If I don't get outta here, I'm gonna kill someone I've gotta single fear; I think someone will come
Just to put me away, into a cage
Where I never would see the sun

Got Jealous- Hurt

Breath tightened. Each step vibrating through her bosom. Thrill of the kill, the waiting. The stalk.

Suddenly splash, the yelp echoing across the clay tunnels.

The kill!

Gilberta roared in laughed ducking out of her hiding space to see a sopping wet Elizabeta standing with a wooden bucket covering her hair. Bitter emerald eyes ripped through Gilberta.

Gulping slightly Gilberta sprung away running away as fast as possible.

Racing past Mathew's hiding spot, "Run for your LIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIVES! Zhe Teufel is AWAKE!"

"GILBERTA!" Lizzy screeched she ripped the bucket throwing it with deadly precision. Stumbling under the impact Gilberta crashed into the opposite wall beside Mathew. Pushing herself off the wall she used the sudden momentum to spring forward.

"Go GO GO!" Mathew shrieked desperately as Liz began to run after them, like a demon ready to rip its prey apart.

Gilberta glanced behind yelping at the demonic monster behind her, "Scheiße!"

"GILBERTA GET BACK HERE!"

Several headed poked out of various chambers as they stormed down the halls. Skidding one corner, Gilberta ran into Allistor and Tuuli.

"Wha-?"

Scrambling past Gilberta slipped by the large man as Lizzy slammed full force into Allistor nearly toppling him over.

"Oof!"

"Gilberta! I am going to KILL YOU!" Liz desperately clawed the air just in front of Gilberta by she was held back by Allistor.

"Come on Liz it vas only a wenig Schabernack!" Gilberta pleaded holding her hands up in defense

"It was the THIRD TIME today!"

"Zhen stop falling into all Zhe Schabernack!" Gilberta argued.

Liz shrieked in furry as Gilberta jumped back startled, very glad that Allistor remained in between the two.

"Hej calm down it was only a joke!" Gilberta snapped back.

Elizabeta snarled before storming away leaving a trail of dark splotches of water droplets on the clay path.

Gilberta flushed under shame, "Shees vhat vas her problem?"

Tuuli rolled her eyes slapping Gilberta over side of the head. Gilberta swore snarling at Tuuli who continued to glare at her as Allistor chuckled in the background rolling his eyes. Shrugging with a big grin on his face Allistor dodged Gilberta's venomous gaze with ease.

"She's jist dour Gilly." Allistor smiled softly rubbing the albino's head

Gilberta remembered the conversation she had before with Allistor snarling she pushed him away, "Go, comfort Lizzy."

Allistor frowned, "Gil…"

"Zhat's vhat Sie said JA? That Lizzy was breaking apart, so go fucking comfort her because Sie'll see how vell zhat vorks!" Gilberta accused, "Sie don't want me around! So go away!"

"Whit? Did I ever say tat?!" Allistor yelled back, "I told ye tat she'sjist a wee doon."

"But it's my fault to Sie." Gilberta snarled, "Because Ich am alive."

Allistor bristled his deep voice fluctuating higher in anger.

"Because Ich am alive und all Sie are is a ghost." Gilberta snapped, "Do Sie even remember vhat it is like outside?!"

"O-O' coorse I dee!"

"Ja? Vhen is zhe last time Sie thought about Ihre Familie?!" Gilberta said her voice pasty and cool like clay clinging between your fingers.

Allistor growled pain flashing in front of his eyes, "I am alive, an so is Liz."

Gilberta snorted throwing her hands up as she stomped her foot angrily, "Avoiding the topic!"

Nearly shrieking Allistor turned away he stormed down the tunnel; stopping he turned back, "I think aboot me Bráithreacha every day."

Guilt burned against Gilberta but she swallowed it to storm away dramatically from the retreating figure.

Line break

Felicia watched as Jeannette pulled her hair up into a high bun, her dress flamboyant and shinning as always. But she didn't see as happy as usual.

In fact the only ones who seemed to be alright were Ludwig, herself, and oddly enough Arthur. Anca place her tea cup down standing then sitting as Jeannette took the cup away. Lovino snoring away besideher, not caring to wake up even though Ludwig was giving him nasty looks.

"Damn it." Anca snapped suddenly, "Screw this. I am leaving."

