Disclaimer: I do not own Detentioanaire. I hope everyone knows that by now.

It's been a long time since I've done an Extra. This one will be Serpent-centric.

I've placed a poll on my file to decide whether of not this should be a SerpentxOC fic, but I didn't get as many responses as I would have liked at all.

Well... I hope this is worth the wait!

This takes place during the last chapter at a the Hydra and in episode 45. Let's see what develops in...

All's Fair Extra:

The Serpent's Tough Confession.


No One's POV

The Serpent, the mysterious casino owner with a pet snake named Priscilla, and Council member, was staying in his office for the night. Just a few days ago he had successfully trapped and defeated the closest person who was a threat to his and the Council's plans. Telling Cassandra that Nora Prowler was a liability to their plans, he had Wurst lure her into the Tunnels under A. Nigma High. From there, the two had a long-awaited battle and Serpent emerged victorious, while Nora had been taken to Coral Grove. That should have been the end of things, but to The Serpent it wasn't. He set up a television link that allowed him to speak to her whenever he wanted. He had learned a few things from her. Like that she is still connected to Lee Ping despite being in the most secure prison in the world! And that, unlike most people sent to Coral Grove, her spirit is not so easily broken. Or her tongue dulled.

The assassin's last conversation with Nora had been… intense. He was smashing things again. Not his desk because it had valuable information he needed, but everything else was not so lucky. "Stupid Nora!" he yelled throwing a vase across the room. "She thinks she knows me so well! Does she know how much I hate her? That her very presence frustrates me? That the very sight of her confuses me? That when she's angry her eyes glisten like- gaaahhh! Concentrate!" The Serpent slapped himself.

Nora had hit a real nerve with their last conversation. Every time he talked to her The Serpent found himself getting angry, but this time was different. She had been completely serious, and without quips for the entire conversation. And she had found a very fragile topic that sent him over the edge."Does she think I don't already know how Cassandra sees me? Oh, I know! How could she possibly know those things, Priscilla? That they had cornered me, that they were armed, we went into the events and I escaped by hiding behind another student?" The snake wasn't sure how to look at him. The Serpent grabbed her and made his pet look him straight in the eye. "HOW DID SHE KNOW?" He dropped her and slumped on the couch in the room. Only to have it fall beneath him because he kicked it earlier.

"Dah!" He didn't bother getting up. Surveying the damage around him, The Serpent knew he would have to replace everything exactly as it was or risk Cassandra looking in and wondering what he was throwing a 'tantrum' about. He blamed Nora for making him causing this much damage. "I put her away so she would no longer vex me!" He groaned. "So…" a realization. A long fought off, and different emotion was recognized in his brain. "Why did I keep on seeing her?" That had come up during their big fight, and had been a valid point made by Nora. No, this wasn't just with the monitor in Coral Grove. Serpent's thoughts trailed back all to the first time he saw Nora.


She was sitting at coffee shop in the afternoon. Her hair was tied back as he would learn was how she usually liked it, her eyes were looking down at a small cup she was relaxing with and she was smiling such a sweet smile. The Serpent had just been riding by when he saw her. The light was red for a while, and his gaze just happened to fall on her. She was beautiful, he remembered thinking that. And she appeared to lack any company with her. The Serpent saw that she was in deep thought over something. Serpent had been trained to read emotions so he thought he could point out how she was feeling. A look of worry crossed her face, and then gradually determination and resolve made its way into her features. Whatever she was just thinking of it must have been some kind of challenge to her, and apparently she was readying herself to take on the challenge whatever it may be.

The Serpent found that interesting. She seemed to be living a pretty normal life, but even she had a challenge that she seemed to be looking forward to. Whoever she was, she wanted to face her problem head on. The Serpent stared at her table long after the light turned green and the cars began to pass him. She was pretty and it had been a long time since The Serpent had had a companion. He didn't realize he had stared for so long until, hearing the sound of his motorcycle she looked up and he could see her eyes. He caught the sight of them for a second and he couldn't tell their color because his helmet was on. But they were big; he didn't make much more of an observation than that because he sped away.


The Serpent couldn't explain it. "I saw a pretty girl. A girl with long hair, pretty eyes and… and…" Why did he even go back to see her? She was very readable, why did he think she would even be back? "I could have just gone out and gotten an even better one if I wanted!" But the question remained: why didn't he?

Priscilla, sensing her master was questioning himself coiled her around one of his legs. She hissed and flicked her tongue at him. "When?" The Serpent asked his faithful pet as he petted her head. "When did she... become… become…?" The Serpent never had an infatuation he couldn't brush off before. He had plenty of reason to now more than ever. And after a heated argument like last time, he didn't undrstand why he still didn't want to.

The Serpent thought back to other times too. After he had actually talked to her the next day, at that time he didn't know that she had any connection to Lee Ping.

