Chapter 7 : After Midnight

“So, how do we make people feel fear!?” asked Kianna as her voice rang with her excitement.
“It's actually not too difficult.” said Anton as he laid his arms out across the chairs armrests “In fact, you've already done something similar without even realizing it. If you'll think back to our previous training, specifically the time when you were attempting to kill your sister with a binding ring, you'll realize that you were projecting your anger out into your aura. Mechanically speaking, the process of instilling fear is in essence the same, only with a different emotion being applied.”
“Oh, okay... I do remember that...” mused Kianna as her expression became thoughtful “But how do we do that with fear though?”
“How did you do it with anger?” asked Anton.
“Uh, well, I just kinda did it?” reasoned Kianna “...I guess I was trying to make sure she knew I was pissed? Like I wanted her to feel it?”
“You're on the right track.” nodded Anton “Essentially what you're doing is sending a message. It'll be easier to show you what I mean as I explain it. So let's go ahead and begin by flaring our auras.”
“Whoa! Hold on a second!” exclaimed Mica as she thrashed back and forth “You can't do this to me! This isn't fair! I'm not gonna be your fucking training doll!”
“Yes, you are.” said Anton as he let his aura spread outwards and fill the area “You don't have a choice.”
The dark elves were both smiling as they let their auras flare outwards and join with Anton's.
“Now, anger itself is actually a very easy emotion to project. As Kianna has noted, all you have to do is make it be known that you, yourself are unhappy. It really is that simple.” explained Anton as he watched the kiochi slow her struggles as she felt the air around her become heavy “Now for an example. I'm going to make it clear to Mica, just how very unhappy with her I actually am...”
Mica made a small sound in her throat as the air around her was instantly filled with a thick and suffocating sense of dread and malice. Blinking her eyes wide in apprehension, she went still as she stared at Anton.
With their own auras now surrounding them and acting as a buffer, the dark elves were able to recognize the presence of Anton's aura around them but were not being directly effected by it.
“This is as simple as it is because I am legitimately furious with Mica. And I do want her to know this... However, I can still generate this same effect with another target that I am not so upset with by simply recalling a point in time that I was feeling especially angry and channeling that same emotion into my current message.” said Anton as he narrowed his eyes at Mica “Now, a message of anger can and will elicit a certain amount of natural fear in anyone who feels it. However, this fear is going to be more akin to apprehension, and is not going to be the same as forcing someone to actually feel true terror. Projection is not the same as influence. Though their mechanics are similar. What I am doing right now can be thought of as a warning more than anything. What I'm about to do however... Is no warning...”
Mica's breath became caught in her throat as the aura that was surrounding her began to seep into her very being. Unable to resist in any way, she could do nothing as a thin, swirling cloud of raw dread began to take shape within her mind.
“Just a tiny little taste... Don't want to overdo this...” said Anton as he kept his eyes locked to Mica “Now then, the difference between projecting a warning and influencing your target is subtle but quite significant... Do you understand what's happening? You should be able to feel it, at least somewhat... This is no simple warning... There is no message here... No question or comment that can be ignored or disregarded... I'm not asking her to fear me... I'm making sure that she does...”
The dark elves both stared transfixed as they watched Mica begin to tremble as her face paled. Staring at Anton, the kiochi's slitted pupils constricted themselves down until they were nothing more than thin, black slivers that were barely visible in the sea of emerald green that made up her eyes.
“...I can feel it! How you're... “influencing”, her...” whispered Kianna as she tightened her eyes in question “But, how are you... making the fear?”
“Ah, again, it's very simple.” said Anton as he nodded slowly and dropped his aura.
Mica immediately breathed an exasperated sigh of relief as the swirling terror instantly drained itself from her mind.
“N-no! N-no more!” she croaked as her entire body was racked with tremors “I'll talk! I'll talk!”
“Why don't we put our little training doll to the test. And see how well she can handle having you both practice this together.” said Anton as he ignored the kiochi's cries “To begin with, the both of you can go ahead and imbue her with your auras.”
