A little long. Finally getting around to Star and Tyki here. Nothing Rated M yet.

Still trying to decide whether I will publish the M-rated material as a separate story or not because most of the story is perfectly Rated T. -Velvet

Star was escorted into a stone chamber that looked like dungeon tower. Sunlight even poured through the windows on the opposite the wall she was chained to though she was betting it wasn't natural light.

The glossy, blackish purple manacles and shackles on her wrists and ankles radiated dark matter. The toxic energy further weakened her so they were likely made of the stuff.

At least there were walls around her this time. This chamber seemed pretty solid compared to the open-air darkness of the room with the throne chair where she had explained everything to the Noah. The only thing that made it less like a dungeon was the bed, the little breakfast table, and the window.

The door to her prison opened. Tyki Mikk strode in. He was dressed in gloves, a black top hat, and formal wear that tailor fit his fine physique. Sitting pretty. The only thing out of place was the silver serving tray balanced on one hand. The heels of his shined shoes snapped on the floor as he approached her.

Glaring at him Star imagine what he might say first.

Good evening, defenseless-Exorcist-that-we'll-dispose-of-at-the-drop-of-a-pin.

Tyki looked every bit the gentlemen he pretended to be. Great. He looks gorgeous and I look like crap. Damn him.

She was sitting on the floor. Totally propping herself up only by the strength of the heavy chair at the table. Her chains were long enough for her to go lay in the bed if she wanted. The thing was Star hadn't made it over there to the bed though she had tried a little while ago. How was she going to sleep with the chains pumping poison into her via lethal dark matter radiation anyway?

Stopping a few feet from her, Tyki eyed her rumpled clothes and bruised face. Coming to tableside next to her, he set the serving tray on the down and took off his hat. He stood back again to look at her as he spoke.

"Sheril was here. What did you two…'talk' about?"

"None of your business." Star straightened her clothes.

"I see. He came around to 'play' with you a bit. Obviously you can be hurt a little."

Star glared at him.

"I liked General Yeeger very much. Don't you think it's creepy and disgusting that you're giving that little boy 'souvenirs' from your kills? I don't think he'd like it if he knew where the buttons came from. Or that you're a serial killer."

Surprise widened Tyki's eyes for an instant. Then his expression instantly turned cold and shuttered at her mention of the little human boy who knew him as Tyki Mikk, miner and drifter. Eeez did not know him as Joyd, the Noah of Pleasure and enemy of the rest of humankind.

"That is none of your concern," Tyki said.

But Star wasn't through. "The Noah of Pleasure. So your only pleasure is in killing and maiming. How disappointing."

"Yet you're here because of me."

Star shrugged. "That so?" Not giving him the satisfaction, she pushed herself to her feet by sheer force of will.

"Are you saying Wisely is wrong?" Tyki laughed disbelievingly.

She scoffed and had the audacity to still be looking him in the face.

"You Noah are like a bunch of gossiping school kids. Don't be so arrogant. I do have bigger things to do than you." Which wasn't untrue.

She wasn't here for a date or an interlude with an enemy. She needed to keep her head on straight.

Turning, Star walked back to the far side of the room…not making it as Tyki grabbed her arm and swung her around roughly. In her weakened state and thinned body, she thought she felt the bone in her arm bend a little in his hard grasp. Most of what he was grabbing was her uniform jacket she'd lost so much of her body's weight and fullness.

"You might want to remember where you are," Tyki said. "Or would you prefer Sheril pay you another visit?"

Wishing he hadn't done the things he'd done, Star met his eye with as much attitude as she could. Tyki released her and she stumbled backwards, back to the wall she was chained to. Star glared at him. All the while eyeing as much of him as she could.

"When I first saw you, I thought it would be nice to spend time with someone so down to earth yet so 'refined'. Powerful. Beautiful and elegant—"

Those shining golden eyes cut her a cynical look. Tyki ran his finger along the rim of his hat. Perfectly aware of how attractive he was.

"'Spend time' with me? Is that what you wanted to do?"

Ignore him. Ignore him, Star sang in her head while her mouth kept working.

"—but you're just a coldblooded monster."

"No need for name-calling, exorcist."

"You tortured and murdered General Yeeger." Star's eyes stung. Kind, powerful, honorable, and wise, General Yeeger was someone she had always wanted to meet and this Noah had taken him out of the world. "Daisya Barry. The Socalo team. God only knows who else. You backed Suman Dark into a corner. Allen saved him and he might have survived if your little flesh-eating pests hadn't devoured him from the inside out-"

Star gasped. Tyki was standing right in front of her. Bare inches away. With that pristine white-gloved hand, he touched her cheek. His fingers smoothed down her jaw. When the tip of one finger touched the corner of her mouth, her lips parted.

"You finally get to be alone with me and that's all you have to say?" His voice was mocking but it was a question.

Star jerked her jaw out of his hand. She turned her face away, refusing to look at him.

Tyki leaned even closer. She felt his warm breath on her skin and the threat of satiny lips. He spoke in a low, soft voice.

"Now now. Don't be that way. The buttons and Eeez. Yeeger and all the rest. It seems you already knew about my 'activities' before we met. Don't get gloomy and reticent on me now."

"Fan-girling over a sadistic evil murderer. I don't know what I was thinking," Star muttered.

"Is that all I am," he raised a black eyebrow.

"I don't care what you are. Not anymore."

Looking thoughtful he pulled away an inch or so. Despising the effect he had on her, Star took that moment to breathe in and out.

"You're broken up over the Suman guy and the general the most, aren't you?"

That little comment earned him another glare.

"You used Suman. Just like the Order did. You as good as killed him with your own hands. He wanted to live. He wanted to see his family again…his daughter…."

Tyki frowned then, like he was confused.

"He was my enemy."

"You are cruel Tyki…beautiful and ugly," Star whispered quietly before refusing to speak to him again.

More confused, Tyki pulled away. Since she refused to be a good sport, he was obviously done with his fun for now. He gestured at the covered tray on the table with his top hat as he left.

"Eat that, girl" Tyki said. "You look like you're at death's door."