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…
(The last couple of days between talks with friends and other things I’ve come up with an idea for Dest. An it continues the plot I had going with her family in Ishgard even. Two parts because it’s late. So this is mostly Dest’s departure. The good stuff will be tomorrow when I’m fresh. I’m feeling better even if still a bit sad. It’s… Hmm. A sadness that will take time to heal but one that might have been for the best in the long run. Only time will tell.)
One last glance. One last parting. Deck of cards and her linkpearl left behind on Rhisi’s desk. Maybe the cards would answer to someone else in time. A moment’s pause to slip something by Nate’s door. This was goodbye.
Thank you for everything. I’m sorry for this. For getting you hurt for nothing. If I come through this by the will of the gods… I’ll come back for this. So please hold on to it for me for now. You have been the most dearest friend I have never deserved. If I don’t return please… Find a way to be happy for me.
The gift he had given her from starlight carefully wrapped in the letter. If she wore it, it would sure meet a grim end. If she survived this… She was definitely coming back for it. She had cried more then enough tears since it had arrived. The letter that diverged her path from that of the people she had chosen to call family.
I’m sorry because I know you are head of security. And that you are protective of those you chose to protect. Please don’t feel bad for what is about to happen. Know I went of my own choice. Please do not come after me. I have to do this on my own. Thank you for everything. You and Raiden both.
One for Yuti. Sweet and caring Yuti.
Yuti,
I’m sorry I didn’t have a true chance to better help you learn. I’ve enjoyed your kind and caring heart. Please never change. Keep helping people. Keep being kind and sweet. If you ever have to seek out my uncle, Ricard Starkweather, for more help in studying. He taught me. Surely he’d be willing to help you if you mentioned me. Goodbye.
Thank you for all that you have taught me in the moons that I have been with the Order. I’m sorry I was never able to really get to know you well despite the time I’ve been with the company. I wish you and Oni many happy years. You are a strong woman and I’m glad to have gotten to work under you.
Another pause at Dusk’s door. Her hand lingering on the wood a moment before finally sliding the note under.
I hope you are truly right about the steel I possess. I’m about to test it to it’s limits. Thank you for all the talks. For generally being like an older sister to me. It has meant the world to me. Maybe if the gods are kind and I make it back we can deal with sending Leon on. I wish you well.
She couldn’t really leave one for C’lest. She remembered the woman was not able to read. That was disappointing. C’lest had been such a help to her. Had helped to try an teach her to defend herself. They had never gotten to finish those lessons. She also left one for Chloe as well. Thanking her and wishing she had had a chance to hear her story. That was something she had never gotten to do. Might never get to do now.
If she lingered too long they would stop her. They would try to convince her there was something else that could be done. This was something she had to do alone. Too much was on the line. This was her problem. She would not drag any more of her precious family in on this.
She paused at the doorway. One last look for however much longer she would remember this place. A place she had chosen to call home for so many moons. She untied the red string at her wrist before letting it fall to the floor at her feet.
“Goodbye… I love you all…”
Now. It had to be now before she lost her nerve. Or before the tears began anew. There was no more time. She focused on the aether to teleport herself away.
One last final stop. One last final goodbye. She owed him that much. Soren… Hopefully he would also pass along the note to Ikara.
Silently she left them at his house in the mailbox. There was no way she dared go inside. He’d question. She’d not have any answers she could give him. Like the rest of her family he would only try to stop her.
Thank you for all that you have done. Please… Just ignore Alexois. Please just stay out of trouble. I’m afraid I won’t be around to fix you up anymore. If you can please pass along the second letter to Ikara. I have to do this and I’m afraid of what might happen. So this is goodbye and I’m sorry.
I’m not sure what happened. I had not got a chance to find out. I’m so sorry I couldn’t say goodbye then or now. I can only hope someday you will forgive me. I hope I was never too hard on you as a healer. I just wanted to keep you safe and you have done so much for me. You have such a bright future ahead of you I’m sure of it. Please keep your chin up. I’ll miss you.
She teleported off again. She looked up to her house. It had been so neglected in all of this. She paused and turned around to look. Alexois was smugly leaning against the railing.
“Go away. I have no time for you.” Destiney said quietly as she turned to start walking in the direction of Chee’s house nearby.
“Well that is a shame. Walking to your death now are you? Shame. I would have liked to play with you more.” Alexois taunted with a sneer as he followed at a slight distance. “I got word of what Vladislav is doing. Here you thought I was bad.”
“Go away. Leave Soren and Lance alone. You’ve won. Just go away.”
