Lycan Control open the doors in the morning, expecting a corpse. They have gloves on to retrieve any mess from my bloody end – which obviously never occurred.

Instead, I walk right out past all eight vault doors, past a line of forensic scientists, with my work clothes on, hair tied up, like I never trapped myself in the tomb in the first place.

I walk out into the corridor, to find Jason waiting, not expecting this.

He had been on his phone but he looks up, and has to blink twice.

"Tonight, same time, same deal," I tell him straight.

"Ah – ah – did you," Jason has to recollect himself, "Did you find out any intel?"

"Not yet, it's a work in progress, I gained his trust – but I won't learn anything until I return again, as I promised him... if you break a promise to a demonic pure entity like that, I'll lose my favour with him, you understand?" I raise a brow at Jason.

He nods and I stride past, while everyone else in the cop-shop looks mortified.

I walk out with my head held high.

Outside I get a strange surprise.

There's a familiar face, sitting on the public bench waiting for me.

It's not a bitch.

It's not a man either.

My heart flutters in my chest as I look over the rare sight of Oni in his fae form.

He was a part of Cleo's brood that she had with Anubis.

Oni, Arma and Amon.

I can only assume the other two are close by somewhere.

Oni is dressed in a nice blue shirt, and black jeans, while his black hair curls around his ear.

The Angel Killers must not know of the Sentinel's existence. Their ethereal fae power probably kept them off the radar. I bet they missed their Luna Witches... I meet Oni directly, who's staring at me with haunted red eyes.

He stands up, towering over me and looking me over.

"It's good you see you're in one piece," I speak up to him, tilting my head, "How'd you find me, huh?"

Oni shrugs one shoulder and holds out a hand, drawling at me, "Come on," I put my hand in his and he holds it a little too tight, "...have you found any answers yet to what the hell happened at the club?" he asks, quietly.

"How is Sardonix?" I ask him instead, "Since you're pretty close... please tell me you've seen him."

"What did you see in there?" Oni smirks, he refuses to answer my questions and I refuse to answer his.

"Don't be wicked like your father," I joke around, "How is Anubis?"

"How's that demon stuck in there that you fucked all night, slut?" Oni asks now, letting on he knew something was up.

"Don't talk to your Queen like that," I hiss now as he strides faster and forces me to keep up, still holding my hand too tight, "Where are we going anyway?"

"I thought it was wise to stay undercover, but we'll go back to our place on the edge of town, it's safe there," Oni finally answers me, although his arrogant young Lycan attitude comes right through though, barely hidden by his mortal disguise... and I am losing my patience with him a bit, "Sardonix is in hiding. He's fine. Did you make any progress contacting Onyx, whore?"

"I did," I answer briefly, "Thanks for coming to pick me up, not that I needed the help... I got this, Oni."

"Time for me to come clean. I'm not really helping you," Oni pulls me toward a car parked on the side of the road, and he stops by the boot, clicking it open and holding it up, as he smiles at me, "I'm punishing you, your highness... you helped summon a bunch of Lycans who took my witch," Oni snarls that in my ear, losing his friendly sarcastic smile, "Get in."

"The boot," I whisper, "Are you serious – there's people everywhere."

"They can't see us," Oni explains, smirking over my head, "Fae magic – hop in for me, don't make me do it, Silvia..."

I nod and smile.

Oni lets me go, expecting obedience.

He's ready to watch me hop into the back.

I'm pretty sure now the evil selfish Sentinel Lycan would happily sacrifice me for Selene, Juny and Gerry – he'd do anything to get those Luna crazies back. And as far as I was concerned? I had no pack to protect me from demonic revenge such as this.

So, one ally now turned foe – I do the smart thing. Irun away from Oni, knowing the magic can't extend more than a few meters around him, and he can't shift in public.

I run right into traffic, causing cars to break hard and fast.

A bonnet nudges me and I almost fall, but I get back up and another car pulls around me, stopping fast.

I recognise it.

Onyx's car?

No –

I look up at the window that rolls down, as Sloan yells over to me, "GET IN!"

I open the door and crawl into the passenger side, closing the door as he pulls out into traffic before Oni can intercept – all Oni manages is a kick to the back of the car.

Sloan swears under his breath and drives over a few curbs and foot paths to get out of the street.

Once we're far away from Oni, Sloan looks me over – but his love, Carmen, isn't here either. I wonder if he's going to flip on me next.

"Are you okay?" Sloan asks, looking quite panicked, "I've been trailing you, I thought you were trapped in there... I couldn't get into that building but I saw Oni so I knew something was up, I'm very fucking happy you walked out. Onyx will kill me if I let something happen to you."

