Disclaimer: I do not own the Fable universe. Characters you do not recognize were created by me for the purposes of this story. Story contains scenes of a very mature nature; do not continue if anything of that nature could offend you (sex, violence, sub/dom, non-con). This story will be quite dark at times, you have been warned.

***A special warning: chapter contains scenes of extreme violence.

I have so many things on the go but I assure you I have not forgotten about "Wolves"! Thank you for all of the kind reviews posted, it really has been a pleasure to write this and I'm glad it is being enjoyed! I hope this chapter does not disappoint! - Fallon.

Chapter Twenty-Eight

The sun was setting on another day in the Silverpines Arena. Soon the spectators would filter in and the coins would start flowing – right into Reaver's pocket. The guards sauntered down the walkway, clanking their swords on the bars of the cages and shouting obscenities to wake their captives.

Von jumped into an alert state, only to sink back down into the hay once he realized his dream hadn't been real.

Maya haunted him in his dreams. Some nights she'd be running away from him and he'd be unable to catch her but other nights he held her in his arms, their naked bodies tangled together. Regardless of what happened in the dreams, he was thankful for them. They always felt so real, like the softness of her skin was right under his finger tips.

It was the only thing he looked forward to.

"Wake up, balverine scum!" The guard shouted at him, "Reaver has your first fight lined up for you today...so you'd better not disappoint! Fredrick and I have good gold going on you dying within five minutes!"

The man he'd identified as Fredrick stepped forward and Von's heart dropped into his stomach – it was Seraphina's widower.

While the man had never know of his wife's infidelities and Von was under no real threat of him finding out, it proved to be a bitter irony on the hellish turn his life had taken. Held prisoner by a deviant and guarded by the man whose wife he had impregnated...Von felt the stinging wrath of the Gods on his soul.

He had made mistakes in his life, but he only hoped he alone was suffering for them. Maya didn't deserve such a thing.

They heaved him up from the hay and slapped chains around his neck and wrists. They proceeded to jerk him forward roughly, abruptly cutting off his supply of air and causing him to cough.

Eli spat at the guards, "Bloody demons! Leave the boy be!"

Fredrick slammed his blade against the bars, "Shut it old man, or you'll take his place and battle the troll all on your own!"

Eli stopped his protests but shot Von a worried look.

Von wasn't thrilled at the idea of fighting a troll, but thought it a better fate than what Reaver had subjected others to. He had been told dozens of stories by those imprisoned near him. Reaver was nothing if not ruthless and many of his victims were not granted a quick death. Many a stubborn fighters had met their end by his influence.

He offered little resistance as the guards led him down the corridor, he saw no need to. There was no way out, nothing he could see or think of, and anything other than death seemed impossible.

They entered a small room and they bound him tightly to a worn chair in the corner. The guards argued in hushed voices, but Von caught most of what they were saying.

Finally, their argument decided, Fredrick stepped forward.

"We can do this the easy way, or the hard way, demon," Fredrick snarled, "either you change willingly or I'll be forced to beat it out of you and heave your nasty carcass into the arena with a meat hook!"

The other guard laughed, "Oh please do put up a fight, balverine! It's been to long since Fredrick got to use the meat hook!"

He held up the object they were talking about – a rusted old meat hook that looked like it hadn't been cleaned in twenty years.

Von swallowed hard, and then hung his head, "Unbind me and I'll willingly change and walk into the arena with my own strength."

"That's no fun for us, demon," Fredrick said in a groan, contemplating what his next move would be.

Using the hook gave the risk of causing permanent damage to Reaver's prize and Fredrick knew well the consequences of angering Reaver. The tycoon was relying on the hunk of filth before him to make a lot of gold, and some of that gold would end up in Fredrick's pocket – so it was in his best interests to see him survive his first fight.

Sighing, Fredrick gestured to the other guard to put down the hook, "Reaver wants you to live longer than today, demon. The longer you live, the more gold we all make in the end. You're blood will pay for my new house, my whore's new wardrobe and my bloody food for a year! Avo help you if you die in this fight, because I'll pay a wizard to bring you back to life only so I can kill you with my bare hands – do I make myself clear?"