“Wait, what!?” cried Mica as the dark elves both smiled broadly “Hold on! Hold on! Wait! Don't!”
The kiochi went rigid and silent as she felt the weight of the two opposing auras begin to concentrate themselves around her. Shaking her head in defiance, she clamped her eyes shut as she put all her will into resisting their efforts to invade her being.
The dark elves both began to softly laugh as they felt their auras slowly claw their way into the now groaning kiochi.
Her struggles wasted, Mica glared up at them in fury as their presence permeated throughout her being.
“Very good.” nodded Anton “Now then, at this point you two should be able to feel her resolve as if it were a wall or barricade fighting to block you out and resist you. Force you way beyond that. Delve as deep into her very core as you can. And don't worry too much about hurting her. That's what you're trying to do after all.”
The dark elves both nodded silently as they concentrated on their efforts.
“No!” groaned Mica as she fought to hold them back.
Pressing herself back against the metal chair, Mica clamped her eyes shut as she felt her resistance fail.
“Okay! I think we did it!” breathed Kianna.
“Good.” nodded Anton “Now, you just need to make her feel fear.”
“...H-how?” questioned Kianna.
“Simple.” said Anton as he stared unblinkingly at Mica “Show her your desires. Everything that you want to do. Everything that will happen to her. Make her feel it all. Don't simply tell her anything, show her everything. Make sure that she knows there will be no more warnings, only promises.”
“Stop!” cried Mica as she shook her head “No! Get out! Get out! Get-!”
The kiochi's eyes shot open as her mouth hung agape. Slowly looking upwards she made a small gurgling sound as she took in the sight of the looming dark elves.
Fiona and Kianna stood completely silent as they gazed down at the quivering kiochi and watched her eyes slowly go wide in terror. Making small choking sounds in the back of her throat, Mica tried to scream as the dark elves features suddenly began to blacken and their eyes ignited into a fiery glowing red. Taking a step closer, the two dark elves forced Mica to cringe down into her shoulders as they leaned over her and stared unblinkingly into her eyes as they filled her entire being with a crippling, soul crushing fear. Unable to look away from them, Mica whimpered softly as she saw visions of herself reflected back in their large eyes.
“...Alright girls, I think that's enough for now. We don't want to break her completely on the first round. We do still need her to be coherent after all.” said Anton in a hushed tone as he watched the dark elves slowly eased themselves away from Mica “...This little exercise actually has a second point of usefulness to us. As one very nice aspect of Infernals, is that they all seem to instinctively understand hierarchy. Establish yourself as more powerful than them. And whether they like it or not. They will recognize you as such. And so, I expect Mica will be much more willing to behave accordingly now...”
“This is seriously so easy!” mumbled Kianna as the blackness that was surrounding both her and Fiona vanished from around them “She literally can't do anything to stop us... I don't think she can even move!”
“It's going to feel easy because for a dark elf, causing fear will come naturally.” explained Anton “And yes, I doubt she would be able to move all too well right now, if she can even move at all. This is how it will be for most people, or at least anyone who can't resist you. And this is what you can do without even touching her. The same level of influence would not only be easier to achieve while touching your victim, but the effect can actually be amplified tenfold. I don't think we need to go that far with Mica though, at least not at the moment.”
“...No wonder people are so scared of us.” said Kianna in a hushed tone as Fiona nodded in agreement.
“Yes, caution is definitely necessary whenever dealing with a dark elf.” said Anton “And now that Mica understands that. We should have a much easier time with her.”
The kiochi blinked and hunched in on herself as the dark elves both released her from their auras. Turning her eyes to the floor and away from the people in front of her, Mica began to groan softly as a light dripping sound began to echo through the room.
“Ew! Seriously!?” exclaimed Fiona as she and her sister both took a step back “Did she really just piss herself!?”
