Before the Storm

[ALYSON MONTGOMERY]

"No deal."

She was suddenly growing furious. She was sure they could come to an agreement. What did it matter if she was there or not during the day? She came back! She came back and she was offering her body to him to rearrange their agreement! She hated that he thought this was all a joke and the way her body was moved against his, as subtle as it had been, stopped immediately. He wanted to play like that? Good. She could too.

"I don't want it like that. I want you to beg me to fuck you."

His words made her stop and she looked up at him, flushing.
Did that mean she could still bargain? Or was he saying there was no bargaining to be had? His hand slid over her face and she gulped, her eyes staring bashfully into his icy gray ones. She'd never had to beg for sex, especially in exchange for something.

His hand continued downward, and she felt herself pull her bottom lip ever so slightly into her mouth, chewing it on it as his explored down to her hip, giving it a playful little squeeze. She twitched a little feeling him squeeze like that, but he didn't stop and she didn't stop him as his hand moved inward. She shifted uneasily, not really sure about all this. She wanted him but the thought terrified her to no end. Still, her freedom was hanging on a thread and she had to do what she needed to obtain it. When he touched her there she sucked in another sharp breath out of surprise, wanting to push him away and thrust her hips into his hand at the same time. She settled for staying still, gulping as her eyes stayed on his, her brows furrowing slightly. "It's only a matter of time before you beg."

"Is that all you want?" She asked, raising a brow. "You know, I could have taken my freedom when I had the chance.." She said, knowing his threat had been looming which was only part of the actual reason she had found herself back in his bed. "But if this is how you want to play, say I did beg you. Say I laid here and pushed my body up hard into yours.." She started, pushing her pelvis into his hand, making her heart race harder, not believing she was playing this game with him! "And say I told you how badly I wanted to feel your cock in me.." She said, her throat going dry, not used to talking like this. Sure, she'd been a tease in high school, but she wasn't that girl anymore. Could she muster it up for him? To get what she wanted? "Would you be willing to renegotiate then?" She asked, lifting her head close to his, letting her lips just barely brush against his, not in a kiss, but only letting the skin touch. She let her breath out there, her nose nuzzling his before planting a slight kiss on his chin.

"Because I can play your little game, Sebastian."

[PRESTINE DAVENPORT]

The girl grabbed the costume and began to undress and Prestine smile brightly, clapping her hands as the anger switched off. "Yay!" She chirped as she went back to the closet and started poking around for an outfit for the other girl. "See? I told you guys this would be fun! You just need to loosen up a little, sheesh!" She rolled her eyes as if there had never been a single confrontation. It was part of her charm. Prestine could hold a grudge if she wanted to, but she saved that for extreme cases.

"Nooow... where is...There!" She pulled the nurse costume out and showed it to the redhead. "Okay, there's this one, ooorr..." She poked around and found a sailor outfit that looked more like a cloth bathing suit than anything else. The skirt was so short you could see ass cheeks hanging out the back. It even came with a cute little sailor hat! "This! Both would look super cute on you!" She gushed, knowing the girl would pick one and do as she commanded. She was obviously the intelligent one.

She laid the outfits on Kitten's back for her to get a good look at them both so she could pick before going to a chest of drawers and searching for knee high white socks for both of them. "Now it's your turn!" She said excitedly. "You guys can pick something for me to wear! I'm so excited! We should seriously play, like, all the time!"

[CASSIDY MERRYWEATHER]

When she was dressed up in the ugly dress she stood there and looked down at herself. She thought her husband would really get a kick out of seeing her wearing this costume and maybe when all was said and done she'd go out and buy a sexy little outfit for her husband but right now she just had to get the hell out of there.

When Prestine put the outfits out on the man's back she let out a little scoff of disgust. She didn't mean to, but it just came out. How could this woman use that man like some sort of object? She wondered if she helped him if he would be able to get them out of there. She looked at the redheaded girl and watched her, waiting to see if she was going to make a decision or not. This girl clearly wanted to just play the game and wasn't going to be defiant in any way, shape or form.

