Wrong place at the wrong time?

“Not even Raziela will be able to recognize her disguise, only us two will know,” he assured her before he looked at Nithmeia that obviously wasnt fond of the change of terms. But even if she was scared to be shunned away, hadnt she realized at this point that she wouldnt have been allowed to return anyway? He looked at her hand as she grabbed him, scoffing at her plea. “Dont try to reason with me. You read my story in that little book, didnt you?” He told her before he nodded at Alyssa’s words. He pulled his hand to himself before he got up from his seat. “He will die at your hands or all three of you die. One life to keep two alive,” he sentenced, not caring if it was breaking her heart. He put away the contract in a closet before locking it, turning to Nithmeia afterwards. 
He grabbed her arm and started pulling her back to the room with Salil and Dahria, even if she wasnt willing to follow his lead. “Name’s Andrew. But I have a feeling you would figure it out eventually,” he explained on the way to the room as he either dragged her or pulled.

Dahria sat on the bed, checking Salil’s hands as she had been lost in her thoughts about what could have happened. She had tried to follow, but the guards outside the door wouldnt let her pass, not for anything in the world. “I’m worried,” she mumbled to herself, but then footsteps were heard, getting louder and louder.

There was something gratifying in getting to push around what his kind viewed as freaks, but it wasnt that he was hellbent on making her life a living hell; after all, she was unlike the rest, quite valuable now with the contract she signed. He could see the confusion in the fenix’s face, she was wondering what was going on and if he had hurt her friend. He looked to the tiefling, frowning at her whisper, “Yes. She does,” he confirmed. Crossing his arms, he shook his head at her argument. Couldnt she see that this was just how it had to be? It wouldnt be a crime without a witness and with Dahria seeing and knowing, Nithmeia could be certain that her crime would never fade away.

Dahria wasnt dumb, she could tell something was up. She moved out of bed onto her feet as she ran a hand through her hair to keep it behind her, “What’s going to happen?” She asked, frowning a little worried. She looked at Salil and then Nithmeia before the brute who seemed cold as stone. She went to Nithmeia, grabbing her hands gently. “Nithmeia look at me. What’s going to happen?” She begged to know, shifting between her eyes.

This was bad, worse than ever before, Dahria could feel it. No one was saying anything about what was going to happen, not even the brute who seemed to patiently wait in his end of the room. She felt Nithmeia’s hand on her face and looked into the red eyes as her own started to sting. What monster was she going to become? Dahria felt nothing but questions rise and it was making her frustrated. She wanted to stop her as she pried herself away but before she could turn around and raise her hand, she felt the brute’s eyes on her. He grabbed her by her shoulder and turned her while his big hands kept her in place. She wanted to hiss at him, but that wouldnt make him let go.
She was forced to look as Nithmeia forced Salil to back up against the wall. Tears started running down her cheeks when she finally realized what was going to happen and in a hopeless attempt she tried to shake herself free from the brute’s grip; but Andrew wasnt budging, he wanted her to see this happen.
“Why is this happening?” She asked in a whisper as her throat felt like it was twisting around itself, making her voice strained with emotion. “Please dont,” she begged softly, now crying when that was all she apparently could do - Cry and watch. Her two friends, one which she had spent so long on nursing back to health to save the other. Now to just die? She gritted her teeth and sobbed quietly to herself. She couldnt comprehend how it happened but suddenly something she couldnt explain seemed to happen between the two and Salil collapsed. It was then Andrew let her go and went to check and make sure the deed was done. He looked at the male tiefling as he had crouched down to him, nodding at Nithmeia’s whisper. He grabbed the male’s horn before breaking off a piece of it, which looked easy for him, but it really wasnt. He lifted the dead body over his shoulder before he turned to the door. If she wanted it, he’d give her the broken piece of horn and look at her. “The deal is sealed.” He assured her before making his leave.

Dahria just stood there, looking at there Salil had laid while her mind seemed to be processing. “You killed him,” she whispered as of realization had finally kicked in. “Why? He loved you like no one else...” She mumbled, feeling tears stream down her face. She looked at the tiefling in disbelief. “Tell me!” She demanded, raising her voice in frustration.

