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The rains gentle pitter patter against the window pane, the embers crackling in the fireplace, illuminating and warming my small room. I place the empty crystal glass onto the table next to the book Gale let me borrow from his extensive collection. I pull my legs up onto the too large arm chair, it’s plush soft pillows engulf me, like one of the bear hugs, Halsin gracefully bestowed upon me, only after he scared me half to death and Jahira scolded him for it, “we do not scare people with our other forms, we save them for fighting”.

I hug my knees to my chest, I miss my friends. Gale tries to keep me company but with his busy work schedule, teaching at the collage and curating new potion and spells, he is barely home.

 Tara, Gales cat, sorry Tressym, better get that right, or risk a clawed paw to the face … again, snuggles up next to me, I scratch behind her ear, “I may never see my friends, but at least I have you”, she nudges her head to me, readjusts her wings flat to her back and starts purring, loudly. If you had told us we would be snuggling up next to each other or gossiping about the latest scandal in water deep, we would have laughed at you. She absolutely hated me, I was the strange half elf Gale had bought into her house without discussing it with her first, the first person to move in to his...i mean her house. I can’t blame Tara for being protective of him, Mystra had broken his heart.

I can’t believe how much has changed in a year. It feels like no time has passed but also feels like it was another lifetime ago.

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One year and 2 weeks, since i signed my soul over to that silver tongue devil. All for a stupid hammer.

One year and 1 week, since I got my contract back and destroyed it. I had help. However, the cost was handing over my body to be used by that silver tongue bastard devil faced incubus. I still feel moments of phantom pleasure. I suppose they don’t have much fun with using their old masters face if he is no longer alive. I wonder if the persons whom face you wear is no longer among the planes of existence, does the face no longer have use.

One year since we took down the elder brain and the cult of the absolute. I may now be free of the worm squirming in my head, no longer have the lingering anxiety about when I’ll be enthralled, be nothing more than a mindless squid, a puppet which strings are controlled by the Brain.

Yet that feeling is hanging around, like a bad smell. I feel trapped the brain might not have enthralled me, I am however still trapped, a slave to the constant anxiety, that crushing weight on my chest, the lungs that never take a deep breath only fast too shallow one. Absolute terror of the dark, the monsters that hide in the corners, that door that I’ve checked 10...no, no more like 15 times, just to make sure its locked tonight. The constant tossing and turning, waking up screaming from the same nightmare. Over and over again.

6 months since I last saw my friends, that bag of bones withers organized our reunion. I still can’t believe Karlach thought he is giving her ‘the eyes’, I wonder how she is, how Avernus is treating her and our devilishly handsome Wyll. I pray she finds a way to mend her heart, she deserves the happiness she is long overdue.

6 months, since I last saw him…

Those piercing red eyes, shining brighter than ruby, those effortlessly tousled white waves, the body that could have been sculpted by the gods themselves. That wicked smile and those two elongated canines. The feel of the plunging into your skin, a brief sharp pain, then the cold icy feeling of your neck, your heart picking up pace. Then euphoric pleasure that rushes through your body.

 One bite, two teeth, one mouth. But gods it could’ve been more. A mouth on each breast, a mouth working its self-down torturously slowly, moving further south, the heat pooling between my…stop it Tav! Gods Tav you said goodbye and good riddance to him for a reason.

Yes, there is a reason you fled boulders gate that fateful night Tav, with nothing but your broken heart and the clothes on your back. All my hopes and dreams, ripped away from me. I was shattered, I was just a husk of my former self.

My friends helped me, saw I was in danger, far greater than the brain. My heart betraying me, poisoned by his honeyed words. ‘Little love, I don’t like to see doubt cast upon your face, fear not, you are mine’. He just kept urging me to turn, I wouldn’t be his spawn, like the others, willing to do his bidding. No, I would be far more, his dark consort, his equal he told me.

The naivety in me wanted to believe him, wanted to think he was the same sweet Astarion that would bring me fresh picked flowers, that would bring me coffee every morning at camp, just so I could warm up a little before facing the day. But that little bit of hope for the man he once was, died.

He gave me six months to decide my fate, ‘My treasure, I know it is a decision not to take lightly, but just think of all we could accomplish together, the world would be ours for the taking’, I didn’t want the world, I just wanted him, the old him, the Astarion I feel so deeply and foolishly in love with, my Astarion. ‘Think about it little love, I would very much like for us to stand as a united front, when we next see your friends,’ your friends, he exclaimed, not our friends, “I want you on my arm as my dark consort, my equal in all ways, think about it little love”

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The day we received Withers invitation, my heart sank, I knew time was running out, knew that I was about to lose him forever or lose my self. “My little love it has been six months since my victory, surely that is enough time to think it over” he prowled towards me, with feline grace, that slight tug of left lip. Once those ruby eyes are locked on mine, sucking me in, he grabbed my chin with a gentle hand, pulled my gaze to his own, he ran his thumb tenderly over my lips, drawing me in, making me want to melt in his embrace. “say you’ll be mine, my dark consort, my most beloved spawn.” Spawn, not my equal like he had once promised, no he said spawn, his most beloved spawn. Beloved or not a spawn is still a mindless thrall, compelled to do their masters bidding.

His canines elongated, his lips drew back, “you are mine, never forget that. You’ll be by my side for eternity, say it, say you’re mine”. He drew in closer to my neck, pushed my hair over to my other shoulder. He started to place gentle kisses along my collarbone, up towards my neck, I started to melt into him, those tender kisses echoes of who he once was.

I felt it then, the sharp scrap the puncture of his teeth, then my body started to go cold, my heart hammers in my chest, my lungs stopped drawing in air, my mind started to go foggy, my vision was speckled with black dot. It wasn’t right, it felt so different, no euphoric pleasure but pure agonizing pain. I started to scream, “no, no, Astarion please st-“ shhs, you’ll be mine, he was in me head, how? No, no I couldn’t let it happen, I didn’t want to lose myself. “Astar-“ It was hard to speak my throat felt like razors, I knew I had to get him off me, stop him before he drained me completely. Come on Tav, you have to be strong, you have to stop him” with what little strength I had I shoved him, I felt his teeth rip from my skin, sticky, warm, wetness dripping onto my blue silk dress. Oh god, the look he gave me, the anger, I only saw it a few times, when he talked about Cazador. Then a split second later, he schooled his feature, he then had a look of worry, “by the gods, Tav, I’m sorry, I…I” he shakes his head, another shake of his head, then back to anger. He growled “ you dare stop me!” I turned on my heels and i ran, I made my way through the labyrinth of the Szarr palace. I swung open the door, slamming it shut behind me. With my back to the door I sunk to the floor, and I wept.