Felicia stopped food half way to her mouth whenit fell into her lap. Sttunded by the complet lack of reaction from the sleepy group she bit back a few tears of remose.

Arthur looked up nodding, "Cheers God speed."

Anca growled tossing her dark hair back, "marionetă."

"You are leaving?" Lovino asked surprised, Felicia watched curiously seeing the disappointment flash through his eyes.

"Yes, I think I can get farther on my own. And I have a feeling of what is going to happen." Anca snorted, "A waste of time."

"Well don't get yourself in trouble cagna." Lovino shrugged.

Felicia smiled, "Vee, fratello is sorry to see you go and wishes you good luck!"

"N-No I don't! Don't put words in my mouth!" Lovino sputtered

Anca laughed nodding at the flushing Italian, "Thanks."

"Ja let us know about any leads you might have." Ludwig said standing as he formally shook her hand, "Adieu"

Anca snorted rolling her eyes as she was wrapped into a hug from Jeannette.

"You're really going to leave me with these people?" Jeannette murmured, "All alone?! Mon dieu I won't survive."

"Surviving today is your job right now." Anca muttered under her breath shaking her head she pushed Jeanette away, "Buck up Jeannette, if all else fails throw a fit."

There was a snort, but a distinct lack of a snarky remark was missing in the room.

Coughing weakly Jeannette hugged Anca once again, "Au revoir!"

"rămas bun." Anca grinned, "You should get going quickly too."

And with that she walked out of the classy hotel room leaving the silent awkward group. Felicia shuffled,turning to pick the food out of her lap. Ludwig snorted warmly from beside her offering her his hankerchief.

"Vee where is Morgan's house?" Felicia said to fill the silence.

They looked over at Arthur he stood up looking at the paper with thin scrawl writing on it.

"Just out of town. We should get going." Arthur said pocketing the paper.

Well good thing they had packed last night, some how. Felicia was positive it was mostly Ludwig's and Jeannette's doing as they had both turned in very quickly after the incident with Morgan.

Jeannette huffed but deflated when Arthur didn't react from her growing tantrum, like he had all morning. Felicia frowned sending Jeannette a sympathetic look. Concern and anger filled her as she marched over to Arthur who had walked out of the room. Wrapping her arm around his she smiled her biggest goofiest grin at him.

"Ciao! How did you sleep? That ball sure was pretty vee? All the bella ladies and handsome men? Vee Jeannette and Anca looked so pretty si?" Felicia blabbed watching Arthur carefully, just like her nonno had taught her to.

Anca snickered as she watched the group wander out into the open gray streets of London. She walked along the streets, muck clung to her boots the little heels clicking on the cobble stone. The wooden houses seemed dull and gray in the morning light. They blocked all light from the rising sun along with the clouds filtering the light even further.

Anca turned down one ally; it became increasingly darker as she walked through the streets. Rats tittered in the corners of building. The wind whipped harshly from the cool building blowing up storms of dust. Coughing Anca waved the dust away muttering in annoyance at the foreign city.

"Transylvania is much prettier." Anca growled

She walked on until she came to a dark end to the street. Up above her an overhanging house sagged slightly supported with two dark houses and shops on either side. Abandon shops stood with rotting wood and food standing in the open air.

Anca frowned walking over to the stall, the last people had not even cleaned up, and it was abandoned.

"Murder?" Anca breathed glancing up into the dark eyes of a rat. It tittered flashing long angular sallow teeth a thin pink tail curled unfurling like a worm drowning in water. Swollen and agonizingly slow.

Anca grimaced at the rodent, "Disgusting."

The rat seemed to snicker as it ran down the rotting stall and into the darkness of the building.

"Alright so dragons huh?" Anca swore storming into the abandoned house, "I can't believe I was told to look here."

She marched into the house, noting the desolated look as dust swirled in the air visible by the thin leaks of light through the black windows. She crossed the room looking and preparing into the other various rooms. Stopping at what she assumed once was a kitchen she looked up the stair case, with the rotting basnister peeling and splintering under ages of decay. She marched up muttering fericly as her foot snak into the wood at times threatning to give away. On the top floor now she walked carefully.

"Yes of course creepy places with rats will always show where dragons are!" Anca cursed as the aged wood groaned under her weight, "Can't ever be normal? Damn it Vlad better appreciate this!"

