Chapter Text
Few knew of The Cell and what its purpose was. It was a deliberate secret kept from all the realms to ensure no one was foolish enough to try and break into it seeking power. There was already enough to worry about regarding the internal threat of its... occupants. It was best to keep external ones to a minimum where possible.
Still, there were some people who knew of its existence - powerful wizards, skilled information gatherers, and an assortment of those who had stumbled upon remaining records of it. However, even their information was very limited. At most, they knew it contained unique prisoners with extraordinary abilities that the gods themselves deemed too dangerous for the world. Anything beyond that, though - who those prisoners were, where the prison was located, who guarded it - was all subject to rumors.
Elizabeth had grown tired of listening to a lot of it on those occasions she left The Cell - or more accurately, The Lookout which hung above the prison itself. She knew Raora had, too, when she turned her godly sights outward to check on those pockets of knowledge. Still, it was their job to make sure there was no danger of discovery. So they endured the outlandish or creepy ideas some people had to make sure no action needed to be taken.
She normally did not ponder that aspect of the job too much. However, walking around the corridors of The Cell, she was reminded of a few of them. In particular, her thoughts were drawn to the speculations on what this place actually looked like. If it was holding very dangerous individuals, then surely it must have looked quite impressive from all the magic and protections that would be required!
She had heard it all over her time assigned there. Some thought it was a prismatic facility filled with fractal lights and beams of pure energy. Others had suggested it was an ever-shifting facility of metal and magic wards, nothing ever staying in place longer than five minutes to confuse the prisoners. One she had found rather amusing, admittedly, had been that the place existed in four dimensions to accommodate the power of those imprisoned!
...It made her wonder how they would react to the reality that it was mostly made of stone.
From the floor she walked on, to the walls and ceiling that echoed the sound, her entire surroundings were stone slabs and bricks. Grayish-black with a shiny quality to some parts, it stretched on before and behind her, and down every turn that she could see. The columns and some inlays on the walls had some fancy designs to them, to be fair, so it was not like everything was uniform. And the eerie blue glow from crystal protrusions on the walls made the place feel appropriately ominous, she felt.
Even so, though, the Scarlet Queen imagined that those who knew what The Cell truly looked like would be... underwhelmed. It did not matter that every bit of stone was infused with magical power to reinforce it and deploy defenses. They would be baffled how such a place could ever hold such dangerous people as the rumors suggested. People have lost their appreciation for simple, yet efficient. Would they even realize how special some of the magic here is?
Though, then again... if they did realize that, they would have to be taken in, so it was for the better, really.
(Those people were not hurt, of course... Or so she was told. She had been concerned when some of the people seemed to... disappear, even from The Panscope’s sights. But the higher-ups had reassured her that it was only a temporary measure while they did some reviews of them. They would be released again... eventually. So why had none been yet?)
Shaking her head, she continued her strides down the corridor. As she walked, she also passed by guards, wearing full-body plate armor, black and shiny with red runes glowing at the edges of each seam of metal. They walked in pairs, wielding black and gold rifles in their hands in case of a prison break.
They barely acknowledged her as they passed by her, with only one or two giving a simple nod. Their faces were hidden by their helms, but she could imagine their serious expressions, resolute in their purpose. They had been selected for this job for a reason, and she imagined it was due to them being willing to put down any of the prisoners who stepped even slightly out of their cells.
It made Elizabeth feel... out of place at times. With her white clothes and black lace serving as enchanted armor, and long flowing bright red hair, she stood out from the average guard. The same could be said about her black heels, and even the sword on her back - Thorn - did not match any of their standard equipment. It made her itch, feeling wholly... out of place here for reasons she could not identify...
It was a ridiculous feeling, though, naturally. She was not a standard guard, and neither were the rest of her teammates. Their group - simply named Justice - was assigned here to be the wardens of The Cell. They had abilities and skills that made them particularly useful for taking on any of the convicts here should they attempt to breach their confinements. Where dozens of normal guards might struggle to fight them at half-power, they could potentially hold them back at full strength.
With her, the reason was obvious - her blue flame. She looked down at it as she turned into a new hallway, glowing right above her chest. A gift from a kindly god as a child... and what had spurred her on to her chosen path in life. The powers it gave her were many, including enhanced strength and endurance for her body and powerful pyromancy.
More importantly, though... it naturally served to weaken most forms of magic if she so willed it. Whether it was elemental, temporal, or even from eldritch origins, she could dampen all sorts of spells and enchantments with it. Not even innate abilities in those like phoenixes were safe from her influence. It had always given her an edge in battle, and led to her rising reputation among the realms.
It was no surprise that the gods would call to her to protect The Cell after the last wardens proved inefficient. And where she went, her team followed, who all had their own assortment of powers that could defeat mighty foes! They were practically made for this purpose! And after being helped by one god, it felt only right that she returned the favor!
The Cell was under their power... and she was determined not to disappoint her overseers.
She was brought out of her thoughts as she noticed one guard broke from his companion to stand before her. She stopped her stride, nodding to him as she recognized him as one of the captains by the maroon line on his shoulder plates. They’ve learned how I like to begin my patrols. “Good day, sir. Anything to report on the prisoners?”
The man shook his head under his helm. “No, ma’am. All cells have been relatively quiet in activity. The hellhounds are as rambunctious as ever, and the guards outside of the gem’s cell have been... twitchy. But no attempted breaches have been detected. The sound demon and Archivist have shown no signs of trying to use their powers against their restraints.”
The Scarlet Queen nodded thoughtfully at the information. Nothing about the information was too out of place, aside from perhaps the sound demon - Nerissa - not attempting any singing it seemed. Guards twitching outside of the gem’s cell - Bijou - was concerning, but it was not the first time it had happened. A few rotations of guards and some reinforcements of the enchantments in that area should fix the problem.
Regardless, she looked at the man again, giving a polite smile. “Thank you for the update. I’ll be sure to prioritize the twins and Bijou in my patrol pattern. Thank you for the information. Return to your duties.”
Despite the clear dismissal... the captain did not move. She could almost feel the disapproving look beneath that face plate. “I assume that advising you to return to The Lookout would not stop you from continuing through the complex?”
Elizabeth started to frown, quickly recognizing where this was going. It was not the first time she had this conversation with her subordinates. She straightened her posture, keeping her voice firm. “It is not the first time I or my team have patrolled here. We have been fine every other time. I doubt this one will be any different.”
“It is an unnecessary risk,” the man stated. “You should remain outside of The Cell unless there is a breach that needs to be dealt with.”
“It is well within my rights to walk in here and keep a closer eye on my prisoners,” the Scarlet Queen said, crossing her arms. “If anything, this is better for if there is any attempt to escape. One or some of us will be on the scene to hold them back while the rest of us arrive. I would think you would appreciate us being ready to make your lives easier. We’re able to protect you better this way.”
“I see your point of view and appreciate the thought,” the captain conceded. “Do not think that I disapprove of your commitment to the job. Compared to the last wardens of this place, you have done much better in maintaining order. All while remaining active heroes in the other realms, which is impressive.
“However, I still think you would be better served remaining within The Lookout. Remember that most of the prisoners have powers that manipulate the mind and emotions. Even with your extra protection and those that your associates possess, if the inmates gained control over you thanks to your guard being down and you faltered...”
