For hours she sat, staring down into the hole at the monster below as it staggered around, unaware that she was watching it. Her mind was teeming with thoughts, but none of them made sense. Fear was devouring her.

Irina considered leaning forward, plummeting into the hole and taking her chances with the creature she helped create, but she didn't have it in her to do so. She was scared, knowing there was more going on around her, more than she should know. Her issues compared to his – whatever they might be – were deemed irrelevant. It all confused her, and yet, she wanted to know.

She deserved this much.

Heisenberg needed her to assist him, but she had no idea why. Perhaps if she learned about what drove him to this madness, her mind could rest. She doubted that there'd be any way her conscience could accept the horror he was asking her to participate in, but her determination to leave this village was much more compelling.

And so, she waited.

Irina hummed; she paced in boredom and tossed rusted bolts in the hole at the creature until Heisenberg woke and came into the room.

"Are you still fucking here?"

He raised a brow. Did she even sleep?

She turned and nodded, despite the answer being obvious.

"I wanted to ask you some questions," she admitted.

He grunted in annoyance. "Not interested."

Sauntering over, he grabbed her by the arm and led her to the door.

"Besides, you have errands to run."

More?

Irina buried her fingers into the fabric of his undershirt. "I will, but once you answer my questions."

"This isn't an interrogation," Heisenberg barked. "And it's none of your damn business."

His grip became rough.

Irina groaned. She jerked her arm from him and narrowed her eyes.

"No, it's not, but I need to know. It's the least you can do."

Heisenberg groaned. Where the fuck was this coming from? He didn't have the time or the patience to deal with her, but he doubted she'd stop asking. Pinching the bridge of his nose, he motioned for her to follow him.

"I'll answer a few of your questions, then I expect you to leave me the fuck alone so I can work," he barked.

She grinned and followed him as he grumbled about her under his breath, leading her deep into the heart of the factory. Above, rotating on the production line, Irina noticed the creatures she had seen before. There weren't many, but there were more than she had expected.

"What are they?"

Heisenberg hummed and glanced over his shoulder at her. Irina leaned against the railing, staring at his creations as they passed through, going from one station to the next. Her expression was unreadable, but her eyes gleamed with curiosity and unfathomable fear.

"I call them Soldats," he explained, staring at them in admiration.

Irina recalled seeing their name on the note near the film board.

"And there are different types?"

He nodded. "A few, but as you can see, there are not nearly enough."

Enough? How many did he need? And why?

One question at a time, she reminded herself.

She took a deep breath.

"Are ... they human?"

Again, he nodded.

"Men from the village," he specified.

Her heart pounded in her chest. Irina had her suspicions, but she was not sure. In the pit of her stomach, she felt disgusted, but this led to a realization, something she remembered him saying.

"This is what you meant when you said Mother Miranda would never let me leave, wasn't it?"

Heisenberg grinned. "She's a tyrannical bitch. For years she's been experimenting on the villagers, turning them into Lycans – failed test subjects. Did you not think it was strange that people disappeared from time to time?"

Honestly, she didn't.

"We thought they moved; all of them," she admitted.

Damn, she was an idiot. They all were.

Her dispirited expression made him laugh. Patting her lower back, Heisenberg watched her shiver.

"You pawns would open a vein for her if she asked you to," he teased.

Irina held back her tears. Was Miranda as conniving as he said she was? It made sense, she supposed.

"How are you any different than her?"

She knew that she shouldn't have asked, but what Heisenberg was doing was no different than what Miranda was doing to the people of the village.

He jerked her by the arm, turning her around to face him.

"We're the same, using pets like you for our purposes, but unlike her, I'm presenting you a way out."

Irina stared into his eyes, wanting nothing more than to tear out his tongue for using her. Even so, he was right; Miranda would not offer her the same chance as he did.

Reaching up, she pressed her fingertips against his skin – her skin heated up – tracing a scar on his cheek. The contempt in his voice when speaking about Miranda was personal. This made her wonder.

"What did she do to you?"

Heisenberg snorted and knocked away her hand.

"Take your ass out of here before I change my mind," he sneered.

Irina stepped back. "I've owned pets before, and I've never kissed them."

Turning her back, she walked towards the lift, hearing him laugh.

"For such an inessential thing, you sure have a vicious tongue."

Inessential?

Sure, she snorted.

Who else was going to put up with him?

Irina took the lift back up and exited the factory, heading back to the village, thinking about what she learned from him. There were so many unanswered questions, but she did know that Heisenberg wanted Miranda dead and was using her to gather material for his Soldats. Uncertain as to why he'd need an army to kill her or what she had done to him to warrant such hate, Irina assumed that Miranda was like him, someone with a unique power, and perhaps her power was more substantial than his.

Did the remaining three lords have powers too? She'd have to ask him.

Irina returned to the altar area and was shocked to see that the Duke had come back. Her heart pounded in her chest, and for once, a sense of joy passed over her. Running to the back of the carriage, she beat on the wooden door until he answered, grinning as he came out and sat in his usual spot on the edge of the carriage.

"I'm pleased to see that you are alive, Irina."

She nodded. "Somehow. It's been a long few weeks."

"It must have been rough for you," he said with sincerity.

Irina sobbed; she couldn't stop the tears from pouring down her heated cheeks.

"I'd love to share," she cried.

She wanted someone to talk to, someone who could understand her sorrow.

He urged her to continue. And she did.

Irina paced as she told him about her time in the factory – the errands she had to run and the sinister plan Heisenberg was cooking up – but left out the spur of the moment kiss; mostly because she didn't understand its purpose herself, but once she was done, her throat was sore, and her tears had dried up.

"It's been ... hectic."

The Duke hummed. "Indeed, it has. And you have much to consider."

"Were you aware of this? About what Heisenberg is doing?"

He shook his head in disagreement. "I had my suspicions, but I wasn't certain."

"Then why put me on this path? Why give me hope?"

It was an almost impossible task.

"To what extent are you willing to go to leave this place?"

She didn't have to think about her answer.

"You have no idea how far I'll go."

The Duke grinned. "That is why."

Her eyes widened.

"Now you understand," the Duke laughed. "No one else has your resolve."

Indeed, she did. Irina would do anything.

Perhaps this is why she agreed to continue, knowing people were being killed. The signals were there, flickering like red lights in her head, but her resolve was far more substantial.

Returning to her house, she knew what she had to do.

Heisenberg needed test subjects and resources; she would bring him the people he needed to create his army.