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Chapter Text

“You’re being ridiculous,” Vex rolled her eyes, practically shoving her brother down the front stairs. “I promise you, we’ll be perfectly fine.”

“But what if something happens?” Vax asked, “What if you fall down the stairs and I’m not here?”

She let out perhaps one of the biggest sighs she’d ever had in her life, “When have I ever fallen down the stairs?”

“It could happen!” her brother posed, “Just you wait, I’m going to step out of here for one day and all hell’s gonna break loose.”

“It won’t,” she sighed, “You don’t need to be such a mother hen.”

It was true that he’d barely left the city. Guided by some sort of loyalty and protectiveness for her, he’d never once left the castle or city unless she found herself on diplomatic missions. He never left the city for personal reasons, even if there was something he wanted to explore…until now. 

Julius had told them of a festival on the outskirts of a city a few hours away called the Festival of Shadows, something that seemed right up her brother’s alley, and it had piqued his interest. She and Percy had spent weeks trying to convince him to take some time for himself, until finally he’d agreed. 

It had been like pulling teeth, but the festival had nearly everything Vax was interested in. There was a knife-throwing contest, elaborate masks, and even communion of alleged thieves. It was something Vax had an interest in from the time they’d lived in Syngorn, and he deserved a chance to have time for himself, to indulge in something that was truly for him.

“Vax’ildan,” she said seriously, using his full name- something she rarely did, “What could happen? It’s one night. All we have is dinner with those dignitaries from Wildemount. Other than that, it’s shaping up to be a perfectly boring evening.” 

Vax didn’t seem convinced, his eyes darted around the front courtyard as if he was expecting someone to jump out and attack them, “Are you sure?”

“Yes,” she laughed, “Do something for yourself for once, dipshit! I’ll be fine.”

He hummed to himself, steady on his feet. 

“Besides,” she hummed, “If you don’t bring Cass back a dagger, I believe she’ll be terribly cross with you.”

He laughed at the thought of the little girl who’d listened in on their conversations with wide eyes. In the weeks before Vax had caught the girl sneaking around the castle, trying to make Julius and Vesper’s lives miserable with any number of pranks. Vax had joked that the girl was a proper rogue in the making and was proud of her. 

“Well…” he said after a moment of thought, “I suppose I can’t let Cassie down. You know she stopped me in the hallway and tried to tell me that I was throwing my daggers wrong?”

Vex laughed out loud, “Did she?”

“Yeah,” he chuckled, “I find it rather endearing. She reminds me of Freddie when she gets that look of pride and arrogance.”

She chuckled, “They’re not all that different, are they?”

“No,” Vax smiled before meeting her eyes, “It’ll just be one night.”

She rolled her eyes. “I promise you, brother, we’ll be fine. Enjoy yourself for once. You don’t have to worry about us.”

 He sighed, thinking for a moment before he finally nodded, “Okay.”

“Okay,” she smiled, leading him down the stairs, “Don’t worry…Percy and I can stay out of trouble.”

“The two of you are trouble.” Vax sighed with a shake of his head, “I’ll be back tomorrow.”

“I know,” she sighed heavily.

He placed his hands on her shoulder, “If you need anything, anything at all…”

“I know,” she rolled her eyes, “Now you need to leave if you want to get there before sundown.”

He sighed, shaking his head before pulling her into a small hug, “I love you, Stubby.”

Returning the hug gently, she rolled her eyes for what must have been the fiftieth time since they’d made their way outside the castle. “I love you, too. Now, please, stop worrying and go have fun! Throw some knives, drink, use protection, and come back and tell me all about it tomorrow!”

He chuckled with a shake of his head, “I’ll be sure to send word if I end up in jail.”

“Perfect,” she grinned, “I already have an agreement with Hadrine for bail money and a plan with Vesper just in case we need to avoid a scandal.”

He mounted a black horse before the steps, grinning at her as he straightened his dark traveling cloak, “Sister, dear, don’t forget…we are a scandal.”

With that, he spurred his horse into motion and rode through the castle gates. 

She sat there, watching as he disappeared from view before chuckling, checking her pocket watch for the time. They still had a few hours before they were supposed to be meeting an important couple from Wildemount, so she had plenty of time to decompress. 

She smiled to herself as she walked through the white halls of the castle, feeling completely at peace and at home within the stronghold.

Three months. 

It had been three months since she and Percy had fully stepped into the roles of husband and wife, and they had been some of the happiest months of her life.

Marriage was…beautiful. 

It was hard work, of course, but it was some of the best work she had ever done. 

Percy had moved into their chambers again, just months before, and the whole household had seemed to pick up on the shift in their relationship. It wasn't lost on her how Julius would tease his brother relentlessly or the way Ludwig would barely conceal his chuckles. It was clear that whatever they were observing had caused a visible change in Percy, and she was delighted. 

They’d received a formal letter of apology from Devana in the months before, but there was no mention of her father or any remorse on his part after that short visit. She wouldn’t have been lying if she said it still didn’t sting a little to know that her father still had no respect for her or remorse for the way he treated his children, but she did appreciate the effort. Her in-laws were surprisingly understanding of her desire to cut ties with her father, especially after she and Vax had given them an abridged and sweetened version of their childhood in Syldor’s household. 

Since then, it felt as if she and Vax were children of Frederick and Johanna by extension of her marriage. They had the full support and love of her in-laws, and she and Percy’s relationship had received much approval and support, something Vex had thought a rarity in her childhood. 

It felt as if she were truly a part of their family.

In those three months, she’d picked up more duties around the castle, helping Vesper and Julius in smaller affairs of state and aiding Hadrine in her duties as Coinmistress of the city. Since Hadrine’s baby was due in six months' time, Vex had offered to play the role of interim Coinmistress to allow the woman time to heal and time with her newborn, which her sister-in-law had readily accepted. Because of this, Vex spent a lot of time in the treasury and the offices of finances with Hadrine, learning everything she could about budgeting and balancing finances, and took to it quite well. 

It felt as if she had finally become completely comfortable and at home in Whitestone. 

And her marriage… oh, it was wonderful. 

She and Percy had discovered so much about themselves and each other. They enjoyed each other’s company in ways they didn’t know you could. Occasionally, they would argue, but they would compromise and be patient with one another as they figured out their marriage and the pattern of life they had fallen into, and it thrilled her in ways she couldn’t understand. They shouldered each other’s burdens and worked hard to work together in everything. They were partners in almost every sense of the word, and she adored it. 

She never used to believe in being completely in love, but her brilliant husband had proved her wrong. 

Retreating to their chambers, she set to look at some papers Hadrine had left for her, trying to be somewhat productive before she had to go through the hassle of getting ready for the evening. 

She poured herself a cup of steaming tea, lounging on one of the sofas in the room, before her mind wandered to their mysterious dinner guests. According to Percy, their family rarely received guests from another continent, much less Wildemount. Interestingly enough, the de Rolo family originated in Wildemount before they emigrated to Tal’dorei generations before, but receiving guests from the other continent was a rarity. She racked her brain for whatever information she could remember about their guests for the evening. 

Their last names sounded gothic, something Vax would take an interest in…Thornbriar or something like that. They were traveling with a small entourage and had taken an interest in the history of the city, as well as residuum mining. They were younger than Percy’s parents, but older than Julius and Vesper, and had some experience in ruling a small principality in Wildemount. Aside from that, all Vex really knew was that they came as allies, proposing innovation and military support, which was something that they were looking for since Syngorn had withdrawn from their agreement (thankfully, without threatening any dissolution of Vex’s marriage). 

They weren’t required to meet them upfront, since Johanna and Frederick, as well as Julius and Vesper, were their primary contacts within the court, but they would be introduced to them via a formal dinner, which was crucial for them not to be late for. They’d only arrived an hour or so before, and dinner was supposed to be soon, which meant that Vex needed to mentally prepare for mingling with someone she wasn’t sure she would like. 

Strangely enough, her usually antisocial husband was more excited about this than she was. 

The main reason he was excited, however, was because his parents had mentioned that they were traveling with an engineer. He’d been discouraged in the previous months since Anders’ ire at their proposal rejection had only grown, and he was eager to talk shop with another set of eyes. 

As if on cue, the door to their bedroom opened, and she smiled as she looked up to find her husband, sweaty and covered in grime after a long day in the workshop. She bit her lip at the sight. This was just one of the many times and ways she’d found him attractive. 

He looked a little flustered as he stared at her, “May I help you?”

“Oh, I’ll say,” she smiled flirtatiously, tapping her lips with a single finger. 

He grinned and leaned in, meeting her lips in a slow and lovely kiss. 

She would never get used to how giddy something so simple as a kiss could make her. When they broke apart, she grinned at the sight of the pink flush on his cheeks. It seemed that he had the same feeling that she did. That exhilarating flying and falling feeling that would consume her completely. 

When they broke apart, he looked as if he wanted to sit on the couch beside her, but thought twice about it, given how sweaty and grimy he was. 

“I should take a bath,” he sighed, “Our dinner guests will be here soon, and I doubt Julius would be too pleased if I were late…again.”

“Hadrine’s been softening him, though,” Vex chuckled, “I think the prospect of parenthood could make him less of an iron-fisted tyrant.”

“Don’t let him hear you call him that,” her husband laughed with an eye roll,  “He might think it’s actually true.”

She laughed. 

It never felt like there was any shortage of that. 

Laughter. 

She couldn’t remember a time in her life since her childhood in Byroden when she had laughed so much. It wasn’t that she and Percy were particularly humorous people, but they made each other smile and laugh even at times when it didn’t seem necessary. It was just one of the many things she found that she adored about their burgeoning relationship. 

Gods, they’d only been married eleven months, and only been fully husband and wife for three, and yet she felt as if they’d always been. It was a comfort and familiarity she never wanted to lose sight of. 

She pretended to look down at her papers again while he set off into their bathing chambers, “I’d offer to join you for the bath, but I feel we’d be distracted far too easily…and then we’d definitely be late.”

She didn’t need to look to see his bright red face as he coughed in response. He poked his head around the corner, a mock look of shock on his face. 

“You’re deplorable,” he grinned at her with wide, adoring eyes, “You know that, don’t you?”

She smiled widely at him, “You love me.”

He sighed fondly with a nod, “I do.”

They sat there for a moment, and it took all of Vex’s self-control not to drag him to the bathtub herself and waste plenty of time with him in there, but she simply shook her head with a grin, pocketing the idea for after dinner. She brushed another flirtatious kiss against her husband's lips before withdrawing, pretending to turn her attention back to Hadrine’s papers, “Don’t be late, love.”

“I won’t,” he promised, “The last thing we need is Julius having an aneurysm over this.”

With that, her husband retreated to their washroom, and she decided it was time to start getting ready. 

She retrieved the dress she’d already selected for the evening, a dark blue velvet evening gown that accentuated her curves without being completely immodest. It had golden embroidery in a pattern that resembled a starry sky, cascading in an elegant pattern with a draping open back. She’d found it on a whim the previous week when she’d gone to town with Hadrine and Whitney, looking for baby clothes and other things, when she saw a local seamstress putting it on a mannequin. She wasn’t expecting to like it as much as she did, but it reminded her of something her mother would have made…and frankly, she looked amazing in it. Not only that, but the price was not too expensive, making it a garment after her own heart, so she decided promptly she’d use it to knock her unsuspecting husband on his ass when it suited her best. 

