A/N: I apologize for being gone so long-though as promised I'm back with a newly updated chapter! Sadly, this particular work will be ending shortly as I only have a total of two more chapters at most planned for it. Until then, I'll see you all next time so enjoy the chapter!

Silence would be the only thing that filled the room in which Leblanc was currently being held captive. In its own way, the silence almost seemed to be a unique sound that flooded the ears of the Noxian mage who was beginning to grow worried. Her stomach would tighten as though the child in her womb could somehow tell the father wasn't around. Slowly lowering her hand across her stomach, the female would gently rub as though soothing the child. "There there...I know he's not here. Damn it all, I miss that tin can by the second..." she'd say aloud and chuckle dryly.

"How low I've come...From one of Swain's most trusted and powerful mages in all of Noxus-to a deserter bearing the child of a psychotic robot who wants to end all of humanity..."

Just as Leblanc had begun to speak to herself, the front door would open and her head would shoot upwards as though caught off guard since it had been silent for so long. Stepping inside, the radiant dawn Leona would cross her arms and give the mage an intense stare. "Any plans of answering my questions this time?"

Leblanc simply gives her usual uninterested stare and averts her eyes as a hmph escapes her mouth. "Pouting in my presence? Woman, you always fail to exceed my standards."

The voice hadn't belonged to Leona at all-not even Ahri. In fact, the voice belonged to the one she held dear and was having a child with; Viktor the machine herald. "Dear...? Why is it you're not locked up?" the female deceiver asked in a shocked tone. She had certainly been expecting Leona to enter though past that had been completely caught off guard.

With a grunt, Viktor shrugs his shoulders and folds his arms gazing at Leona bitterly. "Ask the Ionian wench. She's the one who decided to bring me out here for some reason."

Looking back at the redhead, Leblanc furrows her brows as though confused. "Why bring him out here? Wouldn't it be unwise considering he may try to attack you this very moment?" the deceiver asks coldly as though knowing the herald well enough to know he'd do anything to keep her safe.

Leona would only shrug, not seeming to be on guard at all for some reason. "I have no reason to worry about that. He won't attack me since he actually is cooperative unlike someone" the Ionian female states in a professional tone that makes Leblanc scowl. "Viktor, please tell me you didn't tell her any details of what we-"

"And why not? What do we have to lose at this point, woman? I don't see why its such a big deal to keep this to ourselves. You're no longer associated with Noxus, remember that" Viktor scolds, as though annoyed that she continued to refuse telling anyone about their situation. Gritting her teeth, Leblanc takes a deep breath and rubs her forehead as though displeased with her lover having revealed everything. "Viktor, you foolish man...don't you understand why I refused to say anything? Don't you get it?" she'd whisper in a soft yet almost hostile tone. As much as she loved Viktor, she was surprised he hadn't seen things the way she had.

Tilting his head in confusion, Viktor lets out a grunt. "What are you on about? None of this is making any sense. Hiding that you aren't in Noxus anymore doesn't mean-"

"It means everything that no one finds out! If everyone found out, do you think they'd keep us prisoners here? No one wants to deal with Swain and his army personally. Even Demacia and these stupid Ionian fools know the punishment for deserters..." Leblanc mutters under her breath. Finally seeming to understand everything, Viktor would lower his eyes as they flicker in displeasure. How foolish indeed he had been to tell the Ionian woman about everything after all. "Leblanc, I didn't realize this...I'm a fool. Forgive me."

"Yes, you're quite the fool," Leblanc would sigh heavily but after closing her eyes and taking a breath she manages to smile through it all. "I suppose that makes me the smart on in this relationship. Its always nice to be the intellectual."

Grunting, Viktor shakes his head as he heard the words of his lover. Bringing up his cold and metal fingers, the herald traces his hand across Leblanc's cheek to which the female sighs. "You always were full of yourself weren't you? Cocky little woman, aren't you?" the machine herald would boast, causing the deceiver to smile from his comment.

As though getting the attention of both of the "prisoners", Leona would abruptly cough into her hand which was enough to make the pair look her way. Folding her arms, the redheaded Ionian would coldly stare at the couple before asking, "So the rumors were true? The devious Evaine Leblanc is no longer part of the Noxian army and has turned traitor? I had thought that was all propaganda on Swain's part to fool with us but...it seems I was mistaken."