Alexois raised a brow at her words. He casually shrugged though she was clearly not looking his way. “Just because you do this doesn’t mean I stop bothering them.”
Destiney decided it was best to just continue to ignore him. He had been haunting her with his presence for far too long. Unless he was planning to make a move he was only here to taunt and torment. She didn’t have time for him. Nor the patience.
She looked back and he was gone. Chee’s house stood before her now. One last letter. To her best friend and sister. She owed Chee this goodbye.
I’m sorry. I truly am. I should not be saying this kind of goodbye. Certainly not this way. I have to put a stop to it all. Grandfather has gone too far this time. I cannot risk anyone else in this matter. So I’m going alone to Ishgard to end this. Please don’t try anything. This is between him and I. I just hope someday you will forgive me for this. You have been like a sister to me. My best friend. I’ll miss you. Goodbye…
Arriving in Camp Dragonhead. Going straight to Ishgard would have been wiser. Yet she wanted to walk there. Time. To remember. To thank the gods for all that she had been given. Cerulean eyes looking off towards the distant spires of Ishgard. Towards whatever fate lay in wait for her there.
“It’s time for this to end. I’m coming Vladislav Aurifore. It’s time you and I ended this. For good…”
(So I decided on writing this Saturday while at work but was too tired to work on it. However the scene below took place today (Monday). Originally was going to have happened Wednesday last week after Tara patched him up but yesterday’s (Sunday) events changed my mind. So I wanted to write this taking place today instead because of those events. It’s a tad more fitting now then before. Hints at things to come somewhere after the holidays. But I wanted to write this before I finished the rest of the asks. So I am getting there. :D)
Sky blue eyes stared up towards the grey clouds. More snow soon to come they promised. Something that was not an usual occurrence for Ishgard. He had trouble remembering anymore what his city used to look like without the cold and snow. Hard to believe it had been so long already.
He knew he should have returned home last eve. Was probably going to hear about it from his mother at the very least. Hopefully his father was too busy with work for Dzemael to even be home at this hour. He could slip in an find his spare armor. The chainmail he had worn yesterday needed repairs. There was no way he could wear it to duty without questions being raised. He had no answers to give. None that made sense. There was no way he could explain it without seeming as if he was crazy. Though he had seen a good many crazy things since he had started following his cousin around.
Yesterday… The man with the snow white hair and teeth like razors. The one Tenrai had called a foul water sprite. His left hand came to rest over his right shoulder. There was no real pain. Tara had taken good care of the injury he had sustained. Yet… The memories of that brief fight still disturbed him. There was still no name to put with the stranger’s face yet he had claimed to know Destiney. Which disturbed him even more…
Chaotic. His cousin had some very chaotic choices of people to claim knowing. That was the best way he could think of it. Like turbulent waters of the sea. He hadn’t had a chance to see her an ask about the strange man he had found outside of Dragonhead.
It had started as mere curiosity and concern. The man had been sitting in the snow against the outer wall. Wanting to make sure the fool hadn’t frozen to death mere feet from the camp itself. There was a sort of madness about the stranger wearing the half-mask. Talking about dragon blood. Saying how it had no effect on him an wanting to test it on Lance. An then… The odd way the man fought like a demon. Trying to pierce Lance with those… Things! Like the tentacles of a octopus but far more dangerous. Their shape was not solid. More like half frozen water able to shift shape. The edges tipped crimson with blood. There was no way Lance wanted to find out if it was truly dragon blood in those dangerous tendrils.
Lance hadn’t wanted to fight. Not at first. However there was no way he was going to allow someone so dangerous to walk freely. Not in that state of madness. However he had no idea where his cousin was to call her to deal with the masked man. It had been like fighting a Hydra. Cut off one an two regrew. Until he was facing at least seven tendrils. In the end it wasn’t one of those tipped in the color of blood that caught him. He had opened up a gaping wound in the man’s chest but even that did not seem to faze the man. From there something shot out like those tendrils, caught him in the right shoulder. His chainmail hadn’t seemed to be much of an obstacle for it either. That creeping cold. Like something crawling under his skin. Then it was nearly over as quickly as it had begun. The man withdrew and fled away. Leaving him there stunned and wounded. Leaving him to wonder what sort of creature that man was.
His thoughts finally drifted back to the present as he approached the door to the house. A deep breath before his hands reached up to give it a push open. Cautiously without seeming like a thief sneaking about his own home, Lance made his way towards his room.
“Lancefer?”
He paused an mentally cursed his luck. His mother’s voice. So much for getting in an out without notice. Elviane always seemed to be keeping an eye or ear out for his coming and goings. Especially when it came to trying to set him up with a potential wife.
