"Ughh! It's so cold out here. I hate the snow." Sara grumbled as she watched the bar across the street through a set of military grade binoculars.
Nyssa looked at Sara skeptically, "You spent five months in the snow at the monastery up in the Tibetan mountains."
Sara glanced at Nyssa before passing the binoculars to her and exclaiming, "That's different! This is Russian snow."
Nyssa stifled a laugh as she adjusted the binoculars and asked, "And how is that different, habibti?"
Sara rolled her eyes, exasperated as she repeated, "What I just said! It's Russian snow."
Nyssa watched for their target intently, waiting for any sighting of Darhk and did not reply to Sara's comment.
"Why did we have to set up on the roof of this building to watch the stupid bar anyway? It would've been much warmer to surveil from downstairs, you know, inside where it's warm. Where we can watch from the windows and not in the snow?" Sara commented as she rubbed her hands together in an effort to keep warm.
"You know why, Sara. This is the best vantage point. We can see all entrances from up here." Nyssa replied, shifting uncomfortably as the snow started to bother her as well.
Sara smirked at the movement, "Ha! You're just as cold as I am. I knew it."
Nyssa shook her head minutely, her voice laced with amusement, "Pay attention, beloved. When Darhk leaves, I will follow him and you will speak with your contact. We cannot afford to make mistakes here. This is much too important."
Sara's demeanor changed when she commented, "At least one good thing came out of my time on the island."
Nyssa heard the sullen tone in Sara's voice at the mention of Lian Yu and tried to lighten the mood, "That is not the only good thing. We met because of that island."
Sara nudged Nyssa's shoulder, a smile playing on her lips, "So true. You're such a romantic, I swear. If it wasn't for the island, I wouldn't have fallen in love, gotten married, and joined a secret organization that goes by the most conspicuous of names…. not in that order of course."
Nyssa shook her head, happy Sara pulled out of her reverie of Lian Yu. She hated that Sara still had nightmares about that place, leaving Nyssa feeling helpless when Sara would wake in the night not knowing where she was. Nyssa would hold Sara in her arms and sing to her softly in Arabic. It seemed to always calm Sara enough to lull her back to sleep. Nyssa would also do this same thing to tame the rage that now lived inside her love.
"Surveillance has never been the same since I started going on missions with you." Nyssa teased as she continued to watch for any sign of their target.
Sara scoffed playfully and remarked, "Then you weren't doing it right."
Nyssa looked away from the binoculars and raised an eyebrow at Sara's comment, "Really, habibti?"
Sara stifled a laugh as Nyssa returned her focus on the bar, "Oh Nyssa, not like that! I bet you and your people would just sit in silence for hours at a time, all serious and disciplined. What fun is there in that? This is just like a stakeout in the movies or TV. We can accomplish the same thing but enjoy ourselves at the same time."
"I do not watch movies or TV so I cannot comment on that. But yes, we would remain silent while shadowing our target." Nyssa replied.
"That's not true. You watch movies and TV with me. Anyway, I can shut up if that's what you prefer." Sara said, her voice betraying her words.
Nyssa shook her head, "Correction, you watch TV and movies. I watch you. I do not want you to be quiet, habibti. I love these moments alone with you…. as long as we do not give our position away."
Sara leaned into Nyssa's side, a mischievous grin on her face, "See? You're a sappy romantic. Who would've guessed? Don't worry, your secret is safe with me. Can't let the rest of the league know what a softie you really are, Nyssa. Besides, I would never give our position away. What kind of assassin do you think I am anyway?"
Nyssa ignored Sara's banter as she saw Darhk step into the night through the side entrance of the bar. They stood from their spot on the roof, ensuring they remained in the shadows as Sara watched Nyssa gather her things, "Darhk is on the move. Once I am out of sight, go meet Mr. Knyazev and see what you can find out. My tracker is on and I can see yours is already active. If I am not back at the safehouse by morning, come find me. I will do the same. Be safe."
Sara nodded as she watched Nyssa gracefully jump to the next rooftop that was parallel to Darhk's path.
Once they were clear of her line of sight, Sara took the fire escape down to ground level from the roof and quickly made her way to the bar.
