Hey so... it's been a while, haha sorry about that. ^^; Life's been ehh and well I'm just not as obsessed with this shipping as I used to be. Maybe that's why I decided to make everyone humanoid in this story..? I dunno, but I know some of you guys like this and I like to make people happy.^^

Characters belong to SEGA/Archie

"So, how do you think the prisoner is doing?" Rouge asked. She glared at Shadow, she was not pleased by her king's actions, exposing himself to mortals in broad daylight, taking a hostage and most importantly making more work for her!

Shadow had arrived back with his captive hours earlier. Sonic had been quiet and still the whole time back but the second his feet hit solid ground again he seemed to get shocked back into reality and struggled to get away. It was easy to incapacitate him once he was unarmed. He was then placed in a cell deep under the castle.

Rouge had insisted they go check on him since mortals compared to their race are more delicate and require more maintenance to survive.

"Don't give me that look.. He's fine." He assured her.

The vampiress rolled her eyes and continued to walk. "I'm just saying that you're walking on incredibly thin ice right now, like to the point where it's starting to break."

"I told you he's fine!" Shadow said.

"Not that!" Rouge said stomping her heeled shoe down. "I mean about you breaking the rules, if they find out-"

"They won't." He said cutting her off.

"...But if they do, well I'm glad I'm not you.."

They reached the stairwell that leads to the dungeons, the torches that lined the walls lit as the king walked by. All the cells held either dust or the bones of forgotten prisoners.

Echoes of footsteps were the only sound that could be heard in the old rooms. After a few painfully silent minutes they came across a cell with large bars locked tight. To the left in the small room was a small makeshift bed and on top of it was an unconscious, Sonic.

"Satisfied, Rouge? He's fine." Shadow said turning to face her.

Rouge tilted her head to the side in thought, still staring at the sleeping teen. She pushed some of her snow white hair out of here face to see better. Shadow was confused and even more so when she began to smile.

"What? What is so amusing?"

"It's just.. you went through all that trouble just to hold him hostage in the end. I can't help but find your ever changing motives to be amusing."

Shadow sighed. "I was found out.. if I hadn't thought fast then I would've risk my life. Besides, now that I have something they want they'll be putty in my hands." He smirked.

"Hmm.. but will you do with him until his friends show up? Mortals aren't like us, they need sunlight, water and food.. we don't exactly have that, my king." Rouge pointed out.

"We have windows.. retrieve water from the river and hunt wildlife in the surrounding woodlands if you must."

The vampiress shook her head and placed her hands on her hips. "Well, I suppose it was worth a shot..."

"Huh.. what do you-"

"I'm sorry, my king but this is going too far and I'm disappointed that I let it happen!" Rouge began to pace back and forth. "I shouldn't have let you leave, if you wanted to end things quickly then you should've just waited for the approaching Blood Moon. You would, no all of us would be at our most powerful and easily slaughter any that dare to oppose. I'm beginning to wonder if you even truly want to kill.. after all, you're giving them a chance to live, no? His life for their surrender?"

"A-Are you questioning-!?"

The advisor held up her hand with the pointer finger out in a shushing manner. "Let me finish, my king. I will forever be loyal to your lineage and you as long as you rule. I just do not want a repeat of one of your ancestors, I trust you know what I mean?"

Shadow jumped and his face turned red. "Rouge, are you insinuating that I have an interest in.. him!?" He said gesturing to the sleeping boy in the cell.

"My king." Rouge chuckled. "I've been advisor to the royal family for generations, like it or not your lineage is famous for courting mortals." She paused. "And those mortals either die naturally thanks to their incredibly short lifespans, choose to be turned or kill their significant other. What path will you lead?" She asked tilting her head.

"None! Why? Because he is nothing but a pawn, nothing more, nothing less. A being that history will forget once death claims him!" The king yelled.

Rouge laughed. "Ahhh, I believe that's what your great grandmother said as well. Wonderful queen she was. Anyway, if you want to prove to me that you see nothing in him then kill him. He's out cold, won't even know what hit him."

The hunter in the bed began to groan and twitch, sleep appearing to begin loosening it's grip upon him.

Shadow gazed at the sleeping teen before looking back at Rouge. She just flashed him a smile and made way for the exit.

The king sighed and brushed some hair from his eyes. His eyes went wide when he heard a small gasp. Shadow turned around and saw Sonic sitting up trying to control his heavy breathing.

Hey, sorry for taking 1000 years. It's just, writing isn't very high on my priority list. I like to draw and I'm definitely more active on my deviantart. Plus, things going on in my life right now just started to be somewhat calm after a lot of shit. So yeah, I'll try to update more often.