AN: As always, thank you for reading, and wish my luck, may I be able to finish the next chapter in time!

Seira III – Lukedonia, 30th November, 11:00

Father loved the roses of the Loyard gardens. Even now, sitting where he used to sit brought Seira a kind of comfort she could not exactly explain. She did not need to see roses before her, their red petals and their rich, green leaves. The memory of the smell of a thousand velvety petals and the way he leaned back and patted her head was enough. Seira closed her eyes. Hopefully this winter would not be too harsh.

Regis sat next to her. Gejutel was busy trying to keep everything running despite the ever-growing insecurity among the knights and the general population, so Regis spent most of his time with her, as usual.

"What do you think will happen next?", Regis asked after almost an hour passed in perfect silence.
Seira gave a thoughtful hum. "Ser Raizel will probably try to recover some of his strength and then, with all clan leaders, we try to free the Lord." No matter the angle, this was a poor plan, and she was perfectly aware of that. Ser Raizel would not just recover strength with ease. However, the alternative was even worse. Sitting here and not knowing what to do was, in fact, exactly what they were doing and it was frustrating because no other options presented themselves.

Briefly, she wondered whether they should not try turning to the Union, yet as she looked at the barren rose bushes ready for winter, she remembered her father, and what the Union had done to him and her family not only a hundred years ago, but also recently.

A usually unwelcome guest brought a welcome end to this conversation. Rael approached them both, hand wrought. "Good day, Miss Seira. Hello, Regis." He had matured a lot in the past months after the loss of his brother. Seira still felt sad about his death. Quietly, she nudged Regis to make him move aside. She followed suit, freeing up some space so Rael could sit next to her, too. His advances often made her uncomfortable, but he got better in recent times. And despite everything... he still was her friend.

"Do you have any news from anyone?", she asked softly and Rael shook his head.
"No. I just... wanted some company, if that's alright."
"No one wants to be alone," she said quietly. "Sit with us for as long as you wish."

Ignes III – Werewolf Island, 31th November, 10:00

Whoever said hell hath no fury like a woman scorned never met a woman abused. Maduke thought he had her cornered – when the nobles and the Union turned up on his doorstep, Ignes would smile and make sure he knew she was behind it. She zipped up the waterproof bag containing the small scroll with the Lord's orders and a USB stick containing a single file. The locations and access codes of all union bases she knew. Maybe one of them was still functioning. Maybe then the prisoner might be able to contact them. A plan that depended on so many maybes... but at the moment, she had no better idea. Not unless she devised a plan to assassinate both Maduke and Zaiga, bust out Raskreia, get out of here through a mob of angry warriors and then make it back to Lukedonia and weather the counterstrike. Well. She could still plot murder if this failed.

With firm steps, she made her way to the holding cells. "Hey. It's time for you to meet my newest project." Ah, she was excited! And not for the reasons one would assume. She opened the cell and approached the grey-haired human. Fear flashed in his eyes as she removed the chain that strapped him to the wall – instead, she used it to tie his hands. Always keep up appearances.

"You are useless, so you might as well turn into extra meat for my new baby."
"Leave him alone, Ignes!" Lunark pulled against the chains that held her in place. "Come on. Help us get out of here."
Why did Lunark even think she would listen to her? "Hey. Be grateful you got Jarhead with you here, or else I would turn you into fodder for it too. It needs strong warriors too, not just some weird prototypes like your friend here."

Lunark fell silent at the mention of the head. The human barely struggled against her grip as she led him out of the laboratory. He looked a bit better, which probably had something to do with her ordering some extra rations for him. Well, she did need him strong. Strong enough to leave this island alive and not collapse somewhere half on his way to Lukedonia.

They did not make it far, unfortunately. She sighed in frustration when one of the warriors approached her. Right. That annoying twat who wanted to murder her test subjects and then tried to pick a fight with her. Gayare. Maduke sure did hate her.
"Lady Ignes, I am to accompany you whenever you leave the castle," he stated bluntly.
"I know. I am taking this prisoner to the other facility." Some test subjects already had been delivered there, maybe a subtle hint from Maduke that he wished for her to start as soon as possible. If she wanted to create an opening for her little helper to escape, she would need to find a way to get rid of Gayare.

They made it about halfway through the forest when she stopped. The human almost stumbled over a protruding root and her grip on his arm tightened to keep him from falling.

"Gayare?"
"Yes, my Lady?"
"I forgot my data folder at the castle laboratories. I need them. Go and fetch them for me."
gayare grit his teeth in annoyance. Of course, he would not make it any easier for her. "The Lord ordered me to accompany you at all times, Lady Ignes."
"And Your Lady needs her data," she insisted with narrowed eyes. "Do you want me to tell the Lord you have stood in the way of my work by refusing to get me the data I need?"
"I would never -"
"Then go. I think I am perfectly capable of escorting a prisoner to the other laboratory by myself."
The werewolf warrior struggled for a few moments – and finally acquiesced.
"I will bring your research folders to the other facility, my Lady."
"The blue one. Titled... Stable Fluid Decomposition in... Limbal Aortas. Now off you go."

