Not Your Freedom

Violet blinked slowly into awareness, when was the last time she had slept this well? Four hours had recharged her in a way several days worth of nights had never before.

The steady flow of gentle breaths behind her startled her and she jolted up in a panic. Kieren shifted in his sleep, he opened his eyes sleepily, and dragged Violet back into his arms. He closed his eyes, muttered something incoherent, and was back asleep within moments. Violet let out a breath she had not realized she was holding, this was basically how her day had ended.

After Jace had left, Kieren had offered her one of his shirts and then pulled her into his bed. He had wrapped himself all around her and in between gentle kisses asked her once more to stay. Violet had cowardly convinced herself that she was staying to watch him -he was extremely feverish and his breaths were not yet steady- thus leading to her waking in his arms.

Violet let out another strangled breath, she wasn't in the habit of lying to herself, yet laying here, looking into such a perfect face made her wonder if some lies could be worth it. She had often heard the term, 'sculpted by the gods' when referring to eye candy, but Kieren was a couple hundred times more dangerous than that.

Sculpted by the devil, given a scalding body (six pack, pecs, and striking collar bone included) and a personality made to impregnate with words. She reached out a hand absentmindedly, he had slept shirtless, and the rune drew her attention once more. She trailed her hand up to his collar bone, if he was aware he didn't move seeming to thoroughly enjoy her caresses. She stopped at his forehead, Violet frowned, still too warm. Her frown deepened, after everything that had occurred last night, he had still not given her a clear answer as to what had caused this. They would have to speak to this later, she had plans today.

Jace was in the kitchen working on breakfast when a barefoot Violet carrying her dress emerged. Jace shot a pensive look in her direction, "Is he still asleep?"

Violet nodded, she was in an overly large t-shirt, that covered her underwear well enough. It wasn't like she could strut back in the dress, not that a t-shirt was any better, the walk of shame was coming, and she for one was the kind to embrace it. Strut of shame she thought with a smile.

"Would you like some breakfast?"

"No thank you, I need to head back, the goodbye ceremony for the flowers is this evening and I, like you happen to think it best if I don't show up with Kieren."

Jace sighed dragging his hands through his hair, he was conflicted, Violet could feel it. Taking a closer look Violet grinned, "what do you know that I don't Jace?"

Jace didn't answer immediately, he concentrated on the food he was cooking before finally opening his mouth, "I'm not like the others, I do not care about rules or pedigree, I'm just here for Kieren. Many people spout nonsense like 'I would die for him,' etc., personally I would rather kill for him and live for him. He's a lot stronger than I myself give him credit for, and if he wants you, well then..."

Jace met Violet's gaze head on, Violet raised her eyebrows catching the steely glint in his eyes, "Then I'm willing to kill for you too Violet."

Violet leaned on the counter hands hoisting her chin up, "You're interesting, I'm far more deadly than even Kieren is willing to acknowledge,-" Jace cut her off, "oh he's aware, and I am too, but like I said earlier, I just don't care. Here," he tossed keys at Violet, "drive yourself there, once he wakes up I'll drop him off and you can give him the keys."

Violet took them easily and walked to the door, "Once last thing Violet, keep him close. He needs it."

Violet nodded acknowledging that there was hidden truths in his words. She drove back to school, parked quickly, and managed to make it to the hallway by her dorm before several people spotted her.

Their mouths and eyes round like O's they didn't bother to hide their glances.

Violet smirked, "Want a picture? Out of my way, I'm tired." She strutted into her room causing Aiko to drop her coffee cup. "What the fuck Violet, whose shirt is that? Where have you been? I thought you were in bed. Is that a hickey on your neck?"

Violet laughed, whoops, she should have checked her neck, looking to Aiko she shrugged, "out. I'm going to bed now." Leaving Aiko dumbfounded she walked into her room. A short shower and a change of clothes later, Violet was ready to fulfill her promise.

Arkansas, she never would have thought she would come to Arkansas for fun, although this would hardly count as fun. Of all the places in Arkansas, Cowell, had to be one of the most boring and desolate dumps to live in. Unless you were of the Fallon family and owned a huge amount of land in the Ozark-St. Francis National Forest. Jeremiah Fallon owned several hundred acres of this forest, in it he had constructed a massive mansion often used for entertainment. Jeremiah was set to retire from the Ruenen in a little over a year, he was a flamboyant earth wielder, and as he called himself, a hero for the people. Fallon was famous, often seen associating with celebrities, both with abilities and none. He had his hand dipped in many industries, and often bragged that he was untouchable. Today, his false luck would be coming to an end.

Violet had thought this through, her usual destroy everything in her path method, would be counterproductive here. There were victims and collateral to be considered. Not to mention, for this to truly work, the regular authorities, preferably police and firefighters would have to discover the scene. Only then would the Ruenen be unable to cover Fallon's sins. Lastly, she needed to remain hidden from all but Fallon, ensuring that not one other human was injured and that there were no witnesses.

Violet stepped through the trees avoiding all in her path, she made way into the underground tunnels and right off the bat had to fight the urge to break her plans.

She smelled blood, a painful whine sounded across the space and she heard another voice call to the crying child, "here eat this, you have to keep your strength."

Out of the corner Violet looked into cages, children as young as six or maybe seven huddled on the dirty floor of their shared cages. Their eyes gaunt and their bodies marked by use and abuse. Pieces of stale bread lay on the floor, their only meal. Violet felt something in her threaten to snap, she felt blood pool from her hands, she was digging into her palms.

"We are going to die here aren't we?" A sandy haired boy asked another huddled body who didn't respond. Violet forced herself to move leaving them behind, her resolve pushed her forward almost blindly. There was only the one way to end this, and she was going to cause it.

Violet snuck her way up through the hidden stairs, she emerged in a small inconspicuous landing, the entrance was hidden behind a painting and unless you knew, you would never spot it. She arrived in his chambers and entered.

For the second time, she felt tested, bile rose in her throat as she heard him speak, "don't worry my darling treasure, I won't touch you until I mark you, then you'll always be mine."

There was a child chained to the floor, a branding iron lay in the fireplace, and Jeremiah watched naked from above. The child was blindfolded and gagged tears and sobs soaking into his binds. In that moment Violet moved, her plan was going to have to be fluid.

Violet slammed her fist into his temple, she allowed some of Murasame's rage into her fist as it made contact. The force of her punch caused a stir in the air as Jeremiah flew breaking through a wall and landing in a bloody heap.

The child struggled against his binds blood emerging as he tried to scream, he shook so much he fainted. Violet covered him with a blanket, carried him out, lay him in an adjacent room and returned to Fallon.

Jeremiah awoke in a disoriented rage, he attempted to open his eyes and found that his left eye was swollen shut. He could feel cuts all around and knew he was seriously injured. He looked above him and met gleaming red eyes, a beautiful girl stood there, watching him closely, moving the branding iron in the fireplace steadily. He attempted to scream and found that it was he who was gagged and chained to the floor. The girls eyes changed into soft grey, she picked up the branding iron and walked to him.

"Let's talk about Charlie, Jeremiah Fallon."