I can’t remember how much time passed, just that my tears had run dry. Then the bang at the door, “Tav, open the door please, let me in”, his voice was soft and gentle. I knew I had to face him at some point, I couldn’t stay behind the safety of a locked door forever. With shaky hands I slowly opened the door, I looked at his handsome face, his expression soft, “may I come in?”, I nodded my head. He took my hand and gently led me to the chairs by the fireplace, he gestured for me to sit whilst he perched on the coffee table. He went to grab my chin, I flinched away. A look of hurt shadowed across his face, “may I?” he nodded to where he bit me, I nodded my head again, I could have used my words but I was…scared, scared I’d say the wrong thing and find myself in front of an Astarion that was scarily similar to his old master.

Astarion observed the wound, he tsk-ed at the mangled bit of flesh that had torn from my skin when I shoved him off. “I’ll be back my little love, we’re going to have to see to the wound, I can’t have it get infected now”.

Astarion had meticulously cleaned and sewn my wound together, he placed a bandage on it, “there, hopefully they’ll be no infection, but I am afraid it may leave a scar, I am sorry for that”. Astarion passed me a small vial, “it’s a healing potion,” I grab it “thank you.” Knowing how disgusting and earthy the healing potion tasted, I shot it back in one, the potion was more viscous than normal, it tasted different, not earthy, more metallic. No…my eyes shot to up in panic, a satisfied grin was plastered on his face. “A drop of my blood, your mine, remember, now sleep”, the world went dark.

Chapter Text

The night of our reunion, I looked into the mirror, I was deathly pale, my neck littered with a pattern of two equally spaced dots, no, puncture wounds and the scar where that mangled flesh had been. My reflection and the steady beating of my heart, a reminder that I was still alive, I’m not a full vampire yet.

I don’t know how he did it and Astarion wasn’t either, but with his blood running through my veins he could control aspects of me. My freewill was one of them, much to his delight. I don’t know which one is worse, being a vampire spawn or being a half elf, half vampire spawn.

For Astarion to keep that iron grip on my freewill, he had to keep feeding me his blood, gods I hated it, the taste rancid with an undertone of iron. ‘Drink!’ was all he had to say, and well, drink I did, gagging all the while. Once his blood was pumping through my veins I was his puppet. ‘Undress and sit on my lap’, so with a simple, ‘yes master’, I would undress, his eyes gazing over my body, I would walk up to him, he would pull me down to his lap, his hands gripping me hard, possessively, warning to not move. He would tilt my head to the side and drink from me. He liked to do this whilst holding council, a simple reminder of how powerful he is, powerful enough that the Hero of Baldurs Gate had bent to his will.

When he wasn’t degrading me in front of people, he would have me service him, or kneel next to him. He willed it. I did it. I did it all whilst silently screaming, dreaming of way to end him and mourning the lose of the man I had loved.

As the month leading up to our reunion approached, our routine took shape. He would come in at sunrise, a vial ready for me to consume. But that day, 2 weeks before that fateful night, the routine changed. The sun rose and a gentle knock on the door, the door opened and in strode a halfling. He looked petrified, his skin a shade of gray, his eyes glazed over. He extended his shaking had, clasped within it was a vial, “m…m…master Ancnín, t…t…tol..,” he shakes and grips his head “ordered me to give you this to drink”, he placed it in my hand and rushed out the room. He didn’t stay to watch me drink the vile thing, Astarion sent someone else, was this a test, too see if I would drink it, see if I was indeed a half elf half vampire spawn, his spawn.

I was looking at the porcelain sink, watching the contents off the vial wash down the sink. I splashed my face with water, one hand turning the faucet, the other clutching the sink, I looked in the mirror, I was deathly pale, my cheeks looked hollow. Had I made a mistake? Would he find out and finally turn me, or just kill me? Or had I made a step towards my freedom?

I’ll choose and hope for the latter. I’ll play the part of a doting spawn, I’ll serve him and cherish him, make him think that I have unequivocally become his. His consort, his most cherished possession.

Astarion called for me, and like the doting half spawn I was, I went to him. I knocked on the large mahogany door, and stepped into the study. His desk positioned perfectly in the middle, scattered with papers and ledgers. I walked up to the desk, staring at him, showing a little bit of defiance and I kneeled before his desk, ‘my lord, you called for me?’, I watched him rise from his chair he walked around the desk slowly, he held his hand out, ‘rise my love’, he drew me into his embrace, arms wrapped around me. The scent of him flooding my senses, freshly chopped wood and honey. He murmured into my neck, ‘I’m sorry I was absent this morning my love, did you receive my gift?’, I knew he was on about the vial, here goes nothing, I looked into those ruby eyes, ‘ of cause, the halfling did look petrified, but the gift was appreciated, I did however miss you, though, your blood did make you feel close’ I closed my eyes and leaned into to kiss him, but our lips did not meet, his fingers gripped my chin, his lip twitched to right and then his lips slammed into mine, he kissed me like I was something worth savoring, worth memorizing, yet I’d never felt so worthless. Then I a sharp sting on my lower lip, the metallic taste rolled over my tongue, then Astarion broke the kiss and licked the blood now covering his lip, ‘oh, you do taste just so divine’.

The next two weeks were a blur the halfling would come and deliver the vile, I’d dispose the contents down the sink. Astarion would call to me and I’d play his doating spawn. And now here I stand looking in the mirror, death staring back at me”. The door opens and death walks in, he was wearing the suit that he had tailored to match the dress he ordered me to wear.

The dress was beautiful, though I hated to admit it. Black lace that shimmered with starlight, ran up my neck and down to arms, a peak of the lace could be seen at the top of the slit of my long black satin skirt that flowed to my feet. The satin bodice hugged my curves with the satin blending seamlessly into lace at my bust.

I felt the touch off his fingers on my neck, I try not to flinch, he grabs the clasp at the to of my dress and finishes buttoning it. He looks me in the eyes, pinning me in place, “you’ll tell no one of the marks on your neck”, I stare blankly at him and nob “yes, my lord”. With a wicked grin he leans towards my ear, “tonight is the night, when the moon hits it peak, I’ll drain you, then I’ll grant you a drop of my blood”.

“So I’ll be a spawn?” he chuckles, “do not worry my dear, you’ll only be a spawn for a few months, once the blood moon rises, we’ll be wed and you’ll be able to share my power with you and make you my consort. We’ll be the most powerful people in faerun, you do believe me don’t you?”. “Of course I do Astarion,” please believe my lies, as I most certainly do not.

