Juniper wasn't done yet.

  She tried again, this time aiming a kick towards Yuki's ribs.

  THWACK!

  Yuki blocked the kick with her arm, catching Juniper's foot mere inches before it connected.

  She chuckled again, eyes gleaming with amusement in the darkness.

  "Close, but no cigar~", she taunted.

  Juniper couldn't hide her frustration as she tried to pull her foot free, but Yuki wasn't letting go.

  "Let me go—!" she half-growled, trying to free her leg from Yuki's vice-like grip.

  Yuki’s grin widened, sharp and unnatural in the dark.

  "Oh, I don’t think so~"

  Her grip on Juniper's foot tightened painfully as she yanked her forward, off-balance and stumbling into Yuki’s waiting arms.

  Before anyone could react, Yuki had one hand clamped around Juniper's throat while the other held a blade to her ribs.

  "Now then," she purred against Juniper’s ear: "...shall we negotiate?"

  Juniper let out a strangled gasp as Yuki's hand tightened around her throat, the sudden lack of oxygen making her head start to spin.

  "Y-You—you're crazy—" she choked out in a strangled whisper.

  Noel swore loudly where she and Alice still stood, hands clenching into tight fists as she took a step forward.

  "Let her go," she warned, voice taut with anger. "Now."

  But Yuki just chuckled at the threat, still holding the blade to Juniper's ribs.

  "And risk missing our negotiation~?" she taunted, her fingers digging into Juniper's throat even tighter.

  Juniper let out another gasp, eyes going wide as she struggled to breathe.

  "M-Mmph!" she mumbled through Yuki's grip, hands going to try and pry her fingers off.

  On the other side of the room, Chie was trembling, her eyes locked on Juniper with a mix of fear and anger.

  Noel didn’t hesitate.

  With a snarl, she lunged forward, antlers flaring with wild energy that lit up the dark room as she aimed straight for Yuki’s torso.

  "GET OFF HER!"

  Yuki barely had time to react before Noel crashed into her, sending both women tumbling to the floor in a tangle of limbs and furious movement.

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  The blade clattered away from Juniper’s ribs as Yuki let out an indignant shriek: "RUDE!!"

  Juniper gasped for air immediately now that the pressure on her throat was gone, coughing violently as Chie rushed over to help steady her up again.

  "Juniper!" Chie said frantically, helping Juniper steady herself against the wall.

  "W-I'm okay," Juniper managed to gasp out.

  "You're not okay," Chie retorted, eyes widening at the angry red mark starting to form on her throat. "You're injured."

  But Juniper just shook her head, still trying to catch her breath. "I've...had worse..."

  Yuki just let out a disgruntled hmph at being sent sprawling to the floor, climbing back to her feet with a scowl.

  "Tsk, rude little brat," she muttered under her breath, eyes narrowing in annoyance, now turned towards Noel.

  Noel just growled in response, antlers flaring as she glared at Yuki with a look that screamed 'I'm going to beat your ass into the floor if you touch Juniper again.'

  Yuki just chuckled again, like the whole situation was funny to her. "Ooh, feisty~", she taunted, eyes gleaming in the dark with dangerous amusement.

  "What do you even want the Echo Bell for? I gave it to Alice because she needs it. It's for broken souls trying to find their way!”

  "Broken souls?" Yuki echoed, tilting her head to the side as a cruel glint appeared in her eyes. "Ohhh, how adorable~"

  Chie tensed up at the taunting words, her claws clenching tightly. "You don't even understand what the Echo Bell is for, you psychotic lunatic."

  Yuki just chuckled at the insult, unfazed by Chie's anger. "Psychotic? Me?" she said with a fake gasp of mock surprise. "How rude. I prefer eccentric.”

  "There’s a difference," Chie shot back, her eyes narrowed like a wild predator now. "You're insane."

  Yuki just let out a scoff at that. "And proud of it," she said, her smile turning cruel again. "Insanity is the spice of life, my dear."

  Noel growled at that, fists clenching at her sides so tightly, her knuckles turned white.

  "Enough of this," she said through gritted teeth. "Just tell us why you want the Echo Bell.”

  Yuki just let out a mocking laugh at the demand. "Oh, you think I'll just spill my secrets that easily?"

  She took a slow step forward, eyes gleaming in the dark as she looked Noel over.

  "What's in it for me, hmm?”

  Noel just scowled, eyes narrowing into slits. "You don't exactly have much room to bargain, you know," she said through gritted teeth. "You're outnumbered and trapped."

  Yuki let out another laugh at that, seemingly completely unfazed by the threat.

  "Numbers mean nothing," she retorted with a wave of her hand. "And as for being trapped?" Her smile turned sharp, like a cat toying with prey. "I have a few tricks up my sleeve."

  "Oh yeah?" Noel said, a challenge in her eyes. "And what 'tricks' are those, exactly?"

  Yuki just chuckled, holding Noel's gaze with that dangerous, cruel smile again.

  "Wouldn't you like to know~”

  Noel's eyes narrowed even further at the retort, her jaw clenching with anger. "I'm starting to think you're just messing with us for fun," she accused, fists clenched at her sides.

  Chie let out a scoff, stepping forward as well. "Of course she is," she said. "She's psychotic and sadistic. She doesn't care about anything except hurting people, just like the rest of the Xerosi Clan.”

  "What did you just say?" Yuki's eyes went wide at that, all hint of mock amusement gone from her voice now.

  "That's... not true," she bit out, body stiffening like the accusation was completely absurd. "I'm not like that. None of the Xerosi Clan is like that.”

  At Yuki's sudden defensiveness, Noel and Chie exchanged a knowing look.

  "Oh really?" Chie shot back, eyes narrowing with suspicion. "Then what are the Xerosi Clan like, hm?"

  Yuki just let out a scoff at the challenge. "We're not a bunch of psychotic sadists," she retorted with a scowl. "We're just...misunderstood.”

  "Misunderstood?" Noel echoed, eyes widening in disbelief. "Is that what you're going to call all the lives you've ruined? All the pain and suffering you've caused?"

  Yuki's jaw clenched at that, her shoulders tensing like the words were a physical blow.

  "You don't understand," she muttered through gritted teeth. "You don't know anything about my clan."

  Noel then decided to go there.

  "Then why were you and your sister disowned?”