Payment

One of the red knights stood their ground, sword pointed to the marble with their hands rested at the tip of its handle. Beside this one stood another, always a pair stationed at every door. Although their partner remained motionless, this one tilted its head as it silently stared at the hunters actions. He was glancing around the hall, pacing back and forth yet seemingly not drowned under concern. Perhaps it was due to frequent boredom from keeping an idle position for weeks but this knight looked on with curiosity circling its red-domed head.

Leone placed a hand to rest against one of the many pillars placed alongside this narrow hall, feeling the cool touch to it when from just within sight he caught said knight leaning for a better view. He turned around, challenging the anonymous soldier who returned to a stand still, head faced to the front. With a raised eyebrow, he calmly paced himself towards their direction, his feet echoing down the eerie hallway with each step until he faced his overseer upfront.

Once he stood within three feet, he could feel that both knights had their eyes locked on him through their thick visors. He took a deep breath, placing his hands on his belt to display a calm demeanor.

"Oddly dense in there isn't it? The suits must be all clanky-clanky. You should try using light armor in its place, it adds to agility and greated flexibility over defense. As long as you have quick reflexes, you won't need to worry about taking any blows."

They remained facing through him as he leaned back, admiring the beautifully detailed engravings on their scarlett chest plates. Such nice curves at every angle he looked, the remains of their armor didn’t include such craftmenship. Whoever designed this really added some elbow grease to this center piece masterpiece.

"Those markings are rather fascinating, may I ask what they portray? It's difficult to manage when lit under dim torch fire, perhaps in broad daylight it would be much clearer to see."

Silence. Yet to have any words returned, Leone dismissed the futility in small talk, detesting it's purpose and finding annoyance in its utility from the beginning. At times it served its purpose but it became clear these type were far more patient and focused then your average man.

With a casual shrug, he headed through thw doorway between the two when they crossed their blades in his path, blocking him from progressing further. It was done with such speed and precision that the clash of both blades in a scissoring motion created sparks, making the hunter flinch and lift his head.

Annoyed, he stepped a few paces back to glare at both knights. "Okay, not much for visitation then."

"None shall pass without company of the Order." The closest knight said baring a light vocal tone.

"Huh, I hadn't noticed a woman beneath that metal weight. Since when were women allowed to be knighted?" He asked, brushing his ashy hair aside. "Look, I'm here for the matter of my pay and just that. Tell your preacher he is long overdue for my costs."

"We guard the path and nothing more. If you wish to speak with the higher ones, you are to remain here while a messenger is sent onward." The other one, this time a deeper male voice spoke out. In perfect order, both knights drew back their blades and pierced them down to return to their post with their backs straight and heads held high.

Admirable work, these pair aren't to be trifled with. Leone briefly looked back to watch the remaining red guards keeping watch ever ten meters down the hall. Heavily guarded after all.

Just then a familiar harsh clanking of metal colliding as gears began to twist and turn and groan. Leone poked his head between the two guards, staring out into the door from where the larger purple stone sat alone over the open doorway, illuminating the path as a man in dark robs and a younger knight in chrome gear walked through. As they entered, the other knights across the hall knelt on one knee with their heads bowed, all except the two closest to them.

"Sir, this man-"

"I am aware of the noise, you may rise." He held his hand up high, to which the knights took as a sign to stand on their feet and restore their posture. Tucking his hands behind him, Perdilius approached the hunter with a look which reflected anything but hospitality. "You had asked for me?"

Leone nodded, "I delivered the girls just as promised-"

"Monsters, not girls."

"Yes... well I have accomplished the task I was given. The contract is fulfilled, all that remains now is my pay." He cleared his throat, standing tall as Perdilius listened quietly.

"Yes, your pay. How careless of me." He turned his head. "Raz, would you fetch me the hunters well deserved salary?"

Raz nodded and walked away, leaving the two grown individuals.

"Now, there seems to be a matter with my package. One of these Monsters have taken the form of a woman, and so I must ask why is that?"

Leone shifted slightly while he was questioned. "That doesn't sound certain, perhaps she isn't a Monster girl after all?"

"I doubt that very much. I remember clearly the absence of five whom had fled from my grasp and yet I count four under my palm. I cannot dismiss the two women without holding account the idea that one is a demon in disguise."

Leone stayed quiet, being of no help. The priest strengthened his brow as the hunter kept an abesnt minded look.

"Follow me."

The red knights didn't flinch as Perdilius took Leone with him down the hallway, meeting with Raz at the wheel.

"Take us to the fifth ring."

"Yes, Father." Raz took hold of a chain in the center of the wheel, pulling it down before it moved back up again. As the chain rattled and swayed, in time the gears had awaken and soon they began to descend. Everything started to move at a sloth's pace.

"You've made quite a system here. Even a fancy platform for vertical movement. I suppose stairs would have been tiring."

