"By the way, where are we? The words left Cobra Mistress's mouth, which made Krystal smile reassuringly. Taking a seat next to her, she patted her leg as a gesture to Kartos, which he obeyed and willingly scooted on the floor against Krystal's legs.

For a moment, Krystal closed her eyes and let her fingers run through the smooth fur, indulging herself in the calm and soothing sound of the purr. She opened her eyes once again.

All the traces of the previous smile left her face as her face turned blank, which Adriana immediately recognized as the mask Krystal always wore around her when they first "met."

Sandra, too, recognizing the expression or lack of expression, straightened herself and waited for the answer.

"You guys can reconsider your choices-" she said, her voice so cold that it made the Zodiac Mistress shiver as she opened her mouth to say something, but The DarkMoon Mistress continued, "-but once you step out of the plane, I daresay you won't have the opportunity-"

The silence filled the cabinet. The piercing gaze of Krystal Blake traveled back and forth between Sandra's and Adriana's faces, both visibly confused and somehow uncomfortable.

"Huh?" It was Sandra who broke the silence, and Krystal looked at her apologetically.

"Princess, I can leave you both for some time here to make- to make the right decision- but you have to be sure about that. If either one of you wants to reclaim their decision, then I will drop them off again wherever they want or to the mansion, and Max will do the rest. You will be free and you won't have to be forced with me. I want you to be happy and it's completely a-a-lright, you won't have to "

"KRYSTAL BLAKE YOU FUCKING MORON-" Sandra hastily stood up and slammed her lips against Krystal in order to shut her up, which seemed to be the most effective way in the eyes of the Zodiac Mistress too, as she shook her head in disbelief at what she had just heard.

'Does I want to reconsider anything-'

'Is it possible for me to leave the most precious thing that has happened in my life and return?'

'Go back where? To a room filled with screens and screams from afar? '

'Oh, fucking hell NO!'

Her self-doubt died as she watched her maybe girlfriends? now aggressively making out on the love seat-

And gods, that was the hottest thing she had ever seen in her life. Krystal's hands traveled over Sandra's shoulders and down to her back. Their bodies mingled as it seemed Sandra was trying to engulf, constrict, and just strangle Krystal. as how she hand decency to be able to think something so ridiculous, like that, their teeth clashed, neither of them agreeing to submit, which made everything even more heated, even more, seductive as Krystal's fingers stroked beneath the silky fabric of the top Sandra was wearing, Sandra gasped, and Adriana unconsciously licked her lips, growing hotter and hotter.

As much as she would have liked to watch the 'session' till the very end, she had to interrupt them in order to give her answer or get some explanation about what the holy hell was going on?

Then a moan, so melodious and eccentric, made its way towards Adriana's ear, which made her mind go blank. Her heart started palpating, her mouth went open, then again Krystal moaned when Sandra's finger traced behind her neck as she licked her earlobe.

'Answers can wait...' Adriana thought as she continued to watch the assault of the Cobra Mistress over Krystal's neck.

The Darkmoon Mistress was gasping, her eyes fluttering close, as Sandra continued to suck and lick, occasionally claiming her as hers, with so much passion that Krystal had forgotten about the pessimistic voices ringing inside her head telling her that it's just an illusion, don't trust them, they are only using you- her thoughts never returned as she felt Sandra groan and tug at her coat button, basically ripping the golden button of as her hand invaded inside of her coat, groping at her boob, her breath hitched as she once let Sandra take the lead and let or the voices she was once concealing, her eyes rolled back as she gasped when Sandra started to basically rip her shirt apart in order to get the very much needed skin contact, Krystal groaned and yanked Sandra's face towards her, delightedly savoring the bitter-sweet taste of her mouth, she felt complete- she felt alive after so many years, her eyes started to water as she gasped for air and Sandra continued her assault on her neck making her moan, her eyes fluttered opened as she saw a silhouette of someone standing and watching them, soon her senses came back and she pushed Sandra away, not to much to make her drop from her lap but enough to stop her.

Sandra groaned in annoyance as she rubbed herself, back and forth, against Krystal's thigh, Krystal was rather amused by the inability of the Cobra Mistress to keep her hands to herself and had to grab her wrist in order to stop her groping her breast as she turned to look towards Adriana's direction.