Leblanc couldn't help but glower at the female, unsure what she was thinking. Knowing Leona, it was definitely possible she would contact the rest of her forces and notify them that they had captured Swain's deserter. It would be a rather fair assumption considering they could offer a price to exchange Leblanc for and that thought made the deceiver's insides sting. Taking a breath, the female mage would stand straight and act high and mighty in an attempt to regain her composure. "Well? What is it you're going to do with us knowing this information?"

"What am I going to do, you say?" Leona would repeat as she closes her eyes and takes a moment to ponder. "That much is simple..." she'd mumble before putting a hand on her hips and gazing at the pair, "I'm not going to do anything. I gain nothing by turning you in to that damned Noxian general."

Eyes going wide, Leblanc feels her mouth hang open in surprise as she raises a finger and points at Leona hesitantly. "You're joking...surely you must be! Jest as you will, we have no time for your foolish games-"

"I'm making no jokes. I have nothing to gain by turning you in" the redheaded Ionian repeats sternly as she shrugs her shoulders. Leblanc still couldn't believe what she was hearing, this was madness! Why? Why is she being so calm about all this? All this time I was worried for nothing? The illusionist would think to herself as she furrowed her brows.

Viktor meanwhile scoffs and would wave off the words of their redheaded captor. "It makes no difference whether you do anything or not-at some point Swain will find us and he'll have our damned heads. I won't trust anything coming out of that mouth of yours until I know for certain you can guarantee that my woman won't be harmed." Hearing this, Leblanc felt her face heat up as though she was blushing. Damn it, Viktor. Why must you be so...attractive when you wish to protect me?

Though quiet for a moment, it seemed as though Leona was struggling mentally with a decision judging by the look on her face. Sighing afterwards, the Ionian faces the pair and motions them to follow her. "Come, I'm letting you both out-but don't say a word to anyone that I decided this. If anyone says anything, the story is that you both tricked me and escaped."

"Now you're helping us? What exactly is your game?" The female deceiver demanded with cold and unwavering eyes. To her, it made no sense why Leona would simply cast them away without batting an eye. They were enemies of Ionia so it made no sense!

Letting out a sigh, Leona slowly turns her head back to gaze at the pair while she had already been on her way to get the door open. Her fingertips had already traced along the door handle though slowly let go since she had to make her reasoning clear for Leblanc. Clearing her throat, the redheaded female would open her mouth and begin to speak. "Look...I understand your hostility since you wouldn't trust someone who's a former enemy. But you must see that I'm also not a monster-I refuse to keep you both here and allow that wretched man Swain to end the only happiness it seems you've found."

Leblanc would hesitate, she certainly hadn't been expecting those words at all. Opening her mouth, no words would come out so she simply crossed her arms and lowered her eyes so she didn't have to look at Leona who still bore that serious expression on her face.

"Don't get me wrong, you're still a criminal and your past crimes against Ionia will not stand. But right now our biggest concern is general Swain and the Noxian army. You're no longer affiliated with Noxus so I'm letting this go temporarily" the Ionian female would add, making it clear that she didn't entirely intend to let Leblanc go. At this, the deceiver would let out the faintest chuckle and cover her mouth as a smirk rose across her lips. "Ah...now that's better. More fitting to hear you admit I'm but a simple ant in your way as you fetch that wretched raven that is the cause of the bigger picture."

Without a further word exchanged, Leblanc and Viktor follow behind their captor who leads them down a long narrow hallway until they'd reach a set of spiraling stairs that led upward. Though it was a prison so to speak, it wasn't one that could be easily exploited considering how clean it was compared to the wretched and disgusting cells that Noxus had for prisoners. In a way, the female mage was almost envious of how well Ionia treated their hostages and prisoners, though at the same time perhaps that would be why Ionians were so weak and soft.

"Now then...it appears we've reached the only entrance and exit to the prison. You're free to go" Leona would state calmly as she gave a mere nod in the direction of the large wooden door that lay directly in front of them. "Hmph, I won't say thank you because you're just going to chase after us like a military dog the moment your war with Swain ends" Viktor would scoff as he waved off the redhead and went for the door, pulling it open as he stormed outside into the bright forest of Ionia. Sighing, Leblanc too would simply glance at Leona with a brief look of gratitude before silently walking off.