…He didn't know…

All this time she'd been accusing him of planning this all out from the start. When he had taken her for that quick ride around the city he hadn't known. Not until she had actually told him herself when he dropped her off! (See chapter 5) At that time he had found her an interesting distraction from work, a fun and challenging individual depending on circumstances. Being angry at her was so natural to him now. But the hatred had been born from something else that The Serpent just couldn't explain or make himself identify.

"So when did I start…?"

The Serpent's mind was near to bursting. All these facts, all the guesses, adding it all up was not making any sense! He knew someone was lying about the whole thing. But was it Lee or Nora? It was giving him a serious migraine. He got up and stomped his way to his desk. He pulled up the photos he had taken. The first was of her casually sitting at her favorite coffee shop. He had just taken this randomly when she didn't see him coming. She looked calm, relaxed and was enjoying herself. She didn't have that determined look or that worried look. She was just sitting there reading the menu! What had she said when he first talked to her?

She had first not even seen him and then had looked at him with a surprised face, which he found funny. Then she looked suspicious of him for some reason and annoyed, but she tried to remain polite. That never happened when he talked to a girl before. It was like Nora had seen him do this routine before and was trying to get him to leave her alone. The Serpent actually got annoyed that his tactics on her weren't working. And then she had laughed. A sweet, non-pity laugh; all because he had switched tactics and made a smart remark out of frustration. She had found that funny? Enough to talk with him a bit longer before she got a call and had to run off in a second. The Serpent had been intrigued. So intrigued by the mysterious girl who first hated him, had a casual conversation with him, and just excused herself that he went and looked up her personal information.

The Serpent chuckled to himself. "It was pretty fun sneaking into her garage and messing with her car." Yes, he had done that purely so Nora would have to ask him for help when she left in the morning. He was going to drive down the street a ways and see if she came out later, but to his delight she came out just as he had finished. She had been really annoyed with him that morning and accused him of stalking her. He had. But she caught herself and apologized to him for getting angry. Serpent had been a little worried that his plan might not work. This girl was very aware and observant. "I did like that, I guess." But to his luck, she made the decision to accept a ride from him. She even knew how to hold on to him so that he could drive around easily,

Nora was a lot cleverer than her history hinted. If she had been aware that the Council had him as an assassin-

The flow of his thoughts came to a record-scratching halt. "Wait… Priscilla?" The snake had been keeping her distance from him, but looked his way when she was called. "Someone is lying! But the question is… who?"

The Serpent still thought that Nora and Lee were closer than they let on. But his argument (he didn't call it a fight unless there were actual punches) with Nora, did have its contradictory to the issue.

Lee Ping had said: Nora's been collecting intel for us for weeks. Boy, was finding you a lucky shot!

She's been begging for a different assignment ever since! You see, she kinda already has a boyfriend. They've known each other for a long time. We've had to beef up security after Cassandra hacked our phones, but I hardly ever see them apart. Really! They make out in the detention room or anywhere else they get a chance.

You've fought her two times right? Both on your so called 'dates'? She's been testing the Council's strength, seeing what we have up against us. F.Y.I. She wasn't impressed.

She does a good job, doesn't she? I bet you thought you were this close to really getting that kiss from her.

That's why her codename's Black Fox.

Nora doesn't see the point in pretending to be with somebody she doesn't really love.

That had really pissed him off! He was the one being used? After his first date with Nora he had gotten the idea to keep her around and get information. But somewhere along the way, The Serpent had started to enjoy her company. "I did decide to extend the game when she got more interesting. You can't fake innocence like that, can you Priscilla?" The snake hissed and slithered closer to her master. "Then there's what she said…"

Nora: I think I must have had a cold when we started dating. How could I not smell something as rotten as you from less than a mile?

At least my sense of morality, sense of reason and sense of taste brought me back.

First of all, Lee is a friend. Second, you were the one who approached me and started to fake-date me for information. Don't play the victim when you started it! Every single time it was you who attacked us!

You've talked about being a warrior and you've clearly had the advantage in every stage you've set up.

My Little Brother, will do what needs to be done with or without me there.

Will you drop that already? I like Lee, but don't like-like him.

In case the staff slamming into your echoing noggin wasn't clear, we've broken up. Assuming we were ever together to begin with.

You fool people into thinking you're a decent human when really you're spawned from the most depraved kind of beings there are!

Because you're being fake! Again.

For the last time, we are NOT, never have, and never will be a couple! You just made that up in your own twisted head.

I don't care! I'm the one who tells the truth, remember? Your job is lying, mine is being honest.

Weighing the two's words, and the conditions they had each spoken in…

"Gah!" he screamed. "Even in her absence she drives me out of my mind!" His outburst sent Priscilla running (figuratively) for cover. The Serpent knew he had caused enough damage to his own quarters and hastily dialed a number on his phone. He'll have to stop thinking about those two or he will surely go mad.