The wood around her creaked, frowning Anca looked around; that time it was not from her. Again the wood groaned. Suddenly a glass vase flew out of nowhere. Anca jumped out of the way as it shattered against the wall behind her.

A shriek filled the air as Anca rolled her eyes swearing, "I am not here to harm you! Damn it."

Another missile vase flew at her Anca ducked around racing up the stairs.

"I need to know about the dragons you crazy Possessor!"

Whispers filled the air; Anca felt her throat tighten her face paled. It sounded like an army hidden in the house. The wall began to shake from the roar of the ghosts whispers.

"All fall down."

Anca whipped around as a woman walked in, her face was old and drawn filled with contemp. Her hazel eyes narrowed at Anca.

"Ring around the rosy!" The woman croaked, "A pocket full of posy."

Anca backed away feeling her heart palpitate, as she realized her situation with cold dread.

"Husha husha."

Anca was afraid.

"We all fall down."

She had walked into the resting place of the Possessors. All thousands of monsters of wrath and destruction.

"All fall down." The words echoed like thousands of whispers.

And she couldn't save herself this time; only a dragon could.

Line break

"So like what are we doing?" Feliks complained profusely walking desperately slowly; Roderick nearly swore biting his good gentlemanly tongue as he stopped once again.

"We are trying to find out what happened to mein cousin." Roderick snapped, "Now walk faster or I will set the dogs on you!"

"They aren't like your dogs!" Feliks snapped back flipping his hair as he marched over to a nearby bench sitting down pompously, "We have like all day, like three minimum before like anyone will be in Hungary! And like Easter just past! That is tots my holiday, I have to send a letter to Saule and like the market is good and stuff!"

"Get to the point." Roderick groaned rubbing his throbbing forehead.

"I like totally need my own time, so like bye." Feliks grinned flipping his hand as he turned to bounce away; thankfully Klein gripped his pant trousers as Milan gripped the polish's boy's shoulder.

"Danke Klein und Milan." Roderick said as he gripped the Polish's boy shoulder, "Look I know it is stressful. But mein cousin is missing. I will find out at least who took her, even if it's the last thing I do."

Feliks pouted rolling his eyes, "Like fine, but if we split up we can search for longer."

"If we spilt up we might not see each other again!" Roderick snapped, Antonia laid a concerned hand on her friend's shoulder.

"Roderick" Antonia murmured, "cálmate querida."

Shrugging off Antonia's hand Roderick ignored Antonia as Feliks continued, "Like calm down dude! Your always so uptight about everything. It's not like the end of the world, I want to find Gilberta again, but I'm not like flipping out about it!"

Roderick huffed turning sharply as he marched away.

"Rod-!" Antonia called but the taller Austrian was swallowed by the crowd.

"Antonia dear is that you?" A voice distracted her.

Glancing back Antonia met eyes with a man with a pleasant smile gracing his lips. In one hand he held a basket filled with fish and fresh bread covered by a pink blanket. Frederick or Old Fritz as Gilberta called him stood in front of the group. He was wearing a thick gray coat with a light yellow scarf the colour of new daisies, he was wearing dark black leather gloves his graying hair tied back with a red ribbon. Around his head a small yellow bird chirp annoyingly.

"Thank goodness! I can finally get rid of Gilbird! Old Fritz smiled brightly, "He has been chirping in my ear all week!"

Klein, Braun and Werner barked excitedly takleing the older merchant in their attempts to have him pet them.

"All week?" Feliks said

"Yes the day after Gilberta was supposed to come back from her visit in The Kingdom of France, I believe you were there as well right Lady Antonia?"

Blinking slowly Antonia nodded frowning, "Lord Frederick may we speak in a more private place?"

Old Fritz's smile dropped as he nodded solemnly catching the atmosphere the little group gave off, "Follow me then."

Turning sharply he marched away leading the nobles to the house overlooking the sea side, the white stained with dirt from the wind on top of the cliff it rested upon.

Roderick marched grief pulsing through his chest. Biting his lip he stormed through the crowded street. Suddenly he bumped into a woman. Stumbling he met bright owlish eyes of an older woman. The woman looked to be around her late twenties and early thirties. His golden brown hair was tangled back into a loose bun, her cream coloured blouse tucked into an earth brown skirt.

