In the dimly lit, smoke-filled room, Furina's eyes fluttered open, her vision slowly adjusting to the shadows surrounding her.Furina's eyes blinked a few times , her vision blurry, taking in the dimly lit room around her. The harsh, metallic scent of blood lingered in the air, intermingling with a faint hint of smoke, as though she'd woken in the belly of some forgotten underworld.

Her wrists ached, bound tightly behind her to the wooden arms of an old chair. The air was thick with tension, silence punctuated only by the faint, metallic clinking of weaponry and the distant, muted conversations of agents that filled the room. Her mind was still hazy, struggling to recall how she'd ended up here, feeling the oppressive weight of fear settle in her stomach.

She blinked rapidly, clearing the fog in her mind, and realized the weight of countless stares. Figures emerged from the shadows, each of them familiar and menacing. Lyney stood nearby, arms crossed, a faint, unsettling smirk playing at his lips. Lynette watched with unreadable eyes, her silence cold and penetrating, while their brother Freminet lingered a few steps back, his gaze as soft yet sharp as the dagger at his side. The three siblings were as poised as statues, but the energy they exuded was one of silent, palpable threat.

Footsteps echoed across the room, the sound heavy and deliberate. Lyney, Lynette, and Freminet standing a few paces away, their faces inscrutable. They wore the sharp, tailored suits that marked them as high-ranking within the Fatui, their postures cold and unyielding. Behind them, shadows loomed, Fatui agents watching her every move, their eyes blank and intimidating. The soft flicker of a dim light above cast dark shadows across their faces, only amplifying their sinister presence.

"Lady Furina," Lyney greeted, his voice smooth and devoid of warmth. There was a cruel sort of amusement in his eyes, as though he found the entire scene terribly amusing. "I hope the accommodations are to your liking."

Furina clenched her jaw, refusing to let fear show in her expression. "I demand to be released. This... this is a violation of Fontaine's sovereignty."

Lynette tilted her head slightly, her gaze cool and unyielding as she studied Furina with a disconcerting calmness. Freminet remained silent, though his stance was firm, his eyes soft and worried some yet the same detached resolve as his siblings. They were focused, driven, and entirely unbothered by her authority,well 2 of them where.

Before Furina could speak further, a slow, deliberate set of footsteps echoed, signaling the arrival of the one orchestrating all of this. Arlecchino entered the room, her presence filling it with a palpable tension. She was dressed immaculately, her suit tailored to perfection, and the glint of a knife tucked into her belt gave her an air of both elegance and menace. Her dark gaze settled on Furina with an almost predatory gleam, a subtle smile tugging at the corner of her mouth.

Directly in front of her, Arlecchino leaned against the edge of a nearby table, observing Furina with a dark amusement. Her piercing gaze never wavered, lingering on Furina as though savoring each flicker of unease that crossed her expression. The mafia leader was dressed in a tailored suit, exuding an aura of authority and danger. Her fingers drummed lightly on the table, the only sound in the room, each tap echoing in Furina's mind as she struggled against the restraints.

"Well, well," Arlecchino's voice was a low murmur, silken and cold. She approached, her heels clicking against the stone floor as she circled around Furina, taking in every detail of her helpless form. "You've caused quite a stir, haven't you?"

She leaned down, her gloved fingers grazing Furina's chin, tilting her face up so that their eyes met. "I've heard you've been investigating and asking questions about the Fatui."

Furina straightened, struggling to maintain composure, but the tremor in her hands betrayed her unease. She met Arlecchino's eyes, the venom in her gaze failing to conceal the vulnerability within. "What do you want with me?" she demanded, though her voice wavered.

"Oh, darling, I think you already know," Arlecchino purred, placing a firm hand on Furina's shoulder, letting it linger there with a possessive pressure that sent an involuntary shiver down her spine. "Tell me, Furina. How much do you know about the Fatui's activities? About us?" Her fingers trailed down, tracing along Furina's arm with a possessiveness that felt more like a warning than affection.

Furina clenched her jaw, refusing to respond, her defiance shining through. But Arlecchino merely smirked, her grip tightening as her eyes darkened. "Not going to answer? Maybe you need a little... encouragement."

At a subtle nod from Arlecchino, Lyney stepped forward, leaning down close enough that Furina could feel his breath on her skin. "You see, my dear Archon, we're not known for our patience," he murmured, his voice carrying a note of mock sympathy. His fingers brushed over a strand of her hair, lifting it as if in idle fascination before letting it fall.