She’d decided tonight would be the night that suited her best. 

She slipped into the bathroom, doing her best to avoid being distracted by her husband, who was working hard to wash the ash and grime from his hair and face. His glasses had been abandoned beside their sizable bathtub, so he squinted at her when she entered, a small, playfully accusatory look in his eyes. 

“Don’t give me that look, dear,” she scolded, folding her arms before her, “I just need to wash my face.”

He simply shrugged, holding his hands up in surrender, “I won’t interfere.”

She set about her task, washing her face quickly before taking a moment to admire her husband again. 

He snorted when he realized she was watching him, “Now who’s distracted?”

“Wifely duties, my love,” she blew him a kiss before retreating from the washroom, making sure he knew he was going to be in for it later tonight. She shut the door behind her just in time to hear him mutter “minx” under his breath before she set about getting ready.

She made quick work of minimal makeup, not wanting to have to deal with a mess to clean off tomorrow morning since she suspected she wouldn’t get the chance to take it off tonight. Her hair was released from its simple braid and brushed out, allowing simple, silky waves to fall down her back. As always, her locket was faithfully resting against the top of her sternum, and she wore simple earrings in the shape of stars. She slipped into the dress, savoring the feel of the soft, heavy fabric against her body, and admired the way it was draped over her. 

Not too fancy, but enough to look the part of a member of the ruling family of Whitestone. 

For a moment, her mind flashed with that memory of that meeting with her father three months before, the lack of respect or regard for her, the disdain, the innate belief that she could be any more than a mistake. 

Being here…in Whitestone, with Percy, had allowed her to heal after that. She was surrounded by people who made her realize all that she could be, and all that she already was. She had found a part of herself in serving the people of Whitestone alongside Percy’s parents and siblings. She found that she adored organizing and helping where she could, even if it wasn’t a life of adventure that she’d imagined as a child. 

It was just the beginning of her life here…and she owed it to the people of Whitestone to be her best self. 

“Wow…”

A smile rose to her face as she turned, finding her husband, his hair still damp from the bath, dressed in the trousers and undershirts for one of his dinner suits, staring at her in the bathroom doorway. His eyes were wide as they drank in her appearance with reverence. Her heart soared as she registered the pure love and admiration in his eyes. It wasn’t just an appreciation for how she looked, however…he could see her, past all the frills and opulence. He could always see her, and he always thought she was beautiful. 

She smiled, “What do you think?”

He closed his mouth, swallowing hard as he took a shaky step forward, a silver cravat held in his hand, his vest unbuttoned. She, once again, admired her husband as he held his hands out, as if waiting for permission to approach. 

“You’re gaping, dearheart,” she giggled, watching the way his eyes nervously darted up and down around her appearance. They’d gotten well past what he’d referred to as “horribly improper staring” in the previous months. Though initially he’d been ashamed of shamelessly drinking in her appearance, she had simply laughed and informed him that she found it endearing, and would always bask in his appreciation all the same. “Are you still with me, darling?”

He nodded with a small hum, his eyes still wide as he looked at her. He set his dinner jacket and cravat down on the bed as he took a step forward.

“This…is new,” he observed, his hands hovering over her waist, once again looking at her as if she were a divine deity, something he was not permitted to touch.

“Do you like it?” she smiled, leaning into his arms, savoring the way they gently cradled her. He always treated her with such care and love. Her husband was always so gentle and sweet and kind to her, and she adored it. It seemed like every day, she was discovering new things that she loved about him.

He nodded, still staring at her in awe, “I think…every day I’m reminded that I have the most beautiful wife on the material plane.”

“Flatterer,” she chuckled, trying desperately to keep herself from blushing, “But you may continue.”

He chuckled with a shake of his head, brushing a kiss against her shoulder, before trailing slightly up her neck, “You’re absolutely transcendent, my love.”

“Disgusting,” she grinned, leaning into him, “You’re not so bad yourself.”

They remained there for a moment, enjoying the silence of the evening, before she caught sight of the clock on her vanity. 

“Darling,” she hummed, brushing a kiss against his cheek, “We really must be getting settled.”

He hummed in protest, “Do we really have to?”

“It’s a formal dinner with important people,” she reminded him, “Remember, they have that engineer with them too! It’ll be nice to finally talk to someone who speaks your language.”

“You speak my language,” he protested, standing behind her and brushing a kiss against her pulse point, a motion that made her hum in delight. “Why can’t we just remain here all evening?”

She laughed, running a hand through his damp hair. “Tempting, darling, but I’m afraid we can’t. Julius, remember?”

Her husband muttered something along the lines of “to hell with Julius,” but it was mumbled into her neck. She chuckled as she leaned against him, twisting around so she could face him. 

“Just think,” she cupped his face, brushing a kiss against the adorable point of his nose, “A few hours of pleasantries, and then I’m all yours.”

He thought about it for a moment before nodding with an exaggerated sigh, “Fine. We’ll just need to get this over with.”

She laughed again, watching as he skulked over to the bed, buttoning his vest before starting to tie his cravat around his neck. She stepped forward and took over the task for him. He could do it, of course, after all, she suspected he’d known how to properly tie a cravat since he’d been born, but she enjoyed doing it for him, and she’d gotten quite good. 

He smiled as she gently wound the silk material around his neck, rolling his eyes playfully at her insistence, but allowing her to do so all the same. “Did Vax end up leaving?”

“He did, though you’d think I was forcing him,” she chuckled, shaking her head, “Gods forbid he have an evening to actually enjoy himself.”

“I’m glad he decided to go,” Percy nodded, “I do think that a festival of shadows would be far more fun than this dinner.”

“But certainly not more fun than what would come after,” she raised a suggestive eyebrow, reveling in the way he turned a bright pink.

“Right,” he chuckled, looking away nervously from her as she finished tying his cravat, “Of course.”

“Now, please remind me,” she sighed, inspecting her hair in the mirror, “What are the names of Julius’ dignitaries again?”

“Lord and Lady Briarwood,” he responded, pulling his dinner jacket on and fastening the silver button, “Sylas and Delilah Briarwood.”

Briarwood…Thornbriar…same difference.

“Hmm,” she nodded, “And what do we know about them…other than they come from Wildemount?”

“Not much,” he shook his head, “But they seem interesting enough. Hopefully, we won’t be falling asleep like when Captain Stonefell brought his cronies.”

“Ugh, that was dreary,” Vex nodded in agreement, “Hopefully tonight won’t be nearly as bad.”

He chuckled before eyeing the clock again, “I suppose it’s time for us to meet them.” 

“I suppose so,” she agreed, pushing herself onto the tips of her toes so she could brush a kiss against his lips, suggestively whispering in his ear,  “We’d best hope it goes quickly, dear.”

The blush on his face was absolutely beautiful as he smirked down at her with a small shake of his head, “Temptress.”

She grinned and took his arm in hers as they left the room, headed for the formal dining room, arm in arm. As they walked through the hallways, they smiled at the people they passed, the staff members, and the few guards at their posts. It felt commonplace, comfortable even, being on her husband's arm, smiling at the members of their household. These were the people she saw every day since she’d come here, and she’d learned all of their names. From Mrs. Phipps, Mr. Gerety, and Lyda, to Steven, a footman, Plutovier, the front guardsman, and Sasha, a scullery maid, they had all been faces and names she saw on a daily basis, and she was thankful for all of them. In turn, they smiled at her and had just as much respect for her as she did for them. It was astonishing how much happier Castle Whitestone seemed than Syldor’s home in Syngorn on that basis alone. All in all, she was thankful that this was the home she had made, and the home that she and Percy were making. 

She stopped them when she saw Phillipa, one of the ladies' maids, walking through. “Phillipa, are they all in the dining room already?”

The young woman smiled with a small nod, stopping short of a curtsey as Vex had reminded her countless times that it was unnecessary, “Yes, Lady Vex’ahlia, but you’re not late yet.”

“Thank you,” she nodded at the woman before looking at Percy, “If we book it, we might make it before Julius has a fit.”

“I don’t think Hadrine would let him,” Percy chuckled, but Vex noticed instantly the change in pace. 

They arrived at the grand dining room just in time to see Gerety standing before the grand doors. The older man grinned at them, “You’re just in time.”

Vex let out a mock sigh of relief as the man opened the doors for her and Percy, “Thank the gods. We’re cutting it a little close.”

Gerety simply laughed as he ushered them in.

“You’re here!” 

Julius was already anxious, it seemed, straightening his jacket with an impatient expression. Hadrine shot him a look, however, before his indignance could take hold of him. 

Despite complaining of exhaustion as a result of her pregnancy, Hadrine looked absolutely perfect, as always, with not a hair out of place. She nodded at Vex’s appearance with a look of surprise and awe, before nodding in approval as if to say that she knew exactly what Vex was doing…and approved wholeheartedly. 

“You look fabulous, dear,” Vex complimented, admiring the look of her violet silk gown. “How do you feel?”

“Tired, but alright,” Hadrine nodded with a sigh, her hand rubbing over the barely-present protrusion of her swelling abdomen, “This little one’s been well behaved today, but I’m fairly certain he’ll take after his father.”

“He?” Vex raised an eyebrow with a grin. The thought of Hadrine and Julius having a son sounded absolutely wonderful and chaotic to her. “You’re certain it’s a boy?”

“Not one-hundred percent,” Hadrine smiled, looking down at her stomach fondly, “Just a feeling.”

“Gods help us if they’re like Julius,” Vesper chimed in from where she was straightening Ludwig’s coat, looking absolutely beautiful in periwinkle blue. Her green eyes surveyed the room with a sharp attention to detail. “I don't know if I can handle any more of that.”

“At least you’re not married to him,” Hadrine laughed, “I have to actually raise his mini-me, if my instinct’s correct.”

“Well,” Johanna chimed in with a smile, surveying the table setting with caring eyes and attention to detail. “If the baby’s anything like his or her father, I can give you plenty of tips on how to manage it, Hadrine dear. Julius may have been a tempest of a child for me as a first-time mother, but that doesn’t mean your first child has to be.”

“Should I be offended?” Julius whispered to Vex, looking mildly confused. 

“Not necessarily,” she replied, “Just be sure you make it your mission to help your wife once this baby comes, because something tells me it won’t be easy.”

He sighed before clapping his hands to get the younger children’s attention. On the other side of the room, Cass was complaining about the frills and laces on her light blue dress, only a shade or two lighter than Vespers, but far more frilly, while Whitney helped her straighten the jewelry the tomboy had undoubtedly been wrestled into for the event. Oliver was messing with his neckline, trying desperately to loosen the cravat around his neck before Vesper chastised him. On the other end of the table, Frederick was having a word with one of the head members of the waitstaff and nodding in approval over the small menu he was being shown. 

