Mariette quickly reached for the red crystal she could use to contact Justine, getting a grip of it but stopped herself from using it. … She could already imagine how that conversation would go. It wouldn’t help. Instead, she threw it across the interdimensional apartment. It could remain there for a while.

[color=57a345]‘Deni! Oh, Deni…!’[/color] Eli was loudly sobbing, for as far as they knew she had died. Caroline wasn’t the type to leave her victims alive, as far as they had gathered. The harpy-girl was on her knees in their interdimensional apartment, while Mariette stood by the wall. The only sound in the room was Eli’s sobbing. 

[color=1462ba]‘…’[/color] Mariette stared into a wall. They had known this meeting could have been dangerous. She had warned Asengav that she could need recovery, if the deal went south. It was possible Justine had intended on double-crossing her, after all. She had not expected the deal to both go through AND that she’d be attacked after it. But, to think not even calling Asengav could… Mariette had gained the firepower she needed, but she had paid with…

Mariette started walking steadily across the room, and opened a portal in the direction she was walking.

[color=1462ba]‘Eli. We’re leaving.’[/color] Mariette told her. This time without Deni’s cheerful encouragement towards whatever they were leaving to do.

[color=57a345]‘B-but… without Deni… I can’t…’[/color] Eli was sobbing, the liquid harpy looking over at Mariette with tear-filled eyes.

Mariette merely turned her head towards her underling.

Eli recoiled, eyes blinking wide as she saw Mariette’s eyes. They were… flaring with anger. Frustration and pain, and a willingness to use it. There was no loss of control, her cold, underlying logic still working, but there was a new, burning intention, that was ready to hurt. There was no way their next venture wasn’t decisive in nature. Eli’s insides were still quivering from loss, but… that look on her mistress was entirely new to her. Mariette was going regardless of if Eli was coming or not.

[color=57a345]‘… Yes, Mistress.’[/color] Eli said, fishing up her pen and notebook with her wings, before treading slowly after Mariette. The eye-patched girl nodded with satisfied determination, before turning and walking through the portal. It was time for a new direction, a change of pace. She knew what to do.