I felt the aches and pains of my body melt away as a I slipped into a warm bath. The water floated over me like a gentle sheet as I reached for the lufa. I ran my hands though my thick hair and looked at the clock on the wall. 8:30. Not bad at all. I squeezed some raspberry gel onto the oversized sponge and began to make gentle circles on my chest, removing the dirt and dust from working in the shop with Buck. “The life of an actor.” I mussed, “Or an actor in training.” I put down the lufa and looked at the clock again. Weekends were the best. NO matter how late it got, it still seemed early. Plus, my parents were gone for a wedding. I would have the house to myself. I picked up the raiser, applied the shaving cream as necessary and began to run the racer over my legs. “Ow! Darn it!” I snapped, nicking my ankle. “I watched the blood seep down my ankle… “I hate it when I-“ “Help me.” I gasped and jumped up, almost slipping on the bath tubs smooth floor. I looked around, shivering in cold and fright. “Help me… please someone.” I found my voice and spoke up, “Who… who’s there?!” I cried. There was no response. I quickly stepped out of the warm water, grabbed a towel and wrapped it around me. I felt my skin grow cold as I opened the door to the bathroom. I looked around cautiously. Much to my great shock, there was no one there. I gulped, “Perhaps it was just my…” “Please help me…” I squealed in shock, there was that voice again! And If I was right, it was coming from… “The computer room?” I made sure my robe was wrapped securely around me and walked into the computer room. As I popped my head into the room, I carefully looked around. Nothing. Not even the T.V I rubbed my head, “God, what is wrong with me?” I whispered. “Please help…” I didn’t jump this time as the sound was so close, but my heart seemed to stream line. The Sound was coming from my mum’s computer. Being very careful and keeping my ears open, I logged on to my side and uploaded the internet. I couldn’t under stand why I found myself going to my Deviant Art site and linking onto one of my friends. “Sozokureed?” I asked myself, bringing up his site. As always, he had a new drawing up of one of his many characters. Sozokureed was a Deviantart artist and a damn good one at that. He was what I referred to as Deviant Royalty. One of the most well know artist on line. He had a very distinct style of anime. Most of his drawings were of powerful woman warriors fighting against demons and angels…. who, on more than one occasion, were subjected to being damsels in distress, though they usually got themselves out of it farley quickly. This time, the drawing was of Laurel-Scott Song-weaver. My personal favorite character. Laurel Scott was the little sister of Raya Song-weaver and her guardian as well. Raya and Laurel were both angels and powerful ones at that, traveling with their friends Reed and Samanatha, two rather interesting Mercenaries. I looked at the drawing again. It was of Laruel chained up in a small cell. She was dressed in her typical, yet beautiful blue-ish violet dress. She had tears in her eyes and she seemed to be alone. I felt the sadness well up in my heart as I looked at the picture. Sure, Laurel was always a damsel in distress, but she was still my favorite character. “Help me…” I heard the voice again, “Please help.” I couldn’t help myself as I reached up and touched the beautiful picture. As I did… gentle warmth came though my fingers. I pulled them away slightly, thinking it was only the computer screen, but something didn’t feel right. I went back and placed my hand onto the flat surface. As I placed my hands to the computer screen again, the warmth once again filled my finger tips. This time, I did not have the power to draw myself away. The warmth was spreading through my whole body, making me numb. I felt frightened. What was happening to me? Suddenly, as if my fear could not have been any more powerful... my fingers slipped though the computer screen! Almost like sliding my hand through a thick gel, my fingers, then my hand, then my shoulder... it was as if I was trapped in quicksand. I wanted to pull my hand out, but my body would not respond to my commands. Suddenly, without warning, my whole torso slipped through the screen, quickly followed by my midsection, legs and feet. ~*~*~*~ When I opened my eyes, I was in a cell. A horrible, dank little cell. Silver and iron chains dangled from each wall and what looked like human blood stained the floor. I wanted to scream, but I hold it back, too frightened to speak. “Someone…” I looked up. Hearing someone behind me, I turned around. A figure was curled up against the wall, hidden by a ragged blanket. “Is someone there?” I called. Surprised, the figure moved and removed the blanket from her figure. I felt my heart stop. Before me, sat a sat a beautiful young woman in silver chains. She wore a beautiful blue dress and head-band accompanied by wings. Her dress reminded me of a sleeveless Japanese kimono. But I recognized her. Moving closer, I tried to speak. “Lau… Laurel-Scott Song-weaver?” I whispered. The beautiful angel looked back at me, rubbing