"Hello. Yes, the usual replacements. A new vase? Fine. No, this will go to my own account. Good-bye." He hung up his phone and looked around the broken room one last time. He sighed. If he really wanted to go through with all this, he would have to put his conflict with that girl in the back of his mind and forget her for a little while. "There is truly nothing more dangerous than me in this world, eh Priscilla? Priscilla?"


Serpent's mood did not improve the next morning. He thought about talking to Nora, just to get on her nerves. But he didn't like the idea of their two-way conversations anymore. So instead he decided to use his phone to talk to her in her cell. But what would he say? He tried planning it out on his way to the casino.

Hello, Nora. It's The Serpent. You know, the mysterious casino owner with the pet snake named Priscilla. You remember me, right? I got my name when I passed my very first test. That was back when I invented a deadly move called The Serpent Strike! Trust me… you don't ever want it coming your way…

No, that wasn't intimidating enough. But then… when was the last time Nora had been intimidated? The Serpent took out his frustration by taking a baseball from some kid at the corner of a red light and threw it. "Fetch!" He called out as he sped away. He tried to think of what else could he say. Give her information that she can't use?

I believe you got it from Lee Ping to have called me 'Stink-Ninja'. Funny fellow. Want to know where the 'stink' comes from? Can you keep a secret? It's my ancient medallion, worn by the greatest warriors handed down for thousands of years. Hmhm! That's a lot blood, sweat and death, my friend.

That would drive her crazy! But it still wasn't enough. As he entered the Hydra from the ground floor, The Serpent noticed a lot of his security guards were avoiding eye-contact with him. He just brushed the matter off and headed directly to the elevator. He thought of what else he could possibly say.

I suppose now you want to no more? Aside from what I'm doing at the casino and Cassandra, I'm on my own mission. And now I have all my facts! The question is, Nora: how will I… use them?

In addition to Nora, The Serpent also had another matter to worry about. One that she both was and wasn't connected to. He walked into his office to see that everything had been replaced and put exactly as he had instructed, now Cassandra would be none the wiser. Priscilla climbed onto his shoulders and he caught a fly for her to eat. The Serpent looked up at the screens behind his desk which were showing the results of Lee Ping's DNA.

The Serpent was less than mildly surprised by the results. His Eminence had told him, but the DNA test had confirmed his story. "I now know who my enemies and allies are, Priscilla. Well, most of them." The snake hissed. "Yes, I was planning to call her, but…hmmmm." A grin spread over The Serpent's face. "Priscilla! I've got a new game in mind." He pulled out his dice which had the strange symbols etched on them. "I plan on taking my revenge on Nora to the fullest, you see? But how should I pull this out? End it now and take the prize? Or go through the whole game?"

His scheme with His Eminence was also tied into his plan for revenge. That would mean re-acting every date he'd had with Nora. The 'chance' meeting, the broken/lost transport, the promised call, the forest and… the grand reveal. Jenny wouldn't have the kind of training that Nora had, she was much younger. Then he thought, "Just to be sure, I'll give little Jenny a test today."

The Serpent brought up the function on his phone that opened a one-way speaker to Nora's cell. He hesitated for a moment. The memory of his fight with her flashed through his mind. All those heated words. The mental assaults. When you fight with a girl you used to date, what do you really say? He shook his head of these thoughts. "She is my enemy! Just call her!" He didn't catch the contradiction.

A second past… a minute… two minutes…

"Grr!" He slammed the phone shut. "Why should I waste my time on that spoiled brat?"

"I was just about to ask you that myself." Came a voice from the giant screen. Cassandra's face filled the monitors, looking down at The Serpent with a blank expression. The Serpent turned so that the two of them could see each other.

"Hello, Cassandra." He greeted respectfully, "I see you've taken time out of your busy day to see me."

"Well, I have been especially busy lately. What with the Pyramid being destroyed, and Lee Ping still poking around. But I need to ask you just… one… question."

She was sounding angry. The Serpent wondered if she had found out about the television screen he had sent to Coral Grove. He hadn't asked her if he could do it, he readied the excuse that it was meant for the girl's interrogation since Wurst had proven incompetent. Or maybe she found out that all his furniture had been replaced three times. Cassandra's eyes narrowed and her mouth went into a scowl. Serpent did the same, ready for whatever she might say next. "Did. You. Send me. All of the information about Nora Prowler?"

It was about Nora. Again. The Serpent looked confused, and answered. "Um, yes. Even the data that I gathered is with you."