“Why do we have to be here for this again?” Cassandra complained, eyeing her parents, “They only want to talk to you!”

“Because it’s important that they know who they’re dealing with,” Frederick answered, helping Vesper with straightening Ludwig’s appearance,  “Our family is a reflection of your mother and me, as well as the city we’re entrusted to lead.”

“Besides,” Ludwig nodded, his voice quiet as ever, “Guests mean that we get the good desserts, Cass. Didn’t you think of that?”

Cassandra opened her mouth to argue, but sighed, finally conceding to her brother’s argument. 

“Now,” Vesper informed her siblings, “Lord and Lady Briarwood will be here any minute, and it’s very important that we put our best foot forward. That means you, Oliver, and Whitney.”

“We weren’t going to do anything!” Oliver protested, his eyes wide, while Whitney shot her elder sister an affronted look. 

“We know,” Julius countered, “We just wanted to cover our bases.”

A knock sounded at the door, and Mr. Gerety popped his head in through the door, addressing Frederick and Johanna, “Milord, Milady, your guests are approaching.”

“Thank you, Gerety,” Johanna smiled gently, “Please show them in when they’re here.”

When Gerety retreated, they all assumed their normal position that they always took when they were meeting guests–lined up in age order. For a brief moment, Vex was reminded of the way they had all been lined up (sans Percy) when she’d first come to Whitestone, and now she was a part of that line. It was interesting to her how the de Rolo siblings had been so well-practiced in getting into lines by this point that it was almost second nature. She eyed Ludwig, who looked like he was preparing for war, the socially anxious teen sweating slightly. 

“You alright?” She nudged her brother-in-law gently.

“I hate these things,” he mumbled.

“I know,” she offered him a comforting smile, as she leaned into Percy’s arm,  “But you can handle anything for a minute, you know that?”

He smiled slightly, “Doesn’t feel that way sometimes.”

“I know, dear,” she smiled, “Maybe…just think about the next painting you want to work on, or your next unfinished piece…maybe that will help time go by faster.”

“Agreed,” Percy looked at his brother, “If we’re lucky, they’ll be so focused on Vesper and Julius, we’ll get to stay out of the line of questioning.”

“One can only hope,” Ludwig’s eyes fell to the floor before he shot Vex and Percy a small smile, “Thanks, though.”
Vex opened her mouth to respond, but before she could, Mr. Gerety was opening the doors again. 

“Milord,” he nodded at Frederick before turning his attention to Johanna, “Milady…allow me to present Lord Sylas and Lady Delilah Briarwood.”

With that, the doors opened.

Vex didn’t know what she had expected. 

It certainly wasn’t this. 

Lord and Lady Briarwood were…astonishingly ethereal, in an odd way. Almost instantly, Vex was struck by the look of them. There was beauty there, but almost severe…like a well-crafted dagger. 

Lord Briarwood was an imposing figure, dressed in a well-tailored suit with a maroon vest beneath his midnight-black dinner jacket, a red sash across his chest. There was also a well-cut fur pelt over his shoulder, and his facial hair was well-trimmed. Though he was young, possibly only in his late thirties, there were streaks of silver through his dark brown hair, and his eyes were a piercing maroon color, as if blood or rust had stained his once-brown eyes. 

For as attractive as her husband was, Lady Briarwood was even more astonishingly beautiful. She wore a black and lilac tailored gown that accentuated her figure nicely, with a black lacy collar sticking up around the edge of her neck. She wore a simple necklace that consisted of a black velvet ribbon with acidic green gems that rested at the hollow of her throat. Her violet eyes were cold, but beautiful, in shades of violet that Vex was sure she’d never seen in a person before. She moved with an almost unearthly grace at her husband’s side, a small smile on her face as she surveyed their line.

Vex wasn’t sure why, but a feeling of unease crept up her spine. 

She swallowed it back, after all, it wouldn’t be good if their guests immediately assumed she disliked them on the basis of first impressions. 

Frederick smiled graciously, “Lord and Lady Briarwood, I trust your accommodations were to your liking?”

Lord Briarwood nodded, “Yes, Lord de Rolo. Your staff made sure we were well accommodated.”

“It’s truly such a lovely palace,” Lady Briarwood complimented, “I don’t believe I’ve ever seen its equal.”

Something in their voices sent a chill up Vex’s neck, but once again, she ignored it, trying to push the worry and anxiety to the back of her mind. She wondered if it was because of their recent quarrels with her father that she suddenly felt so nervous. 

Yes, surely that was it…somehow her mind had convinced her that any visitors surely bore them ill will. 

She was just being irrational. 

That was all. 

Johanna smiled with pride, “This castle has been a staple in the de Rolo family for centuries…a symbol of our pact to protect Whitestone.”

“The prosperity of your city surely reflects that,” Sylas smiled, his eyes flickering to the line of people to the side, “The rest of your family, I presume?”

“Yes,” Lord Frederick smiled, “Julius, Vesper, would you introduce the rest of the family to our guests?”

“Certainly,” Julius smiled, taking Hadrine’s hand, “Firstly, allow me to present my wife, Lady Hadrine, coinmistress of Whitestone.”

Hadrine’s curtsey wasn’t hindered by her pregnancy in the slightest, maintaining the perfect grace to be expected of a lady of the court. She spoke in a dignified and delicate manner as she made eye contact with Lord and Lady Briarwood, “Welcome, honored guests.”

The visiting couple nodded as Vesper took Emry’s hand. 

“My spouse,” Vesper beamed, “Countex Emrys.”

“Welcome,” Emrys nodded.

“A pleasure,” Sylas’ voice was soft, but effective, as if he were a wall unmoved by a tempest. 

“Our brother, Percival,” Julius went on, gesturing to Percy and Vex, making her heart nearly stop in her chest, “And his wife, Lady Vex’ahlia.”

Vex smiled graciously, dropping into a curtsey in time with Percy’s bow, “Welcome, Lord and Lady Briarwood.”

For a brief moment, the Briarwoods surveyed them, and that uncomfortable feeling was back. After another moment of silence, it seemed as if whatever they were thinking snapped into place. 

“Ah, Percival,” Delilah spoke, raising an eyebrow, recognition in her eyes, “You’re the one who builds things, yes?”

Percy looked shocked at the acknowledgement. His eyes flickered to his parents, as if wondering if they’d been the ones who brought it up, “Er…yes, I am a tinker of sorts.”

Sylas nodded, a small smile rising on his face, “We travel with an engineer, Doctor Anna Ripley. Unfortunately, she was unable to join us this evening, but perhaps you’ll meet her during our stay.”

Vex watched the way her husband smiled gently, his eyes flickering with interest, “That would be lovely.”

With that, attention was turned to Ludwig.

“Our brother, Ludwig,” Vesper went on. 

At the sound of his name, her brother-in-law dropped into a small, nervous bow, muttering something under his breath shyly. The Briarwoods didn’t seem to mind his shyness, however, just nodding as Vesper continued. 

“The twins, Whitney and Oliver.”

In unison, the twins dropped into a courtesy, chorusing their welcomes, to which Delilah and Sylas nodded in respectful acknowledgement.

“And finally,” Vesper gestured to Cassandra, who could barely hide her boredom, “Cassandra, the youngest.”

At the sound of her name, the girl dropped into a curtsey, almost as clumsy as it had been the day Vex had met her. She didn’t seem to care, however, as she straightened, looking a little put off by the way the Briarwoods were looking at her. 

“Cassandra,” Delilah said the name slowly, offering a sweet smile to the young girl, “Did you know that was the name of a powerful sorceress where I’m from? It was said she could commune with the dead to foretell the future.”

Cassandra wrinkled her nose at the notion. “The dead shouldn’t talk. They had their chance.”

That elicited a chuckle from both of the Briarwoods, as well as the rest of the group, though the latter seemed to have more of a nervous sound to it than anything else. Julius shot his sister a small warning glance, as if to ask her why her tone sounded so rude, but the Briarwoods didn’t seem to care.

“Quite right, dear girl,” Sylas chuckled, “And yet, they do.”

Delilah turned to the rest of the group, a saccharine smile on her face, something that still sent a pang of unease through Vex that she tried unsuccessfully to ignore, “Well…it’s an absolute pleasure to meet the rest of you. We’ve heard so much about you in our correspondence.”

“It’s truly nice to put faces to the names,” Sylas agreed, “We’re incredibly thankful to be here on such an auspicious day.”

“I couldn’t agree more,” Johanna nodded in agreement, gesturing to the table, “Let’s be seated…we have a lovely dinner planned to hopefully ease the burden of your long travels.”

As they took their spots, Vex wished more than anything that she could ignore the pang of unease. Delilah was seated directly across from her, and though her demeanor was pleasant, she couldn’t shake the feeling that something was just off about these two. 

Stop it, she reminded herself, they’re guests. You’re safe here. They mean no harm. 

But something in her soul kept prompting her to run, as if she had a knife at her back that she couldn’t see. 

Percy seemed to notice her unease as the first course was served, his hand slipping over hers beneath the table. He squeezed her hand softly and caught her eyes, a look of concern on his face. 

“Are you alright?” he whispered.

She managed a smile that she knew didn’t go all the way to her eyes, “Yes.”

He didn’t seem convinced, but didn’t want to pry any longer, instead paying attention to the conversation his parents were having with the Briarwoods, regarding where they’d come from. They’d come from the northeastern part of Wildemount, a territory that had been given to Lord Briarwood when his parents died when he was young. Like the de Rolos, it sounded as if the Briarwoods had ties to that region that ran deep, but recently, they decided to travel to Whitestone.

“Why Whitestone in particular?” Vesper inquired, taking a sip of her wine, “Hardly anyone knows where we are unless they take an interest in minerals.”

“You sell your city far too short,” Lady Briarwood laughed, “You’d be surprised how much we’ve heard of it.”

Vex wondered what the hell that was supposed to mean, but she wasn’t given the chance to think about it all too much before Hadrine was asking the next question. 

“Do you have children?” she asked, trying to keep a pleasant conversation going.

Sylas smiled slowly, “No…unfortunately, that blessing passed us by.”

“Oh,” Hadrine’s face fell, “I’m so sorry. I didn’t mean to–”

“No, no,” Sylas waved her off with a small smile. It seemed talking about it didn’t seem to be something that bothered him,  “It’s alright. My health was in dire straits some time ago…the illness left me unable to have children.”

“Oh, how terrible,” Frederick shook his head, “I’m so sorry.”

“We have been thinking about adopting a girl, though,” Delilah smiled, quickly redirecting the topic of conversation with a grace and elegance that came naturally to high-born women. “Gods know there’s no shortage of children robbed of homes or loving parents. Young girls  are at that time in their lives when they require a steady and firm hand to show them the way in life.”

It didn’t pass Vex’s notice the way the woman’s eyes flickered to Cassandra and Whitney for a split second, before turning her attention back to Johanna and Frederick.

“That sounds wonderful,” Johanna smiled warmly, “I was an only child myself, and I always dreamed of having a large family.”

“I should say,” Delilah nodded, her eyes scanning over the table, “So much prosperity and happiness in one family. Yours is a family truly blessed.”