Lynette moved closer, her silent gaze heavy, as though studying every inch of Furina's expression, looking for cracks. Freminet stayed back, his eyes cold and observant, but his stance communicated readiness—like a predator waiting for the right moment to strike. Yet, Furina could pick up slight he sighs of discomfort and nervousness, as if he simply did not wanna be there.

Furina turned her focus back on the mafia boss, glaring at her to show her resistance.

Arlecchino leaned in even closer, her face inches from Furina's, her fingers tracing a possessive line along her jaw. "You've been meddling in things you shouldn't, My lady. Now you'll tell us everything. What do you know about the Fatui?" Her grip on Furina's chin tightened, forcing their eyes to meet.

For a moment, Furina remained silent, a flicker of fear crossing her face before she mustered her strength, her voice barely more than a whisper. "I know enough," she said defiantly, though her resolve wavered as Arlecchino's smirk widened, her fingers trailing lower, tracing down her throat with a cruel kind of gentleness.

"You always were stubborn," Arlecchino murmured, her tone a twisted blend of affection and threat. "But remember, this isn't your courtroom. Here, you're just another pawn in our game."

Furina glared at her, refusing to look away. "You think you can intimidate me? I won't tell you anything." She growled.

Arlecchino's fingers trailed down her jawline, her touch both possessive and unsettling, lingering in a way that left Furina's skin crawling. "Intimidate?" she echoed, a smile tugging at her lips as though the word amused her. "Oh, Furina... intimidation is just the beginning."

She let her hand fall, stepping back as she addressed Lyney, Lynette, and Freminet with a nod. "Leave us," she instructed, her tone firm and fed up, leaving no room for hesitation.

Without a word, the trio departed, their faces unreadable as they cast a final look at Furina before vanishing into the shadows with the other agents, the door clicking shut behind them. The room grew colder, the silence amplifying every small movement as Arlecchino returned her attention to Furina, her gaze studying her with an unsettling intensity.

Arlecchino took a slow, measured step closer, resting one hand on the arm of the chair, her face inches from Furina's. "Tell me, what exactly do you know about the Fatui?" she asked, her voice barely above a whisper, laced with a dark promise.

Furina straightened, struggling to maintain composure, but the tremor in her hands betrayed her unease. She met Arlecchino's eyes, the venom in her gaze failing to conceal the vulnerability within. Arlecchino's smile curled just slightly, her gloved fingers gliding down to the dagger strapped to her side. She slipped it from its sheath with a practiced ease, letting the sharp blade catch the faint light. She tilted it, watching the way it gleamed as she drew it close to Furina's face, her expression calm, almost bored, as if this were nothing more than a routine task.

"Come now, Furina," Arlecchino murmured, tracing the edge of the dagger delicately along Furina's jaw, enough to make her feel the cold bite of metal without breaking the skin. "We could skip all this... unpleasantness, if you're willing to talk."

Furina felt her pulse quicken as the dagger's edge grazed her skin, Arlecchino's grip steady and precise. She fought to keep her face impassive, though the fear bubbling within her was undeniable.

"You're wasting your time," Furina replied, her voice steadier than she felt, her eyes narrowing defiantly. "You may have me here now, but Fontaine's people won't let you get away with this."

Arlecchino's expression didn't waver. She lifted the blade higher, pressing it just beneath Furina's chin, forcing her to tilt her head up, leaving her exposed and vulnerable. "You keep speaking as if you still have some power here," Arlecchino whispered, her voice dripping with cold amusement. "But in this room, in this moment, you're mine. You'd do well to remember that."

The tip of the dagger pressed slightly harder, a faint prick of pain that made Furina swallow, her defiance faltering. Arlecchino watched her reaction closely, her eyes dark and unwavering, a twisted satisfaction dancing in them as she leaned in closer, her voice low and intimate.

"Last chance, Furina," she said softly. "Tell me what you know about the Fatui's operations in Fontaine. Or, if you prefer, I can make this conversation... last a little longer."

Furina's jaw clenched, her silence serving as her answer. She couldn't betray the people she swore to protect, no matter what Arlecchino threatened.

Arlecchino let out a sigh, almost as if disappointed, and then she brought the dagger down, letting it trail along Furina's arm, leaving a thin, shallow cut that stung but didn't draw blood. She watched Furina's reaction with the calculated gaze of a predator, seeming to revel in her discomfort.