"I see." Cassandra lowered her eyes. Were the files right in front of her? "That's all." And the screens went blank. The Serpent was left again in his room. "Pah…" he breathed out. All of his conversations with the woman who raised him were like that. A quick question that he only needed to give her the answer she wanted to. If he got it right, she left. A wrong answer would be met by a lecture of disappointment or punishment. Any other kind of conversation she just acted annoyed by him. At best their relationship was a business relationship. Really, at their best it was that. "At least I can work in peace." Would Cassandra even ask him what he was doing with Jennifer Jerkins? He knew the answer was a no.
She would only bring it up if it became a problem for her. And few people knew there was any connection between them. Only one may have guessed. "Stupid girl…"

She had made a good call despite knowing nothing about him and Cassandra. What made her words hurt more than just a casual insult was that he had to admit… at least some of them were true. "Enough of this." He turned and placed Priscilla on his desk and scratched her jaw. "Time to set plans in motion."

He flicked on the phone speaker that went right to Nora's cell. "Oh, Nora I hope you aren't busy!" He laughed. "Of course you're not! I need your help in writing a text. It's to a very special friend of ours. And you won't believe who~!" He could just imagine her grinding her teeth together, knowing exactly who he was talking about. "Oh! You guessed it! It's Jennifer Jerkins. She gave me her phone number yesterday. How long did it take for you to give me yours, Nora? Either way, what should I tell her?

"'Jenny, meet me at your favorite coffee place after school today. I would like to treat you to your favorite.' Sound good? No? Maybe you're right. I should be a gentleman about this." The Serpent grinned over at Priscilla who was looking over at the mouse cage, hungry. "I'll feed you in a second, Priscilla. Let daddy finish over here first. Now Nora, back to the text. How does this sound? 'Jennifer. Can you meet me at the coffee place where you lost your bike yesterday? After school of course. I will text you before I get there.' It is such a good thing I called you about this, Nora. Without you I-"

The Serpent had looked at his phone just then. The screen was reading: No Signal. "WHAT?!"

Realizing he had said all of that to no benefit, he angrily threw the phone away and sent the message to Jenny on the other one. "Fine! I'll just have that fixed later and just get the day done with." With that he walked over to get Priscilla her mouse. "This might actually be better, eh Priscilla?" The Serpent looked pleased as he spoke. "Let her sweat all day, and then tell when the deed is done. Hee-hee-hee! And she deserves it, doesn't she? After the way she spoke to me! And after all I've done for her." The rest of the day was filled with usual work about the casino. The Serpent received no word about Coral Grove, and barely spared the girl a definite thought until later that afternoon.


The Serpent's POV

I took my time getting over to the coffee shop, like how Nora had taken her time in calling me back (see ch. 14). It seemed more… adult to keep her waiting. You would think she would be more suspicious of an older man showing fondness to her. Good thing Jennifer Jerkins is an Outcast, she'll take any kind of attention she can get! And without her guardian in the way, this attempt will be successful. Let's see… It's not the same open shop N- that girl used to go to. Cheap, and bland little hole-in-the wall. At least it won't cost much.

It's 3:15 when I go inside. I see her right away, but I pretend to look around. She has brought along a friend. Hm, well at least she's not making this too easy. I recognize the other girl, Tina Kwee. School reporter and Lee's little not-so-secret crush, she's been helping them too. I guess with their own enforcer disappearing, they've decided sticking together is the best option. I can deal with her if she starts asking questions. But then, Miss Jerkins makes it easy again by sending her to another table to make it look like she is alone.

Such a child. I could have some fun with this. I 'notice' Miss Jerkins and walk up to where she sits. "Jennifer Jerkins." I greet her. "Jenny J. J.J! Just the person I've been looking for." Maybe I should make a two-way connection for these meetings. Nora would be in a rage right now.

"You were?" Jenny asked, excited. Then she stared acting 'cool'. "I mean, well… you kinda never texted me back." Trying to act so grown up, huh? I'll play along.

"I never kinda do a lot of things." I look over at the next table to Tina Kwee, she looks annoyed. If her black hair was longer she would kind of look like- No! Concentrate on the mission. "Would your friend like to join us?" Jenny leans over the table to see, a look of panic on her face. She denies knowing her, nervously. She even just says she is that girl's tutor. She's really trying hard to impress me. Guess that means I've impressed her. A tightness comes to my stomach. Along with a memory.

"You fool people into thinking you're a decent human when really you're spawned from the most depraved kind of beings there are!"

I push the memory away. It will only distract me if I dwell on yesterday's events and brings up an unwelcome emotion. Besides, Miss Jerkins here isn't displaying much loyalty or honesty herself. Hmph, if they're supposed to be under your care, shouldn't you teach them not to lie? Or trust random strangers? Even as I walk away, Jennifer comes up to me to further expand her little lie.

"Hey, she can be a bit clingy. Serious abandonment issues. Don't lead her on or she'll never leave, ya know what I mean?"

I take her hand off my shoulder, and slowly let it go as I walk away. Riiiggghht, Tutor-girl is the one with abandonment issues. Pfft, such a child. No honor at all.

