"Do you have to chain him to the table?" Santana asked Sam who turned to look at her. "I mean—given the circumstances."

"It's procedure. If he is what you think it is, better safe than sorry," Sam responded from where he was standing in the corner. He was ready to move if necessary, it gave him enough space to shift and attack in one go to protect Santana if need be.

Santana frowned slightly but turned to look at Artie who was just sitting there sullenly. "You saw what Will was. I know he still looked human but obviously he wasn't a regular human. His mind is gone, not because of anything that the Regents did, but because of what another vampire did."

Artie chuckled darkly at this but didn't say anything more still studying the fact that his hands were cuffed to the table.

"Artie—this is important, I'm trying to save lives, and if you were in contact with this vampire, I can maybe convince the regents that you should go home. I'm sure your mother misses you Artie, I mean I miss my parents. No more shitty food, no more being afraid to go to sleep in case one of the guards let someone into your cell."

Artie brought his hands up and then slammed them hard against the table, as hard as he could. He repeats the motion again and again until Sam moves toward him to stop him forcing him to keep his hands on the table. "Answer her questions or I throw you back into the general populace," Sam informed him bluntly.

"Sam, he's not—"

"You believe them?" Arties words croak out, cutting her off as she turns to look at him. "Not sure if they brainwashed you, or if you're just another stupid bloodwork, who can't tell that vampires lie. They lie, they destroy lives, and they don't give a shit about us."

Santana frowned slightly, "What did you think was going to happen going after Hunter? You went after him and you missed, not only did you miss but there were innocent people caught up in your stupid plan. Collateral damage, you want to say that this is the vampires fault? This is the consequences of your actions Artie. And I'm sorry that Hunter crippled you but you want to atone for your shit, you want to earn your place in society then I suggest you talk. You were closer to Will than I was, was there anyone in his life that was new. Anyone at all?"

"Go fuck yourself."

The hopeful look on Santana's face fell and she sighs, maybe she had overestimated her importance. "Would you like to see your mom?" Artie doesn't say anything instead turning his face and she knows it's hopeless. She wasn't scary like the twins were. She wasn't an animal person. She had thought she'd been his friends.

"Santana, I don't think this is going to work. If he wants to rot here then that's fine. There are other people that we could interview," Sam said briskly moving to pull Santana away. This was clearly a waste of everyone's time.

"Yeah, I think you're right," Santana said frowning slightly. "I really wish I could help you get out of here, I mean I can probably convince Charlie to let you go if you give me something." At the very least all she needed to do was tempt the vampire with some sweet treats. Quinn on the other hand—she couldn't predict what she wanted.

Artie watched as Sam knocked on the door to leave, he didn't know what he had expected but this wasn't quite it. "The only new person that Will talked about was this woman—thought it was just a new girlfriend. Probably isn't what you're looking for, Will would know if she was a vampire. He would. She had red hair. Bit weird, I don't have a last name."

Sam stopped this was new information, but they hadn't been looking for anyone like this before. "What's her name?"

"No. You don't get that until I get proof that you're going to get me out of here. That I'll be safe and I get to go home to my mom. That's what I want. You get one of the regents down here, and I get to be free."

Sam frowned when Santana smiled, there was no way that either of them would let Artie go, would let him just be free like that. She had given him false hope, if anything the fact that he was currently holding onto information that they wanted—it put a target on his back.

"I'll talk to them and plead your case, you have my word," Santana says as Sam grabs her arm and pulls her out.

The door slams shut before Sam turns on her, "Are you serious? He's a terrorist, and he's admitted to having information that is useful. They aren't going to just let him walk out of here."

"He can't walk."

"You know what I mean," Sam said in a frustrated tone. "You think that they can't break him in five seconds and get that information? You think because they like you that it extends to everyone else? Is that what you honestly believe? It doesn't work that way and he's dangerous."

"He can't walk and all he wants to do is go home and see his mom. Unless he's a thrall, which I don't think he is," Santana said. "Once I explain it to Charlie—"

"If you want him to live, then your best bet is Quinn, she's a bit more reserved."

"Quinn put a bullet in her skull the last time we were here to make a point, don't tell me which of them is more reserved, they are both crazy. Charlie is at least manageable crazy."

"Since when?" Sam insisted, he had known them for years.

Santana frowned, slightly. This was getting them nowhere, one of them would at least be more reasonable and she knew that Quinn could reign Charlie in if needed and vice versa. "Let's get them both here. It may be overkill but come on."

Sam shuddered, this would probably not end well for Artie but at this point he didn't truly care.

~O~

"He has information, and he talks if he can just go home and be with his mother. That's all he's asking for and if this is the work of a member of the black court than these people aren't terrorists, they didn't have a choice. Artie's already been punished he'll never be able to walk again, and what they've put him through in here—it's more than most other people can take." Santana insisted. She was met with two blank looks from the twins. "I'm serious."

Quinn turned to look at Charlie who quickly shook her hand and made a quick gesture, Quinn sighed and looked at her twin for a moment. "We are not in the palace Charlie and there are no other vampires around. Speak. You know how I feel."

Santana immediately turned to Charlie for a moment, she couldn't help but stare. She had heard two words from Charlie and even then, she was certain that it had been the wind. She had seen the damage to Charlie's throat.

Charlie frowns for a moment before sighing, "He can't be let out." Her voice is scratchy and it deeper than Quinn's and she ignores Santana's eyes on her as she crosses her arms.

Santana's face falls, "I promised—"

"It wasn't your deal to make, you've done well but unfortunately we agree on something for once. He was exposed to a member of the black court. Even if he isn't a thrall, what type of message would it send? There is an undercurrent of discontent. And nothing I have seen has eased any concerns that I have about this situation."

"He just wants to see his mother and get out of here. Hunter crippled him. He's suffered enough. Maybe if you make him your pet—"

"No," Charlie said ending that thought immediately.

Sam looked between the three women for a moment, "Perhaps, we could maybe think about house arrest. If he breaks it he gets executed. It's not as if you haven't allowed it for compassionate reasons before," Sam says watching as they think about it for a moment.

"Charlie?" Quinn says crossing her arms over her chest. "I think it's a terrible idea."

"It is," Charlie agrees.

"Though if it does come to it it's not as if we're worried about a bunch of humans with sticks and rocks," Quinn pointed out.

Charlie titled her head to the side and snorted, before nodding towards the door. "Do you want to deal with it, or should I?"

"Well, I think I should handle it. If only because people who hear your voice that you don't like end up in some unfortunate accident." Quinn pointed out watching as Charlie smiled flashing her fangs. Quinn rolled her eyes, but entered the room, closing it behind her.

Santana blinked twice for a moment, still in shock. "You can actually say more than a few words." Charlie nods at this and Santana frowns. She was back to being mute. "I like your voice," Charlie raised a brow at that. "I do, I know you may not like it but it's nothing to be ashamed of."

"Who said I was ashamed? Talking hurts, it's about the only thing that does. I don't like doing it," Charlie replies. "I don't show my scars because I don't like questions, questions lead to memories that I don't want to deal with."

Santana flushes she had no idea, "Sorry."

Charlie flashes her a smile, "Don't worry I like you."

The door slides open and Quinn flicks her eyes between Santana and Charlie for a moment and rolls her eyes before. "I doubt she's still in the city, Charlie but see if you can pick up her scent. Take Sam with you."

Charlie nods and reaches over and grabs Sam who had tried to duck away, before she winks at Santana and disappears.