It was uncertain whether the daemon would do as she asked but he left the room with Salil to do whatever he was going to do with the deceased; or more murdered Salil. Dahria knew most would be frustrated with what had just occured, she was just frustrated that it had been the only way. Even then, if her behaviour seemed hurt or angry, it was all just worry for the tiefling. Salil had told Dahria in her secret hideout how he had felt. And Nithmeia knew tis already. Question really was, would she be able to live with what she had been forced to do?
She explained what had been at stake and Dahria nodded, still feeling the tears from the loss poking in her eye, wanting eacape like the ground was yearning for teardrops to absorb. “You’re not a monster,” she refused, shaking her head.
She noticed the change as it began to spread. Suddenly it was like the tiefling had left and now a human was here in front of her. She was beautiful. Dahria, who was still crying was baffled at her beauty, carefully moving closer to her. “Is this....” She whispered to herself in confusion, lifting a hand carefully to touch her cheek. What was done couldnt be undone, but what was the cost? “I’m sorry,” she said in a genuine tone, cupping the disguised tiefling’s cheek. But only for a second, instead she let go and wrapped her arms close around the other female, holding her close in a comforting embrace.

She could feel the tiefling just stand there and soon she felt the push as some distance was made between them. She frowned at her words, shaking her head in confusion. Would she rather be yelled at until she felt horrible? “Maybe not, but I’ve never been one to judge,” she admitted, wrapping her arms around herself.
But still, the change in Nithmeia had shown, not just in appearance but behaviour as well. Dahria would give anything to roll back the time to just an hour prior to this and keep it there forever. “Dont worry about me,” she said in a serious tone, looking at the human-like girl in front of her. She could feel the wall building up between them and it stung. “You said it yourself. One life to protect the others,” she mumbled, shaking her head once more. “What’s gonna happen to you now?” She wanted to know.
The door opened and a daemon pointed at Dahria, “Time to go, fenix. Get a move on,” he said, making Dahria look down. She grabbed a necklace around her neck and broke the lock to tear the chain apart. She offered it to Nithmeia. It was just a simple heart in a chain, old by the looks of it. “Keep it safe. In case I dont see you again,” she said in a soft tone, blinking a few times to herself. Even if Nithmeia wouldnt take it, Dahria would leave it in the room before she’d follow the daemon out.

This was really a goodbye wasnt it? The way Nithmeia’s eyes seemed to water made Dahria frown as she realized the same as the tiefling; their path crossing again would be unlikely. That made Dahria’s heart hurt a little. The daemon looked at Nithmeia’s disguise, mumbling in their ancient tongue that she would never be able to hide. These other brutes werent like Andrew, they didnt seem to think twice or even think their actions through. “I’m not ready for goodbye’s,” Dahria whispered vulnerably, shaking her head. It was clear that the fenix didnt want to go voluntarily but how long could her bratty attitude hold up before the daemons would forget that they were tasked to protect her?
The tiefling started drawing in the air and the daemon would have none of it. He went to the newly transformed and grabbed her just as it was too late. Whatever she had done had gone to the fenix. The brute hissed and struck the tiefling, making Dahria widen her eyes before jumping him. “Dont hit her ever again!” She demanded, pulling at his collar, but then he grabbed her. She looked to Nithmeia, her eyes saddened. “I’ll find you,” she assured her, just as the brute got her to let go and showed her out the room. “I promise,” she whispered as the doorframe cut the tiefling out of her field of view.

Dahria wasnt sure where she was being taken, but it didnt seem to be anything good. Maybe this was the moment where he would throw her on the street and tell her to never show her face here again. Luckily for her, Raziela spotted them. The brute groaned at the empusa’s hiss, but he didnt quite release the grip on the fenix yet. “Your captive was about to meet her end,” he answered coldly, letting go of Dahria as Raziela demanded it. He looked at the fenix, looking her up and down before he looked at his sister again. “Get her the fuck out of the house. We caught her meddling with the tiefling, they had searched the cellar and found this,” he said as he pulled out the necklace that the empusa might recognize.