"You know he..." I start, carefully.

"I know," Sloan blinks a few times, shaking his head, "It can't be that easy. Onyx... wouldn't just give up like that... I saw it all from the security cams."

"Well I can confirm, Onyx didn't leave us just yet, I talked to him last night," I hold onto Sloan's knee, to calm him as he drives, even though he's a cold blooded snake of a vampire, he was still Onyx's best friend, "Onyx channelled his spirit into his uncle, who's trapped inside LC. And I'm working for LC. I'm in. And his uncle, Zarphire, really likes me. He's in too."

Sloan laughs and smiles, genuinely relieved, "Of course he does..." Sloan looks at me with genuine happiness, "That's what Lycan Queens do. Any reason those Angel Killers didn't haul your ass out...?"

"Dremon," I say his name quietly, with disdain, "...he wants the satisfaction of me willingly crawling to him, that's why he didn't take me, he needs me to make that decision."

"Or it's because you're a liability to his own, it's just chess moves, Silvia, but mark my words, that bastard will come for you... but you're likely to have that pretty head bitten off rather than fucked – especially if Dremon decides you're any kind of threat. You'll need to tread that line carefully. There aren't many places you can go that he can't find you. Lycans have a nose for that kind of thing," Sloan drives us out of the city off onto a ramp onto the freeway, and I wonder where we are going... he answers my thoughts, "...I got an emergency 'bat cave' kind of thing out here, a bunker – but it's in a forest so it's still dangerous. From there, I can drive you back to LC – or you can use mirrors as gateways."

"I won't be stepping through mirrors anytime soon. The Sentinels want to do some nasty things to me, Sloan," I shake my head, "I don't think they want me for any other reason than finding a quick, violent answer to getting their Lunas back."

"They're too young," Sloan snarls, "But they can't do anything. Oni is hiding too, just as much as Sardonix is."

"...you know if he's alright... my son?" I ask him. Sloan nods, "Good," I think of Carmen, "...I'm sure Carmen is also... alright... they'll treat her well, since she knows how to deescalate things... you know... her charm is quite compelling in that way."

Sloan's mouth twitches up but he won't comment.

They really loved each other.

"Did Onyx tell you what to do?" Sloan asks, changing the subject himself.

"...I have to kill Dremon's Queen... I'm not sure how, I'm going to need her bones, apparently... and... look... I'm a Lycan Queen but I'm not a demon myself... I want revenge but I need to work out how to go about this, like you said; carefully," I twist my fingers together as I think about this, "Do you have any idea how a dead Lycan Queen and her bones, is going to help bring them back?"

"A dead Queen, will do two things," Sloan seems to know, "It'll disorient the Angel Killers enough to make them vulnerable to an affront – but mostly it's because she'll be soul-food for Onyx and the pack, and that brief collision, will allow them to jump back out into our Earthly realm of delights," Sloan wiggles his fingers in the air, "Don't worry bitch, whatever happens, we'll get this dirty work finalised, quick smart. And you'll never have to think about it again."

Oh, well that's reassuring...

I gulp as I feel cold.

And lonely.

I miss Onyx.

Sloan quietly puts on some music.

As we drive to his secret bunker I close my eyes to daydream.

I think of Phire. I reach out to him, since I let him in last night – completely and utterly.

Are you still inside my soul? I inquire into my own head, friendly in my inquiry.

I'm right here, puppy. It's Phire's voice but it's Phire's soul – I know the difference. So it's not Onyx right now, but that's okay, I felt like asking this rare and pure Lycan demon a few questions.

You have been generous with me, I speak plainly, why?

You know why.

I really didn't, but I don't know if I want to go down that line too far. I better ask a different question.

Then tell me, Phire, who put you in those chains? I wonder.

I did this to myself, Phire answers softly.

I go quiet, hoping he will elaborate on why he would chain himself up.

Why on Earth... would you lock yourself away?

...maybe I'm a little Earth shy, Zarphire explains. It feels like burning truth. But how strange.

I guess you like the quiet of that tomb? I ask. Phire nods and I see his blue eyes in the darkness of my mind as we communicate together, surely your sweetness for a demon, is pricey? I only ask this out of curiosity. You're very sweet.

I am just weary of everything and... every realm, Phire explains, although you smell quite nice... I enjoy you, puppy.

I want to know what made you so sacred in the first place?