Elizabeth frowned, able to understand the concern. She could picture it clearly - Raora hearing a few notes from Nerissa or the Archivist - Shiori - weaving a mind control spell that would even work on an automaton like Celilia. The idea of any of them being made puppets by the prisoners made her shudder. That along with the idea of turning her flames against them, despite how unharmful she can make them.
Still, she shook her head and maintained her position. “My teammates know what they are doing. If the prisoners were to plan to gain control over us, then I fail to see how the outcome would be different if we were here or out of The Cell. I am well aware of the risks, captain - I have read the reports thoroughly, especially of the trickery of Shiori. But I believe it is better that we maintain a presence in The Cell when possible.”
She could practically feel the man’s frown at her. He spoke again after a long pause, his tone cold. “Just remember to keep your distance from them. Do not interact with any of them in their cells unless they are trying to get out. That is all I, and the gods, ask of you.”
The Scarlet Queen bristled at the use of the gods against her. But even so, she kept her face neutral as she gave a curt nod. “I have followed that advice, captain. I don’t plan to let these prisoners get the better of me.”
The captain huffed, finally moving to walk past her... though not before mumbling one last comment. “So you claim while using those monsters' names...”
Elizabeth turned her head to glare at the man as he moved on, his partner rejoining his side. She did not call after him, though, refusing to make a scene so early in her day. Thus, she reluctantly let it go and continued on her way, her steps more forceful than normal.
He’s just concerned for your safety, she told herself repeatedly to try and get rid of most of her frustration. There was often friction between her team and the guards of The Cell since their arrival. While they had mutual respect for doing this important job, they had... differing opinions on how to perform it. (She knew Gigi especially got on their nerves with her chaotic nature.) They listened to their orders, and had not made formal complaints to the higher-ups. But even after so long, they maintained their disapproval for some of their actions.
It was not just patrolling The Cell - it was also how they referred to the prisoners. The guards tended to avoid their actual names, saying that it “humanized” them too much. The inmates were monsters, they often said, and did not deserve respect. Not with what they could do to the world should they ever get out. It was also why they insisted on as little contact with them directly as possible, lest they use such opportunities to manipulate them.
The Scarlet Queen found this... Well, she thought it was awful. Even knowing how dangerous the prisoners were, she did not see the issue with using their names to refer to them. At the same time, though... many of the guards had been here far longer than she had, which was about six months now. They had experiences with the inmates she did not, so... could she really judge? Besides, if the gods found no issue with it, then...
...She felt a little sick trying to justify their behavior, honestly. Still, she tried to bury the feeling as she continued her patrol. Causing drama with the guards under her command would accomplish nothing. So long as the prisoners were not being abused, then some rude comments from the guards were very minor in the grand scheme of things. What mattered was making sure they did not escape from their confinements.
(If she told herself that enough, perhaps she would eventually believe it...)
Grunting, she shook her head some more, not wanting to get distracted. The gods trusted her to do this job right, and she would not fail them. So long as she kept everyone in check, prisoners and guards alike, everything would be fine. She was Elizabeth Rose Bloodflame, the Harbinger of Order! Nothing was going to conquer her!
Anyway, if there was anything she and the captain did agree on... it was the caution needed with the inmates. The accounts she had read painted a dark picture of their group, and she would not live to see their devastation unleashed upon the land. Her blood boiled just thinking about the death and blood on their hands. All the pointless slaughter, seemingly for no reason other than to unleash their powers...
She once more did her best to reign in her feelings. It was difficult, though, with how detailed the reports had been. It was like they were evil personified, without a hint of compassion in their bones. Only the twins - Fuwawa and Mococo - were not total savages, but even they had left devastation with their “games.” It was a wonder why it took so long for their original captors to put them behind bars.
Given this... perhaps she understood why the guards did not try to view any humanity in them, even if she disapproved of it. She was almost glad she had not had pictures of any of their faces provided to her. Trying to put any look to people who were willing to commit the atrocities she had read...
They never would again, though. Just try to escape on my watch, “Advent,” she thought grimly. If ever they tried, she would be ready along with her team. The Cell had not been breached in its millennia of time, and she would not see that change. She was prepared to-!
Her thoughts cut off as loud gongs echoed in the stone corridors... An alarm that something was going on with one of the prisoners.
She stopped in place for one second, eyes widening despite herself. She almost did not believe it, but... No, this was real. After so long of silence, someone had caused an incident. Someone might even be trying to break out!
Well, not if she had anything to say about it.
Her expression hardening, the Scarlet Queen listened closely to the pattern of the gongs. They happen three in succession, before pausing and then ringing out again. It made her relax a tad, since this meant that no prisoner was outside of their cell. It did mean, though, that there was a potential issue with their confinements, which could in turn lead to a breach.
Determined not to let that happen, she began to rush down the corridor. She reached into one of her pockets and pulled out a small glass ball, a small yellow light in its center. Focusing on it, the light grew brighter as its magic took effect, allowing her to broadcast her voice on all magic wavelengths. “Report! What’s happening right now?!”
A response soon came as her orb gained a red spec, indicating someone was speaking directly to her rather than generally broadcasting. A rough male voice gave her an explanation. “There’s been an incident at the gem’s cell. We believe there are casualties, and... the door may be unlocked. We’re setting a perimeter a safe distance from it.”
Elizabeth sucked in a breath, the blue flame on her chest growing a little hotter. The door to a cell being left open was already bad enough, but casualties... She may have heavy disagreements with the guards, but to die so needlessly and suddenly...
She scowled, increasing her pace as she focused her broadcast on the one guard. “I’m on my way. Do not engage unless Koseki Bijou tries to head toward your position. Ensure that all anti-charm runes are active in your sector!”
“Yes, ma’am!” the man replied. He did not even grumble about the use of the prisoner’s name as the red spec disappeared from her orb. She set her jaw, the seriousness of the situation truly becoming apparent now. Such a failure of protocol has been unheard of since she took power in this place. She even wondered if many of the guards, as old as they were, had all witnessed anything quite like this.
If not... then it was time to show them why she was selected for her position. So she continued running, determined to prove her reputation to these people... and to make the “Jewel of Emotions” pay for this transgression.
-------
The Cell was designed like a labyrinth intentionally. With several twisting turns and dead-ends, it was easy to get lost in there if you did not have a map of the layout. The ability to seal and open certain corridors certainly helped with that feeling that there was no escape if the people in charge did not wish you to. And with how many magical wards there were to prevent mapping through means like astral projection, the chances any prisoners could figure out the directions they needed were slim.
This was not an issue for Elizabeth, naturally. She had memorized the maps of this place the moment she had been assigned there. Her constant patrols also helped reinforce this knowledge. As such, she did not even need to pause at any intersections to figure out where to go. She always made it a point to pass directly by each prisoner’s room, to the point that she barely thought about where her feet took her most days.
Today was anything but typical, however. There was a determination in the way she ran toward the section in which Koseki Bijou was contained, her heels not slowing her down. She was aware of the blue flames that had spread like tendrils around her body and coated the edges of her sword still on her back. There was a tightness in her core she recognized from every time she would be heading toward a fight.
And a fight she was indeed heading to... She just did not know fully what that would entail.
She grunted, rushing past some guards heading in the opposite direction. They had their rifles ready to be raised, as though the prisoner would suddenly appear right in front of them. In reality, though, they were heading toward some of the key exits to The Cell to help defend them. So far, there had been no word about the first line of defense being breached, but it paid to be cautious in case the worst happened.
