Atlas

Fae Of The Night

A few days later

Whatever happened that night, that I told Vax...hadn't ended well. We'd been put under house arrest collectively with guards at every corner - it was like living at home all over again! What remained of peace and tranquillity had been vanquished many hours ago, regardless of how many weapons were removed and lutes were snatched. Relentless hostility wasn't the kind of company I wanted to keep

A few of the group had resorted to apologising repeatedly for 'ruining my reputation' but that went out the window years ago. I wasn't exactly 'tame' in my youth either not that it had mattered much in Tal'dorei - scoundrels and so much worse were the everyday folk, but none in the comfort of my bed where I currently stared at the ceiling mapping out the cracks and tears where the paint had torn...time was a cruel bitch

The book that was once being read was long tossed aside as voices raised in the corridor, why couldn't people just accept we were marooned here for a few days? I understood that emotions were running high but this was the third time this evening! What could there be possibly left to argue about? Peaking out the door told me Vex was having another go at trying to get our punishment lifted

"Housekeeper- can't you explain-" his words slowed to a stop as my expression showed no signs of understanding, just a blank expression "surely you can understand the circumstances! They violated the-" my hand raised cutting him off, Vex seemed to take a step back to allow me my stage. For a moment, I just held eye contact without a sound - he needed to fully absorb my disheveled appearance, from the messy hair to the scrunched up nightgown rising and falling heavily as the atmosphere thickened

"And how exactly do you expect me to feed so many people without supplies or access to the forest? I have a job to do here, which is keeping these folk alive just as yours is - but just as they're rebelling...so are you" my fingertip jabbed the centre of his chest pushing slightly "you're being just as much of an inconvenience to me as they are to you, so don't even think about using me against my company!" Our faces were inches apart by the time I'd finished

When my feet drifted to the kitchens, there was an awkward silence amongst the table - by now that was an unusual scene. Not only that but someone was staring daggers in my back, I'd never been angry at them...not once. I always held my tongue and smiled pretending my presence was that of a ghost peacefully drifting through a forgotten home, a sigh breached the lack of volume in the room "I think we've yet to apologise for-" Percy was always so formal but this wasn't the time

"I'm well aware you're here under house arrest - but it's the council's job to punish you, not mine." It wasn't my place to treat them inhumane when I was in the same position, continuously. It was evident a punishment meant a bad deed in the eyes of the council but to the group – who was to say that was the intention? Not that I'd seen it myself but the court could've been laced with manipulators and people with foul intention, we were in the same 'boat' in different points of time...it wasn't something I reflected fondly upon.

"So, regardless of our living situation Jarett has forced upon us, to which I need no apologises for because I chose to help...what do people fancy for dinner?" My hands gripped the counter behind me as I turned around the face the open room which now had slight smiles before a few mumbles caught my ear - Grog of course wished for a big meat feast to distract himself but others didn't quite have the same appetite, a few soups and snacks were mentioned...maybe I should've combined the two?

What was once apologies, soon turned to grateful remarks - except for Vax who was still determined to show his sincerity. But my mind was elsewhere, standing here stirring the chicken broth...it reminded me of home. How a younger version of myself would clutch my mother's gown peaking over the counter repeatedly asking whether it was ready or not, much like Scanlan and Grog were doing in between breaks of translating the weird book they'd obtained, it was almost as if I could feel her in me

It all happened so fast! One moment, the scene was very homey and warm- the next, something from the darkest pits of hell was clawing it's way across the table for the book, the scripture was tossed around the room in attempts to keep the thing away from whatever had entered my home. The first things to be released from my grip in the direction of the demon were knives, not very accurately I was ashamed to say. Combat had never been my forte, but something else was...

Escaping the dangers down the hallway, I snatched up two enchanted lanterns connected to a chain from the wardrobe in my quarters and sprinted back to the chaotic kitchen, my arms crossed as they swung wildly hitting the foul creatures with the embers from within the chambers. With each hit, the wraith dispersed on contact...but they came back, unwavering determination set on the literature

By now everyone was either close to death or bleeding black, which I didn't know they could do - myself included. My arms ached as they wielded the solid iron in a shield formation, people seemed to be yelling for the Druid but she was a little preoccupied panicking under the table which was understandable - the situation was a little out of control! The remaining light in the room was snuffed out as I was choked against the wall by a wraith who'd had enough of my antics

"Through clairvoyance or careless bargains of darkness, I will not touch you!" That cold corrupting feeling in its grip told me that my fate was following my mother's if I stayed...the memories of the chilling grey gradient wisping up from her hands as her hands brushed my hair away from my face whispering sweet coos, it was such a contrast to our last memory together. As Keyleth began to flow underneath the surface, my hands clenched down on the demon attempting to gather some space

For a second - all there was, was light. Pure genuine sunlight from underneath the table! As astonishing as the moment was, my life was still being sucked from my neck but what a beautiful way to go, seeing such magic save those who were meant to be saved...who was I kidding? My clock stopped ticking long ago, this was just karma at its best. When the light faded, the beast was gone from contact...but the grey shade remained in hand mark patterns

My own touch brushed my neck noticing the difference in temperature "What the hell was in that book-" speaking of the book, it seemed to have vanished with the light "I retract the question" I let my head join the rest of my body on the floor "everyone okay?" The response received was a chorus of muffled groans, but a response none the less. People were
alive- there were still mouths to feed and repairs to be made "I'll be in the lounge if anyone needs me"

My feet forced myself out of the room to be alone with the reminders of the last occasion someone had their hands round my neck - everything about the moment flashed through my mind like wild fire...her face, the joy in her eyes, the tree we'd chosen as our victim, her lips rolling like the tide as she spilled what I now knew as lies...I hated that time of my life. The young girl who gave her everything to get some form of affection didn't - but she was long gone...

And I was her remains...