Wounded by the River

[Winters-Feather]

Akenu silently followed Dai's point. For a moment, she stared blankly at the mansion before her eyes settled on an open window on the second floor. The woman's eyes went vacant for a moment as she tried to use the wind to scry her friend. Sure enough, he was in the master's bed room- the sunlight  must have had reflected the light of a shiny contraction of some sort that had immanently caught his attention.  
The woman frowned as she turned towards the gardener.
"Take care of my horse, please!" she said a little too loudly with a rushed bow before turning around and grabbing hold of Dai's wrist.

The woman groaned as she began to take large and fast strides towards the back door. A servant tried to prevent her entry, but the woman ignored them and turned towards Dai.
"Where are the stairs?" she demanded, looking around the giant place, a bit uncomfortably. Aknenu knew this was all rude and unsettling. She hated every second of this, and wanted to grab her dragon and run from embarrassment.

[Rhindeer]

Oh no, oh no, oh no!

When Dai had pointed to the window, he had not expected Akenu to take that as an invitation to burst inside the manor!

"W-wait!" he called, but it was too late; Akenu had snagged his wrist and was bolting to the back door and Dai had no choice but to be carried along, nearly tripping over his own hooves in his effort to keep up. Before he could say anything, they were inside the manor and Dai felt powerless to stop any of it; it would be like trying to stop an avalanche.

It was too late now. May as well go through with it. The servants had already seen. They were going to tell his master!

Tugging on one ear fretfully, Dai pointed to the right. "That way," he groaned, then held up a hand and stepped in front of her. "Ah! Let me lead. Just...just don't touch anything."

It wouldn't do if anything was broken or messed up and he didn't want her barging into all the rooms, because some rooms were Off Limits, even to him. Stepping in front of her, he started for the stairs and bounded up them, stopping at the top.

[Winters-Feather]

Akenu couldn't comprehend why things were turning out this way. At all. What had drawn the dragon up the stairs of this odd mansion? She didn't like it, one bit. She was so distracted that Dai suddenly cutting her off had rather startled her. The woman nodded at his request, doing her best to ignore the servants that surrounded them. Akenu knew they were staring, and she couldn't bare it. The woman quickly followed after him as particularly distressed house keeper emerged from the kitchen. She shouted up the steps  that they weren't allowed up there, that Akenu shouldn't even be in the house, whatever was Dai thinking?

Unaware of this commotion, Akenu hopped up the stairs, two at a time. She looked down past the railing to find the woman still shouting as a page ran out the door.
They might call the police, she realized in dread as another page went after them.
Clicking her tongue the woman made her way down the hall towards the master's bedroom. The open window had been five doors from the left. The woman counted in her head as she took broad steps.
"Wait, Miss! Dai!" the young boy cried out as he ran towards the unicorn, "You can't go in there! the Master is forbidding everybody from entering his room, lately, not even the staff!"
He paused, quizzically.
"Who is she anyway?" he whispered as Akenu paused to examine the locked door.

"Where's the key?" she demanded as she turned to her companion, a little shocked to see the boy now standing next to him.

[Rhindeer]

Everyone knew, now! There was absolutely no hope of this going unreported, now. Master would find out and he'd be in trouble but...but, at this point, even Dai realized that backtracking and not moving forward wouldn't make the issue go away. It was too late. He was going to get in trouble either way, now, so may as well help her get her dragon and run before she got into trouble, too!

Heart hammering in his chest, Dai peered over the railing and called back to the woman, "It's okay, Becca! She just needs her dragon!"

Which, of course, did not reassure Becca one ounce!

"Dragon? Whatcha goin' on about, Dai? Dai! Get her out of here! Oh, when the master finds out, he's gonna tan your hide!"

But Dai had already turned away, bouncing nervously as he looked to Akenu. "Uh, key?"

She wanted into the master's room! His turquoise eyes widened and his tail thrashed anxiously, but then a voice at his side drew his attention.

"Huh? Oh, uh...she's...she's a friend," Dai said, then turned to face the boy and made shooing motions with his hands. "It's okay, Thom. Go back to Becca, please! We, uh...we have to do some things." Then, looking back over his shoulder at Akenu, he shook his head.

