~1~Pinned Down and Manipulated

Unedited

It was overwhelming, yet not, but it didn't feel like a dream. It was all her senses except sight, but Sophie didn't need sight.

A scent hit Sophie first, the smell of fresh rain and gentle pine filled her head and made her smile. Then it was the feeling of calloused hands against her cheeks, the feeling of someone's soft lips against her forehead. His voice was deep but gentle, matching the faint scent of rain and pine. He muttered sweet nothings into her flushed skin, chuckling as Sophie took a deep breath in.

"Open your eyes," Ruy whispered, his breath hot and fluttering her eyelashes.

Sophie's eyes fluttered open, staring blankly at the stone ceiling above her. She was wrapped in blankets, laid out in a cot.

Where... where was she?

The last thing she remembered... she was falling through the clouds, Maha and Ricin a hair widths away from her.

Maha. Ricin.

Sophie struggled to form Maha's name on her tongue as she tried to turn to look for her friend, tried to listen for the gentle twinkling of her golden tipped braids. Sophie fought against the sheets, her weak body unable onto form any strength. There was a thick feeling of blood, and Sophie's body ached in pain. She couldn't move her fingers, she realized, she couldn't feel her ears or her nose or her toes, a slow panic rising in her heart. A gentle cool mist settled next to her bed and a soft hand pressed to her forehead.

"Rest," a woman's voice whispered.

"Ricin... Maha..." Sophie insisted, struggling against her sheets.

"Rest, my heiress." The woman insisted, and Sophie's blood chilled. She turned her head, gaping at the woman.

Kynareth looked nothing like when Sophie first met her, instead her skin charcoal gray with white speckled freckles, two small horns sprouting from her eyebrows and soft ivory hair that was cropped at her waist. Her face seemed so... strangely comforting, even though Sophie's blood boiled at the sight of her. Around her, she emitted a gentle fog, her eyes milky white as she looked over Sophie.

"Rest." She repeated, pressing her hand into Sophie's cheek, the soft feeling of mist and gentle midnight breezes lulling her to close her eyes.

One blink, Kynareth was there; the next, she was gone.

Ruy's knuckles were bruised, his rightmost wing was tilted at an ungodly angle, and his head ringing like temple bells. Keefe sat at the other side of the cell, switching between muttering about coming up with a plan and glaring at Ruy.

"Can you at least try to help?" Keefe hissed. He clearly still didn't trust Ruy. Makes sense, they didn't get much time in the Dunmer kingdom, and Ruy did try to kill them on multiple occasions when he was still a part of the Neverseen. Ruy blandly hummed, staring at the wall.

Keefe cursed, going back to his planning.

"How did they find Egypitnat?! And even then, how did they even get in?! The security was insane!" Keefe questioned, pacing in their cell. Ruy groaned as he laid back down on his cot, putting his forearm over his eyes to block the already limited light.

"Either it was our traitor, or they managed to get in contact with their small Neverseen group in Egypitnat. My guess is on the latter." Ruy stated dully.

"Really? You really doubt that your traitor wouldn't do this?"

"Oh no, the traitor would do this alright, but they wouldn't be able to. You said it yourself, even if they gave the Neverseen the location, how would they have been to get passed the security? The Medjays are legendary. The Neverseen never would've been able to get passed them unless they had time and resources to carry it out." Ruy removed his arm and stared at Keefe.

"When Cynna killed everyone in the Egypitnat cave, they most likely sent off an emergency signal to the other Neverseen branches, at least as much of a signal that they could before Cynna ripped out their throats." Ruy reasoned. He tried to stand, blood rushing to his head.

"They got enough time to pinpoint the location and get to the cave, but not before Cynna was killed, and Egypitnat officials crawling everywhere. But they got into the city, and they knew the Conference plans. With the Egypitnat officials spread so thin, they probably could've set up their plan and infiltrate the palace, waiting for the Conference. The things set up along the side of the palace, the little nets things? I'm guessing they were decoys to make us think they rigged the place to blow up. But it wouldn't make sense for the place to be rigged, one, because they wouldn't have had enough time to set them up, and two, a blown-up palace just wouldn't be useful to them anymore. And my mother is never wasteful of things usefulness." Ruy explained.

Keefe blinked at him.

