Thanks to: TheGreatAthlon5, RandomGerman, Colin Creevey, Cal, Quarba and SiriusSunday for reviewing!

Questions:

Where did it all come from? Some work with dad or something?
The work with her dad is just how she can do some spells, as to where the rest came from... Firstly, the medical knowledge she actually doesn't have, she didn't know her shoulder was dislocated or that wounds needed to be cleaned until Antonius mentioned it (if she did know, she would've fixed her arm sooner), she just did the best she could using her limited knowledge and common sense, younger kids then her could probably deduce bones aren't supposed to stick out of the body and that bleeding isn't healthy. She didn't even do a good job, Antonius' leg is still in bad shape and without further medical intervention soon he'll have permanent damage. As for keeping them moving, Cassia has always been good in a crisis, from as early as book 2 she was quick thinking enough to get away and growing up with the war has only honed that like is shown in previous books like 4 or 5, she's been growing up fast her whole life and always has had a mix of childishness and maturity because of that, the latter just hasn't had to come up as much as it didn't need to but this side of her has existed for a long time now. Also think about who she's around, either her teenage war obsessed friends, the adult staff or birds, birds who have to fend for themselves and have an idea on how to survive, they also don't care about things like not taking things and she's had them steal things before for her. Final point on her attitude is that her dad just died, her dad was her hero and his death had a profound effect on both his kids

Why exactly are they trying to reach Plymouth?
Because its where the Embry's house is, where they were before Varanian returned them to Skye. Gray (apart from a few stragglers) is kind of divided up between the Embry's (where Michael is), Hogan's (where Scorpius is) and the new base (where Brutus is) right now and the Embry's is the only one they know the location of, the location being Plymouth as seen in book 2

How WILL Orous tell Lily about her mother?
He'll just have to take her aside and be honest

Scorpius Hyperion Malfoy had not been having a good week, then again no one had really. He'd been staying at Hogan Leebin's house, aside from Hogan himself of course Martha Seneca and Ephraim Lamb were still there. His girlfriend, Molly Weasley, was also obviously there still but he hadn't gotten to see much of her. After the ordeal she'd been through, she remained essentially bedridden and slept most of the time. The strangest person there was Oathan Loren, the extremely estranged half-brother of his friends Maurice and Orous who Varanian had randomly brought in half-dead. Quite literally, the boy was barely alive and Hogan toiled for hours on end just to maintain that.

He'd felt tense to say the least, he'd saved Molly but still he worried for her. He also worried about his friends, he wasn't initially clear on what had happened and who was hurt and how badly. Considering the reception he'd been greeted with last time, he was afraid to go back to the Embry's to find out how everyone was doing, he didn't want to cause in trouble. On top of that he was mourning, he had lost several people he cared about even if everyone else was in perfect health there had been loss. And he had to carry that on his shoulders, for the most part – he'd had nothing to do with the base being destroyed after all – as it had been his fault. Martha was avoiding him now because of it, her brother hadn't survived the attack on Hogwarts. It all just nibbled away at him and made feel extremely restless, he wanted to be doing something to make for it or to distract himself.

He was so on edge he'd almost attacked someone, when returning from getting a glass of water he saw a man he didn't recognize dressed in strangely ill-fitting clothes. He was fairly tall with oddly damp brown hair and brown eyes to match, he looked around his mid-twenties and probably had been handsome before gaining an assortment of scars. In fact, Scorpius had thought he reminded him of someone but regardless had drawn his wand causing the man to startle and hold his hands up.

"Who are you and what are you doing here?!" Scorpius had demanded, jabbing his wand at the man.

"I- I- It's me, Eph- Ephraim L- Lamb? You- you said that- that I could b- be here?" the man had stammered out, looking desperately confused and Scorpius lowered his wand in shock recognition of his voice, "D- Do you mean I c- can't be- be Gray any- anymore?"

"No, I'm sorry, I just didn't recognize you" Scorpius offered apologetically, feeling very embarrassed as he pocketed his wand. Ephraim had clearly washed and changed out of the long thick cloak Scorpius had always seen him in, he'd also cut his long hair and shaved his beard completely making the homeless werewolf look a far cry from how he usually did, "You look completely different all cleaned up."