Chapter Text

The sound of music and chatter grew louder as we walked towards our old camp. The very same camp I awoke to Astarion leaning in towards my neck, his elongated canines on show. It seems fitting that this is the place where he’ll drain me and grant me a single drop of his blood. He pulls me aside before we cross the threshold of our camp. “what are you to do tonight?”. I gulped, just a little longer to play the dotting half spawn . I look at him in a dazed look, “I’m to hide my neck and tell everyone how very much in love we are, and how wonderful our life is back in Baldurs Gate, master Ancnín”. He lets out a low chuckle “well done pet.” He placed his hand on the small of my back and lead us to camp.

As my eyes landed on my friends, all with goblets in hand and smiles on their faces. My heart should have been flooded with excitement and happiness but it was full of trepidation and dread. Would I be able to hide my feelings from my friends? They knew me better than anyone. He grasped my elbow and squeezed in silent warning, as if he could have felt the anxiety bubbling inside me, about to boil over. He slipped his hand to mine. Then he smiled wide “ahhh, Gale, I would say it’s good to see you, but is it?” Gale had simply rolled his eyes, “let me remind you Astarion, that I was there, I helped you ascend. Nevertheless hello to you. And h…” he chocked on his words, I guess he had just saw how deathly pale I had become. With a worried look he greeted me. I quickly told him that I was feeling a little worse for wear, “to many drinks last night, Astarion had to drag me out of bed”. I didn’t have to look at him to feel the smile spread across his face, “you know how Tav is when she’s had a few to many wines”.

We spent the next few hours talking and mingling, Astarion told of all the balls and banquets he held for all the wealthy and famed citizens of Baldurs Gate. How he was donating some of his wealth to rebuild the city. He did however conveniently forget to mention that he was helping to rebuild it in his image. As the night grew darker and my deadline to well, death grew closer Astarion and I, retired to his tent. Once we were alone he turned and cupped my chin in his hand, he then tilted my head up so our eyes connected. “You did wonderfully tonight, little pet”, he pushed my face away, “now go and mingle some more, I’ll be here, I’ll always be here.” Those words had made my blood run cold and sent a shiver down my spine.

I stood at the edge of the lake near to where I had found Wyll the night we eliminated the goblins,, skipping stones, trying to make my mind off from my impending doom. “I believe this is my moping spot,” Wyll, of course had gone there. I let out a sigh, “hi Wyll, I can see why you came here that night. It’s a great spot to feel…at piece,” he bent down to pick up two stones, passing one to me he said “the most skips wins.” I flicked my wrist, one, two, three, plunk. Wylls stone was still going, six, eight, plunk. “you cheated! Some warlock magic thing” I wiggled my finger, he chuckled “ok, fine, what does the winner want?”. He looked at me serious, “the honest truth from you, he isn’t in ear shot, even for a vampire. Are you ok? You look..to be honest, you look like a walking corpse.” I answered with the truth. This was my final opportunity to break free from him.

Then standing in front of me was a projection of Gale. “By the gods Tav, what has he done?,” with trembling hands, I had loosened the neck of my dress to show him my neck. His eyes widen in shock. “Gale, please, please help me break free from him.”

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Gales projection of himself faltered, if I had blinked I would have missed the slightest flickering. He walked towards me, inspecting Astarions handy work, his eyes widen, his mouth agape, “ I never would have thought he could do such a thing.” I let out a quiet, almost said laugh, “ neither did I .” Gales hand reaches towards my shoulder, but the warmth and heaviness of his hand doesn’t land, but his hand hovers on my shoulder, he gives me a smile, “I’m not really here, but I hope it brings you some solace. My physical form looks to be having an interesting conversation with Wyll.” He takes in a long breath before releasing it, “tell me everything.”

I had Gale everything, the constant pressure and demands to turn me. The way he tricked me into drinking his blood. The way he had total control over me, how he had degraded me in front of his court, how he made me service him. Everything, it just started spilling out. I was weeping, whole body shaking, “Gale, I should have just let Raphael keep the contract, saved us the fight. Hell would have been better than the last 6 months,”. He simply nodded, “I can’t begin to imagine the horrors you’ve been witness too.” I took in a shaky breath, “tonight…tonight my body will turn cold, my heart beat will stop, my lungs will cease working. Tonight at midnight he’ll make me his forever.” Gale shook his head, “no you won’t, Tav, I will not allow it. You will be free off him, I promise you. You will not be leaving with him.” Gales projection flicker again, “Wyll and I will inform the others, we’ll have a plan ready, just be prepared,” a simple nod was all I had managed, then his projection was gone. I was relieved, I was going to be free off him.

“Well, well, well…”

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The sound of leathery wings came from behind, then that smell of whisky and cedarwood engulf my senses. My whole body shakes. “Well, well, well… my pet has run wild.” No, no, no, please. “you know, one of the things about being an ascended vampire is that I have gained a few extra, helpful, abilities. For instance a bats eye sight might be shocking but their hearing is unmatched. Bats being creatures of the night, like my good self, my hearing is now unmatched, I could hear a pin drop from another room. Seems our handsome Devil has much to learn about a vampire’s ascension,” well, fuck! I take a step back from him, “another helpful skill I’ve gained is transforming into a bat, cliché I know, but oh so helpful for spying.”

He moves towards me, I take another step back and another till I feel the cold bite and jaggedness of the rock digging into to my back. His steps are slow deliberate, doing as he hopes, striking fear into me. “you broke a promise” step, “you said, ‘I’m to hide my neck and tell everyone how very much in love we are,’” another step. “you broke that promise didn’t you?”, another step, cold sweat starts dripping down my back, “You showed the wizard your neck, you told him vindictive lies!”, I told him the truth, “I told him to truth,” I murmur the words to myself barely loud enough for my ears, but in a blink he is on me, hands on either side of my head, body pinning me to the wall, those ruby eyes glowing.

“The truth darling? Really? You forgot to mention the lavish roof over your head, the servants catering to your every need, the banquets, the endless gold.” He lets out a sinister laugh, “face it Tav, without me, you would be back on the street, just another vagrant lost to city. Without me you are nothing, you need me.” It’s not true, destroying the brain gave me a second chance, I had gold I had earned. I try to push he away, “you’re wrong Astarion, I don’t need you, I don’t want this, you aren’t the man I feel for,”.