"I-I can't! He gave me the key. I have to take care of it..." But if the dragon was in the master's room, tearing things up...

That thought alone made him change his mind, made his face grow pale. His ears drooped, and he nodded toward the room down the hall from the master's room. "It's under my pillow."

It would be better this way, right? Master would understand! And, well, Becca was just being dramatic, anyway! Master had never hurt him.

[Winters-Feather]

At the mention of the key being in Dram's room, Akenu instantly nodded and boldly headed straight towards there. The woman felt possessed, as if taken over by some other entity. Perhaps by some wayward ancestor, for barging into people's  houses and rooms without much permission was hardly like her. With quick steps, Akenu headed straight towards the bed, determined not to pay much attention to the room, as if she was protecting Dai's privacy, somehow. Akenu let out a short sigh as she found the brass key, a light gleaming in her eye as she held it in the palm of her hand.  Ignoring the continuous commotion of the staff, Akenu began to unlock the master's bedroom door, her impatience hindering her. The woman growled as she finally managed to lock, and swung open the door.
"Marik!" she hissed, making tsking noises as her eyes scanned the room until it landed on the little  black dragon.

Upon sight of his companion, he cooed, but didn't stir from his place. Instead, he was examining a well sized wooden box by the desk. Whatever was inside seemed to have caught his interest, for the dragon kept on picking at the opening and snorting flames at the artifact, only to find them hopelessly dissolved; the thing was obviously magicked. Akenu sighed and furrowed her brow as she carefully stepped into the room. It was neat and orderly,and it was spooking her entirely.
No doubt because I'm not supposed to be here, she thought with  clutched teeth as she  bent down to scoop up the dragon. Akenu made an angry noise at the dragon, not bothering to use words as she peered at the box that was vexing him so.

The woman frowned as she observed the design. It was a queer, but a beautifully carved box, with pictures depicting some sort of frenzied ritual in the forest, with dancing fae, fawns, woodland creatures, and what appeared to be an alter. Akenu couldn't help but to touch the design, fascinated by it. She hadn't seen anything matching its value for awhile. Mairk snarled at the the thing, and  pounced from her shoulders to pick at the lock.  Akenu frowned and adjusted her headscarf. This wasn't like him, at all. There was something in it that was disturbing him, and whatever it was, it wasn't pretty.
It's not of my business, Akenu scowled to herself as she tried to fit the master's bedroom key in the lock. It was none of her business, but curiosity had finally gotten the better of her.

Naturally, the key didn't work. No doubt he would keep such a key on his body. With a sigh, she rummaged through her pouches until she found some spare wire she had kept to make common place jewelry. The woman artfully bent it before picking the lock. It took her a few moments, but it finally sprung.
See? There's nothing-
Akenu gasped in horror and blanched as she looked down into the box. In it was a pile of bones, complete with a skull.
Ancestors watch over us, she prayed as a hand reached down towards a knife.

Akenu frowned in suspicion as she bolted to her feet, her eyes examining Dai quizzically. Meek Dai, friendly Dai... It was his master.. Was he in cahoots? Had she been lured in? Akenu felt trapped. She was too high up to jump out the window; she'd need to fight her way down the stairs, if the staff were going to capture her to turn into their monstrous master.
"What's that? Can you explain what that is?" Akenu sharply asked Dai as she pointed towards the box with her knife.
"What are you people?"

[Rhindeer]

Dai watched anxiously as Akenu fetched the key and then went to his master's room, and the page boy beside him gave a squeak of horror.

"She can't--!"

"Shh, Thom. Go back to Becca!" Dai said and gave the kid a light push toward the stairs. "Go on!"

Thom scowled at Dai but then, finding it ultimately safer to let Dai take the fall on his own, he turned and scurried down the stairs, leaving him alone with Akenu.

He didn't want to go into the master's room; he wasn't supposed to be there and even though his master wasn't home, he half expected him to pop out of the closet. But he had to go there to make sure nothing was ruined, right? Make sure that Akenu didn't snoop too much and was only there to get her dragon and leave. That and deep down, he'd always been curious as to what was inside--though he would never dream of looking without permission.