"I- I- I'm s- sorry," Ephraim apologized, lowering his hands and Scorpius noticed one of them had started twirling the way it did due to damaged nerves or something, "Ho- Hogan said I c- could. Well, more- more like demanded I should."

That sounded like Hogan, he was… kind of odd to say the least and Scorpius could see why Michael hadn't found the old Healer particularly fun to work with before. Though Scorpius could also see why Hogan might be so grumpy, he had to be the lightest sleeper Scorpius had ever met. At night he, Hogan and Ephraim just slept strewn around the living room with some spare blankets – Martha was up with Molly – due to the lack of space. Hogan wound count under his breath for a long time, making it well into hundreds if not thousands before seeming to sleep. When he finally did sleep, he was woken by anything. Absolutely anything. Sure there were times he must've been woken by some charm on Oathan as he'd immediately hurry to end to the boy but mostly it was nothing, the wind or a creak of the floorboards from upstairs, even breathing too loudly or turning could startle him awake. Then he'd start counting all over again, this would happen multiple times a night no matter how quiet or uneventful the night was so by the time dawn came – Hogan would always get up at dawn – he'd barely scraped a couple of hours of sleep, at best. It was bizarre.

Ephraim occasionally startling awake in panic from nightmares didn't seem as bad in comparison, though maybe paying so much attention to their sleeping habits showed how bad Scorpius' own insomnia was. Sleep was challenging when you were responsible for a school and town falling to the Shadows, people were hurt and dead including those he cared for. Not to mention other pressing concerns like the imminent danger and attack from the Shadows, how time was running out to save his cousin's soul before they both perished, how to stop an immortal powerhouse and how in the world he had also come back to life. He hadn't told anyone about the latter, he didn't think Molly or Martha had either. On the other hand, despite all that his sleep pattern still wasn't as strange as Hogan's. And it was hardly the only time he had a strange reaction to something, like when hearing London had fallen.

"Did St Mungo's also fall?" Hogan had questioned immediately of Varanian, the metamorphmagus looking slightly puzzled by the question.

"Yes. All of London fell," Varanian had reiterated and Hogan had thrown up his hands angrily.

"Well now what am I supposed to do for work?!"

"What?"

"My job! I work at St Mungo's," Hogan pointed out irritably, "Or I did before it fell. Now what am I supposed to do? I have to have a job. I need a job."

"You work for Gray, don't- don't you?" Ephraim wondered but Hogan shot him a glare.

"That's not a job! I mean a paid job, to make a living because I have bills and alimony and-"

"The Ministry was in London too, they also fell so no one's going to care about bills and alimony," Varanian pointed out but Hogan didn't look the slightest bit calmer.

"I care!"

"Gringotts was also in London so even if you did have a job you couldn't get paid," Scorpius added, lost at why Hogan was bothered by this, "The country's kind of falling, regular life is going to be disrupted so it doesn't matter."

"It matters to me!" Hogan yelled, stamping his foot like a toddler, "It's how life works, you get a job and- Fuck! Now I have to go stabilize Oathan again."

Hogan stormed off, kicking angrily at a wall on his way out and continuing to mutter under his breath. He did that. He was a good Healer though – he actually wore his Healer robes every day because… Scorpius didn't know – and even though Molly was sleeping a lot, the few times he did get to see her the wounds she had looked better every time so they'd just have to deal with him. Having an experienced Healer was probably a good thing right now.

It was just after that Varanian started moving people to the new base where he'd been the past few days guarding Brutus Ashain, apparently he'd captured him and one of the Shadow Master's children so they were in the basement. This meant a lot to Scorpius, he really wanted to talk to Brutus. Apart from the information he could provide in general due to his high rank, he knew where Calderon's body was and if anyone knew anything on the Shadow Master's immortality it was him. Unfortunately, now wasn't exactly the time to demand an audience when Varanian was busy organizing the move.