Von felt the noose tighten around his neck. He needed to by time to find a way out; Maya was depending on him, even if she didn't know it.

He looked up at Fredrick, "Crystal..."

Fredrick smirked and accepted the whip the other guard offered him, "Good...but I don't like to take chances, scum. I have ways of making sure you do as you're told."

Von's screams echoed down the corridor for his fellow captives to hear.

From his cell, Eli covered his ears and prayed for it to end soon.

Scarlet kept her hood up as she urged her way past the spectators lined up to watch the fight. She felt strange paying to watch such despicable acts, many of which would be committed against her own kind, but she had to be sure.

She had learned through gossip in the Mansion that Ezra had paid Reaver to take Von away. Nearly everyone in the Family had heard the rumours, but she had met no one who was willing to do anything about it. She had witnessed Malakai attack Von during the battle for the throne, but had to be absolutely certain what she was told was correct if she was to go any further with it.

Malakai had caused more hurt in the Family than she ever thought possible. And not only was Ezra playing blind to it, he was silently encouraging it!

Malakai forced himself on her almost nightly and often whispered lust filled and hollow promises to her right before he emptied himself inside of her. He did so only to traumatize her even more, but she'd not let him get away with it any longer. His head would be on a platter soon enough...

"Ladies and gentleman," the commentator bellowed, "Reaver Industries thanks you for attending today's event and would like to remind you that betting for this fight has officially closed. I hope you've kept your tickets because you'll not be able to collect your winnings without one!"

Scarlet saw those around her holding out their tickets, clinging to them as if their life depended on the outcome. She suspected for some it did, as people often got into trouble with lenders in order to continue with their dangerous habit.

"Today's event is a first for our newest addition to the Reaver Industries flock!" the commentator continued, "He's ready to bring gold into your pockets, ladies and gentleman! I give you...the Beast of Silverpines!"

The cages opened to the joy of those in the stands and Scarlet kept her eyes open for any sign of the missing Kaiser brother. A massive troll stumbled into the centre of the arena and the spectators began throwing rotten fruit at the poor creature. Scarlet was more closely linked to the animal world because of her balverine blood and could sense the troll's panic and confusion.

From the opened gate on the other side of the arena, Scarlet saw a hulking figure lurking in the shadow. She saw the beast get forced forward by the lash of a whip and it leapt forward to face the troll.

Scarlet's heart sunk.

It was him, it was Von.

He was in his balverine form, but she knew his scent and saw his distinctive eyes even from a distance. He snarled at the troll and began circling it.

She had no doubt he would be able to fell the creature, but she saw the fresh wounds on his body and knew he had suffered at the hands of experienced torturers. His back was raw with whip lashes and his face was swollen, though she suspected the other spectators couldn't be bothered to notice. They only cared that he stayed alive long enough to make them money.

Von was missing patches of fur along his shoulders and back and she suspected he had been burned badly at one point.

Von leapt into the air, but was brought back down to the ground by the silver chain fastened around his ankle. Scarlet realized that was what was keeping him from jumping over the walls of the arena and running to safety. Reaver was thorough and protective of his property.

"Smash him," a man yelled down from beside her, "smash his brains out, troll!"

She sneered at the man but a howl from the arena below caught her attention before she had a chance to say anything.

She looked down, and saw to her horror that the troll had landed a punch on Von that had obviously dislocated his shoulder. The crowd did not share her concerns however, and was cheering loudly at the sound of Von's pained whimpers. Scarlet gasped as Von charged the wall, using the momentum of the strike to force his joint back into place.

The troll stumbled over to him and raised his hands to inflict another damaging blow to the wounded balverine. Von narrowly missed the strike, but quickly got the upper hand and dug his claws into the troll's side as he climbed upon the creature's back.

The troll wailed in pain as blood flowed freely down its side. It fought in vain to get a hold of the vicious beast on its back.

Von bit into its shoulder and ripped a chunk of meat from the bone, causing the troll to let loose an agonizingly long wail. He moved quickly, digging his claws deeper into the rough flesh of the troll to keep from being flung off, and made his way to the creature's head.

Scarlet winced as Von forced two clawed fingers into the troll's eyes, popping them as if they were cherries.

