Seiren was happy to hear that their request to interrogate ex--state mage Zor Jarsdel was accepted. Even if I can't blow his brains out at least I'll be able to annoy the hell out of him and siphon information. As Seiren rode the train with her sister and friend back to Benover she couldn't help but think about that stranger she ran into near the marketplace.

What a weirdo, Seiren snorted as she vanished the thoughts, the capital city coming into view. Seiren fidgeted in her seat. The interrogation was close at hand. "You seem to be looking forward to this" Rowan blurted out, it seemed more like a statement then a question. Seiren turned to face the youngest Woodbead. "I'm not excited per say but rather, relieved that we may actually get some answers. I'm sick and tired of being left in the dark. And hopefully Jarsdel will spill his guts so at least some of this plot gets brought to the light."

Seiren took note of Rowan's body posture becoming stiff, the greenish blue eyes mage not deigning to speak to her. Seiren didn't bother, but rather looked out the window and let time roll by. Just like the many hills she saw looping around the bend. And before Seiren knew it, they had returned to Benover once more. The rune mage flexed her fingers as she mentally prepared herself. Deep breath in. Deep breath out.

Seiren's determination hardened, her eyes alit with a newfound blaze. "Let's do this."

*****

The large T-shaped Council of Mages was exactly as Seiren remembered, aside from everyone who was in the hall of declarations and remembers a large crater in the ground and the room smothered in flames as in an attempt to kill off the rest of the state mages. May your burn in hell Karis Bonneville, and may you die a thousand times over, Domic Butterworth.

The lustrous white halls of the Council of Mages were as if nothing happened, state mages and mage's aid's still ran amuck from place to place, the inaudible cacophony of the people corresponded with Seiren as irritating buzzing. "Seiren, Woodbead!" The two mage's in question turned to see chief advisor Mage Bellamy Southwark, her dark brown hair bobbing with every step she took. Seiren managed a grin as she pulled Southwark in for a bone crushing hug. "Haven't seen you since....well, you know." Seiren knew that the exact details of Kristen Harred's escape was incredibly hush-hush, and you never know who might be listening.

"It's a pleasure to see you as well Mage Woodbead" Bellamy amended as Rowan responded with a nice curt nod. Madeleine merely crossed her arms over her chest and rolled her eyes mimicking her best Bellamy impression saying, "it's nice to see you to Madeleine, your looking well Madeleine--", Southwark quirked an eyebrow. "Why are you talking to yourself Madeleine?" The younger twin of the blonde haired mage's kept her mouth shut and turned the other way as her cheeks flushed bright pink from embarrassment.

"In any case, I'll escort you to Zor Jarsdel's cell, it's located in one of the deepest under levels of the Council of Mages." The air settled heavily as the trio of mages followed Bellamy and cut through the crowd like a knife, the other state mage's took one look and the four mages and parted like the ocean. Seiren couldn't help but crack a smile at the other mage's respect and reverence of her.

Highly doubt they're fearful or respectful of you sis, a copy of Madeleine's voice seemed to whisper in Seiren's mind. Seiren couldn't help but snort. Even though her sister isn't in her mind anymore it still felt like she was there. Every time she wakes up from a nightmare or needs to talk about something, Seiren's been so accustomed to be reaching into that part of herself that was Madeleine. But instead she didn't find her. It was just Seiren. It made her feel kind of alone again, though Seiren is incredibly happy that her sister has a body, and can now do more human things that most would take for granted.

The under levels of the Council of Mages was a place Seiren will never hope to venture again. Once traveling down the cold stone steps Seiren felt it as she traveled furher under ground. It started off small but it became gradual. The pulsing of magic. Binding magic. Runes and spells in place to keep the most dastardly of prisoners in confinement and eclipsed in shadows, with only the feeling of iron bars and small candlelight to keep them company. Seiren wrinkled her nose at the putrid smell. The smell of prisoners and disgusting prison food. Seiren shuttered at the thought of the slip they were forced to eat.

