Locked out (Roxanna)

[Ellen Banks]

Ah, the old familiar places….

Ellen sighed as he see sat down at the ground making sure to feel around with her hands in the pitch darkness that she was wasn’t about to sit in something that she was would prefer not to sit in anytime soon, fortunately she was quite familiar with the dim lighting of the entire Banks Basement due to her years spend in here, when she was young she would freak out at the position she was in, But now Ellen was just bored. Her father really needed to think of new ideas to punish his children. Sure being locked in the basement was scary when she was about ten. But at 18, he had to think of more creative punishments.

Admittedly the darkness of the basement scared her when she was a child that’s what made it such an effective punishment. The settling of heart, the creaking of the house, she always imagined some horrible monster looming in the very darkness, waiting to eat little girls. Phil Banks seeing a perfect chance for a punishment for his child and locked her in there for a certain amount of time (Depending how long it took him to calm down)

In a way Ellen was grateful for it, after all it was kind of a like a parent tossing a child who was afraid of the water into the deep end of a pool. She was forced to face her fears head on and though it took a long time she found the monsters were nothing to fear. And she viewed the experience as a positive one on the whole.

Now, it was a tad bit annoying…

She should have really seen it coming, even now she didn’t know what made her lose it like the way she had done towards her father, she more then anyone else knew how to deal with her father by now. Silence, and passive nodding. That was the best way to deal with him. So why would he be so stupid.

When Ellen got a phone call to come home for lunch she wasn’t overly concerned, whatever it was that he wanted, she could just come back to the school when he had finished, this wasn’t the first time he had done this. So she sat in his father’s study with him. A terribly uncomfortable room which always seemed to smell like it was sterilized on an daily basis, with walls that always seemed to close in on her the more and more she spent inside it but she had gotten used to it. The reason was Benny, he was getting various awkward questions about his family so Ellen was charged to talk to him about it. Ellen was barely listening when her father abruptly told her to take the scarf off, Ellen had backed away and refused and for heer trouble she was told to stop acting like a child it was just getting silly at this point and eventually she needed to take it off, so don’t get emotional and hand it over Ellen then said something, she couldn’t remember what it was, it was something said purely in the heat of the moment and before she knew it. She could feel the all too familiar feeling of his fathers hands painfully digging into her arm as she was hurled into the room and the door locked behind her.

He couldn’t stay mad for long. It was a matter of waiting either Ellen takes off the scarf or she could wait till her father calmed down.

She might as well make herself comfortable.

[Roxana Strix]

Roxana's new orders had kept her plenty busy and she was not even following every aspect of Code: Vixen. Still that did not mean that she was going to slack off on her original orders because she was no fool. As soon as she report back in on either doing all or half of what she was told to do, so she had to keep an eye on all of her targets. So when Roxana caught wind of Ellen just leaving campus out of the blue it raised a few red flags. Sure Ellen Banks as well of both the Bellefonte girls that were just three of Rox's targets, had homes off the school grounds and they did often go home for events or to talk about their families. Normally things were not so last minute. Roxana would at least hear chatter over the matter or she would at least have a few hours to check to make sure and figure out why any of her targets were going off the school grounds.

With Ellen however she had not heard anything until the girl was gone, and it was easy to know when someone was gone when you didn't see them around campus or in your room when you were roommates with someone. Normally Roxana would just check her phone to see where Ellen's GPS tracker would reveal that she was and call it a day. The problem was that after the whole kidnapping event and then Ellen getting shot, Roxana was a little bit more on high alert when it came to Ellen Bank's safety. So she dressed up in hear favorite leather jacket, her collar, and headed out. Her phone had already loaded up the GPS location of where Ellen was. She had all of her targets on her phone, able to select them out and find out their location. She did have a high tec phone and it did not take much to get trackers on her targets phones. "Well...this will be interesting." Roxana said to herself as she 'barrowed' a ride in order to get her to Ellen's home faster.

Ellen was at her house; that was a bad thing, because Mr. Banks was there and that of course was bad for Ellen in Roxana's eyes. She hid her vehicle a little bit away from the Banks estate in order to not get spotted on approaching. She was just going to assume worst case scenario here since Ellen's GPS signal was showing that she was in a location that was not her room. Yes, Roxana knew the location of Ellen's room in her house. She followed the signal as she went into stealth modes, sneaking around the rather large home and disables the cameras for just enough time for her to sneak past without being detected. Man, I love this phone. Roxana thought to herself as she tucked her phone away when she was at the right location. It was odd because looking up the rooms above...they would not really have Ellen in them. Unless the rooms in the house were switched around and Roxana need a new layout of the Banks estate. "Hmm..." Roxana said to herself but it was more of sounds as her eyes looked around before falling to a window. A small basement window.

