I once believed in hope and light of a new tomorrow. That however bad things gets, you had some brighter future in store for you. Now I know better. There is only the darkness, the light gets consumed as those dreams they are, and even in death, you will find no peace.

Thoughts from Jim Cook.

Demon hybrid and pet in Titan's kingdom.

Normal P.o.v.

Dark mist covered the muddy ground and made the creepy dark world even more creepy. A shadow rushed through the woods. Using the nearest shadow, it neared itself at a clearing. It was a cat like creature with fluffy blue fur and sharp cat like ears. With quick moments, the cat snuck itself out on the clearing. It made sure it wasn't followed, but then again who would follow a weird cat like creature. The cat sniffed a little, and roamed around the grass on the clearing. It was like it was looking for something. It took a deep breath of air and reached near a little hill. Magic powers! The scent of magic powers were emitting in the air here, and the cat sniffed a little again. Then it turned towards the clues on the muddy. grassy ground. A set of tire tracks was shown there. The cat tilted it's head in confusion. Footprints was shown in the earth as well, and the cat concluded that a battle had taken place here. Sadly it didn't know what kind of battle, or who won. The only thing it knew for sure was that the ones battling, was surely gone. With a loud sigh, the cat snuck back into the forest. It needed to tell them, what it had found out. It rushed, but still carefully, through the terrain. back to where it came from. Back to its master.

After some time it arrived in a little cave. The rocky walls were rather moist and damp, but it was still better than anything. A little camp fire was burning in the middle of it, and gave warm to the 4 people in here. A short black haired male was lying weakly at the campfire, while a blue haired and black haired male took care of him. A silver haired male, who was on guard duty, looked up when the blue cat entered. The little creature bowed down in front of the silver haired male. It was his Master. His master and friend. It really couldn't see different people as it's master.

"You searched the place?" the male questioned. The cat nodded eagerly. The male frowned a little. "Then what did you see?". The cat got up from the ground, and neared its master. Then it whispered him slowly in the ear. The cat could speak, but it preferred not to. Only it's master was allowed to hear it's beautiful voice. It had decided that long ago. It's master slowly frowned by that.

"You don't say mimic cat" his master then said "No one was there, but you could feel magic powers and there were tire tracks in the ground. You sure?". The cat nodded eagerly. The other two males beside it's master looked over at them.

"What is it Pegasus? Is that good or bad news?" The blue haired questioned. It's master, Pegasus sighed.

"I believe it is bad news Syrus" he then said and scratched the cat beside the ears "Yugi boy and the others, I believe the hunters have them. After all if they are not at the battle field, then why wouldn't they return to us?". The cat meowed a little in agreement. It's master was surely right. Syrus nodded slowly.

"What do we do then?" the black haired male, known as Mokuba said "If the hunters have them, then they are surely at the nearest penitentiary. We can't just sneak in there. Not unless we want to be prisoners as well".

The cat looked up at its master. Pegasus really did look rather worried, and Mimic cat didn't like that. It loved when it's master laughed. Normally he did that by seeing funny cartoons. Things that gave mimic cat and the other toon monsters, life in the first place. However now, Mimic cat hadn't seen his master laugh for so long. He was always so serious. It hurt the little cat a little. It knew his other toon monster friends felt the same way. One of the many reasons they carried out Pegasus's will, whatever it was. If those things they were doing could make him laugh again, then they didn't care what they were doing.

"Then.." coughed a voice suddenly and Axel slowly got up from the ground "Then we go back to the resistance. We need help!". The others looked stunned at him.

"Help?" Syrus questioned in a confused tone "Yeah of course we do that, but back to the resistance headquarter? What can they do? We ran away from the headquarter. It is not like they will just forgive us, and help us out".

"Not to mention that you are not fit to travel yet" Mokuba then added "You just got poisoned Axel. I am amazed you can even move at all". Axel groaned a little.

"I have always been tough" Axel just replied "And I don't care if Kaiba won't forgive us. He still have to help. Unless he wants Tara to end up in Camula's clutches". Axel coughed a little again. Syrus sighed deeply and nodded.

"You would go after Tara regards where she ends up at right?" He then questioned.