"I used to be one of these dogs, remember? I know how they think." Ruy reminded. Keefe sighed, stretching us out.

"Why do they want us?"

"I know why they want me." Ruy shrugged. Keefe froze, staring at him.

"What do you mean?"

"Something my mom said when I was captured, it seemed like she believed I was under Sophie's control. I think she can cleanse Sophie's control over me."

"Why is she doing that? Does she miss you-"

"She needs what I can do." Ruy spat, cutting Keefe's thought. Keefe started, struggling to form words.

"She needs my skill set, my information, she wants my loyalty again." Ruy spat.

Keefe was silent, but his back was pressed against the wall, "Are you going to give it to her?"

Ruy clenched his jaw, his lopsided wings bristling behind him.

"I was only in the Neverseen before because I was scared and only had my mother left, I didn't know what was out there. I was never allowed beyond the Neverseen, not once. But now that I've learned, now that I've found a place in this world and found a place in a true family?"

Ruy looked at his hands, the same hands that once fought and bled for the Neverseen, "They will never, ever, get me back."

The sound of an opening door and echoing footsteps quieted them both. Ruy threw Keefe a blanket, quickly limping to his cot.

"Pretend to be asleep; don't let them know you are awake." Ruy hissed at Keefe, laying on his cot and turning away from the door. They both were deadly quiet as their cell door opened, and two men stood over Ruy. Ruy had his back to them, trying to recognize who they were. Low-level recruits, it seems. Ruy didn't recognize their voices, and they didn't have any of the bluster of a high ranking officer.

"Is this really her son?" One of them asked.

"I don't know, the demon wings really put you off." The other replied.

"They say the guy is a beast, a killing machine. Was awesome when he was on our side, always reclusive, though." One whispered to the other.

"Just wake him up, gently." The other said, fear in his voice. One of them nudged his shoulder, but because he was feeling petty, Ruy didn't move. They nervously glanced at each other, trying him again, but Ruy didn't move.

"Maybe we should-"

"OH COME ON YOU WEAKLINGS! He is already awake probably, aren't you traitor?!" A familiar voice called into the cell. That voice, Ruy did recognize. Ruy didn't say anything as he lifted up his middle finger, still not moving from his cot. The two newbies gaped as Trix stomped in, pulling Ruy by his wings. Ruy barked in pain, yanking his wings back and getting into Trix's hooded face. He always was a coward.

"Do that again, and I rip off every single one of your fingers, you stupid prick." Ruy hissed. Trix just scoffed, though fear could be heard underneath it.

"Just restrain him already." Trix snapped at the two newbies. The two new soldiers gulped at the towering winged prince, who just snarled at him. His natural fangs, his Dunmer pointed ears, his torn clothing only added to their terror as they grabbed their restraints. Ruy let them pull his arms behind his back, his eyes set solely on Trix waiting in the door frame. Ruy didn't dare let his eyes drift to Keefe, who was wide awake and listening to every word spoken.

"And where are you taking me?"

"None of your damn business." Trix snapped at him.

"I thought you looked up to me? At least you did before I left."

"I never looked up to you." Trix snarled, grabbing Ruy by the shoulder and leading him out the cells. Ruy followed, stiff and militant, observing everything around him. He watched out of the corner of his eye as one of the newbies slid the keys into their cell door, a copper one, slightly bent to the right.

Interesting.

Ruy was lead up a series of stairs, trying to recognize where the hell he was. It wasn't like any of their previous bases, it was only slightly chilly and weirdly familiar atmosphere. But Ruy couldn't quite put his finger on it. He passed a lot of cells, more cells than anything they ever had before. He was eventually thrown into a dining hall, the chairs and long stone table overthrown and covered in cobwebs, sheets, and crusted blood. Trix kept a tight hold on Ruy's restraints and straightened at the sight of Vespera. Ruy's blood went cold, memories of his mother's brutal abuse causing his hands to shake. Trix noticed Ruy's shaking hands and merely made the restraints tighter.

"Lady Vespera, I have brought the prisoner-"

"Why is he restrained?" Vespera asked plainly.

Trix paused for a moment, "Because he is a prisoner and a traitor?"

"No," Vespera glared at Trix, "He is my son, my own flesh and blood. I want those restraints off him now." Vespera snarled.