The warrior turned around to head back for the castle while she and the human continued on their way. Just enough to make sure they were out of sight and hearing distance.

"There is no such folder, is there?", he asked, speaking up for the first time since she had picked him up at the castle's laboratory.
"Of course not." She snorted and stopped. Now... They did not have much time. She undid the chain that kept his wrists tied together. It was hard to keep her hands from trembling. "Do you remember the plan?"
"I contact Lukedonia and the Union."
"Hey. Listen. I know I wasn't the nicest to you but... this is big. Because that madman here won't stop at anything, so... you're everyone's best shot. Keep that in mind, alright?"

He just nodded and Ignes pulled out the ziplocked bag. "This is the stick with the locations and access codes of the bases I know, as well as the orders of Lord Raskreia. I can accompany you a bit towards the coast."

He took the bag off her and strapped it to the belt that kept up the white laboratory trousers she had given him two days ago. They followed a path through the woods.
"Two months. In two months, at midnight of the full moon's night, I will make sure Maduke won't attend the meeting of the Elders," she said. Two months... she did not know how to endure two additional months, but she needed to make sure the man had enough time to reach somewhere safe and then find a base that would allow to establish a connection with the Union. It should be possible to draw his attention enough to keep him away. "Actually.. I just realized... I don't know your name."
"That makes two of us." He gave a dry, sordid snort. "M-21 will do."
"Codenames? Fine. M-21. I hope you know what kind of risk I'm running by helping you escape."

This was absolutely insane. Who was to tell whether this man would not just go and find a nice place to hide? She hoped that being the Noblesse's friend would be enough of a proof of character to justify her placing what little hope she had left on him. "Hey... listen... Maduke has not even started. He still has cards up his sleeve. You will-"

"Hey! You there!" A werewolf approached them from the side. Shit. She had been inattentive, too focused on her own thoughts. Uzhir. She remembered him. He was one of the warriors who had kept Gayare from actually picking a fight with her. Ugh. "I recognise that man." The warrior's dark brown eyes narrowed. Shit.

"I am bringing him to the research facility," she said, keeping her chin held up high. Play it cool. By now, everyone knew she was the Lord's favourite so to say. Maybe some people might be fooled by that and think she actually mattered here.

"Without chains whatsoever?" The tall man stepped closer. "Last time I heard, Gayare prided himself with the task of keeping an eye on you. From the Lord himself. I don't see him anywhere."
"He is fetching Data I forgot in the castle." This was no good. He was clearly suspicious of her. Oh no. Oh no. Oh no. Her heart beat faster.
"I will have to ask you to let me accompany you back to the castle or to the laboratory, then," the warrior said matter-of-factly. Of course. She was not supposed to be left unsupervised. But this would mean that the opportunity to let M-21 escape would be gone.

Ignes stared at him, doe-eyed and frozen in place. Who could tell when she would get another opportunity to get this man off this island? Especially not when... Maduke already had grown furious over that video recording. If he received word of this... Or if she let a battle happen... No matter what, she would end up incriminating herself.

Unless...

"You are a good, loyal warrior, Uzhir," she said as Leviathan manifested in her hand. Before he could react, the black whip of aural energy coiled tightly around his neck, cutting off his voice. Choking, he thrashed against her. "Don't just stand there!", she snapped at M-21 who did not even seem to realize what was happening there. He was powerful – maybe more powerful than her.

He thrust his elbow back and rammed it slight against her ribcage, one of the bones breaking under the forceful impact. His hit knocked the air out of her lungs, and she reeled back, giving him enough of a leeway to free himself from the choke-hold of Leviathan. "You traitor bitch!", he spat – and stumbled forward. M-21 had finally managed to act and he stood there, half-transformed, blood dripping off the claws of his right hand. Before Uzhir could regain countenance, Ignes attacked again. He wrestled her down even as Leviathan wrapped around him.

"Do something!", she wheezed, one arm wrapped tightly around the warrior's neck, pressed up against his throat, to keep him from making noise. You could strangle a werewolf to death, but it was easier to just – M-21 lunged forward and his claws tore through Uzhir's clothes and ribcage while Ignes pulled his head back. His spine cracked under the pressure as M-21 ripped his heart apart.

Uzhir's lifeless body sank against her and Leviathan dissolved as she released their handle. Her ribcage ached and her heart drumming against it did not make it better. M-21 was shaking, blood dripped from his claws, it had splattered over his face and her arms.

With a high-pitched squeak, she pushed the dead body off her and got back on her feet again. Oh shit. Shit. M-21 took a step back from the body of the warrior he just helped murder.

"Shit... Come. You need to get out of here. Before someone finds the body," she finally said and started walking, away from the body and the strange feeling she never had felt before, when people died because of her.

But this cold-blooded murder was different. This was no accident of a failed experiment, no collateral damage of a battle, not some nameless stranger she took her frustrations out on.

This was murder and if anyone connected the dots, she would be held responsible.