She was glad that she hadn't gotten a choice in costume and was even more happy that it wasn't the sailor outfit that she had taken out. "Now it's your turn!" What the hell was their turn? Was it their turn to boss this woman around? If that was the case then Cass was ready to take the reigns and boss her the hell out of here! "You guys can pick something for me to wear! I'm so excited! We should seriously play, like, all the time!"

Because playing dress up with Miss Whackjob was EXACTLY how Cassidy wanted to spend her down time. She rolled her eyes and shifted from one foot to the other almost impatiently. God she should have just stayed in her stupid BED! "Why don't you take the one red doesn't?" She muttered and pointed at the two costumes. She didn't CARE!

[SEBASTIAN DAVENPORT]

There was her little fit again. Sebastian hated seeing her throwing a fit and did she do it all the time! He'd been very lenient with her and thought of himself as being quite a generous person when it came to her. Hadn't he allowed her to not go in the cage the way Maxi had? Hadn't he bought her the things she wanted, allowed her free roam of the condo, and even given her a day to herself? He gave her an inch and she wanted to take a mile.

"Is that all you want? You know, I could have taken my freedom when I had the chance.." That was all it took to set Sebastian off. His eyes grew cold and he was getting ready to put her in her place but she wasn't finished. "But if this is how you want to play, say I did beg you. Say I laid here and pushed my body up hard into yours.." Was this her way of playing the game? He received his answer when he felt her against his hand causing him to apply a little more pressure in that sweet spot of hers. "And say I told you how badly I wanted to feel your cock in me.."

Sebastian sucked in a deep breath and allowed his fingers to rub in a circular motion as if he was going to play with her but that was all that she was going to get. "Would you be willing to renegotiate then?" Then the question made him stop and he removed his hand from between her legs, moving it to rest on her thigh just as she sat up a bit so she could get close to his face. "Because I can play your little game, Sebastian."

He didn't want her to play his game. He didn't want her to be fake and do this just so that she could get what she wanted. She wasn't in the position to hold the power, and he knew if he allowed her to use sex over him then that would be her having control of the situation. Sex had to be off the table and completely different. "This isn't a business deal." He muttered and he pushed himself off of her and to his feet, clearly done with whatever sexual tension there might have been between them for now. "I won't negotiate sex for your freedom."

The entire conversation had put him in a mood of his own now and he stood there looking down at her, not looking pissed but not looking pleased either. He was sort of in between. "You want to discuss having days to yourself? We'll discuss it later. Now go get your friend, take her home and then come straight back. Understood?" If she could do this simple task then maybe.. maybe he could trust her on her word to leave for the day and come back at night. He'd have to consider it and he couldn't do that when he had Maxi just on the other side of the condo and Prestine probably trying to make the two girls have sex for her entertainment.

[AUGUST WITT]

August was in a fit of rage. He often wanted to harm people, but Sebastian had gone above and beyond his normal level of repulsive. To take Maxine was taking things too far. When he came to her home and found it empty, he nearly went to Sebastian's but knew it would be fruitless. Sebastian was stronger than him, and though he had adrenaline on his side, the man also had his psychotic sister on his. He was no match for them, and they would simply taunt him with Maxine, holding her just barely out of reach and in the end she was the one that was likely to be hurt. He couldn't allow that to happen. No, instead he drove towards his cousin's place of business.

Eponine would be at work which is where she often was this time of night. His car screeched to a stop outside of the law building and he made his way upstairs. The light was on in her office, the door cracked slightly. In a moment he was in there, discussing the situation with his cousin.

Eponine was by far not his favorite person, but being family he could tolerate her. They'd grown up together, had been compared to one another and were rivals in many ways. August would never openly admit it, but he felt that Eponine was better ta politics than he was, mainly because she had a born passion for them which he did not. Everything he knew he had forced himself to learn, but she had done so willingly, and had enjoyed it.

After some amount of coaxing she agreed to come along. He knew she was friendly with the Davenports, but why was beyond him. they were pathetic excuses for any creature and if he had it his way he would fling them off a building during the day. Perhaps if he got his hands on that ring he would do just that. They would shatter and that would be the end of that!