The crowd roared in approval.

Meanwhile, at the Castle...

Maya sat calmly on the bench near her bedroom window and watched as the nobles sauntered around the castle gardens without a care in the world. She hated them, every single one, for being without worry and pain. Her life had become full of both, and getting out of bed every day was growing more difficult as the days wore on. On more than one occasion Walter or Logan had to physically pick her up and dress her.

Logan...

Maya hadn't been able to kill him, not after having experienced the Darkness herself. He had been subjected to the same horrors in Aurora and had carried that weight with him for years. Now more than ever she needed his love and support. It seemed that he was the only one who understood her pain and did not question her new-found fondness for black clothing or her many hours spent alone in her room.

She still harboured a hatred for him for what he had put her through so many months ago, forcing her into an impossible situation and murdering Elliot in her most sacred of spaces...but she was weak and frail and needed him now more than ever.

She heard a soft knock on the door, but said nothing and didn't stir from her seat. Truthfully, she couldn't be bothered.

Logan cracked the door open and upon seeing her near the window, let himself in.

"How are you today, Maya?" He asked steadily as he approached her.

Logan knew she was harming herself, he knew her to well for her to hide that for very long. He did not think less of her for it and did not lecture her about the risks she was taking every time she dragged the blade across her flesh. Instead, he listened to her the few times she felt like talking and kept Walter and Ben from hounding her too much.

She shrugged, "The same as last..."

He sat down next to her. Logan did not regret killing Elliot, and had confessed as much to her during his trial. He had hated the boy and knew he wasn't worthy of his sister's affections. The only thing he regretted about that day was that she left. His life had become horribly devoid of life and colour with her gone, and he reminded himself often it was his own doing.

He thanked Avo every day for bringing her back to him in the end, but she had changed so radically he barely saw glimpses of her former self.

He reached out and tenderly took her hand in his, "You need to get out, feel the sun on your skin..."

Maya huffed and cast him a cold gaze, "I have no need for the sun, brother."

Logan sighed and tried to roll up her sleeve, "At least let me tend to your –

She jerked her hand free of his grasp and held it to her chest, "What I do to deal with my grief is my own business!"

"You're not dealing with anything, dear sister."

She scowled, not at all liking his cold, unfeeling tone. Frustrated, she stood and approached her vanity, "Do not lecture me, Logan. I'm a grown woman, a monarch no less; and I do not need advice for such things."

Logan followed her, "You spared me and took me as your advisor, sister. Allow me to do my job."

She sat at her vanity and began tugging her brush through her hair angrily, "You forfeited the right to lecture me on personal matters the day you killed Elliot. I took you on as my court advisor because you have years of experience dealing with nobles and politicians. Do not confuse your role."

Logan sighed and took the brush from her before she injured herself. He placed one hand on her shoulder and began dragging the brush through her hair, "Regardless, you are my sister and I love you more than life itself."

Maya watched him through the mirror, "You are not capable of love..."

"And yet you spared my life," he pointed out, a hint of a smile on his lips.

Maya sighed, "Too many have died in my name..."

"You mean the Kaiser boy, don't you?" Logan said cautiously.

He had heard what happened from Walter and had yet to address the topic directly with his grieving sister. He wasn't foolish enough to think she would openly confide in him, but he needed some answers if he was going to help her. He loved her just as strongly as the day she left, and wanted to mend the bridges he had burnt between them. Besides...if there was one thing he knew better than court politics it was grief.

Maya shifted in her seat and swallowed hard, "I'll not speak about this, brother."

"Then how will I ever be able to aid you?" He asked in a pained voice.

She cast her eyes down and stiffened, "None can help me, Logan. You'd do best to keep your distance from me, lest associating with me lead you to an early grave."

"You're not the devil, sister."

"No," she admitted, "you are...for killing Elliot and Major Swift."

Her hatred for her brother was still strong, but it was her remaining love for him that prevented her from carrying out her darkest wish. Revenge would get her nowhere, and truly enough lives had been lost in her name.

Logan could not argue with her there, "I do not deny my crimes against you, sister. But my heart aches to see you in such agony!"