She seemed strangely familiar but Roderick ignored the thought.

"Oh I am sorry Fehltreffer." Roderick apologised bowling low he blabbed not really thinking, "Here let me carry your basket in return."

The woman blinked her large eyes smiling with her thin pink lips, "Thank you dear. Tell me, what is your name good sir?"

"Roderick, Roderick Edelstein." He blinked a little unnerved, and peeved at himself for offering to carry her basket when he was busy.

She handed him the basket it was surprisingly heavily but he couldn't see what was inside as it was covered by a drab gray cloth. Roderick took the basket holding his arm out for her.

"What is your name Fehltreffer?" Roderick asked as he was lead through the crowd to the outside of the crowds.

"Grimhild."

Roderick nearly tripped he recognized the name but couldn't place where from.

"I recognize that name, where is it from?"

Grimhild smiled with her thin lips, "Come now Master Edelstein you can't go around reasoning everything. Tell me your accent is Germanic but not from this far north. Central Kingdoms I presume?"

"Kingdom of Austria." Roderick replied, "Yourself?"

"Northern Kingdoms. I have travelled often." Grimhild hummed, "Austria, are you a musician? I would love to hear you play."

Roderick nearly tripped, this is a little weird, how does she know that?

"I would be honored to Fehltreffer Grimhild." Roderick smiled as Grimhild lead him through a narrow side street with dark ivy covering the stone walls.

"Yes, you play and I will whip up a fine meal, you look hungry." Grimhild smiled brightly, "So why have you travelled so far north?"

"I was going to visit mein cousin but she is not here."

"Hmm, well tell her to keep at home. There is mischief stirring."

"What kind?"

Grimhild smiled again with her large eyes blinking slowly, like an owl. She pulled Roderick into her home, a golden yellow glowed off the wooden walls with thick animal fur covering the floor and walls. In front of the fire place a large red couch sat with small decorative pillows. Somewhere in the back of his mind, his deprived childhood had once told him, don't go into stranger's homes, well really it was Miklós who had told him and not his own parents; but, the warning passed through his head. It was woman, and older one too; what harm could she do?

"Well many things have gone wrong in the past week."

Roderick narrowed his eyes as he placed the basket down on the table, "Such as."

"Well the kidnappers and such." Grimhild sighed as she disappeared around the corner banging around in the kitchen.

Roderick walked over to a nearby thingy his back to Grimhild. Peering over he folded his hands neatly. A dark wooden dresser stood in front of him with a proud head of a stag overlooking the dresser. An ordinate white cloth sat but strangely enough with nothing on top, so pictures, no letters nothing.

"Then there was the kidnapping of that albino girl."

Roderick whipped around. Grimhild was standing before him in one hand a pale white cup with dark blue patterns and images painted on the bone china, in the other a tray with an empty tea cup a pot and a plate of biscuits.

She smiled, "Tea?"

Line break.

"So you mean to tell me that Gilberta is missing?" Fritz said, his voice even and calm as he lent back in the velvet cushion; his eyes livid with fury.

In front of them Antonia placed her tea cup down on the silver tray; as Feliks grabbed another treat nibbling with a happy smirk on his face while he tried to remain sober and composed. Milan and Tereza sat watching not daring to touch any of the treats or even the tea that had been set out for them.

"Si, we just came from Gilberta's place and all we could find where Werner, Braun, and Klein." Antonia said watching as Fredrick place his own cup down standing as he marched stiffly over to the window looking out at the sea side.

He breathed deeply rubbing his eyes, "I knew something was wrong."

Fredrick sighed and walked back sitting down his face drawn with an intense glare, "Tell me everything."

Antonia sighed rubbing her tired face as Feliks jumped into the conversation.

"Well like you remember Ragon?" Feliks began

Fredrick nodded frowning, "I remember the fool clearly."

"Well we like tots caught him and we on our way to execute him and stuff but we like ran into this boy, Alfred who had just escaped from having his twin broksi kidnapped."

"And you didn't execute Ragon?" Fritz muttered his voice snarky and condescending as he sipped his tea, "Shame, I would have gone to that."

"So like made a deal with Ragon."

Sputtering Fredrick nearly spat all of his tea out, "VHAT! YOU DUMMKOPH!"