XXXXX
Nyssa stuck to the shadows of the rooftops as she silently trailed behind Darhk down a deserted alleyway. She was grateful he remained on foot and she did not have to drop to ground level and steal a vehicle to follow him. The buildings were incredibly close together in this area, making it easy to stay at her vantage point on higher ground.
Before Nyssa was aware of what was happening, she was lifted off the current rooftop by an unseen force and pulled down to the ground. Her body exploded in pain as she hit the pavement, drawing in a deep breath to push past the ache that leeched through her.
She rolled over onto her back and tried to pull herself up only to find she was being held down by something she could not see.
Her attention snapped up when she heard a sinister laugh and a vile voice, "Did you really think you could follow me unnoticed? I will admit you are better than most but I would expect nothing less from the spawn of the Demon's Head."
Nyssa gritted her teeth, making a statement she already knew to be true, "You know who I am."
Damien laughed again, obviously amused, "I make it a point to know who my enemies are. Now that I have the Khushu Idol, it was only a matter of time before Ra's al Ghul sent someone after me."
"I am going to kill you." Nyssa vowed as she struggled to free herself from the hold Darhk seemed to have on her.
"I sincerely doubt that. Don't bother trying to move. I have complete control over you." Damien said as he watched Nyssa fight against his power.
"How are you doing this?" Nyssa asked as she stopped struggling, hoping Damien would reveal something vital that could be used against him when the time presented itself.
"Telekinesis. I can grab, lift, catch, restrain, push, pull, crush, and launch anything I desire. That is just one of many rewards from the idol I now possess. Let me demonstrate." Damien sneered as he lifted his arm to raise Nyssa off the ground before extending it, causing her to fly back down the alleyway.
Nyssa had no way to stop her backwards motion once Darhk pitched her into the air. She could not see what was behind her and could only brace for the impact. She landed hard against a pile of old wooden crates and metal rebar, one piece piercing the upper left side of her back and exiting just below her shoulder.
White hot pain flashed through her body, her wound already bleeding extensively. She tried to pull herself off the rebar but stopped when she saw Darhk approach her again.
"You cannot beat me. That is just a fraction of what I can do. As much as I would like to end your life, I want you tell Ra's al Ghul that I am coming for him. It should have been me! I will settle that score before I move onto my other endeavors."
Nyssa clenched her jaw, pushing the pain to the back of her mind as she asked, "Why did you use such subterfuge to try and take the league?"
Damien smirked before his expression morphed into one of anger, "I didn't have the idol at that time and I wanted what was supposed to be mine! Ra's al Ghul has disgraced the League of Assassins. He relies on technology and assets that are not a part of the order. The league should be restored to the old ways. Follow the traditions it was founded in and bask in the glory it once was."
Nyssa laid her head back in an attempt to ease the pressure on the wound before replying, "The league still follows many of its founding traditions, but it is a ridiculous notion to not evolve with the world around us. We must adapt or our purpose would be lost. What is your end game?"
Damien shook his head, "You flounder in the dark searching for answers that will not come to you until it is too late. I expected more from the heir but I know about your weakness. That Ra's al Ghul would allow yet another outsider to join the ranks of the league and allow the heir to share a bed with her is outrageous. Restoring her life with the essence of the Pit only shows me how misguided Ra's al Ghul has become."
"How did you know about that?" Nyssa asked, wincing in pain as she shifted on the cold hard ground.
Damien laughed, "I know more than you think. Talia bragged that she ended the life of your beloved but Saracon reported she was alive when The Hidden raided Nanda Parbat. He described her as being almost feral. I know the stories of those that have come back from death. She is now filled with the bloodlust that the hole in her soul cries out for. I have a business associate that was most pleased to hear that your beloved lives again."
Nyssa spat out the name in disgust, "Slade Wilson."
Damien was surprised but did not allow it to show, "So you are familiar with the man. It will not come as such a shock to you when he rips Ms. Lance in two. In time, of course."
Damien turned to walk away when Nyssa called out, "Al Sa-Her was an outsider."