"Yes, if Camula gets her, then I will march up to the castle, and declare to become Tara's servant" Axel said firmly and clenched his fists. "But I hope that I would save them all in the penitentiary before that. If we move quickly, we might manage to get to them, before the rulers gets their hands on them". Pegasus hummed a little.

"And how are you able to get to the resistance?" he then questioned "After what I heard, Kaiba boy moves the headquarter frequently". Axel snort and was holding up a ring. A common golden ring who didn't look that special.

"Her father entrusted Tara and I will these rings" he then said "They can bring us to the resistance in an instance. I got one because I am her bodyguard. It was in case Tara couldn't activate her ring. I believe it is the case now".

"Oh how fair is that" Syrus then sneered "I didn't get a ring".

"I see, Kaiba boy is really so protective over his little daughter" Pegasus commented.

Axel made them all stand around him with a hand placed on his back or shoulder. Then Axel touched the ring and tossed it up in the air. The ring glowed a little and soon they all disappeared from the cave.

Tara's p.o.v.

Around the same time.

"Tara! Tara! Wake up!". Tara groaned slightly. Everything around her felt dizzy.

She groaned a little again and slowly opened her eyes. Blue eyes met her own and Tara had to blink a couple of times, before she could actually see who was standing in front of her. Aster smiled a relieved smile.

"Oh good you are not too much out of it" he then replied "I were worried Viper had done something to you". A snort followed a little away.

"Oh yeah sure, like they would hurt the pretty princess over there". Tara recognized it as Freya's voice, but her sight hadn't gotten used the darkness around them yet.

"Where.. where are we?" She then whispered weakly and tried moving her hands.

She soon realized that she couldn't. Aster sighed deeply and let go of Tara's shoulders. He got up, and Tara noticed shackles on his hands and feet's. It was put together with a long chain who was surely chained somewhere else.

"The penitentiary" he then said slowly and got interrupted by Atticus's voice.

"Yeah we are sort of all hanging out" he then said.

Tara noticed him sitting on the ground close to her right side. His hands was hanging above his head by iron chains, but unlike Aster, he couldn't move around at all. A few chains were around his chest as well. Tara soon realized that she was chained in the same way. She was rather horrified. She quickly looked around, to figure out what was going on here. She found Ember and Ace in the same condition to her left side. Tara noticed that Ember was crying silently. She also found Dimitri and Freya a little away from them. Like Aster, they could both move around more freely, in the cell they apparently was in.

"The penitentiary? But how? Why? What happened?" Tara then questioned in a scared tone. Her head hurt so much. She wondered if she was knocked out.

"I figured you could tell us that" Aster then said "We were about to win over Trapper and his intern, when this new hunter Viper had shown with you, Shepard and that Maiyo girl tied up by snakes". Freya snort coldly.

"Yeah and because of you, The king of games and the others surrendered" she then sneered "I managed to ran away, but then I ran into the police force and ended up here anyway. This penitentiary is somewhere in Europe".

Then she snort again. Tara looked really pale now. Yugi and the others had surrendered?! Then Tara remembered. Her battle with Viper and his snakes. They had fought pretty well at first. That until Viper revealed that he wanted them to kill his snakes, so he could summon his king and Queen. Tara didn't remember much after that, but she figured she was knocked out. She sighed deeply.

"I am sorry you guys" she apologized "I was rather foolish and..".

"Hey don't blame yourself" Dimitri then said and smiled "Sooner or later one of us would be captured. I just didn't think it was so many of us".

"Oh yeah true" Freya then said "It was your stupid plan to begin with..".

"Why aren't you three tied up as the rest of us?" Tara quickly interrupted. She didn't want them to argue among themselves now. At that Atticus actually smiled.

"Like I said we hang out" he then replied in his dry humor, but then got serious. "Aster and the others are not as so important than us apparently. We are considered given alive remember".

Tara nodded slightly. She remembered. Camula wanted her. Banner wanted Ace, and rumor has it Kagemaru wanted Atticus himself. Tara figured it was because he had been a former shadow rider. And Jesse and Ember.. Tara then noticed that Jesse was not in here. She wondered if he was in another cell. Then a scream filled the air. Tara's eyes widened in horror.

"Jesse!" Ember then yelled and tears ran down her cheeks "They are still at it".

"That, that fiend!" Atticus sneered "What has Jesse ever done to him?".