What am I thinking? Honor? I said this yesterday: it's only for those who win! I look back at the two girls; apparently Miss Kwee is very upset with what her friend said. Jenny sees me and I go back to placing an order. If Nora truly does so value honor, she would be very disappointed in her little Jenny. Why is it that all day she has been sneaking into my mind? It's becoming frustrating! It must be because she got the better of me last time. I never get carried away with my emotions, and she somehow hit the right nerve. The only thing I had been able to say, more like scream out, is that I hate her. And yes, I do. But that's not the whole story… I'm not even sure what the rest of it is.

The time is 3:18, and I bring a coffee for me and Jennifer. I ordered hers decaffeinated. I smile and sit down with her. "So," I say, "Where did Clingy Tutor-girl go?"

She smiles still trying to look cool. "Oh, she just said good-bye and went home. Thanks!" She takes a sip of the coffee I brought her. It might have been amusing to see her drink some bitter caffeinated drink! Why didn't I give her one? Aw well, next time perhaps. When Jennifer puts down her drink, she looks up at me with a bright smile.

"And thanks for inviting me out today. I… I've kind of had an open schedule lately."

"Really?" I ask her. "What made it so open?" I take a drink of my own.

"Uh…" She's searching for something to say. A conversation topic that hopefully won't bore me. "Well, Nora's still kinda missing."

Had I any less restraint the caffeinated drink would have been spit out all over her shirt. That's what she picks?! Guhh… "Yes. But I heard people saying she might be dead."

Jennifer slammed her fists on the table. She looks angry. "People are wrong! She is NOT dead. There's no body and no sign that she was forced out of her house. And I know she was there because she called me the same night."

Aw, Jenny loves big-sister Nora! I remember teasing her about a sibling relationship with Lee Ping once. The irony… "Is that so?" I take another drink to prevent a knowing laugh. "Have you gone to the police with this?"

"Apparently we can't." Jenny said, frustrated. "She's nineteen so she's not a minor. And she's of legal age to be out on her own now. I don't know where she lives otherwise I'd ask her dad what's going on."

Hm… this is interesting. Despite how she just got rid of Tina Kwee, this girl does treasure her friends dearly. It might be harder than I thought to get close to her. And I need to find out if she's even a bit more of a challenge than a not-to-be-mentioned person. "I remember once when talking to Nora she had some self-defense training."

"Yeah, she does." Now Jenny looked more cheerful. "I keep telling everyone that she's still alive and probably escaped from whoever got her. I think she's either hiding out or bidding her time until she can come back."

"You're very hopeful." I tell her, and take another drink. "Did Nora ever teach you to fight?" Let's see what we have here, shall we?

"Uh… sorta. I mean she did a whole demonstration once for the school and she let me and two other guys help her out." She didn't say anything more on the matter. So she can't fight at all… Still, fool me twice: shame on me. But Nora never hid the fact that she was an able fighter. The first time I challenged her she accepted, and she demonstrated greater skill than I had expected. Again! Let's just move on to the next part of this.

"Mm-hmm," I smiled, "I know I invited you here for a drink. But if you are finished I'd like to go somewhere with you."

"With me?" She's excited, but tries to calm herself. "I mean. Sure. Where to?" Too easy, this barely even fun. Maybe the storm outside will make the right atmosphere, though.

"A place I had once planned to take Nora. It's a beautiful spot, and a quick ride away." I stand up. "I still have that helmet for you if you want it."

She throws away her coffee and follows me out the doors. Above the clouds are gathering with a smell of water is in the air. Perhaps if we're lucky there might even be a little lightening. Such a romantic day.


Jenny screams as I drive down the wet streets. The rain allows me to go even faster, like a real serpent able to move and turn in less than a second! I go up on the back wheel just to make things more fun. Jenny screams even more and clings onto me. I screech to a stop once we reach the forest. Jenny angrily jumps off and throws her helmet to the ground.

"Are you crazy?!" She shouts, "That was super dangerous and-"

"Kind of fun?" I thought it was fun. Sure driving through the rain at top is dangerous, but what's life without risking a little. Besides, I knew I was safe.

"Well,… yeah." She admitted. She is similar to Nora in that way. They know when something is dangerous, and admit when the end result is fun for them. The girl hugged herself. "Okay, so why are we out here in the creepy woods?"

Lightening flashed. Originally, I had meant to just scare her a little to get on Nora's nerves the way she had gotten on mine. Only in the end I would give her back her bike and ask if we could meet up again. Effectively getting Nora in a soft place and further advancing myself into Jenny's good graces. This whole thing seems pointless without my captive audience to be listening. Why was the connection down? 100% efficiency is the only acceptable standard! Coral Grove is never out of commission. Never. Jenny suggests going back as her 'friend' will be worried. "Oh, you're friends now?" I catch her in her lie. "Thought you were just tutoring her. Does someone like to tell fibby-fibs?" I could tease her a little, she's been acting like a child since-! I hear a far off noise in the bushes. No animal should be out in this rain, at least no animal able to make that large of a sound. "Whoa, did you see that?" I ask Jenny. Of course she couldn't have, the noise came from behind her. I just wanted to freak her out. "Someone is watching us." She wouldn't know the silhouette, but I do. What he means by coming here I don't know. And I know that if he's here, His Eminence must want to talk. This is beyond the test I had intended for Jenny, I'll just postpone it until I'm finished. I order her to stay put by my motorcycle and walk off in the direction I saw the shadow going. Jenny calls for me to come back. I feel almost bad about leaving her scared out in the storm, but if she stays like I told her to, she'll be safe.