Damien turned back to face Nyssa once again, "Yes, he was. That choice was the first stage of failure for Ra's al Ghul. It is what put my plans in motion."
Nyssa gasped out a breath as she became dizzy from blood loss, "Slade Wilson is far from someone who belongs amongst all this, yet your work with him. How does that make you any better than Ra's al Ghul?"
Damien called over his shoulder as he walked away, "Mr. Wilson is a means to an end. That is all."
XXXXX
Sara walked into the bar, dressed in civilian clothing with weapons concealed as precaution. She ignored the looks she received from other patrons and walked up to the bar.
It didn't take long for the bartender to approach her. Before he could say anything, Sara asked, "Я здесь, чтобы увидеть Anatoly Knyazev."
He laughed and Sara had to swallow her annoyance, "Your Russian is terrible. I speak English. What do you want?"
Sara made a mental note to add Russian to her list of languages to learn before restating her request in English, "I am here to see Anatoly Knyazev."
The man looked at Sara with skepticism and asked with a heavy Russian accent, "What does a little American girl want with a member of the Bratva?"
Sara clenched her fists, doing her best not to roll her eyes or allow her anger to surface, "Tell him Sara Lance is here to see him. He knows who I am."
He shook his head putting away a glass he had been drying, "Why do you approach me for this?"
"Anatoly told if I ever found myself in Russia, to come find him here. All I had to do was ask at the bar. So, are you going to tell him I'm here or do I need to tear this bar apart looking for him myself?" Sara answered, her hand slipping down to touch one half of the bo staff Nyssa had given her that she had hidden under her coat.
The man saw the subtle movement and eyed Sara for a moment before relenting, "I will tell him you are here."
Sara gave a curt nod and released her bo, "Good call."
Sara scanned the room as she waited but found no obvious threats. She noted each exit point and the number of men that guarded the bar as they worked to look nondescript.
Sara turned when she heard the familiar voice behind her, "Follow me."
Sara did as she was told and moved around the bar and through a door into the back area of the establishment. She followed the bartender down a hallway and stopped when they reached an office door at the end of the corridor.
"You may go in. He is expecting you." The man said before walking back in the direction they came.
Sara let herself in and could not help but smile at the warm reception she received. Anatoly got up from his seat behind his desk and met her halfway, taking her hand into a light handshake and flashed her a huge smile.
"Welcome, Sara. Come sit. What brings you here? I must admit I am surprise to see you. I didn't know what happened to you." Anatoly asked as he led her to a chair in front of his desk before retaking his seat.
"Well, I made it off the island." Sara said awkwardly, not prepared to answer such questions.
Anatoly laughed as he pulled two glasses out of his desk drawer along with a bottle of Stolichnaya Elit vodka.
He poured two glasses and set one in front of Sara, "Yes, yes I can see that. You were not with the rest of us when we were rescued."
Sara lifted her glass as Anatoly said, "Nostrovia."
They both finished their drink is one sip, Sara relishing the burn and realizing this was her first taste of alcohol since the night the Queen's Gambit went down.
She set the glass on the desk and elaborated on her earlier answer, "I was rescued by the group of people that questioned the rest of you on the beach."
Anatoly set his glass aside and nodded, "The League of Assassins."
Sara was stunned, she opened her mouth to speak but no words formed. Anatoly went on to say, "I am aware of who they are. The Bratva has done business with them in the past. We have also fought against one another when there have been disagreements. I would say difference of opinions. I assume you are one of them now."
Sara snapped out of silent surprise and answered, "I am. I'm actually here chasing down a lead on something sensitive."
Anatoly nodded, leaning forward in his chair as he rested his elbows on the desk, "What can the Bratva do for the league?"
"Damien Darhk." Sara replied as she watched Anatoly's expression carefully, seeing nothing but disgust on his face at the mention of the name.
"Bad man. My associates and I do not do business with him but there are some of my brothers that are working with him." Anatoly said with a sigh.
Sara's brow furrowed in confusion, "I don't understand, Anatoly. How is that possible?"
He shifted in his seat, pulling out a cigar before cutting off the end, "There is a bit of a power struggle within the Bratva. We are divided. Disagreements on how business should be run. There are certain brothers that stand against me and they are the ones who are dealing with Darhk."