tears from her eyes. She seemed quite surprised at finding another person in this horrible place. “Yes?” She said in a voice that was so musical, I couldn’t believe it. Laurel wasn’t known for being the musical angel, that was her sister, Raya, but she still had a very elegant voice. “THE Laurel Scott Song-weaver!?” I asked again. “That would be me.” She said, cocking her head to one side, “Who are you?” I couldn’t help myself as I ran over threw my arms around her and gave her a great big hug! “Laurel!” I smiled at her, “Oh My God! It’s so nice to meet you…” I looked around, “Not in these current circumstances… but it’s so nice to meet you!” I must have been acting like a crazed fan girl meeting a movie star. Laurel must not have expected me to hug her, but as much as her shackles could let her, she hugged me back. “It’s… it’s quite nice to meet you too!” She gave me a half smile, still shocked at my first response to hug her, “You know who I am?” “Oh, I’m sorry.” I whispered, “I kinda got carried away, My name is Katie. I am a huge fan of yours! I think you are sweet and incredible! You and Your sister! You both kick serious butt!” Laurel looked even more shocked that before. “You know about me and my sister? How is that possible?” I slapped my forehead, “Ack! I am such an idiot! There’s this guy in my world, named Sozokureed… at least I think that’s his name. He’s really sweet. He’s written all these stories about you and your sister and your friends! And He’s drawn these pictures that are so well detailed. You’re actually a little taller than I imagined, but I’m getting off topic…. That’s how I learned about you and how awesome you are! I really like you… I mean, not in a love way so to speak”, I ended up blushing, “But I think you are quite wonderful.” Laurel looked at me in shock, but her shock melted into a kind smile, “Well… thank you very much! That’s quite sweet of you dear.” I smiled back at her, “Thank you.” I suddenly snapped out of my fan girl mode and looked around at this horrid cell, “Laurel, what happened? What are you doing here?” Laurel shook her head, “I have no idea. One moment, I was with Raya, talking about Mr. Reed, the next I’m hit on the head…and I’m here!” I looked at the chains holding her wrists, ankles, stomach and neck. “It looks like something that creep Gale would cook up.” Laurel shook her head, “It wasn’t Gale. Couldn’t be. Aside from being dead for so long… I recognize these shackles.” She showed me her hand, “I’ve been here before... and I know the sneak who’s behind this. Right before I was knocked out, someone came up behind me and-” I didn’t mean to be rude, but I cut her off. “I don’t mean to cut you off, but I get the idea and… but I’m here to help.” I told her. Laurel looked at me in both shock and happiness. “You really think you can get me out of here?” I gave her a reassuring smile, “I do.” “But you don’t have any weapons… and your dressed in a bathrobe.” She pointed out. I blushed, “Oh, yeah… I just got out of the shower, sorry…. however, after being here, I think I’m gonna need another one. Listen, can you summon your Halberd?” Laurel shook her head, “Magic proof walls.” “Okay.” I knelt beside her and looked at the shackles. I would need something sharp to get them off her, “First things first, I’m gonna try to get these shackles off-“ “DEMON FIRE STRIKE!” I screamed as what felt like a knife split into my back. I fell to the ground in pain… shivering as I tried to regain strength. Laurel’s cries grew louder! “YOU MONSTER!” She spat, razing to her feet, “So it was you who attacked me and my sister! If I ever get my hands on you-” “Save it, Song-weaver!” The figure over me spat. “I’ve had enough of your whining.” I felt someone’s gloved hand grasp the back of my throat and lift me up. I shivered as I came face to face with another figure I knew quite well from Reed’s stories. A tall woman with long blonde hair was holding me up. I would say she was even taller than Laurel. She was dressed in all read leather and gold. She had intricate tattoos on her side and devil horns on her head. Her ears were that of an elf and her eyes were a bloody red. “Rocky Road.” I muttered. Rocky’s deep eyes looked an excited glint. “Well, well, not another Song-weaver… or even another angel, but another visitor all the same. And who might you be, my dear?” “None of your damn business!” I snapped at her, “Let Laurel go! I won’t let you keep her here any longer.” “Oh.” Her eyes grew even more mysterious, “Give me one reason why I should let the angel go?” “Because if you don’t, I’ll… I’ll… I’ll do something nasty!” Both Rocky and Laurel seemed to give me the ever popular “WTF” look before Rocky burst into laughter. “Are you kidding me? A scrawny little pip-squeak like you? I’d like to see you try, but I am a very busy woman and I don’t have time to play.” She said before throwing beside Laurel and flicking her fingers. Almost at once, two shackles attached themselves to my wrists and one chain wrapped around my neck. I tried to pull against them, but the metal cut into my skin. “Don’t.” Laurel whispered, holding me back, “You’re gonna hurt yourself.” “What