Her glass communication ball was still held tightly in her hand, glowing brightly. Occasionally, voices would come through on all frequencies barking out orders or demanding reports. Mostly, though, it was just confirmations that the first line was still holding and that no one was charmed. (A few mages on staff would allegedly be able to tell if they were lying.)
The Scarlet Queen had to admire their organization. While she had given her own orders while running, they all seemed to know what they were doing. She could almost believe they would be able to hold off Bijou should she make a move without her help.
But the redhead was not about to leave them on their own. She was confident in her ability to take on one prisoner on her own so long as she had her flames to dampen the other’s powers. She knew from the files what to expect, and unlike Shiori, who had many unknown factors, there was little chance the gem-girl had any hidden abilities that would be atypical to deal with.
I’m sure my team is still worried, though, she thought. She had contacted them and told them about the emergency, telling them to take positions at various points in The Cell. There was no need to send all of them directly to Bijou’s room - that would be overkill, and poor planning in general. It was better to have them spread out in areas where any prisoner was likely to go if they wanted to break out, since tearing through the walls of this place was not an option.
Plus... she had to acknowledge that her flames might not stop her from being charmed. And if that happened, then she did not want the others falling under the inmate’s spell so quickly. By being away from her, they had a good chance to prepare themselves... and she believed in them if they needed to take her down as well. They may not like it, but this is what they trained for, and they knew how important this way of doing things was.
Still... she did feel a small warmth in her chest from their gentle calls to be careful. She could already picture the hugs from Raora and Gigi after this, as well as the coffee Cecilia would begrudgingly bring her. They were some of the best teammates she could ask for... and friends.
It was then that, as if sensing she was thinking about them, a red speck appeared on her orb. The next second, Raora’s voice called out to her. “Liz? Have you made it to Bijou’s cell yet? Are you alright?”
Raising the glass ball to her mouth, Elizabeth replied as she ran. “I’m nearly there. Just a few more turns, and I’ll be at the setup line of defense.” There was no teleporting in The Cell to get anywhere - the wards blocked it for obvious security reasons. She had been running non-stop for twenty minutes to get there (it felt longer, honestly), her enhanced endurance keeping her from getting winded. It would not be long now, though. “Are you in position?”
“Gigi dropped me off a minute ago,” the panther-girl answered. “Her strength and speed are always handy, eh? It won’t be long until she and Cecilia are in their places.”
The Scarlet Queen nodded, even though her friend could not see it. “Good. Be ready to respond to any commotion that comes your way. Though, if all goes to plan, then it will not have been necessary. It’s just a precaution.”
“I know, and we believe in you, Liz!” Raora said. After a pause, though, she continued more softly. “Though... are we sure the other prisoners are secure? I’m not sure what to make of what my god eyes are seeing with them.”
That caused Elizabeth to blink, her run slowing down a bit as she focused more on the conversation. She had asked her to check on the other inmates, but had hoped nothing would be wrong. “What do you mean? What’s going on with them? Are they attempting to escape?”
“No, but... they seem anxious,” the panther-girl revealed. “And... I was actually talking with one of the captains who works near the twins. He said that he thought he overheard one of them mention Bijou - not that he used her name - but he was not sure. I can’t tell if that means they have some way to communicate, or if the man is just being paranoid.”
A deep frown crossed the Scarlet Queen’s face. That certainly did not bode well if it was true. There should have been no way for the hellhounds to know what the alarms were about. There was every chance they merely overheard a passing guard who was speaking too loudly about the situation. However... it also could have been that they somehow had communication with one another, which would be a huge breach of security.
In the latter case... she knew who the likely culprit would be. Shiori’s abilities were still not well understood, and the idea she had breached the wards of her cell to somehow speak with the others was unfortunately not inconceivable. It would be something they would have to check later, to be sure. If they could coordinate with each other, it could lead to disaster later.
There was little that could be done about it right then, however. She huffed as she made it around the next corner and replied to her teammate. “Keep observing them for now and see if you notice anything out of place. I’ll see about finding anything incriminating in Bijou’s room once I’m there. For now, maintain your position.”
“You got it, Liz,” Raora responded. “If you get into trouble, don’t hesitate to contact us. No way are we losing our brave leader! Do you want me to check Bijou’s cell, too?”
“Don’t strain your eyes too much, luv,” Elizabeth said. “I know you have been the last few days. Keep your focus on the other four. I’ll assess things with Bijou.”
“If you’re sure,” the panther-girl replied. “Be quick about it, though. If Gigi gets too worried, she might start using Ceci as a chew toy... again.”
A small chuckle managed to leave the redhead at that, thanking her before lowering her orb. She looked ahead, noticing several turns on both sides of the hallway coming up. She spotted the second one on the right she needed to take easily, though. She increased her speed, not wanting to leave the men under her command without support for any longer. Who knew when Bijou might make her move?
...Although, that conversation started to make her question that. Assuming the prisoners were communicating, then their anxiety did not make sense. Surely, the gem-girl would have informed them if she was about to make a move. So either they did not have contact with one another... or this was not planned.
But then... what had happened? Why would Bijou have suddenly caused an incident? She had to know she could not get out on her own. They were fully prepared for her, having all the information on the kingdoms she had destroyed by spreading madness and greed among the people. This was an idiotic move by every conceivable notion... Unless...
An idea came to the Scarlet Queen then, but she tried to shake it off. Now was not the time for faltering! She was reminded of this as she came around the correct turn, coming up to the back of the line of guards. Eighteen were lined up at the front in the large corridor, big heavy shields in front of them with slits for guns to shoot from and looking highly reflective. Several other guards waited behind them, weapons at the ready.
All eyes were trained on a hallway turn just ahead to the left. Down it, she knew there were no other turns. It was a long, straight path to the cell door of Bijou’s room. The distance was to help ensure that she could not easily charm any guards assigned to her. It worked for the most part, even if regular rotations were required.
She did not miss the stray bit of armor plating sitting right at the entrance, however...
As she gradually slowed down and came up to the line, one of the guards took notice of her - another captain. He saluted her as she got close. “Ma’am. No activity as of yet. Other guards are posted down the opposite end of the hall around the bend.”
“Good work,” Elizabeth complimented. She looked at the corridor again, eyes narrowing as the three gongs pattern continued to sound out. “Do we know anything about what happened here?”
The man shrugged. “Only the basics. The two men stationed here had been twitchy, but it did not seem like anything more than normal. However, a passing patrol witnessed as the two suddenly bolted down the hallway, seeming hysterical. They were even shoving one another to get ahead, if I understand things correctly. The patrol was unable to stop them as they raced toward the door and proceeded to undo the locks with keys they should not have had. Everyone else kept their distance and called for the alarm to be sounded.”
The Scarlet Queen frowned some more, not liking the implications of that. “Have the two men come back out since?”
“No, ma’am,” the captain reported, before turning toward the corridor with a glare that was obvious even underneath his helmet. “However... there were some visceral screams earlier. I believe I can guess as to their fates.”
Elizabeth released a breath, having feared that. Still... it let her put together the situation a little better. If those two had keys, then it meant that this had been planned for a while. They must have been under a charm that had worked slowly over time. It would have only strengthened if they kept getting assigned here, which if they were compelled to... This had all the markings of a meticulous escape attempt.
So then... why did her instincts tell her that something was off about this?
