As she found herself bound and unable to speak, Aubrey fumed. She screamed through the paper talismans, but it only came out muffled and garbled. She struggled against her bonds, yanking and pulling, but all that did was cause the seals to bind her wrists and ankles even tighter.

Aubrey leaned against the wall, breathing heavily as she stared at her two captors. Her anger hadn't abated. She still wanted to break Levy's nose.

After a while, Seraphine sat on a chair facing her, while Levy stood just inside the doorway.

Their supposed safehouse wasn't that bad—aside from the whole being tied up and silenced thing. The room they put her in seemed more like a quaint bedroom with a bed, a desk, and a wardrobe. There wasn't anything sharp or pointy for her to use as a weapon, though she suspected there would be if they had put her in a prison cell.

After a few long moments of silence, Seraphine leaned forward in her chair and spoke in a quiet and even tone. "Now, would you like to have a civil conversation? I'll remove the talismans from your mouth, but only if you give me your word you won't do anything unwise."

Aubrey rolled her eyes but gave a curt nod.

Seraphine stood up and walked over to Aubrey, slowly peeling away the seal covering her lips. As she removed the talisman, it stung a bit—like removing a particularly sticky piece of tape off one's skin.

The moment she felt it was gone, Aubrey let out a long sigh, and then launched into a torrent of expletives that had both Seraphine and Levy flinching back.

"YOU! SON OF A FUCK! I should break your goddamn legs! Piece of shit! Shitbag! Bastard! I'm gonna pop your balls into your throat!"

When she finally finished cursing at them both, Aubrey finally turned her attention to Seraphine, who stood quietly while she let her speak her mind. The noblewoman gave a single, exasperated sigh before she responded.

"Are you quite finished?" She glanced at her partner, then back at Aubrey, as if evaluating her potential for further verbal abuse. "Good. Now, then... let me make sure you understand what's at stake here."

Seraphine fixed her with a level look, one hand resting on her hip. "We're giving you the opportunity to prove your good intentions to us by cooperating. I expect that you'll show some common courtesy—even if you do decide to swear like a sailor afterward. Is that understood?"

"Uh, excuse me? You just threatened to kill me! 'Bring her to one of my safehouses...' You made me think that you guys would fucking execute me!" Aubrey mimicked the noblewoman's aristocratic accent before turning to Levy, eyes aflame with contempt. "And you, Mr. 'Oooh look at me! I'm an arch-asshole with my shiny-ass paper-throwing powers'!"

Levy cleared his throat, averting his gaze to look somewhere above her head.

Aubrey blinked. This reaction wasn't the reaction she expected from him, but she wasn't one to take silence as permission to talk. "Well? Cat got your tongue, twerp?"

Levy didn't rise to her bait.

"Tell you what—you get to keep your stupid mouth shut, and I won't lay your ass out." Aubrey gave him her meanest glare. "Deal?"

"Enough." Seraphine raised a hand, motioning for them both to calm down. She sighed once more, sounding exasperated. "Please stop antagonizing him, or you'll provoke him into doing something that he might regret. Levy can be impetuous, but he's usually less inclined to resort to violence."

"Hmph," Aubrey snorted but otherwise fell quiet, simmering in a smoldering cloud of anger.

"Look..." Seraphine's tone softened as she took another seat on the other side of the bed. "I didn't bring you here to hurt you. If we'd wanted you dead, we could have already disposed of you in the alley, without bothering to take you along."

Aubrey winced at the painful reminder, still sore from the rough landing she took. "And by the way... I'm gonna need to borrow some clothes because mine are kinda trashed," she said, looking down at the ripped, ruined outfit she now wore. She craned her neck toward Levy, narrowing her eyes with a pointed look. "Nothing from you, though, Prettyboy. I don't wanna smell like your stupid paper."

Levy snorted.

"I think I have some spare dresses. Give me a moment." Seraphine pulled a wooden chest from underneath the bed. After a quick search, she held up a simple frock—one that looked far too frumpy and drab for someone like her.

Seraphine glanced at the garment and shrugged. "This should be fine. Levy, if you'd please give us some privacy while I help Aubrey into this? Just a few minutes, if you please."

The young man let out an irritable sigh and scowled but walked out of the room.

