"For someone who hates his family & apparently they hate him back" Nick took a step forward. "You seem to be making a lot of deals with them lately."
Nick could tell that Sean was bothered by looking at a perfect reflection of himself. His face twitched a few times when Nick spoke. "For someone who hates Adalind & apparently she hates you back" Sean looked over at Adalind who was scowling at him. "You two seem to be spending a lot of quality time together."
Nick scoffed. "How'd you convince them not to kill you?"
"I let the cards fall however they need to, even if some people don't agree with it." He looked over to Adalind again & she got even angrier at the fact he appeared like he truly felt bad for what he did.
"How could you?!" She spat out. "Just give away your own daughter!" Adalind bellowed at him. Fist clenching at her sides.
"I told you, I did what I thought was best for her."
"You also said you didn't want her in your father's hands!" She hissed at him, Nick could see her lips trembling & it definitely wasn't because she was about to cry that's for sure. That was pure rage that has been building up & was getting ready to explode.
That statement also caused Rispoli to give Sean a look.
Nick could tell that even though Sean managed to make some sort of deal, it was still extremely tense & most likely soon to be hostile. Something Nick knew was coming later in his case as well.
Sean glanced over with his eyes at Rispoli for the face he made but continued. "Look, he would have killed us. Okay? This isn't just for Diana, this was for the both of us! Why can't you just see that Adalind!" He raised his voice at her & Nick looked over once more & could tell she was getting even angrier. Her skin growing a shade of red with each word he spoke.
"For us!" She let out a laugh that wasn't humorous. Not humorous at all. "Stop acting like you give a damn about me Sean! You sure didn't when you slept with my mother & kicked me to the curb!" Her teeth were gritted now, her breathing laboring out of anger.
He paused for a moment before he answered. "See it how you want to see it. But the only reason you're alive right now & can be with Diana is because of me." She didn't respond but her eyes looked incensed.
"If your such a knight in shining armor. How about you get Diana & let us leave here." Nick obviously knew that wasn't going to happen but he needed to get Adalind to calm down in some way & because he was sick of Sean acting like he was the victim in all of this.
Sean looked back over at him. "You & I both know that isn't going to happen even if I wanted it to."
"Then stop acting like your a victim or didn't cause this yourself." Nick took another step forward at him but Rispoli placed his arm out in front. Placing his hand on Nick's chest.
"I suggest you don't take another step, Grimm." The confidence his voice spoke with really irked Nick to his core.
"Give me my daughter Sean." Adalind said in this hushed tone. Nick wonders if that was her way of trying not to snap. Because it may have been hushed, but man it sounded vicious.
Sean let out an annoyed gasp. "If you shut up & let me take you to her then you can." Nick had a feeling that was most likely her snapping point. This man dared to be annoyed with her because she wasn't happy he gave Diana away.
She closed her eyes & her mouth parted open. Her face was shaking & lips moving to speak but more trembling as words failed to come out. Or maybe she couldn't form any right now that wasn't a scream of repressed emotion & frustration.
She held up her hand to try an attempt at calming down but she manage to speak. "Sean" She said in a hushed tone once again but she looked up at him. "Where" She took a step forward even though the car was in her way. "Is" Her eyes grew that crazy look once again. "My"
Her face now Woge very aggressively. "DAUGHTERRR!" She bellowed at the top of her lungs, screaming at him. Most of the Verrat grabbed a hold of their ears except for a couple & Rispoli. Nick winced for a moment but didn't budge. The windows of most of the cars probably up the whole damn block leading to here were all blown out. Nick was sure if he was himself he would have heard glass shattering for a mile most likely.
He looked up to see that some of the windows on the front of the Castle of Kronenberg didn't shatter but were either somewhat cracked or severely.
He honestly wanted to take advantage of this & attack the Verrat men that were surrounding them. But for one, he wasn't himself so he didn't have his Grimm abilities or senses. Not to mention Renard is a yellow spine coward so he for sure doesn't have the resiliency he knows he would continue on with. Well, he of course, has the will of himself still but Sean's body isn't a Grimm's body so it most likely can't take the punishment Nick knew he for sure was going to endure sooner rather than later.
