When Neo awoke, it was rather strange to see he wasn't in his bed of a month. The floor was a cold stone, the walls the same slate grey as he realised he was in a cell. One wall, to his left, was made entirely of iron bars and a cage door that led to a stone hallway. He didn't sit up as the memories of the previous night - he assumed - ran through his mind. A sigh came from him. Another mistake, and there he was back in prison. How long it was going to be was but a guess.
It wasn't until he heard footsteps that he stirred slightly. Not enough to move, but to sigh again and close his eyes. The world suddenly felt just a bit colder, like a windless breeze cast about in the cell. The steps became louder the closer they got, and soon enough, they came to a stop. He felt the stare, and he knew the emotion behind it - rage.
"Wake up," Came a coy, masculine voice. "No time for sleeping when you caused all that bullshit at the front gate."
"I am awake," Neo said plainly.
"Then get up," They ordered.
Neo didn't oblige the command. Then, the temperature inside seemed to cool down as he heard the steel bars open. That time, he opened his eyes to see the person that was approaching. A tall male with bright white dreadlocks in a ponytail and dark skin, his eyes a pale blue. He crossed his arms, raising an eyebrow as Neo groaned and decidedly sat up against the wall.
"Good," He snarled. "You're awake. So, what happened at the gates? What did you do to put my s- queen into such a fragile state? It'd be much too rewarding to see your expression if I told you how she was really doing."
Neo glared at him, still on the ground, but the man simply rolled his eyes at his silence and approached him. He grabbed his collar, pulling him up to stand and pushing him against the wall. Neo tried to defend himself, putting a warning touch around the man's wrist to give him the brains to back off, but his usual touch of death did nothing.
The man grinned at his confusion. "Ashes and the cold. Something that is simply a combination of destruction. But you still couldn't beat me down even if you tried. Now, will you give me my answers or will I have to use brute force?" Icicles formed and spiralled out of his other hand, growing across his palm as he held it up to show Neo. "Tell me why you dragged her into your fucked up love life."
Neo looked down to his hand, then up at the man's face in confusion. "Excuse me?"
"You heard me," The individual hissed.
He hardened his glare. "I don't know what you're talking about. I didn't drag her into anything, especially not my love life." He paused, scanning his features. "Hold on, do you think I-?"
"Everyone has noticed by now," The man interrupted him. "The way you look at her. But don't worry - the queen will receive a rightful husband soon. We will be lining up the dukes in a couple of months. You will never have a chance with her."
Neo raised an eyebrow. "You're crazy if you actually think I'm in love with your queen."
A dry chuckle came from him as he soon let go of Neo's shirt and stepped back, the ice on his hand melting away but not leaving any water behind. "Am I?" He hummed, turning to the cage that was still open. "Try to break out of this cell and I will easily put you back where you belong - but until Raemith and Kyrana come to have a chat later tonight, I'll keep you on ice."
"How convenient to have a person that hates me come have a chat," Neo sneered, sliding down the wall until he was sitting.
The man scowled a bit, the frost from his feet spreading to Neo and under. "Don't test me, Nathan. You'll return to your duties on Saturday, if you keep good behaviour." He slipped out a few pieces of paper and threw it on the ground in front of Neo. "Here. Her medical report. Do what you wish with it."
Neo glanced at the paper, then back up. "Just leave before you slip and fall on your own creation and make more of a fool of yourself."
"Oh, jokes are still your thing now? Hilarious. I'd freeze you to death if I was able to…" The man opened the bars before exiting the cell and closing them behind him again. He shifted his eyes to Neo as ice spread across the bars, forming frost across them as he stared coldly. "Funny to know you still care nothing for anyone. No wonder she wanted you to kiss her."
With that stinging comment, he walked away, his footsteps trailing through the hall. Neo watched him go, letting out a sigh and looking down when he lost sight of him. How does he even know about Fleur, or even that I kissed her? He thought to himself. Then, he realised Raemith must have told him. He did tell Raemith about it, long ago when he asked.
He snapped back to reality, a heavy breath escaping his mouth. His eyes drifted to the paper, glancing it over. He used his sleeve to move the papers so he could read, since his ungloved hands would destroy it in seconds. The report told somewhat about Quilliene's medical condition, showing x-ray pictures of any fractured bones, but what they mostly talked about was… that she wasn't breathing. She was still pumping blood, her magick keeping her alive, but she was neither awake nor functional.
A photo slid out of the report, of a dark coloured girl with purple braids flowing around her face. It was her. Below the photo sat a birthdate and a full name - Quilliene Anastia Ravenheart. Neo stared at the picture for a long moment, sighing and shaking his head as he kicked the papers across the room. Then, he sat there, shivering in the cold as he waited for whatever was to come next.