It didn't hurt to start from the bottom of the house and work her way up, so taking the basement way seemed like the best bet. After using a crystal she quickly created and modified in order to help her break the window she slipped in with ease. The leather preventing her from getting cut up by the glass in the process. It was dark, like really dark and even with the bit of light peeking into the basement because of the broken window; Roxana could not see that far in front of her once she moved away from the window. The sound of movement had her quickly lunging forward and grabbing a hold of the person that had caused the sound. A crystal dagger already in her other hand and pressed to be right against the person's back so they knew that Roxana had a weapon but she didn't want to have to use it on whoever they were. "Don't scream." Roxana whisper to the person she would have likely grabbed a hold of, now registering that it was a female.

[Ellen Banks]

No, the darkness had little to offer her in the way of fear, at least not anymore but Ellen had a theory that everyone had a fear of the dark in some form or other, Even if it was small. She supposed it was almost primal in a way. An instinct deeply coded in our DNA to avoid the dark and the unknown. The dark heralded uncertainty. The darkness is where one’s safety wasn’t guaranteed anything could be lurking in there and a person wouldn’t be able to tell. You could be all alone or quietly staked by the predators that called the darkness home…
But this wasn’t the first time Ellen was down here (and knowing Philip Banks temperament probably not the last) and she would assume that if there was a monster down here it would have made it presence known years ago. Unless it was somehow scared of the monster living upstairs (If he had any idea that something was living down here Ellen’s dad would hurt it for sport)

Ellen had just put away her phone in order to conserve battery, knowing that she might be here for quite some time so it was prudent to try and save power as much as possible when she couldn’t help but to here the unmistakable sounds of glass shattering. Ellen looked up sharply. What on earth was that? Her head snapped up in surprise as she walked forward and found the basement window cracked “I’ll probably get the blame for that” Was Ellen’s first instinctive thought before fear took over her. Who would do such a-

Hand on her face. Something shape against her back Urgent whispers.
Ellen let out a instinctive streak, she couldn’t help it. The last thing in the world she expected to happen, the one place she ever felt secure these days was in the banks house. There was no way anyone could invade her home.There were camera’s everywhere it couldn’t be more secure evidently she thought wrong.

Suddenly she was transported back to that day back in june where she felt an almost identical sense of fear that has more then triggered memories of that day in june, she had tried to repress memories of that day, but feeling the invaders hands on her brought it all flooding back. The fear…the beating of her heart

…The blood…
It was like all her nightmares she had as a child all were coming true: “It’s me Ellen. The monster living in the basement. I’ve been waiting for the perfect moment when you let your guard down and now I’ve got you.

Ok god, don’t make her go through it again. Please please don’t hurt her.

She started trembling as practically hyperventilating close to some kind of attack, her heart was beating in her chest as tears of fear began to fill her eyes after the first scream she had tried to somehow quiet herself down to loud breathing and moaning. She wasn’t exactly being quiet as a mouse but at least she wasn’t screaming”

[Roxana Strix]

Roxana normally would have handled such a situation a little more delicately when she realized that it was Ellen she was dealing for. That was a lie. Roxana was in mission mode as soon as she stepped onto the Bank's estate and that meant that she was using all aspects of her training and it didn't matter who she was dealing with. She was sneaking around and when you were sneaking around your mission was not to get caught or cause the alarm to sound. Her phone had helped prevent any system alarms from going off, but it could not put a stop to a person sounding the alarm. This Roxana acted and had Ellen's mouth cover, crystal dagger to her back, and holding her still within seconds of grabbing a hold of the girl. It they would have been playing or something then Ellen probably would of had a chance but Roxana was being calculated.