He wishes this stuff wore off now. The plan has gone up to hell anyways.
But most importantly though, they had no idea where Diana was in that Castle so no way they can search room to room without somebody dying before they finally got out. Those somebody's would be them too very likely. So against his better judgment, he kept his fist down & Adalind stopped screaming & shifted back to her normal face.
It was completely red now though & her hair that was set is now all over the place & gone frizzy. She had tears streaming out as well & they were sad ones, but they came out because of all the anger.
Sean was staring at her with this look of sorrow & sympathy which Nick found hilarious seeing as he is the one who has caused this.
She was panting hard, eyes with a begging look in them but still with the fury boiling in them. The Verrat soldiers all took a step forward but stopped when Rispoli held his hand up in a stand-down manner.
They heard a window sill creak & everyone stared upwards at it. Watching as the window open up on one of the higher floors of the castle. None other than Prince Viktor popped his head out. He had a glass of whatever he was drinking in his hand along with a very nonchalant look on his face. "I assume the Grimm came & brought the Hexen-bitch along with him." He didn't yell or anything even though he was speaking from far up but he spoke high enough that his voice carried. His non-caring attitude very showing in it as well.
Renard looked down for a moment, perhaps a look of some shame maybe. Adalind glared her eyes at Viktor as he took a sip from the glass he had. "I want her Viktor!" She yelled up at him.
"I don't particularly care for what you want." He said as he sipped from his glass once again. Nick was beginning to get the vibe of how Viktor is.
"Viktor!" She screamed up at him.
"You can huff and puff all you want. You're not gonna blow this castle down." He mocked her in a derisive tone. Renard just looked up at him with a somewhat intense glare. Viktor turned his head to him & raised his eyebrow once again to mock. "What is it my half-cousin? Hexenbiest got your tongue or the Grimm already cut it off?" Nick wish that was the case but he got more annoyed at hearing Rispoli chuckle at the comment.
He then saw Viktor look at him. "Oh my, theirs an ugly twin of you too I see. Now how did you pull that one off?" Nick felt like everything he said either was to mock or show you how little he cared about much of anything.
"Viktor let me see her!" Adalind spat out in a rushed hiss. He sipped from his glass again.
Sucking on his bottom lip as well. "Oh alright." He sneered at her. "Take him to the dungeon." He said to Rispoli, pointing his hand with the glass at Nick.
Rispoli took his orders without reply but nodded at some of his Verrat as two of them came up on each side of Nick & grabbing his arms while another stepped in front of him. "Walk." The one on the right said." Nick just stared at him but didn't move an inch. Which leads to the one in front jabbing his right fist forward into Nick's gut. Nick let out a small cough as he caught his breath and they shoved him forward.
"Since you guys asked nicely" He jested. He looked to the side at Adalind who for the first time lost the rage & gave him a look of worry. She widened her eyes & Nick assumed she was asking him what to do. There was really no answer he had right now, they were going to have to see how this plays out. Besides Nick needed answers to a few things & only they could give them.
They now shoved Adalind to walk & Renard glared at the Verrat man who did it. He took ahold of Adalind's arm to try & lead her politely but she ripped her arm out of his grasp. "Don't touch me."
They threw Nick into this very weird room.
No bars or anything like a natural jail. Just a very big, circular room that was extremely dimly lit. It appeared the only reason it was even a little light was because of the small window that was on the other side of the room, opposite the door. No bigger than a house vent.
It smelled & looked murky. The circular walls all appeared to be worn down from blood & water being splashed all over it. Every footstep he took in it felt like he was stepping on something wet.
There was this little hole in there though on the floor by the window. Looked like it led through a sewer tunnel or from where a manhole along the path would be. Probably could fit only your hand in there if even that.
It was a prison for sure but he for one knew they were underground because they went down into a cellar-like place when they dragged him down the stairwell. The door was pure iron-clad with even more iron on top of that along with a rectangle slit that they slid close.
