"Hello, Ashley." She purrs.

"Sylvia."

Her smirk widens, and I look down at her hand as it moves, fingering what looks to be a coiled whip by her side.

A whip? Seriously? What happened to tasers?

My blood boils at the memory of what she put Zero and I through on the island. I know she's a Darkling and I probably shouldn't be that surprised to see her here in the main base of Darklings, but I mean c'mon.

We could have run into any other Darkling? I'm sure there's a huge population, so why not someone else?

"Glad to see you remembered me. Now follow." She says in that snide voice of hers, before turning on her black heeled boots and walking.

I didn't notice what she was wearing before, because I was too distracted at the very sight of her, but now I freely study her.

Black shorts and a black tank top, whip tied on a belt loop. Long black boots with spiky heals and her blonde hair tied up in a bun. Where can I get some shorts and a tank? And what a up with all the black? Is it the mandatory dress code color here?

I look down at my white t-shirt, stained with sweat.

Yep, I'm definitely gonna stand out.

"I'm waiting." Sylvia suddenly says further down the hall, snapping me out of my thoughts.

I refuse to budge, or even take a step towards her. She sees the defiance in my face and sighs, rolling her eyes.

"Fine. Don't come. But your friends will be wondering where you are." She taunts.

My fists clench, and although a very big part of me wants to refuse because it thinks she's lying, my other part doesn't want to risk it. That part of me also wants to find out where they sell tank tops.

I trudge after her, but not before glancing around for End. That back-stabbing traitor. He's dissapeared on me. Considering the fact that it's Sylvia, I don't really blame him, but still.

I follow Sylvia, keeping a ten yard distance at all times between us. My eyes are glued to her back as she walks, not once looking back to make sure I'm following.

"You know," Someone says suddenly right next to me. I jump, my head jerking to the side to see Sylvia walking right beside me. I quickly glance at the one in front to see it flicker out of existence.

Curse Sylvia and her annoying illusions.

"You walk really slow." She finishes her sentence after pausing to let the shock sink in.

I shuffle to the side, but meet her icy eyes with heated ones of my own.

"Listen, Sylvia. I don't want anything to do with you. You are going to take me to my friends, then we are going to leave and you'll never bother us again. Understand?"

I silently pat myself on the back for how confident I sound in that moment. Sylvia's smirk drops, her eyes narrowing. The ice queen just became a whole lot icier.

"No one gives me orders." She says lowly as we reach a set of huge oak double doors, where two Darkling guards stand at attention. Sylvia, eyes still locked with mine, flicks her fingers and the guards move, pushing open the huge doors. I don't pay attention, too determined on winning this battle against the wicked being in front of me.

"But what about your precious High Commander?" I mock, remembering how she held him in such high regards on the boat. It feels like that party happened a life time ago.

Her eyes flash with cold fury and I smirk.

"You have no right to mock him." She says, starting to tremble, her fists clenching.

She's really getting irritated about this. How much does she respect Lager? Maybe I should back off.....but no, I finally have an advantage over Sylvia and this is just two sweet to resist.

"Mock who? Oh, you mean Lager? Of course I wouldn't mock him. He's my friend. We only just met but I feel like something's there. We're just so tight."

She lets out an inhuman snarl and opens her mouth but is interrupted.

"Oh we are, are we? Glad to see the feeling is mutual."

My whole body freezes, and I slowly turn to look into the huge room that Sylvia and I had been arguing in the doorway of.

It's a throne room, I realize.

It looks like the ones I've seen in movies, but where those are very old fashioned this one has a modern touch. Rows upon rows of seats are there, with an aisle down the middle, but on the walls on either side don't have huge tapestries. In fact, there isn't a wall, just huge Windows that stretch from floor to ceiling.

Those Windows must really be in fashion here.

At the end the room is three steps leading up to the throne, where Lager sits, chin resting on elbow as he leans forward, watching us with a cool smile. My eyes flick up above him to the ceiling, which has a dome made of glass above the throne, shining natural light down on it.

It really is magnificent.

I swallow, my mouth suddenly dry. Sylvia seems shocked, but not as shocked as I because she immediately shifts into a bow with the straightest back I've ever seen.

When she comes back up, she grips my arm and gives me a shove forward, to which I glare back at her. Taking the hint, I start walking down the aisle, each step trembling as I get closer.

I'm not scared. Definitely not scared. But there's something strangely intimidating about the situation I'm in. Or it could be because Sylvia is unguarded at my back.

When I've finally reached the bottom of the steps, I stop, staring up with as much curiosity and courage as I can.

My eyes meet Lager's gold ones, and I try my hardest not to allow any color into my cheeks, thinking about how he overheard what I told Sylvia. That was embarrassing.

"You're early." Lager says calmly, eyes on Sylvia.

"I was expecting her to put up more of a fight, High Commander, Sir."

I stare at Sylvia in awe at how solider-like she sounds. She even Still has that Straight as a board back. I wish I had that posture.

"Yes, why didn't you defy her more?" Lager asks thoughtfully, eyes sliding over to me. "Not to be rude, but you come across as the defiant type."