He crept closer, and when he did, he gave a gasp of horror.

The dragon was there, all right, and now Akenu was prying open a box!

"Whoa! Hey! You can't--!" he yelped, but it was too late. The lid sprang open, Akenu gasped and blanched and Dai gaped in horror as well--though for different reasons.

He couldn't yet see what was in the box.

Dai started toward her, about to tell her to put it back, but then froze when she grabbed her knife and bolted to her feet. His own face paled and he took a step backwards, utterly confused as she barked out her questions. It was only when she gestured to the box that he crept forward again. "What? What are you talking about? Akenu, you have to put that ba--"

His eyes landed on the bones.

Dai let out a sharp squeal of fright and staggered backwards, nearly tripping over his own tail in the process. Bones. Bones in his master's room. Human bones. Human skull. What were bones doing in his master's room?! What were human bones doing there? Was that why he wasn't allowed in? What did...why would he...?

A wave of nausea rolled over him and he had to swallow hard to keep it from overpowering him. He shook his head, ears back and eyes wide.

"No, no, no, no...that...this has to be a mistake..."

[Winters-Feather]

Akenu narrowed her eyes as she focused on the unicorn. He... didn't seem to be lying in his claims. The look on his face when he saw the bones were of utmost horror. It pained her to look at him really; he looked so troubled and confused. Plus, he had earned a soft spot in her heart after healing her horse so. She threw him an equally puzzled look mixed with disgust. How could he not have know about this? Was he that naive? But, of course, he was kept as a pet and nothing more. Stilll, this was all rather hard to believe.
I'm in a strange house under terrible circumstances... I can't trust anybody.
She sighed and sheathed her blade, though kept her hand near its hilt.  Whatever.
The master's name was Ashley, wasn't it? That was fine by her.

"I'm going to the police," she hoarsely said before absent-mindedly signing "Good bye" as she stormed out of the bed room door and made her way down the stairs, Marik flying close behind her.
Where's the stable? she thought, irritably. The house spooked her; Akenu wanted to get away from it as fast as possible. She had her hide to think of and a business to run; no way was she getting further involved in this!

[Rhindeer]

And then she was leaving.

Leaving him here, with a pile of bones. In his master's room.

And Dai felt like his entire world had abruptly changed. For a moment he just stood there in shock, not sure what to do or think. His master had bones in his room. Human bones. That he'd been hiding. It had to be a mistake. It had to be something else. But the more his mind raced, the more things didn't add up--like the people, men and women, that he brought home some nights that Dai never saw leave in the morning, or the strange, muffled noises that sometimes came from his master's room, but which he wasn't supposed to hear. Dai had thought they were...inappropriate...and had busied himself with other things and ignored it, but...

Did his master kill people? But...he was so nice. He'd always been good to him.

And then he'd let this woman into his room and now she was going to fetch the town guard. What would happen when he found out it was Dai that let her in?

He didn't want to believe it, but he had no choice, cold fear gripping him. With a start, he turned and bounded after Akenu, following her down the stairs. "Wait! I'm coming, too!"

[Winters-Feather]

Akenu briskly ran down the stairs, her thoughts muddled in anger and confusion.
There were bones in that box, she thought, numbly. But how does one reduce a body to bones? Maybe the body was burned... The staff would have noticed if a corpse was lingering behind these doors. Right?
The woman shook her head, trying not to think about such things. She brush her way past confused servants and made her way towards the door. Along the way, Marik had been giving out short barks and rustling about, but she hadn't paid much attention to it until he finally nipped at her ear.

"Ow!" she scowled loudly as she shrugged the dragon off of her shoulders, furious.
Akenu had just about had it with that creature, leading her into this forsaken house.
She was about to say something more when her eyes landed on the unicorn, who was alarmingly close behind her.
She frowned as she crossly glared at the creature before spinning around on her heels and exiting the house as she tried to find her way to the stables. Whatever. Let Dai follow her if he wanted; the woman wasn't in the mood to argue, much more preferring her silence.

Akenu marched towards the stables and entered to find the gardener from before tending to her mare, who whinnied at her arrival and flicked her tail. Marik made a noise that almost sounded like a whimper as he clung to her shoulders, his ears flickering in anticipation.
"Thank you," she hoarsely said before jumping onto her saddle.

