Dread and anger thumbed through Kain's system in equal measure as he threw open the door. Time seemed to slow as he took in the room. Mara was half-knelt at Kyril's side, looking as if she'd just been dragged from the bunk bed by her hair. One of his hands was still buried in her locks, the other wrapped around her throat. He'd forcibly angled her chin towards his face.

Her wide eyes shot towards where Kain stood in the doorway, her fingers just barely dug between her throat and Kyril's hand. Instant regret filled Kain as he realized he'd left his sword at his bedside. If the furious expression the other man wore was any indication, words weren't going to be enough to defuse the situation.

"Get out." Kyril's demand was cold, yet expectant. As if there wasn't a single doubt in his mind that his order would be followed. "And I will ignore your blatant trespassing."

Kain narrowed his eyes, pausing just inside the doorway. Rushing the couple would do little good given Mara's compromising position. The woman's expression seemed to plead with him to leave things be--making him all the more determined to intervene.

"Release her," he countered.

Kyril offered a hollow smile, dragging Mara up by her hair and prompting a pained gasp from her lips. It took everything Kain had to stay still as the man released her throat and wrapped his now free arm around her stomach, pulling his wife flat against him.

A faint thud hit the window behind them, but Kain didn't dare shift his gaze.

"I'm afraid you might be a bit confused. She's fine where she is," Kyril said, voice smug. "Not that this is any of your business, but my wife enjoys things a bit rough. She's enjoying herself, aren't you, dear?"

For a moment, Kain wasn't sure Mara would respond. Her eyes were flicking between Kain and Kyril, an obvious debate going on in her mind. It wasn't until several more thuds echoed through the room that she seemed to come to some conclusion. She swallowed, her expression mirroring the urgency filling Kain's veins. Whatever decision she'd made, he had a feeling it was out of fear.

Mara was terrified of what might come next.

"I-I am," she whispered. "I... there's no need for you to worry about me."

Her voice was hoarse. Even if he hadn't been eavesdropping on their argument before recklessly rushing in, Kain would've heard the obvious lie. Her words were colored with the same, fearful concern that she'd spoken with in the alleyway. He swore internally as the thought prompted a harsh realization.

Her husband still had what had to be a painful grip on her hair, and was no doubt the cause of the bruise he'd seen earlier, but she was worried about Kain.

He drew in a deep breath, determination flooding his system. He had no clue how he was going to do it, but he was going to defuse this situation without her getting hurt.

"I'm afraid I can't help it," he replied aloud, mind racing. "Worrying just comes natural to me."

As he spoke, some part of him took notice that the rest of his group had filled the doorway behind him. The growing number of eyes on him seemed to make Kyril more unstable. He took a step backwards, arm tightening to what had to be a painful degree around Mara's middle.

"I'll have you know that I could have your heads for this," he retorted. "Intruding on us like this. I'm an ambassador and--"

Kyril cut off as Melitta not-so-subtly offered Kain his sword, sheath and all. The man scoffed as Kain made a show of pulling the blade out, then turned it towards the couple. Much like Iliana, Kain had never moved people with charm. One would think that was something that he'd be able to manage--given his heritage--but it just wasn't him. He figured there was a far less chance that someone would get injured with him waving his weapon around than there was if he tried to handle the situation with fancy words.

A sudden increase in the thuds prevented Kain's next words. The noise grew louder, flooding the room with the strange sound of something repeatedly slamming into the window. Irritation cut across Kyril's harsh expression, and he stumbled back several steps, taking Mara with him. Kain tensed, but resisted the urge to lunge forward. Moving without thought would end poorly for both sides. So, he watched, sword ready, as Kyril finally released Mara's hair. His free hand flew to the base of the window, his eyes flicking between Kain and the window.

"What the hell...?"

Taking advantage of the man's distraction, Kain inched forward. Rhode nudged past Melitta, pausing at Kain's side. He realized, then, that there was a simple solution to all of this. The sirens could sing. After all, Kain had a charm and Kyril was a man.

At the same time, how many other men would be caught up in the mess if they took that route?

Just as he came to the decision that it was worth the risk, and had opened his mouth, Kyril gripped the base of the sliding glass. A soft intake of break cut through the air behind them, and Dalphie suddenly shoved herself between Kain and Rhode.

