Everyone has their own form of salvation. Some turn to religion, to the thrill of the game, the love of a woman or the comfort of wine. For Athos, one salvation will lead him down a path he never thought he would walk again. Athos/OC
Disclaimer – I do not own the BBC Musketeers, any original characters are of my own creation.
CHAPTER ONE
We all have our vices
It's amazing how such a simple thing could invoke so many feelings.
Happiness, sadness, joy…love. But I didn't want any of those things. I wanted to forget, and I found my salvation in the bottom of a glass.
I was a private drinker, more than happy to keep my company limited to a bottle of red. Even D'Artagnan knew not to disturb me when I went to the tavern, though the young Gascon had tried unsuccessfully to join me on more than one occasion.
Though not tonight…no tonight it was just me and my salvation, in a crowded and dark tavern I found my place of solace. The barmaid knew me and knew that I would spend good money here if she kept the wine coming…and keep coming it did.
I couldn't stop my thoughts from wandering to my brothers and what they would be doing as I filled up my glass, another bottle done. Porthos would be gambling, Aramis would be womanizing and D'Artagnan would be at the garrison, practicing until his hands bled.
We all had our vices. Our salvations. It seems such a fine line between the two that they can't help but blur together, their meanings lost in the downward spiral.
I can't help but look around the room at the people surrounding me and think to myself…is this the place where they too find their salvation? Dark thoughts for an even darker night. The wine was supposed to stop me thinking and yet here I am trying to find poetry in a room of sin. Conclusion….I mustn't have had enough wine.
I lift my glass only to find I've finished anther bottle, looking to the bar I can't see the barmaid. Of course she's not there when I need it most. I would rather remain hidden in the shadows but the night was young and there was so much drinking still to be done.
Before I could move I felt the cold, smooth end of a pistol on the back on my neck. My hands flew to my own weapons and with a sinking heart I realized I had been disarmed, how did I not notice my killer take my pistols and knives?
"My, my what have I got here? A king's musketeer caught off guard and unarmed in a dangerous tavern in Paris. It must be my lucky day," the voice behind me purred.
A woman. I had been disarmed and was now at the mercy of a woman. Could it be Milady?
"It appears you have the upper hand madame, I find myself unarmed and defenseless," I say.
"Unarmed yes, defenseless I think not," as she pushed the pistol harder into my neck. "Drunk, distracted and now at my mercy, what would your captain say if he saw such behavior?"
No…it wasn't Milady. Who is this woman? Perhaps a new agent working for the Cardinal?
"Do I at least get to know the identity of my executioner?"
"Hmmm…..I'll give some clues and we'll see how smart you are. I do so love to play games," the mystery woman said.
I could practically hear her smile when she said this. She was taking enjoyment out of my peril…but there was something so familiar about what she said, a memory just out of my reach.
"I don't play games," I answer.
"Only because you always lose to me," was her short reply.
That was it. I knew who this was but it couldn't be…
"Selene." The pistol moved from the back of my neck.
"Well what do know? You can win a game after all."
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