Then it was going to be that way, was it? It looked like she was going to have to treat them both as hostile. She favored the impish creature with a look that was contempt personified. It wasn't feigned disgust. It was true that Winter probably could not fathom what had brought the girl in front of her to this state.

But, nothing, nothing was worth surrendering your free will to someone else. It was frustrating to see someone give into that even if they were an enemy.

"I wasn't talking to you, demon," she replied, a calm sort of purpose entering her eyes.

There was nothing for it. She would try to defeat the impish creature without harming the girl if it were possible. No promises though. She looked regretful for a moment as resolve took it's place.

"We don't have to do this," she said, addressing Neo again. "But if you insist upon being a puppet for that goblin I will utilize all the deadly force of my training."

The ice that had entered her voice and demeanor left little doubt that Winter Schnee was bluffing. She would defend her own life.