It was the following morning. The grand doors to Nyais' new home were opened and the slightly misplaced man walked through them, the same sudden wave of doubt and anxiety hitting him as always. He knew he wasn't supposed to be here. He knew this was Olli's responsibility, and in feeding his own selfish desire by helping the boys, he had killed the king. He may not have been the one with blood on his hands, but it never would have happened if the boys hadn't known of the information he had. There was also a part of Nyais that had been fearful and had wanted the torture to stop, but it wasn't even...

He sighed. He couldn't blame something like the torture for his betrayal of the king. He'd faced much worse and kept information withheld before. This was most certainly because of his hatred of Olli.

Looking down the corridor, he watched his guards remove a contemplative looking Sally from the area. Nyais waved his hand to stop them, instead beckoning her forwards. Hesitantly she obliged.

"You look like you've seen a ghost," Nyais commented. Sally gave a nervous smile.

"Not a ghost," she explained with a light laugh. She didn't like the man who stood before her but nothing would stop her being polite to everyone and everything. Nyais noticed a lighter clasped tight in her hand. Raising an eyebrow, he gestured for her to hand it over.

"Where on earth did you get this?" he questioned, but his inquiry was answered as he felt a small engraving on the lighter when it was placed in his hand. He held the object up to inspect it, and let out a sigh when he read the name 'Kori' inscribed into the side of the metal case.

"That guy came here yesterday to 'drop off some reports'," Sally explained. She knew she had to tell the truth - she'd rather not have any of the privileges that the three had earned taken away from them. "I believe he thought [Y/n] was here, but he found me instead. He'd acted polite the whole time until the very last second, so I think he knows who we are as well," she said quietly. Nyais nodded his head. Much to Sally's surprise, he gave her back the lighter. He was fully aware that Sally wouldn't risk using it on anyone, and she clearly wasn't the type to injure herself with it. He needed them to trust him. There wasn't even that much of a tactical reason for that - he simply felt that way.

"Yes, they likely all know who you are. Kori most of all, I'm sure," Nyais hummed. "I'm shocked you're still alive. I expect he's had some ulterior motive regarding your 'still living' status, however," he pondered. Sally was honestly surprised the usually quiet king was engaging in conversation with her.

"If you don't mind me asking... do you have any ulterior motives in keeping us alive, too?" Sally questioned. Nyais let out a laugh - the first laugh she'd heard from him, and she couldn't be sure whether it was honest or sarcastic.

"I suppose I do," he dipped his head. "I want her to come back, and I feel she'll be more inclined to do so if you're here," he explained.

"Why do you want her back?" Sally pressed.

"I..." Nyais paused, wondering whether this was a question he should answer. "I want her back because this is her home. She doesn't belong with humans anymore," he muttered.

"Why?"

"You really like questions, don't you?" Nyais observed, however answering these questions was oddly therapeutic for him. It was as though he was sorting through his thoughts and settling on one of the many answers he had for each inquiry. "[Y/n] was given a drug that took away her mortality. She cannot grow old, she cannot have children, she cannot experience most sicknesses and, therefore, she cannot live in your society." Sally blinked in shock at the revelation, her questions now being silenced. "She belongs here with us - she may still be more similar in species to your friends than to me, however we are more suited to keep her safe than you are."

"You're lying," Sally said quietly. "You don't want to keep her safe." Nyais quirked a brow.

"And what makes you say that?" he asked, his tone turning slightly darker.

"If you wanted her to be safe and happy, you'd be helping us get that flight home and wishing her good luck. You'd tell her that she can come back here at any time. You'd lock away those monsters who have harmed her. You'd help her feel the same as any other human, and not stress her differences. You- you'd-"

"Alright, that's enough," Nyais waved his hand dismissively to silence her as he watched her begin to shake with anger and grow tearful.

"I'm not finished," Sally muttered, about to continue, however another presence silenced her. The man who they'd met at the very beginning seemed to have been with Nyais' group and had stepped forwards. Sally cursed herself for not having noticed him before, and now the shock and fear was evident on her expression.

"Ah, it's the failed faerie," Rayne remarked, before turning his attention to Nyais. "It seems you already know about the boys having returned, then," Rayne hummed, now ignoring Sally entirely. Nyais nodded.