Even when she realized that she had Ellen in her hold, she still was unable to get herself out of mission mode right away. Ellen had to calm down before Roxana could calm herself down and get back to 'being normal', that was how it worked. She could feel the girl's heart beating fast because of how close she was and even could tell all of the signs of Ellen having a panic attack. Roxana's adrenaline was pumping and if this had been someone else then she would have likely already put them in a sleeper hold and caused them to pass out. In another mission Ellen would have already been dead. Roxana thankful knew that this was Ellen and despite quick lashes of her missions and the different things she was supposed to do in this situation, she just kept a hold on Ellen while she went to speak in Ellen's ear, the tone cold but still with a hint of calm behind it.

"Calm down or I'll make you calm down. It's me Roxana." Roxana basically ordered Ellen, since she did not have time for Ellen to be freaking out on her. She would make it up to the girl later for scaring her and liking brining back memories and bad thoughts, but for now she just needed Ellen to calm down. Or Ellen was going to end up passed out with Roxana carrying her on her back after making sure an alternate story for what happened to Ellen was in place. "I won't hurt you. Remember I'm here to protect you, but I need you to calm down." Roxana added after a moment, calming down a little herself as she removed the dagger from being in Ellen's back and instead made it change into a ring around her finger to have in her ready use. "Close your eyes. Deep breaths and think of where you truly feel safe." Roxana whispered as she loosed her hold on Ellen a little bit so Ellen could breath and relaxes a little better but Rox was ready to grab her quick and put her out if she needed to.

[Ellen Banks]

Roxana? If Ellen wasn’t in the middle of a potential panic attack she would have yelled at her right there and then. This was litrally the worse possible way in which to greet Ellen, breaking into the Banks Family basement and holding a knife to her back? She supposed a simple phone call was out of the question….

But that being said despite Roxanna words to the country Ellen, she didn’t feel safe in the least. Her heart was stll feeling like it was going a million miles per hour like a jackhammer despite Roxanna reassurance she was safe. She still was caught completely by surprise by the presence of another and given recent events she was obviously had quite a pronounced reaction to having a knife shoved roughly against her back.

“It’s just Roxanna, It’s just Roxanna..” Ellen repeated in her head over and over again as if trying to let the knowledge sink in that she wasn’t about to be murdered in cold blood right here yet still she trembled and yet she still trembled where she had stood. The instant that Roxanna saw fit to release her mouth she had to bite her tongue so she didn’t exclaimed out loud. She had no clue what she had met by “Making her calm down” but she doubted very highly that it had to do with cameral tea or bubble baths. She was struck by how easily she had over powered Ellen. Ellen naturally tried to struggle once she felt arms grab her instinctively but the struggle was over in a blink of a eye and she was held firmly in place, it must have been her training but she seemed like she was a strong as a bear. Ellen would even allow herself the luxury of being impressed if she wasn’t so afraid.

The moment that Roxanna made the suggestion to calm down, Ellen instinctively found herself doing exactly what she wanted, At this point, if Roxanna wanted her to sing at the top of her lungs she would do so. So she shut her eyes shut breathing deeply. Breathing wasn’t new to her, as a keen yoga enthusiast she knew exactly how to breath deeply exhaling and inhaling as she pictured anywhere else that wasn’t this damn basement. Warm beaches, Sun. The wind in her hair. France Anywhere and pretty soon she stoppd trembling and her heart slowly slowed down as her body relaxed. “Ok…Ok..I’m calm” She whispered to Roxanna breathlessly starting to frown as she began to appraise the situation fully “What the hell do you think you’re doing here?"” Ellen hissed slowly turning around angered that she had the nerve to break into her famly home “You know I’m going to be blamed for that window don’t you?

[Roxana Strix]

Calling was out of the question, because Roxana was the one that was supposed to go out and rescue someone in case they were kidnapped. The kidnappers would contact those they were holding Ellen for random for, plus Roxana had already gone into mission mode because of the worry of Ellen getting kidnapped. She didn’t have time to waste standing around and calling Ellen when she could go off and find the girl herself and take care of business. How Ellen was feeling was secondary to the overall care that Roxana had at the moment. She was being calculated and calculated meant that if you had to hurt someone in order to protect them, then that was what she was going to do. She was at least giving Ellen a moment to calm down.

