I realize I took a while to get this one out. It's to do with inspiration matters plus the fact I'm enrolled in tertiary education now (so more chapters will take more time to come out than usual!). Sorry for the inconvenience if you're really impatient ^-^"
For some reason single line breaks are STILL not working regardless of me using the 'Shift + Enter'.
"Captured you say? I'm here by choice. Mind telling me about your own being here, though?" Talon looked over Fiora, liking what he saw. As was usual with the duelist women, the material was tight on her form but flexible for movement. Its base colour was black, lined with silver separating it from secondary colours of red and purple. Decorative feathers protruded from her hair, hips and shoulders, and she revealed some alluring cleavage. She had a cape similar to her original one yet designed to match the new outfit.
Fiora was definitely not oblivious to his ogling but pretended not to notice. She didn't really mind getting attention in that way; she'd grown used to it over years of fighting beside or against men.
"It's complicated." Fiora responded, and then turned her attention to the mages who had captured him in the tunnels. "We can take him from here; go back to your duties."
The mages seemed unconvinced. "Are you sure?" One of them asked her. "He could try to run when we let him go."
"I'm sure. He wants to be here, anyways; he'll follow us like a lost little puppy. Isn't that right Talon?" She sounded as if she were attempting to tease him by the way she said it. He glared at her, not amused, and she smiled back at him.
"Alright then," The Black Rose mage said, and the golden bindings around Talon once again made their appearance. They began to unravel from around him and disintegrate into the air, creating an effect of magical dust particles that slowly dissipated after a moment with a sound similar to Ashe's scouting arrow shattering. It was quite impressive for such a small-scale spell, not that Talon really cared. And then he remembered that he'd been floating.
"Oh sh-" Talon had no time to finish the curse before he smacked into the rocky terrain beneath. He groaned and pushed himself up off the ground, muttering to himself about what he would do to get revenge. The three magi proceeded to walk away, laughing amongst each other. Fiora placed her hand upon his shoulder before he made any attempt to hurt somebody. The look he then gave her was far from friendly.
"Come now," she said, trying to sound understanding. "Going after worthless peasants is pointless, yes? You have an appointment with LeBlanc herself. Allow us to escort you there."
Traveling with the duelists felt more comforting than with the previous captives. They merely walked beside him, with Fiora in front leading the way. He didn't doubt that they would be quick to react if he tried anything, but at this point in time they seemed peaceful, relaxed even. They didn't even shift in expressions when Fiora told him of how she had ended up in the Noxian Underground.
"…So pretty much, I was kidnapped and lied to my whole life, and I'm actually Noxian. Who would have thought?" She finished as they reached the steps of the massive palace that Talon had seen from the staircase earlier.
"What makes you believe that it's the truth?" Talon wondered aloud.
"Ever since I was young I've felt… Something was out of place; not right. When Madame Nightraven told me her story she said it with such emotion that it could hardly be a lie. It seems plausible enough; it seems to fit." The frustration beneath her words was unfortunately obvious although she struggled to hide it.
Seeing this he asked, "It is hard though, isn't it?"
Fiora avoided his gaze, trying harder not to let her emotions leak. He knew that having to change your view of the world completely to suit a reality you could never have dreamed of must be an immensely difficult task. Fate had not been gentle on the Grand Duelist, but the Blade's Shadow only felt an urge to ease her suffering after hearing of her ordeal. Uncharacteristic of him as it was, he would try to do what he could for her. She was now, after all, one of them.
"Fiora Nightraven of Noxus," Talon said on a more cheerful note. "I might just like you better this way."
She stared in confusion, but before she could further react to him the doors of the palace flung open and LeBlanc exclaimed loudly, "Ah, Talon! I knew you would come; welcome to my kingdom. It's quite lovely isn't it?"
LeBlanc was met with complete and slightly awkward silence.
Not really expecting an answer in the first place, she turned and began to move down the entrance hall, beckoning for them to come along with a wave of her hand. "Let us continue our conversation in the comfort of my Hall of Mirrors."
They followed her silently, and Talon caught glimpses of the palace interior. They were traversing a main hall, with floors so clear and polished that anyone who looked saw their reflections swimming in it. The walls were embedded with onyx, rose quartz and seams of gold in elaborate designs mostly forming roses themselves, each with winding thorny stems and spiked leaves. The centre was lined by a slim carpet, accompanied either side by massive columns which he believed were more for appearance than supporting the solid arching ceiling. There was the occasional painting dominating panels of wall that depicted significant people he knew nothing of; possibly LeBlanc's family or ancestors.
To the far sides of the hall were the occasional passageways, winding away to the point that anything beyond them was concealed from his view. If LeBlanc were attempting to hide anything here nobody would ever know without investigating closer. Talon itched to investigate those passages and definitely would have if he weren't surrounded by Nightraven duelists.
LeBlanc ignored Talon's curiousity over her palace interior and opened a golden door at the end of the entrance hall, not once touching it with her hands. The Hall of Mirrors did indeed live up to its namesake. Mirrors of all shapes and sizes were assorted upon the walls, and Talon could barely tell what was real and what was not anymore; the reflected reflections multiplied the room infinite times over and he had no idea of how big the space was. As the golden door swung closed again, he noticed that it was also covered by a mirror on this side, making it appear as if there were no doors in the first place. It was simply unnerving.