Trix hesitated, his voice uneven as he muttered, "Lady Vespera, I don't think-"

"Who are you to tell me what is or isn't a good idea? Hm? Take the damn restraints off and get your greasy ass out of here before I throw your corpse out myself."

Clearly, Ruy's mother hasn't lost her charm.

Trix's hands were pale and slick as he undid Ruy's restraints, placing them on the table and quickly walking out the room, quietly closing the door behind him. Ruy massaged his wrists, his eyes never drifting for a moment.

"Hello, my boy," Vespera said softly, almost like she was trying to be comforting. Ruy glanced around, gathering the worn stone, his surroundings. The tall ceilings, the architecture, again it seemed so familiar to Ruy.

"We are in a castle..." Ruy stated.

"As perceptive as ever." Vespera nodded.

Ruy was quiet, struggling to think of what to say, "Why did you want me back?"

Vespera smiled, an oily, greasy smile, almost like she was trying to be sincere, "I missed you."

"If we are just going to be lying, I would like to go back to my cell, please."

Vespera clicked her tongue, rolling her eyes, "I felt like after three years, I let you run around free long enough. It's time to come home-"

"I'm not coming back, Vespera. Not ever am I coming back." Ruy spat. Vespera blinked before sighing and looking out one of the windows.

"Inalia did this to you, the land of the free-thinking and diverse," Vespera smirked, "But also the land of social standings, unfair nobility, and high taxings."

Vespera sneered at the window, "There is a reason I left."

Only then did Ruy figure out why the place felt so familiar

Ruy pushed open the shutters of the very window Vespera was looking out, stuttering as the smell of lemon verbena and rosemary filled his head. In the distance from the mountainside, the outline of Renisanca and Grecian villages dotted around could barely be seen. They were in Inalia.

"We are in the Castello Del Valentino. It is the same castle I used when I gathered slaves years ago." Vespera shrugged, boringly checking her nails, "It is the same castle Amalia, Mansi, and Nour was in when they were taken as children. Gods, what a disaster that was."

Ruy felt sick. Here his mother gathered slaves, children even, to complete her failed Nightfall project.

"Why did you bring me here? To make a statement?" Ruy asked, his jaw clenched.

"Oh, Ruy, everything I do is a statement. You see, Gisela tried to overthrow me in the Neverseen; now she rots in Exile, all thanks to her own son. The Neverseen were angry after our failed attack on Foxfire, which actually turned out quite well for me. It was perfect for me to just step in and remind the men why exactly I was their leader, and how I excelled where Gisela fails."

"And where exactly do you excel, Vespera?"

Vespera ran her hand over the overturned table, rubbing off the bits of dust settled on the edge.

"At first, I thought it was making people trust me," Vespera looked up at Ruy, her eyes sharp, "Until my own flesh and blood betrayed me." Her eyes settled on the massive wings branching from his back, to the slight point in his ears, her eyes observing the small sliver of his Dunmer markings that showed through his jacket. Her eyes flashed in displeasure, but she merely clicked her tongue.

"But I knew I was good at something; otherwise, I would've been thrown out of the Neverseen years ago. Then I realized the true power I have." She continued

Ruy tried to not show his fear as he swallowed down the growing bile in his throat.

Vespera merely smiled, "Fear."

"Fear?" Ruy repeated.

Vespera's heels clicked against the musty tile floor, "Fear. Because I may not be a legendary warrior or a beloved hero, but I am smart. Always have been."

Vespera checked her nails, "And I learned through my years that emotions control the mortal creature in so many ways. Allow it to cloud their judgment, deny the power, even cause them to decide who to pledge their loyalty to. I trusted loyalty once, but now," She sighed, looking Ruy up and down almost in disappointment, "I realized that loyalty is only given to those who have a stronger voice and know what to say, just like how Amalia warped your mind into believing you needed to leave-"

"I did need to leave, I was dying here," Ruy argued.

Vespera scoffed, "Of course you were. So I learned to bend loyalty into my favor even more than Amalia ever could. Because I would refuse to be quiet, I would let my enemies and even my allies know exactly who I was. What I could do." Vespera looked at her hands as if admiring blood staining her fingertips, almost like she imagined the dirt under her fingernails from burying everyone beneath her.