She had already gotten rid of her crystal dagger and her hold of the girl had loosed to the point that Ellen could at least move some. Ellen seemed like she was trying to calm down but Roxana could still feel and see the other girl tremble in her hold. Trembling and likely having flashbacks to the bad things that happened to her but at the moment Roxana didn’t care. She would make it up to the other girl later, for now she needed Ellen to calm down. Roxana had been trained from a young age and the fact that she was taller and stronger then the girl helped as well. Try as she may, unless Ellen was able to go back in time and change how she was raised as well, then there would be no real chance of Ellen being able to beat Roxana in a hand to hand combat setting. Roxana thankfully didn’t have to force Ellen to calm down; which would have been her making the other girl pass out, because Ellen was taking a deep breath.

Roxana fully let Ellen go when the other girl said that she was calm, trusting the words because Ellen’s breathing had slowed down and Roxana could no longer feel Ellen’s heart pounding away. A question about what Roxana was doing here was asked, one that Rox would have thought would have been obvious. Yet, that just proved that Ellen had at least not been kidnapped by her father or someone who worked for her father. “You vanished off campus out of the blue and I told you I was going to protect you so I was…worried.” Roxana said with a pause in there for a moment as she thought of the right word to use and ended up going with worried. Roxana’s gaze went to the broken window before looking back to Ellen when she pointed out that she was going to be blamed for the broken window. “Don’t worry about that. I’ll handle working up a way to cover you on that.” Roxana said simply before looking over the girl to make sure she was not hurt.

“Are you ready to go? A basement does not really seem to be a place befitting you.” Roxana added after a moment since she really didn’t think a basement was a suitable place to leave a girl. Especially with what had happened to Ellen and while Rox doubted that Ellen was afraid of the dark, Roxana didn’t want Ellen to be here and she had a feeling she knew that Mr. Banks was the reason why Ellen was down here in the first place. She didn’t know what the reason was, but Rox was blaming him.

[Ellen Banks]

No in fact the answer as to why Roxanna had saw fit to break into her family home and stick what felt like a knife in the small of her back wasn’t exactly self explanatory for Ellen as it seemed to be for Roxanna and in fact she was most keen the know under what circumstances would that ever be considered acceptable behaviour . But then again she supposed that Roxanna had some form of “Warzone” mentality about her and maybe would jump to an extreme like this. But she had greatly misread the situation in Ellen’s opinion and her actions didn’t need to be so dramatic.

…which was all but confirmed by Roxanna’s reasoning for the break in, she just looked at her for a moment as if trying to figure out when the punch line to the joke she was clearly telling, forgetting momentarily that Roxanna had the sense of humour as a fish. She didn’t really have the words to describe her bemusment, of course she comes to Ellen when she was the last thing Ellen wanted. But when she was surrounded by armed forces…..

No, Ellen. That’s petty and you know it. How on earth was she meant to know that would happen. “Sooo…” Ellen said evenly trying to to show her frustration. “Just so I understand, You didn’t know where I was for a little bit and you automatically assume I was in danger? There no need for this. At all. I’m perfectly fine…Well, besides the scare you just gave me “Ellen couldn’t help but bite still feeling her heart beat in her chest she still felt a little on edge about what had happened.

And then the question arose if she was ready to go or not as Ellen tried to keep her poker face as sharp as possible. The short answer was no. Ellen couldn’t leave just yet, Her father was upstairs after all and he couldn’t just vanish under his nose without expecting some kind of backlash for it. “ Yes- I mean..well no it doesn’t but…How about I catch up with you in just a few minutes. After all, you know exactly where I am now, so I would you don’t need to fret anymore. I’m sure you have better things to be worrying about. Honestly I’m fine
, I'm sure one of your other charges need help.

[Roxana Strix]

Roxana remained silent as she looked at Ellen and waited for the other girl to work it out, not understanding what would have been unclear about what she said. Then again Roxana was still coming out of her mission mode so her brain was not fully in understanding how what she said could be taken as complicated. She felt that it had explained everything in a simple enough way that there should not have been any complication, but she let Ellen work through it all the same. Nodding her head as Ellen went on to say how Rox automatically assumed that Ellen was in danger and how there was no need for any of this. Ellen said she was fine, other than the scare Roxana gave her. "I apologize for scaring you as it was not my intent. It makes perfect logical sense to assume you were in danger when I don't know where you are. I told you before that I'm supposed to protect you and to do that I need to know where you are at all time or at least most of the time." Roxana explained but there was more to it than that and Rox figured she might as well go ahead and tell Ellen.