"Wait!"

The second Kyril shifted the frame, hundreds of tiny black bugs flooded into the room. Kyril shouted in pain as Mara screeched. Without thinking his actions through, Kain sheathed his sword as he lunged forward, grabbing Mara with his free hand. As the bugs surrounded him, pain erupted along his arms. He chanced a glance down, and might've froze had he been alone. The bugs weren't stinging, they were biting. Hard. In seconds, his arms seemed to have become stained with crimson.

"Come with me," he ordered, pulling Mara closer.

Kyril released her. It seemed that screaming and uselessly swatting at the flesh-eating nightmares was more important than abusing his power. Kain took it as a chance to tug Mara towards the exit. He couldn't help but note that her initial loud exclamations had shifted into quiet, pained whimpers. She'd locked her jaw, eyes filled with determination, even as blood trailed down her pale cheeks.

Suddenly, a soft, hum filled the air. The sound sent a shiver down Kain's spine despite his charm's protection. Rhode's song was hauntingly beautiful, and despite the low volume, it echoed louder than the buzzing sound of the bugs. Whatever his feelings on the matter, Kain couldn't help but feel grateful for the siren's presence as the song seemed to calm the bugs, if only a little. The painful bites lessened, but didn't disappear.

The others had already retreated into the hallway by the time Kain reached them. His hand still clutching Mara's arm, they darted towards the stairs, only to draw up short as the faerie woman from earlier appeared at the top. Her tiny fists sat on her hips, a rather fierce expression lighting up her face.

"Why in the name of the gods are there fucking purici in my fucking hallway?" As the faerie's angry words filled the air, she raised her hands. A loud shout from Melitta was his only warning before sparks flew from her hands. His group hit the ground as fire flew from the faerie's hands, incinerating half the insects in one go.

Hadn't Kain heard once that faerie's were gentle, loving creatures?

"Fucking Aeolis. I knew better than to lease a room to that smug, noble bastard. Just watch, next time one of his steps through my door, they're leaving bald."

As Kain watched, shock keeping him on the ground, the little faerie zipped through the air, turning any remaining purici to dust. Dalphie, the crazy siren she was, hoped to her feet with a small smile as the rest of them stared. She offered her hand, palm up. With one last blast of sparks, the irritated faerie landed on the offered perch.

"Fucking fleshies."

"Now, now, that's not quite fair," Dalphie scolded. "Purici eat everything, even the faerie aren't safe."

The little woman scoffed. "Only stupid faeries attract nightmares like that. I'm not stupid. Therefore, it's the fleshies fault." She turned her harsh gaze on the rest of the group. "I don't see the stupid Aeolian. So, which of you am I billing for fire damage?"

The question jolted Kain to life. He scrambled to his feet, offering the faerie an apologetic smile. Purici were non-poisonous nightmares once dreamt up by Kikin, and were said to be able to turn a person to bones alone within seconds in the right circumstances. Thankfully, the swarm had been small. Kain might've been riddled with hundreds of tiny bites--most of them already beginning to heal--but he wasn't dying. Something to be thankful for, he supposed.

"Me," he offered. "Most likely, they were attracted to me, so footing the bill is the least I could do to repay you for saving our lives."

The faerie narrowed her eyes. For a moment, she simply stared at Kain. Then, she offered a world-weary sigh.

"Of course you'd come to my inn of all places a cursed thing like you could go."

The faerie glowered, and Kain ducked his eyes. It really had been a stupid idea to spend the night on dry-land, even if he'd been dreaming of such a chance. Mara, having quietly come to her feet seconds after him, studied him questioningly, but he simply shook his head as an answer. It was something he'd explain later, if at all.

"Be nice," Dalphie scolded, tapping the faerie on the head. The little woman almost seemed to glow red with anger as she turned her glare on the siren.

"How dare yo--" The faerie began, then cut off at the sight of Dalphie raising a single brow. "I mean... I just..."

The siren shook her head, amusement playing across her lips. "You're forgiven. Well, that is if you don't mind my friends and I continuing to stay the night in our room."

