[Waste]

Luke suppressed a groan as the second course was brought out, he could smell the fish before it was put in front of him, he caught his father watching him and knew the main course had been chosen on purpose. His father knew that he hated fish.

General Bank stroked his thick moustache and his greedy eyes followed the plate of fish as it was set in front of him. For the duration of the first course he had gone on about the prison, giving Lord Willard a full report of how smoothly it was running, Luke tried not to listen, he knew this information could help Alex but did he really want to help a neko?

“So how is our new arrival?” Luke’s eyes flicked up from glowering at the food, he didn’t want to listen to this, but he couldn’t help himself, they were talking about Honey, Alex’s friend.

“Feisty,” Bank grinned “But we are slowly wearing her down, we have no doubt that she holds the information we want.”

“You think there is a pack near by?” A group of neko’s were only referred to as a pack when they were wanted criminals.

“She was too well fed to have been living alone.”

Luke dug his fork into the fish and scraped a piece off of the bone, he glanced at Bella who still hadn’t picked up her fork and was watching Bank with such fury in her innocent eyes that it made even Luke flinch.

“So, General Bank.” Her sweet voice cut above what the general was about to say. Luke shot her a warning look “How is it that you wear these prisoners down?”

Bank smiled kindly at her, he could be quite the innocent looking bystander when he wanted to. “Too long in prison can hurt any person.” Luke noticed how he referred to the neko as a person when talking to her.

She nodded, “It will take a long time then.”

“Neko’s are weak.” Lord Willard had his input and added his own forced smile, so obviously forced, like it always was when he looked at Bella. Luke’s fist tightened and he moved it to his lap. Bella didn’t say anything else, she dropped her head to look at her plate and prodded her food. Luke could see where she was trying to take what she had said.

“Surely they can’t have a good life in this prison then.” Luke said quietly, but he knew they had heard him. He saw General Bank glance at Lord Willard.

“We aren’t here to discuss the prisons quality son.”

“Only it’s quality of torture.” His fathers eyes flashed dangerously as Luke said it, the words tumbling out before he could hold them in and think about them.

“There’s no form of torture in our prisons boy.” Bank snapped. The atmosphere suddenly froze, not only had Luke managed to piss of his dad but even Bank didn’t seem too happy.

“Don’t you have work to do Lucien?” Lord Willard asked sourly.

“Luke.” Luke corrected automatically as he stood up “And yes I do.” He felt his fathers eyes on him as he left the room, he heard a chair scrape back behind him and knew his father was following. He made sure he walked far enough from the dining room so that the confrontation wouldn’t disturb General Bank further. He stopped and turned slowly.

“What was that?” his farther snapped.

“I was just asking a sim…” he rolled his head to the side, riding with the blow his father gave, which didn’t make it hurt any less. It would leave a bruise beneath his eye. His hand went to his eye and he stumbled a little, “Father.” Lord Willard’s eyes were blazing and he looked ready to throw another punch. Luke held up his hands “Peace, Father. Please.”

His father put a hand to Luke’s chest and shoved him against the wall, “Never show me up like that again Lucien, I’ve had enough of you messing about with the idea of neko welfare.” He took a deep calming breath and stepped away from his son, then spun on his heel and walked back down the hall.

Luke grit his teeth, fists clenched at his sides, he hated the idea of leaving Bella alone with his father and General Bank. Although it wasn’t like there was much he could do about it. He was shaking with anger as he made his way to his fathers study, his thoughts swirling around Honey, and centring on Alex.