Tears welled up on Jeb's eyes as he watched his father. The scene before him was a good replay of months ago, Cain hunched over a table with maps of the O.Z. Though now he was flipping through three maps, making notes here and there.

Jeb tried to blink away the memories that brought his father to this, but one escaped down his cheek. He wiped away the offending tear as if it would take his sorrows with it as he walked next to the table. To no surprise, Cain didn't even acknowledge his son as he flipped through the maps again.

"Father?" Jeb asked tentatively, "Glitch found where the Xochitl mainly grows. It's found in the deserts… north-east of here."

This got Cain's attention and he finally looked at his son, "Really? That would be the… Badiya." Cain said, looking at the map, "Course it would be an area we don't know about…"

"God you look like hell…" Jeb breathed, seeing how drawn his father looked, "Have you even slept?"

Cain snorted, "DG has been missing for nearly four maybe five months. Zero has her and nearly killed them. You really think I can?" He asked, rubbing his face.

Jeb looked over the maps and compared the info if the Xochitl. He scratched notes, ideas, and routes on one of the maps, "I've been by this area. There's a forest, Lakiya. Both are easy places to get lost in, the desert itself is twenty miles of open land."

"That's all we have to go on." Cain shrugged, "That's where we'll go."

"You're going to bed." Jeb demanded, "It's early afternoon, now. I'll wake you when its supper, then you will get a good night's sleep. In the morning, we'll set out to find her."

Not waiting for a response, Jeb put his father's arm around his shoulders and slid his other hand around his father's waist. Cain felt himself being lead from the room and into the hallway.

"How's Azkadellia?" Cain asked, trying to keep his eyes open.

"Physically she's fine, but she and the Queen…" Jeb answered, "They look as bad as you do."

"The Queen and Ahamo feel it's their fault. Ahamo has been trying to find information through his contacts." Glitch added, walking from another hallway. Cain felt Glitch put his hands on his arm and around his waist.

"I'm not that feeble, ya know…" Cain mumbled.

"We know." Jeb said, trying not to laugh.

"We just want to be in your company." Glitch added with a smile.

"We'll talk more on this later. We're at your room, father." Jeb stated, opening the door. Glitch and Jeb helped Cain into his room and undress. Cain felt so exhausted that he hardly felt the other two leaving him down to his boxers. Jeb laid his father on the bed as Glitch pulled the sheets up to his chest.

They left the bedroom, already hearing Cain lightly snoring. Jeb closed the door behind him and, with Glitch, went to check on Azkadellia.

Hundred of miles north, the sound of hammers, shovels and whips filled the void of the Badiya. Zero and his men had made their new base here months before the witch's downfall. Hoping to use it as a prison for resisters, now it was encampment solely for Longcoat purpose.

It seemed to serve Zero either way. They raided cities that had been against the witch to be slaves. He still believed the witch was out there and readied the next vessel. Only, this time he would rule and the witch would serve him… it was only fair. If the vessel not be DG, then it would be DG's child.

Yes DG, the young princess was pregnant. If she would have a daughter, then the witch could have it. Though if she had a son, then Zero would keep the child to himself. DG was already showing signs, rounding out nicely to Zero. The Princess was his lover, his 'little one', his slave. Within a week of her capture, Zero has taken her as his prize and degraded her until her pregnancy was known. He had given her more mercy since then; whipping her less, taking her fewer nights and even going so far as to publicly show her affection.

DG at first would ignore Zero, working with the other prisoners as if trying to blend in. Zero had made that hard and now that she was pregnant, he favored her. This meant that she had to be at his side nearly all the time.

If not, DG could be found in their makeshift, two room home where she ultimately spent most of the day. She mainly cooked and was now preparing supper. DG had no idea what the animal was, but could only compare it to a deer on the Other Side. Though she hated the diner where she used to work, she thanked the gods for the experience. She was letting the meat bake while she finished the dishes from the previous night.

"Is it about ready?" Zero asked from behind, wrapping his hands around her belly.

"I believe so." DG stated, "Maybe a good ten more minutes, give or take."

"Let me see." Zero said, walking to the stove. DG heard him open the stove door and went back to the dishes, drying them off and putting some away.

"It should be ready soon, like you said." Zero nodded, "Set the table and I'll deal with this."

DG just nodded and grabbed a few plates and sliver wear she had just finished drying. She busied herself with preparing the table and all the while ignoring Zero. Zero watched her intently, always making sure she wasn't going to harm the baby she was carrying.

The two sat in silence as Zero finally brought a few pieces of the animal to the table, placing a few slices on her plate. DG never even looked at him while she ate as per her normal routine. Zero didn't care as long as she was obedient, which he had made sure of that.

When DG finished, she started to clear off the table. Zero has just grunted his gratitude and left again, leaving DG alone to do more dishes before she went to bed. Like hundred of nights before, DG cried herself to sleep. She wondered if this nightmare would ever end, if Cain would ever find her, or for that matter… if he could ever love her.

Her nights were the only peace she ever got anymore. Dreaming of her family and friends, being back at Finaqua, and Cain. God how she missed that man. She never realized how much she cared for him until she was taken from everything. Sure she cared for her friends and family as well, but it was Cain that gave her strength. Knowing that he hadn't or wouldn't give up on finding her.

That alone made her get up in the morning, to deal with Zero everyday, and preparing herself for the child she would soon bring into the world. DG never told her sister, but she and Cain had a few intimates nights while she was recovering. This child couldn't be Zero's, she felt it wasn't. It was Cain's and she was determined to get back to him.