The Midnight Train Crossing

By mid-afternoon the next day, Trent had most of the things he needed for the spell.
He was sitting in his room, the ingredients before him.
D'tanian rushed into the room, a bit breathless.
Trent looked up, automatically moving his chair in front of the table to hide it from view.
He closed the door, panting a bit.
"What's wrong?"
He shook his head, "I didn't get it."
"It's okay." Trent sighed inwardly.
"Too many people..."
"Don't worry, I'll work it out..." Trent thought for a moment. "Perhaps I could try..."
D'tanian went over to the table, and handed Trent a cutter, which wasn't silver, but if one didn't look at it too hard, it could pass for the real thing.
Trent nodded. "Which way do I go?"
"C'lyrisse keeps the real cutter in her private chambers somewhere," he explained, "She would notice right away if they were missing, but if you replace them with these it should keep her from getting suspicious right away."
"I see." Trent nodded.
"But other then that, I don't know what other advice to give you..."
Trent sighed. "That's okay. Which way do I go to get to her chambers?"
"Follow me." He led Trent out into the hallway.
Trent did as he was bid.
D'tanian gave Trent a few directions and wished him luck, then left the Psy on his own.

Trent looked around, then decided to test his magical abilities. He closed his eyes and concentrated, feeling the world around him swim.
As Trent grew smaller, the hallway grew taller.
Eventually he was in his fox-form, and Trent took off, weaving through the corridor as quickly as he could manage with the metal in his mouth.
Surprisingly, there were very few people about.
It didn't take him too long to get to his destination, and Trent paused, panting.
The door to C'lyrisse's private apartments was closed.
Slowly the Psy resumed his normal form and dropped the clippers from his mouth into his palm. He tried the handle.
The door was locked.
He sighed. Not helpful. He knocked, just in case.

"Who's there?" C'lyrisse's voice drifted out.
Trent swore and thought quickly. He knocked again, then morphed back into his foxshape, hiding in the shadows.
"Hello?"
He waited.
She opened the door, "hello?"
Trent hoped she would walk out a little further, so he could creep in.
She stepped out and looked up and down the hallway.
Trent saw his chance and shot in through the open doorway.

She frowned and returned inside, closing the door.
Trent was hidden under her bed.
She shrugged and went back to deciding what she was going to wear tonight.
Trent sighed inwardly, wishing she would just hurry up and go!
She smiled at her reflection as she lay her clothes out on her bed.
Trent groaned and pulled himself further under, shutting his eyes.
She started to strip, getting ready for a shower.
Trent didn't dare open his eyes.

There was the sound of a door closing as she moved to the bathing room.
Trent breathed a sigh of relief and slid out, looking around him quickly for the clippers.
Her room was a bit messy
He *had* to find it...!
There were several silver things on her vanity table.
With a small bound Trent was on the stool, looking at the with his sharper fox-eyesight.
Under the pile of random jewelry and other assorted things, there was a promising looking box.
Trent groaned. Box meant he had to be in his normal form. Oh well. He unmorphed and picked it up.
The small box lay heavy in his hands.
He slid his hands around it, looking for a catch or something that would indicate how it opened.
Suddenly the room sounded different.
Trent froze. Not good...!
There was a splashing sound, apparently she had decided to take a bath.
Trent relaxed slightly, his nerves taut.
There was a splashing sound, and humming.
He sighed inwardly and continued his exploration of the box.
There did not seem to be any hinges or latches or anything.
Trent groaned. Why him?!
After a few minutes, there was another larger splash and the water started to drain.
Trent swore under his breath. What was he to do?!
C'lyrisse continued to hum as she dried herself off.
Trent threw the box under the bed, morphed as fast as he could and joined it.
She stepped out of the bathing room, clad in a robe.
Trent shut his eyes.

She sat down at the vanity and started to brush her hair.
Trent wished she would go away... He wanted to get out!
Suddenly she noticed that there was something missing from the table. "Hmm," she said thoughtfully, "That's funny..."
'Uh oh...'
She stood up and started to look around at the floor.
Trent gulped. 'Please don't look under here... Please don't look under here...!'
She looked under the vanity.
Trent didn't dare open his eyes.
She stepped over to the bed.
'Oh no...!'
"Oh well," she said out loud, "It can't have gone too far..."
'Move away...move away...move away...!!'
She started to get dressed, dropping her robe on the floor.
Trent made sure his eyes were very firmly clenched shut.

After a few minutes was dressed.
Trent risked moving one leg; it was getting cramped.
C'lyrisse bent down to pick up her robe
Trent froze.
She looked under the bed.
Trent groaned inwardly; oh...great...
She stood up and headed back over to the vanity.
He blinked; she hadn't seen him...?