“Yes mother. I had to stop by an fetch something from my room. I have another shift of duty shortly.” He knew she wasn’t going to come out of the other room to see him though. She rarely did anymore. Not unless she had something specific she needed him for. Nor did he feel truly bad for lying about having duty soon. He mere wanted to avoid the possible conversation about his love life. Or rather lack of one.
“Your father and grandfather wished to see you in the study. Do not keep them waiting. You know how they hate being made to wait.”
Halone have mercy… Both of them? He grimaced an looked down the hall towards the closed doors to the study. It would have been easier to turn around an run. But he didn’t run. With a deep breath he pushed forward towards those doors. Looming ahead of him like the gates to hell. Dealing with them one at a time was bad enough. Dealing with both at once… Maybe he should have let that man kill him yesterday.
Inside the room Grandfather was his usual place. Behind the sturdy manor desk, polished to a shine. Papers spread across it’s surface. A tray of tea that was no longer steaming. Obviously they had been waiting for him for some time. His father frowned from where he stood near the windows looking out into Ishgard.
“You’re late.”
The urge to cringe was there as his father spoke. Vairemont was never a patient man. Yet Lance kept his face passive. He had been dancing to this game long enough. A respectable bow to both of his elders. He didn’t dare look up at either of them. Gaze kept down to the floor. They would not tolerate being lied to. Yet they didn’t truly know the lies he told them on a regular basis. There was no reason to give them a chance to suspect him now though. Tread careful. Dealing with both at once was like walking on cracked glass. One wrong step would have disastrous consequences.
“I apologize. I got caught up in business last eve an chose to rest before returning. It was already far late for travel back to Ishgard.”
He heard his father’s steps more then saw them. Felt his father’s displeasure. The man always seemed to radiate that feeling around him anymore. Ever since his fateful choice of Haillenarte over Dzamael. He was no longer the favored son. Had not been for many years.
“Resting at the beach I heard.”
Surprised eyes found his father’s stern gaze. Had they realized? Was his ruse up? Did they know every bit of information he fed them since finding out who the lady they had him following was, was false? Surely he had not slipped up that much to give himself away so soon. He was no shadow yet surely they couldn’t have found out. Unless… They had begun to suspect an had him followed… Or he was truly unlucky that someone his father knew was there at Costa…
“Her free company goes to the beach at the end of the week, every week. As I said. Business. Unless you no longer wish for me to keep trying to find information for you.” He tried hard to keep the venom from his voice. He hated what they demanded of him. The orders chaffed an cut at him. Defying them was hard. They were his family. Yet… They also made it so easy to do. His time among the men and women of Haillenarte had given him a better understanding of how family should be. Even his time learning of his cousin an her crazy free company that she considered family… Even they were more family then the one he had.
Fast. His father’s hand struck out at him. Hand on his injured right shoulder. Fingers digging into that wound. On purpose. The intent was clear on his father’s face. Lance couldn’t keep his face passive any longer. His teeth were gritted against the pain as those fingers pressed hard against that injury. Tara’s hard work… It pissed him off. Finally the pain subsided as his father shoved him back into the nearby bookshelf. A few of the books tumbled to the floor at the jolt of a body hitting the shelves.
“You will not take the tone with me, boy.” His father’s voice a snarl.
“Enough!” Age wizened eyes looked on at the scene of father and son before finally settling on Lancefer. Their disappointment was clear. “You have been failing to provide us with anything useful lately. If this keeps up… Well. I don’t have to remind you now do? Consider this a warning, Lancefer. You will not get another. You know what was asked of you.”
“Yes, Grandfather.” Lance bowed his head. A warning. They were indeed beginning to suspect. His lies had not been clearly as clever as he had thought they had been. Maybe he had been wise in warning Nate last evening. If they suspected it would not be long before they took this matter out of his hands. If they did that he would no longer be able to control the flow of information. He would need the help of men like Raiden and Nate. The purple-eyed aevis and the wolf of Dzamael. But would it be enough?
“You are dismissed.”
Lance did not wait around. Nor did he hurry in his departure. He would not give them the satisfaction of thinking they had him running scared. Once in the safety of his room, he slid down the closed door to sit on the floor. Slowly he removed his jacket and shirt. Trying to be careful of the bandages on his shoulder. They were stained with fresh blood where his father had dug his fingers into the wound. A quiet curse under his breath as he leaned his head back against the door behind him. He would have to think of something. Surely he could do this.
Spirit of the Warlock 