A/N: I know most of you are like "OH BOY! A NEW CHAPTER!"

Well, I can hope you are.

Unfortunately, things have caught up with me, including a HUGE writer's block on this fic and a couple other long works, and school, and my anxiety disorder/borderline depression that causes enormous periods of doing-nothingness, and everything else, so this is just about all that I've got for the next chapter. Please don't kill me!

However, to pacify you, and to prove I am not dead, here is a teaser for the next chapter.

I swear to you that I will finish this fic. I promise. It might take a while--It's been over two years already, can you believe it?--but I will do it.

Teaser for Chapter 19: Action

...you did everything you could like any decent person would
but i might be catching so don't touch!
just don't believe you're immune to gravity and stuff...

--The Dresden Dolls, "Girl Anachronism"

When Freira answered the door, Marini stood there.

"M-Marini?" she asked, stuttering in shock.

"Miss Merchantson," Marini said coolly, her eyes looking everywhere save Freira's face. "May I speak with you?"

Freira was silent for a moment, in shock, and then she nodded, swinging open the door. "C-certainly, Marini. Please, come in."

The smaller woman entered, removing her cloak. Friera took it, and gestured to the kitchen. "I'm afraid we don't have a parlor, but you can make yourself comfortable at the kitchen table. I'll hang up your coat and put on a pot of tea. Is that all right?"

Marini nodded and took a seat.

Freira joined her a few moments later, and said, "What do you want?"

Marini looked up, her eyes bright. "I need your help."

Calix awoke with a nasty crick in his neck and rather disturbed by odd fragments of dreams he barely remembered.

"You know," a voice drawled from the corner, behind the drapes, "I know I haven't been human for a while, but I'm still quite sure that that position is not the most comfortable one to sleep in."

Calix's head throbbed in tune to the words, and he blinked bleary eyes to the green eyes of the wolf in the corner. Recognizing Beast, he squinted at her in a parody of a glare. "No, don't talk. I feel as though I've got a bad hangover."

She smirked. "I'd blame the roses for that one."

Remembering his last interlude in the garden, Calix fought down a blush. "I already do."

Do you now?

The voice echoed in both their minds. Beast growled, and Regali materialized in front of them, looking smug as usual. Long time no see, children, she said lightly. You've been busy.

Calix looked away, blushing for real this time. Beast would have done the same had she been human; instead, she settled for growling deep in her throat, a warning.

You're so terrifying, Majesty. I'm quivering in my boots.

"You don't have boots," Beast stated flatly.

And you're not terrifying. Shut up. I have something to tell you.

Calix frowned. "Oh?"

Regali's amber eyes glittered. Well, if you're going to act like that, I'll wait.

And then she vanished again.

Beast growled again, loudly this time. "Damn her! Stupid bitch."

"You speak like a sailor," Calix remarked, "Not a Queen."

Beast gave him a baleful look, her eyes narrowed. "What's it to you?"

She looked into his face, expecting to see teasing, or, worse, condescension. But all that was there was a simple curiosity, and his serene eyes.

He shook his head. "Nothing. I was just curious."

She tipped her head. "I just…grew out of talking nicely when I didn't have anyone nice to talk to." That was the truth, unfortunately.

Calix nodded. "Ah."

He stood and stretched, the muscles in his back protesting at first, and then popping. Beast winced when that was followed by the sound of multiple vertebrae cracking, and Calix's relieved sigh. "That's better," he said.

"You're a freak," Beast said. "That was sick."

"If it bothers you, don't watch," Calix said, his words brief but not snappish.

"Get dressed," Beast said. "Take a bath. Whatever you do in the morning. Then we're going to find Regali."