"You have already killed two, what will you lose if one more gets added to that list?" Brent challenges Victor.

"Irene's baby was unborn and we aren't sure if Evelyn was pregnant," Victor replies, looking at the dagger. It was the same dagger he used to stab Irene.

"She was." Brent gives a straight answer. It still hurts him but he has to protect what is left to protect.

"Does that make it any less of a crime?" Brent challenges him again. "The Elders are just hypocrites." He sits back on his chair, his legs up on the table. "There is a rule to not kill kids but nothing against the unborn. Hmph!" at least this was true. He really thought the Elders were hypocrites. Killing an unborn is equally punishable like killing a kid, if not more.

"I had a deal with the Elders." Victor tries to reason. "Breaking it would break the trust and loyalty I have earned in all these years." He was talking about all the other packs licking his feet as he has been feeding them with lies all these years.

"Trust and loyalty can be bought brother, not an opportunity like this." Brent tries to push him. "Do you plan on being under the Elders for all your life?"

"No...not until..." but Brent cuts him mid-sentence.

"Not until you mate Inara." he completes his sentence. "I know. I also know you cannot do that until you kill Zade. And this is the perfect timing!"

"The Elders out of your way, no one to answer to when you kill Zade. His family is too deep in mourning for Odin's head. They wouldn't really care if the Elders are nowhere. Then you have Inara, you have the supreme position and, all of the wolf community bowing in front of you."

Victor places the blade down, facing the wall. The wall had the painting from a famous painter. Shows the inner turmoil of humans when they have to decide between good and evil. The right and wrong. Somehow, Victor seems to be in at the same crossroads. Even though he was a wolf, he did have a human side to him.

"Leave." Victor says with a straight voice, "I need to think."

"You have all the time, brother." Brent unlocks the door, "That is till tonight. The Elders will get a whiff about where their precious member is and your game is over." He warns, locking the door behind him.

Victor takes a deep sigh. It isn't like he knows in what labyrinth he was.

Brent closes the door behind him, taking a deep sigh. He walks up to one of the guards at the top of the stairs.

"Take me to the dungeons. I want to speak to the prisoners."

x-x-x-x

Inara tries to free herself from the tied ropes but it doesn't help. She was still gagged and tries to shout but to no avail. Beta was lying on the ground, still unconscious. She tries to move him with her elbow but no life stirred in him.

"I see, you are trying to wake him." Brent walks in front of the cell with two guards. Another two guarding the dungeons. Inara mumbles something so Brent orders them to pull out the cloth.

"You......" Inara says when she could finally speak. Her mouth was a bit sore.

"I know there was a compliment in there somewhere and I'll take it." Brent grins.

"You piece of shit." Inara snarls back, trying to get out of the ropes.

"Ah! There it is!" Brent crouches to her level. "Such joy, to see you tied up in here."

"Fucking liar!" she curses again.

"Aww!" he pouts, "You really believed me when I said those words at your house? I consider that to be my best performance, ever. Actually, second best. The first one is where I knocked off Evelyn if you know what I mean." He has a crooked smile on his face.

"Your ass must be pretty jealous of all the shit that comes out of your mouth." Inara speaks, remarkably calm.

"Well I guess," Brent seems to be angry, "I have to remind you that you are one who is captured."

He stands up and looks at the guards. "Leave us alone. I would like to show the lady the true meaning of being a prisoner." The guards bow and leave.

Brent looks back and is sure that they are gone. The whole dungeon was empty except them.

"Okay," he takes out a small knife and passes it on to Inara, "Take this."

Inara smiles and takes it, cutting herself free. Beta opens one of his eyes, scanning the environment.

"Can I get up now?" he asks.

"Yep. They are gone." Brent replies. "I am sorry if they were rough with you." He apologizes.

"Nah. Nothing that I haven't experienced before." Beta shrugs his shoulders and Inara cuts his ropes too.

"No, wait!" Brent takes out his phone, "Gotta take the pictures. Huddle up and look scared."

Inara and Beta pretend and make a face. Brent clicks a photo. "And, done!" examining his masterpiece.

"I am surprised." Inara stands up, stretching a bit. "I didn't know your acting skills were this good."

Brent smiles back, showing how proud he was. "All those years, when I wasn't here, I was majoring in theatre. I like a little drama in my life."

Flashback

"I am not going alone," Inara says. "He will accompany me." Pointing at Brent.

"Why, why me?" he shivers.

"Just to help along with the plan." She walks and hugs both Damon and Kyros, "Just trust me. I know what I am doing."

"We need to give Victor the illusion that everything is going his way. Beta will help us. We have to put him at the crossroads by giving him all the incentives at once. He will have me, who is an important part of his plans. He will have Beta."

"The decision he has to come across is, whether to kill Beta or not."

"Are you insane?" Brent speaks up. "She has gone mad. Victor's threat has made her mad."

"Listen to her." Zade shuts him up. "She won't let anything happen to Beta."

"Exactly." Inara nods, "Beta is just the incentive. That's where you come in handy." She points at Brent. "You convince him to kill Beta."

"I...I can't do that. The minute I step back at home, he will kill me." Brent shivers even at the mention of it.

"Not when he thinks you did this all for him. You will pretend to kidnap Beta, backstab us, all for Victor." Inara looks at everyone. They nod, understanding a little.

"But how will I do that?" Brent asks, confused.

"He is your brother." Inara points out the obvious, "Emotional blackmail or just plain talks. You know how to convince him. Throw in some words that will catch his ears. Throw in the threat of time. Bring out your acting skills."

"We have to take the risk." Inara convinces Brent when she sees him being a bit nervous. He doesn't seem to have the confidence to convince his brother.

"How are you sure he will kill Beta?" Abir asks.

"I am not sure about that. But we won't let him come to that. That is where Kyros and Damon come handy." She holds both of their hands.

Flashback Ends

Brent smiles back, showing how proud he was. "All those years, when I wasn't here, I was majoring in theatre. I like a little drama in my life. And from what I see, it was worth the risk."

"What do you think the uncles are doing right now?" Beta asks, healing his wrists.

"Probably on their way to the Elders." Inara thinks.

"I hope that part of the plan works out as well as this did?" Brent prays. He was playing the most dangerous game of them all.

If they get caught, he'll be getting the first death, if not a long and excruciatingly painful last death.