He pulled up to his home and got out of the car. He wasn't sure if it was fortunate or not that he lived in the same building as the Davenports. "If you want to take the elevator, be my guest." He said softly, his voice low and angry as he went around the building. "I'm not going to bother knocking on the door like a fool." He looked up, knowing the balcony was on the top floor and he slid his hands against the brick building. It was late enough that he wouldn't likely be seen. Without a second look back he began to scale the condominium complex.

Rage kept him going strong until he reached the top floor, not once fearing losing his balance. He slid onto the balcony and tried the door. Locked. Pity they would need to replace it... August grabbed the chair on the balcony and swung it hard against the door, which shattered obediently into a thousand pieces. He didn't see anyone in the living room. All he saw was a discarded cage on the ground. His heart hammered. Where were they? "Where is she!" She screamed menacingly from the living room, heading towards the bedrooms. "MAXINE!" He yelled at the top of his lungs.

He wasn't leaving without her.

[EPONINE GASCOIGNE]

Eponine was surprised when her cousin came into her office, drawing her eyes to the cracked door. It was often that August came to see her, much less at work. He looked distraught and a little disheveled, very unlike him. She may not have gotten along with her cousin very well, but it disturbed her to see him so out of sorts. He was family after all. When he explained the situation, she actually felt a little bad for him. That didn't mean she was getting involved, though. If August wanted to save his girlfriend, he should be able to do it for himself. Then again, she didn't like seeing him this upset. She was the one who got to make him this upset, not Sebastian or Prestine. Oh, Prestine...she could imagine what that lovable crazy bitch was doing to August's lover. Hell, what was Sebastian doing to her? August's anger was little beyond her, though; Eponine hadn't gotten mad about someone stealing her toys since she was a child. Plus, people weren't toys, a fact that had certainly been lost on Prestine and Sebastian, and perhaps even a little on her cousin. Still, she was a little glad August had found someone he really cared about. Now he could stop chasing skirts and focus on his career.

With a heavy sigh, she agreed to help. Why was everyone so obsessed with this ring? It would be interesting to walk in the daylight, but Eponine wanted nothing to do with something so troublesome. She was already waist deep in helping Micah out of his mess for involuntarily becoming involved with that ring. The ring would get anyone who touched it killed, even the Council. She predicted the Council killing each other off for a chance at the ring. Idiots, all of them. If the ring came into her possession, she would destroy it immediately. Such a troublesome little thing.

They sped to August's and the Davenports' building, and Eponine unbuckled her seat belt quickly, wanting to get this over with. She had to prepare more documents for her case against the Council in defense of Micah. "If you want to take the elevator, be my guest. I'm not going to bother knocking on the door like a fool." Eponine rolled her eyes, following him. "Yes, because acting civilized is foolish," she grumbled sarcastically. "Honestly, August, you're in danger of seeming in love with the girl." He ignored her, but Eponine wondered if that's what this was really about. Was he actually in love with someone? That would be interesting. Her cousin was usually too concerned with fucking women to fall in love with them.

She climbed the side of the building with him, not caring if anyone saw. It was exhausting work, though, and she was panting by the time they reached the Davenports' balcony. Her eyes looked down and she felt a little dizzy from having climbed so high. What if she had fallen? She shuddered to think of it. August grabbed a chair and launched it through the glass door, making Eponine grab her ears against the noise. "August, calm down," she scolded, irritated that her cousin was making such a racket. "Where is she?!" Eponine was still holding her ears as she stepped carefully over the glass in her high heels, making sure her dress didn't catch on the glass left on the door or the glass didn't cut her exposed legs.

"MAXINE!" Eponine winced, glaring at her cousin. "August! Calm the fuck down!" He could be so irritating. She ran her hands through her hair, trying to get it more presentable before Sebastian came out. Her eyes scanned the apartment for any sign of August's girlfriend or her ex-boyfriend.