"Let him finish." Antonia said handing Fredrick a towel.

"So like Arthur, or Ragon would help us find the dragons and his like 'little brother', the Alfred's kid's brother who I think Ragon adopted or something, and we would not kill him until we do."

"Fools you have to kill people like that immediately" Fredrick shook his head grimacing, "Continue."

"So like Mathew is like a dragon and like we were told to go to The Kingdom of Italy and speak to the Mafia, but we like ran into Lady Felicia. From there we like split up into three groups and our group went to go talk to Gilberta and bring her with us to help in the search." Feliks paused taking another sip of his tea, "Yeah so like we ran into Abel and Antonia's friend Bella, and like we got here and the dogs where tots stuck in the wine cellar and Gilberta was like missing. Then we went out to look for information and like Roderick got like totally prissy and walked off."

"Wait, Roderick is with you?" Fredrick frowned, "I find that hard to believe. I thought he would be at home writing music for his beauty mark."

Bella started coughing as she snickered. Antonia burst out laughing, "I remember when he did!"

Fredrick gave a small smile, "So why Gilberta?"

"She is a dragon."

Fredrick raised an eyebrow, "You are telling me that all the Nobles know that mein student is a dragon but I do not?"

"Well admittedly we didn't know until Arthur threatened Ludwig with her safety. Bu-…" Antonia trailed off shock filling her eyes, "Arthur knew, and you didn't? I didn't? It just doesn't add up."

Fredrick nodded, "People like that need to find their place six foot under or in flames. Now tell me, how did he know where to start? How did he know not only one but two dragons?"

Collapsing Antonia pressed her face into her hands her shoulders quivering, "I don't understand! It all adds up but does not, not at all!"

Placing the tea cup down with a slight clink Fredrick stood walking over to the window. He hands traced the dark velvet curtains, "So Ragon aside, what else is there to know?"

Antonia shook her head hopelessly.

"Make a list of the missing people." Fredrick spoke after a long silence, "Make a list of your enemies."

"Who are they?" Bella asked clutching her husband's arm tightly, "How can we arm ourselves against the unknown?"

"True, but think about things logically. Holding people requires money, so we are looking at the rich, thus the Mafia makes sense, and they are our enemies. Criminals will do anything for money, thus Ragon is our enemy as well as Alfred. We cannot trust each other, so pick those who could be enemies based on personality, then those we can trust easily based on personality."

"But who does that leave?"

Frederick grinned turning back he clasped his hands behind his back, "Yourself, and the people who you can trust."

Antonia groaned clutching her hair so tight her knuckles turned white, "But WHO?"

"Jeannette. Roderick, as much as I dislike him he is trust worthy, Ludwig, and yourself Antonia." Fredrick nodded intertwining his figure as he rested his chin on it, "Chin up. A soldier never weeps. Now what do you have to do here? Never walk blindly, take this advantage to organization and avoid and use the chaos!"

"We have to find out about dragons."

"Find out about what. Be specific." Fredrick ordered

"Gilberta, we need all the connections she had." Tereza said.

"There is good thinking. Find out about who would have known about what was going on. What is happening now?"

"Kidnapping of villagers." Milan said

"Are they connected?"

"WE like have to find them remember in return for the horses." Feliks pointed out.

"Could it be a cover up?" Bella whispered clutching her skirt tightly.

"Don't go after them." They all turned to Fredrick, "I wouldn't risk it, you are a group with multiple ladies, and your men are not soldiers. I am not sure about…"

"Abel, my name is Abel."

"Danke, Abel you appear to be a soldier, the way you hold yourself, but …"

"Milan."

"Milan and Feliks are more of the merchants."

"Hey! I can totally fight!"

"Yes but you were taught by a girl who was no older than yourself, that does not count. This will be a large group and you would have needed someone highly skilled at thinking on their feet."

"So you're not coming?"

"Heavens no." Fredrick laughed, "Now I suggest you relax and perhaps write a letter. It helps."

"What about Roderick?"

"Oh he'll be fine, he always insists that he is always right after all. Come I will show you all to your rooms." Fredrick laughed loosening his demur as he walked out the room showing his guests to their rooms.

Line break.

