though she actually had to reach up to unlock it, she could just slip out from underneath it if she felt like it, and then back in to retreat to her claimed toilet.

"Celina..." the Gryffindor trailed off, feeling the tears begin to well once more. "I don't feel well." Looking back into the darker eyes of her friend, she didn't want to say it, but it was more than that. Drew was gone. The one person that she truly felt safe about being with, was gone. And, it was Raynor's fault. She had come in, without warning, true it had felt good she'd come back, but she took away Drew. All of those released were female, for whatever reason, half of them were leaders in the school, and as a special request, she wanted Drew gone. It had nearly broke her there just hearing those words come from the woman, to know that she was asking him for his chance to leave.

He had surprisingly taken it well, the whole situation, the fact that they were the ones who'd done some awful things, and yet, he'd kept on a brave face through it. Felicity did feel the need to applaud him for it, but to have him be requested to leave. Making the balance of those leaving, three Ravenclaws. Ravenclaw was Raynor's House, and she was requesting three of her own leave the confines of the castle compared to one other from each House. What sort of balance and justice was that? Felicity didn't see any. True, there were four Houses, and with the number given for those to leave, it wouldn't have been fair any other way, but for her to request three of her own leave when there were more vulnerable students around? It really wasn't fair to the blonde, and did nothing but fuel the anger she had for the woman at the moment.

"Celina," she started again, knowing her friend probably already knew. "We need to get out of here."

[Celina Jedynak]

This was not good. Felicity was sitting on the floor in front of a toilet not feeling well. Celina was quick but stealthily able to maneuver herself underneath the door to the bathroom to sit with Felicity in the stall. Sure, there wasn’t much room, especially with Emerald insisting on being in the middle of them, but Celina wasn’t about to leave her friend in that condition.

“What do you mean you don’t feel well? Does your stomach hurt….or something?” Celina’s wand was tucked away in her pocket, and some with her mother who worked at St. Mungo’s, Celina knew a spell here and there for emergencies. And Alfonz did tell her only to use the wand in such a scenario, an emergency. But Celina wouldn’t take it out until it needed to be known she had it. She had kept it a secret for this long, she wasn’t about to give her brother away even more to try and something she couldn’t help with magic.

Felicity, however, looked as if she were in a trans of somesort. What was wrong with her? Celina felt a twinge of fear within her, and even though she too felt weak and not all there, she was now more aware than she had been in the last two days. It wasn’t until Felicity broke out of the trans where fear began to fill her stomach making it churn itself.

“What do you mean get out of here, Felicity?” Celina asked nervously, hoping to Merlin that Felicity just meant getting out of the loo. “Do you want to get out of the bathroom?” her voice shook as she whispered to her friend. The look in Felicity’s sickly eyes was a bit unsettling for the Ravengirl like an even worse sleeping beauty idea was about to come forth.

[Felicity Hjort]

Having the other girl in the stall with her didn't do much in way of comfort, only because sitting in there had already been uncomfortable, but it didn't really bother her too much either. At least she had her toilet right there, in case it was needed and she wouldn't have to dive under the door to get to it otherwise. And, although it wasn't too much of a comfort, in other ways, it really was. The girl was there, willing to talk to her in front of a toilet while she wasn't feeling well. There was only one other person Felicity could think of that she wouldn't have minded seeing her like this, but he was gone.

Shaking her head, she dropped her light brown eyes. It wasn't abnormal not to feel well in such conditions, but it was even worse because there wasn't any kind of medicine she could take for it. Then there was the fact that she didn't want to outright say one part of the reason for why she wasn't feeling well, though it wasn't uncommon or strange for that reason. "My stomach hurts."

Few words, but with the smarts the girl had, she was sure to understand. As well as, on top of what she told her friend, she was as curled into a ball as was possible in the confines of the stall, holding onto her stomach, rocking as much as was possible. The dark-haired girl was sure to comprehend.

With that, and not having Drew there, she was sure Celina would understand even more, but the blonde really didn't want to say it outloud. It was bad enough just thinking about it, saying aloud would make the situation even more pronounced.

Once more, she shook her head, tossing the blonde strands. "No, I don't want to leave the loo yet," she answered. The bathroom was currently her friend. "I mean," she lowered her voice to a soft whispering, though she knew there were no others in the room. "We need to get out of here, away from the castle. Celina, we can't stay here, it isn't safe."

It wasn't safe for them, it wasn't safe for the other students, it wasn't safe for the professors, that had been made clear from Brady's example.

[Celina Jedynak]

A stomach ache, and in the way Felicity was speaking of it, was not something
Celina could heal with a wand and she knew it. Keeping her wand a secret was the way she would have to hold it still, and Celina put her hand on Felicity’s shoulder to try and comfort her without being too much in her space than she already was.

