AN: Mmm, I love Seren. Even though he complicated things by telling me he loved Nights. RAWR!! FanFiction is being a MAJOR PAIN IN THE ASS and popping up with an ad that I can't SKIP!! So, thanks to my reviewers. I don't remember who you are, and I can't exactly check at the moment. I could go through my email, but I don't want to miss you.

Chapter 5: Knight in Governmental Armor

Juno's eyes tracked Seren as he practically paced a trench in her carpet. The thing was already threadbare, like the chairs and the couch, but he didn't need to be making it any worse. He had been walking a hole into her office since the blondes had left. Or more specifically: since Nightshade had left.

She took a long drag of her cigarette before she took it out and used it as a pointer. "She's getting married, Seren."

"I know," was his reply as he turned to go the other way.

"So why do you still care for her?"

"Simply because she is not mine to hold, does not mean she is not mine to love," he snapped. They'd been over this several times now. Juno and the rest of the Powers had told him to get over this . . . infatuation. They told him it would impair his judgment when it came to Nights. All it really meant was Seren would do what he could for the woman.

After a few more passes, Juno sighed and rubbed her forehead. "You could go check on them."

"Nights would kill me again."

"Not of she's in trouble."

Seren stopped abruptly, turning his head to look at the caseworker. "You don't think . . ."

"They should've been back by now."

He nodded before sending himself to Alpha's hideout. Juno was right. They should have been back already. Yes, Beetlejuice and Nightshade were lazy, but when it came to something they wanted, they didn't waste time. Seren knew if someone pissed of Nights, she would blast them before they could blink again. She may be a fashion designer, but she had no qualms about causing someone extreme pain. And she'd do it with a smile.

As Seren walked through the hall, he heard the panic yells of Beta telling Epsilon to hurry and turn it off. He stopped, eyes wide in surprise when the wall to his left burst directly in front of him. Delta hit the opposite wall and slid to the floor, dazed. Alpha stepped through, his chest still oozing blood from Nightshade's bullets, and raised his hand to hit Delta again.

He didn't see Seren until the Power had his hand tight around his throat. His pale blue eyes flicked to Seren's dark brown. When he registered just who the hell had him by the throat, his eyes widened.

"Well, I'm fucked," Alpha said, his voice strangled.

"You are indeed fucked, Master Alpha," Seren replied, grinning like the Cheshire cat. He held his free hand up and a large glass orb formed on his palm. "Do you know what this is?"

Alpha's gaze flicked to the orb and back to Seren. "N-no?"

"Shame," he said lightly. Then he grinned again when Alpha howled in pain as the orb filled with a dark orange light. Seren flicked his wrist, banishing the now drained ghost to the Lost Soul's Room. After a quick toss of the orange glowing orb, he deposited it into one of the pockets of his robe. He'd deal with the paperwork later.

"The machine has been deactivated," he heard Epsilon say from the room.

"About fucking time. Do you have any idea what the Powers would do to us if they found out we killed two of them? And two breathers? Once Delta's finished kicking Alpha's ass, I think I'll torch the fucker. We did not sign up for this!" Seren had walked into the room during Beta's rant. "Just who the hell does Alpha think he is?! He knew what they were and he still tries to exorcise them?!"

Epsilon was looking behind the raven haired woman. "Beta, I think it would be in your best interest to shut up."

Beta had opened her mouth to ask why, but Seren gave a flourished bow. "Thank you, Mistress Epsilon. Mistress Beta, you can relax. Alpha is currently in the Lost Soul's Room." He smirked at Beta, who had spun around to stare at him when she heard his deep voice. He reached over to put his finger under her chin and closed it with a click of her teeth. "You look like a fish when you do that. Not attractive in the least. Where are they?"

Beta blinked, but managed to keep her mouth shut, and tapped on the window behind her. Epsilon got up to look at the four people inside the chamber.

"Sir, I think they may be unconscious." Epsilon said.

Seren moved to her side. "Hmmm, but at least they are alive. Well, as alive as they can be, I suppose." When he felt Beta tap him on the shoulder, he turned his head to look at her. "Yes, Mistress Beta?"

"Are we, um, in trouble?" she asked, her dark green eyes downcast.

"You will have a trial, but I'll see if we can work something out. Perhaps some community service."

Beta nodded, and Seren returned his attention to Beetle, Nights, and their breathers. "I'll be taking them now, unless you have any more questions?" When no one spoke, he nodded. "Good. I'll contact you when I have the date for your trial. Please, don't run. I don't feel like chasing any of you."

~*~*~*~*~*

Seren had taken them to the Neitherworld Hospital.

That was three days ago and they were still unconscious. In fact, Seren had already filled out the mountain of paperwork regarding Alpha's exorcism.

He was sitting in the ratty armchair next to Nightshade's bed when Juno came in. Seren was slouched over, elbows on his knees, and is chin resting in one hand while the other dangled between his legs.

"What's taking this so long?" he mumbled.

"I don't know," Juno answered. "But I'm more worried about what where going to do with Epsilon."

"Why?"

"Because she's the one who built the machine that did this."

"Then we should ask her why this is taking for bloody ever."

"I already did, Seren. She says she doesn't know. Alpha never let her . . . fix it so it was efficient. She told me there were still bugs."

"So we just wait this out?" Seren asked, his voice hollow.

"There isn't much else we can do."

AN: I know it's short, but that's just how it happened. I think I'll end it next chapter.