"Here kitty, kitty, kitty…"

"Alfred if you do that one more time I will rip your tongue out and feed it to my dog." Tino smiled happily as he sauntered along the heavy foliage.

"Thank god." Natalia muttered rubbing her face

Alfred gulped turning back to scanning the area. He slipped through the dark leaves snapping twigs, breaking branches like giant would.

"Alfred could you be any noisier?" Natalia snapped, "God you'll attract Baba Yaga again."

"Hey!" Alfred snapped, "For your information I can be quiet."

Natalia snorted, "Doubt that."

"Both of you shut up. We don't have time to waste on your bickering." Tino snapped taking the lead once more, "WE need to catch up with Mathias, Ivan, and Lili soon."

"Why couldn't I be with big brother?" Natalia pouted.

Alfred smirked muttering under his breath "Because you're a freak."

Natalia seemed to hear because she whipped around punching him straight across the face, "заткнись!"

Stumbling back he gripped his throbbing nose, "Wha? It's truew! Yah big bro asked to gea ridda of yeh!"

Grimacing Natalia slapped Alfred, "Вы ничего не знаете!"

Jumping in between the pair Tino pulled Natalia away from Alfred, "Shush, I'm sure Ivan has his reasons."

"Yah like his sister is crazy."

"LIKE, he trusts you enough to be on your own." Tino stated firmly glaring at Alfred, "But we can't fight right now. If I see you fighting one more time so help me… I will lose my temper, and you don't want me losing my temper kyllä?"

Alfred nodded slowly frowning, "She started it you know."

"HOW?" Tino barked as Alfred flinched, "Don't make paska up Alfred! Right now you look like a complete ääliö! This fighting between you to has to end, its stupid derogatory and meaningless!"

"I don't want it to continue but Natalia-!"

"Oh sure blame me for all your stupid antics! You're the one that ran away and cause the first incident with Baba Yaga, you're the one who caused that whole stupid Tin soldier дерьмо быка with the fairy! Because of you we started this stupid quest too! We are looking for your brother if you haven't noticed! It would have been so much easier just to hang Ragon and be done with it!"

"Yeah but then you would never have found out about the dragons!" Alfred retorted paling, he didn't want this conversation.

"Who cares? My family isn't hurt by what happens to the dragons, so why should I?" Natalia snapped.

"Then we are you even here?!"Alfred roared.

"Guys!" Tino snapped

"I have my reasons."

Alfred yelled throwing his hands in the air, "Fuck it! I'm outta here!"

Turning the boy stormed away lost into the deep green foliage.

Tino blinked, "That's the first time I heard him swear."

"That idiot!" Natalia snarled, "Baba Yaga is out there!"

Without a second glance she tore off into the bushes after the annoying orphan. Tino blinked shrugging her meandering after them, scratching his pale blonde hair

"Ah, nuori rakkaus" He chuckled rubbing his forehead as he marched after the two idiots.

Line break

"Good morning dear."

Roderick looked up as he walked out into the unfamiliar kitchen. Grimhild sat on the table sipping a morning cup of tea, her owlish eyes glinted gently. On top of the white embroidered table cloth sat a fresh baked batch of bread rolls fresh cream and jam. Roderick sat down in front of the empty place made for him.

"Did you sleep well?" Grimhild asked, "I do hope so."

"Very well thank you. And thank you for the breakfast." Roderick smiled stifling a yawn he buttered a warm bread roll relishing the warmth from the fresh bread.

Ignoring the almost calculating gaze that Grimhild had trained on him he nibbled the roll relishing the warmth of the fresh dough.

"So I will be heading out after this delicious breakfast. I thank you for everything you have done for me Grimhild, but I must be getting back to my group."

Roderick paused, "As well as is there anything else you can tell me about Gilberta?"

Grimhild frowned, "What else do you need to know?"

"Well you told me when she was kidnapped, so unless you know where she is or who took her that is all I can ask of you."

"Will you stay?"

Roderick knitted his brows, "Stay? I'm sorry but I don't follow."

"Will you stay? If you stay I might be able to help." Grimhild clenched her fists, breathing deeply she shook her head stretching her rough scared fingers out, "Never mind, sorry dearie."

She stood sweeping away his plate. Roderick leap to his feet. Snatching Grimhild's wrist her forced her around staring down at her with desperate violet eyes.