Nick was sure nobody was out there, it was just there to probably add to the effect of the place to spook him a little.
Nick found himself to be pretty unbothered by that thought though. This was supposed to knock you out of your psyche most likely & he was level-headed. He just wanted to know how did Renard know what was happening.
How was he going to contact Meisner to let him know about the change of plans?
And currently & most importantly where is Adalind & did they actually take her to Diana? He doesn't know at all, the last time he saw her is when they took her upstairs while they dragged him downstairs. He sat down close to the window that wasn't in reach of him as it was pretty high up but he plopped down on the floor. Seeing some more blood stains on the floor.
He rubbed his hand down the side of his face. He winced in disgust, he really hated being Renard. He knows Adalind said it wears off after a few hours but just how many hours was that?
Pushing that thought away though, he began wondering where she could possibly be.
"Diana!" Adalind exclaimed as they opened the door to reveal her resting in her carriage. She ran toward her & she couldn't believe it was her. The tears came pouring out once again as she picked her up out of the carriage & held her as tight as she could that wouldn't cause any harm. She kissed her head at least four times just to find a new way to show her affection toward her.
She didn't realize how much she truly missed & needed her until she finally held her once again. She released a breath that she held from inhaling the scent of her once again. There were so many small things she would never take for granted ever again now.
Diana stirred awake & Adalind usually would be like most parents & would hope their child doesn't cry so they can have some peace from the noise. But while she hopes Diana never has a reason to cry, she would welcome the responsibility of trying to make her happy again so she would stop now. She wouldn't roll her eyes, she would welcome the task now. Just to do normal mother things with her.
"I've missed you so much!" She couldn't help but beam at her daughter even though tears were going down her face. For once, they were tears of joy. Diana smiled at her & made this little coughing sound and Adalind thought her heart would melt because of it. She let out a laugh that sounded choked up through her tears. Hugging her the best way she could once again.
"Told you I would take you to her." Sean said but she didn't respond nor was he sure she even registered him being there. Viktor rolled his eyes at the sight of it all. Renard couldn't help the smile that tugged onto his face at the sight.
Adalind then looked up for a moment to look at the room. Which she started noticing was in shambles. Some walls had holes in them, their were baby toys that were broken or smashed. She turned around to see a TV that had been tilted off of the stand. Some fabric in different areas was ripped. She looked over at the wall that was by the door that Viktor, Sean & Rispoli were standing beside & it had blood on it.
Her eyebrows shot up in so much fear & anger at the sight. "What have you been doing to her!" She roared quietly. Not trying to disturb Diana.
Viktor was sipping from his glass more until she said that. "What have we done?" He asked incredulously but somehow he always sounded so nonchalant. "Your daughter is the one who has been terrorizing everybody except him." He looked over at Sean. "One of the very few reasons I decided to keep him alive." Sean didn't look at him but he looked down for a moment so he could hold his tongue from speaking.
Adalind's anger & fear lessened because she did believe that. She knows Diana has been erratic sometimes from what she has seen. Almost to the point where Adalind was a little scared sometimes because she didn't know what to do. She didn't care though, she felt the best person figure it out & handle it was her.
"Exactly why you shouldn't have taken her away from me." She stated more calmly but the disdain was evident.
"It all worked out in the end. Even better than I could have imagined." Viktor had triumphant building up in his voice. "Not only did I acquire the Royal child, but I manage to also get the Royal bastard, the mother of the child & the Grimm." The pompousness exuding from him. "I impress myself sometimes." He sipped his drink once again. "All the time." He arrogantly corrected himself.
"Well, shall we leave the witch up here to bond with the child while we have a conversation with the other you?" He turned to Sean, who looked like he didn't want to leave his daughter just yet but he nodded then turned around & stepped out.
"What are you going to do to him?" Adalind tried to sound as normal as possible so he wouldn't hear the worry in her. A feeling she was surprised she even had for him. These past few days really have changed a lot of things for her.