"This temple is built within the high mountain, vertical movement is all it offers." His calm response was enough to keep the hunter silent, offering no further questions until a moment later they had arrived. With another pull from the chain, they stopped.

---

"How does it feel?"

"Ugh, like cramps all over my heart. I feel broken inside." Syri sniffed, her mother wiping her tear away and brushing her wavy white hair. She rubbed her shoulders as her two tails carressed her daughters tummy, soothing her.

"Try to relax dear, keep your mind off the pain."

"Mommy, how long does this usually take?" She leaned back and stared up at her Mother's eyes as she winced in pain. Emyri rubbed her cheek and put up a smile.

"... it will be gone any moment now, don't you worry. These pains go away quick, just you wait and see. It'll be a bad memory soon."

KuliKuli looked up, hearing a rough metal sound as the gears settled to a halt. Everyone kept watched as their guards stood up straight, welcoming Perdilius and the others as they entered.

Perdilius stepped forward, with Leone following his steps and Raz keeping in behind. The girls backed away with Dimyri and Na'Vi kept behind them and blocked from view.

"Now, which is the human one? You in the back, I can see you."

Neither girl moved a muscle, leaving Perdilius to sigh. "Guards."

They nodded and moved in, unlocking the cell and pushing the girls aside. There were four guards total, each wearing heavy armor and sharp swords at their waist. The girls did nothing but struggle and whine as they were roughly pulled away. Perdilius moved in, grabbing Dimyri by her arm and pulling her away. Once Emyri took notice, her eyes grew wide in horror.

"Don't touch her." Perdilius glared at her before pushing Dimyri forward, falling into Leone's arms. "Don't you hurt her."

"Raz, is this the one?" Dimyri gasped and turned to stare at him in shock. He swallowed hard, nodding in approval. "Good, we'll take her then. Seal the girls."

"Yes sir." The guards took no time pushing the girls back before stepping back out the door.

"No! No you can't!" Syri cried out. "Sis please, not her! Not again!"

"Perdilius!" Emyri growled, running at the door when one of the guards reached in to grab her. "Taking us apart one by one? You're a god damn coward! Living in the shade of your father!"

Raz bumped into Perdilius by mistake before taking notice of his clenched fist. He held Dimyri back, with Leone averting his eyes away from the cell. The guard looked to be struggling to hold Emyri down, with KuliKuli running in to swipe at his helmet hard. Her claws scared the surface, forcing the guard to stumble back and letting Emyri go. The other three guards moved in but she was quick to move away from their grasp, with one soldier drawing his sword and shouting at the other girls in their cell to stand back.

Emyri locked eyes with Leone, sharing conflicting feelings when he shook his head at her. Ignoring him, she began to walk forward when a hand grabbed her arm. Spinning around, she fell under and kicked at the guards shin forcing him to collapse with a thud. The other guard scooped her up with both arms crossed over her chest, lifting her up as she grunted and her eyes widened. Gritting her teeth, she began to change shape and shrink under his hold, slipping out as a small cat before running under his legs. Turning back, she kicked behind his knees hard, making him fall to his knees before realizing the other guard had his sword in hand.

Swipe!

Syri cried in shock with KuliKuli feeling her heart stop for a second as silver hair flew into the air. Having swung for her head, the knight was rewarded with a flurry of claw swipes to his visor, eventually unable to raise his sword as the Mother Cat wouldn't allow it. Pressing his back against the wall, he raised his arms as she continued screaming and clawing out his helmet and chest. Raising his boot he pressed it firmly onto her stomach and kicked her away for a breath of air. Stumbling back several steps, Emyri felt a hand take hold of her head before being slammed onto the cold floor with a might which knocked any struggle left in her away, much to her family's horror.

"Mommy!" Syri shouted while pressing against the cell bars. Emyri blinked, feeling her cheek smothered into the stone as Perdilius leaned his weight into her. Leaning down, he was close enough that she could hear his blood pumping, heart racing as his eyes filled with the brightest fire to burn endlessly within.

"Do not. Compare me. To him." He spoke out, pulling her up by her hair. "We'll take Mother dearest too on that matter. If any of the creatures attempt to fight back, have their claws pulled out by however you see fit."

"Sir." The guards nodded, with Perdilius keeping a locked hold of Emyri and pulling her forward.

"Now, Mother. Lead the way."

With a bloodied nose and a bruised cheek, Emyri looked back at her daughters one more time before being pushed forward.

"Move."

Nodding, she walked forward with a dizzied look, wiping her face and closing her eyes. Don't think about it, just keep going. Raz kept Dimyri with him, though she could tell he was just as nervous as the rest of them. Once all five entered the wheel, Perdilius raised his head.

"To the sixth ring." He ordered. Raz complied, tugging at the chain. Soon came movement as they began to descend further down.

Leone looked over at Emyri with a pained look to his eyes. "You shouldn't have done that." He whispered to her.

She smiled, revealing a cute grin with dimples to her cheeks and blood on her teeth. "You're right, I should have known better."