The Underworld discussion

Adrian winked at the sensor, and the doors shot open.

"Good afternoon, Daddy."

"Hey, Baby."

He led them into the prisons. They were full of men and women with blank faces, their passions smacked out of them.

"Hope you don't end up here," warned Adrian, "Brother never treated them well at all."

Brother was dead now. A great loss.

Daemon frowned slightly. Father...Brother..they were a family. He glanced down at his tablet, typing something on it and furrowing his brows, dark eyes scanning one of the people in the cages, frowning. "How did he die?"

Hinoko skipped quietly behind them.

Adrian blinked at Daemon for a moment. Good initiative, he guessed.

"As usual," said Adrian simply, "He died for me. As it happens, anyone who is not us is against us. Brother was captured, tortured for 17 days and then killed when it became apparent he wouldn't spill any information. It was my greatest loss and failure."

"...I'm sorry to hear that" he murmured, looking away. "He's de sensitizing them to make soldiers"

"Those who do not desensitise quick enough down here are doomed to die," said Adrian.

He smirked to himself.

"But I appreciate that you just got here," he allowed, "So steer clear of the children's cells. And don't worry about Brother - you'll soon get used to people dying."

"Why haven't you replaced him yet?" He murmured, gazing at Adrian in curiosity

"Out of respect and lack of competent applicants," said Adrian, "His successor died along with him. I'd rather have no Brother at all than an invalid. That said, he's more important than any of the other members of the Council. Besides me of course."

He smirked slightly, and nodded, thinking something over before suddenly blurting out- "I'd like to fill that role, sir"

Adrian arched an eyebrow.

"You would, would you?" he asked lightly, considering the possibility. He didn't seem as mindless as half the other prospects, and more to the point, Adrian didn't find him exhausting to be around.

"I could always try you out," he proposed, "For a sort of Brother Trial - you'll need to toughen up astronomically though. The Brother is my right hand man."

He nodded enthusiastically, gazing up at Adrian. "I'll do what it takes to prove myself" he murmured, eager to please Adrian.

"Excellent," said Adrian. He knocked against the bars of on of the cells.

"You broken yet, Stiles?"

"Like fuck am I broken," laughed the prisoner from inside.

Adrian turned back to Daemon.

"Stiles stole from my whiskey cabinet."

"With all due respect sir, you're an asshole."

"I know."

He glanced at the man inside, gazing at Adrian for a second "Have him replace the whiskey he stole with his own blood. Hopefully he didn't steal too much"

Adrian let out a rare chuckle.

"He already did," growled Stiles, "Several times."

"If it makes you feel better," said Adrian, "Your blood was average at best."

"As opposed to Melanie's?" asked Stiles.

"I've never drunk from Melanie."

"Your loss," crowed Stiles, "I might take her for myself."

"Good luck with that," said Adrian sarcastically.

"I swear you're gay," he accused.

"You're just bitter because I'm too pretty for you," replied Adrian.

He rose an eyebrow, looking between them and snickering

Hinoko stared at the unbroken prisoner.

((...))

Stiles whispered from inside the cell.

"He's lying - we fucked once."

"That's another week in here for you," said Adrian loudly, "Come on you two, this way now."

Hinoko followed behind Adrian.

Daemon blinked and smirked slightly, walking with him

He led them to a chamber with a single table fit with metal restraints.

"This is where we torture people," said Adrian, "Our previous Brother orchestrated many clever ways to get what I want."

"I bet" he muttered "you're going to miss your meeting"

"Ah," he mused, "So I am."

He shrugged and began to walk towards the exit.

"Coming?"

He nodded, following him. "I thought you had to go?"

((Scratch that)) he nodded, jogging to catch up and walking next to him. "With all due respect sir, there is a faster and easier way to desensitize a human and it's not like that"

"Unless your method is infinitely more amusing," said Adrian, "Forget it. This method may be unconventional but a level of fear down here is necessary."

He smiled.

"And we are going to the meeting - Melanie will deprive me of something I enjoy if I miss it and then I'll turn her off in retaliation and then she won't speak to me for a month."

He smirked "good point" he hummed

"We need to make a detour first," he said casually, "I have to check on something."

He quickly entered a neighboring chamber, the lights turned off.

"How's life treating you?" asked Adrian.

"Ah Fallon. I hoped it would be you."

"Ready to fess up yet?"

"You wish."

"Ah, I really do."

He smirked, turning to leave again.

Daemon trotted in before Fallon could leave, looking around curiously, his eyes glowing slightly in the darker space. "Woah."

"Private chamber," said Adrian, "The senator's son from the surface."

"Adrian likes to imprison ex-lovers," mused the invisible stranger. He could not be seen within the darkness of his cell.

"YeahwhatevercomeonDaemonletsgo," said Adrian quickly, grabbing Daemon's wrist and pulling him from the room.

Hinoko followed closely behind.

Adrian turned to Hinoko.

"Him," he said shortly, "If you're gonna sell your body... not him. Okay? Keep to the freemen."

"Yes sir.." She said softly.

Daemon squeaked and stumbled after him , barely keeping his balance

Hinoko put her head down and followed closely. She didn't like the prisons.

"Never go in there," he said, pulling him along the corridor, Hinoko in tow, "He's a Surface Leech, he'll manipulate you into letting go."

Hinoko said nothing.

"Sounds like you still got some pent up feelings, yeah?" He mused, smiling slightly

"It's not pent up feelings," replied Adrian, "I was with that guy when I was 13."

He looked at them.

"I know he's dangerous though," he said, "And you're new. He'll seduce you and eat you alive. Yes, even you Daemon. No guy or woman no matter how straight or not so straight is safe. And then he'll kill you."

Hinoko paled. What is this place she winded up in?

"But don't worry," said Adrian, "He won't be getting out of there and even if he did - there's nowhere to go."

Hinoko nodded absentmindedly. "Where to now?" She asked.

"Well I'm going to a meeting," he said, "I've never done this with new arrivals before, so lucky you, but I can't let you sit in if the Council doesn't interest you - we discuss important and secret matters."

"Whatever you wish sir.." She said respectfully. "I do not get bored easily and would like to sit in if that would be alright with you.."

"I suppose so," he allowed, "But if you repeat anything of what we discuss - I'll kill you."

He suddenly stopped, turning to look at his reflection on a glass panel.

"Do I look tired to you?" he asked, "If the-Oh yeah, they're not there."

He looked at them again.

"It will just be me and Mel today."

"You so not look tired to me." She said with a smile.

"Vampirism has its drawbacks," muttered Adrian, "You'd be surprised."

"Okay, sir" she patted his back.

Daemon smiled slightly, stretching and yawning softly, studying Adrian. "You look fine anyway." He shrugged, sticking close to him as they rushed along