"Your Eminence." I greet the giant lizard-man holding a black umbrella to keep his suit from getting wet.

"The Serpent." He greets back. What is that tone he's using? Am I in trouble again? Or is it a warning? "Do you care to explain yourself?"

"The girl?" He has more eyes than Cassandra, no surprise that he knows. "It's nothing serious, I just needed a way back into the school. Plus, I believe she still has further use for us."

"That is only part of the explanation I want from you." There is always a trace on menace in his voice, sometimes I'm not sure if he always means it. "I've come to ask you about your previous 'plaything'."

My fist tightened. The way he brought her up made me angry. Why? Because he insulted her? How many times has she insulted me?! "Nora Prowler? I'm done with her already. Her name is barely worth mentioning anymore."

He hissed/growled at me. "You would not be saying that if you knew who she really was."

What? "Sir, I know who she was. A daughter raised by a productive single-father. A student with a ruined record because of her violent actions in high school. An, I'll admit, an able fighter, but nothing more than practice dummy, and a naïve -"

"She almost broke out of Coral Grove last night."

It took a moment for that sentence to sink in. Wa-Wa-Wa-WHAT? "Your Eminence? Would you mind repeating that?"

"Last night, nearly two hours to mid-night, your former-lady destroyed the holdings of her cell and took out two guards standing by. After that she fought every security measure we possessed until she made it to the submarine." That's at least four levels up from the prisoner holdings. How could that little fox have made it that far? She can hold a fight with me for a few hours, but I can't even get through two levels of Coral Grove on own. How… How… Wow…

"She isn't my former-lady." I tell him.

"Then your current?" What? "I don't understand the double-standards of your race. Some of you take only one mate, while others insist that multiples are the best way." Did he just call Nora my-?

"No! I mean, forgive me. But Miss Prowler was more of…" This familiar question I keep asking myself. She was an enemy, yes. But even I can tell that's not the whole thing. Then what is? I hate her, yet I've quietly praised her throughout today. I've called her a threat, then I get angry when she's demeaned as a plaything! What is going on? Have I been hypnotized to keep my thought scattered around that girl? Was it Cassandra who did this? Did she suspect me? How? When?

"You look… in agony, young Ssserpent." Said His Eminence. Wha? I realize that I've started clutching my head, having dropped my helmet into the mud. My soaked clothes have started to irritate me, clinging to my body from the constant rain. "Can you explain how Miss Prowler was able to overcome our defenses?"

I want to leave here. I don't want to think about that girl anymore. I'll use Jenny to get information from now on and forget that I ever saw that heart-wrenching fox. "No, I can't. In fact I'd like to argue that it wasn't even Miss Prowler at all. I've beaten her three times, the third being her initiation to the prison. What happened to her in the end?"

His Eminence looked down on me, possibly trying to gauge the meaning of my expression. But it was a blank mask, I gave away nothing. I can do this I can hide my emotions. No, more than hide I can completely block them out! I've done so for years. It has been as much part of my training and my life as breathing could be. Why would it be any more difficult now than it has been before? His Eminence said, "I need to confirm just one more thing before I tell you." I waited, and he said. "Just the day after the girl was locked away, you sent a communication device to her cell for 'interrogation purposes'. And more recently you've set up another so that just you may talk to her." Is he suspecting I had something to do with her escape? "Of course I don't suspect you of anything. We interrogated Veronica Victoria and she confirmed that you were only there to rattle her cage, so to speak."

I smiled. I had good memories of the brief time of Nora's angry, scared, annoyed face. Cute. Gah! I nearly whapped myself on the head. What is wrong with me? "Yes, and I almost didn't call her back this morning." I put it in a sarcastic tone.

"She destroyed the monitor first. I'm guessing the one-way connection was also linked to that." So that it. Wait, I had ordered the toughest and most durable of devices just in case Nora attempted just such a thing. It had been expensive, probably the most expensive thing I ever spent on her. And she broke it? That was… pretty impressive actually. I cracked aand let a laugh escape.

"Is that amusing to you?" His Eminence asked.

I immediately stopped myself. "No, but…it is very unexpected of her. She has a way of surprising me from time to time." I should get back to Jenny, I'm not doing well to gain her trust if I just leave her out in the rain. "Sir, I don't mean to rush you off. But I'm getting wet and the young lady I left waiting will get suspicious and wander off if I don't get back. What do want me to do about Prowler?"

