░ Chapter 9 ░ (1/2)

Author Note: Another update? It's not Friday! Nor has it been a week Author-nim have you gone mad!?  I was feeling generous lol Mark was not happy, he was not happy at all. Let's see if he's calmed down today shall we? Please enjoy Playhouse m(_ _)m Do you want to play?

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"I WILL NOT BREAK THE RULES

I WILL NOT BREAK THE RULES

I WILL NOT BREAK THE RULES

I WILL NOT BREAK THE RULES

I WILL NOT BREAK THE RULES"

Chrysalis wrote this mantra over and over again in sky blue chalk on the magically enhanced black board in the classroom that was now the size of the entire wall. She groaned as she held the ice pack to her throbbing head as she lifted her sore arm to write once more.

Talia had given her tips like not to press too hard on the chalk so it wouldn't fatigue her arm so fast and no one knew about breaking the rules more than her. Faun gave her the ice pack this morning with a look of disbelief.

"I've never seen Master be so rough with punishment before. Congradulations Karin you are once again the only Doll not to break the rules~"

Karin nodded uncommitedly as her nose was skimming her manga and she played with her new pink pirate hat with antlers on the sides. Mari sat a cup of tea infront of Rea and joined her at the island counter.

"And when was the last time Master actually went to the human realm? That itself is just as strange as this severe punishment. I can't believe he actually made you faint."

"I think....when that action movie star...became governor of California.....the one who'll always be back....."

Rea mumbled as she nibbled on a scone unknowingly as the girls chuckled at her subtle joke.

Chrysalis knew what she did wrong. She interacted with another Puppeteer without the Master or Mona, but she didn't know he was one, and he turned out to be an acquaintence of Master's.

And she also wandered away from Miss Mona's side for a moment when she went to visit the alleyway and she had specifically told her not to do that. Then there was that warning from Master not to speak but she did so anyway.

She climbed the small ladder so she could reach the top of the board and sighed. Her head was throbbing uncontrollably and her body felt sore and stiff but worst of all she hasn't seen the Master all day to apologize for her behavior.

"Miss Mona, I'm sorry that Master yelled at you because of me."

Mona watched silently as she sat at a desk with her hands in her lap and not moving an inch as if she really were a Doll. Well, she is but....

"It's all right Dear, just finish your writing"

Chrysalis wanted to press on for more details but between her sore arm and pain splitting headache she decided to continue her work in silence. The girls said the entire mansion was shaking and lights flickered on and off?

But the thing that scared them the most was the animalistic roar that ripped through the air making them feel terrified without even being in close proximity with whatever made it.

It was loud, harsh, inhuman and they've never heard anything like it. That couldn't have been Master Mark could it?"This doesn't make any sense....."

Jaebeom grumbled as he tore through his Puppeteer records at alarming speed. A little weight was lifted from his shoulders when Jinyoung confirmed it was a Doll killing all those people, it just proved that Jaebeom wasn't old and crazy, yet.

But what didn't make sense was the description of the aura he had given him. He memorized every.single.detail. about every Puppeteer but not one had the aura of which was described.

He blurred from shelf to shelf and froze in the center of the room as the door to his office was being opened. A warm smile spread across his face as Mark came in with his head low and avoiding his gaze.

His eyes flashed a dark green making the chair in front of Mark pull out on it's own and Mark chuckled as he sat in it and it tucked itself into the table.

His green eyes floated over to his mini bar making a container of amber liquid float to the edge of the table followed by a crystal glass and they slid over to Mark's reach.

"Thank you Jaebeom"

"My pleasure, I'll be with you in a moment"

Completely stumped for the day Jaebeom gathered his material and blurred around the room to return everything in it's proper place. He grabbed a crystal glass for himself and joined Mark at the table who was toying with his drink.

"So...."

"So......"

The boys chuckled and Mark sighed deeply, sat back in his chair and folded his arms across his chest.

"He started it...."

"Yeah I know Mark. He should already know how territorial some Puppeteers are when it comes to their Dolls but what I don't know is why you acted so irrational afterwards. You're normally not so aggressive."

Mark gazed at him with hardened eyes with his mouth setting into a firm line.

"Because he suggested he put what's mine in danger. I don't take that lightly."

"Are you sure it's just that? He also mentioned you looked very worried, also something not so normal coming from you"

"Would you not be worried if your Doll was out alone with some raging maniac with a blade ready to strike at any moment?"

Mark swallowed his glass in one shot and quickly poured himself another and Jaebeom shrugged.

"Fair enough. But if you care so much for your Doll how could you cause her so much pain that she became unconscious in her own mind?"

Mark sucked his teeth and cursed Jinyoung for his aura reading abilities. He really should learn to mind his own business.

"But Mark he's right"

"No he's not"

"We can use her to our advantage"

"We are not going to use her as bait and that's FINAL!"

The glass shattered in his grasp and the little shards imbedded in his skin dropped to the table one by one as his wound began to heal itself. Blazing blue eyes glared at dull green and Jaebeom conceded for now, turning to his bar with his hand out causing a new glass to fly into his palm and he gave it to Mark.

"As you wish. It's too early in the investigation to make such hasty plans anyway. Why don't we change the subject, how is she?"

Mark's eyes softened as he played with the broken shards. He didn't know how she was, he hasn't seen her all day. He was too upset to face her, afraid he may hurt her more if he saw her. Was this what other's called guilt? It's disgusting.

He looked up as Jaebeom chuckled to himself while pouring more amber liquid.

"I'd like to meet her sometime. The way Jinyoung described how she offered him food thinking he was a beggar, she sounds lovely."

"She is. Really one of a kind."

"Well you sound soooo displeased with her, how bout I take her off your hands?"

Jaebeom teased and he couldn't believe the pout on Mark's face as he shook his head profusely, his eyes subtly flashing a warning.

"Then you should apologize to her for over-reacting"

"I was not over-reacting she could've gotten hurt! And she broke rules!"

"Please, it's only Jinyoung. What's he going to do? Blind her with his magnifying glass? Poke her with a sewing needle? God forbid he cooked her a meal! She just wanted to ease your stress and here you are scrambling her psyche until she passes out. Explain to me how that's not over-reacting? And rules, she's only human, I may be old fashioned but that notion still stands."

Suddenly Jaebeom's eyes narrowed as he brought his fingers to brush against his chin.

"Did you feel anything when you were causing her pain?"

Mark smirked and shook his head finishing his last glass and placed it down on the table rather loudly.

"Nope. None at all. So now will you all get off my back about her? I told you it was only intrigue, nothing more"Once her writing punishment was over Mona allowed Chrysalis to spend the rest of her time resting in bed. She sat poisedly on the edge of her mattress and gently brushed her raven hair with her fingers as her eyes closed peacefully.

Mona didn't like it at all that Mark had been so rough with her. Believe it or not she could've gone into shock from the severe pain and died and the thought made her furrow her brows.

"How are you feeling Dear?"

"Better because you're here"

Chrysalis muttered sleepily and she found herself cuddling closer to Mona's side and sighing as she relaxed. If Mona had a heart this would be one of those moments it would be all warm and happy. These Dolls....these girls...were her children and she cared deeply for them, no matter how long or short their existance.

"May I ask you something Chrysalis"

"Yes....."

"Would you do anything to keep Master Mark from harm?"

"Of course I would."

"Even if it would hurt you in a way?"