“Hm... We may have over did things a bit...” muttered Anton as he grimaced at the small puddle that was forming beneath the metal chair “Though, if that was all it took, that is just embarrassing...”
“Shut up! Just shut up!” whined Mica as she clamped her eyes shut “I hate you all! ...I wanna go home!”
“Completely understandable.” nodded Anton “Cooperate, and we may be able to make that happen.”
“...Okay, fine!” whimpered Mica as she left her head to hang low “What do you wanna know?”
“Everything you may know about the clan your parents are a part of.” said Anton.
“I don't know anything about that! I swear!” groaned Mica as she shook her head “Seriously! I never even heard about it until today!”
“Hm... Alright then...” sighed Anton “Then how about your parents? You said they were assassins. We're you telling the truth when you said that?”
“Yes.” nodded Mica “They are. They're seriously real assassins!”
“Right.” said Anton “Assassins who get their targets from their clan?”
“I don't know?” exclaimed Mica “I seriously don't know anything about that!”
“...Hm.” mused Anton as he cradled his chin in his hand “...How is it that you know that your parents are assassins, but don't know anything about the clan? Why would they tell you about being assassins but nothing else?”
“...They, they didn't just tell me.” admitted Mica “I don't think they even wanted me to know...”
“Oh?” questioned Anton “Then how did you find out?”
“...Cause they came home one day. Just out of the blue. They popped in through a portal. ...It was right after I graduated, so I don't think they remembered I was home.” explained Mica “They were talking about it. What, they had just done...”
“They were just talking about it?” asked Anton “As in joking about it? Or what exactly do you mean?”
“...No. Well, yeah... kinda.” mumbled Mica “They were more like, flirting, with each other. ...Dad was all over Mom, telling her she was amazing... And, she was telling him how incredible he was, when he, cut some guys head off... How clean it was... And he was telling her that he could only do it because of her distraction... I guess the guy couldn't take his eyes off her... She was wearing that...”
Turning her head to the side, Mica nodded to the pile of garments laying on the bed.
“Ah! So that's why you were wearing that then...” nodded Anton “You thought a distraction would give you an edge as well. That makes sense.”
“Didn't help for shit though!” grumbled Mica.
“No, not in this instance at least.” agreed Anton “It was distracting. I will give you that. But not enough to help you. ...So, did you steal that outfit from your Mother?”
“No! I just, borrowed it...” mumbled Mica.
“I see.” said Anton “She's going to be furious when she finds out you have it, isn't she?”
“...Yeah.” groaned Mica “Probably...”
“Good. I glad to hear that.” grinned Anton “Getting back on track though. So you finding out your parents secret was an accident then. Interesting... What did they say when they realized that you were there?”
“They just tried to backtrack.” said Mica with a shrug “But it didn't work. So they just gave up and told me the truth, that we're actually real shinoccubi.”
“Real shinoccubi?” questioned Anton “What do you mean by that?”
“I mean, you know. Real shinoccubi. Like really, real one's.” stated Mica
“Do you mean to say shinoccubi as in assassins?” asked Anton.
“Yeah. You know, real shinoccubi.” confirmed Mica.
“Right...” nodded Anton “You didn't know they were killers... But you did know that you were a shinoccubus before this though, right? As in the species?”
“Well yeah.” mumbled Mica “I've got a knife mounted to the end of my tail. Kinda hard to miss that.”
“Right.” nodded Anton “So what happened next? Now that you found out, what did they do?”
“They made me swear not to say anything, obviously.” said Mica “And I told them I wanted in. That finally everything was making sense. And that I wanted to join them too.”
“Making sense? What do you mean by that?” asked Anton “And what do you mean by joining them too?”
“I mean like Nokko.” stated Mica.
“Oh, that's right. Nokko... She knows they're assassins too...” nodded Anton “And when did she find out? Was it the same time you did?”
“No. I don't know when she found out.” said Mica “She probably always knew.”
“What makes you think that?” asked Anton.