"I assume you're not going to want to hear a long history of the Black Rose hideout; even if you do I won't be telling you." LeBlanc settled herself into the throne in the middle of the room, lacing her fingers together. "What I really want to tell you is that I'm not exactly happy with what my Former ally Swain is doing. You see, Swain was once one of us, and when he left he promised he would secure the Black Rose a place in the Overworld. And yet even though Swain is now High General, he has not even mentioned us, nor contacted us, and when we attempted to contact him our messenger was quite rudely executed."
"I have no interest in-" Talon began, but he was interrupted.
"I'm not finished yet," the Deceiver said sternly. He quieted, not wanting to create drama, and she continued once more. "Ever since this event we have kept a very close watch on the affairs of Noxus. We have many spies in the city, and we by chance overheard something related to your precious Du Coteaus: they know about Katarina's relationship. And you know what, Talon?" She leaned forward and spoke it out as clearly as she could, as if trying to embed it in his memory. "They don't like it."
Fiora shifted behind him, letting out a small cough. LeBlanc's gaze turned to her.
"Is there something you'd like to say, dear?" she wondered.
Fiora responded to her like she'd been waiting for the question all along. "Maybe you should enlighten him on how they plan to show their dislike?"
"Ah, yes." LeBlanc said with a slight giggle. "And then I'll give you one day to yourself Talon. After that you return here or else."
He glared at her unhappily, hating the idea of being bound to the Black Rose, for he knew that was what she was trying to do to him. "Or else what?" he growled at her.
She smiled almost sinisterly. "Or else you never find out where your General is, of course!"
In all the happenings since he had entered the hidden city Talon had almost forgot that one thing. The General was alive. The General was possibly even HERE. That was the reason he had wanted to know more, and yet so many other interesting things had presented themselves for distraction; Fiora, his plans of revenge for the three mages, the scenery, LeBlanc's story. He shook his head, irritated at himself for letting his mind stray especially considering where he was.
"Fine," Talon said finally, giving in. "Just get to the point already."
"They want to…" she paused to chuckle in the middle of her sentence; the Blade's Shadow thought it to be highly unnecessary. "Burn down the Du Coteau household!"
He didn't even have to think it over long to know what to do next. He had to go evacuate them; get them out of there before the Noxian authorities decided upon any further punishments. Which they would, he knew that much. Of course it could also escalate to nastiness right there if they sent certain people into the scene. The last thing he wanted were his family; for that was what the Du Coteaus were to him; to end up losing their heads beneath the axes of Darius and Draven. Even the fan girl was undeserving of such a death. But he had one more question.
"What day is the burning scheduled for?" He asked hurriedly, preparing himself to move.
LeBlanc was quite obviously amused by his behavior, yet was nice enough to give the information to him. "The day after tomorrow; I trust you'll bring everyone to me?"
Talon frowned at her and then answered sarcastically. "Oh no, we have plenty other places to go you see?" And with that, he was gone.
Katarina opened the door herself, not bothering to call for a maid. A smile lit her face as a remnant of today's earlier memories; she had spent quite a few days with Garen now and wasn't going to give it up any time soon. At this moment however she felt her family deserved her attention, for they had gone quite a while getting a lack of it since she and Garen had begun. But as Katarina stepped through the doorway it was immediately clear that something was off; both her sisters and Talon stood together as if they had been waiting for her, and the expressions they had only made it easier to expect the worst.
"Sister…" the second youngest said, but she could not find the words to complete her sentence. Cassiopeia, whose anger shook on every inch of her body, took the initiative.
"All of this is YOUR fault!" she screamed, and Katarina jumped in surprise at her violent tone. "I told you that this would only hurt US, you didn't LISTEN TO ME!"
"Cass." Talon said and shook his head, but he didn't even try to take any other action.
Cassiopeia continued, shrieking. "WE'RE GOING TO LOSE OUR OWN HOUSE BECAUSE OF YOUR SELFISHNESS! DOES THAT MAKE YOU FEEL GUILTY NOW?!" The gorgon hissed viciously and sputtered curses under her breath that Katarina pretended not to hear.
The Sinister Blade actually had to gather courage before returning an answer to Cassiopeia, something she would never need against any other. "I'm not guilty. I have no regrets. It's not me who is truly at fault for this, it's Noxus itself."
Talon nodded slightly, not really understanding why he sided with her but knowing diplomacy was stupid. He knew that soon someone would have to restrain the Serpent's Embrace before she erupted like an active volcano. However, he had never expected the fan girl to speak up for them.
"Sisters, I don't think we have time for this right now." She said, giving them a concerned look. Cassiopeia froze for a moment, and then seemed to soften.
"You're right." She admitted finally. "Let us be out of here now."
Katarina agreed with them but quickly realized something. As they began to leave the household she moved in front of them, halting their progress. Before any of them could ask what she was doing, she put forward her own question. "Where are we actually going?"
Cassiopeia raised her eyebrow. "You don't know? We're off to the Black Rose of course. I thought you would have guessed that since you were the one she contacted first…"
Katarina was surprised that they would even consider such an action given the reputation of LeBlanc. She herself had been a little wary of the Deceiver's message from just over a week ago. Although this all made perfect sense to the Sinister Blade; LeBlanc had been the one to warn them that this was going to happen, right? So without another word she allowed them to lead her to her new home, whether she liked it or not. But one small thing was bugging her as she did so: If Katarina were to reside within the territory of the Black Rose, how in the world would she meet up with Garen again? One thing was for certain; if she mentioned it to the others now Cassiopeia would flip… definitely not a good idea.