Viktor turned back to look at her before he exited. "Whatever the hell I want." He said simply. Now leaving. She began rocking Diana a little out of worrisome thoughts about what he possibly will do to Nick. He did all of this for her & he is the one about to be met with the viciousness & sadistic ways of Viktor. Although whatever Nick's plan was immediately bombed.
Adalind had a sick feeling in her stomach about what could happen to him.
She couldn't believe that her eyes began to swell up with more tears either. What or who are you shedding tears for? She asked herself. No way it could be him. Could it?
Nick could hear footsteps coming up to the door so he assumed his interrogation must be on the horizon in a few more seconds. He was kind of glad, the place they were holding him may not have been bothering him mentally or spooking him.
But it sure was boring.
Usually, he is glad about that but he has to formulate a plan pretty soon and he has to find out the variables of the things he didn't know yet. Like where's Adalind, Diana, & himself for that matter.
He knows he's locked up & where he is location wise obviously but just how far down is he or just how far up is she?
The door clicked a few times & began to creak open. Hearing the heavy iron scrape across the floor now as well. Nick didn't move a muscle as he stared ahead at two pairs of feet walking in.
Which, big surprise, was Renard & Viktor who was accompanied by Rispoli as usual. Nick started quickly figuring out that it looks like those two stay attached as much as they can.
Renard moved to step in first but Viktor took a step in front of him & Rispoli looked over at Renard with a smug smirk as he stepped forward next. Now Renard followed suit as they closed the door but not fully.
"Well well, If it isn't the Grimm that has taken over Portland. Saving lives & not following up to his namesake by removing heads." Viktor ridiculed Nick in the most upbeat, sarcastic tone he could muster.
Nick just stared at him from where he sat. Showing how unaffected he was by any tactic he was trying to use. "I guess it's a good thing we aren't in Portland right now." Nick threatened him dryly.
"One in your position wouldn't think it be a good time for empty threats wouldn't you say." Viktor retorted back at him.
"That be true if they were empty."
Viktor's cheeks had a smirk to them. "Oh I assure you, they are very well empty. As threatening as the man face you are currently wearing which isn't much at all then." Renard's nose twitched for a moment & he shot a look at Viktor who didn't pay him any mind.
"Speaking of. Why did you decide to change your face?" He asked but Nick didn't say a word. Just kept a neutral look on his face.
Viktor nodded at his non-answer but he looked like he was pleased he didn't answer. "Very well. When do you plan on changing back?" He asked again & Sean's eyes looked like they peaked up to speak but he didn't say anything.
Nick remained quiet again for a few more seconds before speaking. "Where's Adalind?" He questioned simply.
"Oh he's going to be difficult, isn't he? I'm glad, I love it when people are difficult. Making them un-difficult becomes that much more fun." He had a small evil smirk on his face but soon it shifted back to the uncaring face he usually had.
"Where are the coins?" He asked next.
"Where's Diana?" Nick asked back with his own smirk.
"The keys?" Viktor followed up.
"What keys?" Nick smirked even harder now.
Viktor wasn't smiling but he wasn't upset at all, once again he looked happy. "Just wanted to see if you be wise or very much the opposite & you chose the latter."
"Good thing you love it when people are difficult then I guess." Nick taunted.
"Ahh, that we agree on Grimm." He did grin at him evilly for a moment. "Well, I am done here for now." He raised his eyebrow. "I guess the ugly twins have some catching up to do wouldn't you say?" He looked at Rispoli.
"I believe you are correct." Nick couldn't even help the scoff that escape his throat at the ass kissing Rispoli was doing.
Viktor turned & gave Sean a look from the side. Sean didn't look at him but turned his head slightly toward his direction while looking down. Letting him know he acknowledged him.
Viktor & Rispoli walked out now & Nick was left at the face-to-face distance he was at with Renard. "You know, I never trusted you but even this is surprising."
Renard walked forward a few steps. Tilting his head. "Really? Why's that?" He asked sardonically.
"Didn't take you for the type to get put on a leash." Nick quirked his eyebrow up at him & Renard let a scowl reach his eyes.
"Sometimes you have to do things you're not proud of to get what you want Nick. You should know that."
