"I want you to keep watch over her if you feel able. Don't you dare strain yourself, okay?"

"Yes, sister."

"And you said that the explosion is what broke your ribs...?"

"Yes, sister."

"Even though you're bruised like you were kicked repeatedly?"

"Yes, sister."

"... okay, honey. I'll bring you some food in a bit okay? Pizza?"

"Y-"

"Yes, sister, right?"

"Yes, sister."

"You're impossible. I love you."

"I love you, sister."

Cool, but not cold, and moist. That is the state of the clinical chamber in which Ellen has been placed, one of four interrogation rooms nestled within the gates of Grace Tower. At any given time the Silver Wyvern can be found there as well, sitting quietly just within the doors with a trashy romance novel in her hands. She's gone through three of them since the fire two nights ago, after spending more time than she wanted in bed.

Now Silver, dressed in punky pink cargo shorts and a short, ribbed black tanktop that shows off a lot of belly and the tape around her ribs, attends to Ellen. The disgraced Dragoon, along with her wounds, has been well dressed and cared for since her arrival. She lies upon a rectangular table with a padded surface, her wrists and ankles chained firmly to posts at all four corners. Temperature gauges monitor her surroundings so that she's not uncomfortable - and so that any ice-forming attempts she makes may be caught - and a minibar at one side of the room contains a few flasks of enriched blood substitute. She's been well cared for, largely at Silver's request.

Until she awakens, Silver is content to read.

"Nnng..." the exclamation is very soft, that of an extremely groggy dragon-vampire. She doesn't even realize that she's awake at first. Shifts...can't move her hand. Or the other. This gets her attention pretty effectively, and the first place her eyes dart when they snap just-barely-open is up. ...Can't be good. Where the hell is she...?

Silver looks up when she hears Yin's hair rustling against the table. She closes her book and trots to the edge of the table, looking into Yin's eyes.

"Are you hungry?" Her question, much like her in general, is quiet, but authoritative.

A pause. Silver...well, at least she's alive. But at the same time, it doesn't bode well. At all. Ellen has a thousand questions, of course she does. Is quiet a moment. Finally, she just nods slightly. "Yeah."

Silver still wears her sedate smile, and makes no protest about getting a drink for Ellen, in a small flask. "Open your lips," she quietly purrs, holding the flask up.

Yin is self-conscious and uncomfortable at the prospect of being bottle-fed...but of course, she couldn't expect otherwise. It's not like her hands would be untied just to get ahold of the thing. She really needs the blood...she'd lost a lot, after all. Complies quietly.

Silver tips the flask between her lips, careful not to pour too much, too fast.

"Now that is the hottest thing I've ever seen," a certain familiar-looking Wyvern woman chirps as she enters, two boxes of pizza in her arms. Silver glares at Adelisa, who only smiles back. "Hello, Ellen."

She takes a moment to safely get away from the flask, of course...grudgingly. But... "Adelisa," she acknowledges. Closes her eyes. "This means I'm where I'm afraid I am, then?"

"If you're afraid that you're in Grace Tower, yes." The Grace steps to Ellen's side, smling down upon her with a sort of pitiful sympathy. "I'm afraid things have changed here. I no longer have the authority to free you or I would... Revilier has declared martial law in Julen City. My children and I are deposed, and you... well. You apparently shot his lackey three times."

The slightest smirk touches one edge of the vampiress's lips. It's just barely there...and she can't help it. "Well. Did he survive?"

Adelisa opens one of the pizza boxes, and sets a slice of cheese pizza on a paper plate for Silver. "Of course. He's like some kind of hardshelled beetle or something. You just can't squish him."

Inward sigh. Damnit. Shooting him had felt awesome... but it sucks to probably up for execution or something nastier without having gotten a fatal hit. Looks up to Adelisa, idly pulling at her bonds though not expecting anything. "What about my companion? The long eared...thing? Cat?" Glances to Silver.

The Silver Wyvern averts her gaze. She returns to her chair, takes her pizza with a soft word of thanks, and quietly sits as if lost in thought.

"He's here, somewhere. Who would've guessed that little pervert was Kaz? I wouldn't have known if he hadn't called that spider into the fight, either." She looks away. "I've been reading the reports all day. Also, you should expect to be interrogated about it."

Yin nods a little. Of course. Sighs quietly, and leans her head back. Oh yeah. Probably not going to survive this one...or, if she does, it isn't going to be fun. Doesn't have dragon backup, either. And won't.

Is quiet a bit. Finally..."well. I know these aren't my clothes. And I know I didn't slap on those bandages myself." Burns she hadn't even felt at the time cover fairly extensive portions of her skin...but they've been so well tended, she's only just aware of them on top of the stab wounds. "I'm guessing that was your doing to some extent. And Adelisa's, of course. I dont' know your name. But...thanks."

Silence. Adelisa munches some billion-veggie pizza. Silver chews throughtfully, one hand running along the heavy tape wrapped around her ribs.

"Prata." She looks to Ellen. "My name is Prata."

Yin nods. Doesn't introduce herself as well...she already knows, no doubt. Smirks after a few moments, dryly, and opens her functioning eye to look at the ceiling. "By the way. The laser sight trick. Nice. The vast majority of professional vampire hunters don't even know that one." She'd been impressed.

"Well... a laser sight in the eye will blind most people." Prata munches a bit more pizza, blushing a little bit for the compliment. "I don't think I've been blown up by a cellphone before, either, come to think of it."

Adelisa looks between them. "You two are entirely too chummy to have just nearly killed one another."

Yin shrugs a little. As best she can through the restraints, though she grimaces a touch and thinks the better of it. "She's my enemy. That doesn't mean I don't like her. Besides, had I not had such a crap-ass few days, the fight itself would have been fun." More fun than getting chased through the sewer. But that had been interesting, anyway, and hadn't really bothered her persay.

"Mutual respect?" Prata offers, her smile so hopeful that Adelisa actually cringes. Desperate for companionship much?

"When you two fought, Yin, did you kick Prata's ribs at all?" The question is out before Adelisa thinks to stop it. The Silver Wyvern glares at her for daring to question her honestly... and for risking finding out that she'd been lying.

The barest of thin pauses. Glances to Prata, wondering. Something's amiss for sure. But, considering the truth, her situation, and the circumstances... "the cellphone detonation may have nailed lower ones. The hard kick was Brandt's, not mine, after she was down."

Adelisa turns a scolding glare upon her sister. "He did that to you? Why?"

Prata munches her pizza quietly.

"After you were down, he kicked his own partner hard enough to break her ribs?"

"... I must have deserved it," Prata finally, quietly, admits.

"You're his partner, not his bodyguard?" Ellen's stunned a few moments. Finally scowls, fangs thoroughly bared. "Fuck no. He saw the explosion that threw you back, he knew you were down for the count and started kicking you increasingly hard to get you up when you already needed medical attention! I couldn't believe it. Well, I could, but only because Brandt's Brandt." Pause. "No, I was still pretty startled. He's a bitch, but that defied description. That incident was one of the reasons I was thrilled to shoot his ungrateful ass. None of my partners, ever, would ever pull anything like that without a damned good explanation, and I'd never do it to them. It doesn't work that way." Okay, so she's spitting venom a bit. That kind of disloyalty just...gah. She can't fathom it.

Both wyverns stand in stunned silence. Prata grimaces, as though her wounds hurt just from the mention of how it happened.