the hell are you gonna do with us?” I snapped at the scantly clad demon before us. "Are you really that stupid?!" Rocky's laugher increased quite a bit. "I would have thought to capture smarter girls, but alas, I am not that lucky. The famous feminine slave trade is coming to our city soon and I have always been one to have the extra special items up for bid. I was hoping to have both Song-weaver sisters... but I guess one sister and a small pip-squeak will have to do." She turned her back on us and headed for the door. "Oh." She called back, "And by the way, pip-squeak, you might wanna ditch the bath robe. Bidders wanna see the whole item, not something that looks chunky." "CHUNKY!?!?" Now, I was really flaming, "Oh! If I ever get out of here, you are sooooo gonna get it! And for the record, pal, my name is not "Pip-squeak! It's Katie! KATIE! K-A-T-" I didn't finish as she walked out of the room and slammed the door right in the middle of my sentence. I growled, feeling the anger and strength ebb out of me as I slipped to the floor beside Laurel. She looked at me with kind eyes and reached over to touch my hand. "I'm so sorry you got dragged into this." She whispered. I shook my head, "It's not your fault Laurel. I should have gotten you out when I had the chance. Then we both would be out of here...." I began to feel involuntary tears come to my eyes, "I guess I'm never gonna see my home again, am I?" "Don't talk like that," Laurel whispered, taking out a cloth from her pocket and drabbing my eyes, like a mother would a child, "Everything is going to be fine, you'll see...” but the tears were already coming to her eyes too. "We'll get out of here, you'll see." I smiled and looked back at her, "You're a horrible liar Laurel, that's why I like you so much.... you're so sweet, no matter what the circumstances." Laurel laughed, "Not always. Sometimes I can be quite mean when I wanna be." "Yeah, I had to smile, "And I'm Kate Beckinsale." Laurel's look of happiness turned to confusion, "Who?" I shook my head, "A famous person in my world." Laurel nodded, "Oh, I see." She looked up and around at the cold cell in which we were trapped. "It's a horrible place, isn't it?" I nodded, she didn't have to tell me twice. “We’ve gotta find a way out of here. "I don't know how long I've been trapped here." Laurel explained, "On more than one occasion, I tried to call for help, but no one seemed to hear me." "I heard you." I told her, suddenly realizing it must have been Laurel's voice I heard through the computer, "You must have some how tapped into our world and I heard your cries for help...and....” I closed my eyes, “I'm going to help you." I didn't know how... or even what I could do to make this better... but I knew I had to do something to help her. Laurel was somehow always in trouble.... and this time, I would have to be the one to help her. Besides, this was no time for crying. I had to be strong. We had to get out. Laurel looked at me, "How can you help? No offence, but you're so small, and now Rocky Road has captured you too. We can’t get past her." "I know..." I said, "But there has to be someway out of here. Something we haven't thought of yet." Laurel shook her head, "I've tried everything. Magic, weapons, somehow she seems to know when something is wrong and she knows how to attack! It's impossible to surprise her. OH! That woman makes me sick." Had this been a cartoon, I swear there would have been a light bulb over my head. I looked back at Laurel, "Say that again." "She makes me sick?" Laurel said, completely confused. "What does that-" I grabbed Laurel in a hug and smiled happily at her, "You're a genus!" "I'm a what?" Laurel, "Are you feeling okay?" I gave her a great big smile, "No… I’m not at all." ~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~* The moaning noises I made were so pitiful and heart wrenching, I would have had to congratulate myself. For this plan to work, I had to look as pitiful as was humanly possible. Laurel was actually doing a pretty good job herself as she held onto me and began to cry. "Help! Someone please help!" Suddenly, a very angry and very tired looking Rocky Road opened the door with a slam and stomped into the room. "Don't you two ever shut up!? It's one in the morning!" "Please!" Laurel said gently, "Please, you have to help Katie. She's sick. I don't know what it is! She just started moaning and grabbing her side." "And..." Rocky gave her a very pissy look, "Why should that concern me!?" "Please..." I moaned, reaching out my hand, "I'm in so much pain..." I let out an ear piercing scream. Rocky grabbed her ears, "ACK! Shut up!" She growled, "Shut up! Fine! If I give you a healing potion will you shut up and let me sleep." I looked up at her with teary eyes and nodded. She rolled her eyes and pulled out a small potion bottle. Just as she came close enough to place the bottle to my lips... "NOW!" I screamed and both Laurel and I lunged for the surprised Miss Road, grabbing her and pulling her as much as our hands could. Laurel was able to grab her arms and I was able to get her around the stomach. I was able to reach behind