Author's Note: Yuuki~desu! Hi guys! *smiles awkwardly, eyes flitting to the nearest exit* Umm... Hope you're not too angry at me for not updating in so long... Ha ha. These past weeks were just too crazy and I had this minor writer's block... *bows deeply* Please forgive me. Also... Would you please send this humble author a review? I would appreciate it :) P.S. As this can get very confusing, I want to make it clear that in this story, it is still night, around 1 AM and that the last and this chapter are happening at the same time. Now, enjoy!

Chapter 20: Shameful Truth

Two hours ago, I would swear that the moment I woke up in the middle of a crater in an unknown world would make the top of my list 'The worst way to wake up'.

Now I was not so sure.

Someone was sitting on my stomach, keeping my hands bound together by magic right above my head. But that wasn't the worst of it.

That person was strangling me.

My eyes shot open the instant I felt two warm palms wrap around my neck. My sleepy mind took a while to process what I was seeing, but when I did, I almost wished I hadn't even opened my eyes.

I used my remaining breath to choke out the first thing I thought of.

"If you don't let go now, you'll regret it."

The person's grip on me only tightened. Really smart Luciana. I would slap myself if I had a free hand.

"Where is she?!"growled the man above me, his muscles visibly flexing with effort of keeping himself from instantly breaking my neck.

For which I was not too grateful, actually. It would save me a lot of trouble, now that I thought about it.

"WHERE IS SHE?!" he cried again, this time shaking me by my neck.

Really troublesome, I decided. Not to mention my shortage of oxygen.

I kept looking at my attacker blankly, letting my confusion and slight boredom at his actions show in my eyes.

Which, of course served to piss him off even more.

"WHAT HAVE YOU DONE TO LUCY?" This time his voice came out as a roar befitting of his name, Leo the Lion.

More than his demand, the black spots appearing in my vision made me change my mind about not speaking. Dying wasn't really an option since I had so much to do and 'I was too tired to save my ass so I let myself get strangled to death' sounded as a too lame excuse even to my own ears.

I opened my mouth as a sign that I was ready to speak, all the while feeling like a gaping fish left on the seashore with no way to get into water.

Thankfully, Loke's rage-filled mind registered the gesture as he pulled his hands away, allowing the air to actually go into my windpipe.

Patiently, like a predator eyeing the perfect moment to strike and get his prey, he waited for me to get over my coughing fit. Only when I was in the 'wheezing phase' did he show any sing of eagerness to know what I can tell him.

"I don't what you're talking about." I exclaimed stupidly, silently hoping it would work. I wasn't ready to start spilling the beans yet...

His eyes narrowed dangerously.

Okay, this looks bad.

He gripped my shoulders with more force than necessary and lowered his face to mine. The action screamed 'scary and intimidating' in extraordinary volume and I tried not to flinch.

"Don't you lie to me."

Certainty reflected in his unwavering gaze told me that I screwed up somewhere. He wouldn't seem so sure I knew about Lucy if he didn't have a proof.

Meaning I forgot to hide something, or that I slipped up when Aries was here. Not that I remembered saying anything of significance while she was here and I was not prone to sleep-talking. Which left the possibility of me forgetting to hide something that would give me away.

I quickly surfed through my memories, trying to find the damn object that blew up my cover.

Nothing rang the bell which irritated me to no end. I'll just make him tell me.

"Why do you think I'm lying?" I gulped at the death glare he was giving me, but didn't dare to look away. Me and my quick mouth.

For a moment, he just sat there, looking like a vengeful god on a mission to kill a certain dragon. Me.

Then, suddenly, he reached into his pocket and pulled out the very thing my human life revolved around. The best proof of my knowledge of Lucy's whereabouts.

The Zodiac Keys.

I stared at the damn glittering thing, cursing my stupidity in every language I knew. How could I forget I had the stupid keys charmed to always return to me, right after my kidnapping by the Phantom Lord? After all the difficulties I went to to find a mage that would charm it for me, using the Return Spell...

"Fine. You got me." I had to phrase my next words very carefully. "What do you want to know?"

Yeah, that was careful... snorted the traitorous voice inside my head.

"WHERE. IS. LUCY?"

I hurriedly tried to think of an answer that would not reveal my identity and be true at the same time. I had this unsettling feeling Loke would know if I lied...

"She's in this realm."

"Where exactly?"

I groaned inwardly. "In my lair."

Immediately, he got off me and heaved me up to my legs by the magical rope tied around my wrists.

I squeaked when he did so. Partly in surprise and partly in embarrassment because the only thing I was wearing was the Spirit King's cloak.

Leo blushed and turned to look away when he realized my problem.

At least he has enough sense to look away... I thought while tucking the cloak closely to my body, so that it covered me fully.

That's when Loke remembered his original purpose. "Which room?"

I bit my bottom lip, thinking hard. What now?

Just spill the damn beans already. lectured the stupid voice. The stupid wise voice.

There was just no way I could get out of this by lying. Truth was all that's left.

I sighed and looked Loke into eyes, feeling shameful and cruel for lying to him.

"This room." I whispered.

We stood there in a very uncomfortable silence, me refusing to look at him, and he staring at me with uncomprehending eyes.

I was waiting for him to put two and two together. Which, he did.

"Lucy?"