"You don't understand, he wouldn't have done it if he didn't think I needed it," she quietly protests. Opens her mouth as if to say more, but doesn't.

Yin closes her eyes, laying her head back. She'd gotten entirely too excited there. Silent a few moments. Reflecting. After a few moments, voice quiet again... "you're a strong woman, Prata. Though I'm not sure now if really you know it. I hope that there's a deep, tactical explanation for accepting betrayal, and not just codependence. For all you are and do... you could do a lot better in a partner, a crush, an ally. Or pretty much anything." Breathes out slowly. Opens her eye, gazing cooly at the ceiling again. She's said her part. Hopefully the wyvern will think on it. Is silent a few moments. "So. What happens to me now? And to Kaz?"

"Well. The incident at Kaz's place was hardly subtle. Guns and blasts and all that... people know we've got you here. Also, we've put in requests for your exile instead of your execution." Adelisa smiles some more, her cute little smile. "Kaz... is seriously on Revilier's shit list. I don't know about him."

Yin's eyes fall shut. Erf. Menayen...he grows on you fast, he does. It's always disconcerting to think of someone so dynamic dead. "What about Troix...?" Knows she's venturing into dangerous territory now. "At least tell me that. She's a five year old with a dead mother trying to swallow the loss of pretty much every constant that she's ever known." Except Alou. "What happens to her?"

"I don't know." Adelisa's smile turns smirk, and imperious at that. "We can't find her."

"And if you did?"

"If I found her? I'd run for the hills with her." The eldest Grace takes another slice of 'it might as well be a greenhouse' pizza while Prata looks on with something akin to revulsion. "I'm not even clear on why she's so important to Revilier. My children and I were taken out of the loop months ago, and replaced by that scatterbrained trunk-monkey Brandt."

Yin lays back...ponders this. She thinks she can trust Adelisa to be telling the truth. Isn't sure, not really...all told, this particular Grace can be a touch hard to read, for some inexplicable reason. Either way, she's quiet awhile. Finally..."I don't suppose I could convince either of you to let me out of the chains?"

"We're being watched, honey." Adelisa glances up to the ceiling, as nondescript as the rest of the room. "They would be here before I could break you free, and Prata here would not let me try, anyway."

The Silver Wyvern just eats, cheeks flushed with something like shame.

"My hands are just asleep, is all," Yin sighs quietly. Probably partly due to lack of blood flow. Gazes thoughtfully at the ceiling in question. It's actually true, they're just annoying her. "Don't mean to complain, really. Whatever comes next, I'm not oblivious to how carefully the room is set up. Just still chained spread-eagle to a table awaiting interrogation is spoiling my mood, I guess." Closes her eyes, and wonders if she can fall asleep. Probably not, no. And she's not really entertaining ideas of escape. She's good...but not that good, not as things are right this moment. There's just...to wait.

"I'm sorry." Adelisa smiles a bit, an impish smile much unlike Prata's mellow, careless one. "Brandt is on his way, with Revilier. They'll be questioning you. I've done everything I can, and I hope they'll go easy on you." She glances at her sister. "Give her some of this if she wants it. I'm going."

"Be safe, Adelisa..." Yin manages to force a small smile, though she doesn't open her eyes. "Say hi to your kids for me, will you?"

"I will. Good luck." The eldest Grace takes her leave swiftly, before she can convince herself to do something stupid.

Which is good, as it turns out, as Brandt brushes right by her in the hallway, clomping along on his crutch.

"Well," he chuckles, looking Yin over after a nod to Prata, who meekly puts her face in her book, "isn't this lovely?"

Yin doesn't open her eyes. "Isn't it? The sad part is...a third of my face is bandaged, and I still look better than you." Pause. Opens them. Smirks. "Actually, facial bandages would be a good look for you. Give it a shot sometime."

Brandt smiles a little bit at that. "With you chained to a table, I can afford to laugh at your wit. I'm not here for a pleasure visit, as much as you might hope so. I simply came to ask you one last time about the whereabouts of Troix before Revilier arrives to give you a proper interrogation."

"No. Bite me."

"Later." Brandt hobbles aside, clicking his crutch on the floor. "Bitch won't talk," he calls into the hallway, his voice only just preceding the softest footsteps a combat boot can make. Prata rises when Revilier strides into the room, and in the instant it takes to see them near one another Brandt is reminded of where the Silver Wyvern gets her looks. 

Revilier (ooc: Reveal-yay) sports the same snow blonde hair and features Prata does, only thickened and hardened into masculinity. He is, of course, perfectly babyfaced, and his deep green eyes possess that piercing quality common to military officers. He's even dressed in the blue and green camo fatigues of the Wyvern navy, with all the appropriate officer patches running up his left arm.

"Yin Iexjir... am I pronouncing it correctly?" he moves to stand not two feet from the table.

"No." Yin doesn't look at him yet...though not for lack of wanting to. Such an important influence these last few months, rocking her whole life right off of its foundations...and yet just a name, just yet, a faceless phantom. Her voice isn't sharp, though. Isn't flirtatious, either. Something more or less like respectful, pretty characteristic of most dragoons. "I was stripped of any sort of draconic connection several days ago. My name is Ellen Belikov."

"Yes, I know. But your name is your name." Revilier tilts his head over, trying to look into Ellen's eye. "Brandt," he quietly says without turning around, his voice the soft authority of a comfortable officer, "stop smirking and get out of here."

"Sir?"

"She hates you, I would say for good reason. Your presence will only make her want to be quiet. Not you, Prata." He turns a bit when the Silver Wyvern stands to walk away as well, and scowls until the Fire dragoon is out of the chamber. "Better?"

Yin is cautiously relieved...though a tactic like this, she knows, is likely only meant to win trust. Good cop. Still..."Quite so."

"He has a way of getting under the skin of people. A poor interrogator demands answers. A good one expects them and convinces the questioned that giving answers is the only logical choice." His earflaps, only barely discernable, wiggle a little bit. "Please tell me where Troix may be found, and I will release both you and Kaz, never to bring up these filthy affairs again."

"No. Kaz, I'm sure, would rather I leave both of us here to whatever end."

"I hope you understand that answering that way will lead to consequences?" Revilier reaches down to the side of Ellen's table, flicking a switch with a soft snap. The table begins to rotate, tilting upward until Yin stands more or less vertically in her chains, leaned back just a bit so she doesn't hang forward.

She closes her eyes, quiety working on mentally steeling herself for whatever comes next. Cringing inwardly despite herself, though this doesn't show in the least. "I wouldn't imagine otherwise."

"Prata, you may go now." Again, he doesn't turn. The Silver Wyvern follows his instruction to the letter, of course, and is gone in a moment -- taking the food with her. "You can stop acting tough. You've lost everything, Yin, you're hurt and alone, facing an almost certain death. Tell me where Troix is. Save us both the time and pain of hurting you." His voice simply drips honey.

He's good. She's already defensive, and he's under her skin...an auspicious start, and not for her. She growls softly. "No. You and yours have taken everything from me, yes. Except Troix. She's the only important thing still intact. I'd much sooner die than have a hand in unwravelling her as well."

"Me and my kind? I don't know what you're talking about. If my memory serves, you were discharged for failing to recover a dragon's egg. Humans stole the egg, not Wyverns. Surely you've discovered that by now."

"That was a relatively small part of it. I was discharged for the Tower bombing, which all of my sources connect you to orchestrating." Closes her eyes again, a wry and humourless smirk threading across her lips. "The pictures of you distraught over Shem were a lovely touch. Icing on the cake, there."