"Plus with what had happened to you I don't think that you should be here. By here I mean anywhere close to your father while you are still recovering from...my failure when SPECTRE attacked." Roxana concluded with a small nod as she started to look around the basement to come up with a good excuse as to what happened to the basement window. There were rocks outside and would not have been hard to blame it on a gardener for not being too careful when they were cutting the grass and caused a rock to go flying through the glass. There were other choices that Roxana could have gone with but Ellen's words broke her train of thought. Ellen seemed to be confused on how this how search and rescue thing worked. Roxana found her, Roxana was going to get her out of here, and that meant that Ellen had to come with her.

This is not a mission Rox. Roxana mentally reminded herself as she looked at Ellen in a moment of silence. "You are one of my top priority targets Ellen Banks. I don't feel comfortable leaving you here with your father and his track record. Clearly he is the one that put you in this basement." Roxana said in a simple tone but there was a small hint of anger in her words. She really did not want to deal with Ellen's father but it seemed like at this rate that was going to have to happen. At least there was probably a high risk that they were going to run into Ellen's father on the way out. Since Roxana had only temporarily disabled the alarm so when and if the house did rest then the alarm would likely go off because of the broken glass.

"I'm leaving here with you." Rox stated as she held out her hand to Ellen to take.

[Ellen Banks]

Oh, yes Ellen had no doubt that, her thinking was logically sound, however her reaction was not. She could think of a million other ways that this situation could be handled, but Roxanna clearly didn’t want to be seen, by anyone that might be in the house, she supposed that just came instinctive to her role and why of life, but that should be a conversation for other day, If anything they needed to set down some very particular ground rules about how this whole body guard thing should work in the future.

Still she won’t begrudge her, any thing that she did. After all she had good intentions, just…Strange ways to act on them.

Ellen was tempted to argue back, the inability to leave an argument alone without having the last word was deeply coded in her DNA, after all she was a Banks and Banks relished the idea of beating down a foe’s view point with their own and odds are they would have been there all day or until Ellen had felt she had gotten the better of her. “Well I-“ intentionally or not Roxanna had spoken over her and managed to shut hr down after referring to ‘incident’ Her head fell forward momentarily as hands instinctively goes to her the base of her scarf, Ellen wasn’t going to coverse with THAT on the table.

She looked up again at Roxanna frowning just a little slightly stung by her words about her father, True her relationship with Her father had always been one based on fear and ever since the accident it seems to be fracturing more and more, but she was still a little vexed when anyone spoke ill of her family. The banks were a proud family, one that didn’t rarely abided any harsh words to anyone of their group. You attack one Bank, you deal with the entire clain, that was what Ellen was raised to believe in ‘…And what exactly is wrong with my father and his track record?’Ellen said, but in away she already knew the answer to that question .

She couldn’t’ really deny that her father had locked her down here. Her silence was all the confirmation she needed to give that he was the one, she looked a little confused before the penny dropped and she figured out what she intended to do. ‘You…You don’t understand Roxana. Trust me: The best thing to do is to weather the storm and just stay down here until he calmed down, You…You wouldn’t like the alternative, when he gets angr-‘ Ellen stopped taking a deep breath ‘It’s best to just do what he wants’ Ellen nodded the full extent of the power Phillip Banks had over his daughter showing. ‘ Just leave and hopefully I’ll see you again in a few hours@'

[Roxana Strix]

Roxana was not allowing Ellen to speak, well at least the first time in order to get her point across. Pointing out the fact of why she was worried and why it was all justified to prove her point that Ellen should leave with her. Roxana didn't mean to be mean or to bring back the pain of the thoughts of what had happened to her. Roxana honestly wanted Ellen to forget such things because the longer Ellen held onto them, the longer they would also plague Roxana's mind. They would still bother her regardless if Ellen did end up forgetting but it...bothered her a little less when she didn't see Ellen reacting to such memories. It was still her fault that it had happened to Ellen, but then again it was SPECTRE's fault and Ellen's bad luck for being in the wrong place at the wrong time.

Thankfully she had been saved to live another day but there was still a large threat in Ellen Banks life that Roxana personally wanted to get rid of. Roxana was not bothered by the frown she was getting from Ellen when she was speaking ill of her father. "I'm sorry if you disagree with such words, but that is not only my professional opinion but a fact. Your father is not good for your health, at least not at the moment." Roxana said in her usual plan and simple tone of voice. She was not saying that it was going to be forever that Ellen would not be able to handle her father deep down or that he was going to be forever bad for her. Just at the moment he was really bad for Ellen and her still not fully stable state and that was not just based on Roxana's observation...but a lot of it was.

