"Please, don't look at me." Maria could not make out Elizabeth's expression through her fingers as she followed her wishes and turned to look at the wall. First then did Maria take her hand away from her face, her eye darting to her beasts.

The look of sadness and barely concealed anger, of shame, was the same to all of them, but none were roiling as much as Sin. Scales were missing across her arms, she had undone her braid and so her long rosé hair flowed down her back, covering half of her face. When their gazes met, she could not hold it. Sin crumbled under her gaze.

"My master, forgive me. The fault lies solely with me, that you are, I, my master." She trailed on, then fell silent. Maria tried to sit up, managing only after much trouble, hindered by her lacking arm. "It was my fault, Sin. If I hadn't panicked, then."

"Tsk" Elizabeth's sound silenced Maria immediately. "You are both at fault and both blameless." The lady of Merlayne continued to stare at the wall. "Your beast was reckless and underestimated the tenacity of the enemy, and your failure is human. Even I can barely look upon Samdel and persevere, that trick of his is why he has staid at the top for so long. Shamanism perfected, I am sure he would say." She scoffed with disdain. "pure brutish strength and nothing else."

Pain, guilt and fear had been all that Maria could feel in that moment, until she felt Elizabeth's hand on her head. The touch of her fingers going through her hair was the light at the end of a tunnel, the merciful daybreak after a night of pure terror. She began to weep, staining her bandages. "Blame and guilt will only weaken you and your servants, Maria. Your enemy has shown their resolve, so you must do so in kind. And you are not alone anymore."

"You're, with me, we will fight we will be, together?" Only after the words had tumbled out of her mouth did Maria notice just what she had said, and she wanted nothing more than to hide underneath the covers. Elizabeth's mouth curled to a smile. "Now now, I would not be that hasty. Much still has to be done. But we are on the same side, yes. For the first time, Merlayne and Len-Fey will stand together. Oh how my father must be rolling in his grave."

To Maria her laughter was the sound of bells after sermon, with every moment she felt smaller and smaller, and overjoyed that she was even talking to her.

"How long have I, how long has it been? And, where am I?" Elizabeth leaned back in her seat, sighing as she folded her hands on her lap. With the lack of her touch, the dark soon began to creep back into the mind of the young master.

"For two days and nights now. Had Sin not as proficient at stopping blood loss as she is at causing it, you would not be here now. And you are in the Saint-Louis Hospital, far behind our lines. Do not be afraid, you are safe here."

There was a knock on the door, and Menagerie stood up to open it. On the other side stood a doctor, visibly shaken to be welcomed by the tall beast. They were let inside, under the watchful eyes of her beasts who stepped away from her bed to give space, but did not take their eyes off of them. "It is good to see you awake, lady Maria." The doctor did her best to smile and ignore the staring. "How are you feeling, any other complaints besides," Her eyes shifted to Maria's shoulder.

For a moment, Maria was too surprised by the friendly reception. "I, I think I am fine, besides." Her legs were shaking a little as she tried to raise them, but she still managed. "My face is itching, pretty badly, but besides that it is alright. I." The doctor tried to reach out and stop her from touching her face, but the look that Sin gave her was enough for her to quit the attempt. "Am I, blind there now, or?"

The doctor was fidgeting her hands, a mouse trapped in a room of starved serpents. "The possibility is there, yes, lady Maria. We have done all we can to treat your burns, though the scars will remain. There is however also a chance that your eye may heal still, in time. It would for now just be best for you to, not touch it, if you could."

She let out a sigh of relief after Maria stopped running her fingers across her bandages. "And, I am lucky to say that thanks to Lady Elizabeth and her gracious assistance, we should be able to take measurements for a prosthetic-"

"No!" One word was enough to tear down the fleeting sense of peace in the room. Maria was grasping her chest, shaking her head vehemently. "I don't want that, I don't want that!" All eyes were on her, even Elizabeth's. Despite it, the young master continued. "I am not becoming some cyborg monstrosity!"

"Are you sure about that, Maria?" While Elizabeth was able to calm her just with her voice, it did not ease her shaking. "It is not as archaic as you may think, would you not consider it?" Maria was melting under her gaze, but her hand remained clenched. "No, I can't. I don't want it, a constant reminder of my failure, a pitiful attempt to undo what happened." Her knuckles turned white. "You can't, replace things like that, it is disgraceful, insulting."

"If that is what you want." Elizabeth stood up, and the sight near broke Maria's heart. "I am glad to see you are alive, despite everything. For now though, I will have to leave you with your servants. There are still many things I must take care of." She gave one look to the doctor. "I believe some privacy is most required at this moment."

The hint did not have to be repeated, the doctor quickly left the room. On her own way out, Elizabeth stopped. "Could I speak with Sin for a moment, 'ere I go? And could you please tell her to be civil?"

Maria looked from Sin to Elizabeth, and gave a weak nod. "Please be nice to her, she's the best ally we have." Her servant was running a hand through her hair, and bowed deeply. "As you wish. Lead the way, your ladyship."

