Everything was white. High-noon sunlight irradiated the already bright room. It blinded Axel, making him wince and close his eyes for a few moments before blinking and adjusting. The first thing he'd noticed was the overwhelming light. The second thing was the metal around his ankles and wrists.

Well, that's not completely uncalled for…

Axel's head was a blur. He scarcely remembered feinting, much less getting chained to a bed in the infirmary. There had been people around him. Xion spoke to him, he thought. It could've just as well been part of his dreams. She certainly wasn't here now. As Axel lifted his head to look around, he was so taken aback by the sight before him that maybe it was a good thing Xion wasn't here. Shadowhunters are raised like soldiers, constantly aware of death creeping around the corner and accustomed to the sight of blood, wherever it came from. Whether or not Xion would one day become a demon slayer, Axel didn't want her to see something like this before she'd had some proper training.

Four beds were occupied, and each was smeared if not soaked with brownish-red streaks. Heartlight, Rosekey, and Highwind sat up in bed, conversing lightly. Axel couldn't tell if something was wrong or they just didn't want to wake him. All three had fresh iratze scars; no wounds, but no energy either. They were evidently drained. Highwind kept his eyes on his hands, which were loosely clasped in his lap, occasionally responding to Sora and Kairi, whom were facing each other. Kairi had a large bucket in her hands. Her back tensed when she hurled into it, then drank from another bucket beside it. The redhead considered them for a moment until Riku glanced at the bed beside him. It was as classic mundane movies depicted: a white sheet draped over a body to cover them wholly, up over the head. The body's outline resembled that of a thick man with set broad shoulders. Axel knew only a handful of Nephilim with that build, and only one that lived here.

Stormguild… is dead?

Disbelief caused him to thump his head back onto the bed, alerting the others that he'd awoken. Kairi wiped her mouth with the back of her hand and spoke silently, without the vitality she usually possessed.

"Scarhallow? How do you feel?"

"Like it's my birthday," there wasn't much heart in his sarcasm, "What happened? Where's Roxas?"

"Roxas?"

"I heard him. Something's wrong with Xion. Right?"

Kairi exchanged a pitied look with Sora, but continued nonetheless, "She's gone."

"Gone? What do you mean, gone?"

"It was my fault…"

The two jumped and looked at Riku. They hadn't expected him to talk.

"I should've been more firm. I should've made her go back to the Institute. Now look what I've done," Riku covered his face with his hands, "She's dead, because of me."

Axel went white, "Dead?"

"We don't know for sure!" Sora said half-heartedly, "She's just… gone. We went to the old warehouse to find some answers about the demons in the Institute, and the clan there attacked us. It was the three of us and Xion. We made it out, but…"

"... Xion didn't." Axel finished for him in a half-whisper.

"The vampires have her. She's either dead or Turned by now." Riku murmured.

Kairi spoke rapidly, trying to ameliorate on Riku's behalf, "If we could have saved her, we would have! The lights were cut out, we could barely see anything with all the chaos. Riku had kicked open a side door and yelled. I thought we all heard him. It was only after I saw Sora and Riku there that I knew Xion hadn't…" Kairi vomited again, taking a chug of the other bucket's contents, "I ran back inside to get her, and I thought I saw Zexion, the leader, taking her away. I pounced on him and…"

The red bile bubbling out of her throat cut her off. Sora continued, "Idiot bit open Zexion's throat because he'd grabbed her wielding wrist. That caught him off guard, but he still knocked her out. I got her, and we ran back outside. Riku screamed that we had to leave. The rest of the clan was coming back. There were way too many for us to handle."

This was all so much to take in. Their leader was dead, Xion may be a Downworlder, and demons were still on holy ground. Axel couldn't bring himself to be upset with the three younger Shadowhunters. He sounded exhausted when he said, "You were very brave. Kairi, you risked vampirism to save Xion."

"Of course I fucking did!" Kairi sputtered between gulps of what Axel now knew to be holy water, "I'd swallow a gallon of undead blood if it meant saving one of your stupid asses!"

"But you guys are okay?"

Riku laughed without humor, "As much as we can be."

A stiff silence fell upon them. Scarhallow looked to the white sheet covering the body, "How did he die?"