Once Levy left the room, Seraphine started undressing her. Aubrey did nothing to help, so the noblewoman had to wrestle the garments off her.

Despite how uncomfortable the whole experience left Aubrey feeling, Seraphine remained focused and clinical through the entire process, methodically undoing each of the bindings and peeling away Aubrey's ruined clothes. She wasn't necessarily rough or careless with them, but she wasn't gentle about it either.

Aubrey thought she could do something once her wrists were momentarily unbound, but one warning look from Seraphine stopped that thought dead in its tracks. With no other option, Aubrey held still while the young woman undressed and redressed her like a child.

Seraphine stood back and looked Aubrey over once the final garment was on her. She nodded, satisfied with her handiwork.

The dress did look a bit baggy on her. However, Aubrey still found that the cotton and linen shift with its wool stockings and bodice felt comfortable enough for her. "Not the kinda stuff you would normally wear, is it, Milady?"

Seraphine shot her a wry glance, raising an eyebrow. "I don't always wear the fancy things you've seen me wear. I need to blend in from time to time when my investigations take me elsewhere. Now, would you mind if we asked you a few questions?"

Aubrey shrugged. "Sure."

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Levy returned to the room. His face held a wary expression as he peered around the corner before entering, as though expecting more threats or insults to be flung his way. He then moved to stand next to Seraphine, who stepped aside, and he took a seat on the chair Seraphine vacated.

"You told me your tale earlier, and I briefed Levy on most of the details, so we'd like to clarify a few points."

"Right," Aubrey grunted.

"So, about your relationship with... Julian Blackwell was it? Why did he want to kill you?" Seraphine asked, arms folded. "Care to elaborate?"

"Um." Aubrey fidgeted slightly, before finally answering in a somewhat uncomfortable voice. "I don't know the exact reasons, but I managed to uncover bits and pieces about his involvement with these groups called the Iron Circle and the Luminous Consortium. Someone named Helena Voss urged him to set up a scheme to have me killed."

"Why?"

"Because that person suspected that I was turning into an Unhallowed."

"I don't suppose you have any proof of this?" Levy said, glancing over at his partner. "It's hardly a solid argument for your innocence. At least in my eyes."

Seraphine turned to look at him with a questioning glance, prompting him to elaborate.

"Unhallowed are created through dark rituals by a select few that practice this accursed art—rituals that often use necromantic powers to drain a soul and transform them into creatures of dark magic. One doesn't simply become an Unhallowed by natural means. Those things don't exist."

"Oh yeah?" Aubrey said, unable to hold back an impulsive reply. "Then what about that spectral whale thing you two fought the other time, hmm?"

Seraphine inclined her head, a thoughtful look on her face as she seemed to consider the question. "The Murmuros Leviathan... is an example of an Unhallowed entity that isn't created through dark means, true, but they are rather rare. What Levy implied—that ordinary mortals simply don't become Unhallowed by happenstance—is something I happen to agree with, and it is something I've never encountered in the field either."

Aubrey drew in a deep breath and sighed loudly through her teeth. "Well, that's what they wrote down in the ledgers I took from Blackwell. They killed me to prevent me from becoming one, but I guess they were too incompetent to even do that properly. So, somehow I came back to life with most of my memories in shambles and a burning desire for revenge."

Levy looked unconvinced by her claim, though a hint of curiosity could be seen on his face as he listened intently to every word she said. Seraphine, on the other hand, seemed willing to hear her out.

"Why didn't they just make sure to burn your corpse?" Levy mused out loud. "Any rituals related to the Unhallowed need a proper, intact vessel—preferably fresh, while the soul's lingering within."

"Your guess is as good as mine, to be honest. I interrogated a cemetery keeper shortly after I revived and he told me that someone who had been a big fan of mine paid him to bury my body."

"So a fan of yours was also a conspirator to your murder?" Levy asked.

"Maybe. Doubt it though, since I can't think of a reason why they'd want me buried instead of burned if they were."

"Right, well that does make me somewhat more inclined to believe that you may actually have a story worthy of looking into. However, a list of names, no matter how compelling, isn't going to win over our superiors," Levy said in a grumbling tone.

"What you need... is an eyewitness or hard evidence. Something that can't easily be disproven," Seraphine suggested, pinching her lower lip with her thumb and index finger. "Handing over those ledgers would be a start."