The new base wasn't as big as the last base which was why Varanian had been reluctant to move people there when Molly was captured but they didn't have a choice now, however because of the smaller size some would still be staying at Hogan's and the Embry's for the time being. Hogan also advised it was better to keep the more severely injured in the same places to heal so they'd probably move more to the base as people got better, least Scorpius hoped they got better. Scorpius could actually do something finally, helping those moving in Hogan's house. They moved Oathan in with Molly as both were injured while that now empty room would instead be taken by Hogan's nephew Flannery Leebin and his family, wife Myriam and the their children Maurene and Lysel. Scorpius, Hogan and Ephraim were still fine with the living room while Martha would be moving to the base.

"You're leaving?" Scorpius wondered of Martha in surprise when he heard, the thirteen year old looked a little confused.

"I'm not leaving Gray, I'm just going to this base," Martha explained, maybe he should've been clearer what he meant.

"I know, I just meant why. You know, you don't have to go."

"But I want to, I feel like I could do more there," Martha pointed out before sighing, averting her cloudy gray eyes, "Besides, I'm sure Molly is perfectly nice and all but sharing a room with her feels pretty… um… awkward, and that's when she's asleep most of the time."

"I… I guess I can understand that," Scorpius admitted, in truth it hadn't occurred to him but he felt better knowing she wasn't leaving because of him. He didn't want there to be bad blood between them.

"Why do you care anyway?"

"I don't know, I just didn't want you to leave just because you were mad at me. I really am sorry about your brother."

"I'm not mad at you," Martha told him, sounding perfectly sincere much to surprise as she turned to leave, "I'm mad at myself."

It occurred to him that this was actually worse than being mad at him but she'd already walked away and was saying goodbye to Ephraim, the two seemed to get along quite well. Hopefully she'd be okay, hopefully everyone wouldn't be as mad at her as they were at him also. This was on him.

"Scor!" a very young voice cried abruptly and Scorpius looked around in surprise, a minute later a golden eyed toddler ran into the room but Lysel stopped unhappily in front of him, "Aw, Sol's not here, is he?"

"No, he's not," Scorpius admitted, distracted from thoughts of his brother by curiosity, "How did you know I was here?"

"You smell weird, I told you," Lysel insisted as if it was the most obvious thing in the world while his older sister, Maurene, wandered in with one of her arms in a sling, "Is Sol going to be here soon?"

"Probably not."

"Aw but I really have to tell him something," Lysel said unhappily, hanging his head while behind his parents were entering with Hogan who was complaining Myriam needed to be on bed rest.

"What do you have to tell him?" Scorpius wondered distractedly.

"About the greatestest thing ever I found," Lysel told him, brightening up considerably as the young werewolf grinned and made a dramatic pause, "Rock music."

"Rock music?"

"Yes! It's so cool! And they have the- the guinitars and they sing and it sounds like awesome and-" Lysel informed him, jumping up and down excitedly before turning to Hogan, "Uncle Hogan! Do you have a television?"

"No," Hogan scoffed as if it was a stupid request before glancing at Leebin, "Flan, what's a television?"

"It's a muggle box that plays rock music!"

"And other things," Maurene contributed as Leebin helped his wife to sit on the couch, she was walking a little awkwardly and had her hand on her side while Leebin… Did- Did he have a sword on his hip? "I liked the cartoons."

"But rock music is the besterest!" Lysel insisted excitedly while Scorpius was still distracted by the sword, Leebin had a literal sword on his hip, "That's why I want to tell Sol and how I know what I want to be when I grow up."

"What?" Hogan inquired.

"I wanna be a rock star."

"What? And you're just going to allow this?!" Hogan demanded incredulously of Leebin.

"He's three, Hogan," Leebin pointed out and it occurred to Scorpius that not only did he have a sword but he recognized the handle, it was the Sword of Gryffindor, "Let him be a rock star."

"When you were three you wanted to do nothing with your life too and your parents let you and now you do nothing with your life," Hogan insisted and Leebin sighed tiredly, Myriam shot him a disapproving glare, "It's dangerous allowing that kind of thinking, Flan."

