Blake closed her eyes, soaking in the darkness and relative quiet of the cave. Adam had stepped out for a moment as his men prepared for the assault they were about to do. They didn't even try to be hush hush around Blake.. then again, her mind was elsewhere. She couldn't focus, her mind wandered.. she felt lost.

Yang was gone.. likely dead.. because of her.

Tears began to stream down her face. Her body ached all over and she was exhausted. When Adam had brought her here he had literally beat the hell out of her. She wanted to cry, wanted to scream, to fight, to make Adam suffer.. but knew that in doing so the cycle would continue. Adam wanted to make her feel pain, like he had.. and she did.

Her friend was likely dead because of her.. because Adam wouldn't stop until he had her.. and now that she was in his possession would he stop there?

She groaned in pain. No.. he had threatened Ruby too. She had to stop it here, now. She couldn't let anyone else get hurt because of her.

She heard footsteps with a laugh and looked up to see Adam crouching beside her, reaching out to touch her chin. From the look he was giving her, his mask back in place but the smirk on his lips told her he was pleased with something. "You are a broken man.." She whispered, defiance in her voice despite feeling as upset as she was.

"Not nearly as broken as you'll be." His fingers grabbed her chin, holding it steady as they locked eyes, despite the mask being in the way. "But don't worry, my love.. Blondie will be the last thing you'll think about."

Blake grit her teeth and jerked her head out of his hold. "You're a monster.." Her voice was even softer now.

His hold on her chin released as he moved to stand, hand gently stroking one of her ears. She felt numb and her body wouldn't respond further. "You'll learn to love what I am capable of.. what we shall bring to the world."

"Adam, what are you planning to do.." Her eyes sharply narrowed as he had stepped away, peering up at him with what would look like complete anger in her golden orbs.

"My dear, I thought your eavesdropping would have enlightened you?" From her silence he laughed. "Atlas will be the next to fall. There I'm sure we'll run into your little friends. I wonder who I should kill next.."

His words caused her skin to crawl as she bared her teeth at him. "Don't! You can't.."

"Oh, I can. I plan to."

Blake's ears flattened into her hair and the look she mustered looked weak and deflated of energy. "I just can't figure out if I want you to watch.." He turned his head towards the cave's entrance and smiled. "Sunrise is nearly here." He turned back to her, standing fully as he grinned now.

"Adam.. please, don't. Don't hurt Ruby.."

"Or what?" She could hear the curiosity in his voice now.

"I'll do whatever you say.. please, just.. don't hurt any more of my friends.." Blake let the tears flow down her face, her eyes searching his mask, his face, anything for a sign.

He stood for a few minutes in silence before chuckling at her, the sound eerie and dark. "But Blake.. I need to punish you for your behavior-"

"You probably killed Yang!" Blake snapped, a bitter edge to her voice. She was trying not to break out into sobs and so bit her lip, looking away. "You already make me suffer enough.."

"Suffer? Blake, I don't want you to suffer." He crouched down in front of her, forcing her to look at his masked face. "I want you to understand that I need you." He took his mask off, holding it in his free hand.

Blake studied his eyes, the sorrowful set to his lips, the way his eyes focused solely on hers, equally scanning her golden eyes.

"What you want isn't me, Adam. You've chased me all across Anima.. you.. Yang.. what you plan for the world isn't something I want to be part of." She said softly, trying to reason with him.

"Then I will have my guards escort you home." He stood, moving towards the entrance.

"Home?" She demanded, trying to move but her legs collapsed under her weight. She cringed in pain.

"To the White Fang."

Adam felt... excited, more then he had in awhile. The thought of Blake, so close, made him feel some semblance of happiness.. as momentary as it was. She had to remind him that he was beyond livid with her and that he wanted nothing more then to break her.

But he had to be patient.

All good things come to those who wait. Adam had never been good with being patient, given how much he felt and how powerful his emotions were. Yet he had spent so much time on the plans in motion that the idea of Blake in his control again made him almost squirm in delight.

When he walked out and saw Tyrian there he almost flipped back in anger. The man was a lunatic, a fanatic, a Salem worshiper. A man obsessed with pleasing someone who saw herself as a god. He was speaking with Hazel who looked both annoyed and amused at the same time.

He walked to them and they looked at him.

"A success, the first of many to come." Tyrian started, a devilish grin on his face. He made an elegant hand gesture while his eyes twinkled with bliss. "I am being sent to a small area and I am borrowing Hazel for this. Brute strength is not my forte. It is of utmost importance to our queen."

"Take him." Adam said without true interest.

"Come, Hazel!" The madman spun on his heels, moving towards an aircraft, one of two on the area they had stayed at for the past two hours. Hazel rolled his eyes before following him.

"Adam." A man came to his side, having appeared from the shadows of the trees a bit from the aircraft. The only way to get to Atlas.. was a ship. He turned to see the white fang soldier he had come to respect above the rest. The man was much like he had been, a scarred man broken from the abuse of those who thought themselves superior. "I shall personally escort her to the White Fang headquarters. All the human sympathizers have been outed and we're ready for the next stage. Shall I initiate?"

Adam reached out, placing a hand to the man's shoulder with a grin. "Commence. I trust you will carry out the orders flawlessly Azure."

"Indeed, sir. I live to serve." He bowed graciously and slipped back into the shadows.

Adam rubbed his chin for a moment, thinking in the silence afforded to him now. The pilot glanced to him from the ship, arching a brow slightly. Time to get this show on the road!