"Nothing. For the moment. We have her back under control, and I've been told she'll be staying that way. I just needed to be sure you were satisfied with her being alive. She nearly died trying to escape."

"What?!" She nearly died? But I heard from Wurst that she wasn't going to be harmed! Oh, I guess breaking out of a secret prison would be crossing the line. I hadn't forgotten that I hurt her before sending her off, but I hadn't come close to actually killing her. How badly was she hurt? Is she alive? What happened? Why try to kill her? Or better yet, why wasn't I informed of this sooner?! "What do you mean 'nearly'? Wurst said she wasn't supposed to be hurt! That girl has connections that they need, why would they try to kill her so suddenly?"

"I see that this has indeed upset you." He said. "I won't say anything about your taste, but isn't she a little… out of the ordinary?" I glared back at him. "Killing her was not our intention, and Cassandra has orders from me that no further harm is to come to her until she fully recovers."

"And after?" I wanted to know. I couldn't deny this feeling. I was worried.

I was worried for Nora.

He breathed out a hiss. "We need to do some research on her… unique abilities. In addition, there is one other matter I'd like to discuss with you…"


I went back to where I left Jenny, she wasn't there. She just had to stay here! How difficult of a direction is that? No wonder Nora feels so concerned for these children to be walking around without her. They can't even stand still to save their lives! "I need to find that little red-head before she gets me into trouble." Jenny being found by someone else or being completely lost would create another problem to my plan. I still needed her, and I was afraid she might have actually been hurt.

"I'm going to get sick from this rain." Already my thoughts were falling into disarray. Nora almost escaped Coral Grove all on her own. This is concerning not only to the Council and His Eminence, but to mostly me. One of Nora's last threats was that she was going to break out and then come after me. If what that giant lizard told me is true (I feel little need to doubt him now), then had she succeeded, my life would have truly been in danger! Which would have been kind of thrilling. "I guess I've found a worthy rival after all."

I steeped on a twig and it snapped. I heard Jenny's voice close by. She must be scared. I'll scare her a little more. When I found her she was conveniently backing up right to me. I covered her eyes and "Guh!" She elbowed me right in the stomach and ran off! "That was… amateur!"

Sure it worked and is a basic way to escape an attack from behind. But where is the finesse? The show of strength and control of self? Every time I faced Nora I was facing a real warrior. No matter what your size, skill level or speed she can defend herself and teach her opponent a lesson about underestimating her! Jenny? Pfft! Hits you hard and runs away screaming, giving into her fear without facing it! A real threat is just going to come after her. Nora really must not have taught these children anything!

I had a feeling of disappointment. I had started to hope that with Nora gone, there would be someone left here to take her place. That was my test, to see if Jenny was a capable enforcer as Nora had been. My answer: she is definitely, definitely not. "I may as well get that girl's bike and let her go home." Really, what had I been hoping for?

Another spy to sabotage and take down?

Another rival that would be more of a challenge than my last?

A new rebellious spirit that I could enjoy the company of?

Yeah, I kind of was. My thoughts really do run clear when I'm outside. I had been honest with Nora that much. The time I brought her here, I had felt jealous and angry. Not at her, but at her closeness to Lee Ping. But I had forgotten all of it the moment she… I lifted my hand to the side of my face. "Oh no…"


I had given Jenny back the bike I had stolen, teased her a little and drove around a little more. Then I made the excuse to take her home, but she insisted that she would ride her bike there herself. I was relieved, my mind was racing fast with questions and answers and I needed to sort them out. I went back to the Hydra to find Priscilla waiting there for me.

I groaned, "Daddy's had a rough day today, Priscilla." She looked at me sympathetically, and slithered up to nuzzle my leg. I didn't pet her and instead went right to my desk. "Priscilla," I need to work this out and hear my thoughts. "Listen to this." I took a breath before telling her. "All day, during an impactful mission, I had only one thought on my mind. I didn't even try to think about it, but it just kept coming up! The day before, during, and even now I don't have an answer for it!" Priscilla hissed. "That one thought: Nora Prowler!" Priscilla looked confused. In fact I think I felt more confused than she was. "I was comparing her to Jenny Jerkins while I spent some time with the girl. Apparently, Nora never took the time to teach her martial arts or her 'moral values' to those children. But there's more than that, Priscilla.

"The things she's been saying. Not Jenny, Nora! She may not have been a double-agent as we have been made to believe. The things Lee has said contradicts with her own. Even yesterday she denied being a spy!" I began walking around. Action is better than words. "I've been seeing and comparing her to everything all day! It's driving me bananas! It's like she's gone, but won't go away! And then… and then…" I was standing by the window, looking out at a filthy city just washed clean by rain. "His Eminence showed up today." Priscilla knew who he was and uttered a loud hiss at the mention of him. "He told me Nora was… almost killed. Ironic, huh? They blame me because they think I'm the reason she's dead, and I hear today that she almost does the deed herself just to come back." I could see my face reflected in the glass. These emotions were new, but I can recognize faces. The face I was seeing now, was a man gulity of a crime. "Does that make it my fault in the end, Priscilla?"

