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Kal smiles as the wind blows through his long hair, picking it up and pulling it along. It does the same to Luca's as his dashing husband rests on Kal's shoulder. Spite remains quiet, more than pleased to rest between them for the time. The warm night breeze, ever eager in its ministrations, encourages them closer. Kal smiles, reaching over to place a kiss on the top of Luca's head.
Luca shifts, looking up at him lovingly with those coffee-brown eyes. With that soft smile that only Luca could ever pull off, he brings their lips together. They smile into it, warmth and love overflowing and surrounding them.
Kal wants this moment to last forever. To be here, with his lovers, his husband and his spirit companion, as the warm summer wind caresses them? There’s nowhere else he’d rather be and no one else he’d rather be with. He knows Luca agrees. It’s in the soft touches. In the way their lips brush and the way they fit together so perfectly despite their flaws.
A wet thunk and Kal feels something hot bloom from a spot in his neck. He pulls back and freezes. An arrow sticks out of Luca's throat. Kal touches the spot on his neck that's steadily stinging less with every passing moment. He's bleeding ever so slightly, a trickle of blood making its meandering way down his chest.
His eyes lock on Luca's. Surprise, sorrow and every other emotion flashes through them while Kal's husband chokes on blood and poison. He doesn't get a moment to respond before Luca flops to the ground, lifeless.
Spite screams in agony, Kal's own rises up to join in. Lightning sparks across his skin, expanding and expanding as the lyrium in his tattoos sings with the effort. A field of lightning springs forth, electrocuting anything and everything in its massive radius. The stench of cooking flesh reaches him even here, by the protected body of his fallen lover. He categorizes the location of each and every dying scream.
Once the area falls silent, Kal turns to Spite. He can't leave the spirit here to vanish back into the Fade. Not like this. Using some of the Spirit magic he learned during Emmrich's necromancy lessons in the Lighthouse, Kal rips Spite from Luca's corpse and binds the spirit to himself.
He feels his magic grow stronger, more stable, even. Casting his necromancy over the area, Kal revives each and every corpse he just made, commanding them to bring themselves to him with anything they have. Spite settles in his new home as his fleshy, burnt corpses shamble up to him.
With lightning still dancing across his skin, Kal looks over the hoard he's assembled. Fifteen attackers, three squirrels, and one unlucky nug. Releasing the creatures, he looks over everything. Rifling through their pockets and packs, Kal finds the contract demanding the life of his husband and a signature he doesn't recognize. That's fine. He'll find them even if he has to scorch Thedas to do it.
He knows Viago isn't going to support him in this. Not with what Kal's planning. He's on his own. With the start of an undead army behind him, Kal collects Luca's body and moves out. He'll leave Viago a note before he leaves. It's the least he deserves after raising Kal all these years.
Kal watches as his rotting corpses raid the residence of his first lead. The fat, terrified bastard has the gall to look offended. Kal holds the paper in front of him. The bastard's eyes go wide as he sputters out a name and a few other details.
Spite, or whatever remained after he twisted into vengeance, whispers in his ear. There are no innocents. No one is free from guilt. Someone could have, should have, stopped them from killing Kal's husband. Spite is right. There's no longer a use for these pricks.
Kal electrocutes the entire building and adds them to his forces as one of his servants writes down what he's learned.
Kal sits at the stream, carefully cleaning the bones of anything that would damage them in the coming years. Emmrich taught him how to properly prepare the bones for necromancy. He really must thank him one of these days. It's only a matter of finishing up. Spite hums, waiting as patiently as he can as he watches Kal work.
He's almost there. Soon, he'll have Luca back at his side, even if that means bringing him back in such a twisted form. Placing the bone in its position, all he has to do is reinforce the joints. It's a soothing process, all in all. Something in him soothes at the thought that every bit of work brings his Luca back to him.
There! Everything's perfect. All he has to do is bring him back.
Taking a step back, Kal pulls at his magic. It's trivial to reanimate the skeleton. It twitches and shakes, coming to life with swirls of magic still around it. He grins, pulling part of Luca's armor out to dress him in. It's only right. Now, they can finish their task and go after those who hurt him.
