No one can properly describe the atrocities she suffered. Despite being the daughter of Duke Octavius, she was virtually unknown to all in the land, including all who dwelled within the castle. There were those who knew of her, but had no power to help. The Duke had many sons; perhaps that is why he despised having a daughter. She was given no silks, only coarse rags. She rode no horse. She had no knight to defend her. She was only given hatred. The details of the cruelties will not be told, for the ink would curdle. Her suffering lasted until she was 17 years old.

One day, a servant spotted her and alerted the Duke. Fearing for his reputation, he lied claiming she was an insane village girl come to steal treasures. Immediantly, she was imprisoned in the dungeons. Her cell was filled with water above her knees: A collection of rainwater. The only window in her cell was level with the street of the citadel. She scrambled onto her scrap of straw serving as a bed, out of reach of the water. Her rags did little to keep her warm. She shivered as she tried to drift to sleep. A patch of moonlight shimmered on the water's surface. A small smile peeked from the corners of her lips. She may have moved from one prison to another, but at least she was free from that beast. She drifted into her first peaceful sleep, the light resembling silver amongst obsidian.

Morning came, same as always, but to her it was the first morning of the rest of her life. The sounds of the people coming and going was loud, puffs of dust occasionally blowing in. But she was happy. At least she was until she heard the town crier. He was reporting her intrusion, and her punishment. In exactly one weeks time, she would be whipped and quartered. Her bastard father finally had an excuse to dispose of her. Her happiness was shattered and misery descened once again. She sat in the dry spot watching the spot of shimmering light.

Soon she noticed a shadow would occasionally fall into the spot only to disappear soon after. After it appeared for the third time, she waded over to the window to discover its identity. It was a hand with a cigarette entwined in the fingers. The slosh of the water had drawn the attention of the smoker. "Haven't seen your face before. Whadja do?" The smoker was a girl, just about the age of the Duke's daughter, perhaps even older. She took another puff of the cigarette as she waited for an answer.

"I was born," she replied. She had known this was her true crime. The Duke had often shouted this during her beatings.

"Harsh," her words seemed to bare no pity or sympathy. "What's your name?" Another puff on the cig.

"Isabelle. What's your's?" This young woman intrigued her. Her hair was shortly cropped and mud colored. Her skin was bronzed but held numerous scars. She could easily be mistaken for a boy.

"Alexius." She took one last puff before grinding the butt into the dirt. She crawled onto her stomach to get a better view of her new captive friend. "You know, you're kinda cute." She smiled as she spoke, her toad green eyes laughing. A dark blush crept over Isabelle's face. No one had ever called her cute, or given any compliment for that matter. Unsure of how to react, she fiddled with the strands of gold hair flopping over her shoulder, her eyes concentrating on the little waves her figeting made. Realizing what she'd done, Alexius called out to her. "Come a little closer. I wanna get a better look at you." Obeying her orders, Isabelle got as close as she could manage and allowed herself to be studied.

"I take back what I said," Alexius said coldly after she'd had her fill. It came as no surprise to Isabelle. Her otherwise ivory skin was discolored from the strikes, yellowing in some areas while fresher places resembled crushed grapes. The flaxen thread that covered her head was in tangles and full of filth. Her ash colored eyes were bloodshot. There was no beauty that anyone could possibly see. "You aren't cute. You are absolutely gorgeous."

This statement hit her harder than anything she had ever experienced. She stood dumbstruck for several minutes trying to understand what had just happened. Alexius knew she wouldn't get another response from her for a while. "I'm going now. I'll be back later. See ya." Without even waiting for response, she was gone. Isabelle became more confused by the second. Her throat tightned, breathing became tireous. She simply couldn't understand what the smoker had seen. She gazed at her distorting reflection in the water. All she could see was a wretched being not fit to be alive. Maybe she should start counting down the days 'till she could escape the miseries of life. She returned to the straw heap and relieved her wrinkling feet of the moisture. Slowly she drifted into sleep, crying silent tears.

A jack o' lantern glow filled the room when she awoke. But it was not the light change that had brought her back to conciousness. A piercing whistle cut through the air like needles. Alexius had returned just as she had promised. "You awake or have you been taken for execution?" Still slightly out of it Isabelle ended up falling into the water with a loud splash. "I guess you're still here. That's good." Sloshing through the water, Isabelle apporached the window. "Wow. Drowned rat style looks good on you." Reaching into a basket she had brought along with her, she offered the improisoned girl a hunk of bread and cheese. "Eat up. You must be starving."

Indeed she was. A few seconds later there was no trace of the food. She even licked the crumbs off her hands. "So tell me, what exactly did you do to piss of Puke Cock?" Her reply was a confused look on Isabelle's face. "I'm referring to the bastard Duke. And give me more detail than simply 'I was born.' Please." The last word was nearly silent and angelic. A sign that it was not often used. Striking a match she lit up a new cigarette as she patiently waited for a reply.

"I'm in here because the Duke despises me. I'd done nothing wrong except be born. I'm his daughter." The memories threatened to carry her away like a fairytale knight. Before she could even think of crying, Alexius spoke.

"Say no more. When you see something in the water, jump in it." And she left yet again. Isabelle listened to her footsteps in the dirt before a clang of metal silenced them. Many minutes passed and she feared that Isabelle had left her permenantly. But what did her message about the water mean? What did it foretell?

It was almost pitch black before she discovered the answer. The sound of scraping metal broke out from the ground. A whirlpool appeared in the middle of the floor. Remembering her words, Isabelle jumped in and was swept away. The dizzying spins made her loose sense of herself. She no longer cared what would happen to her. The feeling she experienced calmed her greatly despite the cold seeping into her bones. A strong hand brought her back to reality.

The tunnel she had been swept into echoed with her coughs and sputters as air filled her lungs once again. There stood Alexius dripping wet. Navigating the tunnels was simple with her leading. Soon they were out and Isabelle was truly free. At last! Though difficult to tell, Isabelle wept in complete bliss. Without another word, Alexius lead her to her humble abode. A small room in an old building was where the girl took shelter.

Later that evening, the two sat on top of the roof gazing at the clear night sky. As was to be expected, Alexius was puffing away at a cigarette. "Have any ideas on where to go from here?" Silence tried to reclaim the air only to be shattered by Isabelle's response.

"I have none. I never expected to escape from him."

"Well you have," she drew a long breath that seemed it would last forever. She offered it to Isabelle who recieved it; puffing timidly before realizing she enjoyed the flavor. "Wanna stay with me?" Her offer was unexpected and caused the escaped one to choke on the smoke. Jailbreaker sat idly not giving any attention to her surprise. It took not even a moment for her to give an answer.

"I'd love to stay. I must find a way to repay you afterall." She smiled and returned the cigarette.

"You don't have to," she looked as though there was more she wanted to say. But she held it back. Her arm slowly snaked around Isabelle's shoulder and pulled her close. Isabelle nuzzled into Alexius' shoulder once she accepted the action. Her thoughts drifted around the incidents of that day. How fortunate she was. Her luck was changing for the better. But she needed to repay her savior. It wouldn't be right if she didn't. Seeming to read her mind Alexius spoke, perhaps what she had held back before. Keeping her eyes on the stars, her grip tightening slightly, Alexius whispered, "Just stay with me. Please."