"And you were so sure that your sources had accurate information that you mounted yourself to a cavalier crusade to topple my empire. You should star in your own B grade action movie, Yin." He takes one step forward, so close now that his breath reaches Yin's skin. The scent of it is cool and wintergreen, a hint of mouthwash.

Her fangs bare just a little. "Oh, no, this one is more than 'sources'. There were too many security holes when I tried to infiltrate the tower last time. They were just scattered and well-placed enough that it could have been natural. It took a thousand retrospectives at the situation to figure out. But they made it possible if I had some skill to help out and make it plausible. The hall with the lasers should have had a guard. Hacked your records, it usually does. The second stop for the elevator should have been guarded. And I'm pretty sure there was one missing in the parking garage. I was all but let in. Those are three different unit jurisdictions. You're the only one who could have arranged it."

Revilier smiles at her. Just smiles, and regards her.

"You're beautiful when you're full of shit, you know that?"

"Mirrors are gorgeous, huh?" she purrs back.

"You said it." He leans his cheek into his palm. "Correct me if I have my facts skewed, but was there not a cavernous explosion nearby about the time you infiltrated? Doesn't it stand to reason that soldiers would be sent to help?"

"That accounts for one of the missing posts, but not the first two."

"Do you like baseball, Yin?" Slowly, so as not to spook her, Revilier reaches up and begins to gently pull the gauze away from Yin's face. He's wary for freezing, but isn't terribly concerned she'll do something that might get her shot by an alarmed guard.

Pause. "No. It's duller than American football without the benefit off well-built males." She considers attacking him, of course, but only because it's possible. The idea's dismissed immediately. It would be stupid.

"Baseball is a game of anticipation. I would think every woman could at least appreciate that." He looks her burns over once the gauze lies at their feet in a heap. "It's about building to that one beautiful moment where something you may not have expected happens." He reaches up, lays his hand directly across her burns.

She winces. Tries not to, but can't help it; it hurts...and his words definitely aren't helping. Sets her jaw.

"How much do you know about me, Yin?" The wyvern ultra-patriarch's skin cools a little bit, a bright gold and translucent symbol glowing to life on the back of his hand. Curative energy flows from his fingertips and into the wounds.

She's startled...of course she is. Lets out her breath. Is quiet a few moments. Finally..."not a lot. You're a difficult man to find reliable information on."

"None of your intelligence told you that I am a Golden Wyvern, then?" The healing energy spreads, carrying a soft, pale yellow glow along with it. "None of your intelligence told you which moment you ought to be anticipating."

A pause. She's wracking her brain...trying to figure out what a Golden Wyvern even is for practical purposes. She could have sworn there weren't any alive...and Alou, not to mention her other contacts, have referred to Revelier countless times as Silver.

God, but she hates the wholly unexpected. "...and which moment is that?"

"In good time. You have yet to finish anticipating, Yin. You've lost your allegiance to the dragons, and given a temporary one to the Spiders which you intend to honor only long enough to go crawling back to the dragons. Why?" His fingertips, impossibly smooth and soft - especially for a military type - strokes her restored cheek all the while, gentle green eyes looking into her icy blues.

He's really quite good. Ellen is ridiculously resilient to torture and most interrogation tactics...but the apparent kindness he's showing her is really messing her up.

"I am highly unlikely to ever regain my Draconic connections, and I know that. But I hate leaving things unfinished." And because Troix still needs the protection. But she knows better than to bring this up again unless she can't help it.

"And what things are you hoping to finish exactly? I understand that some of methods are something less than friendly. But you were misled from the beginning about me." Fingertips play along her cheek, along the line of her cheekbone. "Are you wounded anywhere else?"

"Too many things don't make sense. Investigation still needs to be cleaned up from its corruption. Also want to know just how right the court martial was about my incompetence. And...I don't know." This last part about her injuries. She really doesn't.

"Please. You were court martialed because certain high authority figures were looking for a reason to weaken the Dragoons. Brandt left their service a while back exactly because of that, though he probably did something foolish to deserve being kicked out." He lowers his hand and pulls at the simple knot holding her borrowed tunic together. "Permit me, and I will heal any other wounds you might have."

She pauses at this, of course. Finally shrugs a little. Well, as best as can be expected hanging from overhead chains. "Sure."

The knot comes loose easily enough, and Revilier pulls the cloth away to fold and set aside. He turns back to her, looking up and down her trim - and wound-marked - body. "You don't seem terribly affronted, Yin." Yin. "I must touch you to heal you. Is this acceptable?"

"I'm not what you'd call body-shy. And that's fine."

The Golden Wyvern examines her one more time, and lightly lays his palms over her various puncture wounds in turn. Her feet, one shoulder, and just beneath her breasts receive the soft touch of a healer, his fingertips lingering a bit along the prominent scales on the right side of her body and running lightly over her belly. He's caressing her just as much as examining her, but the curative energy begins to take effect regardless.

"Do you feel better...?" he tentatively asks, glancing down to her especially slashed-up legs.

She's really thrown for a loop by now, of course, and not always meeting his eyes. Deeply confused. But... "Yes. Thank you."

He's quiet a moment, looking into her face with that beautiful boy expression of his.

"If you will permit me, I will finish restoring you." Looks to her damaged legs, a tilt to his brow giving him a brief look of sympathy. Back up to her eyes, as his fingertips brush her cheek again.

She's confused and trying to figure out the method to this...of course she is. Normally she'd think there may not be one. He's an exceedingly attractive fellow, of course, and with that and considering his...unusual kids; he's got to be a very sexual creature, which often imparts some degree of romanticism. But on the other hand...well...he's Revelier. Not only can she not so quickly disregard everything she's heard--and, logically, she shouldn't--but he's a top military commander supposed to be interrogating an enemy spy. A "hot commodity," as Kaz had initially put it.

All this just reflects in quiet, confused indecision, a vaguely bothered expression topped with a slight blush she can't help. "Excuse me," she finally notes softly, "if I'm concerned. In my experience, it's considered fairly desireable for a prisoner to be more or less disabled unless she's about to be either released or executed."

"It would have been a great waste of resources for me to have you nursed to health only to turn around and harm you." His fingertips stretch a bit so that his palm cups her cheek, still emitting enough curative energy to produce a pleasant sensation in Ellen's skin. "I would rather you see you come out of this with a clear understanding of the truth."

Yin just remains quiet at this. She wants to know the truth about this whole thing...more than anything, really. She won't be able to just trust his word. But she definitely wants to hear his side of the story.

Revilier cradles her cheek for a long, thoughtful moment. "You've been fed only sparingly, Yin. Did you know that the blood of a Golden Wyvern is the source of his healing powers?"

She's silent at this a few moments. Finally... "No. I didn't."

The prettiest of wyvern men allows her a prize-winning smile. "Let me heal the rest of your wounds I will feed you from my own veins, afterward, and you'll feel better than you've ever felt before." His thumb strokes along her jaw, hand trailing gently along her neck now. "Permit me."

That slight blush is still there. All told, she isn't accustomed to being on this end of flirting with a probable ulterior motive. She's not the one in control this time. She finally nods a little.

Revilier pauses before lowering himself to a knee-- he doesn't want to spook her. His fingertips leave a glowing, golden trail from her neck to her her navel.