Sara watched as Anatoly lit is cigar, "Do you know specifics?"
"He has helped expand our illegal weapons trade. Has made himself quite a bit of money that he funnels to an offshore bank account but I do not have any more information. I can see what I can find though. I have also heard him talk about The Athánatos Zoe I think it was called. I do not know what it is but he is looking for it." Anatoly replied as he set his cigar in the ashtray.
"What the fuck?" Sara mumbled, dragging a hand down her face in frustration.
Anatoly chucked, "It is good to see some things have not changed. You still curse like a Russian sailor. If Damien Darhk is looking for this item, it cannot be good. You may want to find it before he does."
Sara nodded as she got up, "I plan on it. Thank you for the help, Anatoly."
He stood and waved his hand dismissively, debating whether to tell her Oliver was in Russia, "Of course, anything I can do to help. Be careful, Sara."
"I will." She said, before turning to walk to the door, wondering what he was keeping from her.
As she pulled the door open, Anatoly called out, "Oliver is here…. in Russia."
She turned back to him, the information he shared was the last thing she expected to hear, "He's here? Why? Doing what?"
Anatoly sighed, walking over to her by the door, "He sought me out after leaving Hong Kong. He was working with ARGUS. They picked him up off Lian Yu after we had already been rescued. He cut ties with them after an incident in Hong Kong and is now seeking refuge with the Bratva."
Sara shook her head in disbelief, "Did he tell you anything about Hong Kong?"
Anatoly hummed as he nodded, "Yes, some, but it is not my place to share. Let me get you his address."
Anatoly went back to his desk and wrote something down on a piece of paper before bringing it back to Sara and handing it over, "He may like to see another friendly face. Visit him if you can."
Sara stared at the writing on the paper but didn't register the words as her mind raced. She looked up at her friend and said, "I don't know how friendly we are anymore. I was in Hong Kong when Oliver was there. The league clashed with ARGUS and things didn't end well. I'll see what I can do. Thanks for this, Anatoly."
Sara shoved the piece of paper into her pocket before leaving the office and making her way outside the bar. The harsh cold air whipped around her but she didn't notice as her mind was trying to process everything Anatoly had shared. She started the walk back to the safe house when a sudden sharp pain hit her chest and she gripped it with her hand before leaning against the side of a building to keep her balance.
She closed her eyes, taking a deep breath when images started to flash through her mind.
Darhk in Russia, exhibiting the great power he gained from the idol. It was her nightmare, the visions she had been having for months. She didn't understand why she was seeing this now and why it hit her with such force. The flashes changed, or to be more accurate, continued further and it surprised her.
Nyssa.
Sara could feel it. See it. Darhk's display of magic was directed at her. She was injured, bleeding and in pain.
Sara pushed herself off the wall and started walking in the direction Nyssa had taken earlier in the night.
XXXXX
Darhk disappeared down the alley as Nyssa laid helpless on the ground. She wanted to go after him but was in no shape to do so. She braced herself and with all the energy she could muster, she pulled herself free from the rebar that had pierced her body.
She clenched her jaw and closed her eyes to keep from screaming out in pain. She was no stranger to it, trained for years to ignore it and embrace it, but the initial jolt still racked her body.
She pressed her right hand over the wound to try and slow the bleeding but was only marginally successful. She checked her tracker and found that it was damaged. Sara would not be able to locate her and she knew she needed to abandon her search for Darhk and head back to the safe house. She pulled her GPS locator from her pocket and saw that Sara had left the bar and was headed in her direction.
Her body felt heavy and she started to feel incredibly tired and light headed. She knew it was because of the blood loss but at the moment, she didn't care. She could see Sara coming for her and she decided to wait for her instead of walking in her condition. The thought of trying to get back to the safe house on her own was no longer appealing. She sat down on the ground, leaning her back against a brick wall for support and watched as her blood tainted the pure white snow.