"Yes, Sally informed me," Nyais responded. He didn't know why he spoke so dismissively to Rayne at a time like this - he knew it would come across as him defending the faerie girl, however a part of him didn't care. He was sure his favour of a faerie over Rayne would hurt the doctor's ego, so he didn't feel too worried about siding with Sally.

Rayne glanced down at the faerie girl again, his expression bored and scathing as always. "I know." He looked back up at Nyais with a scowl. "They wish to seek an audience with you."

"To assassinate me like they did the last king?" Nyais laughed, "no thanks. Send a messenger to handle our communications," Nyais spat.

"They've already made it clear that they don't wish to have any indirect form of conversation. They also want [Y/n]'s friends there." He glanced at Sally once more. "I do wonder whether you'll live this time." Sally uncomfortably looked away, and Nyais scowled at Rayne once more.

"They'll be guarded," Nyais spat, "if the boys are coming here to kill them, it's a lost cause." Rayne shrugged.

"And I thought I was supposed to be the mad one... yet here you are, obsessed with everything not vampire." He paused. "Oh, and about that chef...". Sally froze in panic; how on earth would Rayne know anything about Calen? Except, Rayne didn't continue. He simply allowed a small smirk to form on his face, before turning away and waving his hand, dismissing whatever he had been preparing to say.

Nyais' fists were clenched as he watched Rayne's figure depart in the distance. The conversation had ended rather abruptly, so he assumed the boys would be paying him a visit whether he liked it or not. He'd need to make the guards aware, or else risk a bloodbath at his door.

He ought to just have them all arrested, but the fact that they could bring [Y/n] home was stopping him. They might be his best chance.

And they were undoubtably some of the strongest vampires Kutelo had ever seen. Nyais couldn't help but feel it would be a waste to imprison all of them.

He turned to look at Sally, but the girl seemed to have already departed; rubbing the back of his neck, he wondered what [Y/n] was doing.

* * *

[Y/n] looked around the simple sheepskin tent she'd been assigned - the tent, though simple, was shockingly good at conserving heat. She had a simple bed on the floor which wasn't the most comfortable, however she was coming straight from a bed in a palace so she couldn't really complain. She looked over at the other side of the tent where a large direwolf lay - and by large, she meant large. He was about the size of a horse, taking up almost all of the tent. Her bed was pressed into the corner. Thankfully, his size managed to insulate the tent further.

She sat up and looked over at the wolf, whose name was Czaer. She knew the wolf could speak as he'd calmly stated to her last night that he would be her guard, however the conversation had fallen flat as he decided she should conserve her energy and sleep right away. [Y/n], no energy to argue, had agreed and slept all through the night. Now the early morning light filtered through the fabric door of the tent, and she watched as the wolf's back occasionally twitched, indicating that he was awake.

"Good morning Czaer," [Y/n] smiled. Czaer raised his massive head, his sharp eyes landing on [Y/n].

"Good morning," he yawned out, and [Y/n] couldn't help but shiver at how threatening his jaws were. She was lucky he was on her side...

"So... what are we doing today?" [Y/n] asked tiredly. She pulled her wool blanket over her, noticing that she'd managed to kick it off herself. Though the tent was much warmer than the outside, it wasn't a comfortable temperature. She could still see her breath before her as she spoke. To combat this she'd been given 'pyjamas' of leather and animal skin, which had all been warmed before she had been dressed in them. But even that didn't prevent the bitter cold wind that froze the mountains from seeping into her tent.

"You're going to meet with the captains," Czaer hummed. "They meet quite a distance from the camp so I'll have to take you there." By that [Y/n] assumed she'd be in for yet another ride on a sentient being, and she further predicted that she wasn't going to get used to that idea any time soon. "You have a lot of strategy to discuss." [Y/n] nodded, the elephant in the room being lightly addressed; war. Goosebumps raised on her skin at the thought, and the great wolf turned around to inspect her arm, seemingly unfamiliar with the phenomenon as he sniffed at the lightly bumpy skin until the bumps disappeared. He didn't seem to question it, however.

"Do I have any clothes to change into?" [Y/n] questioned. Czaer paused, staring around the tent to see if anything had been dropped off for the girl. That didn't appear to be the case, so he slowly stood, keeping his head bowed as to not knock into the walls (or ceiling) of the tent.

