Author's note: As always, thank you for reading! I was absolutely delighted to hear that the concept of Rai x Garda is being met well! This was really motivating to read. This is another "interlude" chapter but... stay tuned, next week's chapter had me reeling :)

Ignes: Monsters I – Werewolf Island, 28th November, 20:45

After securing a possible way out of this, Ignes learned a couple of very important things: Firstly, her suspicions were correct and she was, in fact, under surveillance. Second, whatever she did, Maduke would hear about it, apparently. Third, the terms and conditions of their relationships were not communicated clearly and with his hands wrapped around her neck, she did not feel like it was a good moment to point out that exclusivity never has been established. Or a relationship in the first place. Some things just happened, coming onto you like a whole landslide.

He called her ungrateful. Father sometimes had called her that. He called her a whore. No one ever said that to her. He called her difficult, which he called her all the time. An ungrateful, difficult whore. Was that who she was to him? And still he would not just let her go and breathe a sigh of relief to be rid of her.

Maduke was easy to read. When he was angry like that, he only wanted two things: to fuck and to kill, and she was not sure which would be worse in this moment. Let it all be over or endure him and his lustful hatred. "I was feeling neglected," she cooed, one hand against his wrist and for a moment, his furious gaze cleared up. At least she had his attention.

"You are the great wolf come again," she continued, running her other hand over his chest. A woman of very questionable morals but undoubted charisma once said that the easiest way to control a man was to make him think you wanted him. Was this what she had to do? Pretend he did not disgust her beyond what words could express? "Such a little... runt... could never compare to you... the Lord of Lords..."

He laughed and released his grip on her throat. Instead, he pulled her in by the waist. "Neglected? I thought you're a decent liar, until now." Once again, she just made her laugh. Whether she cried or screamed, cursed or lied, he'd always just laugh as though she was a cute kitten miaowing at his feet.

"But that's alright." He pressed his mouth against hers and lifted her up with ease. Like a toy. A doll. She landed on the bed and he remained stood there and she could not read the sentiment in his eyes. "Keep lying," he said and she did not understand why. What was going on in his head? She would never understand him. Not when he was being affectionate and not when he was being violent.

Which one of them was going insane, really? Was he mad already and was he going to drag her down into this too? No. She would have to endure just a bit longer. She would find a way to get that prisoner out of the labs and send him off and then pray to the ancestors and any deities she could think of that he would succeed.

He unbuttoned his shirt. "Tell me all the sweet lies you can come up with, and watch me turn them into truths."

Nothing lasted forever, even his assaults did not, yet each second felt like an eternity. She thought of all the knives and daggers he had and in this second, she imagined what it would be like to grab one, turn around and slash his throat. Or maybe her own.

Sometimes she felt like he was looking for something. In moments of perfect clarity and silence, he looked at her as though he tried to find something that was not there. In these moments when she could hear his heart beating as clearly as she heard her own, she wondered what he was made of. You could know all about someone's body inside out and still know nothing.

Maduke's fingers ran over her arm. His gesture was idle, thoughtless, and yet reverent at the same time, in a way she did not understand. Ignes wished he'd prefer to just be left alone, like most men did, from what she heard. Men never interested her, after all.

"I am sorry," he said, and maybe he even meant it. Ignes wanted to tell him that he could shove that apology anywhere, she did not want it. Did not want him. His fingers were tangled in her hair and pulled her head close for a kiss that did not hold the furious desire he'd held just a mere fifteen minutes ago. His grip on her tightened, pulling her in by the waist against his body. He clung to her as though she was the lifeline in the storm when in truth, she was the sea itself and she would let him drown.

"I am sorry," he whispered, and just for a single second, his voice cracked and revealed something no one ever has been meant to see. Sharply, he pulled away as though struck by electricity. Before she even truly realized what happened, he was at the other end of the bedroom. With a shaky hand, he ran through his dishevelled hair, smoothing it back in place at least a bit. Slowly, Ignes sat up. The magic of this one moment of vulnerability was gone. For the fraction of a few seconds, she'd felt powerful, capable of denying him salvation. It was gone and she felt small again.