XXXXX
Sara didn't know if her feeling of dread was another side effect of the Pit or if it was due to what she saw in her vision. She had only ever seen Darhk in that moment. Dreaming of it repeatedly. Nyssa being a part of it had never been revealed to her before tonight. She had meditated often to try and gain more insight but it never came until now. She briefly wondered why that was. She began to think she would never really know.
She could feel herself wanting to panic but her training wouldn't allow it. She focused on the task at hand and did not allow her feelings to cloud her objective. She was to locate Nyssa and get her to safety. Nothing would stand in the way of completing these tasks.
Sara slowed when she turned a corner into a narrow alleyway and saw a form crumpled on the ground and huddled in the snow. She knew by the distinct black and red leather league gear that it was Nyssa. She rushed over to her and as Sara approached, she saw the blood from what looked to be a very nasty wound.
Sara knelt and brushed away the strands of hair that had fallen in Nyssa's face. She shook her softly and Nyssa roused from her unconscious state.
"Darhk…." Nyssa began but Sara shushed her.
"I know. I saw. I'm going to help you up. Do you think you can walk if I support you?" Sara asked as she wrapped her arm around Nyssa's body, careful not to jostle her.
"Yes." Nyssa said in a whisper.
Sara nodded and slowly lifted Nyssa to her feet. Once they were stable, they began the slow trek back to the safe house. Sara's mind rushing over all the things she needed to do to keep Nyssa from death.
XXXXX
Nyssa slowly opened her eyes, the dull throbbing ache in her chest making her slightly uncomfortable. She squinted, the sun shining in through the blinds on the window making it hard to see.
She looked around and realized she was in bed at the safe house but couldn't remember how she got there. She was alone and she wondered why Sara was not with her. She heard movement to her left and turned her head to find the source.
Sara was sleeping in a chair, legs curled under her, body bundled up in a blanket. Nyssa called her name but it came out rough and hoarse. It didn't matter, Sara woke almost immediately and when she saw that Nyssa was awake, she was out of the chair and on her feet.
"How are you feeling?" Sara asked as she laid a hand on Nyssa's forehead to check for fever. Nyssa only now realizing she was hooked up to an IV drip.
"Why are you sleeping in a chair and not with me?" Nyssa asked, voice just above a whisper, not caring that she sounded needy.
Sara smiled at the question and answered, "I didn't want to hurt you in my sleep."
At the confused look Sara received, she clarified, "Your wound. I didn't want to risk it."
Nyssa nodded and hummed her understanding and Sara asked, "What do you remember?"
Nyssa was quiet as she thought about the previous night's events. She began to recount her steps, "I saw Darhk leave the bar and I followed him on the rooftops while you went to speak with your contact."
Nyssa fell silent again before her eyes lit up with recollection, "He knew I was following him. He was able to pull me down to the ground with some unseen force and hold me there. He lifted me up in the air with a mere gesture before throwing me back into a pile of discarded pallets and rebar. I was powerless against it."
Sara sat carefully on the bed, running her hand through Nyssa's hair absentmindedly, "That sums it up. You know I've had dreams and visions of him for months. It was so incomplete. Just him here in Russia, in the snow, using powers he received from the idol. When I left the bar, I was hit with that same vision but it was more complete. I saw you, what happened, and that you were hurt."
"How did you find me? I remember checking my tracker and it was damaged." Nyssa asked as she gestured to the water on the nightstand.
Sara grabbed the bottle and helped Nyssa sip it slowly before she put it down and answered, "I just knew where you were. I can't really explain it. I had a feeling and I felt a pull that led me to you."
Nyssa looked at her questioningly, "What are you not telling me?"
Sara sighed before running her fingers along Nyssa's cheek, down her neck, grabbing her good hand and lacing their fingers together, "I felt physical pain. The pain you must have felt when you were injured right before the flashes began."
Nyssa furrowed her brow in concern, "That has never happened before."
Sara shrugged, not wanting to dwell on it, "No, but I don't know if it's some new effect from the Pit or if it was just the vison and my connection to you. Honestly, I don't want to worry about it right now."
Nyssa didn't want to drop it but respected Sara's wishes and let the subject go for the moment. She watched as Sara ran her thumb in lazy circles along the back of her hand, her mind a million miles away. The silence was comfortable, Nyssa watching Sara as her beloved worked to organize her thoughts.