"Wait, that's Jesse?" Tara then questioned "It sounds like..".

"Torture" Freya said in a cold tone "Trapper really does like to beat him up".

"But why?" Tara questioned. The others shrugged.

"Who knows? Maybe Trapper just like hurting him" Dimitri then said and sneered "After all none of us had any turn. Of course we are also important cargo, but so is Jesse. I guess they are just gonna lie and say he was pretty hard to deal with".

"Gay, sadistic jerk" Ember then said and sneered "Clearly he likes Jesse, but can't have him, because we are cargo to the demon kingdom. So he.. he has his joy of beating Jesse, before that. I wish we were at the demon kingdom already, then Jesse.. Jesse wouldn't get hurt". Then Ember began crying.

"Hey, hey, you give us Gay's a bad name Trapper!" Atticus then yelled and looked at the bars who made up the cell. Of course Trapper didn't reply him on that.

"Ember, you can't think like that" Ace then said and tried comforting her "You have to be strong for Jesse. We will all surely be free soon".

"Oh how can you know that?" Freya then sneered "What hope do we have in this technological fortress called 'the penitentiary'".

"We will see" Ace just snort.

Voices and footsteps could be heard. Before the others could do or say anything, the door to their cell got open and a beat up Jesse got tossed in here. He was shirtless, and scorching, bloody marks was shown on his back. His arms had weird blue marks, and his face was puffed and had a black eye.

"Oh, and stay there" Trapper then said and smirked evilly. He tossed Jesse his shirt. He ignored the others completely "That until we are gonna have some fun again". Then he left. Jesse groaned a little. He was lying on the filthy cell floor now.

"Jesse, are you okay?" Aster then questioned and him and Dimitri quickly approached him. Tara found that question irrelevant. It was clearly shown Jesse was not okay. Jesse groaned again, but nodded weakly.

"I.. I am okay" he then whispered "I just need.. a second I..". Jesse tried getting up and then he tried getting his shirt on, but Tara could hear him hiss in pain.

"You are clearly not okay" Dimitri said and helped him in it "He broke your hands didn't he? They are black and blue". Tears were shown down Jesse's cheeks now.

"He didn't want me to be able to escape" he then whispered "He saw the shackles as a bother.. that man is sick!". The others agreed pretty much on that. Ember was tearing up, trying to cheer her Jesse up, even though she couldn't move.

"But I don't understand" Tara then asked "Where is uncle and the others?".

"We don't know" Aster then said and sighed "My guess is that they are in another prison cell in here. They are having high bounties after all".

"I know" Jesse then said slowly and looked at the bars to the cell "I heard Trapper and Viper talk about it, just before.. Well I think it is too late to save them now. I heard Yugi and the gang will be sent off to Kagemaru's kingdom right around now!".

Kagemaru's P.o.v.

Time skip.

Kagemaru sighed deeply while sitting on his throne in the throne room, while listening to the boring reports of his secretary and in some way adviser Howard 'X' miller. He was more a secretary that adviser. After all the great Kagemaru didn't need any to tell him what to do, but Mr. X was the one who kept track of all the sentences and rules in the kingdom for him. A job the former lawyer enjoyed doing with a lot of pleasure. Especially around sentencing someone. However right now Kagemaru was rather bored. Listening to all those things he was supposed to be doing during the day. It bored him endlessly. Only a few things on his schedule were appealing to him right now. One of those fancy parties, he and the nobles was attending this evening, and attend to Chazz's punishment. Kagemaru sighed deeply. Nothing else on that list as appealing. He even preferred to go for a stroll, that sitting here. Everything was better than sitting here, and listened to how there has disappeared food in storage facilities. Or how people couldn't pay their taxes.

"Enough, I am bored!" Kagemaru then said and snort "I don't want to get bothered with every detail right now".

Mr. X looked surprised up at him. He was dressed in his usual black suit, and was carrying a fancy technological blackboard of some kind. Messages applied automatically, and was of course something Banner and his crew had invented. Kagemaru got up from the throne.

"But your majesty" X said slowly. Fear was shown in his voice of course. "We do..".

"Get one from the police force to help you with taxes and stealing" Kagemaru replied with a cold tone "I don't care". Then he began leaving. X looked perplex at him.

