Epharis came only a few hours later after the castle and grounds had been properly searched, but she could only vaguely hear the conversation from their cell. Jaia hadn't left her, instead stroking her hair and murmuring nothing to her while she dozed on and off.
She no longer heard the shouting from the other cell, it had turned to crunching bone and the sound of chipping glass, but that too had eventually stopped.
Versalis was just as trapped as she was by the twins.
Instead of trying to understand what was going on, she basked in the warmth and comfort Jaia could bring her, her body curled in his arms, his right leg under hers and his left behind her back, giving her something to cushion her back against rather than the wall.
The door slammed and Kai came back down, glancing to the cell that contained Versalis before coming into the cell they were currently staying in.
"He's gone for now, but I think he suspects us. We don't have a lot of time before Alaric is forced to come down here.
Jaia moved and she made a soft sound of distress, her face burying deeper into the nape of his neck. He was gentle as he pressed her back and she reluctantly opened her eyes, squinting at the brightness of the candles on the walls.
"Come on, sweetheart, we need to go somewhere where you'll be safe," Jaia said gently and she nodded, willing to do whatever he asked so long as she got to remain at his side.
Helping her to her feet, she rolled her shoulders but there was nothing to be done with her arms behind her back.
They led her from the room in a dream state that she couldn't really seem to clear, having just enough sense to look over in the direction of the far cell.
Versalis looked like a mess, blood smeared on the glass where he had broken himself trying to get through, his eyes wide and locked on her.
They didn't leave her until she was up the stairs and out of sight, she could feel it.
Entering the sitting room, she was allowed a moment to rest on the couch, her head spinning and her sleepy eyes following Jaia everywhere he went around the room. They appeared to be packing, but she didn't know what for.
Finally returning to her, he cupped her face in his hands and kissed her forehead.
"Come now, darling, it's time to leave this place," he said gently, helping her to her feet and she moved willingly with him.
Something was itching her mind though as he said it and she frowned, trying to remember what it was that told her she couldn't leave.
Whatever it was, she let it go and followed Jaia, Kai coming up behind her.
They stepped out into the hallway and started off at the wrong direction to where the front door would allow them to escape, but she soon found out that the castle had a back door, taking them through the quiet kitchen and into a small road that seemed to work as a loading dock for the castle's kitchens.
Jaia took her arm gently, hurrying her along and her night dress swung around her bare feet, making it obvious they did not belong. The trip by foot only lasted ten minutes and they came to a small alley somewhere in the seedier part of the city.
Knocking on the door five times and then once, followed by three slow taps, it opened and a small, balding man squinted out at them.
"We need to leave," Kai said urgently and the man sighed, motioning them inside.
Stepping inside, the door was shut and they headed down the hall and into a large room filled with black carriages.
Motioning them in, the old man squinted at her but she barely noticed, only caring that Jaia was helping her into the carriage and settled down close at her side.
She didn't know what Kai was doing, but the man mumbled a thanks and then shuffled away, leaving them alone for a short time.
"How long do you think we have?" Jaia asked, slipping his arm tightly around her and she sighed happily.
"A few days at best, it will be rough but we have to do it," she felt eyes on her and she opened one eye to peek at Kai. She had been angry at him for something, but she couldn't recall so she smiled. His tense shoulders eased, returning the smile.
Someone stomped up to the carriage with what sounded like two horses, taking the time to strap the horses in and then climb up onto the carriage.
Kai pulled the cords on the curtains and the carriage fell into darkness.
Leaning against Jaia, he lifted her chin with his finger and lightly kissed the tip of her nose, making her smile at the tender gesture.
"I'm going to look after you," Jaia murmured softly against her hair as he pulled her into his lap, his cheek resting atop her head and holding her tight. "Everything is going to be okay."
She dozed off easily to the soft sound of his voice.
***
Waking some time later, they were moving and she felt groggy and nauseous, her hand going to her head that was still aching but mostly better.
"Where am I?" she asked, trying to figure out why the entire world was shaking.
She realised her hand was free and she felt her wrists, finding the chains to be gone. Glad for it, she reached out for a curtain but someone gripped her wrist and pulled her back from the window.
"No, Etani." A sleepy voice said and she turned to see the vague outline of a man beside her.
It appeared that the carriage had been modified, the seats of the carriage pulling out and the backrests folding down to make a bed. They had been curled up together with her snuggled securely between Kai and Jaia.
The one who had spoken had been Kai and she jerked her hand back from him.
He swore, sitting up sharply and Jaia on her other side moved as well, alert and wary.
"What is going on?" she demanded, feeling confused and somewhat alarmed, but mostly just angry.
Kai reached for her but she parried his grasping hand and drove her palm up into his nose, hearing the satisfying crunch.
The force of the blow knocked him back against the carriage wall, the driver swore and kicked the horses into a faster speed.
She nearly fell on top of Jaia, but she caught herself before she did.
She was so tired of vampires trying to control her, so sick of them abusing her like that.
Jaia had been a little slow on the uptake, at least until she shoved Kai's nose into his brain and he slumped to the bed, unconscious and she turned on him.
"Etani calm down," he said and she very nearly locked up under the words but she wasn't going to give in that easily.
Throwing herself back, she planted her foot against his chest when he made to come after her, pushing him back again.
He swiped her foot away and she was reaching for the curtain, ready to kill them all if that was what it took. He didn't try and contain her, instead he sank his fangs into her shoulder, his arms going around her only as an afterthought.
She cried out in pain, shifting herself and kicking the door of the carriage but it did nothing to get the doors open.
Jaia threw himself backwards onto the makeshift bed and dragged her back with him, his fangs dragging free of her skin and he bit her again and then a third time.
Screaming, she struggled violently, the carriage having stopped and the door opened. The two toppled out of the carriage, landing hard on stone of what appeared to be a cave. Falling apart, she rolled away and threw herself to her feet, her hand gripping her bleeding shoulder and backing away as quickly as she dared.
Jaia had leapt to his feet just as quickly. Prowling after her with murder on his face.
In the carriage, Kai had begun to stir.
Their driver was an enormous man with a mass of red hair and beard, looking confused by the scene and not sure how he was going to help.
Facing off against Jaia, he lunged and aimed a punch for her head but she was prepared, ducking to the side and landing a solid knee to his ribcage.
Throwing him back a good three feet, he rebound and swept her legs out from under her, catching her before she could hit the ground.
His kindness earned him a punch to the throat and he dropped her the last few inches, clutching at his throat and struggling to breathe.
Kai swore again, crawling out of the carriage to help his brother and she was quick to turn on him, a brutal kick to his side timed for right when he was about to reach her.
He crashed into the wall of the cavern and slid down, more angry than hurt.
Behind her, strong arms encased her and she stamped down on the foot, driving her head back and connecting with a nose.