[MAXINE MCMANUS]

"See? I told you guys this would be fun! You just need to loosen up a little, sheesh!" Maxi didn't think this was very fun, but she kept her thoughts to herself and watching Prestine move back to the closet. "Nooow... where is...There!" Maxi's eyes widened at the site of the sexy nurse's outfit. Her breasts were going to be falling out of it! "Okay, there's this one, ooorr..." Prestine reached back into the closet and pulled out something even worse: a sailor outfit that would in no way covered her butt. "This! Both would look super cute on you!" A half-heartedly, mildly horrified smile crossed Maxi's face, and she failed to answer for a moment. She pressed the outfits to Kitten's back as if to show them off, and Maxi regained her voice. "I'll take the nurse's outfit," she said weakly.

Prestine pressed the outfit into her hands and Maxi turned her back to Kitten as she dressed. The cleavage of the dress but all the way down to her stomach, and she was mortified at how much of her breasts were showing. She had worn a lacy, low plunge white bra because August was coming over, so it showed even more than if she had worn one of her normal bras. It was so embarrassing, but at least no one but the girls were going to see her in it. Well, and Sebastian, but he didn't count; he wouldn't like it anyway, because he didn't like her. She pulled the dress as far down as she could get it after she slipped her jeans off her hips, but it still barely came down over her butt. Why did she wear cheeky, lacy underwear today. It just showed off more of her ass if she were to bend over. It was better than the sailor outfit, though.

Maxi took the white socks Prestine handed her and pulled them up to her knees. She felt so silly, and her face was flushed because she realized she had just mooned Kitten as she pulled the socks up, but then Prestine wanted them to dress her up. "We should seriously play, like, all the time!" Maxi gave a nervous laugh, but neither agreed nor disagreed. That wasn't going to happen. If Maxi got out of here alive, she was never, EVER coming back. "Why don't you take the one red doesn't?" The other woman suggested it, calling Maxi "red," and Maxi jumped on board with a nod. "Yeah, I think it would be super cute on you!" she piped softly, just wanting to get the hell out of this room and away from the bonds that could just as easily bind her as they did Kitten. Her hands reached up and pulled her ponytail out, needing to redo it. She still smelled like brandy, and her hair was a little sticky, so she wanted to fix it. Her hands ran through the red strands, mussing it so it would stop sticking and combing her fingers through it. It was almost time to put it back up when she froze.

"Where is she?!" The voice was muffled, but she thought it belonged to August. It sounded so much like him..."MAXINE!" Her heart stopped and she bolted for the door. She didn't care what she looked like, she didn't care if Prestine made her bleed for this, she just had to see him. She threw open the door and darted towards his voice. And there he was. Standing in Sebastian's living room. "August," she breathed, frozen for a moment. Tears were already on her cheeks as she sprang for him. "August!" she sobbed, needing desperately to get to him. She didn't even see the other woman in the room. All she saw was August. She didn't see if anyone was coming behind her to stop her.

[ALYSON MONTGOMERY]

The way his hand was moving made her feel dirty and not necessarily in a good way. She felt dirty. She felt like she was allowing herself to get used for something that should be hers in the first place, but she didn't stop him figuring it would help her more if she allowed him to continue. Plus, it felt crazy good.

But all too soon he was pulling away and she watched, bewildered. Why was he pulling away? "This isn't a business deal. I won't negotiate sex for your freedom." She felt herself grow angry again. Not only was he unwilling to negotiate this with her, he had allowed her to act like a complete idiot and let her allow him to touch her for no reason! Her look was evident she was pissed at him. "You want to discuss having days to yourself? We'll discuss it later. Now go get your friend, take her home and then come straight back. Understood?"

She was more than enraged. She pushed off the bed, practically snarling at him. "What, like I did already today?" She barked. "You think I like spending my days cooped up in here just waiting for you? You don't need me in here, Bastian!" She yelled, folding her arms. "What do you care if I'm out of here. It would be better for you, anyway! As it is you've already fucked yourself. Cass knows where you live. She know's you have me. You don't think she's going to run and tell the cops? Do you know how many times I stopped her from doing that today? You're going to need to find a new damn house! And you know what? You deserve it! You're completely selfish and unwilling to bend even a LITTLE for someone else! You don't care about me. You have no intention of falling in love with me, you just said that to let me believe there was some glimmer of hope, but there isn't! You just..." The sound of glass shattering shut her up and she looked towards the door.