"You may feel certain sensations, Yin," the Golden Wyvern warns her, his enchanted hands searching for her wounds one long leg at a time. His hands massage every curve of each until both tingle with new life and strength. Her calves, her knees, her thighs... to each he pays slow, gentle attention. As he begins to rise he reaches behind her, sealing and renewing the damaged flesh of each pale cheek of her ass. He continues upward, along her back, until every last cut and piercing wound is sealed.

"Is that better...?" he asks, once again reaching to cup her cheek.

Even if it's legitimately necessary, she's much more distinctly aware of her nakedness than she usually would be, and just a touch self-conscious about it. He hadn't been unduly wandering once he'd gotten into dangerous regions. Still, her cheeks remain warm. "Quite a bit, yes."

"Good." Again, he pauses. "I was wrong, earlier, Yin." He holds up one wrist and slowly, carefully slices it open with the single claw on his hand - the thumb. Raises it just enough for her to see and smell the liquid welling in the cut. "You are beautiful, period." He steps close to her, so close she can probably feel his cool breath on her neck, and offers his wrist to her lips.

This statement, actually, is familiar enough in some variation that it levels her a bit, grounds her and lets her feel slightly more in control. Or, it might if she hadn't been very distracted the second she'd smelled blood. She's a legitimately very hungry vampire, and instinct can be a very powerful impetus.

Her eyes travel up to his a few moments, searching. Wondering, and unsure. She's struggling to not partake, really. It really is normally fairly intimate thing, or has been in her life, a consentual feeding...not to mention often leading to more.

Instinct and hunger help drive home the mood that he's been building for awhile. They win. She's good with her fangs, and they slide easily into the existing cut, not touching any but the offered vein until the gentle-as-possible bite. The effect, really, is instant...the feel and taste of his blood is equally bizarre and overwhelmingly relieving, rather tingly. Bite tightens. Her eyes roll back a little under a feral bliss just before falling shut.

Revilier grimaces a little bit, but his natural healing power prevents him from losing much strength to her bite. He steps close to her, wrist held in place, cheek lightly touching hers.

"This is the moment, Yin," he whispers into her ear, "this is what you've been anticipating." The Golden Wyvern shifts his position a bit, smiles for her, and nip kisses from the lobe of her ear to the smooth nook of her graceful neck. His lips burn with the same curative power in his hands as he takes advantage of her bliss, leaning down to wrap his softly suckling lips around the cool tip of her breast.

She can't be surprised, not deeply...in her mind, she'd pretty much consented to this when she'd given in to the desire to bite his wrist, and his intention had been clear enough. It's always been the understood trade-off, for most of her life. She's overwhelmed by sensation for a moment, from multiple sources now, when she dispays truly unusual fortitude for a vampiress and slips her fangs from his wrist before she could possibly have had enough...though, admittedly, not trying to move her mouth far from it. "This," she observes after a few moments, only the slightest bit breathlessly, "is an exceedingly strange route for an interrogation to take."

Revilier gently releases her nipple, kisses it gently again before lifting up to look into her eyes with that charming, devilish gaze of his. He's not surprised that she's so resilient, really... she's an amazing creature. Without answering her vocally the Golden Wyvern presses his mouth against the berry-dripping wound on his wrist, sucks a mouthful of power-rich blood between his lips, and kisses her mouth as gently and sweetly as any man has ever been able.

Well, damn. Was there ever, in history, a surer way for a man to secure some tongue? He's smoother than melted glass, that much can't be doubted. Yin doesn't know where this is going, really. Knows, in some part of her mind, that it isn't anything like innocent seduction. But, really...all circumstances accounted for...what's she to do but to see what happens next? She finally kisses him back, not so much shyly at first as feigning it for a few seconds. This, she can do well.

He's given her his power, his own life's blood. Now he offers, insistently enough, his body to her, all a price to pay for her trust. It won't make her trust him absolutely, but he hopes to at least raise her opinion of him, perhaps form an attraction afterwards. 

To this end, his kisses gradually roughen from ultra gentle, tender, and giving to what he hopes will be a mutually needy embrace.  He lets his uncut hand fall to her shoulder, caressing, stroking her skin and repeating this touch along her breast and back, kneading her muscles, playing her skin's sensations like harp strings in perfect unity.

Eventually, he offers his wrist again.

Yin, any reservations on the matter aside, is certainly beginning to respond well, breath short. She really can only make so much a showing as a lover, bound as she is, but...she's far more warmly reactive, an experienced partner often more focussed on pleasing her mate--though the submissive partner right now--than being a literal ice queen could ever denote. She's than happy to take his wrist again, biting no less gently--though perhaps a touch more ugently--than before.

He's not without affect himself, though he's very much in control of his faculties... part of letting her bite him means devoting much of his attention to healing himself, meaning that his instincts aren't getting out of control. Still, he leans close again and whispers softly in her ear as she bites, little meaningless things about how luscious she tastes, how soft and still firm her muscles are, how her lips are the finest treat he's ever enjoyed. All this while his free hand slides down her, leaving that golden trail all the way down to the gentle mound rising between her lovely legs.

Yin isn't unaware that he's not all gone...this keeps her just grounded, as someone who can control her own sexuality enough to have seduced men and assassinated them during sex...twice. She really is very responsive...to every aspect of what he's giving her, distance included. Still...well...damned if he isn't a good lover, and a sharp intake of breath when he finds sensitive areas disrupts her feeding, eyes opening a bit.

"Relax," he whispers, kissing close to her lips, "as long as you need, Yin. I'll take care of you." He's not oblivious to her own control, either... as someone who has had to defend himself against being assassinated during sex. He has another weapon, though, and when her eyes open he meets them with his own, gazing deeply into them, and the hand that massages her labia and elusive little clitoris glows to bright life with that tingling curative energy.

She sucks in her breath sharply. After a few moments, her fangs finally slide out of his arm. It had been time, anyway...while not truly an instinct, not damaging a willing victim may as well be for how many years the exact point to loose them has been practiced.

The whole feeling is strange....chained to the wall, more or less helpless, compounded by the new, joyously drained, submissive weakness that's post-feeding...damned if it isn't almost a turn-on, in some way. A damned again if he isn't the best lover she's ever had, worlds better than any other man she's been with. Every touch is a shot of deliciously sensuous electricity...for a moment, she forgets to be wary, just overcome with feeling, already approaching something.

Revilier's bitten arm falls a bit before he catches it's descent to slip around her waist and hug her tenderly, as though he's known her forever. His lips find hers, briefly, but just as he feels her hips beginning to rock, muscles beginning to tighten, he pulls his stimulating hand away from her. Kisses again, gently squeezes her bottom, and steps back from her. Quiet, looking into her eyes with an expression that does not lack for the lust he's feeling so powerfully about now. 

Hee...stopped? Well...damn. After a few moments, she looks up to his face, wondering, cheeks flushed now that an influx of new blood facilitates it.

"You don't trust me." He says this as though he's only now realizing it. Looks her up and down, something like hurt in those lusting eyes. "Forgive me Yin. I can't do this to you." He half turns, moves for the door in a rush.

Yin blinks slowly. Takes longer than usual to process...coming down a little, from a near euphoria. Head finally drops forward. Ah. That makes sense now. A crooked, thoroughly amused grin snakes across her rosier lips, hair falling in front of her face. "Bullshit," she decides, softly, voice ringing with wry mirth. She's floating, but...trying. And...really, deeply amused. "You knew that a long time ago; you were cautious in return and waited until I finally wasn't. Although I have to admit you're about the only man on the planet who can make this interrogation tactic even almost work on me. Prove my trust my telling you something so you'll finish me out and we're both happy." There's soft laughter beneath her voice. Equal parts amusement, appreciation, and frustration.