[Rhindeer]

It stung when Akenu didn't acknowledge him except to glare at him. Stung enough to freeze Dai in place as another horrible realization dawned.

She didn't trust him.

What if Akenu thought he was involved?

What if she was going to tell the guard that he was?

And what if...what if this was all a horrible mistake? A misunderstanding? Even as Dai wrestled with the horror of that discovery, even as his mind pieced together fragments that had seemed so disjointed and yet made up a whole, if twisted, truth, he still didn't want to believe that his master--his beloved master--was a murderer. He didn't want to believe him capable of hurting others, of hurting him. What if the bones were something else? What if they were a relative? Someone who had died naturally but...but...was...kept under his bed in his room? Okay, no, there was no way to spin that which wasn't creepy, but he still tried!

For a moment he stood frozen, not knowing what to do. It hurt to be cast away like that. But if he couldn't go with her, he had nowhere else to go. If he stayed here, he and his master both would meet the guard! If his master didn't arrive first. But maybe his master had an explanation and he could hear it out! Unless there was no explanation and it was all true, in which case...

He'd dallied too long. Akenu was out of sight then. There wasn't much time. She would be gone soon and what then?

Dai ran as quickly as he could and caught sight of her just as she vanished into the stables. Pouring on an extra burst of speed, he hurried into the stables and skidded to a stop before Akenu and her mare, arms spread as though to stop them and breathing hard.

"Wait! Please believe me, I didn't know!"

[Winters-Feather]

Akenu's brows arched in surprise as she held on fast to the reigns. The woman had been startled by the unicorn's actions and stared at him, unknowing what to do next. A pit had begun to form in her stomach. Akenu pursed her lips together as she looked down at Elyin and petted her gently. They weren't quite to safety, yet, but Akenu felt calmer and better around her mare and dragon. She let out a strained sigh as she turned towards the unicorn. It wasn't his fault things were like this. Akenu clicked her tongue and flicked the reigns as she gestured for Dai to follow her as they trotted out of the stable.

Akenu knew the streets in the city well, but she surprised herself with her lack of knowledge of where the guard's headquarters was located. Of course, she never really had a need to know where it was before- the only sort of criminals she was used to dealing with were pick pockets and those who thought they could steal behind the back of a deaf woman.

Where is it? she thought impatiently as her blue eyes scanned the streets. Finally, after a couple of silent minutes strolling through the lively roads, they found one of the city guards' headquarters near the open aired market. The building was clean, though it rather intimidated the woman. Something didn't bode well with her, though Akenu couldn't fathom as to what. A pit began to sit in her stomach as she jumped off her horse, and lead her to the stables. For the first time after a period of silence, she spoke.
"Since there are two of us, you go in and tell them what happened," she explained, "Or you can bring one outside to talk to me if you're too uncomfortable doing so. I don't want to leave Elyin alone."

[Rhindeer]

Relieved, Dai followed along after Akenu at a swift trot, amazingly quick and light on his feet for a bipedal creature. He had no problems keeping up with her and when they finally reached their destination, he was breathing hard but could have maintained that pace for longer. Still, relieved or not, he was worried. Was Akenu mad at him? Was this all his fault? He should have never brought her back to his home, but how was he to know?

Inside the stables, he waited nervously for Akenu to acknowledge him, hating the silence but feeling too awful and guilty to break it himself.

When she finally spoke, he perked up, ears lifting and tail swishing--until she told him what he should do.

Erk. He didn't like either of those ideas. Both of them involved going in that place alone and he'd never done anything like this before! What if they thought he was guilty and looked at him like Akenu had in that moment? But...she was right. He didn't blame her for wanting to leave her horse, and time was of the essence.

"Okay..." he said, letting out a sigh. "I'll go bring someone here."

And with that said, he turned and darted out of the stable.

He didn't get far.

Dai had made it halfway to the guardhouse when a flash of gold caught the corner of his eye and his belly filled with leaden dread. He knew what that meant even before a silken voice said, "Dai? What are you doing out here?"

Dai froze in place, heart lodging itself in his throat.