"I assume the clothes are with the sirens. They should be down the trail by the tarn... be careful around them, though. They're devious little snakes..." he muttered. [Y/n] assumed the conjoined tribes all lived in harmony, however this didn't appear to be the case. She noticed the fur on the great beast's hackles raise as he growled about the sirens. "In fact, I'll take you there. I don't want to risk you being on your own." [Y/n] hesitantly nodded.

She watched as Czaer nuzzled the fabric door to the side and exited the tent, waiting outside for [Y/n] to follow. Pushing the wool blanket aside, [Y/n] stood and slipped on a pair of brown leather boots, before carefully making her way out of the tent in pursuit of the great black wolf.

The light was blinding, much worse than the usual sensation of flicking on a light in a pitch black room - she could hear the pained buzz from the shock of white light. When her senses adjusted, she stared around to see that the falling snow from yesterday had settled and engulfed the place in a carpet of white. She turned to see Czaer laying on the floor, his huge bushy tail wagging from side to side in the snow, flicking it everywhere. [Y/n] walked over to him and he gestured to his back, so [Y/n] of course realised that this would be her first sentient creature ride of the day. She did as he had silently instructed, climbing atop his back and nervously clinging onto the coarse fur of his neck, though immediately deciding to just wrap her arms around his neck instead as she nearly slipped off him while he stood up. She saw a faerie girl giggle at her as she walked past. She realised she probably looked ridiculous but she would rather that than fall off the side of a cliff.

Czaer began to walk, his pace even and delicate; he was clearly being careful as to not walk too quickly or too unevenly, which [Y/n] was very grateful for. She remembered what Rya had taught her yesterday about going up and down hills on the back of an animal, so while Czaer moved downhill, [Y/n] straightened herself and leaned back a little to make it easier for him.

On the subject of yesterday, [Y/n] reflected on her meeting with the other pegasi of Rya's tribe. It was a wonderful experience - one [Y/n] would not forget in a hurry. She had played with the fillies and foals, chatted with the elders of the group, and spoken to the pegasi of Rya's age about the upcoming war. They had all pledged to take [Y/n]'s side in the battle, even though they'd objected when asked by Feron. On the way back, Rya had explained to her how hard it is to win over a pegasus, and that [Y/n] had truly achieved something great.

In all honestly, [Y/n] wasn't sure what the hell was going on anymore. Regarding the boys, she could understand why she was selected for the program - that being her blood pressure - and now, retrospectively, she could understand why they changed the way they did. After all, they were maturing far too quickly and her relations with Nyais must've easily caused them confusion regarding what their relationship with her should be like. They had learned jealousy too fast to be able to handle it, so it overcame them. But everyone else? How did she manage to befriend a dragon? Was it because of Hetti, and subsequently because of Al? But if she'd managed to do something on that scale, then how had she then gone on to win everyone's favour so easily?

Though she knew it was just paranoia, she feared things were too easy. She didn't want to find out what karma had in store for her.

Czaer stopped walking when they reached a shimmering blue lake. He laid down so [Y/n] could clamber off his back. The lake wasn't massive, but it wasn't small either - it was breathtaking, the colour of it reflecting on the underside of the surrounding trees. It was so clear that she could see fish swimming in it, and figures much bigger than fish in the distance.

The sound of wings erupted from behind the pair. Czaer and [Y/n] turned around, however nothing was there. Perplexed, [Y/n] took a step forward, but the sound then came from the lake. A loud splash switched their attentions over to the lake once more.

A woman with a pair of wings much alike to a magpie's and long raven hair down to her thighs snatched something from the water with long, clawed hands. She then perched herself on a rock with a satisfied expression as she dropped the live fish into her mouth, seemingly swallowing it whole. Finally, she turned around to look at Czaer and [Y/n].

"Good morning to you your majesty, and to your wolf companion, too," the siren greeted with a song like voice, "my name is Orennis," she smiled. [Y/n] dipped her head in greeting, placing her hand on Czaer's mane as to calm the agitated wolf down. "What might you be doing on our side of the woods this fine morn'?" she questioned.

"Clothes for [Y/n]," was all Czaer said, and he spoke shortly and abruptly. He didn't want to be there. Orennis sighed, running a hand through her wet hair.

"Yes, I suppose that is something I can do..." she tailed off. She flew over to the other side of the lake and into a cave, where she soon returned with a wad of fabrics in her arms. When she landed again, she gave the direwolf a strange look.

"Well?" she muttered, "are you going to run off into the bushes now? Or do you expect the lady to change in front of you, you brute?" she huffed. Czaer's teeth drew back in a snarl, however [Y/n] placed a hand on his mane once again.