He stops. Looks at her with those suddenly forlorn eyes. "Some day you'll stop making assumptions. I hope I still know you on that day. I'd like to know that woman."

And he leaves. No ceremony. No hesitating, pressing for information, no suggesting or asking if he should or could bring her off.

A moment passes. Then two. Then ten.

Yin sighs inwardly. She's immensely uncomfortable, of course. Partly because her fingers aren't free, and...well. And partly because she isn't looking forward to someone walking in and finding her naked. Hopefully someone who's not named Brandt...or Adelisa, for that matter. But anyone is not going to be good for her pride. Guilt bites at her somewhat, too...she tries to convince herself that Revelier is a fantastic actor, and more or less manages. She's sure in her assumption. Of course she is, it's the only thing that mde sense in this situation. It's only logical. She remembers his face first walking in, and tries to keep this image in her mind...military, and incredibly sharp. Not some whiny fruit of a playboy. Also, he's made an early reference to her 'facing an almost certain death,' and only later that he'd more or less dismissed the very idea. Holds to this thought as well. Needs to justify herself.

Still...it's very nice to be healed, and Ellen's incredibly restless for multiple reasons. One of them is between her legs. The rest...well, as promised, she has more and more active energy than ever in her life, feels wonderful. The last place she wants to be is immobile.

A little while later, Prata strolls into the room. She sees Yin in that state, blinks, and quietly shuts the door to keep the guards following her out.

"Are you alright?" The question is quite a genuine one, as if she expected blood.

Yin smiles faintly. "I'm okay. Would you...mind slipping that jacket back around me?"

"Of course." She gathers the article in question and starts to tie it back around Yin, just as Adelisa had before. Her brow wrinkles a little when she gets close, though. "What's that scent?"

Yin blinks. "Blood?" It's the strongest of the smells that shoud be present, anyway.

"It doesn't smell like the solution we mixed for you..." Looks around. "Did you bite him? And... if so, how in the world?"

Ellen shrugs. "Yes. He let me."

The jacket, tied securely as it was, hides Yin's nudity perfectly. Prata thinks nothing else of it... she's not body shy, either. Comes from serving in a dual sex army with unisex barracks.

"You've tasted Silver Wyvern blood, then. How was it?"

Yin blinks slowly. "Silver? Not Golden?"

Prata blinks, too. "He's my father. My mother was a Silver, too."

Outside of the hallway, Revilier leans against a wall and closes his eyes. Thinking. He glances down to his cut wrist, and then to his other hand, regarding his fingers with quiet study. The healing light glows to pale yellow life, and allows him to study the symbol that burns over it.

"No one harms her," he quietly orders the two soldiers who approach, both equally attired in yellow to white and golden bronze outfits, their eyes the same mysterious shade of burnished gold. "Free Kaz, have him on the street by nightfall."

"Why would you think he is a Golden?" Prata asks this as she sits with her latest nipple-cover book.

Yin blinks slowly. Considers thoughtfully. Finally... "someone had mentioned it. Really need to weed my information sources." Leans her head back. Is just...quiet, mind racing. Maybe this situation is far more complicated than she'd thought before. And that's saying a lot.

"You know. I've actually heard him call himself Golden before. I always thought it was some kind of nickname, though. Something arrogant, for sure. The Golden Wyvern." She turns a page. "Ugh. Does every forty something actress have long, sexy legs sculpted by hours in the swimming pool, legs that she is proud she can maintain?"

"She needs the muscle tone to support the ego," Yin observes, smiling faintly. Mind still a thousand places. After a few moments... "how's Kaz?" The question is iffy, she knows, but she's worried about Prata's reaction on first seeing her. She's certain that torture had been expected...and Menayen can't claim the distinction of being female.

"Making Adelisa laugh. He's fine right now, but she may just be too attached to him to let him go." Turns a page. "Adelisa has a great liking of cats. He kept asking me if my carpet matched my curtains, which does not make any sense. My floor is hard wood."

Yin snickers, almost snorts, before biting it back. Go Kaz. "That sounds about right, yes." At least he's okay. She leans her head back. Smirk fades. Is just...quiet. doesn't really feel up to bantering. Of course, the alternative, nothing to do except to reflect...is about exactly what she'd tried to avoid by jumping immediately to Tarantella after her conviction and discharge.

"Ooh... listen to this, Yin." Prata holds up her book. "'She didn't know what he was after, what passions drove him to throw her to the floor like some sort of half-dressed, blushing doll. All she knew was that his fingertips felt like heaven, playing inside of her, and his lips scorched rings of fire around her bullet-hard nipples.' This is so trashy. Do you read?"

Yin's cheeks take the slightest red at this. But... "a bit, yes. Mostly when I'm on vacation. Usually just 'down home' kind of novels, family matters and such."

"Mm... an escapist?" Prata turns a page. "Ooh, heavens. I can't believe they sell these without warning labels." She turns the book sideways, still smiling.

Yin's lips twitch a little, amused at the "warning labels" bit. And... "something like that."

Prata loses herself in the book again, occasionally reading bits out loud to Yin-- not only the naughty bits, but those more often than not.

***

Back in his office, Revilier leans heavily against his ornate desk. Healing abilities aside, the lengthy draining has taken its toll on his body. Still, the effect he'd hoped for has mostly been achieved. He's confounded Yin's expectations as well as her deductions, he's cast a potent and lengthy Golden curative spell upon her, and he has pleasured her enough to piss her off when he stopped. All of these things, he hopes, will earn a measure of her hard trust and, more importantly, addict her to him for one reason or another. For her own good, and for the good of what she is capable, he hopes he's doing the right thing.

***

"I am here to watch you, is all. Tomorrow I will bring a down home book to read to you... also, if you must use the facilities, I am to help you with that as well." Prata glances at two buckets in the corner. "Brandt's orders." She just smiles.

Yin wrinkles her nose a little. He's just being an ass. "Shouldn't be an issue, thank the gods."

"You're telling me." She smiles a little. "There's no honor in the way you're being treated. Father would not do it, except that a number of his subordinates would lose faith in him if he didn't detain you in a way that looked strong."

"Your father is an exeedingly hard man to read," Yin observes, a touch cautiously.

"He is a good man, though. He wants the best for people." She looks to her book again. "Sweating, noisy, rutting beast sex. That doesn't sound appetizing at all."

Yin snickers quietly. She's getting used to such interjections. "The best for which people?" Well. She is the one chained against a wall.

"He always used to tell me that 'if one must dishonor the few for the good of many, it is permissible, but the greater the dishonor the more people must benefit.' I'm not sure what that means, but I think he definitely wants to help the regular people more than anything else." Backs up a page. "Brunette. Right."

Yin quiets at this. Prata has no idea how much she just strengthened the vampiress's resolve, given her a much-needed reminder of what she's protecting...and reassurance that it's needed.

One person. Just one.

Troix.

"I wish I knew what to tell you. Adelisa has a horribly negative opinion of our father. He raised us alone and taught us to fight, and loved us, all while helping to run a society." Rips a page out of the book. "I am keeping this page for later."

"Why does she think so little of him?"

