The Mercurian shivered, her wings pressing close to her sides, crouched on the cold broken floor. Graffiti swam about her, on the walls. My Mother made me a Lilim. If I gave her some yarn, would she make me one too? Fuck you. And you. And you.

We're all mad here.

She attempted to break free, choked, was brought to a halt.

The Impudite holding her leash gentled her hold after a minute, leaned down to carress her hair, her face, her neck, her breasts. "Shh," the Impudite murmured. "Shhh. It's all right. It's just a little longer. Then you'll help bring Aballam back. And then everything will be all right for you, all right?"

We're all mad here.

"I want to go home," the Mercurian said in a tiny voice. "Home. To Eternity. Home."

The Nightmares Impudite smiled at her, fondly. "Do you miss your mother?"

"Mother? Blandine... yes. I want to go home. For Eternity, to Eternity. Please?"

"Soon," the Impudite promised, eyes distant. "Soon. But first you must help bring your not-brother back."

We're all mad here.

The Mercurian's fingers curled up around her collar and she cried, very very quietly, very scared, utterly insane.