"MAXINE!"

Aly stood there, shocked. Who was that?

[SEBASTIAN DAVENPORT]

"You think I like spending my days cooped up in here just waiting for you? You don't need me in here, Bastian!" The blonde woman started screaming at Sebastian, her temper only spiking his own to match as she tried to tell him off, "What do you care if I'm out of here. It would be better for you, anyway! As it is you've already fucked yourself. Cass knows where you live. She know's you have me. You don't think she's going to run and tell the cops? Do you know how many times I stopped her from doing that today? You're going to need to find a new damn house! And you know what? You deserve it! You're completely selfish and unwilling to bend even a LITTLE for someone else! You don't care about me. You have no intention of falling in love with me, you just said that to let me believe there was some glimmer of hope, but there isn't! You just..."

Sebastian sent his hand flying at Alyson's face as he put more force behind it than he ever had when hitting her. He was livid. His nostrils flared and his brows were lowered making his eyes look dark and menacing in a way. Was she really that stupid? "You're just a stupid fucking child," he spat out the words as if speaking about her was poison in his mouth.

All the gargoyle could see was red at the moment and then he heard the shatter of glass. Fuck! He didn't need this from Alyson right now. She didn't know anything about what he wanted or how he felt when it came to her. Hadn't he protected her, showered her with gifts?! "You're right. I could never love you. So just get out." He snarled the words, his lips curling into a sneer and he shot her one more look. God, he just wanted to fucking tear her limb from limb right now!

"Where is she!" He didn't have anymore time for Alyson in that moment. He had a more pressing matter on his hands and although the ring didn't seem as important anymore if he was going to just get rid of Alyson, but he couldn't just submit to August. It was August! "MAXINE!" He was sure that the girl could hear him if he could.

Turning to Alyson he grabbed her by her arm and yanked her out of the bedroom and threw her down the hall. "I said get out of here or you'll regret it, you stupid bitch."

Sebastian came out into the living area and saw August standing there with none other than his lovely cousin, Eponine. He was about to put on a little smile, even though he was feeling anything but happy, but then he heard the little lamb calling out for August. When she came flying out of Prestine's room he was able to intercept before she got too close to August. "Uh uh!" He taunted and wrapped an arm around Maxine's midsection and pulled her her close to his body, her back against his torso, when he realized that she was wearing one of Prestine's slutty little outfits. His free hand came up and his fingers curled around her throat in a manner that if anyone made the wrong move all he had to do was squeeze.

"Another step closer and you're precious little lamb is a goner, wittle Auggie. Unless you have my ring." He was still so disgruntled and all kinds of pissed off that he felt like steam was coming out of his ears. He glanced over to see Alyson before his focus went back to August and Eponine. He cocked a little grin at Eponine as he backed away a bit. "Hello, sweetheart. It's been a while."

[AUGUST WITT]

"August! Calm the fuck down!"

He hadn't brought his cousin for her to tell him to calm down, which was why he had been ignoring her. He didn't need to put any misplaced anger on her especially when she was doing him the favor of accompanying him. "I'll calm down once I've got her." He grumbled, not looking at his cousin but towards the direction he heard A door open.

She was quite a sight... August was as frozen as she was as he simply stared at her. What on earth was she wearing?! He felt the anger surge deeper in him as he tried to put two and two together but the only answer he was coming up with was that Sebastian was using her for his own greedy little desire only t piss him off further. The gargoyle had gone far too far for August to try and be a reasonable man.

"August!" she sobbed, and she was coming towards him and in the second he felt relief, taking a step towards her, but then who should appear? The man who August would have liked to rip the throat from. He grabbed his Maxine, pulling her close with a taunting look on his face and even muttered a soft "Uh uh!"