Confused at her own feelings, she tried to shake it off as she moved past the captain, gesturing to the guards forming the shield wall. “Let me pass. I’ll de-power her and assess the situation there. Don’t come running unless I shout, and even then do so with caution. Understood?”
She received affirmative responses from all of them. They opened a gap in the line big enough for her to fit through, which she swiftly did. Once they closed ranks again, she took a deep breath, preparing herself for whatever she was about to find. Then, with steel in her gaze, she took Thorn off of her back and went in front of the hallway to the cell.
The corridor was much narrower than the usual hallways of this complex. The crystals jutting from the walls were also all glowing blue as part of the special containment needs for this prisoner. They sparked and crackled, ready to unleash jolts of magical power that would sap the power from the gem-girl should she ever set foot outside of her room.
The Scarlet Queen marched down the hallway, her sword brandished in front of her. Despite there being no other turns or paths, her eyes darted around her, looking for signs of an ambush. If Bijou had not made any attempt to head into the main corridors, she might have set a trap of some kind. However, it was also possible that she had underestimated the defenses out there and elected to save any schemes for anyone who went into her cell to check on her.
The latter seemed more likely as she got near the solid metal door at the end of the pathway unchallenged. Like the shields the guards were using, it was shiny and reflective. A perfect material to further enhance magically to deal with the light magics the gem-girl was supposed to be able to wield. Though of course... it was nothing compared to her powers over emotions. Something that could not be stopped by a simple barrier... as evidenced by the door being slightly ajar.
She slowed her steps as she got right in front of the entrance to the cell. Holding her breath, she listened for any signs of someone being near it. Through the small crack, though, she could barely hear a thing. It was not silent, however - a faint noise coming from deeper within. One that... for some reason made her heart stutter, even if she did not recognize what it was consciously yet.
Is she using her magic on me? Elizabeth wondered. She had thought physical contact would be needed on account of her natural enhancements. Still, she instinctively weaved some of the blue flames on her chest around her body. She also increased the amount on her blade, making sure she was ready to strike if needed.
She inched ever closer, to the point that her breath could fog up the metal. She took another deep breath, about ready to enter. Whatever awaited her, she was committed to facing it now. Whatever tricks were awaiting her, she would not let the prisoner get loose. She would keep her in this cell in the name of her oaths to the gods!
She breathed out... then shot out a torrent of flames through the dark crack. In seconds, the room was alight in its blue glow, though with no heat, as they worked to suppress any spells within. A second later, with a grunt, she kicked the door in and jumped inside, posture defensive as she took everything in.
The first thing she noticed was how... sparse it was. While it was fairly big and shiny, that was pretty much the only compliment she could give it. There was a plain bed with light gray sheets in the corner... and that was it. There were no other accommodations, which a small part of her recoiled at. She supposed this prisoner would not produce any waste, but... even considering the crimes these people had committed, this seemed kind of cruel.
It also was not what she was told the cell was supposed to be like from another captain. Raora had also never mentioned this, and she knew the woman would have if she had noticed. So... had her god eyes been fooled? That was no easy feat, but given the prison's various wards...
In another circumstance, she would have been more concerned about discovering this. However... her focus was not really on the lack of any decor or the lie. Rather... it was on the two bloody bodies in the center of the room, mangled with one another.
The black armor of the guards had all been ripped off of one another. They were left in the tunics underneath, save for a plate boot on one and a gauntlet on the other. Their dark hair - one short, the other mid-length - was exposed to her. There was practically nothing hidden about their bodies at this point.
It also meant that... nothing hid their injuries. Scratch marks were plentiful down their arms and legs, along with slices that looked done with daggers. Their clothes were soaked deep to turn a dark shade of crimson in several areas. And their faces... It was hard to tell if she had even seen them before with all the damage, including one’s eyes being gouged out.
There were plenty of other graphic details about the bodies that would cause most revulsion, all taken in within a second. Elizabeth was not immune to the feeling, but she managed to push it down enough to not end up frozen. She had seen corpses in all sorts of terrible states - this was not anything new to her. Yet even so... the heavy metallic scent made her nose wrinkle.
It was all so... brutal. A savage display of two murders... And the cause of them both was still in the room.
Growling, her eyes quickly scanned the room for the prisoner. Her blue flames formed a ring around the entire perimeter of the room, illuminating everything with great clarity. The lack of furniture almost made that irrelevant, though, with there being no places to hide aside from under the bed.
But that was not where Bijou was. Instead... she was curled up in the far left corner of the room, legs hugged to her chest and her head buried in her knees. She did not attempt to move as her whole body seemed to shake. She... seemed rather oblivious to her surroundings, actually, not even trying to say anything to her, let alone launch an attack.
Again, her heart wavered as her instincts screamed at her that there was something she was missing. The two corpses, though, were not exactly encouraging rational thought. She had expected to find them dead, but seeing the bloody mess the other had left them in rubbed her the wrong way. It was only intensified by the splashes of blood she saw over the prisoner’s small frame.
It... was the first time she had ever seen this small frame, the Scarlet Queen realized suddenly. After all these months, she had finally gotten to glimpse one of these prisoners. There was a moment she took in what details she could, like her long silver hair with purple colorations, and feet that seemed to be covered in dark purple gems. Her face was hidden in her legs, but the plain white dress she wore did nothing to hide the iridescent glowing veins along her skin.
There was a certain... beauty to it, if she were honest. One she knew was not from any charm thanks to her flames. The woman seemed so unassuming like this... Yet something also seemed amiss about the scene before her.
For what felt like the thousandth time, she tried to shake off these feelings. She... she could not let herself be fooled by an unassuming appearance, she reminded herself. Such a mistake was something she had learned to avoid in her early days of learning to fight. A strike could come at any moment if she let her guard down! She had to deal with this quickly, or else the guards outside and potentially her teammates would be in danger!
Taking resolve in this, she glared at the huddled figure, approaching slowly with her sword before her. She spoke coldly, trying to get a response from the woman. “What... what the hell have you done? Why did you kill these two?”
The gem-girl did not answer, remaining where she was. Her body continued shaking, and that sound from earlier left her, soft and hard to hear. It tingled at the back of the redhead’s mind, making her all the more frustrated with herself. Get it together! This is what the gods would want from you!
Growling more to herself than the other, Elizabeth bit out more words as she got near, heels covered in fresh blood now from the floor. “Answer me, dammit! Why have you done this?! What is it that you hope to accomplish? Tell me now, or you shall know the justice I serve!”
Once more, she was met with nothing but that same noise. Gritting her teeth, she tightened her hands on Thorn, getting ready to raise it. She was not going to strike the girl yet, but perhaps a feign would get them to finally answer-
This close, however... she could finally tell what the sound was. It made her freeze in place, eyes widening. A voice screamed within her that she was being foolish - that this could very well be a trick. But... she was well versed in being able to tell when someone was acting. The sound she was hearing... seemed genuine.
Which meant that Koseki Bijou, the dangerous prisoner she had been warned about... was sobbing in the corner of her cell.
She stood there and stared for a long moment, unable to believe it. Her sword lowered to her side, and despite herself... she deactivated the flames on its edges. It was still a mighty weapon on its own, so if she needed it a good swing would still work. However, she was becoming increasingly certain that... was not necessary.
She had no clue what to make of this. After successfully getting the cell door open, the gem-girl... was having a breakdown? Why would...? It did not make any sense! Between the reports and what she understood about this woman’s capabilities...