Once they reached the bottom the shadows on the wall receded from the soft glow of candles and torches that lit the path. Bellamy took hold of one of the torches mounted on the wall, shadows caster upon her face like a veil. "Follow me, and stay quiet." Silence ensued as Bellamy lead the trio of mage's too a specific door at the end of the hall. And then Seiren heard it. The strong pulsing of magic was more like a throbbing heart beat. Rowan and Madeleine looked a bit uncomfortable themselves whilst Mage Southwark didn't seem disturbed in the slightest.

The elder mage inserted a key into the door's keyhole and once again a faint aura of violet arrived before vanishing like a cowl being removed that his one's face. But the heart beat sill remained. And when Mage Southwark opened the cell door Seiren discovered why. Glowing violet runes were attached to the walls, shimmering strings interwove and connected like a web of power surrounding the one held captive inside. Zor Jarsdel. As Seiren entered the room she couldn't help but comment on his appearance. "Well don't you look like shit."

Ex-state mage Jarsdel raised his head, and Seiren got a look at his face, scarred, bruises still healing, but the look of his eyes seemed...somewhere else. Jarsdel let out a hoarse laugh at Seiren's snarky remark. "If it isn't little Mage Nithercott" Jarsdel's head then snapped to Rowan. "And her little boyfriend too." "Your in no position to talk" Rowan rebuffed. "And why's that Mage Woodbead" he short mage's name coming out as an insult. Rowan's face remained unmoved. "Because I'm not the one rotting on the prison floor" he replied, his voice icy, commanding, and authoritative, just like his older sister.

Jarsdel ignored Rowan and turned back to Seiren. "I'm guessing you visiting isn't a social call is it?" He asked, his voice dripping with sarcasm. "We've come looking for some information" Madeleine chimed in, stepping forward. "Oh?" Jarsdel exclaimed, his eyes lighting up a bit as he took in Madeleine's form. "Weren't you a necklace before?" Madeleine ignored him. "I'm more interested in my mother." Jarsdel blinked in surprise. "Well if you want information on your mother I believe you can ask her yourself, I recall that she's only down a few halls." Seiren tried to mask her new flux of thoughts.

So he doesn't know? Seiren asked herself startled. This further complicates things.

"Well asking mother wouldn't be much of a problem, that is if she was here." Jarsdel seemed taken aback. "What do you mean, 'if she was here'?" Seiren chuckled. "Didn't you get the memo, mother broke out of prison a few weeks ago." Zor's face dropped in utter shock and disbelief. "Ahh, that's gotta sting" Madeleine joked next to Seiren. "But enough of old news, I'm more interested in something else." Seiren's voice went cold, the mage channeling all of Maura Woodbead into her voice and posture. "And that would be?" Jarsdel quipped as he rolled his eyes.

"I want to know about Hannan summoning magic." Jarsdel's smugness receded from his face like a pack of rodents from the light.

"You want to now the sacred secrets of the Holy Country of Hanna?! Why don't you ask someone who actually can summon?"

"Because snagging a Hannan demon summoner isn't as simple as buying a few oranges from the flea market." Jarsdel merely shrugged his shoulders. "Then I guess I can't help you." Seiren's blood boiled with fury at Jarsdel's response. Rowan lightly touched her shoulder before he whispered, 'let me try.' Clearing his throats Rowan began to speak in order to either persuade or force Jarsdel to talk. "Here's the deal Jarsdel, you tell us hypothetically how a Hannan would go about summoning, and who knows, you just might be able to see the light of day again."

Jarsdel quirked his eyebrow, the half blooded mage seemingly a bit interested.

"And if I refuse to cooperate?" He wondered aloud. Rowan gave a dark chuckle. "Then to the guillotine it is." And that's when the ball dropped. Seiren didn't plan this so she wasn't surprised when even Madeleine looked a bit shocked. Jarsdel gulped. "Execution?" "Mhmm" Rowan replied bluntly, his eyes holding no sympathy, but rather, as if another had stepped in Rowan's body and took his place.