"People flocked to me. Realized who I was," Vespera looked over the Castello, "And what my wrath truly is capable of."

"And that is where Gisela failed." She chuckled, "Because she wasn't able to do what it takes. She doesn't have the decisiveness that I do. She doesn't have the capability to carry out what I can."

Ruy struggled for words. His mother spoke almost... sincerely, but he still faked a calm facade as he chuckled, "I never saw you as the arrogant type."

"There is a difference between arrogance and the honest truth." Vespera seethed.

Ruy swallowed, "So, you regained hold of Neverseen. It doesn't explain why you needed me back."

Vespera glanced at Ruy, stepping in front of her son. She slightly raised her hand, and Ruy stepped back, wondering where she was going to hit him.

She only plucked a piece of lint off Ruy's jacket. Even then, it took all of Ruy's power not to bleat in panic.

She put her hands behind her back, pacing the long dining room. Her outfit looked traditional, a little bit old, but traditional Inalian clothing. A long midnight blue palla with copper adornings, a charcoal grey chiton underneath. She wore large copper earrings and had her raven hair held back by a traditional braided Inalian headband. Usually, she never wore Inalian clothing, but something has changed. She seemed less temperamental since the Battle of Foxfire, less explosive by the small little things. And she has such a love-hate relationship with Inalia. She swore she would never be seen wearing their clothing again.

"I needed my best soldier back, not to mention that you have spent three years in the ranks of that damn guild. You have information." Vespera smiled, "And you are going to give it to me."

Ruy crossed his arms, "And why would I do that?"

"Because I am going to remove the tainting Amalia put on your mind. I hear she has a Mesmer, Maha Abara, within her Inner Circle. Apparently, Maha used to be one of our servants," Vespera rolled her eyes, "The irony is palpable,"

"Vatarians powers are strong, and Maha may have a clutch on your mind to make sure you remain in their ranks and keep their secrets." She finished.

"And how do you know I didn't leave you of my own whim, and I remain loyal to them and them only?" Ruy spat.

Vespera's eyes cut through him, "Because you know what I am capable of, and the smart boy I know wouldn't be so dumb to risk their lives."

Ruy didn't know what to say.

"Are you... threatening me?"

"Just so I know you will remain where you are while we figure out how to remove this Mesmer's curse on you."

Vespers started towards the door, "I know you aren't all that close to the elves, but I did snatch Gisela's boy, what's his name? Keith? Karter?" Vespera snapped her fingers, a smirk pulling at her lips, "Keefe."

Ruy froze, his jaw clenched.

"You two may not be close. But you realize the past he has with Amalia, and how it would ruin her if he came to any harm." Vespera smiled, "Would she blame you if the boy came to any harm? You care for the guild, for Amalia." Vespera scoffed, "I cared for a Morretti once too, son." She gestured to herself, to her ruined mind, "Look where it brought me."

Gods, did she know about Sophie and Him? She was vague; maybe she didn't know the whole thing?

Ruy clenched his fingers, his bruised bloody knuckles aching.

"Your room is up the center threshold, go up the stairs, and take a left. The key is already in the door."

"You aren't throwing me back in the cells?"

"Why would I do that? I already told you what the repercussions are if you do betray me." Vespera opened the doors, patting down her outfit.

"Oh, and, son?" Vespera looked over her shoulder, her hand resting on the large door handles.

"Welcome back to the Neverseen." She grinned, a fake smile meant only to remind Ruy precisely what his place was. She gently closed the doors behind her, leaving Ruy.

Ruy looked out the window at his home that was so close but unreachable. Untouchable. He would never make it out of here.

One significant power move to remind Ruy exactly where he was in all of this.

Fitz aggressively knocked on Candleshade's door, repeating Ro's name.

"What do you want?!" Lord Cassius snapped, opening the door. Fitz ignored him, pushing past him into the Candle shade threshold and calling out Ro's name.

"What is the meaning of this-"

"We need the princess, where is she?" Tam asked.

Ro came sprinting down the stairs. Their bodyguards were the only ones aware of the whole Vatarian situation. The pink in her pigtails faded out, and she had two axes in her hands as she met all of the panicked elves' eyes.