"It's alright Czaer. I'll be with you soon." Czaer didn't like it, but he nodded his head with great hesitation and padded off into the bushes, ignoring the jeering comment 'good dog!' from the siren behind him. [Y/n] gave Orennis a look.

"You didn't have to condescend him," she huffed, crossing her arms over her chest.

"Look lady, do you want me to get you dressed or not?" Orennis mumbled. "Wolves are stupid. Don't trust them. The only things they desire are sex and food." [Y/n] raised a brow; wasn't that exactly the only things sirens desired, too? She decided not to comment. Orennis stretched out her wings. "The merfolk are going to dress you - I'll be taking you to that cave over there," she explained.

"Ask them to come over here," [Y/n] said solidly. Orennis laughed.

"Smart girl," she hummed. "I'm glad the prince didn't choose a total buffoon." [Y/n] was about to make a retort, however the siren began to sing, and [Y/n]'s eyes widened at the beauty of the sound. There was something so perfect about it that she felt herself being completely lulled, as though it was an irresistible lullaby that would put her to sleep. In fact... it reminded her of something she'd experienced before...

Mitzu's violin.

She immediately snapped out of her trance, and the siren cracked an eye open, clearly surprised, but continued to sing regardless. And now, out of complete hallucination, [Y/n] could watch as the mermaids that she'd seen in the distance before began to swim over; their silhouettes were elegant and graceful as they danced through the water to the sound of Orennis' beautiful song, which now [Y/n] could only view as disturbing and panicking.

When the mermaids arrived, almost beaching themselves on the bank of the lake, Orennis' song ceased and the mermaids blinked in confusion. The one at the front, who was a pretty girl with tanned skin and silver white hair, realised what had happened and glared at Orennis.

"Haven't I told you not to do that, Orennis?!" she yelled out, crossing her arms over her chest, "just call us like someone normal!"

"Oh Katie, my love~" Orennis purred, "where's the fun in that?" she smirked, before the mischief left her face. "Our Queen must be dressed, and I doubt she knows how to put all of this on herself," Orennis mumbled, before [Y/n] could say 'I can do it myself!', which was clearly going to be her next sentence from the way her brows knitted and a small pout formed on her lips.

Katie beckoned her over to the lakeside as Orennis stretched her wings once more and departed. [Y/n] was then pulled into the water, though held above the surface by the other mermaids. This wasn't like Hetti, when she'd enthusiastically chosen outfits for [Y/n] and made an effort to change the girl with both of them doing their own parts - no, this was... too one sided for her liking. It was uncomfortable, but she didn't dare push the mermaids away or else she could risk sinking under the water, and it was freezing. Absolutely bloody freezing.

So, she allowed the mermaids to braid her hair, change her clothes, wash her skin and talk to one another as they did so in a strange language she couldn't understand.

Once she was changed, she heard Katie whistle for Czaer. Somehow they'd managed to change [Y/n] into the furry white winter dress that had been made for her just recently without getting the clothes wet, which [Y/n] was very grateful for. But she was very cold, and shivering, so she was more grateful when she could snuggle into Czaer's fur.

Without much more said, Czaer and [Y/n] departed on the second part of their journey; the meeting spot.

* * *

"Nyais! Good to see you again, friend!" Aytsa grinned. They all sat at their respective seats in the grand hall of the place - Tara, Damien and Sally had a guard placed either side of them, and Nyais sat next to them also. On the opposite side of the table were the six boys - six on each side.

"Do not call me your friend," Nyais said simply. "Why do you want to speak with us?" This time, Seishin spoke.

"I'm honestly surprised you agreed to this, your highness," Seishin hummed mockingly. "I never would've taken you as someone who would submit so easily." He paused. "Oh wait... on second thought—"

"Seishin, quiet," Kori interrupted. Seishin blinked in surprise at the boy's silencing of him. "We're here to talk to him, not to insult him." Nyais raised a brow. "What we're saying is... we know something about [Y/n], but would like some explanation in return."

"What do you know?" Nyais pressed.

"Not telling~" Aytsa sang, "not unless you promise to explain." Nyais rolled his eyes at the boy's antics. "If you don't explain, them I'll just go ask Rayne about it, and you'll never know."