"I only had to mention her friends and she was quick to do what I said." Sylvia says, and Lager's eyes flash with irritation.

"Was I asking you, Illusionist?" He says quietly.

"No, sir." She says, embarrassment in her voice.

"Illusionist?" I question out loud, almost regretting it when Lager's eyes land back on me.

"It's a title or rank here." Lager explains. "While all Darklings can create illusions, some can do it much better than others, to the point where the illusion can mess with your other senses, like smell and hear, and not just sight.. These Darklings are called Illusionists, and hold a very high rank in our community."

I think back to all the encounters I've had with Sylvia and when she's used illusions. Did they mess with my other senses? I can't remember.

"Sylvia is my ambassador to the world outside of Dalton and my head Illusionist."

"Her?" I snort. "And Ambassador? Good luck getting any allies or business partners with her speaking for you."

I quickly clasp a hand over my mouth after saying that, realizing that I may have offended Lager, but he just shakes his head, a corner of his mouth twitching up while Sylvia kills me with her eyes.

"Sylvia does have a bit of a bark, but her bite is what helps the most with some.....situations I may encounter."

Ice floods my veins as I glance back at Sylvia, now a tiny smirk on her face. She's cocky about that compliment? He basically just compared her to a dog, and said she was great at doing dirty work for him.

"You two know each other from the island if I'm correct." Lager says, and I'm about to open my mouth to inquire how he knew that, but he beats me to the punch. "Sylvia gave me a full report when she came back to Dalton from Braun lab, including you in it."

"Then I guess you already know what Sylvia put me through?" I ask, narrowing my eyes up at him.

He nods, a frown coming onto his face. "Yes, and she was punished accordingly for that disobedience."

My eyes widen. "You mean you didn't order her to do that?"

Hurt flashes across his face before it's gone. "Of course not. I didn't even know you existed until Sylvia gave me her report."

Ouch. That comment kind of hurt, but I won't question It further.

"Where are my friends?" I ask instead, looking around again to see if they'll appear. I need to see Zero as soon as possible. He's probably going out of his mind with worry. It wouldn't surprise me if any minute now he butts through a wall or window by melting the glass with his cool heat powers.

Lager looks confused and slightly annoyed. "Like I said, you're early. I was just finishing up Trial."

"Trial?" I ask. I hate how I keep having to ask so many questions. It makes me feel almost like an idiot.

"Every month, I sit in the throne room as criminals who were caught in the past month are brought in. I listen to their crimes and make a verdict, much like a judge."

"Interesting." I mumble, looking away from his scathing gold eyes.

"Yes, well, I have one more offender left to judge, so have a seat." He says, gesturing to the front row.

Sylvia immediately obeys, marching over and sitting as Still as a statue. I walk over a little more hesitantly, wondering if what I'm about to witness is really something I should.

The moment I sit down Lager straightens his posture, almost sitting regally. He looks like a king. I imagine a huge crown on his head and a red velvet cape with white leapord fur lining.

Well, I think, glancing at his black cape which he still wears, even in this heat, at least he's got some part of the outfit.

The huge doors open, and I turn in my seat to watch a little girl come scurrying in, wearing a black day dress, her dirty blonde hair in one long braid.

Confusion sweeps over me. This can't be the criminal, can it?

The girl, who looks maybe twelve at oldest, approaches the throne and curtsies quickly, a very nervous and frightened air about her.

Lager gives a nod and she turns towards the seats, scanning them quickly for a spot.

I don't know if it was knee jerk reaction, or maybe just my conscious, but my hand moves to the open spot on my left, subtly patting it. Her eyes focus on it, and she hesitates, before hurrying over and sitting down.

"I'm Ashley." I whisper once she's situated. She looks up at me, her huge eyes wide, not talking. There's no way she's the criminal

"I wouldn't bother." Sylvia on my right mutters, leaning a fraction of an inch in. "She's mute."

I look back at the girl to see something, a deep intensity, flash in her eyes, which shocks me. She looks so little and fragile, but what I just saw in her eyes was not fragile. I give her a small smile of what I hope is friendliness.

She nods at me, her mouth coming up ever so slightly too. Why is she so frightened?

Just then the huge doors swing open again, and the little girl stiffens beside me, eyes going to the floor. I glance behind to see what made her this tense and see a Man being escorted in by a few soldiers.

He doesn't look that harmful, with his wire glasses and blonde hair. He kind of looks like a doctor, or scientist. Thinking about Scientists reminds me of my dad and I swallow, looking back at Lager, who assesses this man with coolness.

The group of escorts and the man stop in front of the throne, the soldiers bowing in perfect harmony, with the man scrambling to imitate them.

"Doctor." Lager says cooly, staring the man down. "I had my suspicions, but I never thought I would actually see you here."

"High Commander Sir, this is all some big mistake. I am innocent, I swear it." The Doctor rambles, and I almost feel sorry for him. Lager does seem pretty intense and scary at this moment.

"Do you swear it on your life?" Lager asks quietly.

The man hesitates, swallowing. "Pardon me?"