“you’re right Tav, I’m not. I’m better than he ever was, I more powerful than he ever was, the old me was pathetic, sorry excuse of a man”. I push him again, but he doesn’t budge, “you’re just like him, no, you are worse than him”, I let out a laugh, that sort of laugh that people would think you were mad, “haha, you’re him, you are Cazador, your Caz…” the sharp sting to my cheek and force of my shoulder hitting the ground, stops my mid-sentence, “SILENCE!”. He move to stand over me, then his body is on mine, my hands are pinned down by his knees, then his hands are around my throat, the vice grip cutting the supply to my lungs, “you ingrate! I’m better than he ever could have dreamed of. Your time has run out Tav.” He pulls my head to the side, “NO, stop, no, no”, my voice grows weaker, my body wants to shake, but his iron grip on my body stops me from moving, then that awful pain shoots through me, my breathing starts to shallow, my heart beats less, my limbs grow heavier, my head, goes fuzzy. My body starts growing cold.

Chapter Text

I feel my body growing colder and weaker. So this it, goodbye freewill, goodbye freedom, goodbye to the hope that the man I loved was still in there.
I had been lucky enough to out run death multiple times, but tonight is the night I’ll feel his icy hand try to carry me away to the afterlife. He’ll be pissed to find that I am not fully dead, he’s been waiting for me for me since before the brain. I was caught trying to pay for a necklace with counterfeit money, I guess I pulled that scam one too many. The merchant handed me the short sword I was attempting to buy, by plunging the blade into my stomach. I should have seen it coming. I was barely able to stumble to Sharess’ Caress where Mamzell Amiras gave me one look, the color drained from her face, the look of horror as she saw me holding my guts in. I still remember her words when she laid eyes on me, “heavens Tav, what happened, never mind, ‘Sorn, help me, take her to one of the rooms, Nym fetch the doctor, now!”

I barely remember Sorn carrying me up the stairs into the second room on the right, he gently placed me on a soft bed, the white silks becoming scarlet. As I thither on the edge of death, Mamzell Amiras stroked my hair back, “what have you do this time Tav, I promised your mother I’d keep you safe.” My mother had died when I was ten, from a plague that spread through Boulders Gate, I was left to the care of Mamzell Amiras, seeming my mother was one of her girls at Sharess’ Caress. She paid for my education, dance lessons, when I grew to a woman, I was taught the art of seduction. She had me reading to take on clients. I however had other plans, I wanted to travel, explore, live a different life to the one that was planned for me. As you could imagine Mamzel, was not impressed, her investment was not willing to paying it back. I was kicked out with nothing but the clothes on my back and a promise that if I ever returned to Sharess’ Caress, I would be put to work, till I earned every coin back that she ever spent on me with interest. And there I was back in my childhood home, bleeding out on the bed Mamzel would have had me open my legs on.

The sunlight warmed my skin, the light was visible through closed eyelids. I had opened them slowly, unsure if I had awaken in afterlife. I had not. Memzel was sitting on a chair in the corner of the room, looking very displeased. Someone had handed me a glass of water, Sorn, he helped me sit up and helped me lift the cup to my lips. He gave me an apologetic look. “Out now!” Mamzel was definitely pissed, “do you know how much you have cost me? If I hadn’t made that promise to your mother, I would have let you die in gutter. I made you a promise to, that if you came back you’d be earning every coin I spent on you back, with interest. You’ll stay here till you do”

I had spent the next 6 months at Sharess’ Caress, unable to step foot outside, each exit guarded, Mamzell had me putting everything she taught me to use. I would have continued living that life, the one I had no control over, the one I was indebted to pay back. I should have just let myself die. But I was scared, I hadn’t yet lived my life. I would have died on the same bed my mother had, if it wasn’t for the mindflyer ship snatching me from the balcony of my room.

Funny that I was scared of losing my life then, not being in control of my fate, my life, and her I was about to lose myself to a fate far, far worse.

I felt a searing pain shot through my body, as he plunged those teeth down further, then I felt him tear off me, I heard him scream in anger, “you githyanki filth!” I had struggled to keep my eyes open, I turned my head to see what had happened, there Lae'zel, she had stopped the monster, she had…..snap. “Lae’zel!!” voice shouted behind me as her body crumbled to the ground. Her head at an odd angle. Tears started rolling down my face, no Lae’zel, please no, no, no. I was unsure if the words were audible or not. I started dragging myself towards her lifeless body, “Lae’zel!” my voice barely more than a whisper, I lifted myself up onto my knees, I picked her head up, resting it on knees, “Lae’zel, please, please don’t leave me, please”.
II looked up to see Astarion trying to get to me, Halsin blocking him, Wyll sent 3 eldritch blasts knocking Astarion back a few steps, Jahira was to my right on top of the cliff in her panther form, reading to pounce. Shadowhearts sword pointed at his chest.

Strong hands gentle cupped my face, “Tav.. Tav, look at me. I need you to drink this, it’s a healing potion, you lost a lot of blood.” A…a healing potion, no, no it wasn’t, it’ll turn me, his blood, his blood is mixed into it, I shake my head, try to push the vial away, “No! no, no. No!”. “Tav, please you need this, look at me,” he grabs a knife from his belt and slices into his arm, scarlet red starts to sprout from the line he has carved into himself. He takes a sip, “See, Tav, just a healing potion,” his wound starts closing, “Anytime now Gale!” Wyll shouts. Gale holds the vial to my lips, “no give it to Lae’zel…please” my plea sounding strangled against my sob, “she next ok, you first then Lae’zel”. He holds vial to my lips again, I gulp the honeyed sweet liquid down. I start to feel my body warm up, my heart beating faster, my eyes become clearer. I cling onto Gale as the pain of knitting flesh racks through me.

“Noo!” a primal scream echos, “I’ll have your head wizard!”
“Now Gale!” Wyll shouts. Gale pulls my head into his shoulder, “it’ll be ok Tav,” a bright purple light illuminates behind me. Then Gale is behind me, one hand gently gripping my arm, “Tav, we have to go.”
“No, no Lae’zel, the healing potion.” I shrug his hand from my arm.
“A healing potion won’t work, I’m sorry, now come, we don’t have time.” No! “No I won’t leave her like this Gale. Please!” I feel his arms wrap around my waist and start to pull me away from Lae’zel. “No, no get off me. LAE’ZEL!” I feel the familiar tingling sensation of magic wash over me as I’m dragged through the portal. I reach out to Lae’zel, tears falling heavily, kicking my legs to try break free from the man who is saving me but forsaking another. “It’s to late for her Tav, a healing potion won’t work,” I continue to kick and reach out to her, shouting her name over and over, I see the others fighting the monster, keeping him back, buying us time. We cross the threshold of the portal and the scene in front of me fades away.
I turn around still in Gales arms, I look up at him and start pounding his chest “why! Why didn’t you try!”, my breath catches on my sobs, “why,” pound, “why”, I don’t pound this time instead I crumple to the floor, I hug my knees to my chest.