"You wicked, wicked girl," he muttered and once more, after she had caught a glimpse of a strange, putrid softness, he encased it all in steel and let it turn to anger again. His own mask of cool strength slipped and it was her fault. He had shown her what she was not supposed to see, now he was angry because she had seen it anyway. "Do you enjoy this?"

He returned to the bed and pulled her head back by the hair.
"What do I enjoy?", she asked and his lip twitched as though he half considered slapping her, not for the question, but the defiance in her voice. Quickly, he reined himself back in and ran his thumb over her lower lip.

Maduke always ran hot and cold and left her feeling raw and shaken.

"It does not matter." He dismissed whatever was on his mind and sprawled out again. Briefly, Ignes wished he would at least put on some clothes. Normally, she did not mind the sight of naked bodies. It was just lumps of flesh and bone held together by skin. Nothing ordinary. Everyone was more than their body and still the sight made her uncomfortable.

"I want you to start working on a new titan," he said, changing the topic altogether. Maduke pulled Ignes back against his chest even though she'd hoped she could get up and leave already. "Not all enemies are taken care of yet. Finishing off Lukedonia should be absolutely no issue with a stable, improved version of the Titan."
"You know how many test subjects it took. It will take at least as many. And time."
"Have resources ever been an issue?"

Ignes shook her head in response. He was a Lord, but had no particular kindness for his own people. Raskreia would never do that. Gently, he patted her head in a downright paternal-condescending manner. "Have I been anything but generous?"
Yes. Violent. Hateful. Confusing. Demeaning. She could go on and on and yet she just said a quiet "no" because everything hurt and she wanted him to say she could leave now.

Ignes stood up and grabbed the wine bottle Maduke had left open on a sideboard. The wine tasted stale and left her mouth feeling sour and dry.

"I am surprised you are not jumping at the opportunity to get back into work. At least one thing you are good at," he said, watching her from the bed. A self-satisfied smirk. "Lagus really was right about you." His comment took her by surprise and she tried to realize just what he had said.

As she stared at him, he sat up straight. "Come on. Don't you want to get angry? Don't leave me high and dry. I love it when you get bitchy."
"I will do it." Her words were sharp. As long as he wanted a new Titan, she was absolutely necessary. None of his scientists came anywhere near her skills and expertise. Yellow eyes stared at her for a few moments before he decided that provoking her was not worth it.

He wanted a reason to get angry at her and she would not grant him that kind of satisfaction.

"I can't imagine the nobles interfering with anything now." He reached for the box of cigarettes on his night stand and used his aura to ignite the end. Ignes stepped closer and sat on the edge of the bed next to him. He exhaled the fumes as he placed the cigarette between her lips. She did not like the sharp feeling of the smoke in her lungs, but she accepted it anyway. "That means, of course, as many human test subjects as you can possibly imagine. See whether that chimera you got down in the labs is of any use."

He took back his cigarette before continuing. "Of course, I will also keep you supplied with werewolf subjects. Now that the modifications have proven to be vital to the defense of our people, there will be even less scruples about keeping the opposition under our heels... or rather... non-existent, essentially. Any noble scout we come across. You should be able to come up with something good."

So he really was serious. Ignes took a swig from her bottle of wine. "... Why do you want to be... Lord of everything, really?"
"One nation, one people, one Lord. Orwell was not wrong when he said war is peace... and ignorance is strength. The greater good sometimes demands this kind of sacrifice. Until the world is but a single nation, ruled by one sovereign. No more petty kings squabbling over strips of land, no more pointless displays of power for the sake of it. Order."

He took a drag, exhaled and watched the smoke dissipate.

"You may go now. We have all time in the world, after all." He waved his hand in dismissal. Ignes nodded and stood – yet before she could turn away fully, he caught her by the wrist, forcing her to glance back to him. "Remember, once I sink my teeth into something, I'm not letting go until it's torn apart."

He really was a monster.