"I don't like to repeat myself." Lager says. "But I will just this once. Do you swear your innocence on your life?"

The Doctor swallows again, fidgeting with his black shirt cuff. He's sweating, either from guilt or heat.

"It shouldn't be this hard." Lager continues, leaning back in his throne. "If you are innocent."

"Yes." The man suddenly says, desperation in his voice. "I swear it on my life."

"What is he being accused of?" I whisper at Sylvia, but she holds a finger to her lips, giving me a cold glare.

"Doctor you are under trial for the accusation of harassment against Miss Kay Rubinstein." Lager says in a very kingly voice, his eyes flicking to the little girl when he says her name.

Kay. So that's her name.

WAIT! Harassment?!

I look from the doctor to the little girl and back and forth again, bile rising in my throat.

"It's a false accusation!" The Doctor blurted, looking over at Kay, who seems so wound up she might explode any minute.

"False?" Lager asks in that deadly quiet voice of his. "Your saying that Kay would lie about something like this. That she would accuse a person of doing something so vicarious falsely?"

He says her name with such care, and there's so much raging defense in his voice, I have to wonder who this little girl is to Lager. A sister perhaps? But they don't look much alike at all.

"N-no of course not." The Doctor amends, he eyes going wider with dread by the second.

"So then you are guilty."

"Yes! I mean no!"

Lager sighs, leaning back in his throne and almost slumping. I look with disgust at the Doctor, sliding an inch closer to the girl. Poor thing, she must be traumatized.

Lager lets out another loud sigh, rubbing his temples, before quietly speaking, "I gave you the chance to confess and ask for forgiveness Doctor, but yet you refused. And to think I might have gone easy if you did."

Lager gives a little chuckle, but this one is not one of mirth. It's a very deadly chuckle, one that sends shivers up my spine and makes me see a new side of Lager. One I don't know if I like that much yet.

"What you don't know Doctor, is that I, with Kay's consent of course, hid cameras behind very well placed illusions in the empty hallway she walks through everyday and saw the whole thing. You intercepted her, and then tried to do a lot more. You're very lucky she managed to get away before you could do much or else you would be thrown into the volcano's depths by now."

I look smugly over to the Doctor, internally letting out a sigh of relief that Kay wasn't hurt or touched too badly by this disgusting pervert. I don't know how Lager manages to stay so calm. I would've thrown him into the volcano by now even if he didn't hurt her that badly.

The Doctor is standing with his mouth parted, hands shaking as they closed into fists.

"Some form of punishment must be taken." Lager drawls, almost like he's bored, but by the tense way he sits I know he is very agitated and close to killing this man himself. " And although you swore on your life, I think death might be a too much of a mercy.As of now I'm not feeling particularly merciful to a violating, lying worm like you. I'll let you live, but you'll be banned from Darkling territory and left to the Lynchers."

The man falls to his knees, and I think he finds Lager's punishment more merciful than anything else he was conjuring in his head because he whispers "Thank you."

"You thought I was done?" Lager asks, a wicked amused gleam in his eye. "How amusing. No, I have one last thing left for you, before I never see your revolting face again. You will be left in the gentle care of Sylvia for two hours."

The man's eyes widen in utter terror, and I shiver, almost pitying the man......almost.

Sylvia stands, a small smirk on her face, promising lots of things to come as she takes her whip off her side, undoing it from its coil. With one flick she slashes the whip through the air, where it wraps around the man's wrist. With a quick tug, she sends him sprawling before her feet.

She looks up, awaiting Lager's orders. He nods and she bows, before striding down the aisle, the Doctor stumbling and being half dragged by the whip behind her, muttering prayers and cries for help.

I look down at Kay, who's watching the man with much pity in her eyes, but also relief.

"Sylvia." Lager says when they're nearly out the door. She stops, turning her head to face him. "Two hours. Make the most of it."

The smile she gives him will haunt my dreams for a long, long time."

The second the remaining soldiers file out and the huge wooden doors shut, Lager deflates, sinking down in his throne.

I feel a twang of pity. That must have been bard, sentencing someone like that, even if they were guilty. And to think he did this once a month to more than one person.

Lager, finally noticing Kay and I were still there, smiles weakly.

He opens his mouth, but is interrupted.

"ASHIE!!!!!!! The bellow comes from outside the two huge wooden doors.

"Zero." I whisper.

Dear readers, you're welcome for the extra long chapter. Seriously it was about 1,000 words longer than what I usually write. I know you all probably want to kill me because I left the chapter on a cliff hanger right when zero was about to make an appearance, and I'm sorry, but if you kill me, who's going to finish writing the scene between Ashley and Zero which will come next Chapter? So what did you think about this new side to Lager? And any more ship names? I know Ashley and Zero are the main ship, but you can still use other characters, for example Asher. If you don't know that's Ashley and Lager. Anyway, vote, comment, and make a list of all the times you've nearly killed someone. For me, there was that time when my sister hid all my books because I stole her makeup. And let me tell you, there were ALOT of books to find. Lol.

Lots of love,

Dangeroustoken.