"They got them." Was all Fitz said.

Ro's eyes widened, knowing what they meant, even as Lord Cassius raved in the back.

"Rude children, of course, my son is friends with these barbarians- they got who?!" Lord Cassius snapped at him. Ro slid her axes into her sheathes, pointing at Cassius.

"Lock all the doors and don't let anybody in while I'm gone."

"What! I need you here to protect me!" Lord Cassius begged.

"I'm Keefe's bodyguard, not yours, you insufferable little man." Ro pushed all the elves out the door, "I doubt anyone is coming for you anyway." She spat at him. Ro closed the door behind her and approached the other bodyguards, who were protectively gathered around their charges.

"What do we know?" She asked. Dex explained the panic signals they picked up and the apparent situation.

"We need to go to my dad," Ro said, securing her armor straps.

"And why is that?" Sandor asked, crossing his arms.

Ro didn't pay him much attention as she stomped on the ground, in a fast repeating pattern.

"Sophie made," Another stomping on the ground, "A deal with," Another stomping, clearly growing restless, "My dad. A while back." Finally, a gnome popped their head out. They looked annoyed at Romhilda, but she just snarled at them, stating they needed to visit the Ogre King immediately. The gnome realized that something was going on, and simply opened up the hole so that they could all climb in. Just as they began to jump into the tunnel, a small pop could be heard from all of their pockets. Fitz snatched the thick paper that was conjured into his pocket, gaping at the propaganda. Everyone else also got one and were gaping at it just like he was. On the backside was the continuation of Maya Angelou's poem.

"And when we come to it

To the day of peacemaking

When we release our fingers

From fists of hostility

And allow the pure air to cool our palms."

Fitz was turning the card around to look at the front, but Grizel pushed him into the tunnel behind everyone else, struggling with her small baby bump.

"We can read them on the way there, we need to move!" She insisted.

The bodyguards helped everyone in, and Ro leaned to the gnome.

"As fast as possible," Ro muttered. The gnome nodded and started singing their way to Ravagog.

These cards appeared in all of their pockets immediately, as if conjured. Which means Keefe clearly made propaganda before he left, and he had someone else helping out on his plan. A powerful conjurer.

Fitz struggled to look at the art in the dark, but a small whirring sound came from the front of the line. Soon, a little handmade light sprung to life in Dex's hand, and he held it to the card. He went quiet as he looked over it, and he handed the light down the line to the waiting elves. Fitz was the last to get the light, but when he held it to the card, he got chills.

It was the Fall of Inalia.

Or rather, a massive collage of what it was—burning buildings, blood splatterings, crumbling sculptures. In the corner was the silhouette of a man being held on his knees in front of a gathered crowd. In the other corner was what Fitz guessed was Alexios and his mothers, a black silhouette of a child and two women running into the shadows.

But the centerpiece was Sophie and Allesandro, back to back. They were both stoic, warriors each of their own caliber, a father and daughter unfairly torn apart. A gruesome murder in front of a child, childhood turned to bitter ash among the flames. Blood dribbled out of each of their mouths, from the very corner of their lips and dripping down their chins. Sophie's gold speckled eyes were pointed downward, as if in mourning. But Allesandro's were inclined to the sky, just slightly, as if he were taking his last breath.

It showed Sophie as she is now, a grown Assassin, and Allesandro as he once was. Back to back, you saw the similarities between them, which made the image even darker. No, not darker, but... harsher. Just a big slap in the face almost. A reminder of what the Inalian people had to go through. The colors weren't whimsical and watery like the first piece of propaganda, they were harsh lines and dark colors. Bloody reds, coals blacks, rusty oranges, and iron greys. Thick paint with a strong message.

"Damn, Keefe really isn't messing around," Tam muttered as Fitz handed the light back up.

Above them, they could hear the muffled talk of the cards from the elves.

"Woah... is this the Fall of Inalia people are talking about?"

"The Council caused this? Actually?"

"Is that Sophie's dad?"

"Is it just me, or is he kinda hot?"

"What the hell is wrong with you?! The man was murdered!"

"Sophie and the Inner Circle went through this when they were children?"

"How many deaths were there truly?"

"No, this is just the Vatarians trying to make us seem like the guilty party."

"Yeah this is all probably all exaggerated."