"Tch...its as though not a damned day passed in those cells we were held in. This forest hardly seems any different from the day we strolled by" the machine herald grunts as he shakes his head and walks along it. "Yes I suppose that's true..." Leblanc began, speaking in her usual cool and stern tone before she decided to turn her head back and glance at the prison. In that instant she would realize that there had indeed been changes to Ionia. Unpleasant ones at that considering from the angle she was watching from-the capital city of Ionia could be seen smothering in flames as a horde of soldiers holding flags of Noxus ravaged the streets.

"Oh. Well that's a sight to behold, alright..." Viktor would mumble as he too had stopped in his tracks to gaze at the city which was now on fire and in the middle of a rather gruesome battle. Cries could be heard in the distance if they put their minds to it, though truthfully it didn't concern them very much.

"Damn, why wasn't I sent a distress call during all this?" Leona would yell out from the inside of the prison as her voice could be heard, a frantic mess as she would slam the door open with her sword and shield in hand. For a moment she locked eyes with Leblanc though it didn't particularly last long as the Ionian female turned away and rushed off in the direction of the city. Snickering, Viktor shakes his head as he crosses his arms. "There goes the loyal dog, protecting her beloved city that's already lost."

Leblanc could only nod, unable to speak as her eyes seemed to waver as she gazed deeply into the distant flames that seemed to dance along the city it took over. Such destruction and carnage. We'll be next if Swain finds us-only worse since I'm a traitor.

"Leblanc?" Viktor would call out, taking note of the fact that his lover was too busy paying attention to the fire ahead of them. Shaking it off, the deceiver would sigh and face the augmented male. "Its nothing. We should head out now while we can. Everyone seems distracted at the capital of Ionia and we can use this chance to escape."

"Understood. So which direction did you have in mind-?" the machine herald asks firmly, not wasting time with pointless dry humor or sarcasm that he usually would reply with. Just as Leblanc opened her mouth to speak, she caught sight of a rather horrendous sign that told her perhaps it was already too late. Though to anyone unfamiliar with Swain it would have appeared as a mere bird, the mage knew better. Beatrice; Swain's prized crow that he always kept alongside him wherever he went. Wherever he went. In other words-

"Viktor, we have to run now-" the female hissed sharply in a urgent tone, not giving any second glances to the jet black bird that flew past them with its arrogant and lowly squawk. Before the herald could even take a single step however, the voice of the one man they had tried to outrun would be heard directly behind them.

"Ah, Leblanc. There you are. I was beginning to worry you wouldn't be here. But alas, Beatrice hasn't forgotten your scent one bit" the cool and mysterious voice would state, yet despite the way the voice carried itself there was something sinister and intimidating in it that made Leblanc shiver.

Letting out a menacing squawk, the pitch black colored raven would swoop down and land on the arm of its master and owner-Swain. Having never come face to face with the Noxian general himself, Viktor would merely scoff as though unimpressed while strolling up towards the man as though hardly intimidated. "And just who the hell are you?" the machine herald would call out boldly to which Swain himself didn't flinch. Turning his head to look at the female, the Noxian completely disregarded Viktor as though it were some mere object before asking, "You haven't told your little plaything about me? I'm wounded, Leblanc."

Before the female deceiver could open her mouth to speak, Viktor was already aiming his staff at the Noxian. He had been clearly agitated by the fact that he was ignored and from the looks of it, would not have it. Oh no, this can't be happening? Viktor, you fool! Why are you attacking him so blindly!? Was all that Leblanc could think to herself as her face contorted to yell out a warning though by that instant it was too late. Without as much as a glance, Swain simply turned his hand towards Viktor and sent a pulsing crimson bolt outwards that struck the male and forced him to come crashing back into a nearby tree.

"How dare you...!" Leblanc would cry out in anger, hating to see her lover tossed around as she prepared to fire at Swain with her staff though before she could, Beatrice would squawk and rush her down, using its talons to claw at her hands, forcing her to drop the staff. Wincing painfully, the female would drop her source of power and just as she glanced upward would be met with a stinging pain across her left cheek as the Noxian general had approached and struck her.

Sinking down to her knees, Leblanc would gasp and touch her throbbing cheek before she felt the larger male grip her hair firmly and pull upwards. "You thought you could escape me? After all we've been through? And for what, some worn out machine that claims to love you? Surely you can do better than that."

Biting down on her cheek, it took all her willpower to keep from talking back to Swain. As much as she hated hearing him badmouth Viktor, there wasn't anything she could do in his presence. He was far too powerful and she knew it full well. Glancing at Viktor, Leblanc felt her eyes begin to tear up because in that instant she knew it could possibly be the last time she'd see her lover alive.