"I don't know. She had two children by him, which is not terribly uncommon among silver wyverns. The bloodline must remain pure, or else we often lose our power over time." She pockets the page. "He loves his children. Especially Shem."

Yin blinks slowly. "What does Adelisa think of their relationship with their father?"

"She seems to think he hates them, for some reason. Sometimes I think she's not entirely honest with herself about things, though." Another page turns. "I've never met a man who could pull this off. And I've met with a man with two tongues."

The dragon-wyvern considers this quietly.. It's possible that she's being spoon-fed information, of course. Honestly, she's had a hard time deciding exactly where Prata's skills lie. She's certainly a superb fighter, and has demonstrated her intelligence in her ability to track...but she's not sure whether she'd be the choice for this brand of deceit or not. Actually leans towards not.

"I'm not the one you need to talk to if you want to decide whether you can trust my father or not." Prata closes the book at lest, her pale cheeks quite red. "You must talk to him. Do you need anything? I, uh... need a moment."

"If you could flip this thing back horizontal, I'd be obliged. I can't feel my hands."

"Sure." Prata approaches the table and flicks the button, sending the table grinding back to a flat position. "I'll bring you a pillow, okay? Do you need anything else...?"

"Nah, I'm fine." Yin smiles a bit, flexing her wrists the little bit she can to work the shackles a little lower again where they can breathe...and get some blood flow back. "Just couldn't muster proper appreciation of the idea of a crucified vampire. Thanks, have fun." Smiles a bit.

Prata smiles right back. "I will." She just has to pee, actually, but Yin is so cute sometimes that she doesn't feel like correcting her. Dashes out the door, leaving Yin to her thoughts.

Yin lays her head back, closes her eyes. Oh, good. Time alone with her thoughts. Just what a confused, jobless, disgraced, bested, possibly critical, possibly condemned part "race that's disowned me" girl needs. She wants to just fall asleep...but of course, that's probaby not going to happen, as much energy as she still has from those odd healing magics. Really, it's almost an affront to feel good, physically. At least her injuries had been in step with the rest of her life.

Lays her head back, and closes her eyes. At least she can pretend it will work.

---

"Wake the fuck up!" The lash of Brandt's tongue only just precedes the lash of a coiled leather whip snapping toward's Yin's belly the morning after Revilier's visit with her.

She'd been just asleep enough that a slashing pain across her midsection and an unbitten, sharp cry announce her introduction into the waking world. Her fangs are gritted into a tired, subdued snarl. "Who the hell are you supposed to be, Indiana Butt-Pirate?"

"Don't tempt me. I don't care what Revilier says, Belikov. You're a prisoner and I will see that you're treated like one." He's still on a crutch, but isn't having any problem swinging that whip. And does, lashing it at her face without regard for the safety of her eyes.

She squeezes them shut and jerk-turns her head aside just enough in the nick of time that a wide gash opens up all the way down her right cheek. No cry this time. Fangs are turned into a truer snarl. "What the hell do you want, anyway? God, the only part of this whole thing I regret is that my aim wasn't better."

"I want to tear your spine out. Meanwhile, I get my jollies where I can get them."

"Hey, what's going on...?" Prata steps inside from the hall, smiling her usual smile with a worried edge to her eyes.

"Chuckles here is having dominatrix delusions," Yin observes, scathing sarcasm on the edge of her voice. "But, wouldn't you know it, he forgot his trusty heels."

"Brandt, she's not supposed to be hurt." Prata's voice falls a bit at the end, utterly meek when speaking directly to him. Brandt ignores her. Lashes at Yin's throat, just as the Silver Wyvern takes off to notify someone who has the balls to stand up to him.

Yin cringes, but doesn't try to move to stop it. Mostly due to her far-off mood. Gasps, coughs at the sharp impact, but thankfully it doesn't cut quite deep enough to do permanent damage. A lot of blood, though. "I swear to Gods, Brandt," she manages to wheeze, but has to catch her breath before she can finish the retort.

"Your fuckup cat friend got released. All of that effort to find him, wasted because the general has some kind of soft spot in his hard-on for you. I'm taking out my frustrations." 

This startles Yin enough that she forgets to be ready and cries out again at the next blow...but even as she reels from the whip's bite...Menayen got released? Thank god, thank god...

Still, her reaction is automatic. "You really just struck out at the bar and had to make love to your radiator again, didn't you?" Blood trickles from her mouth, but she has her priorities.

"No, Prata gives me all the sex I want. I live a charmed life." He draws back again, just in time for his wrist to be grasped by a powerful hand with only one claw... the thumb.

"Hit her again if you want me to turn you over to the Dragons." Revilier's tone again cuts with military precision, just as it had the day before until Prata had left the room. Brandt growls, and spits at Yin before being forcefully led away and all but hurled out the door, followed immediately by a worried-looking Prata.

Saliva is running down one of the vampiress's cheeks now...rather literally adds insult to injury as it seeps across the deep gash there. Yin, for her part...does nothing. Just...isn't responsive, eyes down and aside. She doesn't hurl any parting remarks to the other dragoon's receding back. Doesn't cringe or cry or look at Revilier. Just...doesn't move.

Revilier lets out a slow sigh after a moment, before turning to Yin. Gazes at her for a second. "I apologize on his behalf, Yin." Approaches her table, drawing a scrupulously clean handkerchief from his front right breast pocket. "Let me help you...?"

This situation annoys him more than he could possibly voice. No matter what he does, this is going to look like a set-up to make himself look good. Fucking Brandt.

She doesn't speak for now. Or look up from where her eyes are thoughtfully, dully far away. Doesn't really feel like it...doesn't feel like justifying this whole situation that way. Of course that's what she's thinking...even if she weren't paranoid, a setup is the obvious conclusion. Good cop, bad cop. Nothing more.

"I won't leave you like this. Think whatever you want." The Golden Wyvern first wipes the spittle away from her cheek, sparing her that indignity. Reaches out to lay his hand upon her cheek, the spell already glowing to life in all of its addicting power. "I can't get rid of him. If I do, my daughter will never forgive me."

This goads her into reacting...baring her fangs a bit, though she doesn't look at him. "Prata is a beautiful, competent woman. Why the hell is she with an idiot who treats her like a retarded child and breaks her ribs for being injured in an explosion?"

"I don't know for sure. She's so naive, for being so intelligent. I would guess it has something to do with that violent streak, though. She needs to feel controlled, be told what to do." Softly brushes her throat with the tips of his fingers, sealing the wound over in short - and pleasant - order. "I've honestly thought about giving him a mission accident... it's the only way I can think to separate my daughter from him."

She does notice the healing touch more than she'd care to. "Someone, somewhere, would declare a national holiday." Tries to shrug. Winces a little. Damnit, but she hates him. Is quiet again. There are things she rightfully should and wants to ask Revilier, but...hadn't been in a good frame of mind immediately prior to falling asleep, and being awakened like this...well. She isn't in a good place.

He takes his time, carefully erasing the lash marks one by bloody one, and cleaning away the liquid afterward. "You've been an officer for some time. What would you do with him, in my position?"

She's quiet at this, considering. Finally..."force them to act on independent missions for legitimate enough reasons. I'd put her into a situation where she's highly likely to run into healthier attention--she's too intelligent to hire it, and it would be ultimately crushing if she ever found out, worse shape than the starting point--and put Brandt in a situation where he's likely to run into another tail, too. Repeat. Then I'd watch and finally latch onto the first hint of a rift between them and force him out of the picture." Not by killing him. She'd never, ever have one of her own killed unless it were truly deserved, regardless of her personal feelings. Her voice remains distracted, as though it's just a trivia question.