Watching as his now skeletal forces shamble their way up through the Crossroads and into Tevinter, Kal wonders if his target is still in the city. Surely, they wouldn't have stayed after putting out a contract on Kal's beautiful Luca. They wouldn't be that dumb, would they?
"Kalias." Someone calls as his army enters the city. "Why are you bringing your undead hoard here?" Oh. It's Neve. He doesn't care. "I know you're distraught, but raising the dead to slay your enemies isn't the way." She moves in front of him, physically trying to stop him from entering.
"Move." He warns for the only time. Spite demands he do more than that. Kal agrees but gives her a few seconds to rectify her mistake.
She does not. Kal grabs her face and sends his lightning into her body. His minions gather up the new materials as Kal plots where they need to go next. A Magister. They're looking for a Magister. Up they go.
"Come on, Luca. We have a Magister to slay." Luca's teeth rattle in agreement.
Slaying the one who put the contract out on Kal's wonderful, undeserving Luca brings him no joy. There's something missing. Something that he hasn't been able to figure out.
Spite whispers to him, demanding he bring ruin to all who caused his suffering. Right. Right. He's not done. He still needs to track down those who sent the bastards on the contract to begin with. His revenge won't be complete until he does.
A magic bolt whizzes by his head. Right. He needs to deal with the trash here first. He should have remembered to restock his supply of soldiers before taking out his pain on the one who caused it. Kal grins, then sets a field of lightning in play, uncaring if he hits anyone but Luca. He can always rebuild them later, after all.
Kal's met in the Crossroads by a very upset Viago. "Kalias de Riva. What are you doing?" He waves the letter in Kal's face while glancing at Luca. "I know you're hurting, but this isn't the way. Come back to the Crows. I'll make sure you get your closure." Viago must not be feeling well. This isn't like him.
"If you're that concerned, why don't you just poison me and get it over with?" He's not sure why he's talking to Viago when he's clearly standing in Kal's way, but Spite demands he remove the obstacle. Kal's not sure why he doesn't.
"I'm not going to poison you for making terrible decisions. You're not a child anymore. If I poison you, it's going to be fatal."
Kal's done being patient. "Out of my way, Viago. I'm going to find whoever caused this and put an end to them, even if I have to go through you." Viago sighs, shoots one last look at Kal, and walks off. Kal's not sure why he feels relieved that he won't be killing him.
As thirteen crows caw in the night, Kal and Luca march on Treviso, enraged by the new information. How dare they? How dare they accept a contract on Luca? How dare they allow someone to even attempt to touch his precious husband?
Kal doesn't care who or what is in his way. He lets his lightning flow freely as he storms the city with Luca at his side. He's going to get to the Diamond if it's the last thing he does.
He's halfway to the casino when the first obstacle blocks his path. "Kalias. Stop this! You know this isn't the right way to treat spirits! This is not why I taught you necro—" Kal cuts down the aging necromancer without even a second thought. Nothing will stop him. Nothing gets between him and his revenge.
The Warden, his pet bird, and the artificer stop him at the steps leading up to the casino. They try their pleas. Kal doesn't care. Kal slays the Warden without a moment's hesitation. The bird tries to stop him and even manages to knock Kal to the ground, but a strong shock is all it takes to get the damned creature to stop moving.
Something snaps around his wrist in his moment of distraction from the artificer. He looks at the sparking metal band that refuses to leave. His magic has weakened. Attempting to shock it off gets no results.
She dares? Kal pulls his knife, imbues it with lightning, and moves faster than she knew he could, plunging the blade into her heart. She only screams for a moment before flopping uselessly to the ground. The band does not release.
Tch. How dare they try to get in his way like this? He's going to make them pay for interrupting his revenge.
An explosion sounds in the background as Kal climbs the steps. If this city must burn for his Luca to be avenged, then so be it.
Kal encounters the dragon slayer with the other Dellamorte. The man looks upset at the sight of Luca. Why? Is this not what he wanted all along? Kal considers sending dear Luca to fight his cousin, only to decide that he couldn't possibly do that. Luca needs to be protected, no matter the cost.