"^Trent, come to me.^" she said softly.
Trent felt his limbs about to respond and tensed as hard as he could. He would *not* go!
She went back to brushing her hair, waiting for him to come.
He struggled.
C'lyrisse calmly brushed her hair, unaware of the events taking place under her bed.
Trent took a hold of the underneath of the bed with his teeth.
She set down the brush and looked back at the door, a bit puzzled, he should have been here by now.
Trent kept struggling.
"^Trent, come here!^" she said.
He gave up and let himself be dragged out from under the bed. He ached.
She did not notice the fox, as she wasn't looking for that, she opened the door and looked down the hallway.
Trent struggled against the spell and made a break for the door.
"^Trent, I want you in front of my door now.^" she said a bit crossly.
Trent groaned as he was plonked squarely in front of the door.
She let out a yelp as a small creature darted in front of her.
It attempted to make an exit.
She grabbed something-which ended up being a shoe- and threw it after the fox.
Trent yelped. That was NOT nice!
She closed the door firmly once the fox was outside.

Trent sighed. Now what?
"^Trent!^" She summoned him again.
He gave a yip as he was pulled smack into the door.
She waited, getting a bit cross
Trent sighed. He was sick and tired of this...! He took a deep breath and transformed back to his normal form, running his fingers through his hair. What a mess...! He knocked.
"Who's there?" she asked a bit annoyed.
"Me."
"Good. Come in."
Trent opened the door.
"What took you so long?"
"Nothing..."
"Fine. In the future I expect you to respond sooner."
"As you say."
She nodded and turned back to her vanity.
"What do you want?"
"As you may remember, tonight I am having a gathering."
"Yes."
"And I expect you to be prepared for it."
Trent sighed.
"Oh Trent," she said, "You might have fun..."
"I thoroughly doubt it."
"Well you won't if you intend not to have any."
Trent sighed again.

"Would you brush my hair please?" she asked.
"What?"
She held out her brush.
Trent sighed. "You can do it yourself, can't you?"
"I *can*..." she started.
Trent groaned. "I am no maid."
"I was simply asking..."
"I do not enjoy that."
"You do not enjoy anything."
"I enjoy being at home with my brother."
"Again with your brother. ^Come here.^"
Trent growled as he was moved forward like some chess playing piece.
She stood up, "Sit down please."
He sat.
She picked up her brush again.
He sighed.
"What is it?" she asked, "But if it is about your brother I don't want to hear it."
"Then I shall stay silent."
She start to brush his hair.
He sat still, not minding having his hair brushed, just not comfortable.

After a few minutes she was satisfied.
Trent sighed inwardly.
"There," she said, "You look much better now."
"Hm." Trent murmured.
"Well you do look better," she said.
"Thank you." 'I think...'
She smiled at him fondly.
Trent managed a small smile back. He just wanted to go home! He'd been so near... Yet so far...
"I shall send for you again at seven," she said.
"As you say."
She nodded and backed away, "You may go if you wish..."
"Thank you." Trent stood and groaned inwardly. He had to get that box...!
She headed over to her closet, opening the door and vanishing inside.
Trent moved quickly, bending down and reaching under the bed.
C'lyrisse was occupied in searching for something in her closet.
Trent grabbed the box and stood back upright, heading for the door.
She did not emerge from the closet.

"Trent?" she called, "Are you still there?"
"Yes..." He replied, putting his hands behind his back and trying to look nonchalant.
"Have you seen a little brown wooden box anywhere?"
"Not at all." he answered quickly.
"Oh," she emerged from her closet frowning.
Trent smiled and started heading towards the door as unobtrusively as he could manage.
"Help me look?"
"In a moment..."
"Okay."
Trent was nearly out of the door.
"It's really rather funny, I'm sure that it was here before..." she said.
"I see..." he murmured.
"Are you sure that you haven't seen it?"
"I am..."
"Help me look," she said again.
"Give me one minute?"
"for what?"
"Just to-" Trent groaned. "Just one minute..."
She eyed him.
Trent looked back.

"Help me look," she said again, "surely there can be no harm in that."
Trent groaned inwardly; he was stuck...!
"Why are you so resistant against helping me?"
"I just would like a moment alone..."
She rolled her eyes, "fine. A moment."
Trent nodded.
She went back to her search.
Trent headed towards the door, hoping to put the box outside without her seeing.