"Subterfuge? You are a spy." He smiles at her, but at her distraction the smile fades, replaced by a bit of regret.

"I've been so busy with the army that I've never been able to give her the attention she needs. Adelisa and the children, they're able to adapt to anything in short order." He grumbles quietly, fumbling with a rip Brandt's attack left in her jacket. "Prata wants to believe in things, even if evidence suggests they're wrong. I'll have Jasne find something for you to wear and bring it to you soon... she wants to meet you again, anyway."

Again...? "Jasne?"

"Shem's older sister. You met briefly, did you not?"

"Oh. Yeah. Forgot the name, though." Yin's quiet. Finally... "Why did you release Kaz?"

"It seemed like the right thing to do. He and I have been playing at cat and mouse for a while now. Capturing him was enough to satisfy me, but hurting him would almost certainly invite a public reprisal. After all, he's a very likeable little bastard." 

Finished with her wounds, Revilier gives her hair a gentle brushing with his fingertips. "Do you need anything, before I go? I have much to do today, unfortunately."

A tender enough gesture, of course, that it serves to confuse and bother her. "No."

"Alright. I'll come back to see about you later. Meanwhile, if Brandt shows up here again, you have my permission to freeze his junk into an icicle." Revilier takes his hand away from her hair and goes, moving at a soldier's step.

The tiniest of smirks plays at one edge of Yin's lips. She could have defended herself a bit, had it gotten bad, which also would have set off the alarms when she needed. Part of the reason she hadn't, though, is that the worse she got it, the worse Brandt could get in trouble. So Revilier had known that. Heh.

She lays her head back, and just waits for...whatever. Sleep, company, random abuse.

Its not terribly long before the door opens again. This time, mostly hidden behind a tall box in her arms, it is lithe little Jasne who bumbles inside to keep Yin company and / or annoy her.

"Dragoon," she quietly greets, bowing her head after she sets down the box. "I have some things for you."

Yin looks that way, and her expression softens a bit from the deadness it's been stuck in for awhile. Smiles a little. "That's very kind, miss. Thank you. Hi again."

"Hello." Jasne bends down, her (currently) black hair streaked with orange lines falling over her face as she gets into the box. She withdraws a soft-looking pillow and blanket with a butterfly motif, as well as a set of clothing that looks like something out of Prata's casual closet. "I'm sorry that I have little to say. I wanted to see you safe, and thank you for helping save my brother, but..." trails off.

Yin tilts her head little. Well, as well as she can. Just waits for the end of that. But?

Jasne falters, as though she'd never intended to finish the statement. And she hadn't, really. She forces a smile. "Prata's been taking good care of you, from what I hear. I wish I could get you out of here, but I can't. I tried already. Everyone has tried, you have a lot of supporters here."

Ellen smiles a little...just a touch wryly, but hey. "Well, the thought's appreciated, anyway." She lays her head back. Jasne's smart, as she recalls. All but a genius, near as she can tell. But she's still a kid...and doesn't need to be bothered with this. "Shem has recovered well, then?"

"Yes." She smiles brightly at the mention of her brother's recovery. "Father nearly killed himself trying to repair the damage Shem received."

Yin has to smile faintly at this...although, at the same time, it pokes still more holes in Adelisa's claim that Revilier had perpetuated the attack. "Wonderful, then. I'm just glad to hear that he's okay. Information locked down so completely after everything was done that it was awhile before I got any word of you three being all right. I was worried." Well. The parts she was conscious, anyway.

"You have strength about you, Yin. It doesn't take a genius to see that. There's nothing that will keep you down for long." She looks at the pillow and blanket. "Prata will help you with these things. I should go."

"Thanks, Jasne." Smiles a little, and then lays her head back again, idly flexing her right hand, which is asleep again. Brushes over the "strength" comment. "Take care; tell your brother 'hi.'"

"I'll bring him by soon." She smiles. And leaves, just like that.

Prata, of course, is just behind her, and moves to settle Yin's new pillow in place. "How are you feeling? I brought a book to read to you."

"I'm okay." She's...well, a bit leery, of nothing in particular. She's getting a lot of attention, is more or less getting spoiled for someone chained to a table. And the thing with Brandt has her just messed up enough that something in her is tensing more and more with each kind word, waiting for other shoe to drop. Also, regardless of having fetched help, she has mixed feelings about Prata at the moment. The Silver had had it in her power to stop Brandt after one lash...and it's important to file knowledge that she won't. "Thank you."

"Listen. Things are going to be strange here tonight." Fluffs the pillow, sets it under Yin's head. "Kaz is already mustering the troops to save you. Apparently he likes you a lot."

"Oh, Christ." Yin sighs inwardly. She'd been quietly hoping for a rescue effort, of course...but not one that the Wyverns know about. Looks up to Prata over the top of the pillow after a moment. "Not that I wouldn't be thrilled to not be chained to a table for some large amount of hours without explanation, you understand." Back to the ceiling. "But no one had better get themselves hurt. I'm not worth that. Also, I'd find a way to kick Kaz's probably furry ass if they did."

"Oh, you shouldn't worry about that too much." The Silver Wyvern returns to her chair, pulling out the novel she'd brought to read to Yin. "Father sent an order to me yesterday, and..." she pauses, blinking. "I'm sorry. I'm not supposed to tell anyone. This book is about a single mother and her two kids lost in the wreckage of a hurricane. Want me to read to you?"

By now, of course, she has the ex-dragoon's attention thoroughly. "Wait. What order?"

Prata looks up from the book. "I can't tell you, hon," she says with a quiet seriousness.

Quiet sigh. Thinks about playing the "you owe me for letting your dumbass boyfriend beat me with a whip" card. Decides against it...just doesn't feel like it. "Of course not." Just looks back up to the sterile ceiling again. Four hundred and thirty-nine tiles.

She puts aside her book. "I know I'm gonna get in trouble for this." Sighs softly. "Now that we know who Kaz is, we're watching all of his contacts too.  We know when they're going to strike, how many and how, and... we're going to be able to shut down the attack without hurting anybody."

Yin nods slightly. That's not an order. Still...valuable information, and she can believe that the Silver hadn't been supposed to tell her that. "Well...a relief in its way, I guess." Smiles a bit. "Thanks, Prata."

"... that's why Brandt's being shipped out again. So no one will get hurt." There's a distinctive sigh to the edge of her voice, a longing. "And I'm being sent back to Okarthel."

Yin...tries not to smile. The edges of her lips almost twitsh...she'd have lost it were she not a career actress. Go Revilier. "He wouldn't be safe in Okarthel for long," she points out gently. "...and I happen to know that there's some very nice tail there, anyway. What are you doing there, if I'm allowed to ask?"

Prata shoots Yin an alarmed glance. "What do you mean, nice tail?"

Yin shrugs a little. "Sorry, it was just an innocent remark. There are a lot of very attractive males running around Okarthel, is all. Most of them consider themselves out of my league, since I'm human-oriented, but you could have your pick if you were bored one night."

The Silver Wyvern's cheeks redden into a fast, furious blush. "I could never! I mean, I belong to Brandt. I couldn't."