Another sob rang through the air, a little louder than the others. Despite herself, the Scarlet Queen found herself wincing, a bit of... regret starting to take root. It was hard to avoid it, with how... small Bijou seemed. Whatever had happened, her coming in so aggressively had evidently not helped. It had been a part of her duty as one of the wardens here, and yet...
Swallowing, she knelt in front of the small woman. She spoke a little softer, raising her hand cautiously toward the other, still ready for a trick. “Um... Bijou? I’m told that’s your name, anyway. Are you... okay? Why are you-?”
Her fingers grazed the other’s arm... which caused the gem-girl to release a blood-curdling scream.
Elizabeth jumped back, nearly falling backward as her arm retreated quickly. The other one holding her hand shifted on instinct, getting ready to block a strike... but Bijou was not trying to come closer. On the contrary, she was trying to push herself more into her little corner, legs kicking and scrambling despite being as far back as she could go. She breathed rapidly, her face now exposed and showing off her wide, terrified purple eyes.
...And seeing her this close, the redhead realized with dread that the glowing lines on her were not veins. They were cracks in her skin, betraying her nature as being made of gems and stones rather than flesh and blood. The right side of her face was a mess of deep cracks that were a mere centimeter away from reaching her eye. The left side was not much better, with lighter cracks and scratches. Her arms and legs were covered in more, with some she swore getting bigger with sickening crunches as she moved.
The prisoner was speaking as well, half-hysterical as she pleaded with her. “S-stop, please! D-don’t hurt me! Please, n-no more! No more hurting. Snap out of it! Please! I... I...” Her sobs came back in full force, curling up into a tight ball as she shook violently. “Why... Why even here can’t I escape from it? Just... why...?”
She blabbered some more, her words becoming more incoherent as tears spilled from her eyes. She hunched more, seeming to put emphasis on protecting her head. Whimpers left her, clearly expecting some sort of strike.
The Scarlet Queen, however... found she could not move. She gaped at the other, too stunned to speak for a time. This... this did not make any sense! None of this matched what she was expecting! She came here for an unruly prisoner, not... not a scared girl who seemed too traumatized to fight back from even a simple touch.
Her eyes wandered back to the cracks covering the gem-girl’s body. She only felt sicker as she noticed that the jewels covering her feet were also cracked. Her clothing was also torn, exposing a large gemstone on her chest... whose light seemed to be flickering with pain from all the chips in it. A few of those missing pieces she noticed on the ground, sparkling with magical power. They would have been pretty, if not for it being obvious that they were not removed painlessly from the poor woman.
But why was she so damaged to begin with? What could have left her in such a sorry state, and why? What would even be the purpose? Who even-?!
...The answer was an obvious one, though she dreaded confronting it. Nonetheless, she slowly looked back at the two corpses on the floor, sitting in their pool of blood. An idea started to form in her mind about the progression of events. That perhaps... the two guards had not been charmed by Bijou to release her. Instead, a different influence had overtaken them, getting darker and more twisted every day they guarded her. Gradually overwhelming them until they stole keys and came in here to... break her. To take pieces of her, perhaps?
Looking at the bodies closer, she was also realizing signs that they might not have been killed by the gem-girl. No... they had done that themselves. One of them had a dagger clutched tightly in their dead fingers. The other had substances on his hand besides blood that she wondered would come from gouging someone’s eyes out. And really, how else would they have lost their armor if not by tearing it off one another?
It was like they had gone completely insane and just started tearing into one another... But not before first hurting Bijou and leaving her close to falling to pieces. Actions she had to wonder how violating they were to the woman, given how deep and invasive it had to be for a being of her nature...
Elizabeth found herself swallowing a lump in her throat, her heart continuing to sink. How had she missed all of this walking in? She was normally more observant than that! Had she gained that much of a bias from the reports to ignore the obvious signs? Been blinded by the words of the gods about how dangerous these prisoners were to nearly overlook abuse?
...Had she not been told everything?
She tried to shake off those thoughts, unable to handle such questions right now. Instead... she focused on the current problem. She had a prisoner who had just received unjust abuse from her guards. She was not convinced the other had not caused some sort of mental influence to cause it, but... there was no way it was intentional. Not with how scared she was... thinking that even the redhead was about to pick up where those two left off.
The best place to start then, she supposed, was to reassure her she meant no harm. She cleared her throat, setting down her sword entirely while raising her hands placatingly, making no move to touch her. She spoke calmly, keeping her tone gentle. “Hey, I... I’m sorry I scared you. I don’t understand what happened, though. Can... you please fill in the gaps for me about all of this? Please?”
Bijou did not respond for a time, making her wonder if she was paying any attention anymore. However, before she could speak again, the prisoner raised her head a little. Those purple eyes studied her, still scared but... also confused as she spoke with a hoarse voice. “Why... haven’t you attacked me, yet? You’re... you’re human. I can feel it. But your emotions...”
The Scarlet Queen frowned, taking note of that tidbit... Though was more saddened that being hurt by humans seemed normal to her, based on her tone. Still, she pressed on and pointed to the blue flame on her chest. “I have a special gift. It makes me immune to most charms. I wondered if it would work with yours, but it seems to be holding up. Not even the brief touch caused a tingle in me. Though, that might also be due to how I’m dampening your powers with the field I’ve conjured.”
That appeared to catch the gem-girl’s attention more, her eyes widening. Her gaze went to the blue flames around the room, as though noticing them for the first time. She then gazed down at her chest gem, which suddenly glowed a little brighter. It made the redhead weary, but no attack came, and the light dimmed a moment later.
Then, the short woman met her eyes, which... watered a little bit. Her voice was hushed, filled with awe and some other emotion she could not place. “You... you can dampen my curse? You... aren’t going to go crazy?”
Once again, Elizabeth filed away that information - especially about a “curse.” But she kept her focus on calming the other down, nodding while doing her best to smile. “Yes, I... appear to be immune. Though I feel like I don’t... understand everything you’re saying. What exactly happened here? Can you tell me?”
That seemed to remind Bijou of the current situation. Her breath hitched as she looked over at the bodies, wilting once again. While she buried her face again, though, she did not stop talking as she shook her head. “I... I’m so sorry. I-I didn’t mean to do it! I... I’m a blight upon humans. M-my presence drives them mad - to kill one another until everyone is dead. All so they can hoard me, and use me, and... b-break me into pieces again, and again, and... and...”
Her breathing had picked up, bordering on panic. Feeling her heart crack a little, the Scarlet Queen interjected quickly, hoping it would help. “Hey, hey! Try to stay calm, okay? I... I’m not saying what has happened is okay, but you didn’t mean to cause it, right? This is just... something that happens?”
Taking a deep breath, the gem-girl calmed down enough to nod and answer. “Y... yes. I’m... I’m cursed. I c-cause so much death... Not even the wards in this place...” A fresh wave of sobs left her, shirking into herself even more. “I’m... I’m a monster! Why was I even created? Why?!”
For a second, Elizabeth could only watch, her heart breaking more. Any attempts to keep this professional between a prisoner and their warden were quickly eroding. All she could see right now was a woman suffering and in need of comfort. Those words - that self-loathing she just heard - had sparked something protective inside of her. She wanted to do something to help - anything that would make this better-
-and then she found herself making an offer before she could consider the implications. “Can... I hug you, Miss Bijou?”