“I couldn’t agree more,” Frederick nodded, “and thank you for allowing our family to play host to yours. I hope you’ll come to love Whitestone as much as we do.”

“Oh, believe me,” Sylas’s laugh sounded forced, and it sent a chill down Vex’s spine that she wished she could ignore, “We already have found this to be perhaps one of the more remarkable places we’ve ever visited.”

Cassandra snorted, as if she couldn’t believe that anyone would find this place interesting, a motion that prompted a small laugh from Oliver, before both of them were cut off by a stern glare from Julius and Vesper, who moved in such unison that for a moment Vex was sure they would have been mistaken for twins.   

The conversation continued for a while, passing through three courses while all manner of things were discussed. For the most part, Vex could pay attention and did her best to settle her nerves. The Briarwoods seemed pleasant, discussed matters of improving infrastructure and farming with Frederick and Johanna, as well as talking about the environmental implications of Residuum usage. Apparently, their engineer friend, Dr. Ripley, seemed very interested in residuum as well as the city’s history, so they intended to use their stay to learn all they could about places like Whitestone in Tal’dorei. 

The Briarwoods were pleasant, more pleasant than her father was, anyway, showing respect where respect was due, and she appreciated it. No doubt about it, they were an eccentric couple, but they seemed nice enough.

It wasn’t long, however, before dinner was over and the couple stood to take their leave after after-dinner wine was served.

“Thank you for the meal,” Delilah nodded, smiling graciously at Johanna and Frederick, “Your staff has our compliments.”

“Of course,” Johanna smiled, “We’re grateful for your presence, and hope to share many meals over your stay here.”

“We look forward to it,” Sylas smiled, taking his wife’s hand. “We also want you to know that we appreciate the beauty of your city and are incredibly thankful for your hospitality. Truly, this city is as special as its ruling family.”

“You’re too kind,” Vesper smiled warmly, but Vex could see that her sister-in-law was thinking. Though her expression was pleasant, she could see that the older woman’s eyes were filled with deep thought, as if she were trying to decipher a complicated puzzle she’d only just gotten her eyes on.

 With that, the Briarwoods bowed with respect before taking their leave, leaving the family in a silent room. They sat there in silence for a moment, watching as the dessert plates and wine were cleared away, before finally the silence was broken.

“Well…” Cassandra whispered, “They were certainly…interesting.”

“I think they’re a little odd,” Oliver mumbled. 

“Eccentric, dear,” Johanna sighed, “But that’s true of nearly everyone we meet.”

“They’re well-educated, respectable, and seem to take a great interest in our resources,” Julius murmured, “I think they could be great allies.”

“I don’t trust them.”

Vesper’s words were quiet, but Vex felt them resonate deep in her bones.

Frederick chuckled softly after a moment of silence, “You don’t trust anyone, my little star.”

“They were weird,” Whitney whispered, looking up with a small nod, “Something just felt…wrong about them.”

Vex said nothing, but she was grateful that it wasn’t just her who thought so. 

“Now, dear,” Johanna chastised, “That’s not very polite.”

“The Briarwoods are going to be our guests for the next few days,” Julius concurred, “So, we’d better get used to it, and make sure that our opinions don’t compromise our hospitality.”

They all murmured their assent before the conversation turned more towards the focus of their studies. Vex nursed a cup of tea while Cassandra explained to her parents why she was getting lower marks in her class with Professor Anders. Ludwig quietly sketched in a small notepad he kept in his pocket, while Oliver and Whitney were arguing about the upcoming new addition to their family. Vesper nursed a glass of Whiskey, her eyes downturned, while Julius rambled on about what they would need to discuss with the Briarwoods. Hadrine and Emrys were laughing to themselves about the sheer look of boredom on Vesper’s face, and Vex found herself marveling at how… comfortable the scene seemed. How…normal it was.

This was what a family felt like. 

If Vax were here, then the picture would have been complete. 

Every other night, however, this was the picture of their home. 

A painting in vibrant colors.

A home she had never imagined for herself. 

She squeezed Percy’s hand softly, and he looked up from the sketchbook that he’d smuggled in with him, a rough pulley diagram scribbled down on the pages. His eyes softened as he registered the look on her face. 

This was her home. 

Here with her brother and the de Rolos. 

Here with Percy. 

And she couldn’t imagine how fortunate she had been for all of the pieces to fall into place. 

“Anyway,”  Frederick leaned back in his chair with a sigh, swirling his own glass of brandy before him, “I think this can be what we call a productive evening. Wouldn’t you agree, dear?”

“I would have to agree,” Johanna nodded, sipping her tea, a warm smile on her face, “The twins made it without falling asleep.”

“I dunno, Mother,” Ludwig offered quietly, a small smile on his face, “I thought Ollie let out a yawn or two.”

“Did not!” Oliver protested.

“Did too!” Whitney chimed in, her eyebrows shooting upward as she looked at her twin, “I saw it!”

“Is that so?” Frederick laughed, “Well then, I suppose we’re— Hrrk!”

It happened so quickly that Vex didn’t know what to do. 

Only a split second had passed where her father-in-law had been laughing, smiling with his children…

Before a rapier’s blade had pierced through his chest, directly through his heart.. 

His steely eyes went wide, and he glanced down as blood bubbled from his lips. A small, harrowing gasp left him before he went slack, a look of confusion frozen on his face.

“Frederick?!” Johanna’s eyes went wide as she threw herself towards him while the spark of life still lingered in his eyes.

“Father!” Julius shouted, jumping from his seat. 

Everyone was scrambling to get out of their seats, panic suddenly surging unexpectedly through a room that had been filled with happiness and ease mere seconds before. Percy’s hand tightened on hers, a harrowing gasp leaving him as she pulled him up. Whitney screamed, Oliver let out a shout, and confusion abounding took over.

“Darling!” Johanna cried, trying to get to her husband as the life faded from the Lord of Whitestone, “Frederick- Aghh!”

She didn’t make it a step away from her seat before two arrows lodged in her throat. She coughed, her eyes wide as a shaking hand went to her throat, barely brushing against the bloody shafts of the weapon before tears filled her eyes and she fell forward, her arms outstretched for her husband. 

“Mummy!” Cassandra cried. 

“Mother!!” Vex was sure she’d never heard Percy shout so loud. 

That was when she noticed the woman standing behind Frederick’s still form, a cruel smile showing through the shadow of her cloak. 

That was when the doors were flung wide open, and cloaked people in masks entered, all of them bearing weapons. 

She immediately recognized the cackling form of Kerrion Stonefell, a large warhammer in his hands. He sneered as he looked at the slack forms of Frederick and Johanna. 

“Stonefell?!?” Julius shouted, his voice strained, his eyes filled with panic, “What is the meaning of—”

The older, stout man merely grinned, his disgusting sneer sending a chill down Vex’s spine. 

“Death to the de Rolos!” he screamed, lifting his weapon. 

And then the real carnage began. 

Vex was wrenched backward as Julius and Vesper, shaking and unsteady, sprang into action. 

“Get down!” Vesper shouted, grabbing a sword from a nearby suit of armor. She ran for Cassandra, pulling her backward, and nearly throwing her into Vex as she immediately deflected an arrow that had been sent soaring towards Whitney’s head.

“Julius?!” Hadrine screamed. 

“Get out of here!” Julius ordered, looking at the rest of his siblings, all of them clustered together. Vex grabbed Whitney’s arm to pull her out of the way of an attacker, grabbing a silver tray from a nearby table and catching his sword in the tray’s path. It pierced through, missing her head by a few inches, but she threw him back into the table. 

Percy was frozen, paler than she had ever seen him, his eyes darting around the room as if it was some sort of nightmare he hoped would disappear. 

“Get them out of here!” Vesper screamed, looking at Hadrine, “Get the others out of here now!”

Hadrine nodded, immediately pulling a teary-eyed and terrified Oliver to his feet, “Alright, follow me!”

“What about Mum and Dad?!” Whitney cried, her eyes wide as she stumbled forward, wanting to go to her parents, her face filled with denial at the notion that her parents may have been gone. 

“Whitney!” Julius wrenched his sister backward, just in time to deflect another attacker from hurting her, “Hadrine! Take her!”

“C’mon, darling!” Hadrine cried, grabbing Whitney’s hand, trying to pull her away.

Vex’s eyes were on Vesper and Emrys, who were fighting with whatever they could find. She wanted to help them, but fear twisted her heart in her chest. Instead, she turned and grabbed Cassandra by the hand and started to run for the nearest door, the only one where attackers didn’t threaten. She grabbed Percy, who was pulling on Ludwig’s arm, a human chain of confusion and fear, as Hadrine and the twins followed. She threw the door open before a gargled scream caught her attention. 

She looked over her shoulder, and terror settled in as she registered the appearance of five arrows protruding from Julius’s chest. 

The man blinked. 

Once. 

Another arrow soared through his throat.

He choked.

And blinked again. 

Once.

Twice. 

He reached a bloodied hand out for Hadrine before a death rattle of a breath left him, and he fell forward, sprawled across the floor a few feet from his pregnant wife.

Hadrine’s scream was one of the worst sounds she’d ever heard. 

“Oh gods!” Vesper cried, throwing an attacker off of her and into Emrys, who killed the man with little effort at all, “Oh gods, no!”

“Julius!!” Cassandra screamed, fighting against Ludwig’s embrace. 

“NO!” Hadrine wailed, barely staying standing. She tried valiantly to move, but her eyes were glued on Julius, who was now still as masked fiends plunged their swords endlessly into his still body. She screamed, the sound agonized and wounded as the twins scrambled away from her and into Percy’s arms as he pushed them behind him. Vex’s horror only grew worse as she registered the pain in her husband’s eyes. 

“Hadrine!” she shouted, pushing the siblings through the door, trying to pull the shell-shocked woman from the floor. Her heart throbbed with grief for Julius, Frederick, and Johanna, but the others needed to move. They needed to move, “Hadrine, we need to—”
She didn’t get the chance to finish her sentence as the woman who’d stabbed Frederick rounded the table, a crossbow in her hands, and fired two arrows straight into Hadrine’s chest.

“Vex!”

She was pulled back by a hand that could have only belonged to Percy, away from another slew of arrows that lodged in the wall behind her, but cold fear coursed through her veins as she stared at the woman before her. 

Hadrine looked shocked, a scream caught in her throat as she tore her eyes from Julius’s body to her abdomen, her bloodied hands hovering over her womb for a moment. She glanced back at her husband for a moment, acceptance and sadness creeping into those beautiful eyes.

Then she slumped forward with a small gasp, her arm outstretched for her husband as another mercenary finished the job, effectively severing Hadrine’s head with a swift blow of a battleaxe. 

“NO!” Emrys screamed from where they were covering for Vesper, who was grappling with Captain Stonefell, “ Gods, Hadrine!!”

Vex felt like they were all locked in a nightmare. 

Any second now, she would wake and find everyone safe in their beds, but as her shock wore off and she registered the sound of Vesper screaming, she knew that this was no dream. 