...it's a matter of how and why. I will tell you, as I've told no one. I've always wished for a simple kind of pleasure from an earthly female, a simple soul-bound loyalty and truest love... but to wish so simply is not becoming of a demon... yet I am still a demon, so please don't piss me off, Phire then adds on, Onyx's mother was the love of my life – but child birth killed her... and Obsidian... that bastard just wanted my place, so he made sure her death was painful to break me down.

...are you... I feel so emotional. I state what I know to him, to get his thoughts on this, I thought Obsidian was Onyx's blood-father.

Did Obsidian take that from me too? Phire asks, coolly.

What was Zarphire saying...?!

It was clear, yet I can hardly comprehend it.

How could he be Onyx's true father? That's what he was telling me...

I have to break you out, I whisper, Zarphire, let me... oh... I realise it too late, you don't want to leave that place, do you... but we need your help!

I have already shown you. I will give Onyx my body... but I have been thinking, my entire soul shall rise from this beast, Phire explains, I don't want him weaker than the Angel Killers, only to die. I channelled him through last night but I will give it all to him next moonrise.

Phire, you shouldn't sacrifice yourself –!

Listen, bitch, this is how it's going to be. You don't come to me tonight. I will come to you.

Phire – I squeak as I force myself to be quiet, when his blue eyes float closer, on fire with his passion.

You were saying, puppy? Zarphire's extremely mean snarl and drawl of total demonic anger, floods through my brain, almost swiping every thought clean out of my head. He wants me to listen and nothing more. Okay, I'll obey.

I have nothing to say, I'm sorry.

Good girl, Phire smiles with all his teeth, and I feel his renewed love and approval wash over me, don't worry, I will not leave, and I am not sad... anymore...

Just shy... I acknowledge this.

I will always guide you, Phire floats around me, just don't forget who you serve; all my blood.

I understand.

He meant himself.

And Onyx.

And the pack.

I got it. And I can do it.

I open my eyes, after falling into a very brief nap. I guess my dreams would be spent with Zarphire now?

Hmm...

I didn't mind because my heart felt at peace... well, calm, enough, for the current catastrophic circumstances.

Sloan has grabbed my knee now, squeezing it, slyly and smoothly running it up my thigh and squeezing my leg again.

"Welcome back. Are you okay, bitch?" Sloan inquires, very curious where I travelled off too in my dreaming.

"It was just Zarphire in my head," I explain, "...there's just something strange about a demon who's completely 100% a demon..." I half shrug and casually slap Sloan's hand off my thigh, "I didn't expect him to be so... well... patient and... nice."

Sloan thinks I'm being funny, I give him an annoyed side-glare and he tells me, "...just don't piss him off, okay, Silvia..." Sloan chuckles, nervously, "He'll rip your mind to pieces if you make one wrong move–"

"No, no," I shake my head, "Phire won't. Because we both love Onyx. Phire is his true father."

"Even if that was true, that doesn't mean shit to demons okay, you just do what you do best, and serve, that's all you need to remember," Sloan tells me like I don't already know. Fuck, he's mansplaining to me now.

"Well, he said I'm a submissive bitch and he likes that," I bring it up as a compliment this time, "So thanks for the useless advice, you old corpse."

"Onyx would still approve me choking you on my dick, if you get naughty," Sloan reminds me, with a happy twitching brow, "So please, Queen, obey the dark. You slut-pups have always had the easy part."

"Oh yeah, we do, it's fun too, obeying lust," I grin now, "Oh well, Sloan, cry and get over it."

"You know I can't help but think," Sloan murmurs more seriously, "Either everything Zarphire was saying to you, is a twisted demonic lie. Or just a twisted truth. Either way... you're so batshit, cutie, you believe anything he says..." Sloan smirks at me with a fang, "You're a straight up A grade hell whore. You don't even care that you're possessed by a Lycan death demon. That's really hot by the way, you slut. Like Carmen, you look like her too and you both don't think anymore," Sloan is just rubbing it in now.

"Think about what?" I bite the bait, snapping a bit.

"Basic. Sane. Thoughts... like any thoughts at all," Sloan smiles sympathetically at me, "Poor bitch. You're nuts."

"Oh, sanity? Yeah, I don't know, I haven't thought about that... in like... decades, until..." now... ? I pale a little at the brand-new sparkly thought running through my head, right this moment.

A stray, random, completely tiny, little thought.

After being deprived of my usual hit of Lycan pheromones. Aka, from constant to sparse... to nothing right in this moment.

I was still technically possessed.

But I was also free... to think again.

It's nice...

...that one realisation... I feel it... deep to the bone...

So, with free thought returned, would I...?

...could I...

All over again, give up my mind?

Could I even kill Dremon's queen?

Shit, I don't know.

Shit... I don't know anymore.