“Because she's one of them.” said Mica “She's an assassin too.”
“She is!?” exclaimed Anton “Are you sure about that?”
“Yeah, that's what I was talking about when I said it all made sense now.” explained Mica “Nokko has always been running off to help them with crap. And now it makes sense why. They're all assassins.”
“Hold on, back up a bit.” said Anton as he raised his hand “What are you talking about? What was she helping them with?”
“I don't know for sure. But now I'm guessing it was to help them kill people.” said Mica “Nokko was always waiting for Mom or Dad to call her so that she could go and help them. It was actually really annoying, because she would be standing around one second and then just gone the next without ever saying anything. She never actually wanted to do anything either. Like she never really hung out or played any sports or anything after school because she always had to be ready whenever they called. I always thought it was kind of weird and stupid. And I never knew what they were doing. Until now.”
“And you never asked about this?” asked Anton.
“Sure, a couple of times.” said Mica as she shrugged her shoulders “She always said she was just helping Mom and Dad though. And they were always busy working, so I figured she really was just helping them do stuff. Honestly, I always thought they were being cool to to me because they never made me do anything like that. They just let me do whatever.”
“I see... So they'd call her for help... But not you...” mused Anton as he seemed to be focused on his own thoughts “...Was this always a random thing? Whenever they would call her. Or was it often at the same time every day?”
“It didn't happen every day.” said Mica “And no, the times were always different.”
“I see...” nodded Anton “And how many other siblings do you have?”
“Just Nokko.” answered Mica.
“Really? It's just the two of you?” questioned Anton.
“Yeah.” said Mica.
“Hm, cubi's stopping at two... That's different...” mumbled Anton “Is Nokko older than you?”
“Yes. Barely.” said Mica “She just barely turned 19.”
“And you're 18?” asked Anton.
“Yeah.” said Mica.
“Hm, very close together... Interesting...” nodded Anton “Does anyone in your family ever interact with any other shinoccubi? Any at all? Family? Neighbors? Anything?”
“Um... No?” said Mica “Not that I know of?”
“Do you know if your family are the only shinoccubi living in Parnell?” asked Anton as he closed his eyes and slowly twisted his neck to the side to crack it.
“No. I've seen other one's before.” said Mica “But I don't know any of them though, I've never talked to any of them.”
“Right... It makes sense that you wouldn't...” mused Anton as he twisted his neck in the opposite direction “So it sounds like your parents let you stay busy with your own things while they met with Nokko whenever they could. Rather than try to juggle the both of you at the same time, they just focused on her... Plates were already too full I'd guess...”
“...What do you mean?” asked Mica as she gave him a perplexed look.
“Nokko is not part of your parents clan, and like you, she probably doesn't know anything about it either. Or at least none of the details. We can be sure of this for two reasons.” said Anton as he settled back in his chair “The first is that if she was a part of the clan, she would have already told them about you. And the fact that she hasn't is very solid evidence that she is still free from their influence. The second reason we know she isn't part of the clan is because your parents are the only one's who've been interacting with you two. You see, normally, shinoccubi communities take the form of well hidden villages that may be home to dozens of different families, all from within the same clan. Living in this way, they'll all work together to help each other raise and train the children. Unfortunately, your parents didn't have the luxury of relying on that kind of support system. So with all the burdens of trying to keep up with the appearance of normal citizens, maintaining their careers and apparently handling clan assignments. They weren't left with many hours in the day for raising a pair of young shinoccubi into effective and well-rounded kiochi's.”
Their attention focused on Anton, Mica and the dark elves remained silent as they all listened to what was being said.
“Alright then, so considering what we know so far... I think it's safe to say that your parents have been permanently planted on Terra. More than likely this was so that they could be on site for any assignments that became available here... And they more than likely were given the level of freedom that they have so that they could form a better cover for themselves... Now all that is simple and makes sense... What's interesting though, is what they've done with this level of freedom...” mused Anton as he let his eyes fall to the floor “And the question now, is did they actually plan any of this? Because I'm really starting to think that they didn't...”