“Go!!” Vesper’s voice was strangled with tears as she went back-to-back with Emrys, her green eyes wide in desperation as they were surrounded, “Vex, Percy, get them out of here!!”

She sprang into action. She had no bow here. None of the mercenaries they killed had any weapons she could use.

So all she could do was run.

She grabbed Cassandra’s hand in one of hers and Ludwigs in the other, and pulled them away, watching as Percy collected both twins in his arms. Panic was the lifeblood of their group as they ran, sprinting faster than she thought she had in her life. Her heart hammered in her chest, and tears stung her eyes as she didn’t loosen her grip on Cassandra and Ludwig’s hands. 

“No!!” Cassandra was screaming and sobbing, fighting against Vex as they ran, “No!! Vesper! Julius!!”

The girl’s screams tore at her heart, but they kept moving. 

Her eyes searched for Percy. He was beside her, holding Oliver and Whitney close to him as they ran, trying hard not to trip over one another as they rounded the corner. They could hear their attackers behind them, as well as the echoes of shouts from Vesper and Emrys. 

Oh, gods…

The dead eyes of Frederick, Johanna, Julius, and Hadrine flashed in her mind as she registered the horror in her husband’s eyes. She wanted nothing more than to hold him. To curl into a ball with him at her side and promise him that everything would be okay, but the pounding of her heart and the shouting of the people who’d come to take their happy home, echoed through the halls. They needed to run if they wanted a chance to live. 

A chance to live for the family that had already been…

The blood and death flashed in her mind's eye again, forcing a strangled sobbing breath to rise into her throat.

Gods…

This couldn’t be real.

This couldn’t be happening. 

A scream from Whitney cut through her thoughts as they rounded a corner…

They stumbled to a halt as a horrible sight befell them. 

The corridor before them was painted in blood. 

Bodies of staff members…friends… guards, washmaids, footmen, anyone who had worked for them and befriended them littered the hallway, their faces frozen in terror as their blood stained the hardwood floors like some sort of red carpet. She recognized Gerety, Phillipa, Lyda, and so many others, all of them absent from the life and joy that had made them…well, them. She couldn’t even work up the strength to scream as she recognized the faces of people she loved, mangled and broken, their throats ripped out, bones exposed, eyes forever wide in terror. 

“Oh…Oh gods…” Vex panted, her eyes wide as she gripped Cassandra’s hand tightly, the girl whimpering and drawing close to her, looking away from the carnage. Ludwig gagged, his face pale as he tried to keep himself from vomiting, and Oliver and Whitney were crouched behind Percy, crying and clinging to one another as tightly as they could.  

At the end of the corridor, however, Lord and Lady Briarwood were waiting for them. 

Panic settled into Vex’s bones as she realized that her instincts had been correct.

They had come to steal all her family held dear. 

“What…” Percy stammered, his eyes wide as he looked at the couple before them, the two smiling cruelly and covered in blood, “What is this?”

He knew the answer to that question. 

Vex knew he knew the answer to that question. 

But saying it out loud made it real. 

“And here I thought you were the clever one,” Delilah crooned, inspecting her nails, “You’d think a boy your age would recognize a coup when you saw one.”

Sylas smiled, his teeth red with the blood of the people he’d slaughtered. In the moonlight, Vex could make out the sharp points of his canines, the red glow in his eyes a telltale sign that their attackers were not human. 

He was a vampire.

A fucking vampire.

Delilah chuckled, taking a slow step forward, a purple glow at her fingertips. The sound of the magic seemed to echo barely silenced screams of the dead and dying. A chill seemed to run over the room as the dark energy swirled around her hand, a glow of chaos that was dangerous.

Necromantic magic.

They had to get out of here.

Now.

She surveyed the corridor before her, trying to remember the legends she’d heard about vampires and necromancers, trying to think of anything she could use to her advantage before she spotted the nearest corridor. She didn’t know how fast Sylas and Delilah could move, but if they just stood there, they’d be dead in seconds. Not only that, but she could hear the shouts of the attackers from the dining room making their way towards them. 

They couldn’t just sit there and take this lying down. 

They had to run. 

She made eye contact with her husband. They both knew the risks, but they had to give what was left of their family a fighting chance. They had to run. 

He took both of the twins' hands in his, and she held Ludwig and Cassandra’s before they all took off running down the corridor, moving as quickly as they could.

She could hear the laughter of Sylas and Delilah, mocking their attempts to run. She didn’t want to give them the chance.  

“Keep running!” she ordered the others, “Don’t look back, whatever you do!”

Cassandra let out a cry, nearly tripping over her skirts, slipping on the slick blood that painted the floor, but Vex held her steady.

She would not let them lose anyone else.  

Percy was running, gripping the twins' hands as tightly as he could manage, his long limbs uncoordinated in the panic. Vex couldn’t tear her eyes from him as she registered where he was leading them. They were going to one of the many hidden passageways in the castle, a way that would lead them to safety, or shelter them long enough to decide what they needed to do to escape. 

They just needed to keep running. 

They just needed to–

“AGHH!”

Ludwig stumbled, tugging on her hand, falling to the ground.

 She whirled around just in time to see that the attackers from the dining room had caught up with them.

An arrow had gone through Ludwig’s knee. 

The boy screamed and writhed on the ground, looking up at Vex in desperation as she skidded to a halt.

“Ludwig!!” Cassandra screamed, prompting the others to stop as she noticed that he’d fallen.

They were already so far away from him.

No. 

Vex pushed Cassandra for Percy, “Keep running!”

“Vex!” Percy shouted, shepherding the twins and Cassandra ahead of him, his eyes wide in desperation, but she was already running back for him. 

She was too far away, forced to duck out of the way and dodge arrows flying towards her as she tried to grab for her brother-in-law, determined not to lose anyone else. 

But she was too slow. 

Too far away.

She was forced to drop to the ground when an arrow was sent soaring towards her face, but as soon as she regained her footing, looking up, she saw that Ludwig was no longer on the ground. 

He was being held up, Lord Briarwood’s clawed hand tightly gripped around his throat. 

“Ludwig!!” Oliver screeched for his brother, trying to fight against Percy, who was trying to shove them further down the hallway. 

Ludwig said nothing, only struggling in terror, whimpering in pain, tears running down his face as Lord Briarwood leaned in…

And Vex could do nothing but watch as Lord Briarwood ripped Ludwig’s throat out with his teeth. 

A brief flash of pain and terror crossed Ludwig’s face. He choked and shook in Lord Briarwood’s grasp as he was held aloft, eyes still wide in horror as he limply tried to raise his hands to his exposed and bloody throat. He kicked and struggled, trembling like a fallen autumn leaf…before he went silent…

And the light was gone from Ludwig’s eyes. 

Vex felt sick, tears rolling down her face as she watched Lord Briarwood wipe his mouth delicately, tossing the slack body of Ludwig to his feet before grinning at his terrified prey. 

She rose to her feet, even as arrows soared around her, watching as their attackers swarmed down the hallway, shouting and laughing, as if this was some sort of fox hunt. 

She felt sick, but she kept running, dodging the arrows as she quickly made it to Percy and the others. 

Guilt coursed through her veins as she ran, desperate to go back for Ludwig, but his blood stained her mind. 

They rounded the corner, and Percy’s hand was in hers as they tried to usher the others forward. 

Tears nearly blinded her, and her blood was screaming in her ears as they kept running. The others were sobbing, terrified, and grief-stricken, but their fear of meeting a similar fate kept them moving.

“Almost there,” Percy panted, furiously wiping tears from his eyes, “We have to–”

A shriek-like sound of magic filled the air, forcing the wall beside them to explode, knocking all of them to the ground.

The laughter of Delilah Briarwood was unmistakable.

Dust from the plaster of the walls exploded around them, and Vex choked on it, forced to the ground and curling in on herself as a mirror shattered on the wall. Glass exploded around her, small shards of it scraping against her skin. Her neck burned as a small shard was drawn down the side of her neck, not deep enough to be dangerous, but painful as blood bloomed beneath it. When the glass stopped falling, she scrambled to her feet, desperately reaching for the closest person on the ground next to her—Cassandra— while searching for Percy. 

As soon as she caught sight of him, her heart twisted. His forehead was bleeding, but he was still breathing. Like her, he was scrambling to his feet, reaching for Oliver, who was at his side. 

They looked over their shoulder, finding Delilah and Sylas approaching slowly, cruel smiles on their faces. 

“Run,” she urged Cass and Percy forward, but not before Oliver stopped.

“Wait!” he shouted, pulling at Percy’s shirt, “Where’s Whit?!?”

As if on cue, they heard it. 

Choking, gasping breaths.

They turned and found her. 

Long shards of broken mirror glass had pierced the girl’s body.

Her legs, her arms, chest, and face were all covered in long shards of glass, her eyes staring at the ceiling in what could only be the shock of horror. Anyone could see that the wounds from the glass were fatal. She could barely breathe, blood pouring from between her lips while her pinned hands grappled for something, anything to hold onto. 

Oliver screamed and withdrew from Percy’s side. 

“Oliver, no!” Percy shouted, but it was too late. 

Oliver wasn’t listening as he skidded to the ground at Whitney’s side, trying to pull his twin into his arms. 

“No, NO! Whit!!” Oliver screamed, trying to cradle his dying twin in his arms, but unable to with the way she had been pinned to the ground, like an exotic butterfly beneath glass, forever pinned in a macabre image of death, “Don’t leave me! WHIT!!”

Whitney could only choke and bleed in response. 

A few more agonizing seconds passed, the raspy and broken sound of Whitney’s breathing echoing through the hallway like a terrible rattle…before finally, mercifully, the light left her eyes. 

And she was dead.

Oliver was sobbing, looking up at the approaching attackers, a mouse against a pack of hungry cats. 

Anger filled his eyes, and he grabbed a shard of glass, uncaring of how his hands got cut in the process. He held it aloft as if it were a sword, standing before his twin’s body like a guard.

“Don’t come any closer!” he screamed, his voice shaking. He was terrified, but he would defend his twin to the end: “Don’t you dare touch my sister!!”

Delilah merely laughed. 

And sent another burst of dark energy directly into Oliver’s chest. 

He was barely afforded the chance to scream before his body was sent flying. 

Past Whitney. 

Past the remaining members of his family. 

He collided with the wall, black veins creeping across his face as the necrotic magic robbed him of his life. 

He fell to the floor with a quick and cold thumping noise. 

He didn’t get up again. 

“NO!!” Cassandra cried, “NO! NO! OLLIE!!”

Vex couldn’t think. She couldn’t breathe. It had happened far too quickly for her to do anything about it. 

But she still moved. 

She grabbed Percy and Cassandra and ran as fast as she could, rounding the corner and quickly finding the room they were looking for…a drawing room with a servants' passage entrance. 

She quickly slammed the drawing room door shut before grabbing the heaviest piece of furniture she could lift and using it to barricade the door. Not a permanent solution, but enough to buy them time. Once the door was barricaded, she looked for the wall panel, identified by a mural of a willow tree against light blue paint. She dragged her husband and sister-in-law to the door, opening the panel and shoving them into the dark passageway.