She responded with a surprised hiss. "I know, I know! You don't need to tell me that I've seen her as the enemy and have responded with enemy action. But before I thought… and then…" I looked over at the window again, remembering how I had kicked it out in an emotion like that I had felt in the forest.

Jealousy.

"I was angry because I thought that I was the one being conned. You know me pretty well, Priscilla. You know I don't play games I don't feel sure of winning. But if I were to add up all the evidence suggesting and denying Nora as a double-agent from the beginning, if I bet that now she is telling the truth...are the odds in my favor?"

Priscilla slithered up to me and poked her nose at my jacket pocket. The one I keep my special dice in. "Alright." I took them out and shook them up with one hand. Then I threw them onto the desk. Only for Priscilla to catch and hide them from my sight. "Priscilla," I warned her, "Give. Those. Back." She squeezed them tighter and shook her head, telling me no.

"Fine." I begrudgingly sat down in my chair. "How do we do this then?" Priscilla hissed and flicked her tail onto my computer to turn it on. With a few more flicks she opened a file I had saved. I felt embarrassed even though it was just Priscilla. "I-I took those to gain knowledge of my enemy! I have them of everyone involved ,you know this!" The file was full of pictures I had taken of Nora during our… relationship.

Priscilla hissed, insisting that I look through them carefully. I shrugged and did as she requested. My first picture was one I got from a security camera on the day I first saw Nora. The next was of her walking around A. Nigma High. Before I even knew who she was, what did I think of her? (See chapter 7)I'd seen her with looks of surprise, happiness, guilt, suspicion, confidence and warmth. She was… honest. She didn't compromise her principles. That day… My first ever match against her. She had said her principles would never bend. And the cheeky way she had gotten out of giving me the prize I never got! Her 'golden rules' were so important to her.

Come to think of it… She had been here only once, and because I had brought her here. And I had kept an eye on her the entire time. She never went searching for anything or snooping around. She didn't even talk to the staff more than twice! "Then she can't have been spy!" Deep territory like my casino was not a chance to be missed. She wouldn't have gotten anything without security codes or camera catching her.

"So she really wasn't tricking me?" The realization is a hard hit. Especially since I've based my entire hatred of her on that. Now it was gone. The true situation: she had found out I was using her and her little friends made up that lie and she went along with it. Then… "Now what?"

I wasn't even asking Priscilla anymore. "What's it change that the reason I hate her no longer exists? Even if they hadn't lied to me she would gone there in no time! Yes… I uh, might have kept her around longer. You know how bored I get and she could be an interesting girl whenever. She can't even blame me for sending her off to Coral Grove, she provoked me! Grr! Then why did I start to miss her when she was gone? WHY, when all I do is argue with her, do I keep seeing her? WHY did it hurt that she chose that BOY over ME?"

I know I sound stupid. I know I sound like I'm dancing around the subject. Afraid of it, like touching the flame of a fire. But even I know what I'm implying at. It has taken root some time ago, at a time when I must not have noticed it. How could this have happened, and what am I supposed to do about it now? My hands form into fists, this is not easy and it very much against my nature. Maybe if I confess it, I can snap out of my senses and contradict it.

"I... I... I... I... like her."

There is no backlash. No shred of evidence to the contrary. No sharp slap. Instead feel a great weight be lifted from my back. Like a kind of clarity. My body and mind are not denying this, so it must be the truth.

"I like her." I say it again, to Priscilla.

"… So what?"

She straightens and gets a curious look on her face. "Too much has been done! And soon, vengeance will be mine. I know the truth now, Priscilla. Nothing can change that!" I walked over to the window again, overlooking the city. I knew that somewhere down there, he was fast asleep in his own bed with his own family. "I'll deal with my family problem first, and then I'll deal with Nora." I laughed to myself. "It's not like she's going anywhere!" I continued laughing at my future triumph.


Priscilla's POV

My master revels in his anticipated glory. I cannot interrupt him when he is in this rare moment of joy. I need my rest, so I will leave him to his activities for tonight.

All I had wanted to show him was the message on his computer from the one he calls "Eminence". It shows quite the display of that strange female, I knew something was dangerous about her. But Master does not. Master will need to know. But he may know of this later. Master has long made plans for the coming day.

For now, there is a secret I know that he does not.


A/N: Long enough?

I just threw Priscilla in there for fun. She was just trying to show him the email!

The Serpent never actually saw what Nora did. Will he ever find out?

The final votes on the poll(including reviews):

36% Yes

36% Maybe

9% No

19% Undecided

Yes and Maybe are tied. Hm... (Smiles evily) What will I do?

Leave a review and the next chapter will be on the way!