The dragon slayer aims at him, narrowly missing him with their axes as he slips passed to strike at the other Dellamorte. It's trivial to slip a knife into his guts and pull away before the dragon slayer gets to him. Leaving the man to bleed out on the floor, he faces the Qunari.
They're fast, have to be to fight dragons, and manage to get around him. Kal dodges, summoning what lightning he can to increase his speed and maneuverability. He gets a lucky shot in, cutting their neck in a split second before they have the chance to react.
Turning to the Dellamorte on the floor, Kal moves to stand over him. "Where. Are. They." He demands, Spite cheering him on. He doesn't speak, but his eyes flicker to something over Kal's shoulder for just a moment. Kal turns. Ah. De Riva villa.
He'll go there soon enough. First and foremost, he needs to wipe house Cantori off the faces of Thedas. How dare they accept a contract on Luca? Pulling at his necromancy, he orders the hoard to start hunting down those traitors. He'll find any that are still hiding in the Diamond before he goes. After all, the Dellamorte's not the one who should be fearing for his life.
"Kal. Stop this nonsense." She states. "I know you're upset. I am, too. It's why Vi and I have spent the last several weeks tracking down who accepted the contract without our knowledge." She pushes forward a Crow he doesn't recognize. It's a pitiful offering. Even if it was the garbage in front of him that caused it, the Talons are still responsible. He will purge them.
Kal has the trash's head before he turns to the Talons.
"Kalias. No. You've had your revenge." No. He hasn't. Kal takes his first steps toward the elf. Something brushes against his bare skin as he passes Viago and strikes the elf. Tch. Too shallow. He tries again, slicing off part of her ear and only just missing her neck.
A blade comes from behind. Kal dodges, pulling his lightning into a blade of its own as he strikes back at Viago. The Talon's too close. Kal takes his arm for the attempt. Viago backs off, gritting through the pain and blood loss as Kal refocuses on the Talon before him. She needs to die.
Kal takes a kick to the chest, sending him tumbling over the railing and down to the floor below. Weird. He feels slower than before. It takes him a moment to get to his feet, his lightning spluttering out for the first time in a month. Whatever Viago poisoned him with must be some good stuff.
It won't stop him. He's going to finish the job. He won't stop until he does.
He blinks, and the Talons are in front of him. Kal glares at them, then stumbles over to the elf. "Kal. Stop this. Hasn't this gone on long enough?" What's Viago trying now? Why can't he just let him have this?
His body feels weak. Is he even able to lift his blade anymore? It doesn't matter. He'll bite the Talon's throat out if he has to. "Kal!" He flops onto the Talon, doing exactly that.
He's pushed to the ground too late, and before his eyes flashes a memory of a much taller-than-him Viago going over the rules and restrictions of House de Riva. A moment later, it's Viago comforting him after Kal nearly drowned. Then, Viago as they celebrate Kal becoming a full Crow. Viago as he praises him for a job well done. Viago Dad, as he and Luca get married. Dad, as Kal finds himself forgiven for his mistakes. And his Dad as he lies there, wondering how he could have tried to kill the man who took him in and raised him.
Kal doesn't move as a single tear rolls down his face. Somewhere nearby, Luca clatters to the ground. Kal no longer has the magic to keep him animated.
"Kal!" Dad calls, scrambling beside him. He doesn't know why. It would be nothing but justice if Kal were to die here after all he's done. He can't feel his fingers or toes. He really should have listened one last time.
"Kal! Stay with me!" Why would Dad sound so upset? That's not like him at all. He feels something cold touch his lips and something slimy and spicy roll across his tongue. "Drink this for me, please." Dad sounds so broken. That must be his fault, too. Kal does as he's asked.
The Villa falls silent as Kalias draws his final breath under Viago's guilty, devastated ministrations. He's failed. Kalias is dead and cooling under his fingers. He should have been faster with the antidote. Tears well in Viago's eyes as he wonders how he should have helped the elven man he thought of as a son.
The constant drip, drip, drip nearby reminds him that he's on borrowed time. His head's light, his vision blurry from more than just the tears. Viago glances over at Teia. She stopped breathing too long ago.
Viago slumps to the ground, cold. His vision blacks out as he's left with the thought that this is all his fault.