AN: This is just my take on how a couple of characters mights have felt right before dying and what their thought might have been. If you disagree that's perfectly fine, just - no flames, please.

Disclaimer: I don't own any characters in here. If I did, I wouldn't have had to write this ...

At first, everything was perfectly right. But then it all started to go very, very wrong.

Even the anticipation had been a treat. Ah, and the event, the spectacle! The murmur of his men was like music to his ears, well-hidden excitement of his own heart its rhythm. Surely the stars were shining especially brightly, and even the wind seemed to have stopped just to be able to witness this night. The night when his – Capricorn's – reign would become absolute.

When he'd been thrown into it, brutally, headfirst, this world, this life had been a shock to him. An absolute, utter shock, one that even he couldn't have hidden. But he'd grown to know it and to love it and then to conquer it. People bowed to him, some in respect, some in fear, it didn't matter. He had some men here on whom he could always count on to volunteer being smashed as a fly if that would save him. And Basta … Ah, Basta! He would be the perfect example of what stupidity could cause, an example for all the black-jackets. And a warning, too. A warning that his orders were not to be defied and missions not to be failed. It would earn him more respect and more fear, making his reign all the more absolute. And tonight would be the cream of the crop! The Shadow was going to serve him once again, undefeatable as ever. After tonight, no one would dare to even challenge his authority!

Sweet were the thoughts twirling around in his head as he sat down, eyeing the Black-jackets, almost intoxicating. He watched Silvertounge's daughter with hunger in his eyes, hunger for power, and for the first time even he forgot reality as her girlish voice started to paint the scenery for a nightmare. He gripped the side of his chair in anticipation, then let go of it when his knuckles turned white. Darkness twirled in the air, gathering, forming a feral mass …

Just a bit more, only a little bit more …

And then he heard words that should never have come out of the girl's mouth. They were as clear and powerful as everything she'd read until then, but something in his gut stiffened as if she had screamed with a horrible, shrieking voice. This was his downfall, he knew it instantly, but refused to acknowledge it, as there was nothing he could if he couldn't stop the girl.

The though ignited despair. No! No, this couldn't be happening!

For the first time in many, many years Capricorn felt powerless, and the feeling seemed to be far more terrifying than what was actually happening. His men were dumbstruck, frozen in place, mesmerized by the girls reading, but even if they weren't – their hands were tied. Basta's knife would be of use; it would hit the target. But Basta couldn't help him. Not now, not this time.

His colourless eyes flickered towards the cage for a moment, the two women coming into view. He didn't see Basta but wouldn't allow his gaze to linger. It didn't matter anyway. The man was just like a dog – painfully loyal and painfully stupid. And dogs weren't important. Never. Especially not in moments when disaster was hanging over him heavily.

Following the girl's voice, the Shadow turned towards its former master, and shivers ran through him. Another long forgotten feeling erupted inside of him, a feeling he'd sworn he'd never feel again – fear. Whether it was visible on his face or not – he couldn't tell. Maybe it was. Because suddenly fear was all he felt, fear because he'd failed and now there was no way out. Fear of dying; who knew what was awaiting him. Would he return to his original miserable excuse of a world? Would white women reach out for him with their long, slender fingers? Or was he to stay here? Was there even anything after death, or was this his permanent defeat? Would he be robbed a chance for revenge?

He clenched his fists at his sides as he faced the Shadow. Any moment now …

But the next moment never came. His dead body collapsed onto the ground.