“What are you talking about?” asked Mica.
Anton blinked as he looked back up at her.
“I don't think that you and your sister were planned babies. I think you were both accidents. You especially. And obviously, your parents took advantage of their situation and made the decision to raise you as truly free shinoccubi... A risky decision, but one I can understand and appreciate...” he explained “And without any support to help them, they knew they wouldn't have been able to give you both the attention you needed... So they decided to focus their efforts on the oldest, Nokko, with the mindset of having at least one successfully raised child, rather than two poorly trained ones...”
“Heh! Sounds like everything about you has been an accident.” teased Kianna as she smirked at the crestfallen kiochi “Even from the very beginning.”
“Of course, as interesting as all of this is, it doesn't actually help us in figuring out what clan your parents are part of...” said Anton as he focused his attention back on Mica “We need to get back on track. So we can figure this out... Ah! Of course! Your training! That will actually offer us some clues! What is your training like? Describe it as much as you can, you never know what detail might be important.”
“...What do you even mean by training?” questioned Mica “I haven't been trained. Quit talking about me like I'm a dog or something!”
“Dog? What? No, I mean combat training. As in teaching you how to fight.” explained Anton “Tell me what they've taught you so far. And what your lessons have been like.”
“Oh, um. They haven't, I guess.” said Mica “We haven't really done anything like that yet.”
“...Wait, you haven't had any training at all?” questioned Anton “Nothing!?”
“I mean, I've still been doing my exercises. And jogging. But that's all just normal stuff.” said Mica “Other than that though... We did do some races on an obstacle course at the park, which they said would help to test my skills. I only won one of them, but that was because Nokko kept cheating!”
“Wait, wait! That's it? That's all you've done?” asked Anton.
“...Well, I did take some karate classes too.” offered Mica “But that was back when I was a kid...”
“...And that's it!? So they haven't taught you anything then!?” questioned Anton.
“No, that's why I'm here!” exclaimed Mica “They wouldn't let me go anywhere with them! So I had to show them what I could do myself!”
“Oh, yes. You showed them all right...” mumbled Anton as he reached over the side of the chair and picked up Mica's sword “This doesn't make any sense though. Why would they give you this sword if they weren't going to show you how to use it?”
“...Uh, well.” muttered Mica as her eyes became locked to her sword “They didn't really, give me that sword... I kinda borrowed that too...”
Anton blinked at her before looking down at the sword in his hands.
“Oh, of course you did...” he grumbled as she shook his head “Why do I keep giving you the benefit of the doubt?”
“Look! I get you're pissed at me but you really need to be careful with that sword! Okay!” exclaimed Mica as her expression became desperate “It's not mine, it's my Dad's. And it's really important to him! He got it from his family, so it's a big deal! Seriously!”
Anton's eyes went wide as he gazed down at the sword in his hands.
“He got this from his family!? ...So then this had to come from his clan!” he smiled as he looked over the sword “...Perfect! This is perfect!”
“What?” questioned Mica.
“This sword!” said Anton as he looked up at her “This sword could lead us straight to your parents clan! And I know just the guy to show this to! This is perfect! This is exactly what we needed!”
“Oh. Uh, good.” nodded Mica “Right, this is good! ...Right?”
“Yes, it is! This is exactly what we needed!” smiled Anton “And now that we have this... We don't need you anymore...”
Mica blinked as she felt the air around her begin to thicken and become heavy.
“Don't think for one second that I've disregarded you, Mica. I know there's bound to be more than one insidious little idea percolating in that grey matter between your horns.” said Anton as he locked his eyes to the kiochi's “I'm sure the thought of escape, or even worse, the terrible notion of completing your mission, has crossed your mind more than once. But unless you want to find out just how uncomfortable your stay with us can really be, I highly suggest that you keep those thoughts as nothing more than the fantasies that they are.”