her back and pull out the ring of keys she used to keep us locked up. "YOU LITTLE BITCHES!" She roared, trying to get us to let her go! "Get off me, both of you!!!" "Not on your life, Road!" I snapped back at her, "I've had it with you and your sadistic games! This time, you are gonna get it!" Even though she was struggling against us, I was able to reach up and grab her firmly behind the neck, applying enough pressure to cause her to black out. Now that Road had stopped struggling, I was able to help Laurel put her down on the ground and help her out of her chains. She then carefully took the keys from me and took my chains off. Carefully, we locked up Rocky Road in the same was and Both Laurel and I looked at her. "What should we do with her?" Laurel asked. "Oh..." I smiled, "I have some ideas." ~*~*~*~~*~*~~*~*~*~*~*~~* "Wakey, Wakey." I said, looking down at Road as she opened her eyes to find herself trapped as Laurel and I stood over her. She snarled angrily at us. "Surprised?" I asked, "I thought you might be." "When I get out of here, you little rat-" I cut her off all too quick, "Ah, but you see you are not gonna get out of here... well, at least not yet." Road gave us both a sickening smile. "What are you gonna do? Torture me? Are you gonna stoop to my level" I shook my head, “God No! Unlike you, we actually have feelings!” Laurel smiled, “I wouldn’t really call it torture… but,” She reached behind her back, pulling something out into the light. Road's personality dropped at once. "You... you wouldn't dare." "We would." I said, pulling out a similar object. "But... that would be cruel!" She said, her voice shaking. "Not as cruel as keeping up locked up here to sell. We're not gonna sell you, just have some fun." Laurel smiled. "No..." She said as we moved closer, "NOT THE FEATHER!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! ~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~ “Laurel!” Raya called out in a frightened voice. “Laurel my sister, where are you?” “Maybe Road moved her to another part of the castle.” Reed whispered, holding his sword, “She must have known we were coming.” “It will take forever to search this damn castle again!” Samanatha sighed, “I’ll start back downstairs-“ “HAHAHAHAHAHAHA! NO STOP! WAIT, AH… HAHAAHAHAHAHAHA!” Reed jumped in utter fright, “What the hell was that!?!?” Samanatha grabbed her sword and pointed up the stairs, “It came from there.” As the there friends ran up the winding case of stairs, there reached a final door where the strange sound seemed to be coming from. Raya pushed past Reed and pressed her hands to the door. “Laurel!” She cried, “My sister! Are you there!?!?!” Before a moment could pass, the door flung open and a very excited Laurel flew into the arms of her beloved sister! “Onne-Chan!” She cried as she and her sister embraced, “Oh, I missed you so much!” “My little one!” Raya smiled and held her close, “I am so happy you are okay! What happened? Those creatures came and you were gone! Did they hurt you!? Are you alright? Did they-“ “Onne-Chan!” Laurel hugged her sister again, “I am alright! Katie and I got Rocky Road together and now she won’t bother us anymore!” “Woah!” Samanatha stepped forward, “It’s good to see you in one piece, Blondie, but tell me. How in the name of all get out did you not only defeat Rock Road, but who the heck is this ‘Katie’?!” “Uhh…” Reed gave Samanatha an odd look as he pointed into the room, “Must be that girl.” All four figures looked over to see a small girl in a bathrobe… holding a feather, tickling Rocky Road’s bare foot. Samanatha seemed to give an interesting smile and saunter over. “So…. is this a private game?” She asked, pulling out a feather, “Or can anyone play?” ~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~* Later that evening, I sat at home, playing Solitaire on the computer. I looked up at the clock, almost midnight. I hadn't been gone that long, I thought. I smiled. Laurel had helped me get home relatively quick… though it involved quite a few explosions on her part, until Raya, in thanks, teleported me home. I clicked on the computer screen again and smiled, "Ah, ha! I win again!" "Win what?" I looked behind me to see my mom staring at me. She looked tried, but happy nonetheless. “Mummy!” I cried, jumping up and hugging her, “It’s so good to see you again!” “Well, thank you dear. I wasn’t gone that long. What are you still doing up?” I shrugged, “I couldn’t sleep.” My mother sighed, “You didn’t spend the whole night online did you?” I smiled “God no!” “Then what did you do… and where did that big feather come from?” My mother asked, pointing to a long beautiful feather on the couch, “It looks like an angel feather!” ~*~*~*~*~* “Is there anything I can do to thank you for helping me?” Laurel whispered before I left. “Well…” I looked down at my feet, “I always wanted to know what an angel wing felt like.” Laurel smiled, “Well I can’t give you wings… but I can give you this.” She placed her hands and a light began to glow within them. Suddenly, from the light, sprouted a beautiful feather. ~*~*~*~*~*~*~ “Oh.” I shrugged, “Just something I found.”