I feel him crouch next to me and gentle arms wrap around me, engulfing me in warmth. His breath is hot on my head, “the others will try a resurrection scroll, if she is still on this plane of existence she’ll have a chance. I’m so so sorry Tav, a healing potion wouldn’t have done anything.”

I knew deep down that he was right, I just wished if he wasn’t. “I’m sorry” he says again. “I’m sorry for everything, Lae’zel and everything thing you endured the last 6 months”. I turn into him I fling my arms over my savior, “you’re safe, I got you,” it’s the first time in my miserable existence that those words feel true.

“Thank you” is all I say, as he continues to hold me, till my eyes grow heavy and sleep takes into it’s embrace.

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It’s hard to believe that it was only six months ago, it feels like a lifetime ago. When I came through the portal I was a husk of my former self, I looked like death and he was ready to claim my soul. He didn’t get mine, no, he got hers, the monster all but delivered her to him.

Death was waiting for me, in the shadows like he always did. Waiting for the day he could finally claim my tattered soul. But it wasn’t mine he received that night, it was Lae’zel’s. Gale had astral projected to camp to see what had happened. When he returned to his body, his face was grave. “He fled the fight as soon as we were gone,” he took in a shallow breath, a tear rolled down his cheek. “No, Gale, please,” I knew what he was going to tell me. He walked towards me and cupped my face in his hand, “I’m sorry Tav. They tried everything, but her soul had passed on”. He brushed my tears away with his thumbs. “They’re preparing the funeral pyre, they’ll light it tonight.” He brushed my tears away again, “it’ll be too dangerous for us to go, the others have spotted some vampire spawn hanging around the woods near camp. I can astral project us there, if you’d like to attend?” I nodded, “thank you Gale”.

Over the 6 months, Gale and I had become close. Like I said, when I stepped through the portal, I was husk of my former self, what if I was to loud? If I breathed wrong? Just existing. I was waiting for the punishment that never came. Gale told me repeatedly that I had nothing to apologize for. That existing was nothing to be scared off, that he would never punish me, that his home would always be a safe haven.

Although I knew I was safe and far away from Astarion, my dreams told me differently. I relieved every time he degraded me, every time me marred my body. And I even dreamt of new torments he could put me through, one more excruciating than the next. I would awake screaming, drenched in sweat. Gale gave me tonics to help me sleep, hoping that I would fall into a dreamless deep sleep but alas in came to no avail.

I hear the door to the study open, “I thought you were working late and staying at the collage?”. Gale let out an amused huff, “and miss having dinner with my two favorite girls?” Tara jumped up spread her silky wings and waltzed over the Gale, she started purring around his legs, brushing her cheek against his pants. Gale swooped down and picked her up into a baby hold, Tara screeched “Gale Dekarios this is most uncouth, put me dow…” Gale starts scratching the soft fuzzy spot behind her ear, her mouth drops open, tongue lolling to side, eyes rolling back, “Uh, yes, that’s the spot,” her purrs intensify. Is that drawl coming from her mouth? Gale pops her down, she shakes her head, slobber flinging everywhere, yep she was drawling like a gooden, “well, like I was saying most uncouth”. I looked at Gale, then at Tara, then back up to Gale, our eyes locked and we both burst out laughing. I don’t think I had laughed this much ever, “Humph, so rude. I’ll be in the kitchen, awaiting for my dinner, it’s already late!”

Gale had made us a hearty veggie soup with dough dumplings. We now sat in his study surrounded by piles upon piles of books, drinking mulled wine, the spices warming me from the inside, he talked about his recent lectures, about how one student was struggling to connect to the weave and how he was offering extra lessons to help. I listened in awe, marveled by his dedication to teaching and helping the next generation of talented wizards.

The night grew late, Tara and I had cuddled up in bed. She states the only reason she sleeps on my bed is to protect and soothe me when I am paralyzed by my relentless nightmares. Gales tonics helped but it only took the edge off and helped me to fall asleep. But we all know the real reason Tara was cuddled up next to me, Tressym’s although magical beasts, did resemble a small winged cats. And cats love to take up your personal space when you sleep. I’m beginning to think my bed is no longer mine and she just allows me to sleep in her bed.

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The spices and warmth from the mulled wine had me feeling all tingly and Tara purrs had me feeling so relaxed. It didn’t take long for the land of dreams to take me. Although tonight, the dreams did not greet me this time.

Boom! Clap! Boom! I jolt up in bed, the warmth of Tara no longer by my side. I ignite the oil lamp on my bedside table. Flash, boom! Clap! “Ha, keep me safe whilst I sleep, yet, you’re afraid if a little lightning storm,” Tara doesn’t respond, strange, I was expecting a witty come back, “grrrrr…hiss!”, “T…Tara?” I get up to see where she is, maybe I could offer her some cuddles, help her relax. I find Tara staring at the door to our bedroom. “Grrrrr…hiss!” her back is arched up, her wings rustling on her back, tail puffed and sticking up, ears pinned back, “Tara?”.

Chapter Text

“Tara?”, I bend down in front of the Tressym and gently place a hand on her head, “Tara what’s wrong?” She looks up at me, shakes her head vigorously, “there’s a new smell in the house, and a smell off iron, and noises,” boom, clap, she jumps. “Your OK Tara”, I swallow the lump that is building in my throat down, was I trying to reassure her or myself? “I’ll go and take a look, you get somewhere safe, Tara trills before diving under our bed, I can only see her eyes shimmering back, the rest of her is melted into the darkness. I walk over to my nightstand and pull the dagger from the draw, it’s not much but it gives me a little confidence.

Clutching the dagger close to me, I gently pry my door open, hoping that it’ll reduce the creek, note to self, oil the hinges in the morning. I peak my head out and look down both directions of the hall, I can see a faint glow coming up the stairs, after deducing that the hall was clear, I step out into it, closing the door behind me. I tiptoe down the hall, sticking closely to the wall. When I get to the stairs I peak around the corner, again clear.

I slowly make my way down the stairs one at a time, the glow getting brighter with each step, then I smell it, iron, it lays thick in the air, bombarding my senses. Humans wouldn’t be able to smell it just yet, maybe a few more feet and they might but being half elf, my senses are heightened.

I exhale slowly, come on Tav, don’t stall, you’ve got this, I do! I helped take down the drain, I defeated the 3 death gods and I killed a devil. Stop letting fear rule you.