Kain opened his mouth to protest, as did the faerie, but was silenced when Dalphie turned that raised-brow look on him. Amusement turned her lips upwards as his face colored red. She'd said nothing, but somehow he found himself lacking any idea of how to argue with her obviously unwise plan.

So, he chose to focus his attention on Mara. Unlike Rhode and Melitta, both of whom had almost reluctantly taken steps back towards the room, she'd backed towards the stairs. When Kain met her gaze, she dropped her eyes to the floor.

"I'll... I'm just... I'm going to..." she began, color flooding her face.

She raised one, bite-ridden hand and tucked it over her arm. The shy gesture sent pain flickering across her face, and she dropped her hand within seconds.

"Join us?" Dalphie suggested, then beamed. "Excellent plan."

"I... what?" Mara stared at the siren, then at Kain. "I couldn't possibly..."

"Kain doesn't mind, do you?" Dalphie continued.

He shook his head in agreement. "Not at all. Actually, I'd prefer it to any alternative. You're welcome to leave in the morning, but it isn't safe to be a young woman alone in a town like this at night."

Hesitation flooded Mara's expression. Her eyes darted towards the room she shared with Kyril, who had yet to appear. Had he survived the swarm?

"You don't have to go back there," Kain murmured.

His quiet words were like magic. All emotion disappeared from Mara's face, leaving her expression carefully blank. Her eyes seemed to be searching him for something, before turning back towards the door. Despite everything, he could still sense her hesitance. As if she were uncertain about accepting the offer.

Why?

What could possibly motivate her to consider returning to someone like that?

"You're afraid," Dalphie observed.

Kain looked between the two women with uncertainty. Afraid? Had he done something to make Mara believe she had something to fear from them?

"I..." Mara whispered. The word was soft, almost non-existent. Her expression still unreadable, she dropped her gaze to the floor for what seemed to be the hundredth time. "If I don't..."

"Nothing," Melitta interrupted.

Kain hadn't realized she was still there. The mermaid stood, back against the frame to their room, her eyes focused on Mara. There was a hardness to her expression that Kain hadn't seen before.

"If you don't go back, nothing. That fear you feel is something he made. Even the great Dellis family can't see everything. If you leave with us, there is less than a miniscule chance that man will ever find you again. Less than that if you choose to stick with." She paused, as if picking her words carefully. Her eyes flicked to Kain, then back to Mara. "Dalphie. The place she and Rhode come from is safe. No more worries about being perfect enough, no more bruises for smiling wrong, or not being quick enough to offer false compliments. No more fear.

"Nothing will happen to you if you choose not to go back."

Something nearly unreadable passed across Mara's expression. Longing, perhaps? For a moment, the woman closed her eyes. Her body was tense, as if one wrong move would send her running the other way. Something was off. Why was she hesitating?

"What do you possibly stand to lose by leaving?" Melitta prompted. "A man who instead of loving you, loves controlling you? A court of people who pretend not to notice the bruises? Haven't you ever wished for something more than what you currently have? This is your chance."

Slowly, Mara let out a sigh that seemed to hold the weight of the world behind it. When she opened her eyes, a heavy sadness filled her eyes.

"I want to. You have no idea how much I want to say yes, and join you."

Kain's heart sunk. "You--"

She held up a hand, stopping his protest. "But, I can't."

Melitta's eyes never wavered, staring at Mara as if they could read into her mystifying mind. "Why?"

"In this world, I've one person left who matters to me. If I stay, there's a one in a hundred thousandth of a chance I'll ever see them again. But, if I go..."

"That chance is zero," Kain finished.

"So, I can't leave," she concluded, a bittersweet smile gracing her lips. "It's my punishment. That person warned me that this was who Kyril was, and I didn't believe her. This is what I get, for making it so the only connection she and I have is him.

"I can only hope that someday, she'll forgive me and come home. Until then, I'll wait, and pay my dues."

A/N: Sorry this took so long. I debated a long time on how I wanted to have this chapter play out. Eventually, I decided this was the best choice. 

So, what do you guys think? Does Mara's choice make sense? What about with Melitta? You get why she was so worked up? 
Think this is the last you'll see of Mara? 

Until next time, which hopefully won't take as long as this time~