No response. "So that's a no then, Mage Southwark?" Rowan asked turning his head behind him to King Bolliver's chief advisor. "Send word of Zor Jarsdel's execution, I believe tomorrow at noon would be an appropriate time." Bellamy gawked at Rowan for a second before she nodded. "I'll notify the King at once." Just as Bellamy took several steps across the threshold and walked down the hall Jarsdel broke. "Fine, I'll tell you, I'll tell you all that I know." Mage Southwark froze in place, and reversed back towards the cell room. "Where listening" Bellamy's hollow voice rang.

Jarsdel let out a sigh as he spilled all that he knew. "In theory, Hannan's summon demons by using their summoner's dust. The dust acts as a conduit, to open the portal between are's, and the world of the demon from whence it came." "So how do they make the dust?" Seiren questioned harshly. Jarsdel slowly turned his head to Seiren. "That I don't know, all I know is that the summoning dust is ancient, the secret of the magic passed down from the Holy Country's first queen Hanna to her people, so that her legacy and her Craft will never be forgotten, and that one day her magic might outshine her sister Karma's."

Most of what he spoke of was vague and briefly touched upon at King's. If they truly wanted to learn more, then they would have to learn the secrets from an actual Hannan that could summon. "Well, thank you for your time, the guards shall retrieve you for your execution around midday." Jarsdel's mouth hung open. "B-b-but I told you everything I knew!" Rowan ignored Jarsdel's pleas and walked out the cell door without looking back. "Get back here Woodbead! This isn't over!"

But Rowan just kept walked until he turned down a different pathway for the stairs. Bellamy looked at Jarsdel and gave only what Seiren could describe as a stone cold face that held no emotions, completely neutral. After Rowan, Bellamy walked it followed by Madeleine. Seiren looked at Jarsdel, his small form huddled between the laser-like grid of the binding runes. It didn't make Seiren feel guilty as this was the man who killed her father, as well as her sister. She felt as if Rowan was doing her a favor. With all the horrible deeds this man did, he doesn't need pity.

As Seiren turned around she found that Jarsdel's pleas were now directed at her. "Nithercott, you have to stop them! I can help you! Your mother, everything! Please just don't let them kill me! Have mercy!" Seiren froze at the doorway and looked at Jarsdel square in the eyes. In a cold and bitter voice she snapped, "did you show my father and Madeleine any mercy when you kill them?" Jarsdel was silenced.

Seiren walked off feeling slightly happy at the thought of Jarsdel's demise. As Seiren crossed the threshold Jarsdel leaped to his feet to charge at the girl. Once in contact with the strings from the violet runes Jarsdel was electrocuted by amethyst colored lightning. Pain flowed through every crevice of his body, it felt as if his body was being burned several times over. Jarsdel was thrown back by the reinforced magical power of the runes. Jarsdel looked at Seiren once more. His face and hands were no bloodied. His face covered in dirt, blood, and sweat.

Seiren simply scoffed as she walked away. "Nithercott! Nithercott!" He repeated Seiren's name over and over as he pounded on the runes barrier, the sound of lighting and the smell of metallic blood and burnt flesh made it's way into Seiren's nose. Seiren had to resist the strong urge to gag. "Making contact with those magically enhanced violet runes will result in shock and pretty soon third degree burns and scars. That was basic runes for binding 101 at King's. Besides scars will only make your face more hideous than it already is, and I'm trying to not puke at your execution."

A/N: Remember to share, comment, and vote.

I know that was a long chapter but I hope it was good. And for all of those saying that Rowan and Seiren would never do that this is a FANFICTION sequel!!!!

And In Rune Mage Katrin clearly stated that all the characters are morally grey. So I decided to show you a little bit of their dark sides. Another reason was that Zor Jarsdel killed Connor Nithercott and killed Madeleine. Seiren would hold no remorse or guilt of him dying. Hope you guys enjoyed it.