Thump, oof. “Get off me!” I hear Gale growl. Panic takes hold, I forget about being quiet, If Gale is in trouble I need to help him. I run down the hall way till the light gets brighter, I fling the door to study open. I gasp at the carnage, books once in neat piles now sprawled across the floor, curtains shredded, chairs broken. How had the storm been able to mask the carnage, was Gales sleep tonic that good? Wait, I didn’t take the tonic. Come to think about it, I didn’t even dream. That’s something to think about later.

I scan the room and there propped up by the book shelf Gale sat. His eyes swollen and black, his clothes torn, nose at an odd angle and blood dripping from it. A gash along his shoulder soaking is tunic in more blood.

“Gale!!”, I go to take a step towards him, “no Tav, run!”. The rustling of leathery wings, whiskey and cedar wood fill the air, I turn on my feet to where the elf is materializing and plunge my dagger to where I know a black, beat less heart resides. I feel cold hands grab my wrist and bend it till the dagger clatters to the ground. Then I’m spun around one strong arm finds it’s way around my waist, holding my back to his chest and the other balls my hair in his hand. “yes Tav, run!” then those two pricks I know so well that haunt my dreams find their mark.

Chapter Text

I feel his canines plunge in to my skin, the familiar cold icy feeling on my neck, my heart beat slowi…wait, why isn’t it slowing why is it picking up the pace. I let out an audible gasp, my core starts to tighten, my breath hitches. One bit, two teeth, one mouth, but like I said before it felt like many, many more. One on each of my full breast caressing and tenderly laying kisses. Then slowly so painfully slowly working its way down, past my navel and oh my, his tongue finds it’s home, up his tongue flick my clit, down, it drives into me, then it feels as if his fingers have come to the party. Slowly they slid effortlessly in, ‘so wet for me already my treasure?’ He speaks into my mind, “imagine how good it’ll feel, when my physical hands touch you, not the illusion. Wheb my tongue gets to taste the sweet wetness it’s been so desperately missing”. He pulls his fingers out then he plunges them back in, he curves his fingers finding my g spot, his fingers in me inside, his tongue caressing my outside. My breath hitches once again, he growls “my cock aches to be inside you, to feel your walls clench and milk it”. I know deep down I shouldn’t enjoy this, but my mind is blank to everything other than this euphoric pleasure, that runs through my traitorous body. The heat in my stomach intensifying the pressure in my chest, I’m about to…to.

Fall to the floor, hardly the happy little ending I was looking for, I groan, my mind/brain slowly rejoining my body. “Now pet, no orgasm for you, after all you did leave me to fend for myself,” I look up to see his hazy dramatic pout. “You bastard, you killed her, you killed Lae’zel!”
“Yes well, the githyanki got in my way and you broke my trust. And not just my trust, my heart too Tav”. I let out a low laugh, “ha, heart? You. Have. No. Heart!”

My eyes no longer in blur I take in the room once again. “Gale!” I go to rush over to him but I’m halted by icy fingers gripping my hair, Astarion then pulls me back down to my knees “tut tut, I didn’t say you could move”.
I glare daggers at him as I look at him, “Let Gale go!” Astarion just stares with snarl on his face. “Please, Astarion, he was just trying to help me. He was only doing what I asked, just please…please Astarion let him go.”
A wicked smile replaces the snarl His free hand clicks his fingers. Out of the shadows four glowing red eyed vampires appear three walk towards Gale and one towards us.
The one in front of us drops to his knees. The others pull Gale up, Gale grunts in pain, they drag him towards us, kick the back of his knees making him collapse, two hold his arms and one behind him pulling his head back with one hand and the other holds a danger to his neck.

“I’ll give to two options Tav, being the benevolent Lord I am. Option one…” he holds an expectant hand to his spawn, who deposits a vial. An all to familiar vail. The same vial that turned me into his puppet last time, that stripped me of myself, of my freewill.
“Drink, and I’ll let your wizard here live. Option two, don’t drink and my lovely spawn here will kill him. Either option you’re coming back home, Baldurs Gate does need its dark consort back.”

I stare at him in disbelief, tears rolling down my face. Drink and I’ll loose who I am, who I was. I’ll be his puppet, ready for him to pull the strings again. And if I don’t drink, I’ll loose yet another person that I care so deeply about to this monster.
“tick tock Tav, we don’t have all night”.
“Tav, Tav don’t”, Gale coughs, gasping for air, “you…you already lost your self to the bastard before, don’t, don’t let it happen again.”
“tick…tock.”
Another gasping cough, “don’t drink it Tav. Don’t loose yourself again… arggh” the vampire to the right knee him in the stomach.
“I grow bored, kill him!”

“No! Wait” I snatch the vial from his hand, uncork it and gulp the familiar rancid metallic coats my tongue.
“No...Tav no….arghh”.
I feel a bit drip down my chin, my stomach starts churning.
“My treasure, shall we?” I accept his outstretched hand, I stand in front of him, he gently cups my chin with his other hand and pulls me to his face, his tongue flicks at my chin, catching the rouge drip, then his lips crash into mine, it’s a hard, rough, possessive type of kiss. I feel a sharp pinch on my lip and the feel the warmth ooze from it. He smirks, “I missed the taste of your lips on mine.”

Astarion turns once again to the spawn in front of us, he clicks his fingers. I feel the familiar hum and buzz of a portal opening behind us. He then looks at the other 3 spawn, “kill him!”
“What? No! Astarion!”. He is now pulling me in towards the portal, “No...NO!! You BASTARD! You said!”
I see the vampires descend upon him, the gut-wrenching sound of the dagger plunging into his chest. I see the two vampires that once held his arm, now sink their teeth into his neck. “NO!!” I’m clawing at his arms trying to break free. I can’t loose another person to this beast holding me.
“STOP” he commands and immediately my fingers halt there clawing, my kicks stop. “That’s better, now sleep,” just like I had last time, my eyes grew heavy and dreamless sleep takes me.

Chapter Text

For the first time in a long time I slept soundly, no waking up in cold sweat, no night terrors, no nightmares just blissful sleep.

