Once she had been nothing more than the prodgical daughter, before Umbrella, before Veronica. Once he had been Jack Harper, before Eva, before the mercenaries. No longer human, a pretty pair in expensive finery, playing god. A sort of poetic irony in the idea that a man wanting the best for humanity was barely human himself now.

Alexia held no illusions, she had ascended into something immortal, etheral, a witch of the wild woods with the very earth and it’s fires at her beck and call.

The Ashford atop her throne had stolen not a single thing from Cerberus - they had all willingly come, like ants to the nest to bask in the glory of their Queen. It was only a matter of time until he sat powerless with nothing but smoke for company. A shame! So much potential going to waste.

All the beauty in the world could not change her stone-face, however, painted claws reaching over to caress his cheek. “You have soldiers at your door. The B.S.A.A, The D.S.O, Terrasave too I imagine. Quite the collection, but you cannot bribe them all. Umbrella fell beneath their feet, ‘tis a shame to see such happen to you too.” Dripped her hands to his exposed collar, watched the cigarette burn - orange to grey, remnants of embers left in the air - a warning and a promise in the heat from her fingertips.

"I require someone with a hand in the shadows, and you need a threat bigger than yourself to distract the cavalry that comes to claim you. ‘Tis not a partnership I seek, Jack, but your loyalty. I can give you all that you need.” Only a fool with refuse, but he was a clever man - surely, he knew Alexia would crush him beneath her heel if she wished it, terminate him when his use ran out. Better to ensure such a thing never happened than to wage war on a woman who was always burning.