“Oh, I’m sorry,” Celina said to her friend in a hushed voice. She couldn’t imagine having that kind of problem during this week, on top of everything else, that was plainly disgusting. Celina wouldn’t say anything of the sort, though. Felicity was her friend, and at this time in this situation, didn’t need her friend to be badgering her about such petty things.

Then it was evident in what Felicity was talking about wasn’t just leaving the loo. Celina’s stomach churned even more and without thinking she shook her head. “Oh, no no no….we….we can’t leave. We’ll get in so much trouble. I don’t want to….” She continued to shake her head. Alfonz was already there, Emerald was there, she didn’t need to, nor would she go anywhere that would lead her away from them. There were too many risks involved.

“I….I mean….we…..we’re here for a reason…..that’s why Raynor didn’t let us leave….I’m sure.” Celina nodded. That must have been it. Raynor knew that they were capable of handling it in the castle and those who were not were sent away….right? It sounded logical, but then again…anything sounded logical to the weary raven girl at that moment.

[Felicity Hjort]

The little compassion she received from the Ravengirl hardly did anything, then again, even if she'd been able to do something it wouldn't have done anything for the pains in her stomach. The only reason she'd said anything was because the girl had asked if she wasn't feeling up to par, and truth was, even if she didn't have the rumbling pains, she probably wouldn't have been. Drew was gone, she hadn't hardly eaten very much, and everything else was making her question her own thoughts.

Felicity, plainly, wanted to leave. To get out of Hogwarts, to go home, to perhaps, by chance, somehow help. But what kind of help would come from the outside? None. Those students Raynor chose were gone, no word back yet, nothing had been heard from Drew. The best help she could give would be to stay there, to keep the minds of the younger students busy, on other things than what was taking place. However, she felt as though she couldn't. Not when she was sick, not when she was so angry with Raynor, not when she didn't have her own security, the one person who she knew she could trust to protect her. While Celina was there, she was sure she'd spotted Michael about, Corey was still there, Drew wasn't.

"Raynor's choosing?" she questioned her friend, almost hostilely. "Raynor let those who could actually do something leave. She chose people who can actually do something, help to stand up, to leave. Hannah and Lianna were the only two that were probably in any real danger," she excluded Drew. He'd dealt with them before, and yes, he was in danger, but he could do something. "She let Keagan go, she's a Prefect, people look up to her, you know that. She let Charlie go. No, Charlie isn't a Prefect anymore, but she is the Slytherin Quidditch Captain, people look up to her." Felicity hadn't actually met the girl, but she was sure people looked up to her. "Gail is an older student, from your House."

They were all people who could do something if needed. No, not every single leader was taken away, but enough of them were. Another look came over the young girl's face, one of self-misery as she looked to her friend, trying to plead with her to understand. "She let Drew go..." she added quietly, trying not to let the tears fall from her eyes. "Why would she let people who were probably fine in the school go? Why not some more of the younger students Celina, those who are likely to be more vulnerable?"

Felicity couldn't understand, not when she was feeling the way she was. "Celina, we need to get out of here. It isn't safe."

[Celina Jedynak]

Raynor's choosing? Raynor let those who could actually do something leave. She chose people who can actually do something, help to stand up, to leave. Hannah and Lianna were the only two that were probably in any real danger.

She let Keagan go, she's a Prefect, people look up to her, you know that. She let Charlie go. No, Charlie isn't a Prefect anymore, but she is the Slytherin Quidditch Captain, people look up to her. Gail is an older student, from your House.

Celina could tell from Felicity’s tone that she had said something wrong. Not only that she had done something wrong, but also that she had hit a topic that was one Felicity really was upset about. But how was Celina supposed to know? Not to mention, how was Celina supposed to take what Felicity said not personally. “Umm….I mean, not that I don’t agree with you or anything, but maybe their going to get us out. Maybe she had plans with them or something….” Celina knew it was a long shot, but she had to stick up for her Head of House…didn’t she? And what was wrong with her house?

It wasn’t until a bit later that Celina understood why Felicity was acting so different from herself. Drew’s name came up and Celina instantly turned her head away from Felicity. What was…how was she supposed to react to that one? Sympathy? Possibly, but even that wasn’t something Celina wasn’t feeling. “Maybe he just couldn’t handle it and Raynor was letting him free from this torment. He was the one kidnapped by these people, after all.” Celina kept telling herself that that was a time before her brother had joined forces with Shaw. With him there it meant the ideals of the organization were getting more picky….better even. That’s what that had to mean. Or at least that’s what she had been convincing herself of for the entire time of her knowing Alfonz was with them.