“...Wait! You're not really going to make her comfortable, are you!?” asked Kianna.
“Hardly.” said Anton “There is a small cage-shaped space between comfortable and uncomfortable that Mica is about to become quite familiar with...”
“Oh. Okay. That sounds good!” smiled Kianna.
“But, wait! I answered your questions! And I told you about the sword!” exclaimed Mica “Why do I have to go back in the cage!?”
“Because you also tried to kill me. And at this point I doubt your above trying that again.” said Anton “I also highly doubt that you'd be against harming your torturers. Which is something else I don't plan on allowing you to do. No, you can't be trusted in any way. So for the foreseeable future you will remain contained. At least until you can be useful to us again.”
“Oh yes. Don't worry, Mica. We'll come get you as soon as we need another target.” smiled Kianna “Or if we get bored and decide to decorate you again...”
“Yes, those would also be valid reasons that you may find yourself out of your cage again.” nodded Anton as he absently looked over the sword.
Mica's mouth fell open as she frantically looked from him to the dark elves and back.
“No, no! Wait! Please!” she cried as panic filled her eyes “Please, please! I'll do anything! Just please don't let the elves have me again! Please!”
“They're dark elves, get it right.” said Anton “And do you honestly think that being given to these dark elves is the worse thing that could happen to you here?”
Mica pressed herself against the metal chair as Anton's aura suddenly flooded the area around her with dread and malice.
“W-wait, wait! You said wouldn't kill me!” she whimpered.
“Yes, I did. And I won't.” nodded Anton “Though I never once said that I wouldn't make you suffer...”
Mica's eyes widened as she watched a cold smile spread across his face.
“There are plenty of things that I can do to you that are just as bad as, if not worse than death...” said Anton in hushed tone “Binding you to a jar would be one example...”
“...W-what?” questioned Mica “What does that mean!?”
“Oh. Are you not familiar with the concept?” asked Anton as he set the sword down in his lap and made a little steeple with his fingers “Well then. Let me explain it to you in detail. So that you will understand exactly what will happen to you. You see, what will happen is that you will be condensed down into your barest elements by an enchanted vortex designed specifically to disassemble you, with out killing you. So to begin with your mana pool will be ripped right from your living body, taking your mind and soul along with it. This, of course, will be quite an agonizing experience for you. But what happens next will be worse. As you see, both your mind and soul will be shredded and warped by the vortex they've been trapped within until they've been combined into one with your mana pool. This process could go on for hours before it's completed. When it is finished though, your mind, soul and mana pool will have taken the form of a tiny ball of conscious fire. Now, as all of this is happening to your mind, soul and mana pool. Your body, at the same time, is being crushed down into a little marble made up of all of your carbon molecules. This, of course, will also be quite agonizing for you. Once these processes are finally complete, the enchantment will reattach the flame made up of your mind, soul and mana pool back to your body. Making you a single being again. Your body will then act as the fuel source for the living fireball that you have now become. Now, if I decide to leave you fully conscious in this state, then your existence in this new form won't be anything less than absolute torture. As you see, you will now find yourself withering in an inescapable, unending cycle of raw, blind agony. You won't be able to move, see, scream or even think in any real way as your body is slowly consumed over the course of countless eons. Burnt away, molecule by molecule by the combined flames of your own essence. This will be painful, very painful. And this pain will last for as long as you are trapped in this form. And you will be staying trapped in this form when I bind you to the base of a jar and seal you inside it. And once you've been bound into your cozy little jar, you won't be able to do anything but flicker in helpless silence until I see fit to set you free... Assuming I ever will of course...”
A long moment of silence stretched out as Mica stared unblinking at Anton.
“...You will actually look quite pretty as a tiny fireball floating in a jar. So it's not all bad I guess.” said Anton as he shrugged his shoulders “You'll even still be useful to use as well. Since we could set you up on a shelf or on the counter-top in the kitchen or the bathroom. Someplace where your little flame can flicker and act as a lovely and decorative little nightlight... Now wouldn't you like that? To know that you're still being useful to us?”