"Well, you don't belong to him. But if you choose him, that's all right, too." Pause, eyes amused. "Semi-sorry I brought it up. But I have to keep myself entertained somehow, you understand, and I am a vampiress. You know which gutter my mind sits in." Winks, and smirks. "We have fun."

"Oh. Well, that's okay, too. I'm not prudish, I just..." she blinks, as though it's only just occurred to her that she really doesn't need this particular man. She's about to expound, too, when an ultrasonic alarm, just within her hearing range, begins to wail. "Oh. The attack's starting, I have to go. Do you need anything?" She smiles her calm smile.

Not in Yin's range of hearing...but she believes that the wyvern isn't making it up, anyway. "I'm fine. Take care." Wonders if Arux is among them, or involved if he's not. She's positive he would have been talking to Tarantella contacts within an hour or two of the incident at Kaz's house, and probably Alou, since she'd given him his information as a secondary means of contacting her. Gazes at the ceiling, and just...waits.

Silence for a while. A long while, actually. Thumps, and pops... undoubtedly the sound of machine gun fire and bombs going off in the building. More silence.

The door bursts open, shattered inward with the carbon stench of semtex going off.

She isn't deeply startled, really, since she'd heard the faint movings that indicated detonation setup--though she is a bit surprised to see that someone's made it so far, and no small part relieved--but coughs a little in the acrid smoke. Doesn't say anything as she cranes her neck to look that way. Not that it would exactly be more noticeable than an explosion, but hey.

"Guard the hall," Alou's unmistakable voice calls through the smoke. He races into the room, no bullshit mode engaged. "Yin. Don't move." He reaches up to begin wiring tiny traces of semtex to blow the chains. "Are you okay?"

Oh, thank the gods. "Yes. I'm not sure whether I'll be able to stand right at first, though, I haven't shifted position in days." Thank you thank you thank you....

Alou wires the last of the bombs and starts to rig up the clacker, just about the time his two allies shriek in simultaneous roars of pain. He looks, of course he looks, just in time to see rows of metal spikes retracting from the walls and his friends lying on the floor with pierced forearms.

Prata gazes inside, quietly, coldly. "I don't want to hurt you too. Please leave."

Alou reaches for the pistol at his side. Slowly, but with definite threatening intent.

Yin closes her eyes, tears sparkling against her lashes. After a long moment, softly..."Six, don't try to fight her. Please. I'm positive she can take you out if it's just the two of you."

"It's never just the two of us, Ellen." Alou's hand is still at the gun. A soft blue spiral of light glows to life a few feet behind Prata, perfectly silent, and one Menayen steps through it. Lifts up a small black box just about the time Alou shrieks and crumples to the floor, his gun hand glowing with the metal that encases it.

Yin cringes when he cries out, fangs baring. She doesn't look at the spiral but half an instant, when it first begins to form, and then as quickly back to Alou, eyes racing over the other spy and looking for how he's been injured.

Prata's expression certainly isn't one of a victorious soldier. She looks like she's just lost her parents, right up until Menayen jams his tazer into her back. The shock and snap of crackling volts surging through her metal-aligned body lasts about a quarter second before she tumbles, quivering and crying, to the floor next to Alou. Menayen races into the room and finishes rigging the clacker.

"We're almost out." The bombs pop, and the chains break.

Yin's eyes are legitimatley pained when Prata falls...but she's sure the wyvern isn't seriously or permanently hurt, so she pulls off her arm shackles and sits up quickly. Head swirls. Whee. Blinks twice and turns her legs over the edge of the table once Menayen has those loose, jumping off over the edge. Catches herself on the edge of it. Still almost falls. Just leans, vision swirling. She's fine, it's just that you can't just jump up after being horizontal for five days. "Guys in the hall are hurt," she manages after a moment.

"Not bad. I saw them. I'll get them into the portal, and..." He pauses. Looks down to his foot, and the metal ball that's forming around it. Can't move it. Prata stares at him, eyes glazed, barely conscious.

Yin...actually stands undecided, for a moment she can't spare. Realizes it's not just her. It's Menayen and Alou and the guys outside, too, who are here for her. Tries to stand and, hoping she doesn't just fll over--her legs are quite asleep, steps quickly towards Prata for a nice, harmless blood choke.

The Silver Wyvern drops, out of strength, beaten. She hadn't been all that healthy to begin with.

Alou sits up, rubbing his broken hand, and Menayen lifts his feet... all free of metal. "Let's go," the little guy chirps, clicking his portal device again. "Do you want to take her? We might need the leverage and she's hot."

A few more Spider soldiers are fighting outside. Gunfire's getting closer, but it's not wyvern troops.

"Better decide quick," Alou groans, "Revilier's at the end of the hall."

"No. Leave her alone. Let's just get out of here." Yin carefully climbs to her feet again from where she'd knelt beside the wyvern, still unsteady.

"Kay." Menayen clicks the buttons again. Clicks them twice. "Fuck." And again, and a spiralling gate opens in the floor just by them. He grabs one of the downed men. Pulls him back, and both fall inside.

"Go Yin," Alou tells her, looking down the hall. Revilier sprints, his eyes hard, but worried, metallic edges building at his fingertips. He draws his gun.

The vampiress bites her lip. "Don't kill anyone," she requests softly. Glances to the gate, and tries to step into it, herself.

She vanishes, without falling through it or anything like that. Vanishes, bound for a safe house in Okarthel.

Alou stares at Revilier, whose worried gaze turns to deep shock. The general stares at him, jaw clenching.

Alou draws, and pulls the trigger.

---

"... and that's why you get to die today. Do you hear that? I'm going to cut you into ribbons and choke your buddy Yin to death with you. How about it, Alou?"

The spider's eyes are closed,full of blood, but he's still feeling impudent. "How about you shoot yourself and save me the trouble?"

Brandt just smiles. "Think I'll cut your tongue out first. Open up." He reaches up with the stiletto, just about the time a swirl of blue opens on the floor and Arux rises through it.

The shadow dragon isn't amused, or ready to play games. Not a word. He just finishes levelling the already-rising pistol, silencer included, aiming directly for Brandt's skull. Pulls the trigger.

The fire dragon, so intent on what he's doing with Alou, doesn't see Arux in time. His head snaps back. Eyes open wide, gazing at Arux with a question sparkling there as he topples over, quivering a little.

Alou doesn't even look at Arux. He doesn't have the strength, not really.

"We have medical help lined up," he reassures as he approaches Alou, entirely too softly for a big man. This is really just to identify himself by voice to the Spider. Arux, much unlike his white-haired compatriot, doesn't speak much when he's working. He takes a quick look at the chains and quickly begins picking the locks open, taking just a few seconds with each one, and a few extra seconds to catch Alou's legs and lower his lower body gently to the ground rather than let him slam down. Gets to work on the wrists.

Thirteen seconds in so far. Yes, he's counting.

Alou doesn't really seem to notice who it is. He gasps when his feet touch the ground, and struggles a little bit against the touch. "Trap," he groans, "trap..."

Little late for that now in any case. All he can do is finish and count on speed. Alou's second hand falls free. The spider gets lifted over a broad shoulder, regardless of protest or pain, and Arux moves quickly back towards the portal at no slow step.

Nearby, a tiny, skittering spider crawls along the floor, toward the portal. It's a minute thing, no larger than a thimble, and it goes for the opening just as Arux and Alou vanish.

The portal vanishes about a full second after Arux and Alou do. Whether the spider had made it is up to the spider.