Though, as she slowly looked back toward her friend, she could see the tears welling up in Felicity’s eyes. She was in pain, physically, mentally, and emotionally and Celina only knew such feelings too well. But how could she help, when she couldn’t even help herself half the time. Felicity needed a protector, like Celina had Alfonz. It was only then that she realized that hers was taken from her.

“But how?” Celina said, somewhat giving in. It wouldn’t hurt to hear an idea, after all. It wasn’t as if Celina was agreeing to it automatically by just hearing her friend out. Maybe she just needed to get it off her chest and then her mind would go back to making sense. Yes, that was it. Felicity just needed to blow off some steam. Celina was sure that that was it.

((POST 1000 BABY! w00t!))

[Felicity Hjort]

Had plans for them? A real plan wouldn't have included letting the students who could do something leave. A real plan would've taken more time to think out, not be spun off, and definitely not playing at favourites. Three students from her own House, and only one of them that Felicity could see the reasoning for. Exactly what was Raynor pulling off with that one?

When Celina looked away, Felicity was ready to crumple, even more than she already had. The blonde didn't understand why she was looking away, Drew did that when he was mad at her, he turned away from her as though he couldn't stand looking at her. Why would Celina do that? What did she now do to Celina that made the girl unable to look at her? But when she spoke, she didn't sound mad, not like Drew did after he looked away from her.

"He was fine Celina, he was doing just fine. Drew wasn't cracking," she explained quickly. "Raynor had no reason to call him out, to request he leave, on special request as a sixth person when that man was only allowing five. I know what they did to him, I read about it, he tried to explain it to me. Celina, he would want to help, it's what he does. You know this as well as I do, he would've wanted to stay and help. She isn't doing him any favours by asking him to leave."

Curling more into herself, she held her stomach and began rocking a little harder. Perhaps if she'd eaten something that day, she'd be all right, but no, she had to run right into the loo after talking with Lily. It just hurt so badly.

"I don't know," she mumbled quietly. "We just need to get out...Lily, she's from your House," she directly pointed out. "She said there are unstable ones, those faceless figures. And I know a lot of people have been watching them, watching what they do. I don't think it helps, though." Felicity wasn't even sure what she was talking about, what she was saying. "If they're unstable, like she said, why haven't they hurt someone? Do you think they're not supposed to?"

If that was true, then there was a chance. There was the chance they could get out, it would take some work, but it could be done. Surely it could be done. "Celina, do you remember when we were running all around the castle, before we were supposed to go into the Forest?"

[Celina Jedynak]

With her brisk response, Celina felt as if Felicity was snapping at her. How was she supposed to know how Drew was doing? It had been three days, after all…or was it two? The days were melding within the Raven girl’s head and as she became distracted about how many days they really had been “captives” within their own school, Felicity kept talking. When she came to, she heard Felicity saying something about Drew wanting to help and she couldn’t help but scoff a little.

Help? How? By keeping her prisoner almost as much as the Deva themselves were? Within the last couple of days Celina wasn’t sure how anyone was really doing anything to help just sitting around. She wasn’t thinking that she had done anything either, but knowing that Alfonz was there also prevented her from doing anything…well, until the night before, relatively stupid. She then thought about who had told her to sit and be still…it had been Drew.

“He can probably help better from the outside, rather than in here. You know? Raynor probably knows that, and that’s why she did it.” Celina was still sticking up for her head of house. It wasn’t as though she had really ever spoke with Raynor outside of class much, but it was a pride thing. Not to mention, Raynor was an elder, and Felicity wasn’t respecting that at all. Celina shuddered just thinking about what would happen to her if her parents ever found out she had disrespected an elder. And here Felicity sat, even with as sick as she was, disrespecting someone Celina believed deserved a lot of respect.

“Get out? Unstable ones? Woah…hold on,” Celina whispered looking around in the stall and listening closely to make sure no one else was in the bathroom with them. “I’m telling you Felicity…we’re safer just staying put. Raynor is here now, and we’ll all be safe soon. I’m sure of it,” Celina said nodding but not really even believing the words that came from her own mouth. Celina knew she was safe…but Felicity? Well, Celina couldn’t say for sure.

Celina, do you remember when we were running all around the castle, before we were supposed to go into the Forest?

Celina was shaking her head. Not at the fact that she didn’t remember but just at everything. She wasn’t sure if the Deva was not supposed to hurt anyone, but did she really want to find out or press her luck? Not particularly. Especially, since Alfonz had told her to keep her head down until everything was over. As for remembering the time they speant together before the forest incident…well, when it came to that day she didn’t want to remember anything at all.