The kiochi made a tiny sound in the back of her throat as she stared wide eyed and frantically shook her head.
“Oh, no? Well, that's too bad I guess.” said Anton with another shrug.
“...Gods alive!” breathed Kianna “Can you really do that to her!?”
“Of course I can.” said Anton as he leaned forward towards the kiochi “I wouldn't have said I could if I couldn't...”
Mica swallowed roughly as she fought to keep the bile in her stomach from rising.
“Do you know what color her flames will be?” asked Kianna.
Mica stiffed as she turned and gawked at the dark elf.
“No, I don't know.” said Anton as he eased back into his chair “It's usually the same as the aura, but every now and then it can be different.”
“That's so crazy!” exclaimed Kianna as she shook her head in amazement “Can I watch you when you do it?”
“Now I didn't say that I was going to do it. I only said that I could do it...” said Anton in a calm tone “Whether or not little Mica here ends up as a flame in a jar depends entirely on her...”
Kianna huffed in annoyance and pointed her ears straight back as she glared at the terrified looking kiochi.
“Let me make a few things very clear to you, Mica.” said Anton as he released the kiochi from his aura “As I don't want you to be confused on any of the finer points of this situation. First of all, I don't like you, at all, and I am not at all interested in helping you, or saving you in any way. However, I do like your parents. And as such, I have... grudgingly! Found myself in a position where I am tasked with keeping you alive and at least somewhat healthy... Now, I suggest that you do everything in your power to not make this task anymore difficult for me than it already will be... Do you understand everything I've said so far?”
“Yes!” hissed the kiochi through her clenched teeth.
“Good, good. So then, until we can find a solution for this, work of art, that you have created... You will be staying with us...” explained Anton “Now, whether you are treated as a guest or as a prisoner while you are with us will be entirely dependent on how well you can behave yourself from here on out... Do you understand what I'm implying by this?”
“Yes!” nodded Mica.
“Do you want to live as a flame in a jar?” asked Anton.
“What! No!” cried Mica.
“Are you sure?” asked Anton.
“Yes!” exclaimed Mica.
“Then will you promise to try your best to be a quiet, well behaved little shinoccubi?” asked Anton.
“Yes! Yes I will!” nodded Mica as she hunched in on herself.
“Wonderful. I'm so very happy to hear that.” mumbled Anton “And I just can't wait to see how badly you fail to keep that promise...”
Mica stiffened before dropping her eyes to the floor.
Anton shook his head before turning to Kianna.
“Our kiochi has made a mess between her legs.” he said as Mica blushed brightly “Can you please go get me a set of gloves, a towel, a wet washcloth and some sanitary wipes so that I can clean her up, please?”
“Of course...” sang Kianna as she gave Mica a parting smirk “I'll be back in just a moment...”
“Thank you.” said Anton as he and Mica both watched her walk away.
Once Kianna was out of sight, Mica let her eyes fall back to the floor.
“And do you mind collecting Mica's scarf and panties for me?” asked Anton as he turned and looked up at Fiona “We're going to show her a tiny bit of hospitality by giving her back some modesty.”
“Of course! Right away, Master!” exclaimed Fiona as she immediately started moving towards the bed.
“Thank you... huh!?” started Anton before giving her a double take and cocking an eyebrow.
“You're very welcome! Master!” cried Fiona over her shoulder as she rushed off to complete her task.
Anton couldn't help but have a questioning look on his face as he watched her go.
“...Hey, thanks, for the clothes.” whispered Mica as she continued to hang her head.
“...It's just a show of good faith, nothing more.” said Anton as he turned back to her and narrowed his eyes.
Mica nodded softly.
“...Look, I just want to go home. Okay!” she mumbled as she tightened her eyes in sorrow “I don't want to fight you anymore! Okay! Seriously, I swear! I don't want anymore problems! I just want to-!”