His master was there, having been browsing some wares in the market---home two days earlier than he'd said. Dai stared at him wide-eyed with his mouth half open, guilt etched into every line of his face, in his sagging tail and dropping ears. He didn't know what to say or do so he did nothing at all even as his emotions fought with each other.

His master was a killer.

But he didn't look like a killer, all golden-haired, fine-boned Serenian beauty. What if he wasn't? He'd been nothing but good to him, getting him nice things and braiding his hair and comforting him during stormy nights. What if everyone was wrong and it was all one big mistake?

His master, head tilted curiously, set down the ornate bowl he'd been inspecting and started to walk toward him. "Dai?"

[Winters-Feather]

Akenu nodded and watched as Dai entered the station. The woman sighed as the door closed behind him, and turned her attention towards her mare, a little grateful to have this brief moment alone. Still, as if something were crawling underneath her skin, Akenu felt comfortable.
I don't want to be here, she thought, sullenly. The woman was starting to become convinced that this day was one filled with bad luck for her. First Elyin got injured, and now this.
Well, no, she thought, correcting herself, Dai did help...
Her brow furrowed as she shuddered.
Yes, Dai had helped.  

The woman looked towards the stable doors. It had only been half a minute, but every second spent waiting felt like an eternity. Besides, it shouldn't take this long to grab someone to rush over- it shouldn't, right? Wasn't she the selfish one, ordering the poor unicorn about while she wallowed in her misfortune!
I should go after him, she thought, reluctantly pulling herself away from her mare.
Akenu took several hesitant feet forward before clicking her tongue and storming back to Elyin, hopping onto her back. Damnit, she wasn't going to leave her horse alone, and that was that.

Akenu slowly walked Elyin out of the stables and towards the guardhouse, drawing to a halt when she saw Dai. She scowled in confusion. Why the heck was he still standing in the middle of the road? Was he that easily distracted? They had no time for these games! Akenu rode up to the unicorn to tell him so when her eyes landed on the man he was staring at. The woman gasped, her heart squirming as she sat rigidly in her saddle. Marik's claws tightened against the fabric of her tunic as he hissed.
Ashley.
He was beautiful; there was no better word for him. Beautiful, with a strong jawline and a kind face. Had she not have seen the bones in the box, the woman might have had been a little interested; now she was just wary of a pretty monster.

Akenu felt her blood run cold, finding herself unable to speak.
She forced a smile as her eyes shifted over to Dai.
Right now, she could just leave. But what about the unicorn? The woman gritted her teeth together as she playfully clapped Dai on the shoulder and boldly held out her hand for Ashley to shake.
"You must be Dai's master," she said, "You've quite the companion. He saved my horse and is helping me get around. He was just showing me to my inn, if you don't mind. Right, Dai?"

[Rhindeer]

Dai nearly climbed out of his skin when a hand clapped down on his shoulder. He did gasp and stiffen before he could help himself, but quickly relaxed when he heard Akenu's voice. As she spoke, he had a knee-jerk impulse to correct her and opened his mouth to speak before he realized what she was doing.

"Huh? Oh, ah, yes!" he said with a nod and a bright smile that he hoped didn't look as nervous as he felt. "Yes. She's new here and she needed help. So I've been helping her and she needed help finding her inn so I--"

"Dai," his master said, gently cutting him off and pointedly ignoring Akenu's outstretched hand--an obvious and calculated slight, for he was nobility and she was beneath him. "You know the rules. You know you shouldn't be out without an escort." He glanced at Akenu. "A beautiful stranger does not count."

Dai's ears lowered as he saw the disappointed look on his master's face; even knowing what he did now, he'd always lived to please him, to follow the rules and make him happy as he made him happy. He'd never been physically disciplined, though he'd had privileges revoked, but of all that, knowing he'd disappointed him was always the worst. Even now the guilt crept in.

"If you were alone and something were to happen to you, I don't know what I'd do. And who knows what sorts of people are waiting at that inn? Like the very people I saved you from. You remember that, right?" Dai winced, and the man shook his head sadly and reached out for him.

"Now come along. Let's go home."