The two left the room together. The hallway outside was empty, as were all rooms on the floor. A few of Elizabeth's guards were patrolling around, two standing at the elevator. They settled in at a small table near the window, with a full view of the city.

"So, why did you want to speak to a humble servant away from her master?" Sin was gritting her teeth and slumped forward, while Elizabeth crossed her legs and arms while nobody was watching them.

"What did you tell her about the world of ancients, and what were you thinking." Her voice was a quiet hiss. "How could you guide her through the place that has turned near everyone who entered it mad! Did you really think she would get through there without seeing the warning, without seeing THEM?"

Sin answered with a shrug, not meeting the lady's piercing gaze. "It was the shortest way to reach the city, and I did not expect Samdel to show up in person. And I was not going to take her to the warning, or tell her about them. She is not yet ready."

"Not ready? Have you seen the look in her eyes? Ready or not, she deserves to know, she must know. And it will not be one of your twists, you will tell her the warning, as it was written, word by word. I will aid your cause in reverting the world, I will gladly make her queen and you can bet that I will rule at her side."

She grasped Sin's arm, and the two stared at each other. "But I will not let that seal be shattered, those things were sealed away for a reason, and not even someone as maddened with resentment as you could want that to change."

"Of course I don't." Sin pulled back her arm. "I will tell her the warning, and I will not twist thing, you have my word." She laid a hand on her chest. "On my name." First then did Elizabeth relax and lean back. "Very well. I will take you by that word. You know better than to break a promise to Merlayne."

She stood up, as did Sin. "I never thought I would have a normal talk to the heiress of the morning star." Her amused smile was shared by Elizabeth as they walked back down the hall. "And I never thought I would see the great Sin herself without her trying to tear me into pieces."

At the door to Maria's room they stopped. "I shan't. But I will say this. Not as a beast, not as an ally, but as a maid who dearly loves her master." It spoke to Elizabeth's upbringing that she did not begin to tremble under Sin's gaze. "She loves you, and it runs deeper than you could ever hope to imagine. If you break her heart, I will break yours."

Elizabeth lowered her head. "A lady would never play with another's heart in such a cruel manner. On the honour of my house, you have my word. But I would like to ask you one last thing. How did you know their names."

Sin leaned her head to the side, raising an eyebrow. "Pardon?" Elizabeth was clenching her hands to fists. "When you spoke in the Ancient's world, they listened." Her voice was hushed, not more than a whisper. "Not since man has entered that place have they taken notice of anything, but when you spoke they LISTENED. Nothing remained of the Ancients, nothing but their warning. So how do you know their names?"

Her hand did not shake as Sin brought it up to her face, and began to peel off her skin, revealing the pure blackness underneath. "Lady Elizabeth. You and your old allies studied my sisters enough to know how to kill us, by tearing our souls from our bodies. And yet you still have not made the connection? What do you think makes up our bodies?"

Elizabeth shook her head, taking a step back. "Just how endless is your hatred, Sin? You did this, willingly?" The servant barred her fangs, the corners of her mouth still curved in amusement. "I would have taken any curse if it meant I could scourge the world of man for their sins. But do not be afraid, lady Elizabeth." She bowed, her unkempt hair covering her face. "I serve only my master, and she is so very fond of you. You have nothing to fear from me or my sisters."

The two parted ways, and Sin entered her master's room. With the need to show strength absent, her sisters had broken discipline. Menagerie was laying in front of the bed, curled up into a ball, three tails, two dog, one catlike, whipping through the air. Elaine was laying right next to her master, her head resting atop her left shoulder as if to hide what was lost.

Tetra was sitting where Elizabeth had sat, holding a tray of food. There was a small portion of rice, a cup of tea and a set of fish sticks which Tetra was cutting into appropriate pieces for her master, under a torrent of tears and apologies, which Maria was doing her best to accept and forgive.

Looking to her right, Sin saw Armoire, slumped into a corner. Her knees were pulled up to her chest and her head rested atop them as she stared blankly at the opposite wall, her fingers scraping and tearing through skin. Sin slowly walked up to her master's bed.

There were so many plans still to finalise, so much that had to be done. Her master still did not know the basics of so many things, there was still so much Sin had to tell her. When she reached the side of the bed, Maria looked at her, and her face lit up as she saw her first servant again.

Those things could wait for a day. Sin sat down, and the realisation of how unsightly she was hit her with a force. "Lady Elizabeth wishes you all the best, she will come back tomorrow."

Her words only made her master appear even more radiant, her thoughts of Elizabeth banishing the dark that had taken hold. As Sin began to braid her hair, she continued to watch her master, as she continued to console Elaine and Tetra in their countless apologies and pleas. Never before had she seen her sisters like this.

Sin could not take her eyes off of the bandages covering Maria's face, nor could she forget the feeling of holding her fleeting body in her arms. Her body tensed up for a moment, as the ice cold dread of memory drenched her body.

She would never let such a thing happen again.