The passageway wouldn’t lock, which meant they couldn’t stay here forever. If their attackers found the passage, which she suspected would be soon, then they needed a plan. 

They had to move. 

She pulled them both with her through the corridor of winding hallways, trying to keep herself breathing. Tears still rolled down her face, her whole soul twisting with grief and fear at the horror of what she’d seen, but she had to keep moving. 

Gods, she wished her brother were here. 

He would know what to do. 

“Percy…” her voice was strangled, “Percy, darling…how do we get out of here…?”

She hated herself for asking that, but they had to move. They needed a plan. They needed to do something…

Percy was silent, his eyes wide as he leaned against the wall. Cassandra was sobbing, her eyes puffy as she shook like a leaf. The mere sight of them in pain made her want to rip the world apart with her bare hands. She wanted more than anything to comfort the two of them and make them feel safe. But the truth was that they were the targets in a deadly hunt, and these people had shown no mercy at all. If they wanted to survive this… then they needed to move. 

“Percy…” she panted, turning to her husband, cupping his face gently, “Percy, darling… you have to help me here…How do we get out?”

Percy’s eyes were wide, a tear rolling down his cheek, mixing in with the blood that had stained his face. It hurt her soul as she realized she wasn’t sure whose blood it was. He looked at the shallow wound on her neck.

“You…” he breathed, his fingers gently hovering over her neck, “You’re hurt.”

“No, darling,” she assured him, “I’m fine. It’s nothing bad…I need your help, darling, please…you have to stay with me.”

“They killed them,” Cassandra sobbed, “They killed them all. They’re gonna k-kill us…”

“No,” she breathed, shaking her head, trying desperately to swallow the lump in her throat, “I won’t let it happen…we’re going to get out of here… we won’t die here.” 

Are you lying to yourself?

A voice that sounded suspiciously like her father whispered in her mind as she tried desperately to bring her husband back to her. The truth of the matter was, she didn’t know if they would ever get out of this palace alive, but they could survive another minute. As long as they survived the next minute, they would be okay. They just had to keep moving.

“Please, darling,” she pleaded with him, brushing the dried blood away from his face, “Please…we just need to get out of here. We need to find a way out. I know you can help us. You just need to tell us how to get out.”

That did nothing to wipe the shock from her husband’s eyes. There was so much fear and grief in his eyes, and she couldn’t blame him, but slowly, he nodded, a small spark of the brilliance and thought she’d fallen in love with all those months ago, returning to him. 

“Anders…” he breathed, “T-The… s-schoolrooms have a p-passage that leads to the d-dungeons. We can get out that way.”

“Anders?” Cass was nearly hyperventilating, “But…those are three floors above us…and we have to go through the hallways before we can get there…”

“These hallways only go down to the main floors and exits, Cass…” Percy whispered, a faraway look in his eyes, “It’s…it’s the only way.”

“We don’t know how many of them there are…” Cass sobbed, “And Julius…and Mummy…”

The girl dissolved into sobs, and Vex’s heart ached with each harrowing breath the girl let out. So much death before all of them, and she was only thirteen. She had watched the majority of her family die in a matter of moments, and there was nothing they could do to fix it or make the pain of it go away. 

“Cassandra,” she breathed, leaning in closer to her sister-in-law, “I know you’re frightened…but we’re not going to die here, do you understand me? You just have to be a little braver for me for a little longer.”

She felt like such a hypocrite for telling Cass not to be afraid when she’d just witnessed her family being slaughtered before her, but they would surely die if they stayed here. They couldn’t stay here any longer. 

“Please, dear,” she whispered, “J-Just a little longer. We’ve got to keep moving.”

Cassandra inhaled and exhaled shakily, her eyes wide, staring past Vex with a horror that couldn’t be erased with simple words, but slowly and surely, she nodded. 

Her eyes flicked back up to Vex and Percy, who was still staring into space, shaking endlessly, “D-Don’t leave us… p-please…”

Vex’s heart sank at the words, and she quickly cupped her sister-in-law’s face, “I’m going to be right beside you.”

A crash sounded beyond the wall, and all three of them jumped. They could just barely hear the sounds of shouting, screams of more people in the household meeting a miserable end.

Cassandra flinched, tears rolling down her face as she shuddered. Vex felt as if her whole soul was in her throat, threatening to burst forward as fear gripped her. She tried desperately to steel herself, her hand finding Percy’s and gripping it tightly. 

When the sounds faded, she looked at her husband.

In those terrified eyes, she could see the fear that this would be their end. That this castle, which had once been their home, would be their tomb.   

She shakily squeezed her husband’s hand, pleading with him to stay with her. 

They just needed to keep moving. 

Slowly and silently, he nodded, his eyes peering into hers before ushering them forward without a word. 

She kept her hands in theirs. She refused to let go of them even as they all shuffled through the tight servants' corridor. The flickering lanterns on the walls cast shadows that threatened at every turn. They kept jumping every time they saw a shadow that looked a little too much like a person. 

The fear seemed to grow with every heartbeat that they shared. 

But they kept moving. 

They climbed up the small stairwell at the edge of the corridor, stopping every few minutes to listen for the sounds of their attackers behind every entrance point. Cassandra’s breathing was shuddery and loud, the girl trying to quiet her sobs for their safety. She clung to Vex tightly, wanting to reach out her other hand for Percy, but unable to as her icy blue eyes darted around the corridor.

Slowly and carefully, they climbed up the shadowed stairwell, up the three floors they needed in order to find Ander’s office. 

Percy swallowed hard and leaned against the door to the appropriate floor, shaking as he listened for any sign of life behind the doors—any chance of the intruders finding them. His breaths were strangled, and she could see that he could barely focus as his thoughts ran wild, so she joined him against the door, listening carefully, her hearing was better anyway.

  After a moment, when she was sure she could hear no signs of life, she nodded, her heart twisting as she prepared herself for this next part.

They would be exposed in the hallways leading to Anders’ office. If their attackers found them, there would be few places to hide in the corridors unless they ducked into the servants’ entrances again, and the likelihood of that working again was small. 

They had to be quick. 

They had to be quiet. 

And maybe…just maybe they would survive this. 

“How do we get to Anders’ office from here?” she whispered, not recognizing her own voice as she leaned close to her husband, holding Cass to her side. 

“Down the hall, two rights…” he breathed, his voice shaky, tears burgeoning in his green eyes, “We have to pass the main stairwell and observation balcony…so those will be hard, but we can barricade the schoolroom shut before we open the corridor…that can buy us some time.”

“Okay…” she nodded, swallowing hard. Her chest ached and her head hurt as she tried to keep the grief and shock from possessing her completely. She looked from Percy to Cassandra, “A-Are you ready?”

Cassandra let out a barely concealed sob, shaking her head, clinging to Vex tighter, “I…I’m scared.”

“I know, I know…” she whispered, hugging her sister-in-law tightly, her eyes going to her husband, “S-So…So am I.”

It was the truth. 

It didn’t help the situation…but it was the truth. 

There was a chance they all would be killed the second they stepped outside that door. 

There was always a chance that someone saw them and would report them to the intruders. 

There was a chance that these would be their last few moments together. 

“W-We all are…” 

Percy’s words snapped her from her thoughts, and she looked up to meet his eyes. 

Gods, those eyes. 

Those eyes she had loved and known with her whole soul. 

She had hoped she would spend the rest of her life waking up looking into those eyes. 

She wished that they’d spent more time in bed that morning. 

She wished that she’d taken the time to distract him in the bathtub. 

She wished she’d stolen more moments with him before this could all be taken from them.

As he looked at her, she could tell that he felt the same. 

She leaned forward and met his lips in a gentle, terrified kiss…one that they both knew could be their last. 

“I love you…” He whispered, leaning his forehead against hers, as they broke apart, his breath hitching, “I love you–”

There was a desperation in his words. 

A goodbye. 

And she felt her heart breaking as she registered the pain in his eyes. 

“No…” she shook her head, her heart twisting and tears stinging her eyes as she cupped his face with one hand, “No goodbyes, my love. No goodbyes.”

She didn’t promise him that they would get out of this alive. She couldn’t promise him anything. All she could do was hold onto the here and now. The moments they’d shared up to this moment. She would hold onto him with everything she had, even if it killed her. Even if she died here, she would never admit defeat. She would spend however much time she had left on the material plane, knowing that she loved him. 

“I love you,” she breathed, cupping his face, “I love you so much, my darling.”

It was all she could say. 

No promises that they would survive. 

But no goodbyes.  

She couldn’t bear it. 

In his eyes, she could see that he understood, too. 

They stood there for just a moment before a creaking sound from down the stairwell caught their attention. They all shared one final look of terror before Percy nodded. 

“We need to move…” he breathed. 

Vex nodded, taking Cassandra’s hand in hers again, “Stay close.”

With that, Percy pushed the door open. 

Swallowing hard and taking a deep breath, they all stepped out of the corridor, quiet as mice. It was still quiet, thankfully. It appeared that they were alone on this floor, but she didn’t allow that to make her comfortable.

Percy took the lead, his hand still in hers. They treaded lightly through the hallways, keeping their footsteps light but doing their best to be as quiet as possible, clinging to the walls and jumping at nearly every sound. 

Almost there, she kept reminding herself, almost there.

They made it past the entryway of the stairs, which was a relief, since that was the largest point of exposure, but they were far from out of the woods. Slowly and carefully, they darted through the hallway, taking moments to duck behind hutches and furniture in the hallway, just in case anyone was watching. She kept her eyes and ears open, trying to perceive anything that could indicate that they weren’t alone. 

They were just about past the observation balcony point…when the sounds of footsteps echoed up the stairs, chorusing with shouting. 

They all froze, and Cassandra’s hands slapped over her mouth to keep her from screaming. 

The nearest room that was open was a small storage room, and she quickly pushed the three of them into it, unable to close the door completely as figures stormed up the stairs, swarming onto the observation balcony. 

Using the little light afforded through the cracked door, she and the others could see the observation deck clearly, recognizing Kerrion Stonefell and the Briarwoods. 

Fuck. 

Vex’s heart twisted, and she glanced at Percy and Cassandra, both of whom were frozen in fear.

From what she could see, they were followed by a few of their hired thugs, who dragged two figures behind them, shouting and twisting.

“What are you going to do with us?!”

“You’re all cowards! Murderers!!”

It took everything in her not to scream as she recognized the voices of Emrys and Vesper. 

Cassandra let out a small whimper, clamping her hands over her mouth to keep from screaming, tears rolled down her face as she shook. 

Percy had gone pale, tears filling his eyes again as he shook. She simply squeezed his hand and held them both close.  

The two of them were tied up, dragged across the ground, struggling and screaming as they were pushed down on their knees before the Briarwoods, but also facing each other. 

“What have you done with my siblings!!” Vesper screamed, writhing in her captor’s grasp, “What have you done to them??”

The answer came without hesitation.

“I’m afraid we’ve eliminated four out of the seven of you,” Lady Briarwood’s voice was smug. 

Vesper was silent for a moment, and Vex could see her eyes go wide, tears filling her eyes as she shook. 