She turned and watched him go. "What d'you have there?"
"Nothing..." Uh oh...
"What do you have in your hands?" she asked.
"Nothing........."
"Trent..." she started.
"Yes...?" he said softly.
"Tell me please."
"Erm..."
"Trent," she said, "I would prefer that you told me on your own..."
He sighed.
She waited.
Trent didn't move, not entirely sure what to do.
"Show me what you have," she said.
"I'd rather I didn't..."
"Why?"
"I just would rather not."
"^show me!^"
Trent struggled to keep his hands hidden, wishing profusely he was in fox form...
She folded her arms, and waited.
Eventually his strength gave out.
Her eyes widened as she saw what he held.
He sighed.
"Trent, did it not dawn on you that that was what I was looking for?" she asked after a minute.
"Not as such..."
"Where'd you get it?" she asked.
"Um..."
She held out her hand, waiting for him to give her the box.
Trent sighed inwardly.
She still waited.
He didn't want to hand over what might be his only chance of freedom...

"Trent!"
"Yes?"
"Give it here."
He sighed and did as he was told.
"Thank you," she said with a smile.
Trent sighed again.

She turned the box over in her hands and slid two panels on the sides of the box so that the lid would pop open.
So *that's* how it worked...
She smiled when she saw that the silver cutters were still safely in the box.
Trent sighed softly.
"Why did you take this?" she asked.
He made no answer.
"Did you know what was in here?"
He still stayed silent, not wishing to incriminate himself.

"Trent?"
"Yes?"
"What did you want these for?"
Trent fell silent again.
"Tell me."
He looked away.
She sighed, "Trent, I do not want to have to command you to show me..."
"Then do not." Trent said.
"Then tell me."
"I do not want to."
"Tell me anyway."
"No." he refused.

She hissed softly, "^Show me.^"
Trent groaned, fighting against the power she held over him due to the bracelets..
"^Show me!^" she commanded again.
Trent almost fell over his own feet as they turned around and started dragging him back towards his room.
Her eyes narrowed and she followed him.
Trent dragged his feet every step of the way
Eventually they wound up back at his room.
He paused at the door as best he could, trying not to open it.
She crossed her arms and waited.
Trent clenched his fists tightly, refusing to turn the handle.
C'lyrisse stepped in front of him and opened the door.
Trent virtually fell in.
"Now, ^show me.^" she directed.

Trent fought as best he could, but ended up being dragged over to his table.
She followed him.
He sighed as he was forced to pull open the book.
Her eyes widened and then narrowed, "Where did you get this?"
Trent made no answer.
She hissed softly.
Trent gritted his teeth.
"^Sit.^"
With a small, surprised yelp, Trent did so.
She paced around him, the tips of her wings brushing against him.
He made no action, he wasn't sure what was going on.

After a minute, she strode over to him and sank down, looking into his eyes.
He stared back defiantly.
She reached up to touch his cheek.
He jerked back.
She sighed softly, "^Hold still.^"
He scowled.
She stood up, "Now, what to do with such a naughty boy..."
He scowled even more. "I am *not* a boy-!"
She set a hand on top of his head as she passed him.
Trent gritted his teeth. "I would appreciate you stopped petting me as if I were some kind of creature!"
"Hush."
"Do not talk to me as if I were a child!" Trent protested angrily.
"It is not wise to anger me..."
"Nor me."
"Ah, but there is one key difference..."
"Oh?"
"Such as if your wrists were suddenly ^bound to your chair.^" she said quite calmly.

Trent gave a small growl and struggled briefly, then picked up the pitcher of water with his Psyche and tipped it resolutely over her.
She stared at him in astonishment for a second.
He gave a sweet, innocent smile.
She glared at him angrily.
He chuckled.
Suddenly she smacked him in the back of the head.
Trent frowned.

"^Up!^"
"Woah!" Trent leaped upwards.
"^Come here.^"
Trent rolled his eyes as he obeyed.
C'lyrisse had reached the end of her patience and she ordered Trent down to his knees, mostly so that she would be able to stand taller then him.
Trent scowled as he thunked downwards.
She dug her nails into the back of his neck.
He gritted his teeth in pain.
She pushed his head down.
He relaxed so it hurt slightly less.
C'yrisse pinned his arms behind his back.
Trent growled under his breath.
She brought his wrists together. As the bracelets touched they fused together.
Handcuffs. Just great. Trent was *not* an amused Psy. He concentrated, and soon the winds of his Psych were blowing, knocking things around and making the curtains billow.
She dug her nails into his neck again.
He ignored her.
She tightened her grip on his neck.
He knocked the table over.

"^Do not move.^" she ordered.
He didn't
She released her hold on his neck.
Trent breathed a small, inward sigh of relief.
C'lyrisse headed towards the door.
"You cannot leave me like this." Trent growled. "It is inhumane."
She wrung out her hair.
Trent scowled at her.
She picked up the book.
He watched in silence.
Without a word she left him.
Trent groaned.
She closed the door firmly behind her.
He sighed.

After a few very long minutes she released him long-distance.
Trent fell forward with a small yelp of pain.
And landed in the puddle from the pitcher.
It really wasn't his day...