Fall Into Me

..VI..

Yet again, Minerva found herself faced with Eros and his infuriating questions. Demanding where Mona was, why it was taking so long, if she was hurt and so on. As if Minerva didn't have those same questions, as if she wasn't on the verge of torturing someone to get those answers she needed.

Before they could develop into a full, vicious argument, Rhea burst into the wing. Minerva only stopped due to the painful sympathy on the woman's face. It was an expression she recognised, having given it to Esme when she broke the news of Williams death.

Instantly Minerva shook her head, "don't you dare," she whispered, earning an odd look from Eros. Minerva didn't look away from Rhea, feeling her heart start free falling out of her body. Mona couldn't be gone. She couldn't, Minerva would not accept it as a possibility. Not now, not ever.

"What?" His tone was still snappy, and Esme shoved his shoulder, angry with him.

"Watch your tone," she warned, ready to throw fists at her twin brother if she had to. "Rhea, what's happened?"

"Ah'm so sorry, Lady Edevane. So, so sorry," she breathed, eyes wide and unsure.

"Don't, Rhea," Minerva whispered, feeling her heart pound, the headache she'd been staving off slamming into her skull for a few throbbing seconds before receding, warning her of what was to come in a few hours. "Don't you dare."

"The Ghosts think they've found Mona, but-,"

"Then what are we standing around here for?" Eros demanded, taking strides towards the wing entrance. No one followed him. Moira had reached out and grabbed Yannis's arm.

"Yannis," she warned low, not daring to take her eyes off Minerva.

"I'm watching," he replied, also locked onto his daughter.

"Hello?" Eros clapped, startling everyone, "they've found Mona, let's go!"

"Rhea?" Esme asked, stepping beside Minerva, who was staring at the head housemaid viciously.

"They found Mona's body," Rhea whispered, "they need Lady Edevane tae confirm her identity."

Minerva's entire world went black for a few seconds, and when she came to, Esme was crouched in front of her, watching her carefully. Somehow, Minerva was on the floor.

"You blacked out and hit the ground," Esme explained.

"How long was I out?"

"Seconds at most."

"Fine," Minerva got to her feet and Esme rose with her. "I don't believe this," she said, gesturing to Rhea. "They found her body? Don't be ridiculous. That would mean Mona was dead, and Mona cannot be dead."

"Ma'am-,"

"No, Rhea. Whatever they've found, it's not Mona. Have you seen it?"

"No, ma'am, they won't let anyone get close until yoo identify her."

"It's not her."

Minerva was firm in that, and she wouldn't believe otherwise until she saw it. They all followed Rhea through the tunnels, taking a pathway Minerva could barely remember, denial storming through her body. Mona was not dead. Mona could not be dead. The days she'd been missing racked up in Minerva's brain - they were at five and a half now. Minerva knew and had been warned that after the first forty-eight hours it was unlikely they would find her alive if she had been kidnapped and hadn't left of her own accord.

The investigation team had tried to tell Minerva this again just that morning, and she'd gotten violent, launching her glass at the wall beside the unfortunate PI's head, making his eyes widen in fear. She'd hissed and spat out some vicious words, claws and teeth bared at the possibility of Mona never returning to her again. The man had run back to the investigation room, and Minerva heard him telling the rest of the team that they needed to find Mona, because things were going to get real scary if they didn't.