"But sir, then what about the other things, like the party?" X then uttered out. "You haven't picked a partner yet. Or are you attending alone this time?".

At that Kagemaru actually stopped up. He hadn't thought about that. Normally he always attended together with someone else. Mostly to have someone to do his every wink, without bothering the other nobles. A servant of some kind. All the other nobles had one of two present. However he was lord Kagemaru. He was not attending with just anybody. He had status and pride of course. Mostly at those events Chazz had been attending with him. Chazz or Adrian. It was a common face who was known in the noble community. However they both were out of commission. Adrian being out of it at the infirmary. Who knew who woke up after Hamon played with him, and Chazz was stuck in the dungeon. Kagemaru could take Chazz with him however, but that also meant he was freed for any punishments, since he couldn't quite bring Chazz with him all bloody and beat us. Kagemaru shook his head. No Chazz's sentence was not gonna let up at all. His little executor had disobeyed him. There were always a price. He would have to have someone else with him.

"I will figure it" Kagemaru then said "If you don't have anything else important, then I will be leaving". X sighed deeply and nodded. That until his blackboard beeped suddenly. The male looked quickly at the board, and his eyes widened.

"No, no my lord" X then said quickly and pushed surprisingly Kagemaru in the chest. "You can't leave yet. This is important. Really important. Please believe me".

"Oh really now" Kagemaru then said and glared coldly at him "What can be so important, that you have to push me in the chest. Do you have a death wish?!".

"No, no my lord" X then said in a surprisingly excited tone "But there is a.. gift. Yes a gift for you. Something who would surely please you. So please my lord sit down and enjoy yourself in some minutes".

Then without warning X rushed out of the throne room. Kagemaru looked after him with an annoyed look. This really must be something since X was so disrespectful towards him. Kagemaru hummed a little and sat down on the throne. This better had to be worth it or he might need a new secretary.

A minute or two went without anything happening. Kagemaru wondered if X was trying to run away from him instead, but then he heard voices.

"Hey, is that how you treat the third best duelist in the world snake breath" someone then yelled "Get those chains off me and let's settle this like a man!".

"Joey are you insane?" a female voice then yelled "Are you trying to make them kill us? We are in the lion's nest for goodness sake".

"Insane?" the male voice then yelled up "I am not insane. This whole kingdom is insane! Banning dueling. Making the world dark. Make my daughter live with fear and on the run all the time. Well I don't want to stand for this any longer".

Kagemaru's eyes widened. Joey, as in that Joey? Don't tell me.. The door to the throne room got open and 5 people got tossed in here with great might. Soon Viper and X got in here as well. Viper looked more annoyed than ever, but Kagemaru really didn't care. He couldn't believe what he was seeing, but at the same time it pleased him quite a bit. It was like a giant Christmas present. After all who could believe the most wanted duelists in the world, was now lying for his feet's. Kagemaru eyed them a little. Yugi, the king of games was there. Mai Valentine and Joey wheeler was here too, along with Chancellor Sheppard. He did notice Mai hugging a kid girl however. Around Chazz and Adrian's age, but that was not so important compared to the rest.

"What was that for snake breath?" Joey then yelled angrily and looked at Viper. "You could have hurt my wife and daughter. What am I saying you Are hurting them your slime ball, your idiot..".

And a lot of other cursing words were coming from his mouth as well. Kagemaru rolled his eyes. Someone hadn't realized where they were as of yet. They soon would however. He let out an intimidating aura from the sacred beasts. That quickly silenced the room. Viper and X had even kneeled quickly down with their heads at the ground. Yugi and the gang however, did manage to turn around and stare at him with a horrified expression. Kagemaru liked that.

"You.. " Yugi then said in a firm voice "Kagemaru". The lord smirked evilly.

"Oh what a pleasant surprise" he then said in a cold tone and let off some of his powers just for a tiny bit "Yugi Muto, the king of games himself, and his companions. I didn't know I was expecting guests today".

"We are not your guests" Joey sneered "Prisoner is more likely. That unless you want to remove those chains from us". Kagemaru smirked a little.

"No I don't think I will. You look much better tied up" he then commented and turned towards Viper and X who was slowly getting up on their feet's.

"I must say I am impressed Viper. You actually manage to capture the most wanted in the world" he then said "You and Trapper that is". Viper bowed lightly.