[Winters-Feather]

Akenu drew her hand back and clutched it in a fist, feeling utterly stupid for have even suggesting the gesture.
You're lower born, she thought, her pride helplessly stung. But why?
At least my hand won't be contaminated with the filth of a murderer.
Still, her nails dug into her palm as she tried not to look disappointed that Dai couldn't follow her. Before, Akenu hadn't understood the concept of Dai being a  'pet'; now it was all  very clear. Her gaze curiously shifted towards the unicorn. What had happened that had placed him in this dangerous nobleman's dept? The woman resigned to ask later.
If there was to be one.

Akenu sighed, closed her eyes, and humbly bowed.
"Forgive my impudence, Sir Ashley," she said before offering Dai a thin, wry smile.
"Good bye, Dai. Thank you for your assistance."
She  nodded towards Ashley once more before hopping onto Elyin and clicked her tongue. Her gaze fell unto her hands; her nails had driven so far in, that she was bleeding. Akenu quickly wiped her hand on her tunic before riding off into the market with her dragon flying close by. As she rode, being mindful of passerbys, a plan began to form in her mind. The woman would check into an inn before making her way towards a police station. There, she will submit her suspicions, and then... well, what then?
Akenu's heart sank. What of Dai?
May the spirits guide me, she prayed.
The woman felt incredibly guilty for leaving him.
I had no choice, she thought with gritted teeth. There's nothing I can do. Not yet.

But if Ashley was as cunning as they thought he was, then Akenu dreaded the thought of leaving the unicorn alone to him. A dreadful thought crept into her mind.
What if Dai confessed?
Suddenly, the air felt chillier.

[Rhindeer]

"Bye..." Dai watched Akenu as she headed away, but his master placed a hand on his shoulder and turned him away.

"Come on, Dai. You shouldn't be out here. What were you doing with a strange woman like that, anyway?"

Dai didn't answer except to mumble an apology.

They rode back to the manor together, Dai seated behind the man with his arms wrapped around his waist. All the while his mind raced. He could forget. He could forget what he'd seen and life could continue as normal. He could shut his ears and his eyes and his mind to what he now knew and continue to be...loved. Cherished. This was all he knew. If he lost this, what would he do? Where would he go? The world was filled with dangers and people that wanted to hurt him and there had to be a good reason for what he'd seen.

There had to be.

But as the manor came into view, a sinking feeling hit him straight in the gut. The box! Oh gods. The box was still out, wasn't it? They hadn't put it away, had they? Had they? He couldn't remember! It had been such a shock to see it, and now he couldn't recall what was done with it--a crucial detail! If his master went to his room and it was out, he'd know. And what of the servants? Would they say anything? Would they tell him that Dai had had that woman in there and that she had also seen?

He had been too startled at being found, and his mind was too clogged up and frightened with everything else that had happened that day, to think about all these other important elements. And Akenu! What would she do? She was going to tell the guard...

Things were going to get bad.

He'd find out.

And the guard would come for him.

Before Dai could stop himself, the words came pouring out of his mouth. He had to warn him, had to tell the truth.

"M-master? Ah. We...there was an accident and, um...I found the box." He saw his master's shoulders stiffen. He took a deep breath. "Under your bed. She saw it. With the bones and I--we--"

"Dai," his master said, voice soothing as ever. He swung down off his horse and handed both horse and luggage off to ostler and servant, respectively. "It's okay. She thought me a killer, mm? Sweetling, those bones belong to my mother. In her culture, bodies are not to be buried; they are to be burned, and the largest bones, the ones that do not burn, kept by the family."

He turned to help Dai down, eyebrow arched. "In the future, I would ask that you not desecrate my mother's tomb. And that you don't let strangers into my room." He shook his head. "Seems I have some explaining to do."

Dai followed his master inside, relief pouring through him. That made sense. It was all just a misunderstanding.

The door shut behind them. "Come along, Dai. I'll need help packing my things away."

It was when they'd reached the top of the staircase and started for the master's room that the man grabbed a handful of Dai's hair. Dai cried out in pain and alarm as the man yanked, tugging him over to him and wrenching his head back so he could look him dead in the eye. "Yourself included. You were amusing, but I believe you've just about outlived your usefulness."