Sara finally spoke, her voice quiet when she commented, "I've never been so grateful that the League of Assassins stocks their safe houses better than a damn hospital."
Nyssa squeezed Sara's hand to draw her attention back to her, "Why do you say that, habibti?"
Sara blinked a few times to push back her fatigue before looking at Nyssa and answering, "You were in bad shape, Nyssa. I thought I was going to lose you… there was so much blood loss. You were so cold, I stripped off your gear and piled blankets on top of you trying to get you warmed up. I cleaned your wound and stitched it up as best I could. Hooked you up to IV antibiotics and fuck, thank god I'm O negative and was able to give you a transfusion. They don't stock blood in the safe house, not that it matters. I don't know your blood type but I'm a universal donor so we got lucky. I was able to put together what was needed to give you blood with the supplies we had here. It's something Slade taught me back on the island actually. Go figure."
"I'm A positive." Nyssa replied, upset that Damien had wounded her so badly that Sara had to go to such lengths to help her.
Sara gave her a half smile, "Good to know."
Nyssa sighed and gently pulled Sara down to lay next to her. Sara cuddled into her side, face buried in her neck.
"Thank you, Sara, for everything you did." Nyssa said, her appreciation echoing in her voice.
"No need to thank me. I would do anything for you. You make me stronger and give me something more to fight for." Sara replied sleepily before placing a kiss on Nyssa's shoulder.
Nyssa's first reaction was to tell Sara that she should give her devotion to the league and Ra'a al Ghul. The league was where her loyalty should lie and what gave her purpose. Those thoughts raced through her mind but the words did not follow. Nyssa knew she felt the exact same way. She had changed. Sara had changed her. She didn't want to think of her life before Sara became a part of it.
Nyssa tightened her hold on Sara and asked, "What did you learn from your contact?"
Sara nipped at Nyssa's neck causing her to gasp, "That's what you get for ruining the moment."
Nyssa's chuckle turned into a groan as the movement jarred her bad shoulder. Sara propped herself up on her elbow and laid her free hand on Nyssa's chest, "Be careful."
Nyssa glared at her playfully, "Do not make me laugh and I will be fine."
Sara smirked at that but then turned serious as she addressed Nyssa's question, "Anatoly said Darhk has expanded the Bratva's illegal weapons trade. He's made a large profit from it. That money is funneled into an offshore account but he didn't have any information on it. He said he would try to dig into it. He said Darhk was looking for something called The Athánatos Zoe. Do you know what that is because I sure as hell don't?"
Nyssa sighed, nodding her head, "Yes, it is Greek for The Immortal Life. A book that was nothing but a myth, but if Darhk is looking for it; it may not be."
Sara let out an exasperated breath, "Everything you've seen during your time in the league and you still think half this shit is a myth? I'm going to tell you now, it's not a myth. It's all real. Trust me on that one. If I can come back from death by a pool of water, then a stupid book is certainly real."
Nyssa raised her eyebrows at Sara's outburst but couldn't argue with the logic behind it. She found it rather amusing as she responded, "You make a valid point. The very real book is rumored to have been lost by the gods after the fall of Olympus. It supposedly details how a mortal can harness the power of the gods. Essentially how a human can become immortal."
Sara shook her head, rolling her eyes with a smile, "Oh, you've got jokes. Well, we can't let Darhk get his hands on it. Does the league have any idea where this very real book might be?"
"Rumored last to be in Greece but no one has ever seen it." Nyssa said, shifting uncomfortably as the pain in her shoulder started to increase.
Sara sat up and moved off the bed, "I will make you more of that rat piss tea and change your bandages."
Nyssa's lips twitched up into a ghost of a smile, "Habibti, it does not taste that bad. Those herbs are the very best of Nanda Parbat."
Sara called back from the small kitchen, "I can tolerate it now but I'll never like it. Worse taste ever."
Sara came back into the room and set the tea on the side table before helping Nyssa sit up. Sara removed the bandages carefully and threw them away before inspecting the wound, "I don't see any signs of infection."