"Come on, we need to have the bedroom ready if you want Myriam on bedrest," Leebin offered, seemingly to distract Hogan which seemed to work as he allowed himself to be led away by his nephew.

"So if you're here, why can't Sol be here?" Lysel whined at him unhappily.

"It just doesn't work like that, sweetie," Myriam said to her son gently and Scorpius was glad to not have to explain it, he was also glad the Leebins didn't seem to hold much ill-will towards him. Maybe everyone wasn't as mad as he thought? "It's up to Sol's parents whether he's here or not, Scorpius is old enough to do his own thing. Though I hope he has at least seen them to let them know he's okay so they don't worry."

"I'm sure it's fine," Scorpius brushed it off, he didn't really want to see his family now, "They'd only try convince me to stay home, it'd only upset them more."

"At least they'd know you're alive."

Michael Sanford found himself gazing at the liquor cabinet again, the alcohol beckoning him and begging him to break his sobriety, forget how fucked up the world was for just a little bit. He actually found himself wishing he was back in Hogwarts, he hadn't realized how much harder it was to resist the craving eating his mind inside out when it was so much easier to have access to it. Reminding himself people's health depended on him was pretty much the only thought that was managing to push him away these days.

"Hey Michael, what are you going?" a familiar voice inquired pleasantly and Michael's head spun, he surprised to find himself now facing the crimson eyes of his albino friend Orous Knox.

"What are you doing?" Michael countered, his tone harsher then he'd meant but his temper was worn and thin right now, "Aren't you supposed to be home? Unless you're helping with moving to the base but it's not really necessary and you'll probably be in the way more than anything else, there's enough bodies moving around."

"Oh, I know, just um… I really need to talk to Lily about something," Orous explained, looking suddenly nervous and for some reason Michael's first thought was to wonder if he'd gotten her pregnant. That made him think of 'Easton,' which made him think of Rose and now he wanted a drink again.

"About what?" Michael demanded, harshness deliberate this time and Orous looked around briefly as if to make sure she wasn't near.

"Her mum died," Orous told him in a solemn whisper, much to Michael's surprise as he would've thought the Head Auror's wife would've evacuated London. It made him worry for other Weasleys living in London, he knew Freddie did with his girlfriend Caitlin and they had very young children. Freddie's dad lived there too, Roxy lived with him unless she'd gotten her own place already, "I'll tell you more about it later but Lily has a right to know so I need to tell her first."

"Good luck," Michael offered to the extremely nervous looking teen and gestured to the dining room turned sick bay, she was with her older brother Albus.

He leaned back against the wall and sighed sadly as Orous went in to get her, Albus was in no shape to be moved so he'd be staying here which was why Michael himself would be. He was starting to worry, Albus was stable and doing better but the fact he hadn't woken up yet wasn't a good sign. Orous emerged a second later leading Lily by the hand, from the confused look on her face he'd probably asked to speak to her alone and hadn't shared the news yet. Probably good considering Hugo and his parents were in there, they'd also need to be told and would probably have a reaction. Just when he'd thought there was a reprieve from the death of people he knew, his eyes drifted back to the liquor cabinet.

"Do you know what that was all about?" another familiar voice asked and Michael looked up again, this time seeing Abby Longbottom.

"He came to tell her that her mum died," Michael informed her quietly since Lily should know momentarily, her eyes bulged in shock for a second before looking sad.

"That's awful," Abby admitted and Michael could only nod solemnly, "Al's going to be devastated when he wakes up."

"Yeah, he probably will be."

"Oh, hey Michael, what are you doing out here?" his sister's voice said in surprise and he glance to see the eldest of his siblings, Agnes, had rounded the bend.

"I don't need to be in the medical room every second of the day," Michael snapped irritably, fed up of people questioning why he wasn't in there.

"I- I know, I just came to say bye and I thought you'd be in there."

"Well I'm here instead," Michael shrugged it off and unfolded his arms as he turned to her, his family were going to the new base today since unlike him they hadn't much reason to be here.