"You're a stubborn one, I'll give you that," Arlecchino murmured, straightening up but keeping the dagger in hand, her fingers flexing around the hilt with a sort of casual cruelty. She leaned in once more, her lips just beside Furina's ear as she spoke, her breath warm and unsettling.

"Do you really think anyone out there will save you?" Arlecchino whispered, her voice chillingly soft, almost mocking. "You're all alone here, Furina. And you're at my mercy."

With a final, deliberate gesture, she lifted the dagger, bringing it close to Furina's face again, her expression unchanging, her gaze holding that same dark amusement, that glimmer of enjoyment in her power over the situation. Arlecchino stood back, still holding the dagger, waiting for even the faintest sign of surrender.

Furina's chest heaved, her heart pounding as she held Arlecchino's gaze, her silence unbroken, her resolve burning despite the fear gripping her.

Arlecchino's grin only widened as she circled behind Furina, her dagger still held tightly in her gloved hand, tracing slow, languid steps, like a hunter savoring the helplessness of their prey. Furina could feel her presence, an oppressive weight closing in as Arlecchino's fingers brushed the back of her neck, a chillingly intimate touch that sent a shiver down her spine.

Suddenly, Arlecchino's hand shot out, capturing Furina's chin between her fingers, tilting her head up with an almost mocking gentleness. Furina's defiant glare met her captor's eyes, dark and calculating, filled with the twisted satisfaction of someone in complete control.

Without another word, Arlecchino's gaze softened in a way that was almost eerie, and she leaned in, her lips brushing against Furina's with a cruel, deliberate slowness. It wasn't a kiss of affection, but one layered with control, an assertion of power, almost daring Furina to respond. The softness of her lips contradicted the dagger she held just out of sight, a silent threat and promise all in one.

Furina's breath hitched, but she held her composure, determined not to give Arlecchino the satisfaction of a reaction. Even bound to the chair, she forced herself to maintain her dignity, unwilling to let Arlecchino see even a glimmer of fear or submission.

After a lingering moment, Arlecchino pulled back, her fingers still holding Furina's chin. She smirked, a flash of satisfaction flickering in her eyes.

"You're not as defiant as you think," Arlecchino whispered, releasing her hold and stepping back with a smirk as she tilted her dagger.

Arlecchino paced around Furina with calculated steps, her polished dagger glinting in the dim light. The edge traced slowly along the back of Furina's chair, each step echoing like a taunt, her amusement clear in every movement. She stopped beside Furina, leaning in close, her breath ghosting over Furina's skin as she lifted the blade to her chin, tilting her face up just enough to meet her cold, merciless gaze.

Furina clenched her jaw, refusing to show weakness. The defiance in her eyes seemed to amuse Arlecchino even more, a glint of wicked satisfaction flickering in her own gaze.

"Such an exciting sight to see the Hydro Archon in all her glory, brought down to this," Arlecchino murmured, voice dripping with venomous delight. She moved closer, pressing a hand to Furina's shoulder with a firm, unsettling familiarity. "You know, a little humility would suit you. Tell me," she paused, running her thumb across Furina's cheek in a disturbingly gentle gesture, "what else you know about my organization."

Furina held her silence, her defiant glare never wavering. The room was thick with tension, and the quiet whispers of Lyney, Lynette, and Freminet faded as they left, leaving Furina alone with her captor.

Arlecchino tightened her grip, her eyes darkening. She leaned down, her lips brushing close as she whispered, "If you think silence will keep you safe, think again." She lifted the dagger, pressing the cold blade against the side of Furina's neck, her thumb brushing over Furina's chin with a mocking tenderness.

With a twisted smile, Arlecchino leaned closer, her breath grazing Furina's ear as she murmured, "Let's see if you keep that defiance as I get to know you... intimately." The grip on her chin tightened, guiding her face up as if preparing for something more sinister.

Furina's breaths grew shallow as Arlecchino's touch lingered, the unsettling mix of mockery and possession evident in every calculated move. She could feel the sharp edge of the dagger grazing her skin, not yet cutting but warning, sending a thrill of fear that she fought hard to conceal. The dim light cast harsh shadows over Arlecchino's face, her eyes glinting with satisfaction as she watched Furina's resolve.

Arlecchino leaned in, the dagger slowly trailing down from Furina's neck to rest near her collarbone, the blade pressing just enough to make Furina acutely aware of its potential. "You've held onto your secrets for so long," Arlecchino purred, her voice a velvet whisper. "But let's see how much loyalty to Fontaine truly means when the stakes are raised."