August watched in horror and anger as the man brought his hand to her neck, forcing him to stop in his tracks. He could hardly concentrate on Sebastian his anger was pumping so violently.

"Another step closer and you're precious little lamb is a goner, wittle Auggie. Unless you have my ring." He was shaking he was so angry, his nostrils flared. Simply seeing Maxine this way made him want to break something, preferably that Davenport prick. "It's not your ring!" He snarled angrily, his hands clenched in tight fists at his side. "So help me if you do anything to h..."

"Hello, sweetheart. It's been a while." He wasn't even listening to him! August saw Sebastian's eyes move to his cousin and for a moment he wanted to grab Eponine in the same way Sebastian was holding Maxine in the hopes that he could use his cousin as Sebastian was using Maxine, but it would be obvious he wouldn't do anything to her. She was family and August wasn't known for his violent streak. Sure, he had an attitude problem and often threw things, but he wasn't known for killing anyone off. Help. Me." He growled low and violently towards hi cousin, his eyes showing how deadly serious he was. He would owe Eponine for the rest of his life but it wouldn't matter if he killed Sebastian in the process. He wanted him dead.

[ALYSON MONTGOMERY]

The force of the blow across her face had startled her. She had grown cocky with him, assuming he wouldn't hurt her anymore, but she had assumed wrong. She had yelped when he hit her, and now she laid there, tears in her eyes as he watched him in surprise, her cheek smarting from the slap.

"You're just a stupid fucking child," he spat, and he looked angrier than she could recall him ever looking. It made her stomach churn in a terrible way. She'd crossed the line, the line she had moments ago thought she had known when to not cross. She immediately regretted her decision to talk back to him, but she had valid points! He'd been an idiot and he was starting to realize what he was doing was going to bite him in the ass in the end.

"You're right. I could never love you. So just get out." The words stung almost as much as the slap across her face and she felt the hot, angry tears at her eyes simply pour out. She didn't want to get out! Not forever! She wanted him and her freedom, didn't he see that? Why couldn't she have both?

For a moment he was distracted by the noise from the other room but in an instant he was on her again, grabbing her arm and dragging her out into the hall. She wriggled in his grasp since he was hurting her and going too fast for her to keep up. "You're hurting me!" She whined, but he flung her down on the ground. She turned her pathetic, large eyes at him, feeling more rejected than she had by any boyfriend. Why, though?! Wasn't this what she wanted? For him to set her free? Maybe it had been.. "I said get out of here or you'll regret it, you stupid bitch." Had he been anyone else she would have punched him in the nuts, but she knew she'd only regret it more, and knowing him he really did have balls of steel. The man was solid!

Where was Cass? She scrambled to her feet and moved to the front door, peaking around. She couldn't let Cass stay there! She was going to take her and allow her to take her to the police. If he didn't want her then... well there was no point protecting him. Let the cops handle him. She didn't have the energy to call out for the girl, though, so instead she stood at the door, her hand on the handle, silently crying.

She had thought her life had been over when he'd taken her and now she felt the same at her release. The angel on her shoulder was beaming with pride.

[PRESTINE DAVENPORT]

"Why don't you take the one red doesn't?"

Prestine pursed her lips and then finally gave a half nod, half shrug. "I mean, sure I could wear that one." She said, looking longingly at the closet full of outfits, more disappointed the girls weren't going to be looking through it to find what they liked, but she supposed they liked the sailor outfit AND nurse outfit, so she stripped down as the other two had and put the sailor suit on, sliding the hat on her head at an angle.

Prestine made her way in front of Kitten whose eyes looked up obediently. "We can play pirates later.." She cooed, leaning down and showering his sweet little face with kisses. "How's that sound?" He whimpered either his approval or dislike, it was hard to tell. "Such a good boy.." She reached around and undid the ball gag, knowing his mouth was likely sore and she wanted to play with that mouth later. "Now, be a good boy and stay quiet."