"You can help me find her? Please if you can help me- I'll do anything." Roderick breathe deeply lowering his voice back to normal, "Please this is very important to me, there is someone I am looking for, not my cousin, but my lo- a Frau."

Grimhild bit her bottom lip glancing down, "I can't help you."

Roderick cursed rubbing his face with his free hand, "What do you know about dragons."

He missed the venomous flicker within Grimhild's eyes; but, he did catch the stiffening muscles through the scared skin.

"Gilberta is a dragon, and the Frau is too."

Grimhild suddenly loosened, "I'll help you. But you have to trust me."

Roderick grinned releasing her as he spun around in his joy wrenching his coat from off the rung of the chair. He pulled Grimhild out of the door.

"Come I'll show you my friends, we can share the good news!"

"No."

Roderick turned. Grimhild squared her shoulders, "No, you cannot trust anyone."

"T-then where do we start?"

Smiling gently she ruffled his hair, "Later dear, right now it is not the right time."

Opening his mouth to protest he faltered as Grimhild walked towards the market, gesturing Roderick following feeling like some foolish boy.

Line break.

Gilberta had no idea what was going on.

She shuffled into the creaking death trap of a cage along with all the other dragons. But as far as she could tell it was the middle of the day, and the events of later tonight hadn't started. The other dragons seemed bored, well at least they seemed to understand what was going on.

"Um hej, zo vhat is the name of Fritz is going on?" Gilberta said over the grinding and squeaks of the metal.

Tuuli who stood beside her rolled her eyes, "Easter party if you will, and we are going up to relax."

"Bitter?"

Tuuli nodded flipping her long hair back. Gertrude beside her muttered something in another language. Emil snorted.

"Zo vhat happens?" Gilberta entrapped.

"N'thing" Gertrude muttered.

Man she's terrifying, like when Ludwig gets mad, that fricking calm explosion thingy. Staring at the tall Swedish woman Gilberta studied her.

Her long blonde hair suggested femininity, but her dark blue trench coat looked closer to a man's coat. She was broad shoulders, so the type to tackle. Her long skirt swiveled at her ankles hiding any clue to the muscle mass. But if Gilberta had to guess she would be wicked strong. Probably strong enough to pound Gilberta through sheer brute force; Gil quickly made a mental note to be very careful around her.

Her piercing blue eyes mimicked the dark blue clear winter sky hidden behind her glasses. She was currently doing the same analysis, as Gilberta was, but the quiet leer stared a cold sweat down Gil's back.

"Zo Sie have any siblings?"

Gertrude looked down at Gilberta. She blinked.

"I have one little bruder! He is zhe süßeste thing, Sie should have seen how much he cried when Ich first went to boarding school! Kesesse, he's taller than me and twice as mature but he still panicked vent ich left! Kesesese, little bruders are awesome, but niemand is as awesome as Luddy."

Gertrude blinked

Tough crowd, "Vhat about Sie have any awesome people in your Leben?"

"Ett."

"Umm, ja, actually zhere are a bunch of super awesome people." Gilberta stuttered not understanding, "Ja like mein best freund, Jeannette and Antonia. Ja they are super awesome, though Ich worry about Jeannette a little; don't tell her Ich sagte this. She's just a little wild, ja she need to find someone who is willing to say no to her. Every guy she meets never responds right, so she gets carried away zhen heart broken- ah opps geschweige denn."

Blushing Gilberta rubbed her head, "Ja zhere are some cool older people."

The door creaked open as Gilberta followed Gertrude out.

"Ja like Miklós, he practically raised me after mein own father disappeared. He's super awesome, he use to chase me around his farm if Ich didn't come by and visit often enough! Kesesse !" Gilberta grinned her eyes glazing over in the memory, "Ja he's super awesome, what about you have a Varter?"

Gertrude shook her head. Gilberta just simply could not understand how Tuuli and Gertrude talked, they were both just too reserved.

"Man not much of a talker. Tell me about yourself." Gilberta pressed.

"Who is Miklós?" Gertrude said instead.

"Oh he's Liz's Varter. Keulest man alive." Gilberta shrugged realizing something, "Vait… LIZ!"

A dark brunet head snapped up, Gilberta dashed forward pouncing on the girl.

"Liz, Lizzy Ich habe ganz vergessen, Ihnen zu sagen!"