"How do we know though?"

Ro simply kept her eyes forward, trying to focus.

"Sometimes, the truth is a little too harsh to swallow." Was all she said as they all tracked towards Ravagog, art of the murderous atrocity simply tucked in their pockets.

The image of the blood dripping out of Allesandro and Sophie's mouth remained scalded in their brains.

Nour watched the door Mansi and Alvar went through, trying to drone out their quiet whispers. He was worried about both of them, after all, this is a pretty big revelation. But he also didn't want to intrude. Everyone knew about Mansi's pregnancy by now, but now, they only managed to get a moment alone. The Inalian Senate, Avriman King, and Wampanoag Cheif were all muttering amongst themselves. Nour put his head in his hands, blowing out a breath.

They just lost a Vatarian city to the Neverseen.

Nour knew his eye of Ra was starting to smudge with his sweat, but he didn't rub it off. It always brought him comfort. When he was in Inalia or doing missions far away from his comfort zone, it always felt nice to have a bit of Egypitnat with him. He often contemplated getting it tattoed instead of drawing it on. Still, he liked drawing it on every morning, a predictable thing to do every day. Not to mention the tattooing process would hurt so bad.

"Anything yet, Dawoud?" The Wampanoag Chief asked. Nour glanced at him, remembering that he was supposed to be trying to get into contact with the guild or anything. But it was no use. The Neverseen really thought this whole thing through. His Minyama wasn't patching through. His panic ring was going unheard, and teleporting out with crystals or anything has been proven increasingly difficult. It seems they put up an invisible light boundary around Egypitnat, and teleporting just seems to flicker out.

"No." He said gravely, not bothering to tell the Chief he stopped trying. They were utterly stranded right now. They all managed to find a Medjay hideout in the Feather district of Egypitnat, which was far enough away from the palace to create a plan.

Nour glanced at the trap door they were hiding under, worried about the burning city. The very city he was born in.

A Medjay walked in, his face stoic, but his eyes relieved.

"I just got information that Alexios Morretti managed to get Fang Guanyu, Governor Hennerick, and our Queen out of the city safely. Fang Guanyu had some private officers set up in case of an emergency, I believe, from his past military training. Some of our Medjays are with them as well, they are all safe-"

"Well, good for them! What about us?!" King Hamidi, the Avriman king, snapped at the Medjay. The Medjay, to his credit, didn't flinch.

When Nour was a child, he never quite thought he would end up joining the Assassins. When he was young, he wanted to become a Medjay. Quiet, reliable, protective followers of the Egypitnat royal family. Tall and intimidating, Nour felt like he always would've fit in with them better. But as he grew older, he realized that their only loyalty sat with the crown. They had no love for each other, no sense of closeness, only them and their jobs. And Nour growing up with the Assassins at his side, he realized that he never would've fit in. Not truly. Because even though he is quiet, except for the times he teases, he truly thrives on the Inner Circle. On the built family. He had no other family to go to after the Neverseen took him as a slave in his youth. Why would he abandon his only known family to join a band of stone-cold soldiers?

"If we get past the light border the Neverseen set up, we can probably find a way to teleport you out of here." Nour sighed.

"And how do you propose we do that? The streets are crawling with Neverseen dogs. They killed all of our bodyguards and soldiers, and our faces are known all over the Vatarian world!" King Hamidi hissed. Nour resisted the urge to roll his eyes, but the king had a point. They were stuck in between a rock and a hard place, and honestly, the best thing they could do is wait it out. He knew Akil and the Hidden Ones were doing the best that they could, as Nour taught them to, but there was only so much they could do.

The Medjay stepped forward, handing his shawl to the shaking Senator Fausta. She accepted it with a small thank you, and the Medjay returned to his stoic statue position in front of the door. The Medjays were gentle giants to their charges, large and muscly, must excel in hand to hand combat, but apparently, their long-range combat is like nothing seen before. Their uniforms somewhat varied, a few layers of royal white linens arranged in whichever every way they found useful, red silk tied around their waist and royal purple armbands wrapped around their weapons.

