The Midnight Train Crossing

He had ignored her summons for as long as he could, fighting against the pounding in his head until finally, Beryl brought him forcefully before her.

Zoicite stood there silently, waiting to be addressed.

"Zoicite," the red-haired queen did not look pleased, "Why did you not respond to my summons?"

The white-haired king simply raised his hands, "I don’t know." He wasn’t going to give her any information that she could use.

"Where is that man?" she demanded, "Jadiete saw his mind-flight form in your room."

He glanced sideways at Jadiete. So that was how she knew. It seemed that Beryl’s hold over the youngest of their group was the strongest. Jadiete always told her everything...
Zoicite returned his expressionless gaze to Beryl.

"Where did he disappear to?" she asked.

He said nothing, his face blank.

Beryl extended a hand angrily, "Answer me!"

Zoicite barely had time to react, reflexively ducking behind his cape as he was engulfed in the dark energy beam. Pain shot through him, bringing him down to one knee. For a long moment he crouched there, catching his breath.

"Zoicite!" Jadiete spoke up, "It would be better to answer."

He tossed his cape back and struggled to his feet. Being on the ground was too much like kneeling before her. "I have no answer," he said, staring at Beryl defiantly, "I do not know."

"Does this refresh your memory?" Beryl shot more power through him.

By force of will, Zoicite stayed on his feet this time, "I don’t know."

That was not what Beryl wanted to hear. "Did he go to that princess?" She didn’t even wait for an answer, blasting him again.

She was afraid. She held him bound to her with a curse - if she shortened his leash he would have no choice but to do as she commanded - and yet she was afraid. As he realized this, Zoicite couldn’t help but laugh.

Beryl’s eyes narrowed dangerously at Zoicite’s laugh.

"I don’t know," he said again, almost mockingly.

"Are you trying to anger me?" she demanded, "Why do you think I allowed you the freedom you had?" The words were barely out of her mouth when she doubled the strength of her power and shot it at him.

He didn’t have time to dodge, taking it full in the chest.
The force of it flung him backwards, and then, mercifully, darkness closed in around him.

Jadiete winced as he saw Zoicite collapse motionless to the ground.

Beryl angrily flung more power at him but his body just twitched in response. She gathered her power again and flung it at him, still not satisfied. How dare he defy her like that!

Jadiete couldn’t watch anymore. "Beryl-sama!" He cried out, moving slightly in front of Zoicite, "he’s lost consciousness already!"

Beryl lowered her hands and looked down at the unconscious Zoicite. His silver-white hair had come lose and hung in strings over his face. Short of killing him, there was nothing else she could do now. Even if she did take firmer control over him, he’d lose his memories and she still wouldn’t learn anything that she needed.

"Curse you," she growled at him

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