Chapter Text
I shift my weight from foot to foot, fighting the tingling sensation threatening to creep its way up my legs from squatting on this rooftop for so long. The high treetops surrounding me provide the only comfort, a shield from the sun - and from any prying eyes. It’s why I’d picked this spot to keep a lookout, easily scaling the bricks and scrambling onto the roof. My bow stays ready and drawn, as it has been since my companions had disappeared into the building across the way. Shadowheart had tried to insist someone stay with me, tried to order Astarion to stay in the shadows around the base of the building to ensure no one could get the jump on me while I’m busy watching their backs, but she was outvoted.
No , I’d said. You need as many hands inside as possible. It should be no problem outside. I can watch out for myself. I’d winked at her, and accepted a healing potion pressed into my hand before we’d split.
Though I keep my gaze plastered on the building Shadowheart, Astarion, and Lae’zel are in, I can’t help but think of the two daggers in my possession - one sheathed at my side, and the other tucked away in my boot for emergencies. I have no way to know what’s going on inside. I have the details of the mission, of course, but there was no way for us to know who would be inside - only what. An artifact, a generous amount of supplies, and someone who knows of the Absolute. Their information could be valuable. My companions were to go inside, and interrogate the potential informant, taking out anyone in their way. I am to be their eyes from above, making sure no one unwanted goes in - or comes out.
I let out a controlled breath as I watch a tiefling couple walk by, neither giving more than a passing glance at the building across the way. The shorter one laughs at something the other has said, doubling over with wheezing breaths. They reach out a hand to steady themselves on the other, who has an exasperated, but adoring, smile on their face as they lend support. They pause for a moment, and my fingers twitch.
They keep on their way, though my eyes stay trained on them. I can’t help but spare a moment to wonder if that’s what Shadowheart and I look like, despite being…well, us. Half-elves, warriors, and altogether incredibly traumatized. A smile flits across my face, and I lean back.
That’s when I hear the footsteps behind me. I swivel, bow strings taut as if to shoot, but I’m a moment too late. A blade sinks into my side and I gasp, bow clattering to the shingles of the roof below me. I reach for a dagger, trying to regain my balance as I take in the person now pulling their own blade out of my skin, barely keeping my body from instinctively lurching towards the pressure.
A human stands before me, though his eyes are malicious and cruel. He has no armor, and soft padded shoes - which must be why I didn’t hear him scaling to the roof behind me. That’s all I’m able to note before he’s swinging for me again with his own dagger, a gilded and jeweled thing. He must be paid well, to have such a weapon at his disposal.
Paid well. My blood runs cold as I barely dodge his flurry of blows, and I can already feel the bruises forming and blood dripping from where I’ve used my arms to try to block him. This isn’t random. This man has been paid to attack me. To kill me. This is an assassination.
I’ve never been the best at close up combat. I’m sharp with a bow, and I can use a sword if I need to, but up here on this slanted roof with just a dagger, the odds are slim.
I vaguely wonder how deep the wound in my side is, because my vision’s starting to go hazy, my balance is off, and I feel my own blood dripping down my leg and into my boot. I grit my teeth and press my free hand to it, trying to staunch whatever bloodflow I can.
Finally, finally , I make a hit. A shallow cut across his face, sending him reeling back. But when he lifts his head, I know I’ve only made it worse. There’s so much anger in his eyes.
I turn and try to scramble to the edge of the building, to the thick vines trailing the sturdy bricks I’d used to get up here. I stumble, once, and it’s all he needs, tackling me down to the rooftop. My head slams into the hard shingles and my breath whistles out of me. I tighten my grip on my dagger as he flips me onto my back and pins me, something hungry on his features. He’s bigger than me. My only shot is to try and wriggle out. The raised edges of the roof dig into my back as I raise my hand to make a swipe at him, do anything to get him off of me. His free hand curls into a fist and comes down hard on my wrist, and something snaps.
I scream, vision going in and out as I try to breath through frantic panting and the sobs that slip through. My dagger drops to the rooftop, and the bastard smiles at me. He’s enjoying this.
Tears slide down my cheeks as I stare up at him, despite how my breaths stutter and my chest hitches trying to keep them in. I can’t remember the last time I felt so helpless - the last time I was pinned under a man like this.
Never again . Shadowheart had promised. I had promised myself.
He leans down over me, smile thinning into something predatory as he lifts his hand from my arm and brings it up to my cheek. His fingers trace over my cheekbones, trailing up to where a tear clings to my lashes. I try to turn my head away, but his grip tightens and forces me to meet his gaze.
I’m trapped. He wipes away the tear and he stares at me. I don’t try to look away this time, bracing myself for whatever comes next. Preparing to sink back into that dreaded part of my mind, where I can hide from whatever is outside.
My mouth opens, but I’m not sure that anything comes out except for another sob.
“Please,” I try to say. I try to beg. “Please, please-”
I haven’t begged in years. It’s all I can do now.
His gaze lowers to my lips, and they stay there as he draws closer. A shot of fear ricochets through my body and I try to knee him, try to wiggle away, but he’s too strong. He has the advantage. There is no way out.
There’s a sudden clatter from across the way. His head shoots up to look at the noise, but I stay staring at him, lips feeling grimy and disgusting even though he hadn’t touched them.
Shit , I see him mouth before his head whips back in my direction. It’s the only warning I get before his dagger plunges into my chest. He pulls it out and my back arches as if I can follow.
Again, the dagger falls.
And again.
Again.
Again.
I’m choking on my own blood. There’s red everywhere. The glint of the dagger falling is the last thing I see, and then - darkness.