"As you didn't ask Rayne in the first place, I assume you do not wish to let him know of this at all, so do not try to fool me," Nyais huffed, though any information on [Y/n] was a help. "Go on. I'll explain whatever I know." Aytsa grinned.

"Well... we saw a centaur. She spoke to [Y/n], but we couldn't hear what she was saying." Nyais looked at him, a little confused on what Aytsa wanted him to do with that information, however Aytsa wasn't done. "Of course, that wasn't it, or else we'd have her with us now." His amicable forgery was dropped, and his gaze was now dark and bored. "She was taken away by a dragon. Care to explain who the fuck this mystery dragon is?" Nyais blinked in shock.

"A... a dragon, you say?"

"Unless I've gone senile a few thousand years early, yes, a dragon." Nyais looked down at the table and pinched the bridge of his nose. A voice sounded from beside him.

"You're trying to tell me you just let her get taken off by a fucking dragon...?" Tara snarled. Aytsa quirked a brow.

"Oh yeah, I was gonna ask who the fuck you are."

"Aytsa," Laion huffed, "those are [Y/n]'s friends." Aytsa blinked in realisation, and then calmly ignored their existences, focusing back on Nyais, who looked far more frustrated than usual.

"That dragon is Prince Feron of Vihren," Nyais said shortly.

"Prince whosit of whatnow?" Draka mumbled, rubbing his neck.

"The ancient Prince of Vihren," Seishin explained, "who harbours an intense grudge against the vampiric monarchy, along with the rest of Kutelo. We used to be at war constantly, however they have been silent since their Princess was killed by Olli a few hundred years ago." Draka nodded as though he understood. Seishin then turned to Nyais, perplexed. "What on earth would Feron want with [Y/n]?" he questioned.

"I am unsure," Nyais said quietly, "but she may be in great danger. There is a chance that they're torturing her for information on us." Nyais glanced over to gage the reactions of her three friends, all of which were pale and quietly whispering to one another. He turned back to the boys. "And before you storm in there in search of her, you'd never make it out alive. So don't bother."

"So how the fuck do you plan on getting [Y/n] back?" Mitzu finally spoke up. Nyais looked down.

"They may use her as leverage against us... I expect they'll want all of the people we've imprisoned to be freed in return for [Y/n]."

"Then free them, for heavens sake," Laion huffed. Nyais shook his head.

"It's not that easy. If we free them all, many jobs will suddenly be open and with no one to fill them. There will also be riots and mutinies, and we will be weaker. And with that, Vihren can attack us, and quite possibly wipe us out." The boys didn't seem to answer with this as they understood that [Y/n] could easily be killed by the fallout of such an event.

"Sounds like..." Draka trailed off, not really knowing whether he should say what was on his mind.

"Sounds like you're all fucking stupid." The vampires turned around to face the brunette girl, who was being held to her chair by her blonde female friend to keep her from trying (and inevitably failing) to beat the shit out of one of the vampires before her.

"And what makes you say that?" Seishin drawled condescendingly, a brow quirked.

"Your kingdom might collapse, all because you weren't compassionate to allow a single human to go home," Tara hissed. "Everything you know might be destroyed, all because you're selfish lying bastards." She turned to glare at Nyais. "And don't get me started on you..."

"Tara, that's enough," Sally spat.

"Listen to the cripple," Kori hummed, leaning back on his chair, "if you know what's best for you." Tara was about to bite something back at him but Sally pinched her arm and Tara held herself back. Damien turned to look at the pair of them with an apparent sadness in his eyes which hadn't left him since they'd been brought here. He'd been oddly quiet the whole time. Though now he spoke up.

"Don't call her a cripple. Unlike you, born with a silver spoon, she had to work hard to get to where she was."

"Was," Kori emphasised. "In the end, you're the ones who are lucky to have our mercy. Not the other way around." Damien bit his lip to keep in a snarl.

"Are we done here?" Nyais finally questioned coldly. "You've said what you need to say, and I've told you what I know."

"Are we done?" Aytsa questioned, a smirk on his face. "It's for you to call, your highness, not lowly peasants such as ourselves," he grinned. Nyais, sick of being undermined, stood up and began to walk away.

"Please escort them out," he ordered the guards by the door. The boys were ushered from the hall, and Tara, Damien and Sally were taken to their room.

Nyais groaned.

The more he thought about this, the more doubtful he became.

What if [Y/n] turned against him?

No...

She wouldn't.