Both of them froze, each clearly shocked by the offer. Biting her lips as she suddenly felt self-conscious - an unusual state for her these days - she tripped over her words to clarify. “I-I understand if you don’t want to! I... know we’ve just met, I don’t know if you even like them, and... I’m sort of your captor in this place.” She sighed, looking to the side. “You just... seem like you need one, so I figured there was no harm in offe-”
She was cut off by something suddenly colliding with her. She tensed, looking down... and saw that Bijou had her face buried in her chest, arms wrapped tightly around her. Though despite being the initiator, she somehow seemed tenser than herself. It felt like the woman was holding her breath, waiting for her to start pulling shards from her cracks.
The Scarlet Queen did no such thing, however. Even now, she did not feel any inkling of a charm in her mind, which was an immense relief. The idea that she would suddenly go insane and start doing so... But instead, she was able to simply return the embrace, keeping it gentle and with enough looseness to make clear the other could back off if she so wished.
That seemed to be all the gem-girl needed to suddenly go limp, resting against her even as she continued hugging. She took a shuddered breath, trying to talk through her crying. “Are... are you sure this is fine? It isn’t... too awkward?”
Elizabeth sighed again, speaking softly. “You’re perfectly alright, luv. Take as long as you need. Just... know I still need to talk to you about everything once you’re done.”
Bijou nodded against her, continuing to cry her heart out (or whatever her equivalent was). The redhead for her part carefully ran her hands through her hair, not too dissimilar to how she comforted Gigi sometimes when her past came up. Otherwise, she did her best to touch the cracks as little as possible. Gods knew just this position had to hurt enough as it was.
The more professional part of her recognized that this could not go on forever. The guards would get suspicious if they heard no word from her soon. Her teammates would be very concerned as well, perhaps assuming the worst. Eventually, she would have to use her glass orb to send out messages to dissuade any fears, as well as clean up the bodies and relock up the cell.
And yet... she found herself questioning what she... even wanted to say. The truth seemed like the obvious answer, but... she was starting to feel uneasy from all of this. In just a few minutes, so much about the reports she had been given on this prisoner seemed false. And if that held true... then what did it mean about the rest? Heck, even the crimes she had been told about?!
That in turn led to questions about this place. Were the guards aware of these discrepancies? Had she and her friends been intentionally lied to? (Someone had to have intentionally messed with Raora’s eyes regarding the state of this cell - she was sure of it.) Would revealing what she had experienced so far and would be asking the gem-girl about put them all in danger? And... what were the gods' role in all of this?
That last question made her uncomfortable especially. She had been ever-loyal to the divine beings who had gifted her powers to her. Never before now had she felt to need to question any of their intents. She had always held faith that higher beings such as them had only the best of intentions for them!
But right then, holding the silver-haired woman as she continued breaking down... she could not help but start to doubt her cause here. It made her hold the prisoner a little tighter, feeling sorrow on her behalf... and compassion.
(Little had she known then what that would become...)
///////
[Two Years Later...]
The room of Elizabeth Rose Bloodflame was as grand as her royal heritage would suggest. Red was the predominant color, with different shades used for the round rug in the center, the large tapestries on the marble walls, and the covers of her king-sized bed. The last two had golden designs of roses upon them - a full flower and stem for the former, and several tops for the latter. They shined in the light of the magic candles above, burning in their places in the brass chandelier with a mural ceiling depicting great knights battling dragons and the like.
The rest of her decor did not disappoint. Shelves lined her walls filled with leather tomes and special books. (Anything more modern she kept in the base’s library.) In one corner near the large windows was also a large, plush chair made with dark wood and crimson cushioning. Beside it was a small table, covered in ledgers and books she was reading, as well as a spot for her laptop for her work.
The silver device, covered in glowing blue lines to betray its magical nature, was currently on a lap desk the woman herself had on top of her. She hummed to herself as she typed on it, filling out a report on her team’s latest excursion. They had a special mission the day before to help end a rebellion happening in Hell of all places. She would have thought demons did not mind some chaos, but it seemed the rulers of that realm had their limits.
It had been straightforward in execution - just helping subdue revolutionaries in high-priority areas. It had been a long day, though, that required fighting some very tough creatures. From dealing with bull demons’ strength to resisting the lustful charms of succubus’, the whole thing had left everyone physically and emotionally drained. Even this morning, after a full night's rest, she still felt sore and tired.
It was their job, though, and they had seen it through. Now, she just had to deal with the administrative part of things. She was writing this document for the sake of Lucifer and his closest confidants. Once it was done, all she needed to do was hit send, and that would be that. Thank the good gods for modern advancements. I do not want to try and navigate that palace of theirs with all the flame torrents and such.
She went through the task with her usual diligence, despite her tiredness. She had actually spent a good part of the night trying to get it done as soon as possible, which... was sure to get her an earful from Cecilia and Raora when they learned of it. But hey, she was the most reliable one for this work currently, so what could you do? Plus, she felt she had good reason this time!
After all, once this was done... they all would be able to enjoy a nice vacation. A full two weeks of no official assignments where they could relax within The Lookout and let their recent stresses fall away. She could catch up on all the rest they insisted she needed then! It would just be her, her teammates... and their most valued companions.
The Scarlet Queen smiled wistfully at the idea... though with an undercurrent of sorrow. The timing of this vacation was no accident. It marked the day that things had officially changed around here for Justice. Their last days at The Cell... which they had broken down from the inside out. Exposing their lies for all to see... and when she finally accepted that she had been deceived as well.
She shivered, still... not entirely comfortable recalling that time. It made her feel like... like an utter fool. To think she had worked so many months in that place, fully believing the stories she was given without questioning the discrepancies. Even after her first taste of the truth, she had tried to delude herself, even as she grew closer to her. (So, so much closer...) She looked for whatever reason she could to maintain her faith in the gods, secretly scared of what it would mean for her if that illusion was shattered. For a long time, she tried to convince herself.
...But she could not do it forever. Not as she, and later her team, began to realize who the prisoners truly were. It took a long time before they all communicated on it, but when they did... Her despair had been equally matched by her rage. Having to confront her blind faith was one thing, but knowing the evil she nearly perpetuated due to it...
Her hand clenched for a moment, needing to take a deep breath before she continued typing. Getting angry again was not going to change anything, she knew. What had happened was done, and she had to accept that. All she could do was move on and take what comfort she could in that she realized her error sooner rather than later. I’m forever grateful I kept my mouth shut that day with Bijou so that we could help...
Elizabeth signed, looking out one of her windows for a moment to watch the white clouds roll by beneath their flying fortress. She tried to focus on the positives of that whole debacle. They had found many of the people who had been captured to “silence” them about The Cell for one, freeing those still alive. And she was not kidding when she said the truth about what those gods were trying to accomplish here had been exposed to everyone. Half of the jobs they took these days were due to the continuing fallout of it and how it affected theology in every realm.
Not to mention... she had freed the woman she had grown to love. Someone who she had learned was so cute and sweet beneath her trauma. One person out of five new people who now also called this place their home. A... a lover she could not wait to spend the next few weeks with on this break-
As though reading her mind, the door to her room opened then. The familiar clinking of gems upon marble reached her ear, before a very welcome voice called out to her. “Liz! Are you up yet? There’s breakfast waiting for you in the kitchen!”
A warm smile returned to the Scarlet Queen’s face, turning to face her girlfriend. “Yes, Biboo, I’m up. I’m just doing a little bit of work.”