With a slight shift, Arlecchino lowered herself to be level with Furina's face, her gaze studying her like a puzzle she was eager to solve. She traced her gloved fingers along the edge of Furina's jaw, brushing back a strand of her hair as though in some sick mimicry of tenderness. Her thumb lingered against Furina's chin, tilting it slightly, forcing her to meet her cold, calculating gaze.

"You've always played the part of a ruler," Arlecchino continued, her tone laced with mocking amusement. "But tell me, do your people truly know you? The mask you wear, the secrets you hide... it all starts to unravel under pressure, doesn't it?"

Furina stayed silent, her eyes blazing with defiance. She refused to give in, her mind racing as she held onto her composure. But Arlecchino only seemed more entertained, the hint of a smirk playing on her lips. Slowly, deliberately, she drew the dagger up, pressing it beneath Furina's chin, the point just grazing her skin, tilting her face even further up to her gaze.

Leaning close, Arlecchino's lips were mere inches from Furina's, her voice dropping to a dangerous whisper. "Let's find out how much pain you can endure, shall we?"

The tension in the dim room seemed to thicken with every passing second, the air suffused with an almost tangible dread. Furina's pulse thrummed under the dagger's tip, but she forced herself to hold Arlecchino's gaze, her pride refusing to let her flinch despite the pounding of her heart. Her hands were bound too tightly to move, the ropes biting into her skin as she strained against them, testing their strength. But Arlecchino's bindings were too precise, leaving her with no option but to sit there, trapped and exposed, in the gaze of the Fatui's most dangerous leader.

Arlecchino's smirk deepened, the edges of her expression sharp as she let the dagger trace a careful line down Furina's neck. She seemed to revel in every flicker of tension in Furina's eyes, studying her responses with clinical interest. Her fingers trailed just behind the blade, cool and unyielding, as though savoring the control she held.

Furina's defiance was unwavering, but Arlecchino could sense the smallest cracks in her composure, a subtle tremor in her posture. She shifted the dagger to rest over Furina's collarbone, pressing just enough to remind her of the blade's potential.

"Interesting," Arlecchino murmured, voice low and contemplative. "For someone so used to being in control, you wear fear well. But I wonder..." She leaned in closer, her lips hovering near Furina's ear, her breath warm and taunting. "Will you still cling to your silence, even if it costs you everything?"

A shiver ran down Furina's spine, though she steeled herself, tightening her jaw as her fingers curled tightly into fists. She forced herself to breathe, slow and steady, refusing to give Arlecchino the satisfaction of seeing her break.

Arlecchino tilted Furina's chin upward with the dagger, forcing her to look into her eyes once more. The smirk never left her face as she studied her, savoring the power she held. For a brief moment, her gaze softened, but it only sharpened the malice lurking behind it. She reached forward, her gloved fingers trailing lightly along Furina's jaw, before catching her chin with a firm grip.

"Why so quiet, hmm?" Arlecchino's voice was a low taunt, her thumb brushing against Furina's chin. "Is this really all the Hydro Archon is capable of? I expected more from Fontaine's 'protector.'"

But before Furina could answer, Arlecchino's grip tightened slightly, bringing her face closer. For an agonizing moment, Furina thought Arlecchino might close the distance, but instead, she pulled back with a smirk, clearly reveling in the anticipation she had created.

Arlecchino slowly withdrew the dagger, letting it hover by her side, her gaze still locked on Furina. "If you think silence will keep you safe, you're more naive than I thought," she murmured, her voice dropping to a near whisper as she finally straightened up.

She glanced back at the closed door, then leaned down one last time, her words a dark promise. "There's nowhere left to hide, Furina. I'll unravel every secret, one way or another."

As Arlecchino stepped away,setting her dagger back into its holder,The room grew colder as the Fatui agents closed in, their heavy footsteps echoing against the stone floor. Furina's breaths came shallow and quick, but she forced herself to meet each stare with unbroken defiance. Shadows twisted in the dim light, throwing ominous shapes on the walls as they moved, like a scene from a fevered nightmare.

Arlecchino strolled over to a plush, velvet-upholstered couch along the wall and sank onto it with a leisurely air, crossing her legs as she settled in. Her arms draped over the backrest, a picture of relaxation amidst the rising tension. She tilted her head, watching Furina with an amused smirk, as though this were some private spectacle created solely for her amusement.

