Nico's mind was fuzzy. He reached up to touch his face and found that there was a mask tied on his face to cover his fangs. Looking at his hands, he found that they were encased in a wood board with holes in it for his wrists and a large metal lock on it to keep it shut.

Chains had been attached to cuffs around his ankles that connected to the wall behind him. He appeared to be in a stone cell. He saw other cells with people bond in the same way in them. Someone started to come down the stone steps. Some of the other captives growled, others whinned like the dogs they knew they really were.

The man who came down the stairs was a tall, strong asian man. Nico had recalled seeing him around town. Hazel had shown some affection toward the man over the years. That made Nico remember to narrow his eyes. He was really protective of his little sister. Nico tried to recall his name as well. Frank.

"So you are the new one." Frank said. Nico growled. "You look familiar. Ah, Nico isn't it?" Frank placed the plate he had on the stone floor in front of Nico's cell. The werewolf's stomach growled at the sight of the meat on the plate in front of him. "You're sister is very kind you know. She loves you very much. She must be worried sick about you."

Nico whimpered. "All though," Frank picked up a large piece of meat and tossed it through the bars. Nico pounced on it. Frank waved for him to come closer. The wolf crawled closer.

Frank reached up and undid his mask. As the leather fell from his face, Nico licked his lips as he gazed at the meat before wolfing it down. "I hear they have found her." Nico looked up. "I hear that she refused to give you away. And so she was taken here. Or that's what I heard."

Frank looked around. Most of the others had retreated back into the shadows of their cages. "You can speak you know. As long as no one will hear you."

"Do you bring food to the human prisoners as well?" Nico whispered.

"Yes." The man answered.

"Do you love my sister?"

"Yes."

"Are you on my side?"

"Yes."

"When you see her, tell her that I have three things to say. That I'm alive and well, that I am coming for her,"

"And the third?"

"Jewel bird."

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Hazel knelt on her cell floor as tears fell down her chocolate colored cheeks. She lifted her head at the sound of someone coming down the stairs. It was Frank. He knelt before her cell and gave her food. He gestured for her to come closer.

"I bring a message from your brother." He whispered.

"He's alive?" Frank nodded.

"He said to tell you that he is alive and well and that he was coming for you. He also said to tell you...jewel bird." Hazel looked down at the floor and nodded.

"I understand. Frank, I need you to do something for me." Frank let his hand wrap around Hazel's.

"Anything for you." Hazel met his eyes with her intense gold ones.

"I need you to get out of here as fast as you can, and don't come back until tomorrow night."

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Nico stepped onto the cool grass. He looked towards the forest. Guards were blocking his only way out. He let out a low growl. He didn't have much time until Hazel did her magic. He had to get out now, while the werewolves were all outside exercising.

Nico's eyes darted to a small girl who barely fit in her own armor or even hold up her own sword. A smile passed over his face. He looked around. No one was looking right now. His mask and the board of wood were still on. But that didn't matter. His feet were free.

To transform, a werewolf's hands or paws had to be free. So Nico couldn't become a wolf. But he didn't need to. What the people didn't know was that he was so small that his wrists wouldn't stay in the holes and because he was so small, he was fast.

He let the board drop and took off. He ran straight past the girl as he turned. He hopped over jewels and bars of gold that started popping up in the ground. It was starting. He ran into the woods. When he had turned the mask had fallen off. He heard horses behind him.

He ran. To the only safe place he knew.