She felt like she was heading to some kind of war. Armed with her bow and half mask. Geared for a struggle. Which in a way this would be a struggle of it’s own. She went to face the man who had helped make her life hell for many moons.

Pausing for several long moments as she stared up at the gates leading to Ishgard. This was it. This would end one of two ways. Her death or his. There was no other option. Even if she had to die she would do so to protect them.

The letter was still fresh in her mind. Threats against her mother and brother. Dragging her brother into something like this. They barely spoke as it was. Now his life was in danger without him even knowing. There was no one to protect her mother and brother but her. Especially since if she involved anyone else he had threatened to kill them. The noose was already around her neck. Now it was her choice on how this all ended.

Twelve be damned if she would let this end with the blood of her family on her hands…

Even if it meant her own death. One life for many. It was a sacrifice she was willing to make.

Destiney marched into Ishgard with a purpose. Straight to the Aurifore household. Now before her nerves failed her. Before she could second guess herself. While her resolve was still as strong as steel.

Thankfully the door was already part way open. A younger looking version of Lancefer with sea green eyes and tousled hair was on his way out. Destiney brushed past him without a word, leaving the boy looking a bit flabbergasted. Straight towards the study where she knew Vladislav would be. Doors banging open as she shoved them and stepped inside.

Vladislav looked up from his paperwork. Clearly not amused by the current level of noise. Though that expression soon became a smile of triumph as Destiney stood before his desk on the other side. Even if he couldn’t see her full expression with that mask he knew he had won. His prize had just delivered herself right to him. Without even considering he might be keeping guards after the incident with the trial and his son’s death. They waited off to the sides in the shadows. Waiting for his signal.

“This ends now, Grandfather. No more games. No more threats. Just you and I.” Destiney said as she reached for her bow. To hell if this would be a crime. He hid enough of his own crimes behind the money and power he had built in his lifetime. More blood on her hands was a small price to pay.

Glimpses of that day she nearly died. The feel of blood on her hands. Blood of men who had been innocent of the crimes she hunted them for. The aftermath she recovered for years from. Yet this time…

Her hands were steady as she aimed that arrow at Vladislav. If nothing else the Aurifore had made her stronger in hunting her. In accusing her of things that were not wrong. They had given her back the final pieces that had been shattered. No more suffering. Her eyes stared at him with their own steel as she waited to see what his reaction would be.

“Indeed. It does end here. Not the way you want it to though. You are a smart girl but you are easily thrown off your game when the lives of those you love are held in the balance.” Vladislav sneered as he raised a hand.

Those guards in the shadows moved forward. Destiney looked about in shock just as a shield slammed in her left arm. Her bow dropped with a cry of pain as she held the injured arm. Something in her arm had given with that hard smash. Her arm had been taut as the bow string. However they did not give her a chance to recover or call upon aether to help the pain. There was a sword point at her throat. Another against the small of her back.

“Take her away. She will be tried for her crimes. The latest being the threat of murdering me.” Vladislav told the guards. His expression was calm though his eyes glittered in triumph. “Use caution. She is also a mage besides a mere archer.”

Defeated… She had failed. Her emotions had let herself be caught off guard. The only comforting thought was that maybe now he would leave the rest of her family alone. She silently prayed to the Twelve to protect them. She cradled her left arm close as she let the guards roughly escort her away. The only signs she had even been in that room where the arrow in the wall and the bow on the floor.

She would end up in prison. Possibly at the bottom of the witchdrop. Yet rage still burned in her against Vladislav. However what else could she do. Teary eyes looked skyward as she was lead through Ishgard’s streets like a criminal. So this was how it would end… She had been so foolish to think she could stand alone against him. At least she had gotten to leave her goodbyes…

‘Halone… Please have mercy on my soul…’