A/N: Warning, mild (psychological) torture in Maduke's part. It's mostly just gross. Really gross. Read at your own discretion please.

Maduke VII – Werewolf Island, 12th February, 12:15

After the human prisoner was removed for death, Lunark was left alone with the rotting head in a jar of alcohol for sole company in this place where the lights were never turned off. But this was not enough. Not yet. Maduke had not come down here in months, always tried to chase Lunark from his mind because this ungrateful little bitch was not worth his thoughts. But he was still down here. "Enjoying your stay?"

Lunark did not respond, instead continuing to stare at the head silently. Her only company.

"I asked you a question."

"Could use more furs." It was deadpan, weak and hoarse. Only a token attempt.

"Well. I am hogging them all for myself to be warm and comfortable at night, but I can offer you another cell," he offered amiably.

"Huh." Disinterest. He'd do what he wanted regardless of what she said.

"You probably must be really tired of the lights always being on. A good night's sleep. ...remember what that feels like?"

"What's with this assumption that I can't sleep with the lights on?"

"Oh, one can sleep under any conditions if tired enough, I presume."

"No. You just have to be a weak bitch to need darkness."

"I always hated that about you."

"Hated what?" Besides her existence in general now.

"You must be one of the least fun people I know." He used his borrowed key to open her cell.

"Ah. Sorry that I don't exist for your entertainment."

"What is your purpose in this world, really, other than annoying me? I can't recall you ever doing something else."

"Fucking cute humans. Fighting. The usual werewolf things."

"Don't pretend that was ever enough for you. Nothing ever was."

"Excuse me for having standards."

Slapping her now would only give her the victory in this situation. He resisted the temptation. Still, he stepped closer, seizing her by the jaw to tilt her face up. "You could have had the whole world."

"I didn't want the world." Just because Maduke did, didn't mean she was the same.

"What you want does not matter at this point anyway." He released her head from his grip. "You lost that privilege."

"I am aware."

He stepped away. "Five months. That head looks pretty gross to me. You know, a part of me wants to allow you to stay here for a bit longer. Just long enough so I can give you a little gift to remember me by in your new cell."

A chill ran down her spine at that. "What makes you assume that you can even manage that? Last I heard, you have a serious case of erectile dysfunction."

"It seems magically cured."

"Finally getting the cuddles your mommy obviously never gave you?"

"Very well then. Let's put that body of yours to good use while you rot in your cell." He patted her cheek. "Don't want to waste your prime years after all." Moving her elsewhere could wait.

"I sincerely doubt anything coming from you can be born healthy. It's an exercise in futility."

"You will find out yourself." Now he had no choice but to actually follow up on that idle threat.

"So you've said." Her voice had not changed tone in the entire time they'd spoken. She simply did not care anymore.

There was nothing left for him. Except ...He stopped. "You look absolutely parched. Are you not getting enough water here?"

"Does it matter?"

"Yes of course. I want you in good health to bear my children. Zaiga!" The bearded man entered. "Please, hold Lunark in place as I help her get the hydration she sorely needs." He picked up the jar.

No. Nonononono. She'd say that he wouldn't, but he so clearly would.

Zaiga understood the gist and simply grabbed her head, forcing her jaw open with bone-breaking force. "Open wide up, doll."

She attempted to jerk her head away only succeeding in dislocating her jaw further. No. No this was not okay.

Maduke winced as he opened the jar, his face distorting as if he himself was about to throw up - but he somehow kept it together. "And you better swallow it all," he mumbled as he brought the jar to her mouth, held open by Zaiga. This was probably the most repulsive thing he's ever done, personally, and he found it quite fitting, given that he never had felt a hatred as intense as what he felt for Lunark.

Garda IV – Lukedonia, 12th February, 13:00

Garda could tell that something about Raizel's demeanour has changed - after he heard his friend is still alive. After kissing her again. After seeing that friend. Now, she could tell that he must be at least a bit nervous - they were waiting for news from the negotiators, after all. She needed to keep herself busy - and she was quite grateful when the bell of the door rang. A visitor. Smoothing over her hair, she headed for the door. "Good day." This man. ..." ...Karias Blerster, right?"

He smiled, handing her a flower from the bouquet he'd brought. "My, the lovely lady remembers me. I'm flattered."

Garda gave him an awkward smile. "I do my best. Are you here to see Sir Raizel?"

"Both of you, actually."

"Ah. Come in, please." She turned around to lead the way. ". ...I wanted to thank you. You have been very welcoming."

"Why would we not be?" That was a strange questions. She was hurt by their enemies and needed assistance. Of course they'd welcome her.

"I know my people are not the most hospitable." Even before Maduke seized power.

"You are not them, and need help. It is the noble way to offer assistance in your time of need." It was as simple as that.

"Better than the werewolf way.."

"So it seems. It's a shame, really. Helping such a pretty woman is a boon, not a burden."

"Please don't flatter me." She did not feel all too comfortable with it.

"Speaking the truth is not flattery, but I will stop." And he did. "Has Ser Raizel been well?"

