A/N: As usual, I would recommend putting the video on loop.

Bang! Bang! Startled, (f/n) jolted from her sleep. She didn't go flying off into the water due to Tarhuinn's secure grip around her waist. They had both finished cleaning themselves up and had decided to rest their eyes for a short time. It would seem that their time for sleep would be made even less. Tarhuinn's dark blues snapped open, and, instantly, he went on the alert.

Both of them stared to the door and quietly got to their feet. "Byda, are you really going to stay in there until the kelremm heals completely?! I know that you're furious about your hand, but why don't you come join me? You're probably only glaring at him right now, and you could be doing something so much better with your time." They remained as silent as they could, knowing that one wrong move could sound an alarm at any moment.

There was a pause in Rocean's persistence. Perhaps, he had given up, but they couldn't hear any movement from his end either. That would give them the ability to leave the room and go after him carefully, but this was also a chance to corner him. She glanced up to Tarhuinn, and his gaze stayed on the door. Did he have a similar idea? He needed to be careful, though, because of his wounds.

A loud laugh soon sounded. "Don't tell me that you ignored Phyon's directives?" Again, they allowed no words past their lips. "You did, didn't you?! Now, you have to let me in!" The lock kept him out, and his laugh grew in volume. "Are you torturing him, right now? If so, I could always tell Phyon; I'm sure that he wouldn't appreciate your behavior."

Leaning down, Tarhuinn whispered, "Hide." His arm slipped from around her waist as he made his steps forward heard. She complied and made herself scarce from sight. Tarhuinn pushed the table aside and unlocked the door. Slowly, he pulled back and remained behind the door. Rocean stepped in and looked around.

Confused, he paused. "Byda ..." His sky-blue eyes spotted the drops of blood coming from the ceiling. Hesitantly, he stepped forward some more and gazed upwards. From her hiding spot, (f/n) saw the blood drain from his face. "Wh-what? N-no ... m-my lo-love." He backed up in disbelief as the door slammed shut behind him, and the lock clicked once more.

"I'm surprised. You're acting as if you actually cared for her deeply." Tarhuinn leaned back against the door, and he nearly looked amused. Swiftly turning, Rocean's shocked expression morphed into one of hatred, rage and possibly elation.

"So, you managed to escape from her? I'm surprised. Byda lets no one go once she's in such a fired up mood." His lips curled up into a grin. "Don't tell me that your little wife is in here as well? Then again, she couldn't inflict a miniscule cut on Byda. No matter, I'll take up Byda's task and make sure that you suffer in here for a long time." Deftly, he reached down and pulled out two daggers, one each from around his calves.

Unimpressed, Tarhuinn pushed himself off of the door. He appeared nonchalant in the whole affair. That didn't last very long, however. "You disgust me." Unsheathing a knife, he twirled it between his right fingers and held it in a hammer grip. "You act as if you're honoring that female kelremm by your plans to torture me. You're doing no such thing. You're too late to honor her. You made it so by your constant desire to bed others."

Moving closer, Rocean chuckled and shook his head. "You're criticizing me because I wasn't overprotective of my partner? That I wasn't faithful to her? Please," he shrugged and smirked, "I'm just a kelremm who likes a little variety. Nothing wrong with that."

"And, to think that you're one of the individuals who helped to write the history and principles of the kelremm population. Disgraceful."

"I'd have to disagree." He charged forward. "You're the disgrace in thinking that you can tear my lifestyle from me all so that you can keep your human for longer." Blades clashed, and dark blues narrowed as a snarl escaped Tarhuinn.

"She's not my human; she's my wife." He spun on his heel and moved behind Rocean. His knife changed into an edge-in position, and it swung down upon his target. The knife scraped the author's right shoulder, but he had moved in time to avoid a more serious blow. Tarhuinn dropped the knife before it could come back and strike him. Quickly, he caught it and maneuvered it into a modified saber. Slashing, the blade struck Rocean's, and they continued in the fast-paced struggle.