The sound of glass shattering in the other room made her roll her eyes more than anything else and when there was a scream from a mans voice Prestine looked up surprised. Ohh, someone new to play with? But then things seemed to get out of control as the ginger ran off. Her eyes narrowed not liking when they bolted. She'd need to teach her a lesson.

"YOU stay put." She said to the brunette, storming after Maxi, but when she got to the living room Sebastian had already caught her. "Oh, good! I wasn't.." She stopped eyeing up the enraged August, the annoyed Eponine and the sniveling pet. "Oh, you really need to learn to control things better, Sebastian. I mean, honestly... now we have August here to collect his toy and look at the state of your pet! Disgraceful." She shook her head and looked at Eponine, waving. "Hey, Eps! We're playing dress up, interested?" She asked, genuinely wanting the girl to play. "I have some new things that would just look fantastic on you!" She insisted. Then she looked Sebastian over and rolled her eyes. "I could put something on your pet too, if you like." She added more because she thought Sebastian would appreciate it more than anything else.

[CASSIDY MERRYWEATHER]

Cassidy didn't have a clue what was going on. First everyone was putting on costumes and the next they were all running out the door! She assumed it was the sound of something shattering that caused this, and Red was the first one to run out. "YOU stay put." Did this mad woman seriously think that Cassidy was going to listen to her?! If Red was getting the hell out of there then so was she! Her eyes turned to Prestine's 'Kitten' and gave him a desperate sort of look. She felt for the man but the way that he was shackled... she didn't know if she'd be able to get him out. So she moved closer and kept her voice low, "I'll get the police and I'll come back for you, alright?" She told him and then she poked her head out the door.

There was quiet a commotion going on in the other room and Cass just stood there, worried that if she set foot out of the room someone would notice her. It was hard not to in that ugly dress! Finally she mustered up enough courage to suck in a sharp breath and hold it, stepping over the threshold and into the hallway. That was half of the battle, was taking that first step, now the rest would hopefully be easy!

The girl was cautious as she moved down the hall taking slow steps to make sure she was quiet. But she could hear bits and pieces of the conversation before she even saw everybody. "So help me if you do anything to h..." "Hello, sweetheart. It's been a while." She didn't know what was happening but one voice seemed on edge while the other was cool. When she rounded the corner she finally got a good look at what was unfolding before her eyes and she remained silent.

"I could put something on your pet too, if you like." She heard Prestine say and then caught sight of Aly, who happened to look like a wreck. Her cheek looked freshly pink and a little swollen and she had eyes to match. What had that bastard done to her?! Cassidy hurried across the room trying to get to Alyson and the door knowing if she just could they could run out! Except.. what about Red? She stopped midway to Alyson and caught Red pressed against Sebastian with his hand to her throat. Sebastian's back was to her and she thought how if maybe she could get past Prestine she could hit him with something to make him release her.. but that would have been a really dumb idea, so she stood there frozen and waited for someone to do something.

[EPONINE GASCOIGNE]

"I'll calm down once I've got her." Eponine had to admit, it was kind of cute seeing August all worked up over a woman. She decided he was definitely in love. She was about to make some smartass comment about it, but she heard a door open and she looked towards the bedrooms. Oh, dear...it looked like Prestine got to August's doll. She really looked like a doll, too, with her skin tone, her big eyes, and her red hair. That outfit was the most outrageous part of her, though. Didn't Prestine know that red clashed with red hair? Then again, she looked like a little ball of fire dashing towards August, tears all over her face...a little ball of fire with her boobs about to fall out of that dress. It looked to Eponine like this Maxine reciprocated her cousin's feelings with how she was sprinting for him. She was almost rooting for the girl, when Sebastian came out of nowhere and snatched her up with a soft, "Uh uh!"