The one thing that was universal about them was their long-sleeved tattoos speaking about their upbringing in Egypitnat hieroglyphs. They covered their entire arms and even shoulders if their stories were long enough. Nour was lucky enough to remember his early teachings of hieroglyphics before he was taken and could discern some of them. It seems this specific Medjay comes from a long line of Medjays. His mother and father were doing traders work in Inalia, they happened to be there at the wrong time. They were killed during the fall of Inalia. He is now a Medjay to continue their family legacy.

"Maybe we can-"

The trapdoor suddenly ripped open, and everyone snapped to attention. The few Medjays that were in their hiding spot rushed around the Vatarian leaders, Nour grabbing a nearby bow and loading it with an arrow.

Until the Dunmer Royal family came rushing in.

"Go, go, go, go," Sarai muttered to her sons, her hands grimed as she pushed them in. Another Medjay escorted them down.

"They were a part of the conference, they are safe." The Medjay muttered to all of them. Sarai, Dorian, Kalem, Cato...

"Where is Ruy?" Nour asked, his voice quiet as he put down his bow. Sarai's lip quivered, and she held her remaining sons closer. A muscle flickered in Nour's jaw as he demanded, slightly louder, "Where. Is. Ruy?"

Mansi and Alvar came out form the room, looking over the situation. Sarai took a deep breath before she spoke.

"Cato got cornered, and Ruy ran and got them off. He knew where they were gonna punch, he memorized their moves. He got so many of them down, but his mother..." Sarai put a hand over her mouth as if reliving the moment shook her to her core.

"He held a dagger over his heart." Sarai hovered her finger right where the dagger was, right over her heart. Dorian watched his wife with such a face of agony, it was like his ruined heart was being dragged across coals.

"He swore to her. He spat to her that he would never go back. He was going to do it! He was going to shove that stupid blade through his heart, and he would've..." Sarai put her head in her hands, her limp hair falling around her blood-soaked horns and crown.

"But she got him with some... tazer? I don't know, I don't-" Cato hugged his mother while Kalem approached his father. He whispered something to the king, who grew slightly angrier at what Kalem proposed. He opened his mouth to scold Kalem, but the door swung open, Zuberi and Lysandra came running in.

At least, what Nour assumed was Lysandra.

Her curled hair was wet with sweat and matted, but dripping from her mouth was... blood. Her once beautiful hands were covered in it as well, as if she wore red velvet gloves of her enemies' innards. Her ladylike composition was ruined even more as she opened her mouth to scowl, every single one of her teeth turned to sharpened points and covered with gore.

What the fuck?!

The Vatarians all shuffled away from her as she snatched some of the water out of Nour's hand and guzzled it down. Nour just stared, frozen in shock.

"I covered out tracks, they won't find us," Zuberi stated, tying his long white hair behind him. The Dunmer didn't bat an eye at Lysandra, she was so pristine merely a few hours earlier, now she seemed like a wild beast.

"Why didn't you warn us, damn it!" Dorian started at Zuberi.

"I only attended the Conference with you because I got a vision of Mentore Amalia fighting Elrond in the library, I didn't know when or where it was going to happen! Much less why it was happening in the first place."

"Where is the bastard anyway?" Mansi spat, gesturing to Zuberi and Dorian, seeing they were Elrond-less.

"The stupid slimy son of a-"

"Dorian." Sarai snapped, reminding him about his language.

Dorian sighed, "He got away."

Wait a second... visions.

"What do you mean, visions?" Alvar asked, hugging Mansi closer to him.

Zuberi didn't even bat an eye, "I'm a Seer, I can see parts of the future."

Oh my gods, he couldn't be Lilac's father, could he? Lilac's seer powers just started to manifest-

"I'm not the little one's father if that is what you are wondering. But I did get a vision of her sharing a similar power. I came to also hopefully get a moment with her, maybe to ask about training." Zuberi cut them off, clearly knowing what they were thinking. Lysandra threw the bottle back to Nour, who stumbled with it.

"The Neverseen have taken the palace and are securing the borders. In about an hour, it is going to be impossible to get through without being caught. " Lysandra explained, poorly wiping her bloodied claws off on her dress.

Nour glanced at Alvar and Mansi, who looked at him too.

They were pinned down and could only wait for help to arrive.

I hope you all enjoyed chapter 1 of act 2! Please remember to vote, follow, share, and comment!

_Sibylline_