Maddox's hands balled up into fists as the Bakeneko spoke. He was irritated. That much was evident. Ankai and Sunkai picked themselves back up off the floor, completely healed, hissing and growling at Azurine and Milo. Maddox snapped his fingers three times to keep them at bay as he turned towards Azurine, seemingly ignoring Milo until he hopped onto the girl's shoulders.<br/><br/>Azurine plucked Milo from her shoulders and cradled him in her arms. She scratched under his chin while he purred, then bent over to kiss him on the top of his head before scratching behind his ears. She looked up at Maddox and smiled. She felt safer with her new friend already.<br/><br/>"I want you in my study within the hour and leave your pet here" Maddox ordered as he motioned for his twin demons to follow him.<br/><br/>"Yes M'Lord" she replied as she watched them walk out of her chambers. She looked down at the cat and stroked his fur from head to tail as she walked over to the bed and set him down. "I wonder how much he knows already" she whispered as she patted the cats head.<br/><br/>--------------------------------------------------------<br/><br/>Mirielle would storm through the halls and almost trip right into the Dark Lord. He gripped her shoulders so she wouldn't tumble, then he brushed his fingertips down her long sleeves lovingly. He kissed her forehead and then pressed his lips to hers. She drank willingly as he passed a dark essence from his mouth to hers, filling her with his darkness. He pushed her back when he was finished. He watched the dark swirl in her eyes before it dissipated and her eyes returned to that brilliant blue.  "What has you so upset my Queen?" he asked, snapping his fingers to dismiss his twin demons.<br/><br/>"Oscar...." she stuttered, "Oscar just...." she fidgeted.<br/><br/>"Tried to kiss you. I know. He adores you more than life itself and would do anything for you" he said, finishing her sentence and placing a hand on her cheek.<br/><br/>"I don't want that kind of attention from my Knight Commander!" she snapped.<br/><br/>He took her hands into his own and looked down upon her, "M'Lady, use his love to your advantage. Toy with him. Make him your personal slave. Have I not taught you anything?" he said.<br/><br/>"I...I just don't know" she struggled with the idea.<br/><br/>"You can do it and you will do it," he said before he kissed her again. "I have some business to attend to. Wait for me in the gardens" he ordered before he stepped away from her and walked towards his study.<br/><br/>---------------------------------------------------------<br/>The courtyard was filled with screams from Fae being rounded up by Azurine's mages. The mages were ruthless and inflicted much unnecessary fear and pain, as instructed, as they yanked children from their mother's arms and stole wives from their husbands' beds.  They were caged like animals before being taken to the camps to be processed like sheep. They were branded with a runic symbol on the left inside wrist and stripped naked only to be clothed in all black and made to work the mines for their rations which barely a child could live off of.