He wasn't sure how he felt about it, on one hand they were safer but he was sure they were going to more involved in war stuff and teaching Agnes magic despite how ridiculously young she was for it so he very much opposed that. He also worried about Bertie, his nerves were shot to hell and they had to give him Calming Draught more than once so he'd like to keep an eye on him but also being at the base might be better for said anxiety without the media – reports on television, the radio and daily newspaper the Embry's had delivered - about attacks to set him off. Then there was John, telling him to stay away from Crystal seemed to finally be working as they seemed incapable of being in the same room as each other right now but he worried that'd change if he wasn't around. He didn't want her to get hurt again.

"I can wait until you go back," Agnes offered, fidgeting nervously and averting her eye.

"Why? What's wrong with saying goodbye to me here?" Michael countered, crossing his arms again and feeling instantly suspicious. In fact, he was pretty sure the reason behind her strange statement.

"Um… no reason, I just err…"

"You just want an excuse to speak to Hugo, don't you?!" Michael snapped at her, harsher then he'd intended and he saw crimson flooding her cheek as she blushed.

"N- No. Why- Why would I want to do that? It's not like I know him, I don't even remember which one of your friends Hugo is."

"He's the one you keep fawning over! And it's ridiculous!" Michael shouted at her, a part of his mind pleading him for silence but it didn't speak loud enough, "You're far too young for any of this, your behavior is stupid, wrong and a complete waste of time! What the fuck are even are you expecting to accomplish?! He's sixteen years old, you're ten-"

"I'm eleven!" Agnes protested defensively, momentarily looking back to him and looking close to crying."

"-The point is you're just a child! He's never going to be interested in you, ever! No one will, you only have half a face!" Michael yelled at his little sister, regretting the words the instant they left his lips and already knowing he'd gone too far. She ran off in tears.

"What the hell, Michael?!" Abby snapped at him, her tone reigniting his anger despite himself, "That was totally uncalled for! Are you trying to destroy her self-esteem?!"

"Whatever it takes to make her snap out of it! She's just a kid!" Michael insisted angrily, even if he'd gone too far he didn't think he was wrong in wanting her to get over it, "Better she gets over it now than when she watches him get torn apart by Inferi!"

"Look, Michael, I get that you're grieving," Abby started and Michael folded his arms crossly, not wanting to talk about it, "But you're not the only one, we've all lost people, we're all hurting right now. I just lost of my little brother and one of my best friends but you don't see me screaming at everyone, you can't be a jerk just because you're hurt. This is the last time we need to be turning on each other, you have to keep it together."

"I'm keeping it together perfectly fine, thank you very much!" Michael snapped defensively and bit down on his tongue to stop himself saying more lest it prove her point, possibly a poor decision as he tasted blood from biting his tongue too hard and she didn't look the slightest bit convinced regardless. He wanted a drink. He probably should go smooth things over with Agnes though, especially if she was leaving for the base soon.

"Hey! Someone!" Hugo's voice called desperately from the medical room.

Michael didn't need to be called twice, he rushed back into the room as did Abby to see what was wrong. Hugo pointed frantically at the bed opposite his, the one holding Albus. Michael turned feeling dread while Abby rushed to his side and grabbed his hand tightly, Albus didn't seem to be distressed though. Quite the opposite, he was stirring.

"Al? Albus, can you hear me?" Abby pleaded desperately, squeezing his hand.

Michael watched with a bubble of hope swelling his heart as Albus' emerald eyes fluttered open, the widest most genuine smile slowly spread across Albus' face as said eyes settled lovingly on Abby. Abby's face very much mirrored his look, except she also blinked back tears of joy or relief. It made him wonder why exactly she was engaged to someone else, someone she hadn't even mentioned once the whole time they'd been there.

"Hey," Albus offered groggily to her while Michael finally crossed the space between them, "You're okay."

"Yeah, I'm okay," Abby confirmed, her happy expressing tensing a little which was likely at the thought of how she'd just learned his mother was not okay.

"Is… Is Lydia okay?" Albus wondered, referring to his dead cousin's baby who he'd been determined to save in Hogsmeade.