"Thank you." His compliments were meant well, but she would rather not receive them. Especially not about her appearance. "Yes. I have the impression his state improved."

He smiled. "I brought flowers." Which she already knew.

Garda smiled, sniffing the one she had. "They are pretty."

"I'm hoping that they will brighten things up a bit for you two." Which meant that Raizel would need to see them. "Claudia helped pick them out."

She led the way into one of the tea parlours. Raizel stood by the window as usual, and turned around slowly to see Karias enter.

"Hello there, Ser Raizel! How has your day been?"

"It was quiet," he replied. The weather was good.

"Today has been." He hated it. Too much time to think. "I brought flowers."

"Thank you." He did not really know what to do with them.

"Ah. ...do you not like flowers?" Had he messed up here?

"I like flowers," he assured, holding the bouquet with both hands.

Karias smiled. "You can put them in a vase to make places prettier."

Raizel nodded and Garda picked up a vase from a sideboard and brought it to them. "Like this?", Raizel inquired, placing the bouquet in the empty vase.

"Yeah. And then the vase needs a bit of water so that the flowers stay healthy longer."

"Water. Understood." Raizel nodded and Garda took the vase to take care of that.

"Not used to caring for plants?"

"I don't have any plants."

Huh. "I find it soothing to have them around. I like the gardens back home for that reason."

"I don't really have much talent for all things living."

"Claudia has some low maintenance plants she'd be willing to let you grow if you wanted to give it a go." 'Talent', he chuckled. "Skills are learned, not in-born."

"I will ask her when everything is quiet."

"I'm sure you'll be good at it."

"How did the encounter with the Union go?"

"In-fighting interrupted us. Looks like Crombel made his move. But Third and Miss Seira got along well enough."

Raizel looked hopeful. "So they will help us?"

"Third seems to believe that an alliance will be beneficial. But he made no promises. First calls the shots."

"He was not there?" Well. The Leader of the Nobles, which was Gejutel more than he was, was not there either.

He shook his head. "Nope. But Third didn't come alone. Brought three people with him. They helped when Aris attacked."

Then this was only fair, he supposed. "What happens next?"

"We wait for their contact. Unless an emergency comes up, in which case Tao has a number of an associate to contact them."

That was good. "We will wait, then?"

"Yes." Things weren't great for Karias himself, but. ..."I'm sure things will work out just fine. Claudia says the same."

Raizel nodded. "Thank you for bringing me the news."

Raskreia VII – Werewolf Island, 12th February, 18:00

The silence was heavy and lingering. Raskreia closed her eyes as she finished counting to one hundred. She remembered the Loyard roses, and the willows by the Blerster lake. One-hundred. Ninenty-nine. Ninety-eight. Ninety-seven. She opened her eyes when she heard noise. A prisoner was being brought down here. Raskreia caught a brief glimpse of a woman, werewolf energy, she remained quiet. Zaiga laughed in contempt as he slammed the cell door shut. "This place has broken everyone so far. You have time. You know, you really could have had it all..." But then she decided nothing was good enough for her. He turned away and left. Raskreia waited until no trace of his energy was left. The walls were so thick, she barely even felt the presence of the other prisoner. She shuffled closer to the wall. "Do you hear me?"

"Ah. They've decided to put me somewhere where I'll have company again?" At least it wasn't Kentas's head this time.

She could hear the other woman. That was something. The darkness was exhausting. Raskreia did not have enough of a glimpse of that woman to truly picture it in her mind now. "Apparently so."

"So. What are you down here for?" Lunark couldn't get enough of a read on the other's aura to know what they were.

"I am the Noble Lord. I assume you are a political prisoner." Someone who dared disagree with their tyrannical Lord.

"Political. ...no. He'd have chained me up here eventually no matter what I did. Doesn't like people telling him 'no'."

"My condolences." This woman was a stranger, so she supposed it would be best to just keep quiet. Maybe they could free her, too, if reinforcements arrived like Ignes hoped.

"It's just how he's always been. I was able to tolerate it before because he wasn't focused on me and I truly thought that he had our people's best interest in mind, but..." That wasn't the case. It had never been the case, and she felt sick that she'd ever believed in him.

Raskreia nodded, even though the stranger could not see it. There was nothing to do. In retrospective, one always saw the details that went unnoticed.

"How did you end up here? I only brought M-21's friends and Lord Muzaka." Of all people, the Noble Lord should not have been here. No one but the assistance she'd brought should have. Not that she was ungrateful that the woman had shown up, but...

"I had my own business to settle here." Except that she only had made things worse, in her emotional foolishness.

". ...You couldn't have picked a worse time for it, I'm afraid. I'm sorry. Your people will not survive him. No one will." And those that did would wish they hadn't.

"Not all hope is lost just yet." That's all she was willing to say - the fewer people knew about this, the better.

Unseen on the other side, Lunark smiled ruefully. Poor woman truly believed that there was still hope. "I'm sure."

A/N 2: Next Thursday, bc of the changed schedule, there will be a bonus double chapter of two Maduke parts to go deeper into some things! The next regular chapter is next monday, then :)