Before Dai could do anything but stare numbly up at the man, heart pounding, his master all but threw him into his room and shut the door behind them. Dai stumbled and nearly fell, grabbing onto the dresser to right himself, and spun around in horror.

The box was where they left it--and his master was holding a knife.

[Winters-Feather]

Akenu  sighed and shook her head, annoyed.
No, she had no time to check into an inn. She had to find the knights, now.
The woman abruptly halted Elyin, causing the mare to whinny in alarm. She jumped off the mare and began to escort her through the streets, keeping up a brisk pace. Akenu wanted to run, but with a horse in tow, that would just cause people to get in her way and be angry and cause accidents. That took up time, and Akenu had a feeling that she had very little of it. Thankfully, the nearest knight station wasn't terribly far away, with two knights stationed outside. Both stared at the determined woman in confusion.

The one on her right seemed to be younger and pale of skin with dark, brown eyes. He was was about to ask her if he could help her when Akenu interrupted, telling him exactly what it was she needed help with.
"A young unicorn is in trouble," she said, signing the words rapidly.
"A unicorn?" he replied with a frown. He pointed to his ears, uncomfortable. The man turned to his partner for help, who shrugged, mildly interested in the woman's plight.
"You're... deaf? Can you understand me? Maybe I can find someone..."
Akenu scowled.
Of course I can understand you, dimwit. I can read lips! she thought, angrily.
"His master, Lord Ashley. He's  bad!" she continued.
"Lord Ashley?" the man replied in disbelief.  His partner reacted with a smirk.
"Miss, your accusations are rather heavy. How... "
"Box," Akenu replied, "Box full of bones. Ashes."
The knight didn't seem too impressed. His friend stiffled a laugh and shook his head.
"You're from Thanatos, aren't you?" the brown eyed one replied, "Some people here burn their dead and keep the remains. You're just over reacting. Besides, Lord Ashley.... Why are you looking at me like that?"

The man stopped, now annoyed at Akenu's angry glare.
"I'm trying to help you," he continued.
Akenu shook her head and gestured for him to follow her, immediately.  He shook his head.
"I can't do that, Miss, I'm sorry..."
The woman turned to his partner for help but he only shrugged and pointed to his ear. Akenu felt a dull ache inside of her. Gritting her teeth, she tried to walk inside the station, but the man stopped her.
"Ah, we can't let you do that," he protested as she struggled against him.
"Miss, I'm afraid you can't go inside. Ashley is a nobleman. You can't just accuse him of being 'bad' with no evidence! Do you understand?"

The two men had to work together to shove the woman away. Marik, who was settled on Elyin, squaked loudly and flapped his wings. Passerbys observed the spectacle, shook their heads, and moved on. Panting, Akenu glared at the two men, who only passively looked at her. She spent the next half a minute trying to persuade them, but the men wouldn't budge. Finally, the woman gave up.
Spirits protect me, she prayed as she sullenly marched away and mounted Elyin.
It seemed that she was on her own.

As she began to ride away, out of the corner of her eye she saw the two begin to talk , their eyes still glaring at her.
They think I'm suspicious, she realized, a grin creeping onto her face. Good. Follow me.
With that, the woman cracked the reigns, causing Elyin to go into a gallop across the city with Marik soaring overhead. She hardly payed attention to the chaos she was creating, people yelling angrily as she skillfully drove Elyin through the busy streets. Finally, she found herself once again outside of Ashley's gates. The woman tossed her head over her shoulder. In the distance, she could see some knights quickly approaching, with several on horseback.

Satisfied, the woman lept across the yard and bolted into the house with Marik flying close.
"Dai!" she shouted, "Dai!"
Ignoring the protests of the servants, she ran up the stairs and raced down the hall. She ran down the hall and opened all the doors that were unlocked, but the unicorn wasn't there. Marik flew to the closed door, the one that had belonged to Ashley. Pale and scared, Akenu knocked on the door as hard as she could, while fiddling with the lock.
Come on, open, she prayed.

[Rhindeer]

For a second, Dai stared in numb shock, his mind incapable of grasping the reality of the situation. This couldn't be happening. It couldn't. It was a bad dream, something, anything but real.

