Private Finished Ultimatum

Arach said no more after that, giving nothing but a hum in response, letting Chloe know that she'd heard her answer. She stood to the side, letting Chloe take the first step in her plan. Arach watched with apathy in her expression, but never tearing her gaze away from the scene before her. The bigger part of her felt nothing, the other half rung a feeling not too far from sympathy.

She didn't utter a sound until Chloe spoke after she finally sat upright, sharing the chuckle Chloe had. Only, there was bitterness lingering behind the spider demon's. "Some demons tend to make everything sound so simple. You wouldn't expect one to tell you what would and wouldn't hurt," she said. No one had to tell her it was painless or not; it was an idea she had an inkling of long before she could grasp the concept of existing. But she wanted the benefits that could come with it if she were to become indispensable. Apparently, there was never such a thing with as indispenable when it came to him. That was her mistake.

"Gather your strength; you'll be need it." She was well aware about Ozerchabal's watchful eyes so she made no move to step away when Chloe has sat next to her. "I can try to help but if, and I want to say if, it fails, it might be better for you to kill me then and there." She didn't want to imagine what could happen if that would be the case. If it wasn't for herself, it would be for Chloe's best interests -- Mikhainon still had power over her until it was over and they succeeded. "I doubt it would even be possible for him to answer to any negotiations so there shouldn't be any alternative plans. Do not hesitate, the moment you do, we let him win. And that's the last thing either of us could want."

The familiar said nothing more; nor did she show much of a reaction to Chloe's sigh. It was a matter of technicalities; if they don't get to free her from Mikhainon, he could have easily ordered her to become a threat while she remained here. At the very least, killing this form would have saved her some trouble in the future. It was a mere trade-off, she wanted to say, for having at least attempted in her stead. It was a feat she couldn't have done herself, after all.

Arach smiled at Chloe as she stood off to the side after her blood had been drawn. "It had been a pleasure working with you, Chloe," she replied, a ghost of a smile appearing on her face. She wanted to say her own thanks as well, but she instead reserved it, wanting to show nothing more than what had already been said until eveything was done. The next move was now all on Chloe.

Arach stood to the side with a neutral expression as the ritual began, not showing so much as a reaction, a wince or whatsoever as Chloe went down from each and every candle in the circle. At least that was on her face; her hands seemed to give away a little more than nothing. Her arms were where the cuffs would allow it, just in front of her as she watched, but every so often, her hand where the blood was drawn twitched slightly, though only Ozerchabal would be the only possible witness to it due to proximity.

Events happened and didn't, none of which seemed to faze her and Arach's eyes would go from Chloe to Ozerchabal and back. Even when Chloe fell, it almost seemed like Arach wasn't seeing anything and stood there despite the fact there was a weapon aimed at her. Perhaps, she could already feel it at that point, a feeling of relief even though no one in the room knew if it was over, but she stood there, making no move until Chloe gave a signal for the Ozerchabal to lower his horn.

Only then did she let a small smile break out from the frozen expression, and only then after the cuffs were removed from did she make any move from her spot. She might have looked like she ran as soon as they were off her wrists but no one could probably tell. Maybe Ozerchabal would have noticed it but she would pay him no mind when she rushed to Chloe.

Her pace slowed as she approached the two. "You've done well, Chlo," she said, as she went to Chloe's side. "Knowing that makes having been your familiar more worthwhile." Her voice gave away a lot of things in her mind, her thoughts and feelings. Arach knew she couldn't stay working for her; she would have to leave. She needed to find her place again and leave her side. Perhaps she could leave this realm, though it would be such a waste to throw away this form.

Arach was quiet, for the moment she had no response. She looked at Chloe with an unreadable expression as the girl tried to focus -- she couldn't quite blame her for it. Having to do that ritual would be taxing, and she knew it well enough. She took that moment to think; Arach hadn't really quite planned anything past Mikhainon, all things before her now were quite honestly a blur. She needed time to recollect and make a new course for herself.

After a moment of consideration, and Chloe was already sat down, did she give her reply. She leaned over to a desk next to Chloe. "Perhaps... it might be best we could part ways," she began, turning her gaze to the other student sitting unaware at a table from across the room."There are things... that I must do and I don't quite see staying here as a benefit. The offer sounds lovely, Chlo, but I have to decline.

"The contract still stands at the moment, it is yet to be dismissed."

Arach's eyes seemed to laugh when Chloe asked her to help; in a normal situation she would have left as soon as she was dismissed, but she decided to let Chloe have one last favor. "Sure thing, doll. One last," she chuckled.

She helped clearing the last remains of the ritual, choosing not to speak much for the time being and avoiding conversation until it was over for sure. With the last traces of it gone, Arach raised her voice, not even turning to the group when she did. "I'd wish I could stay longer, but I should be on my way," she told them, mostly Chloe in particular.

She looked back to Chloe, a small smile on her face, "It had been a blast, Chloe." Without waiting for any other confirmation, her form crumbled, a clump of spiders forming in its ruin, most of it skittering away, back into the dark shadows of the room, a few evidently heading out the possible exits until they were out of everyone's line of sight, leaving nothing but a red card where she once stood, a heart written into it and the words "until next time."