My eyes crack open, sun light warming my face, I smell the bitter scent of coffee. I take a minute to enjoy this blissful moment. I look to my right and there is that steaming cup of dark brown liquid and a small vase with roses. A wave of unease washes over me. This isn’t my room at Gales, this is…no.
I shoot up in bed, there sitting in the black leather wingback chair with his ankles crossed casually, coffee in hand he sits, the monster of my nightmares, the demon who drained my soul. The man who made me wish for my contract with Raphael had came to fruition, for the hells themselves open up and take me.
“My treasure, you’re awake. Please I made you coffee.” He leans forward in the chair, then sighs, “I never meant for any of this to happen,” he gets up and walks towards me, the look of malice that has covered his face since his ascension is gone. His eyes are softer, this wicked grin replaced with a relaxed softness, his demeanor, back to the man I feel for. Is he back?
He sits on the bed, his hand gently touches my cheek. “Tav, I’m so sorry, I never meant for any…” he shakes his head, “any of this to happen. I care so deeply for you, that it drives me to madness. Without you near me, I feel like I can’t breath. Tav you are my world, my everything,” he leans in towards me, “no” I whisper, this isn’t right. Why, why am I back here? Have I always been here?

My memories feel like they have a blanket of fog over them, hazy, distant. I pull away from him and scramble for the other side of the bed, something deep down is telling me to get away from him. That this isn’t right. Gale? I was at his right?
Cold hands grip my ankles, pulling me back to the other side of the bed, with force he flips me over. He stands between my legs, then leans down, placing a hand on each shoulder, “there you are” I mutter under my breath, that look of malice and grin on his face. He roughly shakes my shoulders, “you will love me again,” another forceful shakes, “you are mine,” he growls. He releases my shoulders and walks to open the door, “you’ll be mine!” he says over his shoulder before he shuts the door behind him and the click of the lock.
He hasn’t been to visit me since he locked that door, that was 3 days ago. His spawn have been, looking hungrily at me, but do nothing but bring me food.
With his vile potion out of my system, the blanket of fog over my memories has now lifted and I wish it hadn’t. He killed him, yet another one of my close friends, someone I came to care deeply for. Gods, what about Tara? I hope she is safe.

A knock at the door pulls me from my spiraling thoughts, the door unlocks and yet another one of his spawn enter, a different one, a new one who looks vaguely familiar. In her arms lays black glittering fabric. “I need you to try this on,” she holds the fabric out to me, I must have looked puzzled, “it’s your wedding dress”. My what now? “Master Ancnín said you must”. I suddenly realized why the wood elf looks so familiar, she was Figaro’s apprentice at the face maker, but why, why is she a spawn?, “Hestia right?”, she nods. “Well Hestia, you can tell his lordship to stick the dress up where the sun don’t shine!” Her bottom lip wobbles, “he…he said you might not com…comply”, she places the dress on the bed, then reaches to her hip, lifting her tunic she produces a knife that was sheathed at her hip. Tears start to fall from her face, she holds the dagger to her throat, hands shaking. “You must try the dress on…please”, she squeaks out.
The bastard has actually lost it, using innocent people to try control me. “wait, wait” I hold my hands up, walk towards Hestia slowly, reaching for the dagger, as my hand reaches the handle pulling it away from her neck, “help me put it on?”, she let’s out a sob in relief.
I stand looking into the mirror, I want to say the dress is beautiful but all it make me feel is dreed and if this dress will seal my fate. The corseted bodice that hugs my curves feels more constrictive, like it’s drawing out every last breath. The flowing silver specked skirt gathering at the floor feels more like shackles, reminding me that he will find me.
“I’d say that is a perfect fit!” Hestia looks pleased with her work and so she should, in another life I would have said that is was beautiful.

Hestia leaves and the door locks again. The same routine continues for three days, door opens, spawn brings food, door locks. On the evening of the fourth day, the routine changes, He steps in “I am glad to see that your seamstress is still alive, seems you will follow orders given a little extra motivation”. I look at him puzzled, “ ah, yes I forgot to mention that teensy tiny detail, I only want my consort dressed in the finest clothing so, Hestia is your personal seamstress. She is one of the best in Baldurs Gate.”
“Now to the business of why I’m here,” he holds out a vial. “I would have had the halfling bring it but,” he shrugs “I let the wolves have the incompetent thing.”
He takes a seat in leather wingback chair, places the vial on the small table next to him and crocks his finger at me. “tomorrow the blood moon will rise, we will have our joining ceremony and you will become my dark consort.” I walk towards him, “but not your equal, right?”. He lets out huff, “if you had earned it and didn’t get your friends involved then maybe I have made you my equal.” I let out a hysterical laugh, “I’m sorry, what. You expect me to believe that!” he gestures to vial, “maybe you’ll gain favor again and I’ll grant you a chance to be my equal.”
I pick up the vial. “Gale? What happened to him?” he gestures again, I drink the liquid, gross as always. “I let my spawn drink from him,” he cocks his head to the side, “they were hungry. I doubt there is anything left of him.” He stands, “now, no more on the subject pet, tomorrow your new exciting life starts.”

Chapter Text

Astarion
I look in the mirror at myself, the one above my sink, my shirt thrown to the floor. The first time I saw my face in over two hundred years, it was like looking at a stranger, those eyes, they weren’t always red, what color were they before my heart ceased its thumping in my chest?

“You’ll always be that weak pathetic boy!” he reminds me every second, every waking moment. “You don’t deserve her, you never did, she needs someone better! Someone like me, huh, not a pathetic weakling” No,no! Don’t listen don’t… “The moment I saw you, I knew you were a weak pathetic insect, that you would be an easy puppet to break an easy sacrifice.”

No,no, “get out, get out of my head!!” I growl out before I hear that fanatical laugh, taunting me. “You’re not here, you’re a pile of dust in the dungeon below” now I laugh fanatically, “ I beat you, I became the ascended, not you! I became the most powerful person the world has ever seen.” I turn from the mirror to retrieve my shirt. “Did you?” he asks inquisitively, I look back to the mirror, seeing the scars the bastard carved into my skin, “you forget my dear boy, that the contract was between Mephistopheles and I.” An evil chuckle escapes my lips, “ a part of me now lives within you, and I do plan to use it” the words spill from my mouth but it wasn’t me controlling them, I look up to the mirror, narrow hooded eyes, elongated pointed ears, tanned skin and long flowing black hair look back at me, the eyes widen, this can’t be, “oh but it is” the lips move without control, I shake my head, still it’s Cazador staring back at me. I ball my firsts, “ No!” crack, “no!”, crack, “get out of my head!” crack, I look at my fist. Pale porcelain skin and blooded knuckles with bits of mirror greet me, I look into the shattered mirror, blonde tousled white waves, the face I know as mine looks unevenly back at me.
My legs start to wobble, I lean back against the wall next to sink and I slide down to the floor. I prop my elbows on my knees, my head sinks to my palms and fists tug at my hair. This can’t be happening. It was meant to be my accession. I was meant to wait till Tav was ready before preforming her ritual to become my consort, my equal. Gods what was I…he doing to the woman I love? Was all the hours and black outs his doing and not to do with the accession?
“Get use to it boy. You’ll be in the dark a lot more. Maybe, if your good when I take over, I let you watch me fuck her, maybe allow you to feel her quiver has she comes for me over and over. Maybe even get her to shout Cazador as I make her orgasm again and again” that taunting fanatical laugh again. “we should get that hand sorted, I can’t have it all cut up for my wedding, it just won’t do!”.