"Gil get off of me!" Elizabeta shouted shoving the albino off.

Gilberta stumbled back smiling widely, Gertrude walked up behind her, "Das ist großartig!"

"Kuss and just tell me." Elizabeta snapped.

Several other heads turned to peer at the commotion.

"Sie Vati!"

"Gilberta!"

"Remember Miklós? Vhat did they tell Sie happened to him?"

Elizabeta flushed clenching her fists, "Enough Gil."

"Nein, answer!" Gilberta snapped.

"He's dead." Elizabeta muttered.

"Nien, he's not!" Gilberta grinned jumping, "Ich just remembered to tell Sie! Ich just vent over to his farm about three days before Ich met Jean and Toni! And that was not even a veek before Ich came down here! See zhey lie about things!"

"Apa? Apa életben van?"

Gilberta grinned, "Ja, und he sure as hell misses Sie."

Elizabeta made a strange face before smiling softly, "köszönöm szépen Gil."

Gilberta blushed shrugging, "Sorry Ich forgot to tell Sie. So... can we get over zhat fight please? Ich möchte meinem Freund zurück."

"Igen." Elizabeta sighed, "But you are still annoying!"

"Kesese, but Sie still love me~!"

"Right so we missed something?" Vlad interrupted the moment his childish snickering.

Vash rolled his eyes, "Girl stuff don't ask."

"Aye." Allistor muttered looking down.

"Astrea"

Gilberta turned to see a caramel skin coloured girl standing there leaning on her spear. Her dark chestnut hair curled messily around her shoulders. On the top of her head she wore a crown of green leaves. A white robe like shirt draped across her chest tighten together and held in place with a small brass pin and her waist, she also wore beige trousers.

"There food." she yawned gesturing with her spear.

The dragons clustered over nearly clawing on top of each other for food.

"Finally ale!" Allistor roared bull dozing his way to a large barrel. Gilberta tackled him

"Nein me first!"

"Move it albino!"

"Fuck you Rotschopf!" Gilberta roared.

Snickering Vladimir got there first with Tuuli.

"Sucks to be you~!"

"VLADIMIR!"

The dragon whirled around just in time to duck a flying frying pan.

"Stay away from my beer!" Liz roared snatching the cup away as both Allistor and Gilberta began to fill several cups.

"Y-You idiot they've gotten at the beer!" Vlad snapped

Liz twirled around tackling Allistor, "NEM!"

Cracking up Gilberta took another large swing of the bitter sweet liquid, the mixture of heaven. "Kesesese!"

Vash suddenly came up snatching her mug away, shrieking Gilberta took on the chase.

He ducked slipping into the crowd. Like an army Gilberta volleyed through, several people jumping out of the way. Emil leaped forward tackling her to the ground, scuffling they struggled with each other as Gertrude and Tuuli both filled up their drinks.

Swearing Gilberta pushed away the young boy cursing the sky blue.

She hear soft laughing behind her, turning Mathew stood with tow mugs of the sweet amber substance.

"Here, I've got it, go get food."

She blushed, it had been awhile since someone told her what to do.

"Aren't Sie mien apprentice?" She voiced her annoyance

Mathew snorted taking a sip from one the cups, "Yeah but everyone is getting back at you for the pranks."

Huffing she stormed away catching sight of Kiku sitting beside Astrea, he looked strangely…red? Is he blushing?

"Hej Ich didn't catch your name!"

She looked up with her sharp blue eyes, "Astrea. I am the guard."

"The guard so there is only ein, how did Sie get down into the area anyways?"

"No there are many." But she didn't answer what Gilberta really wanted to know.

"So, Sie know the trader then." Gilberta pressed, "Sie work with him."

She shook her head, "No, I have to work with them."

"Work with the… them plural?! Sie mean there is more than ein?!"

She nodded.

Gilberta crouched inching forward. "Vhat about the people who bring us food, Saule. Vhy are they here?"

"Because they are here."

She snarled flashing her sharp white teeth, "How did Sie find out about us?"

She shrugged, "I guard."

Gilberta sighed, she wasn't going to get any information from Astrea. Shrugging she shuffled off, "Nice meeting Sie."

She didn't wait for any response. It was annoying but to be expected, and besides, there was ale and food waiting for her.