But then his master was approaching him like a predator, finality in his eyes, and fiction or reality, he couldn't wait to find out. Instinct kicked in.

Dai stumbled away from him, nearly tripped backwards and onto the bed, righted himself, and put the bed between them. "W-wait, master, please..." His searched for an opening, an escape route, anything, but his master was between him and the door and he wasn't sure he could make it.

That was when he heard Akenu's voice from the other side of the door. His master paused.

That was the opening Dai needed. In a desperate move, he leaped over the bed and for the door.

"Akenu!" he cried, grappling with the door handle, and then he let out a yelp when his master grabbed him by the back of the neck and hauled him backwards. "Akenu!"

His master was chanting something, low enough that only he could hear, and the bones in the box crumbled to dust; the runes etched into the wood began to glow white-hot. His master gripped him tight enough to still his struggles, one arm banded around his chest and arms, the other holding the knife against his throat, and understanding began to slowly dawn as the chant quickened. His master was going to put him in the box. He didn't know how, he didn't understand this magic--save that it felt old and deadly--but he understood that.

[Winters-Feather]

Akenu stared at the door, her eyes fixed on the knob.  Marik had flown off her shoulder and was clawing at the handle before flying down the hall and back again in a frenzy. He let out a loud screech
Why isn't it turning? she thought, gritting her teeth.
Akenu sighed, drew a knife, and took a step back.  She took a quick moment to aim her foot before kicking the door right under the knob with the force of a tempest.  The door roared like thunder,  so loud that even her ears could pick up vibrations. However, it still did not yield. With a shudder from the noise, Akenu kicked the door again, this time causing it to bolt open. The woman smirked at her victory.

Marik shrieked as he flew into the room and swooped down to claw at Lord Ashley's head, tugging at his hair and attempting to scratch his face. Akenu, dazed by her feat, paused for a half a second, her triumphant expression warping to determination at Dai's position. Her eyes shifted towards the glowing box. Akenu's grip on her weapon tightened. She didn't know what type of magic this was, either, but it was powerful and dark.
"Dai!" she exclaimed as she quickly moved in an attempt to pull the unicorn away from his master.
"Guards are coming soon," she said threateningly towards the noble as she slammed her elbow in the direction of his gut, hoping her attack would hit.

To emphasize this point, the sound of angry men barking orders as they entered the house and the shrieking of servants could be heard from the flight below.

OOC: Is Ashley's knife a steel blade?

[Rhindeer]

[OOC: We shall go wiiiith...yes! 8D]

Everything happened so fast.

Before Dai could truly register the cool press of steel against his skin or just how close he was to death--literally a wrist-flick away--the door burst open to a cacophony of chaos.

Marik screeched and launched himself at his master's head and the chanting cut off with a roar of pain and anger. Dai felt the knife withdraw, felt his master's body jerk as the man tried to fight off the dragon, and then he saw Akenu barreling in to elbow-check the noble for good measure. There was a sharp exhalation and his master's grip loosened.

Dai wasted no time.

He wrenched himself free and nearly toppled into Akenu in his scramble to get away, his breathing coming short and quick like a hare that had just escaped the wolf. But Akenu was here. The guards were coming. And his keen ears began to pick up the sounds of guards below.

His master was beginning to regain his bearings and had recollected the knife, eyes blazing with fury as he turned his attention to Akenu--unnatural eyes, eyes that no longer looked human as though he'd been masking something else beneath them this entire time. He advanced on her, arcane words on his lips, the blade glowing with a strange, toxic light, and it was enough to snap Dai out of his panicked stupor.

He turned and bolted from the room.

But he didn't try to run. Instead, he threw himself at the banister and leaned over it, waving frantically to the guards below. "Here! Up here!" he shouted, voice choked as horrible images flashed before his mind's eye, of what could be happening inside that room after he'd left her, abandoned her, of Akenu dead and bloody, of--no, he couldn't have done anything there. This was the best he could do.

"Hurry, please! He's gonna kill her!"'

He heard several startled exclamations, some surprise that there really was a unicorn (whatever that meant!), but the guards wasted no time. They charged up the steps and Dai prayed they weren't too late.