"Lydia's okay," Michael confirmed for him, he'd checked on her just that morning to make sure she was in good health before leaving for the base with her mother.

"How are you doing?" Abby asked of him gently.

"I'm hungry," Albus admitted thoughtfully and despite everything, Michael found himself laughing along with Abby for the first time in far too long.

"Tell me!" James yelled.

Wyatt felt the still shocking stab of cold water as James shoved his head forcefully back down into the icy liquid, he'd never realized how much freezing water had with knives as it managed to be painful piercing. He felt like his lungs were screaming, he never knew before how badly it physically hurt to be unable to breathe, to be on the brink of death technically. He was sure James knew though, he let him breathe just long enough so that he could drown him again but not enough the discomfort ever stopped. And likewise, only when dark specs started dancing before his eyes did James yank his head back out forcefully and painfully by his hair.

This time though, James actually threw him down onto the ground and Wyatt felt a sliver of relief while he lay there spluttering and gulping air back down into this strangled lungs, his body shaking violent from either cold or the after effects of the Cruciatus Curse he'd endured before the drowning. James launched a kick at him and Wyatt was too breathless to scream in pain as his foot collided with ribs already broken, those probably didn't help with his breathing.

"You don't want to talk still then fine," James told him, grabbing a fistful of hair to force his head back up again so he could speak into his ear and Wyatt feared the smirk twisting his face, "It's been a week, today's your last day of Blood-Replenishing Potion. Then I don't have to go easy on you anymore, and then your real torture begins. Enjoy your last day with flesh."

James threw his head back into the stone so forcefully that Wyatt wasn't entirely sure his skull didn't crack, the world spun a little as James left and slammed the door behind him. Wyatt just lay there weakly in the dark as the cold ate into him, continuing to gasp for air to soothe his burning lungs.

His head was ringing now in addition to… everything else aching from being beat to hell, he was starving – he hadn't been given food once – and stinging from some burns. His eye hurt the most, or rather the socket he'd used to have an eye. It had been days but it still felt raw, even the icy water could only dull it slightly and it felt extremely unnerving and… wrong to suddenly feel water flooding it, dribbling out now.

He'd be lying if he said he wasn't scared right now, he was terrified. He wasn't sure who he was more afraid of though, James and all the horrible things he could do – he had met Leebin – or himself. After all he could end his pain at any time, it would just mean damning Gray. He'd like to say he was strong enough to take the torture and resist no matter what but realistically he couldn't last forever, he didn't think anyone could. He dreaded that day, he felt kind of like he was on a train going somewhere he hated but he couldn't get off.

He felt sick thinking about it and that wasn't including fearing how the other prisoners were doing, unlike him they legitimately didn't know anything so… where was their train going? What would happen to his dad? There was a chance Gray would save them but considering how defensive Hogwarts was even without Inferi – he was pretty sure they were still there – he didn't think it was likely, assuming they even knew he was still in Hogwarts.

Wyatt jolted suddenly in terror at the sound of the door opening so soon, he hadn't realized it but he must've fallen asleep as his lungs had stopped burning for air by now. He picked his head up shakily, not sure if it was to hold on to a shred of dignity or hope looking at him would stop him yanking his hair up. He was surprised to see it wasn't actually James, it was his slave. He felt a rush of relief, he still had time before his next torture session.

"Master James is busy with one of the other prisoners right now so he sent me to give you the last Blood-Replenishing Potion and your water," the boy explained timidly in a slightly accented voice, "I am sorry."

He limped over and Wyatt tried to pull himself into a sitting position while puzzling the apology, the world swim around him but he managed to sit. Barely. The slave crouched by him and looked extremely nervous, he had a water flash slung over his shoulder and picked it up. It was when he opened the lid that Wyatt understood why he'd apologized, there was steam coming from it. Scalding water. Marigold had insisted upon healing him the last time James had done it but somehow he doubted he'd get the same luxury this time with his 'respite' ending, even if he was it didn't matter. It was still agony.