"I am happy you are pleased my lord, however that is not all we managed" he then said "We manage to capture Tara Yuki and most of her company. All of them you wanted back alive, are captured in the penitentiary. With a few extras. We just figured you wanted them here first considered their bounty". Kagemaru chuckled.

"And the money they provide" he then replied "Fine you and Trapper will get your reward. You can talk with X about the bounties. However I recommend you go and get something to eat before that. you deserve it". Viper bowed respectfully.

"Thank you my lord" he then said "But I figured you should know this. They all have their decks on them. I figured you wanted to absorb the cards yourself".

Kagemaru nodded. A cold smile. Then he made Viper hand him the chains, who was controlled by a special remote over to him. The hunter left the room seconds later. Joey of course tried to escape right away, but Kagemaru just needed to hold the chain they were tied up by at a firm grip. They were not going anywhere.

"So X what shall we do with our fine guests?" he asked the sectary.

"Hmm we could execute them in public matter. That would make people lose hope pretty quickly my lord" X suggested and shrugged "Although our usual executer is not available". Kagemaru snort coldly at that.

"Chazz is not needed for that. One of the guards can do that" he then replied and looked at the prisoners "But yes, some of them need to be killed. They are too dangerous to be left alive. Like Sheppard here. Too many information on my beloved sacred beasts".

He had stopped up at the old chancellor, who was sending him cold glares back. Kagemaru ignored it. He walked down the line up once again.

"But I think I will keep this one alive. He intrigues me" he then said.

"You want to keep me alive?" Yugi hissed angrily at him "For what stupid reason?".

"You are the king of games Yugi Muto" the lord then said and smirked "I mean what better trophy is there? You bending to my will, doing what I ask. Just like my other henchmen. Doesn't that sound epic?". Yugi snort coldly and spit him in his face.

"You are really insane. I will never bend to your will" Yugi sneered "Just kill me off like you are doing with my friends". Kagemaru smirked and grabbed his chin.

"Do you like parties Yugi Muto? I believe we two will attend to one soon. In this evening" he then said and could see Yugi's confused eyes look at him.

"But my lord, with all due respect" X then said slowly and made a respectfully bow "But he has no training at all. He doesn't know the rules, and surely he is defiant. He will surely try to make a fool out of you at the nobles party". Kagemaru chuckled.

"True. I could see him do that" the lord then commented and rubbed his cheek where the spit had hit "But I believe he would behave that evening". Yugi snort coldly.

"If you believe I will do a thing you say, you can forget it" he then sneered "Nothing can make me change that". At that Kagemaru hummed a little. He let go of Yugi and walked back to Joey and Mai in the lineup. He then easily pulled out Maiyo from her parents grip, and ignored their yelling protects.

"Oh so you refuse to listen to me Yugi Muto" Kagemaru then said and shrugged "Nothing will make you change that? Well that is a pity. After all this lady is rather young and pretty. It really would be a shame to kill her off now" Kagemaru then said in a nonchalant tone. Power rose around him. "But if you insist. Uria kill her".

A shadow began emerging beside him now. He could see X horrified expression. He knew what would happen. Kagemaru felt rather grateful the throne room was spacy enough to actually hold a dragon in here. Soon Uria appeared, and it roared lowly and light lit up from the 5 prisoners now. Uria was absorbing the decks Yugi and his crew was having on them. Uria of course carried his master's order out. He quickly grabbed the scared Maiyo, who was petrified with fear now. She did however let out a scream when Uria grabbed around her ankle with its tail. Kagemaru could hear her parents yell her name, but the lord ignored their cries. He had only eyes for Yugi Muto. The king of games looked rather pale right now.

"This is your terms now Yugi Muto" Kagemaru then said in a firm voice and made the male look at him "You will behave and obey my orders, and I will not kill this lady here. Present your finest manners at the party this evening even, and your little friends over there, will have their execution prolonged by a week. You might even get lucky and your resistance members friends is able to come to their rescue before then. Not that it will happen of course, but you will get a shot at it".

"Your creep! That is blackmailing!" Joey yelled and looked from Maiyo to Kagemaru to Yugi. Anger was clearly shown in his face now. "Yug don't listen to him. He is.. he is bluffing. We will be fine. Don't go in on his terms".