(F/n) stayed behind the pillar and inspected the fight from there. She would only come out if things were looking poor for her husband. Right now, she would only get in the way; she could barely keep up with the movements, but she could tell that Rocean wasn't as skilled a fighter as Alpontus. This tilted things in favor of Tarhuinn, who could match the head author in a fight.

Already, she noted that Rocean was having difficulty keeping up. His growing irritation wasn't aiding him either. It was beginning to control him, not the other way around; however, Tarhuinn's injuries were starting to affect him. They had healed some more over their brief rest, but they required more time. If the fight didn't end soon, Tarhuinn might end up on the defensive only due to his vulnerable cuts.

Her hands moved down to her daggers. She would be prepared to strike if she was required to do so. Clips unlatched, her hands gripped the handles. A dagger went flying from Rocean's left hand as he had made a miscalculation. Crimson decorated the air as well before drops collided with the water and surroundings. A scream would have been emitted if it weren't for Tarhuinn kneeing the male in the midsection. He went for the final blow, but Rocean's remaining hand blocked it.

The author's jaw was clenched, and he was out of breath, but he kept the blade up regardless. His left foot kicked out, and Tarhuinn nearly dodged. Balance lost, Tarhuinn fell backwards as Rocean threw himself against the taller male. Both impacted a nearby pillar while the knife fell from Tarhuinn's hand. Rocean made the move to stab his opponent in the neck.

Deciding it time to act, (f/n) ran out from behind the pillar. Her pace wasn't too quick due to the water, but it was fast enough for her to slip. Eyes widened, and she cursed loudly in her head. This had created a needed distraction. Rocean looked behind him slightly, and a grin painted his lips, but his other dagger was lost in the process. Before Tarhuinn could do anymore damage and unsheathe another knife, the author kneed him in the groin and used the male's weakened state to throw him aside.

Closing the distance between them, the author snatched up one of (f/n)'s daggers. The other was kicked aside, and her back was pressed to his chest. Knifepoint was at her neck, and a larger smile plastered itself on the author's lips. "So, you were in here? How splendid, but you should've kept hidden for longer, human. I wonder what will be added to your punishment once Phyon learns that Byda is dead."

Tarhuinn picked himself up, and a knife was in his right hand once more. "You still intend to attack me?" Rocean questioned, chuckling a bit. He pressed the knife more into her neck, and a bead of blood formed at the tip. "I'd be careful where you aim that knife. My dagger might just slip across her delicate skin." Her fingers dug into his arm that was securing her, but the author didn't flinch. Rather, he seemed to be enjoying it. No surprise given his past relationship with Amtoma.

Lips coming down to her right ear and ghosting her helix, he remarked casually, "I wonder if Phyon ..." His words never came to a finish. All she heard was the sound of metal zipping through the air. She could see a knife handle out of the corners of her eyes.

"Never take a hostage that you can't kill," Tarhuinn commented as the author's grip on her disappeared. The blade fell down, but she caught it in time before it could commit any more damage to her. She gave a grateful smile to him and had no desire to look behind her. "I'm sick of these authors disrespecting you. They should learn to keep silent." His tone reminded her of hot water burning skin. There was no pleasant quality about it; every single, harsh note was highlighted.

He walked past her and retrieved the knife. The blade was cleaned in the water before it was sheathed again. "He'll be hung next to his partner." Tarhuinn gripped the back of the author's shirt and proceeded to drag the body through the water. "In death, he can remain loyal to her." No comment left her lips; she was merely relieved that another author was gone from their lives and that they were still breathing. Their main difficulty would be the last two in the area. The mage could be caught off guard, but once they revealed their presence, they could be snuffed out easily by him.

Chains moved, and she leaned back against a nearby pillar. She sheathed her weapons and held her arms across her stomach. The pang of hunger was starting to get to her. They had been fighting ever since they had entered, and their food was gone. All of their possessions had been lost, and Tarhuinn's pack, wherever it was, was most likely emptied before the items were discarded. "Hold on a little longer, (f/n)." He must have heard her stomach growl.

She would've been embarrassed had she not been so exhausted from everything, but her mind turned back to that storage area. They could head there on the way back to the authors' main room. Tarhuinn must be hungry as well. Peering over to him, she disclosed, "I know a place."