The gem-girl stepped further into the room, smoothing out her white dress with a fancy corset and metallic designs. (Gods, it was such an improvement from the one she wore in The Cell.) She pouted at the redhead, starting to use her pink metal wings to fly over to her faster. “Work? But I thought yesterday was your last assignment!”
“It’s like everyone forgets about the paperwork, I swear,” Elizabeth murmured. She looked back at her screen, filling out a few more sections. “It’s a follow-up to that, dear. Once it’s done, I’m free just like everyone else.”
“Well, I guess that’s... nice...” Bijou began, only to trail off as she got closer. She landed next to her chair, studying her face for a moment. Then... she clamored on the side, pulling herself to sit with her knees on the armrest, her wings likely helping with her weight. Before the taller woman could react, she grabbed her face and forced eye contact, those purple eyes boring into her.
The Scarlet Queen felt her breath catch, a flush coming to her cheeks. She felt a stab of embarrassment for getting flustered so easily at the simple touch, but... she could not help it. Not when so close to that pretty face, with her silver and purple hair sparkling in the sunlight. Despite being immune to her magical charms, she found herself captivated, an urge to lean in closer settling over her.
...The feeling was only enhanced by knowing the other did not do this with just anyone. Not even her friends in Advent could get away with touching her for long. For her to touch the redhead so quickly and without flinching... It showed how close she felt to her, making her heart pick up.
She was not able to focus on the feeling long, though, as the gem-girl pulled back. She sent the leader of Justice a flat look, not looking impressed. “...You stayed up to work on this, didn’t you?”
Elizabeth flinched, not having expected to be caught so early in the day. But there was no hiding your tiredness from a woman who could literally sense your emotional state if she wanted. She attempted an awkward smile, shifting the laptop still in her lap. “Um... not for too long?”
That only got a sigh from Bijou, who shook her head. “Liz...”
The Scarlet Queen looked at her with faux annoyance. “Oh, like you’re one to talk! How many nights have you spent playing those video games we got from Earth?”
The gem-girl at least had the decency to look a little sheepish at that. “Well... yeah. But that’s a fun, recreational activity. Filling out reports through the night is a bit different from that, I’d say!”
“Agree to disagree,” Elizabeth replied, eyes returning to her screen. “Anyway, I’ll be done with this in the next few minutes. I promise I’ll relax and get some rest once I’m done. This is too important to leave sitting, though.”
Bijou hummed, shifting her stance. She proceeded to rest her head against her shoulder - another sign of trust - and peer down at her laptop as she typed. “I guess so. I don’t imagine it’s good to keep Lucifer themself waiting. It’s not every day that you hear about a team of adventurers helping out the residents of Hell with their problems, either. Not without some sort of demonic pact being involved, anyway.”
“The PR on that is already handled,” the Scarlet Queen commented, doing her best to remain focused. It was a little difficult, though, with the feeling of the other pressed against her, with her smooth skin that was somehow solid yet softer than stone would be. “But yes, handling all aspects of this job is very important. Especially for a prominent group like ours.”
The gem-girl giggled. “Can’t imagine it’s been too hard for you. You did a good job getting our names cleared and making people accept us living here. This has to be child’s play in comparison.”
A snort left Elizabeth. “You guys weren’t that infamous. Kind of by design, too.”
“Still had to be somewhat challenging, since I’m a walking hazard to any humans within my vicinity,” Bijou retorted, tone light... but an undercurrent of something more pained underneath.
The Scarlet Queen paused, looking at her lover. Looking at her closer, she started to notice that she seemed a little... uneasy. Nothing too bad currently, but... she really was laying against her quite heavily. One of her hands was also half reached out in her direction, as though wanting to grab something but holding back from doing so.
Frowning, the redhead stopped her work for a moment, grabbing said hand with one of her own. She spoke softly, eyeing her with concern. “Are you alright, luv?”
Blinking, the gem-girl shook her head, before sighing and meeting her gaze. “Yeah, I’m fine. Just... you know. It’s been a year, and... I’ve felt safer than I ever have before. But given it’s the anniversary since our escape, it’s... hard not to think about... Well...”
“...Your curse,” Elizabeth murmured. The word felt vile on her tongue, hating referring to any part of her girlfriend so negatively. But the woman got more upset if she tried to downplay it, so she reluctantly used the word.
Bijou nodded against her. “Yeah... The distractions I’ve tried haven’t been helping so far, unfortunately.” She then let go of her hand and pushed it back toward the laptop keys. She offered a smile, subdued but full of love. “Finish your work. I’ll be okay for a little while longer.”
The Scarlet Queen frowned with worry. “Are you sure?”
The gem-girl nodded again. “Trust me, being near you is already helping a lot. I can wait a bit for some proper pampering.”
Elizabeth snorted, smiling again. “Sappy today, are we?” She turned back to her work, quickly scanning through the document as she worked on some last few lines. She shrugged as she did, returning to the original topic. “But honestly, this last mission was... a real milestone, I suppose you could call it. Years ago, I never would have imagined doing a job for even a minor demon. It wasn’t something the gods would approve of.”
“...A lot’s changed since then, though, huh?” Bijou commented, a bit of teasing in her tone.
The Scarlet Queen chuckled at her own expense. “Well, living with three demons certainly has a way of shifting your view of them.”
“...Three? You’re not going to say four?”
“It’s sorely tempting. But despite how... ‘Shiori’ Shiori is, she is not demonic by blood, so by technical definition...”
The gem-girl shrugged. “Fair. We’d probably have to include Gigi as well if we’re going off of personality, too... But then again, those two together can make any demon shudder, so ‘demonic’ isn’t enough to describe them if you think about it.”
They both laughed at that, with Elizabeth having trouble reigning herself in. She was usually quite professional when she had work that needed doing. Not even the resident gremlin could get her to crack most of the time, nor the rambunctious twins. But... well, the woman beside her had the keys straight to her heart, so she was a natural exception to the rule, even with the most simple interactions.
A comfortable silence fell over them as their giggles died down. Soon enough, the document was completed, and all that was left was to check for errors. All the while, she basked in the cool feeling of the Jewel of Emotions on her. It made her heart feel warm, matching the increased glow of her chest flame.
Speaking of which... an idea occurred to her then. Smiling to herself, she conjured some more blue flames, light end harmless, and sent them like a serpent around her lover. They wrapped her up, causing her chest gem and other crystal protrusions to glisten brightly. Soon, they formed up like they were several rings along her arms and legs, with two around her torso and one a halo over her head.
Bijou giggled as the flames settled, sighing contently... Though, the redhead also noticed that her unease had lessened immensely. Like this, her “curse” was dampened so that it would not negatively affect normal humans too much. It was a signal to her that she was safe... That both she and any innocents nearby would not be hurt by her abilities.
It was not a perfect solution by any means - the Scarlet Queen could only keep them conjured for so long, and needed to be close by to do so. However... it was more than the gem-girl had for most of her life. So many centuries and millennia without a means to stop driving humans mad meant even a limited way to do so meant the world to her. To be able to live her life for a while and feel... normal.
Her heart ached just thinking about it. She often wished that this arrangement of theirs was not the beginning of their friendship and later romance. It had made her worried at first that the other’s feelings were born from an unhealthy desperation to feel safe. She would have understood that, of course, but she had not wanted to unintentionally manipulate her due to her flames.