All this time I thought I’d gained that power, that I won, that I was free from Cazador, but I never will be, he’ll always Plague me. Always.

Chapter Text

I would say I slept soundly but sleep evaded me. I spent the night looking into the fire place, watching the flames dance, will I need the warmth of the fire tomorrow? Tears streaked my face, my head reeling, I feel like I’m drowning.

My safe haven gone. The man who tried to save me, tried to help me rebuild my life, gone. Taken by the man who destroyed it, obliterated it. My husband to be. There’s a part of me that hopes I’ll be saved yet again that I’ll be whisked away, but how many times can you be saved, especially when the new life you started is gone?

Dusk, starts to settle, the horizon an orange red hue. The knock on the door had me opening my eyes to embers in the fire, I guess a heavy heart and heavy eyes make sleep steal you away.
Hestia enters, “you haven’t eaten?” she points to the food on the dresser, I never heard anyone enter, I shrug, “I wasn’t hungry.” Hestia offers me a sympathetic look, “its time to get ready. I’ll pour you a bath.”

An hour later she has me looking like a different person. My hair twisted back with soft curls framing my face. Kohl lining my lashes, rouge cheeks and a deep red on my lips. Looking in the mirror I look…I look like a seductive siren, like I could lure anyone to their demise. Huh, poetic considering I’ll be greeting mine.

“Astarion says to drink this,” down the hatch that vile metallic liquid goes. Guess he isn’t taking any chances. Then Hestia hands me another vial, “please, please don’t tell him, he’ll destroy me if he finds out but this one is from me,” I raise a brow, “it’s a potion that’ll numb the whole experience…the transition,” I take it, “Hestia, thank you. Also I’m so sorry the monster turned you, you deserved better. If I find a way to free you from here I will, I promise.”
“Thank you. Drink up, it’s time to go.” I uncork the bottle and tip the liquid back, it’s sweet, honeyed with a hint if cinnamon. A stark difference to the one previous.
I stand in front of the ornate doors that lead to the Throne Room. The new ostentatious Throne Room, saying it’s bigger is a understatement.

The music starts to play, ‘no running now and do remember to smile, it’s a joyous occasion after all.’ That’s right my time away from him had me forgetting that he can slip into my head. Oh joy, it’s going to be fun when he decides to riffle through my thoughts. Hopefully he find the ones where I fantasize killing him in multiple different ways. Maybe I’ll focus on the one where I feed his freshly removed man hood to the werewolves. I’m sure it’ll be enough to make any man or beast frigid.

I take a deep breath as I feel his compulsion tug me towards the stairs. Descending I look at the sea of people, they all surly can’t be his spawn. It looks like the whole of Boulders Gate and Water Deeps esteemed residents are here.
Another deep breath, I walk down the isle. Red rose petals litter the floor leading to the dais. Some orange sparks and a flash of heat, followed by the scent of brimstone waft over from my right. Karlach?? Has she come from Avernus to rescue me. ‘No one’s coming pet, keep walking”.
I guess it is finally the end. Goodbye freedom, you were fun. Goodbye Gale, I'm sorry I won’t get to spend more time with you, I’m sorry I won’t be able to share more of my disastrous baking with you or discuss more about your latest experiments. Don’t wait for me in another life, I won’t be there, my soul is about to bonded to Mephistopheles forever.
I ascend the dais, to an awaiting hand, cold fingers interlock mine. Ruby eyes look me up and down, “my gods, you are stunning.”

Chapter Text

“We are gathered here on this most auspicious night, to bring together Lord Ancunín and Lady Tavinious, under the light of the red moon, we bind these two for eternity.” Eternity, I guess there will never be a way out, I’ll be stuck with him, till he grows tired and tosses me aside. I should have trusted my gut, the nagging sensation that was begging me not to let him complete the ritual. But the pleading, urging look in his eyes persuaded me to let him take the 7000 souls. I just wanted him to be happy, after 200 years of hell, I wanted him to be happy. Was his happiness worth the life of 7000 souls? To me it was, he made me feel whole, he made me feel special, he bought back my smile, made me laugh, danced with me under the moon lit sky. I wanted him to feel the same happiness to feel powerful after all those years oppressed. And if I was being honest with myself, I wanted to rule by his side, take boulders gate as ours, reform, reshape, rebuild it, into a metropolis, where no one would go hungry and homes where available for everyone. I wanted to rule beside him as his equal.

The Mephistopheles tiethfling continues, I have no idea what they’re saying, my head is reeling. The room is spinning, “I do”, I feel a cold halo slide down my finger. “Lady Tavinious?”…. “My lady?”. Its rude to keep people waiting my love. Just say those two words, I can do it for you if you prefer?. My eye snap to those ruby red ones, he smirks. I grad the ring the Thiefling is holding out. I lean in to Astarion slightly and lower my voice so only he can hear, “I give you this ring as a promise, that I’ll end you, and I hope that when I do, and I will! It’ll be the worst pain imaginable. Pain that’ll make you think Cazadors was just child’s play”. I lean back out, plaster a smile on my face, as I see the rage fill his, “ I do”, I say almost to cheerfully. “ With the power vested in me by our most unholy lord, I present Lord and Lady Ancunín!”. I turn towards our guests, with a beaming smile, knowing I have ruffled my now husbands feathers, fills me with a delight i do enjoy. His hand slips into mine, “do remember to smile, husband”, his hand tightens around mine and I see his jaw twitch. He leans in towards me, placing a kiss on my cheek before i feel the tickle of his breath on my ear “tick tock Tav, you’ll be all mine, body and soul for eternity come the strike of midnight. So indeed, please remember to smile, as this maybe the last time you do willing for a long time,” he leans back and guides us to walk down the isle, his hand now placed on my lower back, he leans in once again, “ the next blood moon isn’t for a several decades. Behave yourself and do as I say, and I may reward you, by making you a fall vampire.”
“So what, I’m ju…just to be your spawn, your lap dog to command?” he smiles slightly,

“yes!”.