"I am sorry," the teen reiterated as Wyatt's fear must've shown on his face, he looked sincere at least, "Master James insisted I give you this… unless you want to talk."

"No," Wyatt shot it down firmly before he could give it anymore thought, he wasn't there yet.

The slave looked regretful as he held out the flask, Wyatt braced himself although he kept his mouth firmly shut. He was considering trying to overpower the teen even though his hands were shackled and he was weak as fuck right now, he'd also never actually physically overpowered anyone in his life. Rudy was the one with three kick-boxing trophies. The teen raised his arm… And lowered it. He sighed heavily and knelt back, hanging his head as he slowly tipped the contents of the flask onto the stone.

"Whoops. Clumsy me. It appears I spilled the water so it seems I will have to use that other colder water behind you," the boy lied monotonously, getting up and going over to the vat where James had been drowning him earlier to refill the flask with the non-burning water. Wyatt was shocked at the act of compassion, so much so he didn't notice the youth's return until he was offering him the flask, "Drink."

"Thank you," Wyatt offered quietly but genuinely as he took the flask, almost dropping it as it seemed so heavy so the slave had to help hold it and gave no comment on his thanks, "It's Yannis… right?"

"Yes," Yannis confirmed and Wyatt took the opportunity to drink, the liquid actually refreshing when he wasn't being drowned in it.

He also took the chance to study Yannis now he was seeing him in a new light, the youth looked around sixteen or seventeen and might've been handsome if not for the cross scar on his cheek that the Shadows used to mark slaves. He was also shocked to see up close that Yannis was sporting injuries, his face was slightly discolored from a variety of half-healed bruises of varying degrees and his neck outright was badly bruised as if he'd been strangled.

"James is not a kind master, huh?" Wyatt deduced as he finished off the flask, Yannis shook his head.

"He is a sadist, if he wants to hurt me he will. It doesn't matter what I do," Yannis elaborated quietly, avoiding eye contact as he replaced the flask.

"I'm sorry," Wyatt offered with sincerity as Yannis took out the small red vial Blood-Replenishing Potion, "Please help me escape."

"What?!" Yannis burst out in shock, almost dropping the vial. Wyatt didn't blame him, he'd surprised himself with his plea as his mouth was several steps ahead of his brain apparently, "Just because I am not a sadist, it does not mean I'm ready to betray them completely to save a random stranger."

"Please, Yannis, I need to get out of here," Wyatt pleaded with utmost desperation as it dawned on him this was his very last chance, "I'm part of a group fighting the Shadows and if I break the Shadows will kill them all."

"Everybody always breaks eventually."

"Exactly why I need to get away!" Wyatt insisted, fighting back tears and feeling his heartbeat race as the gravity of this opportunity hit him like a wave of freezing water, "You know how bad it is, Yannis, Gray is the only hope of stopping them. And stopping them would save you! Heck, there's a long line of people within Gray who want James dead."

"I don't think anyone can win now," Yannis admitted resignedly, "I lived in Athens, for four years I have only watched them grow stronger and accomplish feat after feat I once would have thought impossible."

"You're right, maybe it is impossible and maybe we can't win but we won't for sure if we don't even try," Wyatt offered and Yannis glanced at him, "Don't you think if there's even a fraction of a chance we should take it with everything we've got? Unless you're really ready to resign yourself to being James' slave for the rest of your life but I think you deserve better than that, you're a good person and I mean that whether you continue to help me or not. They haven't broken you yet, Yannis, don't let them."

"What would I even have to do?" Yannis asked, barely audibly as he swallowed fearfully.

"Not much," Wyatt admitted, afraid to breathe lest he frighten Yannis' mind, "Just walk away. Leave the room with the door open for minute, less than a minute even. Walk to the end of the corridor and back, I'll be gone and you can sound the alarm as soon as you want. All I need is an opening, that's all I need."

Yannis got up without another word, as if thinking about it another second might make him lose his nerve. He strode out of the room, leaving the door wide open behind him. Wyatt didn't need to be told twice.

"Thank you," Wyatt breathed, every syllable filled with sincerity before he transformed and fled his cell.