Masoleum

"Monsters, filthy ill-fated fiends infesting these lands and gorging whatever innocence remains in all. You've no care whom you latch on to, no matter the race you polute us. No matter the gender you polute us. No matter how much you take from us, it is never enough for you will polute us until we are starved and dead and forgotten and then what? On to the next dominate species? Or is that it, a sort of suicide mission by feasting until all of your resources have gone extinct?"

"I suppose that's why we've luck on our side, the rule of thumb when it pertains to magic. All magic contains a cost, nothing can surpass it not even you." Perdilius glared at the two cat girls as they arrived to the sixth ring. "It's a gift to all, and all are bound to its one rule. Do you know of it, Monster?"

Emyri turned to spit towards the wall, a dribble of liquid being a mix of saliva and blood stuck to it.

Perdilius scoffed, "Your kind have never been worthy. Hunter, have you knowledge of the Rule of Rose?"

"Magic isn't my profession." Leone answered sharply.

"I am inclined to agree with you. Anyone knowledgeable of the Rule of Rose knows that all magic follows a cost, a weakpoint to match the effect of its use. This is why certain use of magic follow a certain way to undo or break it, a sealed door falls prey to incantation and a magic potion requires life essence, fresh blood being a common ingredient I recall."

Perdilius stopped in his steps, the others finding they had arrived in a rather peculiar noisy room surrounded by several workers digging into the walls with metal spikes as their tool. Dimyri looked around, wondering why so many people were occupied and with what at this depth. Very few of them glanced their direction out of curiosity, covered in sweat and dust as they smashed into the rock repeatedly with their metal spike. Upon a closer look, Dimyri's eyes widened when she noticed what it was, and what lay within.

"Those spaces..." She shook, feeling herself shrink upon realization and retreating in shock until backing into something. Perdilius closed his eyes and looked away, placing a hand on her shoulder.

"They call them crypts and this a masoleum. A resting place for the workers or at least it was. But now, a sanctuary for fiends. Girls!"

The workers looked back to him, jumping down or stepping aside to rest. None of them were women it looked like, however Emyri noticed dust falling from some of the crypts within the wall. First an arm, then two tails, and now, numerous Nekomata clumsily falling over with a few landing on their feet. None of them were in cat form, and all of them were familiar to them. He could tell from their faces.

"I supoose this would be a reunion. You see, none of you were killed yet. Just placed aside and given a home to rest."

Emyri turned around, finding Mimi among the idle girls standing by and staring absently without focus, eyes emitting a faint glow. Of course, they are all under, but unbeknownst to her or Dimyri both Perdilius and Raz stood behind the pair before slipping a collar around them both. Emyri spun around, claws ready before falling to her knees with a sudden loss of strength, sweating profusely. Her skin where the fabric touched began to grow red as her veins became visible briefly until the stone fixed to the center of it glowed a familiar pink tone. Dimyri stepped down to assist her, holding her arms and helping her stand.

"Mother? Mother? Mom!" She cried out, realizing what had happened. Her Mother stood up, eyes shut with a now relaxed stance. Looking back, she saw Perdilius cross his arms in a look of disappointment.

"Hunter, why is this one given not only a normal look but also surpasses the effects of the Eye?"

It was then that Dimyri noticed Leone had remain silent, nearly forgotten of his presence behind them being more of an observer. No pained look in his face it seemed, only a slight annoyance. "It's a seal meant to refrain her from utilizing her feline form to make containment easier."

"Then undo it."

"I cannot."

Perdilius frowned, "May I know the reason as to why?"

"The seal is temporary for a set number of days, three I believe. By morning you will have your cat."

"When she is returned to normal, you will have your pay and be free of our contract. Until then, best get comfortable around here hunter. We've no beds for guests, so find a corner or a tree for all I care. Take this one back to her cell, any more surprise and you will be breaking our contract."

Leone closed his eyes and looked away, grabbing Dimyri and bringing her to the wheel by force. Once the wheel began to ascend, Perdilius sighed and shook his head, now left with Raz and Emyri.

"Father, why trust him with her? If he displeases you so much, and knowing his affiliation with them, they're his own spawn."

"I'm helping him, Raz. The irony is not lost, but I despise hypocrisy. And there is no greater chance to atone for one's mistakes then by relinquishing them, is that right Emyri?"

Emyri's eyes opened, a faint pink glow protruding from them.

---

"Why didn't you stop him?" Dimyri asked, looking up to her father. "You've already gone this far, why are you helping him? Do you not want us, do you hate us? What happened to make you just stand there a-and not shed a tear for her!?"

Leone looked away, ignoring her plead.

"Don't you care about us anymore? About her? You have your sword, just do something, anything!"

"I can't." He sighed, looking down.

"Why, because of some stupid contract, a silly code or some-" She froze, seeing him lift his head with swollen eyes and tears raining down. Gone was the stone face and the look of a trained killer, this man was defeated. She saw it now, as they stood alone on this private room rising up to meet her confines once again, he was permitted a moment of solitude with his oldest daughter, a cruel touch indeed. "Dad."

"If I do anything, if I use my weapons or any sense of force against him or his property, then the contract is terminated and with that, my life's work. My Guild would be informed immediately and I would not only lose my service but I then be branded a traitor against my own people and terminated. My life ends should I fight back."

Dimyri couldn't form any words, her mouth gone dry as she felt his weight on her. Reaching for his hand, he looked down to her as she faced him, Monster and Hunter, before balling her hand into a fist. Raising it, she lazily placed it on his chest and closed her eyes, leaning her head on him as she began to sob. He wrapped his arms around her, hugging her tight as both father and daughter stayed quiet and true. His presence felt warm and drew small comfort after what they had witnessed, she felt the same to him as well.

"You're her last chance." He whispered as soon as they began to arrive onto the sixth floor. Reluctantly he broke from her, pushing her away and wiping his face. "By tomorrow he'll realize the truth and we'll all be doomed for."

Dimyri brushed her cheek, removing any dry tears away and sniffling. "What's the rule?"

With a heavy sigh, once they had arrived into place and the gears had stopped turning he pulled her arm forward, leaning in to whisper for her ears only, "Your Mother's seal."

Mom?

He pushed her forward for the knights to take her in. One look and she understood. It's up to her now.