“No…” she breathed, terror and pain leaking into every syllable she spoke, “No…you didn’t…”

“You fucking murderers!!” Emrys screamed, their sobs filling the air, “You didn’t!!”

“We’ve lost track of the clever one and the little girl,” Delilah went on, pacing between Emrys and Vesper’s captive forms, “…and we do so hate to leave loose ends…especially when those two fascinate us. What were their names again, dear?”

“Percival and Cassandra, my love,” Sylas nodded. He turned as he peered down at Emrys, his teeth flashing in the moonlight.

At the sounds of their names, both Percy and Cassandra went rigid. Tears fell faster down Cassandra’s face as she burrowed herself closer into Vex’s side.

“Fuck you!!” Emrys spat, “Keep their names out of your unholy mouth!!!”

Sylas and Delilah merely laughed.

“I’m afraid our sources are rather unfamiliar with all the passages and tunnels in this castle,” Delilah knelt before Vesper sweetly, a hand tilting the shaking woman’s head up to look at her. “I don’t suppose you have any idea where they would go, do you?”

Vesper said nothing, glaring daggers at the woman before her. Though she said no words, the grief and rage in the woman’s eyes were powerful, instilling fear deep in Vex’s heart, both fear for and fear of Vesper.

“No?” Delilah murmured, standing again, scratching Vesper’s face with her sharp nails as she let go, “Well…that’s disappointing.”

“I took you for the more diplomatic one, Lady Vesper,” Sylas shook his head, “Such talent.”

“Such a waste,” Delilah concurred. 

“Leave her alone!” Emrys cried, struggling to be with their wife, “Ves! Vesper!!”

“It truly is astonishing,” Delilah went on, pacing around the two of them as if they were her prey, “So many loving marriages built from arrangements. Seven children. Such a big family. It truly was a shame about Julius’s wife…what was her name, Hadrine? Such a shame.”

“And what about that half-elven woman?” Sylas posed, “Percival was recently married, was he not? To a bastard daughter of a diplomat, no less….and yet, no less loving.”

Vex went rigid, her hand tightening on Percy’s.

“She was certainly lovely,” Delilah mused, clicking her tongue with mock disappointment. “So young…and yet, unable to enjoy marriage in its prime.”

“You don’t know fucking anything,” Vesper spat.

“Your family must have a type?” Lady Briarwood went on, gesturing to Emrys, “Half-elven bastards seem to be a trend for spouses.”

“You know nothing,” Vesper repeated, her eyes filled with dangerous ire as she glared up at the woman. 

“Such a shame,” Delilah ignored her, looking down at Emrys with disgust, “I suppose, though…all good things must come to an end.”

“Do your fucking worst,” Emrys snarled, filled with anger, a dare. 

Vex held her breath, watching for a moment as Delilah regarded them, scanning over them with a simple, smug expression. 

“Darling,” she grinned after a moment, “You have no idea what my worst looks like.”

With that, she snapped her fingers. 

And Vex barely got a second to register before Stonefell brought his warhammer down directly into Emrys’s skull.

The sickening sound of bone shattering and tissue exploding everywhere was drowned out by the terrible sound of Vesper screaming. It was a wailing sound, like an animal mortally wounded, or being shredded apart as it was caught in a hunter’s snare. Vesper lurched forward, screaming Emrys’s name, a terrible crying noise that made Vex want to cry along with it. She was covered in her spouse’s blood, trying to hold Emrys’ crumpled body before it was pulled away from her. 

Vesper’s wails were cut short, however, as Sylas grabbed her by the throat and lifted her from the ground. 

Cassandra let out the beginnings of a scream, but Vex clamped her hand over her sister-in-law’s mouth, trying to silence it. Tears stung her eyes as she clutched Percy and Cassandra close to her, unable to believe what she was seeing. Percy made a small movement, as if he wanted to go out there, as if he wanted to go save his big sister from whatever horrible fate awaited her, but Vex held him fast. 

She wouldn’t lose him. 

She couldn’t lose him. 

He met her eyes with horror, and all she could do was hug him close to her, a silent way of telling him not to look. He leaned into her embrace for a moment, as if he considered it, but his eyes darted back to the terrible scene before them.

Vesper choked, her feet kicking uselessly beneath her, strangled sobs and gasps for air leaving her as she grappled with the man. 

“So young,” Sylas mused, “Such a waste.”

Vesper made a croaking noise, tears rolling down her face as she stared him directly in the eye.

“What was that, dear?” Delilah laughed, “We couldn’t quite hear that.”

Sylas loosened his grip on Vesper’s throat for a moment, holding her up between him and Delilah so they could hear whatever it was that she had said. 

Vex could barely hear it, but Vesper’s words were clear. 

“You…will…burn.”

They were harrowing, slow, and hateful…but it was a promise. Vesper didn’t know how she would make good on that promise, or if she would have anything to do with it at all, but it was clear in that moment that she believed justice would find the briarwoods. 

Vex wished more than anything she could believe that. 

Delilah merely laughed, clicking her tongue slightly with a shake of her head, “Oh, my dear, I don’t think so.”

With that, Sylas slammed Vesper against the glass doors leading out to the balcony.

CRACK!

The glass cracked, and Vesper let out a choked scream as she was pulled back and slammed into it again.

CRACK!

The door’s glass cracked again, and with each terrible sound, Cass and Percy flinched in terror. The sounds of bones breaking echoed in the room with Vesper’s cries of pain. The horror of the reality of the situation was painfully clear. 

CRACK!

The glass door finally shattered as Vesper was slammed against it again. Her body was bleeding as glass got stuck in the bloody and torn material of her violet dress. The cool night air filled the room as Sylas took a step forward out onto the balcony, Vesper still held aloft, her eyes wide but discombobulated from the impact against the door. 

Percy struggled in Vex’s arms, trying to do something, anything, but unable to as he watched Sylas lift his sister into the air. She held him tighter, a constant in the middle of the terror that was swarming around them. 

In the moonlight, she could just barely see the look of acceptance in Vesper’s eyes as she was lifted over the railing of the balcony. 

It was a terrible realization that her life was at its end. 

The beaten and broken woman closed her eyes as Sylas grinned…

“Goodbye, Lady Vesper.”

…and dropped her over the edge of the railing. 

There was no scream. 

Only the sound of wind whistling as she disappeared from view. 

Percy buried his face in Vex’s shoulder, tears soaking into her dress as he held onto her, trying desperately not to scream or make a sound. Tears poured from Vex’s eyes as she held him and Cassandra close, hatred and grief filling her as she heard how the Briarwoods laughed.

“Get this cleaned up,” Lady Briarwood gestured to what was left of Emrys’s body, “And find the others.”

“Yes, milady,” Stonefell chuckled, leading his men down the stairs again.

“We need to find the boy,” an unfamiliar woman’s voice spoke, smooth like a snake, “He could be of use to us.”

Vex went rigid as she instantly knew they were referring to her husband. She couldn’t see the woman’s face, but her stance alone told her that this was a very dangerous person. 

“He intrigues you?” Delilah sighed, almost annoyed with the idea.

“His work does,” the woman nodded, “His workshop is chock full of brilliance. It would be a terrible waste for his life to end tonight. Besides, I’m told he knows things about this place.”

Percy’s eyes were wide, suddenly understanding that he was the one being talked about. He shuddered with fear, hatred, and anger in his eyes, a torrent of emotion that left him almost unrecognizable. 

“We still haven’t accounted for the little one,” Sylas nodded, “Or the boy’s wife.”

Cassandra sniffled, barely able to contain her grief and fear as she clutched Vex tight enough to bruise. Vex simply held her sister-in-law, a silent promise that as long as she was living, she wouldn’t allow anything to happen to her. 

“So, we find them,” Delilah crooned, a cruel smile on her face, looking down in disgust at what was left of Emrys’s skull, “And then we decide what to do next.”

“Very good,” the strange woman agreed, “Myself and a few others will search these upper levels.”

“Thank you,” Delilah nodded before taking Sylas’s arm, “We will go survey the lower levels. Call for us the instant you find anything.”

With that, the snapping sounds of Delilah’s heels echoed down the stairs, following in Stonefell’s footsteps, and the snake-woman’s voice grew further away, ordering men further down the hallway and up the stairs. 

Vex waited a moment. 

And then another, before crouching forward. 

This closet could only hide them for so long. 

Percy gripped her hand, not wanting to let her go…but she looked back at him, offering him a small look of comfort, saying without words that she was only checking. She wasn’t leaving him. 

Peeking carefully out into the hallway, she searched every visible inch of the hallway around them, flinching and trying to suppress the wave of nausea as she saw the pools of blood and tissue left behind from Vesper and Emrys. She had to focus on keeping herself, Percy, and Cassandra alive. 

Once she was certain that they were alone, she rose to her feet carefully, signaling for Percy and Cass to do the same. Slowly and carefully, she pushed the door open, looking around before stepping out. They had to be quick. She wasn’t quite sure which direction the snake-woman had gone, and if they wanted to make it to the schoolrooms, they needed to be as fast and quiet as possible. 

Percy and Cass seemed to have the same idea.

She took Cass’s hand, pushing her before them, before standing at Percy’s side, keeping him from staring at the blood and broken glass. He was shaking and shuddering, but he kept moving, his eyes fixed on their destination. 

They just had to round one corner. 

And then another. 

And then they’d be where they needed to be. 

They were so close. 

So close. 

Until a scream echoed throughout the hallway, presumably another servant meeting a torturous end. 

And Cassandra tripped over her skirts, knocking a ceramic vase from a nearby side table. 

Vex didn’t get the chance to catch it as Percy caught his shaking and terrified sister in his arms, and they all watched in horror as the vase crumpled to the ground with a loud, terrible, resounding crash. 

They stood there for a moment in silent horror…waiting for a moment, trying to see if perhaps it had gone unnoticed.

“Down here!”

Vex’s heart sank as she heard footsteps coming down the hallway… fast. 

She looked at her husband and sister in law in terror.

  “Run.”

And they took off running down the too-long hallway. 

“They’re here!”

Vex didn’t stop as she heard a voice approaching, a group of men running after them. She kept Cassandra in front of her, grabbing Percy’s hand as tightly as they could.

“Don’t just stand there!” the woman’s voice echoed down the hallway, striking a cold panic into Vex’s heart, “Shoot them!!”

The sound of crossbows firing echoed throughout the hallway, but they kept running. Arrows fell around them, narrowly missing them left and right. One of them drew a thin line of blood across Cassandra’s shoulder, but the girl didn’t stop running, even as she yelped in pain. They came to the first corner and quickly rounded it, nearly tripping over each other.

“Don’t let them get away!!” the woman shouted.

Vex waged a small glance over her shoulder, finding that the snake-woman was the same woman who’d killed Frederick, her cruel eyes glinting beneath the darkness of her hood. She was accompanied by three other masked men, each with crossbows and blades. 

They were approaching quickly. 

“Faster!” she shouted, pushing Cassandra before her. Panic consumed her bones as she ran, her feet and lungs aching, sweat and blood sticking to the velvet material of her dress. 