"You have no heart..." Maya muttered angrily.

He grabbed her hand and pressed it to his chest, "I do! And it beats as strongly as yours! I love you, sister; your pain is my own! Command me and I'll do what I can to ease your suffering!"

Maya ripped her hand from his and stood. Her love and hatred of Logan, her agony over Von's loss...it was all so draining.

"Leave me, I wish to be alone, brother."

He shook his head sadly, "You're already alone, Amaythea, for you have pushed everyone who cares for you away! Walter has not seen you in days and Benjamin Finn keeps pestering me for details on how you're fairing because you'll not return his letters."

Furious, she charged him and pushed him back towards the door, "Leave me!"

Logan swallowed his words and gave a simple bow. He wanted to fix her, to sew together the lesions on her heart, but she was far too complicated for that and her pain was still too raw.

"As you command, Your Majesty."

Sleep was evading her yet again, so Maya forced herself to enter the castle gardens. She hadn't been there since before Elliot was killed, so her contentment was coupled with sadness. A part of her expected to find his blood still damp on the spot where he had been killed, but there was no sign such a thing had taken place.

It was like the garden had been spared the memory of that day even though it was still fresh in her mind.

She walked past the doors leading to the dining hall and heard the sound of laughter from behind the heavy wood doors. Her allies had arranged a feast in her honor tonight, but she was too exhausted and weighed down with sadness to attend. Walter had begged her, and Ben had showed up at her door in the hopes of escorting her there...but she had turned them both down.

Even Logan hadn't been able to convince her.

She strolled onward until she found a lonely bench surrounded by clover. She couldn't help but find it fitting. Her solitude was interrupted by a familiar voice asking her if they could join her.

Maya looked up and was immediately sucked into Ezra's gaze. His hair was neatly combed back and he was dressed in a richly embroidered tunic that brought out the colour of his eyes.

He smirked wickedly, "May I, Your Majesty?"

She knew he was there for the feast, but couldn't shake the memory of what Von had told her after she delivered their father's pelt to the Family. If he still desired her as his mate she knew she shouldn't be alone with him, and she always felt he had ulterior motives, but she found herself nodding regardless.

"I haven't spoken to you in a very long time and since...since the loss of my brother I've felt compelled to seek you out," Ezra said cautiously, not sure how deep his loss was still hurting her.

Maya felt her throat tighten, "It...It's been hard for me to accept."

"The loss of a companion always is," Ezra offered, "I...miss him every day."

She blinked away her tears and looked away from him, "Did you come here just to tear open my wounds, Ezra?"

He knew it – she had loved Von!

Ezra collected himself, "I assure you my intentions aren't so wicked, Your Grace."

Maya nodded, fighting the urge to roll her eyes as she did so, "Then why are you here?"

"I had hoped to enjoy your company in the dining hall but your brother said you were ill and could not attend," he smiled, "but I caught a whiff of your scent as you passed by and thought I'd see how you were feeling."

Maya shifted uncomfortably in her seat, "I'm...fine."

"I'm glad to hear that," he stood to take his leave, "I was wondering if you'd like to pay your respects to my brother's grave. Malakai brought me his body and he has been placed next to my father, in the crypt. If you feel ready for it, the Mansion is open to you."

Maya felt sick at the idea. She didn't want to think of Von as he had died, twisted and burned, and had not considered visiting his resting place. But maybe Ezra was right; maybe there was something to be gained from paying her respects...

On the other hand, the glint in his eyes unnerved her. Von had never trusted his brother and she remembered that now. But in order to visit Von's grave, she'd have to endure a return to the Family's Mansion, and that meant she'd be around Ezra.

"I will consider your offer, Ezra," she said ultimately, "thank you."

Ezra bowed low and kissed the top of her hand, glancing up at her as he did so to shoot her a wicked, lust filled stare. He allowed his lips to remain on her hand a moment longer than protocol dictated before finally releasing his hold on her.

He sauntered back into the castle, knowing he'd be seeing the Queen again soon.

Very soon.

A/N: Don't worry dear readers! Next chapter: Maya gets a surprise visit from Scarlet and Ezra's lies begin to unfold! ;) Thank you for reading! – Fallon.