Sandra, visibly annoyed, followed her gaze, and then she stiffened and her pelvis stopped dry- rutting- the DarkMoon Mistress, who was now blushing profusely looking at Seshu sleeping on the couch across. Feeling rather daring, she made moves to sit back over the couch and settled herself comfortably over the lap, Krystal looked up and glared at her, but her eyes traveled towards her lips, which she could tell were thoroughly swollen. Sandra smirked at her and pecked her cheek innocently as if nothing had happened.

Krystal rolled her eyes, and then the grey eyes met the green wide orbs, dilated and twinkling with desire, desire that intense which made her gulp, Sandra seem to notice the reactions or rather lack of reaction cleared her throat and Adriana's eyes went wide as she suddenly got fascinates with the floor.

Krystal tried to adjust her coat and buttoned her shirt, "Ahem-" she cleared her throat, and the Zodiac mistress re-looked at her, blushing from the very core.

'Oh, liked what you see, little kitten, don't you' Krystal felt an urge to smirk but restrained herself from making any comments. Instead, she reminded herself that hearing the answer was a must, and the other things could wait.

She cleared her throat once again, feeling nervous, but Sandra squeezed her thigh and smiled reassuringly at her, Krystal continued, "You know, we won't pressure you into anything. You can leave if you want to. It's up to you. We do want you here, but we don't want to restrain you, not even in the slightest. So if you want, I will arrange-"

"And miss the free live porn!" Adriana exclaimed dramatically, "No, never-" She grinned and ran towards them, engulfing them in a hard, tight hug, which literally made Sandra cough and Krystal groan as Sandra's hair went into her mouth.

"There, there, Angel, take it lightly, will you?"Sandra mumbled, making Adriana chuckle as she freed them from the embrace, but feeling rather bold, she sat on Krystal's thigh, which was already more than half occupied with Cobra Mistress, so she ended up half on the couch, half on both of them.

"Owww- get your fat arses off me you cows-" Krystal groaned, but both of them ignored her as they beamed at each other.

"So, back to the question- where are we?" Adriana was the one who asked this time, and Krystal, who tried to push them off her, failed again, sighed, and just let her arms drape over both of the women's waists.

"Evadere Re"

"What?" Adriana's brows furrowed.

"Escape from reality-" Sandra whispered.

"Yes, exactly you got it right, princess-" she praised, then continued, "We are where, where no one knows what we do, no one knows who we are, we are in the land where no one knows our name-"

"How-" Adriana gasped.

"We are hidden from the radars and satellites and technology my grandfather developed in his time, so no one from the gang or the rivals could track us. He made a hideout on the outskirts of a town which is also wholly protected. The information about the coordinates is confidential and only passed to the heirs of the most loyal relatives related by the blood of course-"

"But you took us-" Sandra seemed to be conflicted with herself, which made Krystal chuckle.

"I know what I did." she said, cooly.

"But isn't it-" Adriana continued.

"What? illegal, kitten? " Krystal laughed, but it didn't reach her eyes.

"You didn't take Max here, did you?" Sandra asked, but it came out more like a question.

"Yes, I didn't," Krystal replied.

"You are trusting us?" Sandra was shocked as it's the only thing she assumed she would never get from the Darkmoon Mistress, never again, as Max clearly despises the emotion.

Adriana was so perplexed by the exchange that she decided to keep her mouth shut as she felt the hand around her waist tighten.

"There you got me, wrong Princess," Krystal chuckled maniacally, " Trust, trust, trust.... the worse scam in this world..." Adriana bit her lip to keep her face cold as the hold tightened even further she was sure that it will bruise as the pleasure of pain started overwhelming her senses, Krystal looked up the ceiling and took some deep breaths, "my beloved father trusted once, and he ended up dead, the relation we had was bit complex..." Her voice turned cold, "I hated him in the daylight when he pretended to be the leader. The epitome of the leader, cold, terrifying, and controlling, he left bruises in order to tame me, in order to sculpt me into the leader that everyone respects-" Her voice quivered and Adriana reluctantly caressed her cheek, making Krystal smile reassuringly at her.