“Oh, I'm not worried about that, Mica.” interrupted Anton as he suddenly lifted her head up by her head-harness “I know you won't try to fight me again.”
“Wait, what are you-!? Mmph!?” cried out the surprised kiochi as Anton shoved her gag back into her open mouth.
“I also know that you're not going to cause me anymore problems.” said Anton as he held her head pressed back against the metal chair while he locked the clasps back into place on her gag's face plate “And I know that you're not going to, because I'm not going to let you!”

Kianna grimaced in annoyance as she glared down at the caged kiochi. Slowly, she slipped the pink-colored light sword she had created between the bars of the cage and lowered it down bit by bit until the tip of the blade hung in the air just above Mica's head.
Laying on her back in the locked cage, Mica's arms were still bound in the Bolero straitjacket that was strapped around her torso. Her breasts however were no longer exposed, having been covered by one of her scarfs, which had been wrapped around her chest before being tied off behind her back. Her wings had been pulled back into her body and were now being held inside her by a thick leather belt that had been buckled strictly around her shoulders. Her tail remained wrapped tightly around her waist, with it's bladed tip still locked to the belt strapped around her middle. Her legs were thankfully no longer bound at all, and she had been given back her panties.
This bit of reprieve was overshadowed by not only the large bulbous gag that had been forced back into her mouth, but also by a thick, leather blindfold that had been molded over her eyes and was being held in place by two leather straps that were wrapped tightly around her head both above and below her ears.
With her sight now locked away behind the blindfold, Mica had no idea that the tip of the light sword was currently dangling precariously just a few inches above her face, and was being pointed directly at the space between her covered eyes.
Claiming that he wanted to go contact his associate about Leopold's sword, Anton had left the dungeon immediately after locking the shinoccubus back in her cage and giving the two dark elves the commands that they were not allowed to kill her.
Fiona had left just as soon as he had as she stated that she needed to “think” for a bit.
Left alone with the kiochi, Kianna had stood in silence for some time before finally approaching the cage and creating the sword.
“...I know, you know I'm here.” she said softly as she absently shifted the sword back and forth.
Mica stiffened with tension the moment the dark elf spoke but remained still and silent out fear of provoking her.
“...I'm sure you've figured this out by now. But just in case you haven't, I wanted to make it clear.” said Kianna as she bobbed the sword downward in a mock stabbing motion “You have made me very angry...”
Holding her breath, Mica did everything she could to remain as still as possible.
A thin grin spread across Kianna's face as her sensitive ears picked up on the heighten pitch of the kiochi's heartbeat as it echoed out into the otherwise silent room.
“It's good that you're afraid. You should be...” breathed Kianna as she lifted the sword a bit higher “Coming here was a mistake. And I'm gonna make sure, that you pay for that mistake...”
Holding the sword about a foot over Mica's head, Kianna let it drop and watched as it harmlessly melted away just before finding its mark.
“I have a goal now... It's that before I find out what color your flame will be...” said Kianna as her eyes began to glow with a pale red light “I'm gonna make you cry. I'm gonna hear, what you sound like, when you cry...”
Despite her efforts to remain still, Mica couldn't help but to swallow the lump in her throat.
“Goodnight, Mica...” smiled Kianna as she stepped away from the cage and turned towards the dungeons exit “Sweet dreams...”
Flicking the last of the lights off as she moved through the room, Kianna stopped at the door and turned back to gaze into the blackness behind her.
“Oh, I hope that you're not afraid of the dark.” she called as she turned to leave “I would offer you a nightlight, but we don't have one... yet...”
A heart sinking clank echoed through the dungeon as the dark elf closed the heavy door behind her and sealed the kiochi in solitude.
The quiet, crypt-like stillness in the blackened dungeon lasted for some time before the silence was broken by the sound of a single, sorrowful sob ringing out through the darkness.