Andrew ignored her request to drop the facade. Even if she wanted him to drop the bitter attitude, he wasnt going to let the fenix in on the family intrigues of the Aelius’ siblings. He knew his claim wouldnt stick unless he provided proof, the necklace would luckily be proof enough. Why he wasnt mentioning that Dahria had the book as well was for the unknown; maybe he wanted the fenix to learn the truth about his bloodline before she got herself too entangled with his sister.
“You can think what you want Raziela,” he dismissed her just as cold, before he looked at the fenix. “Maybe she’ll be able to do something the others couldnt,” he mumbled, leaving the two of them to Raziela’s final words. Dahria wasnt sure what to think of it all, but she did frown a little at Raziela’s words. “A warm body? Creative. Which ancient book of denial have you dug that one out?” she scoffed before she went past the empusa to walk out on the balcony; she wasnt allowed to leave the house but she was yearning for the outside. And even if she wouldnt admit it, there was something hurtful about the way Raziela had handled the situation with Andrew. She wrapped her arms around herself and looked at the sky, before she closed her eyes and sighed deeply. The wind was cold, but she didnt mind for now.

She hadnt expected that Raziela would join her as she stood there and drew in a few deep breaths of the evening air. She closed her eyes and listened to the empusa’s question. She shrugged, “You didnt say I couldnt,” she answered, opening her eyes. She hadnt meant to take anything, all she had wanted was to look. But outing Nithmeia in that way could land her in great trouble and Dahria didnt want that for her friend.
Raziela could hiss and spit venom all she wanted, it didnt seem to faze Dahria the slightest. “Fine. Dont fall in love then,” the fenix said with a shrug, stepping closer to Raziela. “You’re the one who is blowing this whole ordeal up, scolding and hissing at me,” she said as she stepped closer and closer, placing her hands against the railing as she looked down at the smaller female between her arms. “Are you afraid of taking chances and seeing where this could lead? Or is because you like to be in control of everything in your life?” She asked a little more serious.

Nothing had to be easy with this girl, Dahria could already tell. She frowned a little as she let her talk, though she couldnt really hide that she wasnt buying every word. Was she really supposed to believe that Raziela did nothing more than follow orders? She however kept her mouth shut, and just looked at her. She was right that they werent able to actively procreate but she had to scoff, “You’re so medieval, holy shit,” she mumbled as she shook her head.
But then she started speaking of being a victim and when she turned it towards Dahria, the fenix’s frown got more prominent as the empusa removed her arms and moved inside. She stood for a second before she rolled her eyes and followed. “Let’s roll it back then. Following orders? Whose orders? Clearly not your leader’s, because I wouldnt be here if that was so,” she said in a bratty tone, crossing her arms.
“And I’m not acting like a victim in regards to what happened to my brother. But I thought at least you would have some sort of understanding in what it’s like to lose a sibling in that way,” she said before she made a deep sigh and shook her head. “Guess I was wrong. I’m done playing these games with you. How do I get out of here?” She asked, though she felt bad for leaving Nithmeia behind. She just had to believe that she had made some sort of deal with the brute that would ensure her survival.

The hiss and how she pushed her back just confirmed what Dahria thought; that the empusa did understand that pain. She gritted her teeth a little at the grip around her wrist but she didnt fight it. She just looked into those dark cold eyes and remained silent. The way her eyes softened up even for just a second made up her mind. She wasnt going to give up this easily. “Well you dont have to be alone in your mourning, even if you think you’re better off.” She argued but then she felt the grip loosen around her wrist.
She sighed and looked down. “You’ll get nowhere if you dont broaden your horizon. Whenever you feel like talking, you’ll know where to find me,” she said before she looked at the empusa. Maybe this would kill her in the long run but she didnt want to give up, she just couldnt keep pushing. She made her leave and felt that quick rush of regret, looking back at the house but deciding to keep going. So much for being the adventurous type?