"I didn't bring them with me, though." Aubrey shifted around uncomfortably, adjusting herself to sit upright against the headrest of the bed. "I could get them and show them to you if you'd like, but you guys have to swear on your fucking souls that you won't sell me out."

The two of them exchanged a look with one another, seeming to have a silent conversation using only their facial expressions. After a while, they both turned to Aubrey at the same time, seeming to have come to a silent agreement.

"Not yet. You'll stay contained within our custody until we confirm that you're telling the truth, and I do have an alternative." Seraphine unfolded her arms, looking a bit more relaxed as she laid out her next line of questioning. "Assuming all these things about the Iron Circle and the Luminous Consortium are true—and if it helps your case any further—how exactly do you plan on bringing them all down?"

"Like hell I know! I'm a fucking musician!"

"There's no need to use such language," Levy scolded her, brows furrowing with irritation. "Not if you want us to take your claims seriously."

"Oh yeah, I'm sorry, I forgot that we're supposed to only use flowery, posh language like yours?" Aubrey retorted with a huff. "Alright, I'll spell it out for you assholes! My memories aren't all in the right places, but I can remember bits and pieces about who ordered the hit. I already took care of Julian Blackwell, now I'm after Helena Voss. All I know is that she's hiding somewhere in Thornhaven and that she's affiliated with the Luminous Consortium."

Seraphine exchanged another meaningful glance with Levy, then nodded before turning back to Aubrey. "Aside from your quest for vengeance, have you had the urge to hurt any living things since your revival?"

Aubrey blinked owlishly. "...no? I've only killed those who tried to harm me first. Why, do you think I might snap and go on a murderous rampage?"

"She is an Unhallowed, after all," Levy pointed out to Seraphine.

"Well, that would've happened by now, wouldn't it?" Aubrey shot back.

"Are you sure of that?" Seraphine countered, eyeing her suspiciously. "You understand why we can't simply take your word for it. I know you've experienced things that defy the natural order, and while there is much about the Unhallowed that we do not know, it stands to reason that you have undergone some kind of transformation."

"So, now what then? You got me locked in here until I go apeshit?" Aubrey frowned deeply. "For the record, if you do find a reason to lock me away in a dungeon somewhere, make it comfortable."

Seraphine hummed, then got up from her seat and began to pace around the room. She looked as though she was thinking carefully about something important before answering Aubrey's question.

"I plan to keep you here while Levy and I investigate your story. I hope you understand that I have my own doubts about whether or not I can fully trust you—especially with the information you provided. However, I believe I can trust my instincts that tell me there is something about you that's worth keeping alive for the time being."

"How generous of you, Milady," Aubrey remarked dryly.

"If everything checks out, then we'll begin looking into those two organizations: the Iron Circle and the Luminous Consortium, see if we can't root out the corruption within. As for you, Aubrey, your next move will determine whether or not our next interaction will be with steel in hand, or an offering of friendship."

Levy crossed his arms over his chest, giving Seraphine an incredulous look. "You really believe her, Seraphine?"

Seraphine shrugged, looking nonplussed by Levy's accusatory tone. "Belief? I'll let the truth of the matter be revealed, either way."

She stepped towards Aubrey, staring down at her with a solemn expression. "This place... is not a prison, it's just somewhere where you can stay if you don't intend to harm anyone in the city. Until such a time when our investigation is concluded, and if all goes well, you'll be able to roam freely again as long as you promise not to cause trouble."

Aubrey gave a sigh. "What am I supposed to do while waiting?"

"Sit still and quiet, and don't do anything foolish like trying to escape," Levy answered, scowling down at her.

"Oh, sure." Aubrey rolled her eyes. "I'll just stay in here doing nothing but sit and stare at the walls all day while you two investigate, no problem!"

Seraphine raised an eyebrow at her and smiled slyly. "You said you're a musician, correct? Well, then you shouldn't find any shortage of inspiration here."

With that, Seraphine motioned for Levy to follow her as she walked towards the door, opening it wide to lead the two of them out.

Aubrey watched them go, then let out another loud sigh through her teeth, resigned to her fate for the time being. "...whatever."

Her plan to get them to investigate for her had succeeded, but for now, it would do little good to push it. So, Aubrey simply flopped back against the pillows of her bed, feeling numb and bored all at once.