As Sara started to apply fresh dressing to Nyssa's shoulder, she asked, "Anything else to report?"
Sara avoided eye contact as she finished wrapping the wound and handed Nyssa the tea, "Anatoly told me that Oliver is here in Russia."
Nyssa watched Sara, her expression impassive, "What is Mr. Queen up to?"
Sara sighed, shaking her head as she sat down in the chair by the bed, "He left ARGUS but I don't know why. He's under the protection of the Bratva. Anatoly gave me a way to contact him."
Nyssa finished her tea and set the cup aside, "Why would you want to contact him?"
Sara stood and started to pace the room, "We still have a mission here that needs to be completed. You are hurt, Nyssa. You won't be field ready for a while. I want to recruit Oliver's help in pursuing Darhk."
Nyssa spoke with an air of finality, "You are not pursuing Darhk. It is too dangerous."
Sara stopped her pacing and turned to face Nyssa, "I'm a member of the League of Assassins. Everything we do is dangerous. You don't think I'm capable of finishing our mission? This is important."
Nyssa steeled her resolve, "I know it is important and I do not doubt your capabilities. We lost our element of surprise when Darhk discovered me last night. He will be expecting others. I cannot be there to protect you."
Sara scoffed, "I don't need protection! Either you trust me to do what is required or you don't. I can reach out to Oliver for backup."
Nyssa almost flinched at the idea, "I do not trust him to watch out for you. He is not trained."
Sara shook her head as she crossed her arms, "You seriously must think I'm helpless! And no, Oliver isn't trained to league standards but he is capable. We both learned a lot from Shado, Slade and Yao Fei while we were stuck on Lian Yu."
Nyssa's stoic façade finally broke, her voice full of turmoil as she admitted, "I lost you, Sara. I cannot lose you again."
Sara's expression softened but she was still insistent, "I know, Nyssa. I do. I don't know what I'd do if anything happened to you, but this is the nature of the work we do. You can't shield me from all the bad things we'll encounter while on assignment. Darhk needs to be stopped. I'm going to go see Oliver. I'll be back later."
As Sara made her way to the door, Nyssa demanded, "As my wife, I forbid you to do this."
Sara turned around, her voice full of anger and amusement, "Nyssa, hell no. That might work in Nanda Parbat or how marriages operate between other members of the league, but that is certainly not going to work with me. I don't care if you're the heir or that we're married now. We're equals!"
Before Nyssa could respond, Sara opened the door and walked out, slamming it shut behind her. Nyssa laid her head back and curse her current predicament. She knew Sara was right when she spoke of the risk members faced when they joined the league. She had complete faith in Sara's abilities. She had come a long way since Nyssa first found her on the island. She couldn't shake the deep seeded fear of losing Sara once again and it caused her to act irrationally. She didn't like the idea of Oliver running backup. If she were being honest, she wasn't sure if it was because she doubted his abilities or because she was jealous. It was a feeling utterly foreign to her and she didn't know how to react to it.
XXXXX
Sara double checked the address before knocking on the door. She heard shuffling from inside the rundown house before the door opened to reveal a disheveled Oliver Queen.
She immediately noticed the gun in his hand and asked, "Is that for me or do you greet all your guests armed?"
He looked at her with disdain, "Can't be too careful. What do you want?"
Sara ignored the question and asked one of her own, "Is all this hostility because of what happened in Hong Kong?"
"You're an assassin, Sara, and you took a deadly agent and gave it to the League of Assassins! It should've gone to ARGUS where it would be out of enemy hands and destroyed."
Sara felt her patience slip, "Don't be so naïve, Oliver! Do you really think ARGUS would destroy something as effective as the Alpha Omega virus? They would have used it for their own means. The league has stored it away where it cannot harm innocent lives or used by any government."
Oliver gripped the doorframe to try and temper his anger, "You can't possibly know what the league will do with it. You think you're apart of some noble cause but all you've done is join a bunch of killers. You are a killer on command."
Sara felt the rage start to boil in her veins and closed her eyes a moment to clear her mind before replying, "The league kills if required. We do what is needed to save lives and we do it from the shadows. Don't act like you don't have blood on your hands, Oliver. We lost that innocence on the island. You cannot tell me ARGUS didn't have you doing morally ambiguous things."
