"In a few hours. She'll wake up when it fully passes, so she'll most definitely make it obvious when she's awoken."

" why would you do that to him? " She tries to keep her voice at a minimum level, to not show Virus was actually affecting her.

He nodded. "All right. Thank you."


In the shadows of the room, the princes face was ashen, the skin pulled so tight across his bones it had split in places, showing open wounds beneath. His cheeks were hollow, and his eyes, though blank and empty, were bright with unspoken pain.

Virus chuckled, rising from the chair. "Come here, Ash." Ash immediately stepped up beside her, and Virus laid a hand on his chest. "You should congratulate me," Virus continued, regarding the prince like a student with a winning science project. "Ive finally discovered a way to implant my bugs in the fey system without killing them outright, or driving them mad within the first few hours. Instead of rewriting his brain--" she stroked Ashs hair "--I had it take over his cervical nervous system, here." Her fingers dropped to the base of his skull, caressing it. "Youre welcome to try to carve it out, I suppose, but Im afraid that will be quite fatal for him. Only I can order my bugs to willingly release their hosts. You have only one thing I want, and I will take that from you momentarily. No, I find that I prefer my bodyguard as he is, for however long he has left."

She calmly nods and flies away.

She glared at her, clenching her fists tightly.

(Timeskip to when she wakes up?)



Ash gazed straight ahead, not moving a muscle.

"Well." Virus took a step back. "This has grown tiresome. I think its time I took what I want from you, my dear. Ash." She placed a hand on his shoulder. "Kill the princess. Kill them all."

With a flash of blue light, Ash drew his sword and slashed it across the table.

Puck lunged in front of Lise and caught the blade with his own, deflecting it with a screech and a flurry of sparks. Puck grabbed her wrist, dragging her away. "Retreat!" he yelled as the Thornguards leaped across the tables with a roar. Ash jumped gracefully onto the table, his terrible blank gaze fastened on Lise. "Ironhorse, fall back, there are too many of them!"

With a bellow and a blast of flame, Ironhorse reared up, breathing fire and lashing out with his hooves. The guards fell back in shock and Ironhorse charged, knocking several aside and clearing a path to the door. As the huge Iron fey thundered past, Puck shoved Lise toward the exit. "Go!" he shouted, and whirled to block Ashs sword, slicing down at his back.

(Yep)


After a couple of hours, the bag starts moving.

And people begin to notice, and tell the king, who opens the bag

Isiea is perfectly fine, albeit really annoyed. She sits up, blinking rapidly to try to wake herself up.

The fey all watch her, muttering to theirselves