She looked over her shoulder one more time just before they rounded the next corner…

…before an arrow caught her in the thigh, knocking her to the ground. 

She screamed, tumbling to the ground in an undignified heap.

Percy immediately slowed, his eyes wide in horror, “Vex!”

Vex groaned, pushing herself to stand, ripping the arrow from her leg with a scream of pain, prompted by adrenaline alone. It was agonizing, but as the men approached, she refused to be caught like a doe in the woods.  

She wouldn’t die here. 

She wouldn’t–

Thwack! Thwack!

Two bursts of bright, awful pain suddenly lodged in her abdomen, warm blood soaking her dress as she stumbled after Percy and Cassandra. 

She glanced down and found two arrows protruding from the space beneath her right collarbone and just above her left hip. 

No.

Panic filled her as she registered the sudden agony of arrowheads burrowing into her bone and muscle. She coughed, her hands shakily going to the arrows. Without thinking, she ripped one of them from her lower abdomen, instantly realizing how stupid that was as blood gushed from the wound. She screamed and groaned, nearly toppling to the ground…

But not before a pair of arms caught her, pulling her out of the way just in time before more arrows could finish her off. 

Her vision swam, her body drowning in blood and agony as she hobbled, recognizing Percy’s scent and voice as he cradled her close. Their attackers were right on their tail, but they kept moving, before Cassandra pulled open a door, and they all fell through it. 

Stars danced in her vision as she tried to catch herself; her right arm joint was damaged for sure from the way the arrow was lodged in her. Another cry she didn’t recognize as her own left her as she rolled onto her back, her vision swimming as her whole body ached. 

She recognized the schoolroom in her blurry vision around her, the desks and bookshelves slowly coming into focus as Percy and Cass darted around, trying to find items to barricade the door with. She could hear shouting in the distance, but it was slowly being muffled, her ears ringing as she registered just how much blood she was losing. Her dress was slowly being soaked in more and more blood. She felt as if she was swimming in it with the way it stuck to the fabric and her skin underneath. All she could smell was blood, and all she could feel was pain. Her right arm couldn’t move all that much, not without disturbing the arrow in her shoulder, but her left fluttered weakly upward, hovering over the wound. She ground her teeth, trying to keep her impulses from pulling it out. 

She felt weaker and weaker by the second.

“Vex…”

A face swam into her vision, and some of her panic was lessened as she recognized her husband hovering over her, his eyes filled with fear. 

“Oh gods…” he panted, “Oh gods…No.”

“P-Percy…” She could taste blood in her mouth. 

“Don’t talk, don’t talk…” he was panicking; she could hear it in his voice. His hands hovered over her, as if he was unsure of what to do, “I…I need…Cass! Grab the red bag from the wall!” 

The girl was still piling desks against the door, if the sounds were any indication, each thudding noise sending a throbbing pain to Vex’s head. Color and light seemed to dance around her as Percy pulled her into his lap, and she let out a pained moan as he lifted her from the ground. 

“The bag, Cass!!” he shouted, carrying her, his voice shaking with every word, “I need the bag!!”

“Percy…” she whispered, hating how weak her voice sounded as she lay in his arms, groaning at each slight movement.

“Don’t talk, darling,” he panted, “I’m sorry…I know it hurts. I know it hurts… please, just stay with me.” 

She registered the sight of tears rolling from his eyes as he lowered her onto a sofa in the corner of the schoolroom. She cried out as he accidentally jostled the arrow in her shoulder, and his eyes widened, instantly crying out in shock, his apologies murmured into her bloody hands. 

“I’m sorry, dear, I’m sorry…” he whispered, before looking over his shoulder, his eyes wide with desperation. “Cass, please!”

“What is the meaning of this?”

Vex winced as she registered the sound of a familiar nasal voice, echoing throughout the schoolroom. Cass let out a sobbing cry of relief at the voice as she handed Percy the bag he’d been looking for, but all she could do was feel complete and total dread. Though she couldn’t see him, she knew who had stumbled into the horrible scene, but she could only feel fear.

“Professor!” Percy cried, his eyes wide, “Please! You have to help us!”

“What’s happened?” The Professor asked, his voice lacking any concern whatsoever. 

“Th-They’re all d-dead…” Cassandra sobbed, “They killed them…”

“Wh-Who killed them?” the Professor asked. 

“The Briarwoods!” Cassandra cried, “They brought fiends into the castle! T-they killed everyone!!”

The sound of the Professor’s voice blurred into the background as Vex’s eyes fluttered shut, feeling suddenly incredibly tired. She tried desperately to stay awake, the throbbing, burning pain of her wounded shoulder aching miserably. With each beat of pain in her body, with each drop of blood she shed, however, she knew that the wounds were great.

With that…there was a bitter truth. 

Unless a healer found her… soon…she would die here.

She’d never see her brother again. 

She’d never hold her husband again.

Tears filled her eyes at the realization, and she shuddered as pain filled her. 

She felt so tired. 

So…so tired. 

Her eyes fluttered shut again as a wracking sob left her. 

Breathing felt difficult. 

The world around her was blurring.

“Vex!” 

Percy’s voice was pulling her back, his face appearing in her vision again as he cupped her face desperately. He was a man possessed, desperation in every fiber of his being. 

“Vex’ahlia, darling,” he pleaded with her, “Please…please stay awake. Stay with me.”

He rummaged around in the bag that Cassandra had brought him, and Vex barely registered the sound of Anders asking more questions about what had happened. She could also hear the thudding, loud noises of their attackers against the door. 

They wouldn’t last long. 

Percy continued to dig through the bag, acting like a madman as he desperately searched for something. 

Her heart ached as the thought of never seeing him again presented itself to her. 

If she were to die here…

“Stay with me, Vex,” he pleaded with her, his voice shaking, “P-Please, darling. Don’t leave me… don’t leave me.”

She smiled despite herself. 

Despite the pain. 

Gods, she loved her husband. 

Such a brilliant, beautiful soul. 

The past few months had been some of the best of her life. 

He had loved her in ways that nobody else had. 

In ways she’d never thought she’d be worthy of. 

Somehow, fate had bound her life to his…and she was so grateful for it. 

She lifted a weak hand to his face. 

Hating herself for what she would ask of him next.

“P-Percy…” she breathed, trying to cup his face, her heart aching with every tear that fell from his eyes, “L-Leave me…”

“NO!” he screamed, making her flinch, tears rolling down her face. “NO! No, I won’t leave you.”

“Th-There’s no time…” she gasped, tasting blood in her mouth as her vision blurred again. She felt as if the world was crumbling around her, darkness threatening at the edge of her vision, “T-Take C-Cass and go.”

“No,” he was stubborn, his voice still shaking as he stared down at her, “No. We’re getting out of here…we’re going to get out of here…we…we’ll find your brother. We’ll go away…”

She chuckled lightly, quickly turning into a cough as her body continued to ache. 

It felt as if every muscle had been stuffed with cotton, the ink of the world bleeding together. 

“I’m not leaving you,” he repeated, looking at her seriously, “I leave here with you… or not at all.”

She couldn’t help the small smile that rose to her face at the thought. Though her heart was breaking at the notion of him staying here for her sake, she couldn’t deny the way her heart soared as he held her.  

He finally sighed in relief as he found what he was looking for, an elixir. 

“It’s not enough to fully heal you,” he explained quickly, “But…it should help with the bleeding.”

She couldn’t manage a response. 

Every muscle in her body felt as if it were made of lead as she felt herself sinking. 

Percy muttered to himself, removing his cravat and placing it down on her wound in her lower abdomen, looking like he hated what he was going to do next. His eyes darted to her shoulder, to the arrow shaft protruding from the flesh, the blood soaking around her dress. 

“Vex…” he breathed, “I…I can’t give you the elixir with–”

“Do it,” she gasped, knowing what he was about to ask her. 

He looked uncertain, “But–”

“I trust you…” she breathed, cracking her eyes open so she could look him in the eye, “I trust you, darling…do it.”

He nodded, tears filling his eyes. She gasped and writhed in pain as his hand closed around the shaft of the arrow, squeezing her eyes shut…bracing herself. 

Until, with a cry of panic, he pulled the arrow from her body. 

She screamed.

She screamed until her voice was raw. Her whole body felt as if it were on fire as warm blood covered her, her world swimming in and out of focus. 

It wasn’t until she felt a hand propping her up that she registered Percy’s voice, regretful and panicked. 

“-it hurts. I know, I know,” he was panting, the sound of his crying breaking her heart with every passing second, “I’m sorry, I’m so sorry, love… Please, drink this…Please, Vex.”

She didn’t open her eyes, but she felt the cool glass of a bottle against her lips and accepted it readily, flinching and moaning in pain as she tried to drink. The liquid was bitter, and some of it spilled onto her face, but she didn’t care, accepting the healing magic as best as she could.

It did nothing to ease her pain, but she could feel some small, broken parts of her within her body painfully knitting themselves back together. 

She fell backward, against the cushions of the couch, groaning, searching through the darkness that threatened in her vision for her husband. 

She wanted Percy.

Gods, she wanted her brother.

She wished more than anything for Vax to be here.

She thought bitterly of their conversation that very morning. 

How sure she’d been that nothing would go wrong. 

How laughably wrong she’d been.

She could just barely hear Cassandra yelling at the Professor, trying to get him to help her open the access point to their escape route, but she could also hear the slamming of their attackers, trying to break through the door. 

But all she could see was Percy’s tear-filled eyes above her. 

“You’re going to be okay,” he whispered, though it sounded more as if he was begging her to be okay. “Please…please, Vex…please stay with me. Please…”

His words were sounding more and more muffled by the second. 

She felt as if she were sinking into a cold sea.

Something that felt dark and cold…her senses blurred no matter how hard she tried to keep afloat.

She tried to keep track of the feeling of Percy’s bloody hands in hers, uncaring of the dried blood as long as they were holding her. He was whispering to her, holding her, their escape completely forgotten as he pleaded with her to stay with him. 

“Please don’t leave me,” he was crying, holding her close, “Please…Please, Vex…”

She was trying.

Truly, she was. 

But something was pulling her down. 

Down.

Down. 

And though she tried to swim against the current, all she could do was be pulled with it. 

Was it death? 

The thought of it was terrifying. 

She didn’t want to leave Percy. She didn’t want to leave her brother. She didn’t want to leave Cass behind in a darkness where they wouldn’t be able to find her. She could hear the thunder of their attackers behind the door, feel the rage and cold sadism of the fiends as it encroached upon their once happy home. She wanted so desperately to stay with them and fight for it. 

But the pull was far too strong.

She tried to open her mouth. 

She tried to speak to him. 

She tried to tell him how sorry she was. 

How much she wished she could stay with him. 

How much she loved him. 

And oh, she loved him so much.

But no words came. 

And before Vex knew it, the tiny thread that was tying her to the world snapped. 

The last thought she had for her husband was. 

I love you…I’m so sorry.

And the memory of her mother’s hands, her brother’s eyes, and her husband’s heart carried her into the dark.