"No he isn't!" Yugi then replied with a sigh "He wouldn't hesitate in killing anyone. His eyes proves it". He sighed again. He had a pained expression on his face.

"Fine Kagemaru, we.. we got a deal" he then said and Kagemaru could see the horrified expression on the others face. "Just promise you wouldn't hurt any of them. Not as long as I behave". Kagemaru smirked evilly.

"Fine, but I will still kill the others in a week. Everyone beside the young lady of course" he then replied and made Uria let go of her. Then he turned to X. "Notify the people at the party that I will bring two people with me. Find someone to fill the second space, who knows the rule. Then bring someone who can bring these in the dungeon. Beside that little trophy of course. Find a maid for him instead. Then continue with your other chores".

X bowed respectfully and left quickly the room. Kagemaru then sat down on the throne again, while looking at the prisoners. They had all went silent for some reason. The lord really didn't care there. This was a really good day today. At least in his eyes.

Jim's p.o.v.

Time skip.

Jim hated his life. He really hated his it. He had grown up to be a decent male. A boy who wanted to become an archeologist when he grew up. So why did his life turn out the way it did? Why did he turn into a demon hybrid and become an evil Satanist's favorite pet? Jim sighed deeply inside. He actually didn't want to know those answers. If he asked 'his master' about it, he would surely don't like the answer. However a part of Jim didn't regret anyway. He and Hassleberry had prevented a horde of demons to get to Tara and the others. That their lives had turned out like this afterwards, well that was just the drawback. Although sometimes, but only a little bit, he wished he hadn't saved them. He really hated his life here. Right now he was at the worst place he ever felt being at. Sitting on the floor, with his back leaning at the sides of Titan's throne, and his 'Master' petting him like he really was a real pet. Jim didn't question that Titan truly did think that of him. He was after all in demon form now, so he truly did look like some hideous animal. Green scaled skin, with bone fossils on. Added with a long tail, and a bone skull on his head that hid his face. Beside his yellow reptile eyes, who lit out from the eye holes in the skull. Jim was just grateful Hassleberry was not here to see him reduced to this. It was embarrassing and way under his dignity. However he knew if he complained about this, it would end up being ten times worse for him. That and he would surely never see his human form ever again. His true form, he reminded himself. The real Jim Cook.

"What's wrong brat?" He could hear Titan say and chuckled "You seem tense".

Jim sneered angry inside. And who's fault is that?! Jim really wished 'his master' would disappear or something. Never to be seen again. Instead he said.

"Well I am sorry about that Master". He could hear Titan chuckle again.

At least he was in a good mood today. He could feel Titan's hand pat his head now. Jim was grateful that the fossil bones, blocked much of that touch away now.

"You really do hate me that much brat?" Titan then asked in amused but cold tone.

"Yes" Jim replied without hesitation.

That earned him a hard slap at his cheek. Jim really didn't care there. He would have received a slap whatever answer he gave away. If he had replied with 'no', he was slapped for lying, so he figured he could just tell the truth. It made him feel a tiny bit better. Titan loved hurting him anyway.

"You lousy little brat" Titan sneered and Jim could feel sharp nails cut into the bones on his body.

He didn't say anything, but it hurt a lot. However this just concluded Jim's theory around, that his Master wasn't truly human. No human nails could make so much damage on fossils bones. This fitted well however, because Titan was a monster, just like the demons that served him.

"You should be grateful. Grateful I am keeping you alive" He could hear Titan sneer "I could kill you this instance brat!".

Jim didn't say anything at first. He wasn't even worried. He had gotten that death treat before. Not that Titan couldn't hurt him in many painful ways, but kill him? No that was not something he would do. Then he would lose his little pet after all. Not that Jim hadn't wished he would though.

"You belong to me brat" Titan then sneered. His voice didn't sound like he was furiously angry though "I'm your master, and you belong to me. That collar is a symbol of that".

Jim sighed inside. He knew that already. The collar with the green crystal in it. These crystals that made him and Hassleberry shapeshift. The collar that they couldn't ever remove. The collar that showed they were Titan's henchmen. A collar that made it impossible for them to escape him. Wherever they went. His master had even bragged, that it only could get removed by a demon or himself, and Jim knew none of the demons would help them here with that. They were too scared of Titan to go against his order. Jim could feel his master's grip tighten at his head.

