No one questioned the three members of the Queen's Court as they stormed down the street. They were fully armed, the glistening of metal seen in the streetlights. Everyone walking along the street moved out of their way. No one wanted to be on the wrong end of them tonight. Nikki led the way, Leo and Kayla falling in place behind her. 

When they reached the house in question, Nikki bashed her fist on the door. "Kek! Open up!" No response. "Kek, if you do not open this door in the next ten seconds, I will kick it down!"

She counted, half expecting a response. It would have been a surprise.

No response came.

Nikki took a step back and, with a cry, kicked the white-painted door from its hinges. It crashed to the floor a few meters down the hallway. Nikki went in first, a pistol in her hand. The area was empty. She called, "Clear!" 

Kayla and Leo came in behind her, the former with glowing hands, the latter wielding his twin gladii. The three of them searched each room, finding the house empty. Once they were certain this was the case, they met in the small living room.

"Now what?" Kayla asked.

Leo answered, "We find that potion."

"Right," Nikki agreed. "Search every room and everything in it. It could be hidden in anything."

"And if we find nothing?" 

Nikki attempted to smile at Kayla. "How about we cross that bridge when we get to it?"

The three split up. Kayla searched the living room and hallway. Leo searched the kitchen. Nikki searched the bedroom and bathroom.

Nikki found the entire house surprising. The man they were after had taste! He certainly knew what he was doing when it came to decoration. Either that or the house had come with the dark rug which was a perfect match with the bed and cabinets. The room itself seemed to hold nothing suspicious so she tried the brightly tied bathroom. On instinct, she went to the mirror cabinet. Opening it, she found something unexpected. 

"Uh, guys!" Nikki called. "I think you want to see this!"

Leo and Kayla were at her sides in an instant. 

The three looked over the crudely painted message inside the empty cabinet. 

Nice try, fuckwits.

"At least he has a sense of humour?" Nikki said.

Kayla and Leo gave her looks of disbelief. 

"He's long gone," Leo sighed. 

"He probably took all evidence with him," Kayla said.

"But we can still track him," Nikki muttered.

She shifted into a black hound. They weren't common on this part of Lyriumia, instead on one of the other landmasses. The creatures were known for their unbeatable tracking skills, though the Fae were not far behind them. She breathed in the scent of the room - cinnamon - and dashed through the door

* * * * * * * * 

Leo struggled to keep up with Nikki in her current form, Kayla lagging behind him. Zer were not all that good when it came to on land combat or chases, but Kayla was still a force to be reckoned with. Leo had learnt that the hard way. Still, he slowed his pace, keeping his girlfriend and Kayla in sight.

Nikki rounder a corner and howled. Leo stopped in his tracks, exchanging a worried glance with Kayla before the both of them rushed to the source.

Kek was struggling to free himself from the hound upon him. The names he was calling Nikki . . . Leo discovered he now has a second reason to punch this man. Or stab him. Or maybe a good beheading.

Leo placed his hand on the hound's head and looked down at Kek. "Are you planning to run again?"

The Terpolite sent him a deathly glare. "Normally, yes, but I seem to be rather caught up in this moment."

Kayla knelt down beside him, taking note of where Nikki's claws were and the damage they would do. "Now what?" she asked.

Leo scratched behind Nikki's ears. The hound purred. "Restrain and take him to the Palace." He met the Terpolite's eyes. "I believe he should see exactly what that potion has done to our Queen."

Kek looked confused. "What are you-"

Nikki released him and, in one swift motion, Leo had the man restrained. "Don't act like you don't know."

Nikki returned to her Fae form and pushed her hand into Kek's pocket. From it, she pulled a silver bottle. It dangled between her fingers. "Is that a bottle in your pocket or are you just happy to see me?"

Kek laughed nervously. "Funny story-"

"Save it for the throne," Kayla growled.

Leo pushed the man forward. Kek fought against it. With some help from Nikki, the two managed to drag the man to the Palace, Kayla walking behind them just in case. When the guards saw the four coming, two of them escorted the group to the isolation chamber.

Leo pulled Kek up the stairs to the observation deck. Lvaane was waiting for them though his eyes remained firmly on the screen before him. Kek was held in place and made to watch it. Leo found himself doing the same and, at what he swore, it took all his restraint to not kill the man on the spot. He knew Nikki, Kayla, and Lvaane felt the same.

On the screen, they could see everything that was happening in that room. Amneris was bashing her head against one of the stone walls as Colt attempted to hold her back. And failing miserably. Gilded blood stained the wall and the side of Amneris' head and neck. Her clothing was torn - Leo assumed she had done that herself - and she would not stop clawing at herself.

"Do you see what you have done?" Lvaane was addressing Kek. "Do you see what you have done to my daughter."

"With no due respect, Sir," Kek started, "she's not your daughter."

Somehow, Lvaane didn't punch the Terpolite. Leo admired his self-control. There may have been some jealous in that respect, but he would not admit that.

Kek continued to watch the screen. Colt now had a firm hold on Amneris and was dragging her to the center of the room, kicking and screaming. "The Prince seems to be handling things well."

Nikki and Kayla looked at him. Together, they asked, "Prince?"

A fiendish grin crossed Kek's features. "Didn't she tell you? I thought she would have."

"Told us what?" Nikki asked.

Leo turned his attention to Lvaane before Kek could answer. "What do you want me to do with him?"

"Take him to a cell," the Old King said. "He will stand trial once my daughter has recovered."

Leo lowered his head in acknowledgement. He and Nikki dragged Kek away. Kayla remained on the observation deck both watching her patient and taking notes. The bottle in her hand was taken by one of her assistant Healers for testing.