She sighed, crossing her arms over her chest, watching nonchalantly as Sebastian brought his hand to the little girl's throat. "Another step closer and you're precious little lamb is a goner, wittle Auggie. Unless you have my ring." The threat didn't faze Eponine. If only August wouldn't get so worked up, Sebastian would get bored and let the little ginger go. "So help me if you do anything to h..." Eponine had been looking to August, but her attention was called away by Sebastian once more. "Hello, sweetheart. It's been a while." She smiled almost flirtatiously at Sebastian. He was sexy, even though he was psychotic. "It certainly has, darling," she agreed in her low voice. At that moment Prestine came out wearing a sailor suit, making Eponine smile wider. She was having a lot of fun, apparently. "Hi Eps!" she greeted with a wave. Eponine waved back, amused. Crazy bitch. "We're playing dress up, interested? I have some new things that would just look fantastic on you!" Eponine shook her head. "Maybe another time, Pressy," she promised before she looked at her cousin. August's eyes were on fire. "Help. Me." The way he growled it made Eponine's smile fade and he saw how much this meant to her cousin. She reached out a hand and touched his arm. "All right, all right," she said softly, trying to calm him down. The guy's blood pressure was so high, he was bound to have a heart attack at this rate.

She looked back to Sebastian, letting go of her cousin's arm, and putting her smile back in place. Her steps were slow and measured as she approached Sebastian, closing half the distance between them. "Look, Sebastian," she started, letting her eyes wander to the two women behind him. More pets. How many did he need? "That girl's not going to do you any good. August doesn't have that kind of pull with the Council. He's not going to be able to get information about that ring out of them. I have more pull with the Council than my cousin does, and I can't get any information out of them on that ring! The only people who might know about it are the heads, and you know they aren't talking. So just let the girl go. She won't do anything but cause you trouble anyway." Eponine wasn't sure yet if she had convinced him, but she wasn't going to back away. Her eyes stayed fixed on the icy grey of his, unafraid of him. Sebastian had never frightened her and she remained completely calm as she bartered for the freedom of her cousin's lover.

[MAXINE MCMANUS]

Maxi was so relieved. August was here! He had come to get her back! He took a step towards her and she was ready to just fling herself in his arms, exactly where she belonged. But a strong arm suddenly came around her, and she felt her heart stop. "Uh uh!" The voice in her ear made her panic. No, damn it, no! Not now, not when August was so close! She squirmed, trying to fight her way out of his grip, but it was no use. Sebastian's hand came to her throat, forcing her to be still, and she froze. Tears were still running down her face, her wild red hair sticking to her cheeks a bit. "Another step closer and you're precious little lamb is a goner, wittle Auggie. Unless you have my ring." "It's not your ring! So help me if you do anything to h..." "Hello, sweetheart. It's been a while." Maxi listened to the banter, her heart melting a little at how upset August was at her capture. It showed her how much he cared and she prayed Sebastian would just let her go so August wouldn't have a reason to be upset. But then Sebastian turned his attention to the woman standing beside August. Apparently they knew each other. She was so confused.

Maxi couldn't turn her head, but she knew from the sound of Prestine's voice that she had come out. She wondered if the brown-haired woman would be able to escape. And what about Alyson? Was she back there? When she thought back on it, she thought she'd heard Sebastian yelling at her. Why would he yell at her if they were an item? Prestine and the woman next to August went back and forth a little before August looked at her. He grumbled something, something that Maxi couldn't hear, but the other woman looked serious and touched his arm. Who was she? Maxi couldn't deny she felt a little jealous at the way she touched him. She was beautiful. Would it be surprising if August had some kind of relationship with her? Then again, she had looked at Sebastian almost like she was flirting.

The woman stepped forward, calm and collected, and Maxi hoped her movements wouldn't get Maxi's neck snapped. "Look, Sebastian. That girl's not going to do you any good. August doesn't have that kind of pull with the Council. He's not going to be able to get information about that ring out of them. I have more pull with the Council than my cousin does, and I can't get any information out of them on that ring! The only people who might know about it are the heads, and you know they aren't talking. So just let the girl go. She won't do anything but cause you trouble anyway." So this woman was August's cousin. That sent a small measure of relief through her system, and she was grateful that she was trying to help her. Were her and August close? She'd never met any of August's family before. She hadn't even met his friends. Maybe she was just helping because she was the only one who could. No matter the reason, Maxi was glad. She would owe this woman her life if she could get Maxi out of this mess.