Ill Met By Moonlight

Chapter 50: Bargaining

''Give me the child, Alexandria Miroslava.'' Miranda growled. ''If you really want to help me, give me Rose!''

''Miranda, I can't do that.'' Lex said in a gentle tone, a soft smile gracing her lips as the injuries to her face finally healed.

Miranda stopped, her gaze falling to the ground. It started as a low chuckle that evolved into a much louder laugh, gripping onto her hair. The laughter was hysterical. It echoed off the walls as if she had lost her mind.

''After everything I did! I gave you medication that kept the side of you that you didn't want anyone to see ever again, at bay!'' she laughed loudly, gasping for air. ''And now, you won't do as I say?''

''The medication only hurt me. Lord Heisenberg almost killed me because of the medication.'' Lex said, hearing a few gasps from the three Lords nearby. However, she didn't look at them as Miranda's laughter slowly ceased.

''I didn't force you to make the deal! You could have walked away! I gave you that option!'' she shouted, pointing an angry, clawed finger at her. ''You took the deal in exchange for what you so desperately wanted!''

Lex didn't say anything. Due to her silence, Miranda let out a low, mocking chuckle. A psychotic grin plastered on her face.

''What's wrong? Child doesn't know what to say anymore?''

''Miranda... st-''

''One thing! I'm only asking you for this one thing!'' Miranda shouted at her. ''Give me the child! Give me Rosemary Winters!''

''Miranda, I've already said that-'' Lex was cut off by her once more.

''I'm not finished speaking, child!'' she shouted. Lex closed her mouth, not saying anything and allowing Miranda to speak. It was the best thing she could. The only thing she was really doing to get to Miranda. So far, it seemed to be working and that was good enough for her.

''Give me Rosemary Winters and our previous deal, the one I made with you, will be considered expired.'' Miranda's voice grew terrifyingly soft and she held out her clawed hand. But her psychotic grin remained. ''No more working without question. No more fear of experimentation. Won't that be nice?''

Lex looked back at the three Lords and Ethan Winters. The man was barely hanging onto consciousness, but Lex knew he heard every word Miranda had said. The three Lords merely stared at Lex with wide, unblinking eyes. Each of them were staring at her as if shocked that she may be considering Miranda's offer. Lex looked at them one by one as she spoke to Miranda. Her eyes lingering on Donna for just a moment longer.

''You drive... a hard bargain.'' Lex said, turning back to the blonde priestess. ''I would be lying if I said that it wasn't a tempting offer... but sadly Miranda, I must decline.''

''So, not even freedom from me will sway you.'' Lex heard her mutter. Miranda almost seemed hurt by Lex's refusal, her golden claws slowly retreating into a balled fist. Her psychotic grin slowly vanishing as if it had been physically slapped from her lips.

''Even if I did take your deal, I'd still be part of your life.'' Lex said with the exact same gentle voice she had been using.

''And why is that?'' Miranda hissed.

''I'm your daughters' girlfriend. And, if you will allow it or if Donna and I stay together that long, I'll be a Beneviento.'' Lex smiled, her heart hammering in her chest and cheeks flaring with heat.

The blonde looked surprised by Lex's answer. She could practically see the gears turning in her head. The priestess took a few steps back, as if she couldn't fully wrap her head around the words Lex had spoken.

''But- But how could you... I mean, I've done- How could- I gave you the option of freedom...'' Miranda seemed lost in her own rambling, trying to come up with any other bargains.

***

She sat with her back against the wall. She was wearing a plain white shirt and a pair of baggy jeans and clean black socks. The clothes she were wearing before were so soaked in blood that they weren't wearable anymore. At least she wasn't covered in blood anymore since Mother Miranda allowed Lex to take a shower. The time she spent with water rolling down her back gave her a precious minutes to process the thing she had done. She couldn't help but burst into tears which caused her to stay in the shower longer than she had previously intended too. But Mother Miranda didn't rush her, the woman just let her take her time before placing her within a cell.

The cell wasn't small but it wasn't big either. There was enough room for her to pace around and Mother Miranda even provided her a book to read. Originally, she wouldn't have even picked it up but thanks to... thanks to her snow angel... Lex was able to read the book with little difficulty. The cot Lex had to sleep on wasn't super comfortable, but it was better than sleeping on the floor.

Mother Miranda had told her that her tests and experiments would start the next day since she wanted Lex to rest before hand. The day of the experiments however, she was subjected to pain almost immediately. 

First, it was electrically shocks. They caused her muscles to snap tight. Her entire body convulsed and her body was wracked with piercing pain. It felt like ever corner of her body was hit by a truck. Shouting and strangled gasps were all she could manage to do until the shocks where turned off by the priestess. 

The woman let her recover first before starting the second wave. This went on repeat for who knew how long until Lex could barely move. That's when Lex got her break. After a few hours, her cell got incredibly hot. She was practically sweating buckets and her body was heavy. Hard to move due to the electric shock and heat.

At first, it was only the electric shocks, extreme heat and cold. But then, the operations happened. And Lex was awake for all of it. Mother Miranda watched her raw organs react to small scale electrical shocks.

Lex would just allow it to happen. The entire time, Lex would continuously convince herself that it was all worth it and that it was a fair trade. Lex got vengeance on the ones who killed... who killed her snow angel... and Mother Miranda gets to conduct all the experiments she wanted and Lex would work for her.

She always convinced herself it was worth it. All of it. It was a fair bargain.

***

Miranda looked at a loss for words. Fingers racking through her blonde hair. ''How- How are you...'' Miranda looked at her, an evident look of shocked disbelief plastered on her face. ''Why are you like this?! What changed! Tell me!''

Lex's lips parted slightly. Her heart clenched and she felt tears forming but she managed to fend them off. She tried to swallow the lump in her throat but was unable. The smile and loss of Avals was still fresh in her mind. After a few moment, she forced the words from her lungs.

''Someone helped me. They've been with me since the day I was born and I probably wouldn't be standing here now if it weren't for them. I never saw them for who they really were until I lost them...'' Lex said, her gaze falling to the ground. ''They had gone through so much... I don't know if they truly are gone, but I hope they can finally rest.''

Lex looked back up at the blonde woman. ''Miranda, you need to stop this. It's time. I know it's hard to let go, but you have to. Let Eva rest.''

''You don't understand!'' Miranda shrieked, her teeth clenched tightly together before she ran at Lex once more.

What happened next, Miranda, nor the other Four Lords could have ever expected from Lex.