"I still remember whining at Max that I didn't want to be the leader. My father craved it. But in the night, he returns to my room to care for my wounds, rub the ointment on my scars, kiss my palms and weep over my pain, telling me how sorry he was that he had to act in front of the members so they wouldn't see that their leader had gone soft-" She choked as Sandra pecked her cheek, encouraging her to continue.

"- The higher-order members were reluctant to give me the rank. From the very start, as I was the first female in the generation to get the authority of the crown of skulls, my father was forced by my grandfather's brother, to attempt to sire a healthy male offspring, but my father always denied this, saying the firstborn always gets the seat and he wouldn't be the one to break the rule. He had to pretend to hate me to ensure my safety, if- if- anyone had gotten the slightest of the idea that he was denying because he loved me, then I would have been dead-" Krystal paused, and Adriana leaned in to give her a quick, innocent kiss on the forehead in order to ensure everything was fine.

"- My- My mother tried countless times to get in bed with him. Perhaps she would have gotten an abortion and then impregnated herself with the sperm she desired. All I know, but she didn't get successful. My father took me here by flying the craft, trained me to do the same. It's the place where he showered me with his love, which was impossible to show. "Krystal smiled bitterly.

"The thing is, trusting someone had never been my thing after seeing the fate of the ones who trusted. Max chanted it day after day, my great, great grandfather started this legacy when he founded the core, and it became my mantra, and I don't even know if I would be able to trust anyone again-"

"B-But-"

"But what, Princess? I just know that you won't dare, and if somehow either of you leaked the information, I will know whom to kill- won't I?" She smirked, and Adriana rolled her eyes.

"Sounds like the best way to die-" she mumbled, making Krystal smirk.

"Yes, from the hand of one of the most beautiful woman you have ever seen-" she said, teasingly, making Adriana gulp.

"What-how?" she gasped.

"You have a fair habit of mumbling into your sleep-" Sandra answered, pinching her cheek, making Adriana pout.

"Okay, back to the topic. There is a saying that goes and is taught over every generation, 'Blood of the dark can be bounded with love, neither with lust nor trust, like the air, polluted yet crucial, earned not taken, borrowed not given, the blood and power flows'. My father chose to differ and met his fate. We can love but not trust. Sole trust blinds people and weakens the blood."

For some minutes, all of them became silent, then Kartos barked in anticipation and looked at the door, then back at Krystal to open it, Krystal rolled her eyes but nodded at the two to stand up and lead them out of the aircraft, not without a blindfold, with Sheshu slithering and Kartos jumping behind them.

************

They were standing in the middle of the sky, Adriana thought for a moment when Krystal let the blindfold off their eyes after walking a mile and climbing approximately fifty stairs for five to six minutes, her heart missing a beat. For a moment, she feels dizzy. Stars below and above, and at any moment, Krystal will step into the air, lead them to the constellations, to the fine dust and star-scattered clouds of the night. She reflexively grips both Sandra's and Krystal's hands tightly for a moment, as if afraid that she'll fall if she lets go.

Krystal looked over her shoulder and smiled; Sandra took another tentative step forward, dragging them, so they were standing beside each other, and at that moment she realized the stars above were merely mirrored in the still waters of a vast lake. Mountains rise each side of the lake, like cresting waves, and even now, at the height of summer, - she could see the pale glow of snow on the uppermost peaks. For a moment, Adriana thought she was standing on the edge of the world. That crisp, clear darkness that rolls on forever until sky and land become one; the forests, the valleys, the thin crescent moon that seems to balance on her heart.

"Where are we?" Adriana asked at last.

"Snowdonia."

Adriana thought. It sounds like a name that belongs in a story. Some fairytale realm, or a kingdom in a faraway world. Sandra gazed into the lake, watching the stars glimmer across its surface. A shooting star briefly flashes across the sky, leaving a fading trail of light.

"It's only a portion of it that's hidden from the rest of the world; only a few people who have sworn loyalty and bore our marks with some technology my grandfather invented to keep them from revealing the secret have access to the place and the villa built in the middle of the fields, "Krystal said, watching the shooting star as Kartos nuzzled her leg.

"It's beautiful-" Sandra breathed, and Adriana only nodded as words were not sufficient to define the beauty.