"We don't know," Sora replied, "His wrists were slit. Healing runes didn't do anything, so he just…"

"I see."

Heartlight paused, anxiety in his tone, "We're gonna have to tell the Clave now, aren't we? There's no one heading the Institute. And they will know we kept secrets from them."

Axel didn't bother consoling Sora. It was the truth, no matter what way it was worded. There was no sense in lying to the Clave. Perhaps now they could get much needed help, "And Roxas?" was all he said.

"Iceshield threw him into one of the Sanctuary cells just so he wouldn't go out and get himself killed."

"So everyone knows you broke the Law now?"

"Pretty much," Kairi recuperated, "He said he was busy with something and that he'd tell DiZ later."

"Guess you guys are off the hook then."

"No, we're not," Riku's stare could intimidate death, "The Clave will know and they might not take it well."

"FUCK THE CLAVE!" Kairi abruptly shouted. She had more to say but vampire blood and holy water cut her off.

Sora somehow found a way to laugh, "And you just got over demon poison."

Kairi whipped her head up. With an indignant jerk, she tossed one of the buckets' liquids onto Sora's bed, and it wasn't the one with holy water in it.

"LET ME GO!"

"Silence, runt."

"I NEED TO FIND HER!"

"You'll just get yourself sucked dry. Not that honorable a death."

"FUCK YOU!"

Saïx's head felt like it'd been pounded against a brick wall. Roxas screeching at Vexen to let him the fuck out wasn't exactly helping. After Iceshield left the room, Saïx turned to look at Roxas. He was bedraggled, tear-stained, and definitely not in the mood to be locked away so no one would have to deal with him. The Shadowhunter saw Roxas about to open his mouth a scream again, so he reached vainly through the bars and put a hand on Roxas's shoulder. Roxas jolted, awakening from his fury just to realize Saïx was even there.

"Please…" Saïx breathed, "For the love of Raziel, shut up."

"Saïx?"

"Thank you for reminding me I have a name," Saïx withdrew his hand, attempting to sit up only to be hit with a wave of nausea, "Why are you here?"

A panicked, much-too-fast-for-someone-who-woke-up-eight-seconds-ago version of the story was relayed to Saïx. By the time Roxas had finished, he was weeping, and Saïx was a little less than concerned.

Although, I suppose, since Axel seems to find her interesting…

"Did they find anything?" Saïx droned, trying not to lament on the emotional things and getting down to business.

"N-not that I know of."

"Perfect," he groaned. Nothing to prove him innocent.

"Where's DiZ? I need to talk to him!"

"Oh, he's - -" Saïx broke off when he looked at the chair where DiZ had been sitting, "I haven't the slightest idea. He was guarding me anyway, needlessly, I might add."

"Where'd he go?"

"How am I supposed to know?"

"Right, sorry…" Roxas sniffled, cleaning his nose with his sleeve. Saïx wrinkled his nose.

A clicking noise reverberated through the jail cells. Some demons made similar sounds; Saïx tensed as a reflex, Fatal Crest already in his hand. It was soon sheathed, as the click-clack's owner padded into the room, Iceshield behind it. The owner was a set of claws that scraped the stone floor. She recognized Saïx and went between the bars to purr against Saïx's leg.

"Yes, Evi, my apologies, I forgot," Iceshield drew a ring of keys from his pocket, "You're free, Foxway. I don't necessarily know if DiZ would agree, but we need all the help we can get right now, and I found Evi; that's good enough for me."

As the lock slid open, Saïx blinked at Vexen, "Evi?"

"The cat. Don't tell me you never named her!"

"Her?"

"... I should just throw you back in."

Saïx smiled, eyes gleaming like a snake's, "Evi is a lovely name."

Iceshield huffed, "Anyway, practically everyone is in the white room. You can meet them there, after you shower. You reek of filth."

Saïx's smile slipped, "Much appreciated for the tip. By the way, where is DiZ?"

"O-oh… so you don't know what happened?"

"How would I? I've been in this cell. The last time I saw him was before I passed out."

"... Stormguild has been murdered, Foxway."

The memory of the smile DiZ had given Saïx right before he closed his eyes flashed up. It sent shivers through Saïx, though he repressed them. He chose his response carefully before ascending to join the others:

"Oh."