"I belong to you Master" Jim then said in a monotone voice. He had said all this before, but he still hated it. "I am your obedient demon servant and pet forever and ever". Titan chuckled at that and removed his hand away from his head.

"Good stupid brat. That wasn't so hard was it?" Titan then said.

Jim didn't replied. He knew that was rhetorical question. His master was about to say something else, when the door to the throne room flew open. Gren, his adviser in some way rushed in here. He looked like he had been running quick a deal. He bowed deeply to Titan.

"Master, there is news from the Lord Kagemaru" Gren then said quickly "He wishes to have a conversation with all of you. All of the rulers at the mirrors right now". Jim and Titan actually both frowned at the same time, but for different reasons. Titan because of curiosity, and Jim because nothing good could happen right now.

"You don't say" Titan said and snort "Well then get out! I have a meeting to discuss". Gren nodded and bowed respectfully before he left the room. Jim sighed deeply inside. A meeting mostly meant he could leave for today. He got slowly up.

"Where are you going brat?" he could then hear his master say in a cold tone. A tone that made Jim freeze. This was his usual angry tone. That meant only one thing.. A boot hit his back pretty hard and Jim got slammed to the ground. Pain.

"Did I tell you to leave brat?" Titan then sneered and soon several kicks followed. "You are not gonna leave me for the rest of the day. So stay put and silent. Just like that good little pet you are. One sound under the meeting and you are death".

"As.. as you wish" Jim then groaned slightly and added quickly "Master".

He could feel his master remove that boot of his. Jim took a stolen look up at his master, when he summoned those 4 mirrors that connected his with the other rulers. They were floating in front of Titan now, but if Jim turned his head in the right position, he could watch up at the mirrors as well. He didn't try to sit up or anything else. He was after all a pet, and pets didn't listen to meetings after all. So instead he rolled up in a ball instead and closed his eyes. He was pretending to be sleeping. If he did that the rulers wouldn't be bothered by him, and Jim could listen to the conversation without worry. After all every information could be valuable. He just hoped thatnothing terrible bad had happened. 

And of course, Jim couldn't be more wrong. After the usual greeting to each other, Camula and Tania was of course not fond of each other, Kagemaru started the meeting with telling them about an interesting catch he had done. Jim couldn't believe what he was hearing. The most legendary duelists was captured? How? When? And it didn't get better, when he also mentioned the capture of several resistance members. It had hard for Jim to keep his mouth shut after hearing that Tara Yuki and her friends were captured.

"Oh how delightful" he could hear Camula say, and the vampire mistress then chuckled darkly "Does that mean I can add her to the pack soon?".

"You can go pick her up whenever you like" Kagemaru then said and Jim was sure he was smirking "As long as you change her pretty quickly. You know what people see her as. That symbol of hope". Jim could hear Banner chuckle.

"More like a lost hope in my eyes my lord. Like the resistance can do much" he then said "They couldn't do much to us seven years ago. They can't do much now either".

"Only a fool is overconfident" Tania then replied with a sneer "There is a reason it has survived 7 years of hiding". Titan chuckled darkly at that.

"So true, they are hiding like those rats they are" he then said "But does that mean that those runaways have been captured as well? Jesse and Ember?". At that Jim tensed a lot. He had crossed fingers, and was wishing that they weren't captured.

"Yes, X states they are in the penitentiary as well. Along with a certain Ace Banner" Kagemaru said in a cold tone "And I advise you two to keep them under better surveillance this time. It is a disgrace that they had gotten so far in the first place".

Jim could hear Titan and Banner mumble something. Jim couldn't keep himself from smiling a little. It pleased him quite a bit that his master got scolded. Even though that meant the rulers soon would be in possession of their precious individuals. Jim got very nauseous with the thought of Jesse and Ember was back here.

"Mistress, if I may, can I go to collect the newest member of the pack then" a new voice then added the conversation "I mean the quicker, we get her to the pack the better right?".

Jim hissed inside. That voice! It was Camula's right handed man Zane Truesdale. If he was the one picking Tara up from the penitentiary, then she didn't stand a chance of escaping. He could hear Camula chuckle a little.