One of the Fatui agents stepped forward, cracking his knuckles as he circled Furina, his gaze like a hawk sizing up prey. Furina's wrists strained against the ropes that bound her to the chair, her fingers clawing at her restraint, but it was no use. The other agents closed in, surrounding her, blocking out any possible escape.

"Any last words, Archon?" one of them sneered, his voice dripping with mockery.

Furina clenched her jaw, her expression steeling as she shot Arlecchino a sharp glare. She could see the faintest glint of sadistic pleasure in Arlecchino's eyes as she reclined, her fingers lazily tapping against the edge of the couch. Every inch of her posture radiated calm enjoyment, as if this were a finely orchestrated play staged for her entertainment.

A shove from behind jolted Furina back to the present as another Fatui agent leaned in close, his breath hot against her ear. "It's a shame, really, that the so-called protector of Fontaine would end up here. Makes you wonder what secrets you've been hiding," he murmured, his words laced with malice.

"Enough talking." Arlecchino's voice sliced through the room, commanding without raising her tone. Her gaze remained on Furina, her expression unreadable but for a faint glint of satisfaction. "Let her speak when she's ready. Until then... make sure she knows what it feels like to be powerless."

At her command, one agent reached forward and roughly seized Furina's shoulders, shaking her hard enough to bruise. Another stepped in, his gloved hands cold as he forced her chin up, the leather biting against her skin. Arlecchino watched it all, expression as cool and impassive as stone, her fingers tapping idly along the couch's edge as if counting down the seconds of Furina's resistance.

Through it all, Furina's gaze remained fierce, her defiance unbroken even as they forced her down. The moment her eyes locked with Arlecchino's across the room, a silent challenge flickered between them. Yet, as the torment continued, Furina felt the weight of every second drag her deeper into despair.

But if she thought she might find any mercy in Arlecchino, the look on her face made it clear: there would be none. Arlecchino watched, her gaze unyielding and cold, with the faintest curve of a smile brushing her lips.

As another Fatui agent drew back his fist, Furina's resolve shattered. The cases she'd held onto so desperately, the secrets she'd vowed to protect—were they worth this? Her pride warred with fear, but survival won out, clawing its way to the surface. She took a shuddering breath, voice quivering, each word laced with a quiet surrender.

"Wait!" she cried, her voice thick with desperation. "I'll tell you!" Her gaze flickered, darting across the room before finally landing on Arlecchino, who lounged on the couch with an air of detached amusement, arms stretched across the back as if this were mere entertainment. Arlecchino's cold, expectant stare made Furina's heart pound in her chest, each beat underscoring the reality of her submission.

She swallowed hard, voice faltering as she continued. "Just... please, no more."

Arlecchino tilted her head slightly, a faint smirk tugging at her lips. Her silence was almost worse than any words—an invitation, coaxing Furina to offer up every detail, every truth she had so fiercely protected. Furina could feel the weight of her gaze, an unspoken demand to go on.

"Well, that wasn't so hard, was it?" Arlecchino's voice was coldly amused, each word carrying a sharp edge. "Untie her and bring in the medic... we wouldn't want our dear Archon rotting away, now, would we?"

The Fatui agents nodded in unison, their expressions hard and unyielding as they moved to untie the ropes binding her wrists and ankles. Their faces remained stern, betraying no hint of sympathy as they loosened the restraints.

Furina's head dropped forward, her shoulders slumping as she let her gaze fall to her lap. Strands of her hair slipped forward, veiling her face as soft, broken sobs escaped her lips, the sounds swallowed by the silence that had once again settled over the room.

Furina was forced to her knees by the Fatui before Arlecchino, who lifted Furina's bruised face with the toe of her heel, a cold smile twisting on her lips as she surveyed the damage. Her gaze was sharp, calculating, as she raised a glass of whiskey to her lips and took a slow, deliberate sip. A low, mocking laugh escaped her.

"Well, now," she drawled, voice as smooth as silk and twice as deadly, "do tell me what you know."

Furina's heart hammered in her chest as fear gripped her, her thoughts racing. She fought to keep her composure, but dread crept in, settling like a weight in her bones. In that moment, she understood with a sinking certainty—no matter the place or time, she would always find herself at the mercy of The Knave.

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HELLO MY LAKE LILLIES<3! I'm so sorry for the late update, school is a bitch rn.. but anyways I hope you enjoyed this chapter! I'll try to get the next chapter out by this week! Love you all<3!

P.S!: if you would like to join a genshin server pls comment on my messages or comments here!

-Furina De Fontaine