Roxana looked at Ellen and stayed silent as she went on to explain that Rox didn't understand. Apparently it was Ellen who did not understand what all Roxana knew about her, her family, and Mr. Banks. When Ellen was done saying what she had to say, Roxana held out her hand to the other girl, basically wanting Ellen to take her hand. She listened to what Ellen had said; every word of it but it did not change the fact that she was leaving this place with Ellen. "I don't deal in hopefully. I'm not leaving without your and if I have to draw attention in order to achieve that, then know that I will." Roxana said as she kept her hand out to Ellen for a moment longer for Ellen to take it and whether or not she took it was her choice, but Roxana turned to head out of the basement.

Glancing at her watch and seeing that the alarm was likely going to go off soon since her time for keeping the security system from triggering only lasted so long. "We will likely run into your father either way, but know I'm not letting him lay a hand on you." Roxana added as she looked over her shoulder at Ellen, dead serious.

[Ellen Banks]

Just from the look on Roxanna’s face, she knew that talking to her and trying to come around to Ellen’s way of thinking, Ellen had some experience negotiating with others so she more then anyone else know when someone could be talked down and when someone wasn’t going to be moved no matter how much Ellen tried to convince them. And Roxanna seemed like she fell under the second category nicely. The thought swam across Ellen’s mind to try and use her power on Roxanna. She most likely wouldn’t even notice it had happened, all she would remember is Ellen telling her something but her mind kind of drifted away, but whatever it was it sounded perfectly reasonable and it made perfect sense to leave her in the basement.

Say what you will about Ellen’s application of her powers, but at times like these it was a great get out of jail free card.

And maybe she would have been able t do that, but her power required totally concentration and she had a hunch that she would need totally focus to try and entrance Roxanna and thanks to the scare Roxanna gave her and the impending meeting with her father upstairs

Clearly, Rox wasn’t moving. But how, how can she explain she was attempting to do something that simply couldn’t be done. When they met her father out there, it’ll gp the same way as it always goes. Him getting his own way. He cou;dn’t be talked down to, not now nor never

But…Roxanna wasn’t moving…what choice did she have?

Reluctantly with one parting look upwards as it to say “Be it on your own head” before taking her hand and following her up stairs

[Roxana Strix]

Ellen seemed t still debating everything that Roxana had told her and being stubborn about just doing what Roxana told her to do. Well she didn't really tell Ellen to do anything; she had just strongly suggested it. She was not leaving here without Ellen with her and that was that, Ellen didn't really have a choice on the matter. Ellen could have come willing or Roxana was going to take her, simple and to the point as if this was a search and rescue mission. It practically had been one, with how Roxana had went to find Ellen, found her, and now was taking her out of this situation. Ellen's father had put Ellen down here for a reason and while Roxana didn't know what the reason was, she didn't want Ellen to have to deal with that. Not in Ellen's current state and not ever if Roxana had her way over that matter.

"That is the plan." Roxana said as she held onto Ellen's hand and lead the way up the stairs. She walked at an easy pace for Ellen to keep up with but still with a purpose. She didn't want to stay around here and hang out. So they left. Running into of course Mr. Banks and a whole situation that came with that, but Roxana held her ground. She was not scared of Mr. Banks or what he said or tried to do. Roxana was not going to allow Mr. Banks to lay a hand on Ellen and that was just what she did. Handing the situation like it had been her mission to and when all was said and done, she and Ellen were leaving the Banks residence. Roxana had once again grabbed a hold of Ellen's hand and held it as she led the way. "Sorry you had to see that." Roxana said after they were a good distance away. Roxana turned to lead the way to the shrubbery where she had hidden their ride.

It was a motorcycle that she had borrowed and was going to use in order for them to get back to the school. Unless Ellen wanted to go somewhere else. There was only one helmet however, but Roxana simply handed it over for Ellen to use since Ellen's head was more important than Rox's own. "You are fine on a motorcycle right?" Roxana asked as she let go of Ellen's hand and started to get on the bike. They would have to ride together and Rox would be driving but she didn't know if Ellen had a problem with this mode of transportation. If she did well then she was out of luck because this was the only set of wheels Roxana had at the moment. Plus she had to turn the bike back to the school but it didn't have to be right now.