Celina sighed. “The fact that you even mention it worries me. What about it, Felicity?” Worry and concern danced within the raven’s dark chocolate eyes. Whatever was going on in the lady lion’s head, Celina was sure she really wanted no part of.

[Felicity Hjort]

The silence response, though it lasted only a moment was strong. Felicity didn't understand the look on her friend's face, the way she scoffed, even just slightly. Drew liked helping people, and he always seemed to do what he could, even if it wasn't much he could do, he did his bit. And perhaps he could help them better from outside, but having him outside meant he wasn't inside. There were so many other students that should've been placed outside, allowed to have been let go, and yet Raynor chose someone who was doing fine. Drew hadn't freaked out, he hadn't flipped, he hadn't gone crazy and tried to attack anyone. Why should he have been let go?

Felicity just didn't understand.

"Raynor can't do anything more at the moment than we can," she countered. True, she seemed to have a small amount of leverage, being allowed to let students go. But it was only a few select amount of students, and she chose students who Felicity didn't understand why. "We're not safe here Celina. They're here, they're here for a reason and we don't know why. What if they do something? Who is safe then? What if they haven't done anything because their on orders not to? If that's true, we can get out of here. We can escape, and maybe we can get help, or get some others out of here."

Really, Felicity wanted the younger students out of there. They were the ones she was worried most about. If anything happened to the younger students, she wouldn't know what to do. And the fact she didn't feel very well, she was willing to bet it didn't matter.

"We only have to outrun the last person. If that person is one of the faceless...that's the only person we have to outrun." It was a way of escape. Yes, she wasn't feeling well, therefore she wasn't sure if she was even making any sense to her friend. But, if the faceless weren't to shoot spells, all they had to do was outrun. Felicity was quite sure they could do it. Running was easy to do, and Celina had become a fair runner in the short amount of time.

"Tomorrow, at dinner, Celina. We should do it, we should try for it. We can get out of here, we know what to do, it isn't that hard. All we have to do is run."

[Celina Jedynak]

“Tomorrow at dinner? Felicity, have you gone mad?” Celina’s eyes were wide with concern by now as she continued to listen to her friend’s ramblings about who they’d have to out run and how they could escape. Out run the Deva? Had she forgotten they had wands and more advanced spells? Celina was frightened for her friends state of mind. It was as if nothing that Celina could say would snap Felicity out of her insanity. “But…but…” Celina stumbled over her words, getting more and more quiet as she did so. She had to tell someone, anyone! Felicity was out to get herself killed…or worse.

Not to mention, Felicity’s stomach was in pain. How did she know that she would be able to run, let alone, outrun the Deva? Not without help no one would be going anywhere, and Celina wasn’t about to allow Felicity to do anything rash on her own. “I don’t think we can do it,” Celina finally said defeated. She didn’t want to continue with this mad idea of escape, but if Felicity was set on doing it, Celina knew her persistence would only make her continue and go forth with the idea. Celina had seen it only to many times before.

And so Celina racked her brain. She knew that no matter what, Alfonz would keep her safe and protect her. It was one reason, the main reason, why she wasn’t about to go through with this plan foolishly. And, Celina also knew that he knew all the Deva stationing….and the times in which they switched guard. Celina thought more about this…maybe they wouldn’t have to out run anyone, just run at the right time. “The Deva….I’ve seen them switch guard at certain times….” Celina trialed off with her lie. She hadn’t seen anything, but her brother would have. Alfonz would help them. Celina just knew it.

Celina’s brains worked overtime. This was not like any of their schemes before, it had to be thought out accordingly. “If we could make it upstairs…we’d maybe have a chance, no?” she asked Felicity not really knowing where she was actually going with this plan….but she knew that upstairs had to be better than down.

[Felicity Hjort]

Had she gone barmy? Perhaps. She was, after all, thinking brashly, feeling the need to escape. Celina had every right in the book to call her mad, but it wasn't helping any if that's what her friend was thinking. Felicity felt the need to get out, it couldn't be that hard to do. It was just no one else had tried it, she was sure of it. There hadn't been word around that anyone had tried, there were a few whispered conversations about, but nothing she remembered of anyone actually daring to try.

It was rather disappointing Celina wasn't approving of the idea. The only way they'd know whether or not it would work was by trying, and she had to. There was a need to get out, and Felicity was going to let it drive her for a bit. However, the switch in gears from her friend was more like it.

"That's what I was thinking. If we can get upstairs, all we'd have to do is take a passageway and we could probably lose them pretty quickly. Celina, I don't know too many of the passageways, but you've been here a good long time, you must know a few of them that'll get us upstairs."

It was yet another plea for her agreement, for her help. If Celina would agree, it would make it easier to try, if she didn't, Felicity would try it on her own.