Note: This is a picture of Beastcat. Here's 400 year old weretiger. Art created by Will Davis.

She sat there for the longest time not wanting to talk or even barely move. Hades had a talent of remembering everything. His mind was like a computer recording everything word for word, so it was best that she say nothing so she didn't unintentionally incriminate herself.

She heard the swish of the doors opening before long and in walked a rather large guard. He looked much like a Minotaur with red scaly skin. He was wearing a blue gray uniform with was standard for high security guards who were employed by Hell. Next to him was a large dog with three heads. He was the fabled Cerberus and not the kind of dog you would want to make an enemy of.

Marianna was on her guard as she stood up and took small steps towards the man and the feared the Sadian animal. "Dragor, please escort Miss Faigon to the holding cell XP922B."

The man bowed without saying a word turning around with the dog and leading the way. She stayed a good distance behind, not trusting Hades one bit. She didn't know if he would try some dirty trick, but she wouldn't put it past him.

It was a long way to the holding cell walking down long corridors and finally an elevator. It was a long rectangular room that Dragar insisted that they take. She hesitated not wanted to be in a box with the Minotaur and the Cerberus with no way to get out. In fact most of her life she avoided elevators all together. With her claustrophobia she never wanted to take the chance of losing control and hurting someone, and there was nowhere to run inside an elevator of any potential victim.

"Step in the transport," he commanded but still she hesitated. "It's the only way."

"Fine," she said almost in whisper.

She slowly stepped inside even though her heart was racing and her body was shaking. It didn't seem to faze her escort, and she figured he had seen much worse behavior from both visitor and inmate in his career. She hated being in the elevator just like she hated being in this place at all. She stood silently closing her eyes and hoping that her ordeal would be over soon. She heard a swish and opened her eyes to see the doors open. She stepped out quickly before her two escorts did. She was relieved they were out of that confined metal box.

The Minotaur led her down two more corridors until they came to a large metal wall that opened like French doors. Hades was a show off when it came to tech and made even a minimal tour for visitors interesting, but she was not interested in seeing the wonders of the prison.

He led her through the door and down another long hallway, and she was getting aggravated with this. She took a deep breath and kept walking. Then he and Cerberus abruptly stopped. There was small outline of a box that he put his hand in and the metal wall slide open and he led her through. She saw a green transparent barrier and behind it she saw someone familiar lying on a cot reading a magazine and smoking a cigarette. She shook her hand and rolled her eyes. Never had she seem Mike so idle.

Dragor had a metal card in his hand and the barrier moved back far enough for her to enter while creating another barrier that still trapped Mike inside the cell. Once the outer barrier sealed itself once more, and inner barrier disappeared. She stared Mike down still annoyed that he was the reason she was in this place to begin with.

"You have an hour," Dragor said and disappeared down the corridor. Cerberus remained guarded the entrance to the cell. All the guards knew Mike Logan was a crafty one and wouldn't be locked up unless he chose to be, so they didn't fully trust him to behave himself into being a model prisoner.

"What are you doing here?" Mike looked up from his magazine and asked.

"To see you," she said and came closer to him. He buried his head in the magazine again with a cigarette in his hand which pissed her off. She grabbed the magazine and threw it towards the barrier where it was disintegrated.

"Why?" he asked and took another puff of his cigarette. The smoke blew towards Marianna. He smirked knowing how much it irritated her. "I told Hades I didn't want any visitors."

"Too bad, because he's the one who insisted that I come," she said and snatched the cigarette out of his mouth. She crushed it in her bare palm and waited for her hand to heal which took only a few seconds. "You know how persuasive he can be."

"Yeah, remind me to kick his ass when I get out," he said and reached for the pack of cigarettes that rested in his back pocket.

"That's what I want to talk to you about," Marianna said and looked around to see one chair it the cell. It was an old wooden one around fifty years old. It wasn't an antique. It was just old and didn't look very comfortable, but she felt the need to sit down. She sat in the uncomfortable chair and crossed one leg over the other and crossed arms over her chest.

"I got another six years in this place," he said and lit another cigarette.

"Not necessarily," she said and he stood there with the cigarette hanging out of his mouth. "What would you say to an early parole?"

"What's the catch?" he asked and that cemented the fact that Mike Logan wasn't an idiot.

"You would have me for a baby sister," she said and didn't look happy about the prospect. He gave her a sly smirk as if he liked the idea. "This is the deal. You come to New York and teach at the school."

"A school teacher? Really, Fanta, what would I teach?" he asked as if he thought he had nothing to offer.

"What you know best," she said as she got out of her seat and walked up to him.

"All I know is killing," he said and turned away. He took another puff and blew it out.

"That not true, Mike. You know combat, strategy, self-defense, history.... Would you like me to go on?"

"Fine, I know a lot about a lot of things," he said and turned to look into her hopeful eyes. "It doesn't mean I can teach. Besides, I'm better off here."

"No, you're not, Mike," she said with a look of determination in her eyes. "Either you take this deal or..."

"Or what? I'll have to serve my full time?" he asked.

"No, the council wants to keep you here indefinitely, and after everything you've done they have grounds."

"That's blackmail," he said. "They're just pissed because I walked away. Their little secret weapon went awol and they want to make me pay."

"Me too," she said and there was a look of fright in her eyes.

"What do you mean?" he asked and put out the cigarette and threw it away.

"Hades threatened to bring up my past deeds, so unless you do what they want or we might be cellmates."

"That wouldn't be half bad," he said and came towards her.

"You know I can't stand being locked up," she said and thought back to her childhood when she was a prisoner of Brown. The thought of being caged up again terrified her and he knew it.

"So I should do this for you?" he asked and she looked back at him.

"No, for yourself," she said and for some reason she couldn't take her eyes off of him. "You don't belong here. So what do you say?"

"Fine, I'll do it, but only for you," he said and took her hand. "You don't belong here either."

With that last word Dracor appeared and Cerberus who had being lying down and resting shot to his feet. "Hades wishes to see you, Miss Faigon," Dracor said directing the question at Marianna.

"Very well," she said and looked back at Mike. "I'll be back." With that she was released from the cell and disappeared down the hallway.

To Be Continued...

Next is the parole hearing.