[Ellen Banks]

Something was wrong….That…That couldn’t have just happened…Could it?

To say that Ellen was in something of a state of shock was quite an understatement. She kept looking over her shoulder as she walked away from the Banks mansion as if she was expecting the spectre of her father to be looming over her. Because there was a big part of her that refused to believe that it was that easy. That she could simply walk out of the house like this. Ellen Banks held one truth above all else. Her father always got his way. ALWAYS, Ellen had seen authority figures far more powerfull then Roxanna and within mere minutes Phillp banks managed to bully them into agreeing with him . Everyone. No one was immune from his sharp tongue.

Let’s say that he believed that 2+2 equaled 5. He was argue passionately that, that was indeed the case and no amount of logical argument would be able to convince him of anything else and in fact if it takes him weeks to do so he would do his best to change how numbers were counted in order to confirm that he was right.

No one had ever out argued him and Ellen doubted that they ever would…until now.

Ellen would admit. She was scared when her father found Roxanna it was exactly how Ellen thought it would go. Her father so very very mad, calling Roxana every name under the sun. Practically screaming at her and Ellen trained well by her father natural instinct was to run back to the basement and lock the door herself. But Roxanna…showed no fear whatsoever, Answering calmly before he just let them past. Just like that. That simple. Ellen’s jaw still hasn’t dropped.

Roxanna had looked into the face of the monster that haunted Ellen all her life and she didn’t blink, she showed no fear whatsoever. Ellen was almost in awe of her “He’s going to be angry…” Ellen muttered almost to herself “I don’t think you’ve endeared yourself to him at all”


“Huh?” Ellen said when she was handed the helmet still a little startled “Sorry I’m a little..distracted…Ican’t believe you actually…” Ellen just shook her head as she broke off “Yes I can ride a motor cycle
Can't be that hard right?"

[Roxana Strix]

Roxana had her fears, everyone did but she just had less of them or at least knew how to keep herself in the same mind set even when dealing with her fears. That was the purpose of her training all of those years and fears just got in the way. They could sometimes make you stronger because of the adrenaline kicking in, but there were those fears that cause paralyze or made you weak. Roxana was not afraid of Ellen's father because she had no reason to be afraid of him. Anything that he could do to her had probably already been done to her or could be done far worse by the organization she worked for if she messed things up. Ellen was afraid of her father, that was obvious but Roxana was not going to allow Mr. Banks to have the hold over his daughter that he had.

Her organization had plans for Ellen Banks and their father was slightly getting in the way of them, so when that happened Roxana was put to the task. Not only did her organization basically imply that if she didn't like what was going on with Mr. Banks and his daughter, they had basically given a hidden challenge for her to do something about it. She had worked for them long enough to know their angles and what was really behind those words she would read over and over. So she made sure to keep a firm hold on Ellen's hand while they faced the girl's father and it had gone as expected. Mr. Banks may have not been the best father, but Ellen Banks was still a weakness of his and if you knew how to use a person’s weakness then it didn't matter how tough they were, they would break. Maybe not forever but at least for that moment.

So Roxana had 'broken' Mr. Banks there and was now working on getting Ellen back to the school and away from the man that was damaging Ellen rather than causing her to improve. Roxana heard Ellen's mumbling but didn't say anything about it. She figured Ellen would be a little like this after. When you feared someone and someone else took you out of a situation, it took a little bit until you felt fully safe and untouchable by the person that had caused so much fear in you. Yet, Ellen was safe because Roxana was not going to allow Mr. Banks to lay a hand on his daughter or to damage her any further until Ellen could handle her father on her own. "You saw it with your own two eyes. Believe it and accept it because I'm not allowing him to damage you anymore. I told you in the infirmary that I was going to protect you." Roxana pointed out, bringing back words that she had told Ellen when she went to visit the girl in the hospital.

Climbing onto the bike and giving it a good rev while she looked back at Ellen who was working on putting on the helmet. Saying that she could ride but then adding that it could not be that hard, which caused Roxana to give a small smile for a moment. "Just sit on the bike and hold onto me. If you feel like you are going to fall, just hold on tighter." Roxana said simply as she patted the space on the bike behind her and waited for Ellen to get on and hold onto her. Once Ellen did that she would pull off, not going to fast right away so Ellen could adjust to it all.