"I know," Krystal said as she crouched down and sat on the grass, not caring about her white trousers.

Adriana scoots towards her as Krystal reached her hand and laced their fingers while still staring at the sky.

Sandra soon joined them over the ground. Taking a seat next to Adriana, and putting her head over her shoulder, she sighed.

"If I am not wrong, your previous plan was to run away here and cut all the ties-" Sandra said, looking towards Krystal, making her reluctantly nod.

Adriana's eyes widened as she was taken aback by the statement. "A-and what would have happened to the group?" she asked, making Krystal sigh as she lowers her face to kiss her knuckles.

"We always train the spare related by blood to prevent the extinction of the heirs, Max would had have to contact one of them-" Krystal answered slowly, and Kartos licked her cheek, making her groan.

"Behave- baby-"

Kartos just nuzzles her neck, making her roll her eyes, making Adriana chuckle.

"I told you snakes are better," Sandra said, and Adriana noticed the boa constrictor had been curled against the Cobra Mistress' thigh the whole time.

"They are dangerous-" Krystal countered.

"As if your mutt has not been altered rabid," Sandra scoffed, making Kartos growl at her.

At least he actually listens to me, not just licks the ground as you walk and-"

"Guys! Just shut up!" Adriana shook her head. She already had enough to process than to stop a catfight.

"Did she just-"

"Guy-zoned us?" Krystal completed the sentence, making Adriana roll her eyes, making them laugh.

Okay, what's the latest plan?" Adriana asked, ignoring their laughter.

Krystal stopped and, with the very moment turned serious, "I am stopping the red-" she said.

"Huh?"

"WHAT?"

Adriana asked, and Sandra exclaimed simultaneously.

"Yes, I am seizing the black market trades over the whole globe," Krystal said, looking at Sandra, and it was time for Adriana to exclaim.

"WHAAAT?"

"Yes, kitten, I am-"

"B-But how-" Sandra shuttered, and it was not normal to see the calm and composed Cobra mistress struggling.

"Drugs is an obsession, not a choice. All people associated with it will leave the clan and join others, and you will be attacked-" Adriana said, horrified even thinking about it.

"No one will attack us if I am superior to them in power-" Krystal answered plainly as if she was not talking about seizing a whole bloody traditional trade market.

"How the fuck will you remain superior if you just- just- stop the trades-" Sandra asked, still struggling to process the information.

"Bold of you to assume that our power lies in our selling some hallucinogenic powder, princess-"

"It's not? " Adriana asked, but Sandra seemed to have clicked something, and it was rather irritating for the Zodiac Mistress to not be connected with either of the Empires for very long enough to be able to comprehend the vague statements.

Sandra inhales deeply. "You are not."

"I definitely am, princess-" Krystal beamed at her.

"But it's risky-"

"We live in Gamble."

"You can't-"

"I can-"

"Don't-"

"SHUT UP! If you both don't start making sense from this instant, I am going to push both of you over the cliff and live happily with Kartos and the cute snake. If someone ever finds me, I will act as a widow and claim both of your properties-" Adriana scowled, making them stop and stare at her, amused or bewildered.

"That's rather specific-" Sandra commented, and Krystal nodded at her.

"I am going to make some of our scientific research public or to the government-" Krystal answered, and Adriana frowned, considering the havoc it would cause.

"You will be arrested for violating the experimental laws-" Sandra stated, and Krystal rolled her eyes at her. She was not stupid enough to reveal the entire gene sequencing or the mutants interfering with the brain, as these experiments were performed over live humans, which people wouldn't be able to do over cadavers over centuries.

"I will release some parts of it which can also be gathered by legal means, It will be enough to cause a revolution under the research and will provide me with enough political power and influence on the government as they would love to get some credit for the experiments we have done, so it will be fine-"

"But-"

Krystal closed her eyes. "There are lots of buts, but it's the only way I would be able to be free from the hellhole."

"And you will continue the 'white' business, or whatever you call it?" Adriana asked, making Krystal nod.

"Everything will be as usual, but just the drug dealings and all the trafficking will cease by our end "

"What about the people?" Sandra asked, seeming to regain her elegant composure, asking gracefully.