Yet over time, she had come to accept that Bijou did not just love her for the magical protection. They had genuinely bonded over time in The Cell, as limited as their interactions had to be. The silver-haired woman enjoyed hearing about her exploits protecting innocents and bringing people to justice. She was also fond of her mixture of professionalism and softness toward others - the latter often winning out among friends, much to everyone’s amusement.
Elizabeth, in turn, was also attracted to the other’s bright, cute nature (when her bouts of depression were not in effect, anyway). She had found the short woman’s great expansion of interests very enduring as well, both when she arranged for entertainment to be provided in The Cell and since their escape. It had... led to her being able to fluster the leader of Justice more often - mostly on account of her discovery of “memes” and such. But frankly, it was worth it to see her smile.
They made for quite a pair, and not just due to their height difference. It had been a struggle to make their relationship work - especially compared to their friends. And yet... she would not trade it for anything. Not just for herself, but more so that... she was glad to be there for her girlfriend. To help her heal one day at a time from all the awful things she had been through.
She had no clue if the poor woman would ever fully heal from all of that... but by the gods, would she try to help her do so.
To that end... another idea occurred to the Scarlet Queen that might help with that. She smiled to herself as she finished off the report and put the file in an email. Once it was sent, she closed her laptop, moving it to her little table stand and putting her lap desk beside her chair. “Alright. I am officially done with my work. Our vacation can begin barring any major complications in the realms over the next several days.”
The gem-girl groaned, nuzzling her head against hers for a moment. “Ugh! Don’t jinx it! You just know there’s going to be, like, a horde of dragons invading somewhere now.”
Giggling at the action, Elizabeth lightly shoved her off, standing up and stretching her stiff back. “If that happens, I promise you can stay behind and play whatever Fromsoft game you wish.”
“You’d better let me do it,” Bijou murmured. She stood as well, sighing before gaining a big smile on her face. “But anyway, breakfast is probably getting cold. Let’s get you something to eat, then we can... cuddle on the couch to let you rest some more.” She blushed as she said this, clearly eager at the prospect. She started to run off to the door-
-only to be stopped by the Scarlet Queen’s hand on her shoulder. The taller woman smiled down at her, nodding over to her bed. “Before that... I was actually thinking we could stay here to do something for a minute.”
The gem-girl raised an eyebrow, turning to her. “Do... what, exactly?”
Smiling warmly, Elizabeth knelt in front of her... and with careful, obvious movements, she grabbed some of her hair, rubbing the smooth strands between her fingers. “Well... it’s probably too early for a full polish, and I know those are hard for you. But how would you feel about me fixing up your hair? Give it some long brushes... just as you like it.”
Despite how simple the request seemed on the surface... Bijou’s whole face went red, a little squeak leaving her. It made the redhead’s heart feel fuzzy, knowing full well what she was asking of the woman. Hugs and laying together was one thing. Those were still a big deal, given her history, but it was simple contact. Something that she gave rather freely to her, and was slowly opening up enough to allow the others to do with her.
But caring for her... Whether it was brushing her hair, patching up injuries, or “polishing” her body... That required a different level of trust entirely. Nobody else was allowed to do those things with her. Even her friends in Advent could only get away with running a few fingers through her hair briefly. Otherwise, she often froze up and ended up in a mini-panic. So long with only harmful touch had left its mark on her.
Anyone else would be rejected outright with this request... But with the Scarlet Queen, it was different. She was not allowed to all the time - some days were easier upon her lover than others to accept pampering. However, if she was lucky enough... More and more slowly over time as well...
The gem-girl bit her lips, shuffling on her feet. Then, with meek eyes, she looked at her and spoke in a near-whisper. “...Can you do my hair in a little princess braid?”
Elizabeth’s heart leapt with ecstasy. Outwardly, though, she smiled wider and nodded. “Whatever you want. Just get on the bed and I’ll grab my brush!”
She was about to stand up... but Bijou surprised her by grabbing her shoulders. Confused, she was about to ask if there was a problem... But a second later, she felt something cool against her lips, like polished stone but more yielding. It also had a spark to it that she recognized as the result of internal light magic.
Somehow, that registered first before the realization that she was being kissed.
Her eyes widened when she did, blushing heavily. Yet she quickly gave in, closing her eyes and gently cupping her girlfriend’s face. She let her lead the kiss, not wanting to ruin the moment with any sudden actions. Though admittedly... it was hard enough not to melt from the simple, chaste kiss, so escalating would probably not be good for either of them.
Eventually, the gem-girl separated, stepping away from her. She gave the taller woman a loving smile, tears in her eyes... Ones not from pain, but happiness like she deserved. “Th... thank you, Liz. Just... thank you for all of this. For helping us and... being with me.”
Flustered at the sudden words, Elizabeth cleared her throat, looking away as she hastily stood up. “O-of course, luv! I... I love you very much. Which isn’t the only reason I helped you all escape, mind you!” She paused, shoulders slumping as she thought about that time at The Cell. “None of you should have been there... I’m only glad for the slip-ups that let us learn the truth.” She dared not imagine what would have happened if they had not questioned anything... How much more suffering these former prisoners would have endured...
Bijou’s eyes softened, managing to reach high enough to pat her shoulder. “We all appreciate it, Liz. So let's spend the next few days appreciating what we have now, yeah?” She gave a slightly fragile smile. “And... catch one another if old thoughts overwhelm us.”
“...I can do that for sure,” the Scarlet Queen whispered. Taking a deep breath, she recomposed herself, pointing to the bed. “Now, sit there and wait! I have been requested to give princess braids, and I plan to deliver!”
Giggling at her authoritative tone, the gem-girl gave a mock salute and complied. Soon, she was sitting on the bed on her knees, blue flames still surrounding her as she relaxed and waited. Elizabeth, meanwhile, went to her rather large dresser made of dark wood and pulled a fancy red brush from one of its drawers, along with some hair clips and a white bow. It did not take her long afterward to get into position behind her lover, ready to get those silver strands ready to be styled.
Before she did, though... she always made sure the other was ready. She placed a hand on her shoulder, speaking softly. “I’m going to start now, luv. Are you ready?”
The instant nod she got made her happier than she dared to admit. Bijou looked back at her, giving a shy smile. “Go right ahead.”
Doing her best to ignore how hot her face felt, the Scarlet Queen nodded as her girlfriend turned back around. With another breath, she got right to work, brushing out small tangles and knots in her hair. It was more a formality than anything, given how well-kept it clearly already was when coming in. There was certainly no need to be long and drawn-out about it like she was being.
...But she did it anyway. All for the blissful sigh that left the gem-girl and to watch her let go of all of her tension. A light chuckle left Justice’s leader, continuing her work at a steady pace. She was probably going to get scolded for delaying eating breakfast like this, but she would make it up to Cecilia. Cold food was well worth it if it meant making her lover happy like this.
Their relationship had started in a dark place, and it would be a while before they could leave it behind. However, with each other and their friends at their sides... they would continue to make things work. There was a bright future ahead for them all, and she would do her damndest to protect it.
Bijou may have seen herself as cursed, and there was unfortunately truth to that... But Elizabeth would make sure that curse was broken one day so she could walk through the realms in peace. And when that day came... she planned to be by her side so they could experience it together.
(As she got ready to start the braids, though... she could not help but think of her teammates. To wonder how they were enjoying the first day of their vacation... along with their former prisoners turned girlfriends as well.)