Nick wondered what he meant by that one. Flashing him an intrigued expression.
"Don't tell me you were excited to help Adalind." He spoke acidly.
Nick ignored that comment pretty much. "Adalind isn't really my problem right now is she?" Nick asked knowingly.
"You are the one who decided to come here when I had it all under control."
"Control? By giving away your daughter to protect yourself." Nick shook his head at him.
"I did what I thought was best for her safety & everybody else's including you." He said it as if it was obvious but like only he was smart enough to see it.
"How could I possibly need to be protected?" Nick asked, wondering how he was going to spin this one.
"It was your mother who helped get her back to Portland in the first place & you already were on the Royal's radar. Do you really think a little poking around & they wouldn't be on your doorstep? Think again."
Nick had an answer for that one. "Do you really think they plan on keeping you alive despite whatever deal you made with them? Think again."
"I just needed time & opportunity. All I've done is try to keep you out of their hands & now look at what you have accomplished as soon as I leave." Renard said scornfully.
"Your problem is you make yourself feel better by saying you do what you do for other people." Nick pointed at him. "You do it for yourself and yourself only. Only people you help is when it's convenient for you."
"You or Adalind would have been dead by now if it wasn't for me."
"Maybe. But I do remember a time you thought about taking a certain something from me & I remember Adalind telling me how you were done with her as soon as she lost her powers." Nick said, calling back to when Renard took the key & thought about siding with the Royals than in the first place.
His lips pursed at that. Renard himself even knew he couldn't speak his way out of that one.
"Look at it whatever way you want, but it's kept me alive."
"Not for long." Nick threatened.
Renard wagged his head. "Don't plan on having a fight with myself." He said looking Nick up & down. "When does that wear off anyways?" Nick didn't say anything.
"Look I didn't make you decide to help Adalind, I didn't make you come & I won't be the reason you end up dead." He said with a little frustration but mostly like he wasn't the cause of most of this.
"And no one made you give your daughter away." Nick raised his tone but lowered it darkly. "You did."
"My life, Adalind's & my mother's was threatened. You wouldn't understand that position."
Nick let out a little laugh at that one. "Adalind who has risked her life repeatedly for her, your mother who protected you while being on the run from the Royals? Maybe I don't. But you should."
Renard once again remained silent before speaking. "Believe it or not, I still am on your side." Nick couldn't help the chortle that escaped him at that. Only Renard would screw you over & say he still was on your side. It was hilarious sometimes Nick had to admit.
"If that's the case then let me out of here."
"I can't do that."
Nick laughed once more. "Then tell me how you figured out we were coming here." Renard didn't say anything at all. Just stared at him blankly. Nick just shook his head & looked away, humorlessly laughing a little more. "Then we are done here."
"You really should have made sure everything was accounted for before you left." Renard finally spoke. A glare on his face but also a look that showed he wasn't thrilled about something. Nick didn't look up though, he just found him amusing now. He probably was just going to not answer & talk around the subject like usual.
"I did."
"You sure about that?"
Nick let out a small huff of a chuckle. "How about you tell me what I didn't account for then."
Renard once again didn't answer & Nick just shook his head to himself as he was still just leaning it down now. He heard Renard take some more footsteps closer to him. "Juliette." Nick's body movements stilled as he uttered the name. He felt some anger grow inside of him. He raised his head slowly to look Renard dead in his eyes.
"What?" He asked menacingly almost, Tension growing in him.
Sean kept the same blank but firm look on his face. "Juliette."
AN: I think this was one of my quickest updates maybe? But a couple of shout-outs real quick, I wish I could do everybody though!
Thank you GrimmFan For let letting me know you really like & enjoy the pacing of the story between them. Thought maybe It was a little too slow but this was nice to read.
Moon cat I had a feeling you be the one to catch the Juliette twist since you called out that little detail of her not being home earlier haha.
Helga Hahaha Adalind took the phrase "Keep your eye on the ball" A little too literally at that moment.
Thank you to everybody who has left a review, by the way, I don't want you thinking I'm ignoring you or not showing any acknowledgment!