"Yes darling I will be delighted if you did" she then replied "But before you go, I advise you to go visit your moody brother a little. Jaden is down again. Just don't tell him about his sister just yet. I want it to be a lovely surprise for him".

"As you wish mistress" Zane replied, and Jim was sure he left the place now.

"You and your moody vampire" Tania then snort "If he is such a big problem for you, why aren't you killing him off then". A loud hiss could be heard now.

"Oh since when does a parent kill off their own children Tania?" Camula then sneered out "Do You kill any of your problematic amazons? Hmm".

"What I do is none of your business" Tania replied with a sneer.

"Now, now ladies" Banner said with a sweet voice "Please don't fight among our..".

"Huff, I am not staying here any minute longer" Camula sneered "Unless you have anything important to discuss I will be going. She offended my pack". Soon the sound of Camula's voice disappeared completely, so Jim figured she had left.

"My, my" Banner said and sighed "Such temper. Why did you have to offend her Tania?". At that the amazon snort in annoying's.

"Oh you know why. Her control over that moody vampire is lacking. She really didn't raise him very well" she then replied. At that Banner chuckled.

"Oh I believe something similar happened in your kingdom some years ago" the scientist then said and grinned again "Something about an amazon who broke one of your golden rules hmm". At that Tania snort coldly. Jim wondered what they were talking about though.

"Let's just get to business" the amazon woman then said "Are there any females in that penitentiary. If not I will take my leave". Kagemaru hummed a little.

"Besides the usual tributes, the hunters has two males and one female" Kagemaru then replied "If none of you want them, I will let them go to the slave tribes. The Male Aster phoenix, the copy duelist Dimitri and the girl Freya Lockhart".

"Wait Freya?!" Tania then uttered "Let her stay there for a bit. I need to check something. Hey, hey Alexis get over here. We need to talk!". Then Jim was sure Tania left the meeting as well. He could hear Banner sigh again.

"Women's. Nothing but difficulties" he then replied "But I will leave as well. I will sent someone to fetch up Ace at the penitentiary though". Then he disappeared as well, and soon did the lord.

Jim gasped a little. He didn't realize he had been holding his breath. He had apparently been so surprised that he had been holding his breath.

"Well that was gladly good news" Titan then said and chuckled. Jim was not sure he would see it as good news though. He got slowly up from the floor though.

"Master, can I.. can I go collect Jesse and Ember in the penitentiary?" he then asked slowly. Jim knew this was a big risk, but he at least had to try.

"You?!" Titan then said and laughed a cold laughter. He made a gesture for Jim to get closer, which he did. His master of course grabbed him in that collar of his. "Don't make me laugh. You just failed in obtaining them in the first place brat. You are the reason, all this happens in the first place". Then he tossed Jim to the ground.

"I know master, but maybe I can redeem myself by going" he then tried.

However Jim had truly no intention of fulfilling that mission. He just wanted to save his former friends. At that Titan hummed a little.

"If you go, and screw this up brat, I will kill that precious partner of yours" he then replied "You still wanna go brat?".

At that Jim froze completely. No, not Hassleberry! I.. I can't.. He could feel Titan having a tight grip in that collar again, and he got lifted up so he was eye to eye with him. Jim sighed inside in defeat. That apparently was something shown in his eyes, because Titan smirked evilly at him.

"Thought so brat. You really are predictable you know. You value your friends so much. However since you apparently do, I will honor your little wish" Titan then said and sent Jim a cold, cold smile "If those two children survive the experiment, you will soon have two new demon friends to play with. Now sit!".

Horror hit Jim at that statement. He couldn't believe that really was his master's plan with Jesse and Ember. However Jim didn't hesitate much. His Master had let go of him once again, and he was soon sitting at that hateful spot beside Titan. He just wished with his whole heart than Jesse and Ember escaped the penitentiary, before whoever Titan sent to collect them, arrived.

A,N: Oh so sorry for late updates my friends. I had a lot of stuff and other stories to do, so I ended pushing this in the background all the time. However hope you still find this chapter good and maybe a little dark. I will try to update this more regularly. The next chapter, is of course with the Penitentiary, and the others. You will get a little more on the resistance headquarter and more about Ace. There is a reason Banner wants her back after all. The ones shining in this, is mostly Axel actually. So hope you find that interesting.