Oliver looked at her for a long moment before pulling the door open wider and stepping aside to allow her to enter.
After Oliver shut the door, he gestured for her to sit at the kitchen table and took a seat across from her, "Anatoly tell you where to find me?"
"He did. What are you doing in Russia, Oliver?" Sara asked, moving her chair so her back wasn't facing the door.
"I had a little falling out with ARGUS after I failed to bring them the weapon. The Triad tracked us down at Maseo's home, surprised us, and Akio paid the price for it." Oliver said, his voice quiet and his eyes distant.
"Akio?" Sara asked.
"Maseo's son. He was caught in the crossfire. I left Hong Kong after that and came to Russia. I'm working for the Bratva now. It's my way to pay for anonymity. I can't carry around a bow and quiver without attracting attention." Oliver explained, finally laying his gun down on the table.
Sara was doubtful, "There is no way ARGUS doesn't know where you are, Oliver."
His eyes snapped up to meet hers, "I don't care. I'm good as long as they keep their distance. They failed to protect us in Hong Kong. Anatoly has done so much for me and I owe him. I do the work he asks and the world leaves me alone."
"Why don't you just go home? It's better than working for the Russian mob and wasting away in Russia." Sara inquired, taking in his appearance once again.
Oliver shook his head, "Why don't you go home, Sara? It's better than working for the League of Assassins."
Sara smirked, "Touché. Fine, let's not talk about our reasons for avoiding Star City. I need your help with something."
Oliver laughed bitterly, "I needed your help in Hong Kong and you turned your back on me."
Sara's eyes widened slightly at his animosity, "I was completing a mission. I know you were too. I'm sorry for what happened as a result."
Oliver stared at her and she was surprised at the emptiness in his eyes. He ran his hand through his greasy hair and asked, "Are you here for the league?"
Sara nodded, "We're tracking a man named Damien Darhk. He's doing business with the Bratva so you might be familiar with him, though Anatoly told me about the problems within the organization. Anyway, Darhk got his hands on something that makes him a very dangerous man. I plan to take it from him."
Oliver sat for a few minutes, appearing to be lost in thought. He finally took in a deep breath and stood from the table, "I can't help you."
Sara stood as well, taking a step closer to him, "I need you as backup."
He shook his head, "I can't."
Sara was losing patience, "Put our differences aside for a moment. I swear to you Darhk is bad for everyone. This isn't just for the league. He is dangerous, and a lot of innocent people will get caught in the middle."
"Fine. Meet me at the bar in thirty."
XXXXX
"The account belongs to Slade?" Oliver asked in disbelief as he leaned his weight into his hands that gripped the edge of the desk.
Anatoly nodded grimly from where he sat, "Darhk is funneling the money he earns from our weapon sales to that account. I was sure he was dead but then nothing can really surprise me anymore."
Oliver nodded mutely as Sara chimed in, "No, he is very much alive but I don't know how he managed that yet."
Oliver shot her a glare as he pushed off the desk to stand up straight, "You knew he was alive and didn't tell me?"
Sara stepped into Oliver's personal space and pushed him hard against the shoulder, her bloodlust crying out to be sated in her aggravation, "I only found out recently, Oliver. How the fuck was I supposed to tell you when I had no idea where you were?"
Oliver put his hands up in surrender and backed off, "Fine."
Sara turned from Oliver, pacing away from the two men before she spoke to the room, "Slade isn't our concern at the moment. Darhk is. Anatoly, any idea where he may be?"
Anatoly shrugged, "I do not know his personal accommodations. He may be at the waterfront if he is conducting business. Oliver knows where."
Sara started to walk to the door, Oliver right behind her when she called out, "Thanks, Anatoly."
XXXXX
They were crouched just inside an open warehouse, the view covering the area of the waterfront that was under Bratva control. Damien was supervising as crates were being loaded into a freight container.
Sara glanced at Oliver, "You remember what I told you?"
Oliver nodded, "I got it."
"Okay, I will approach from the front and you the rear. We may have a better chance flanking him. I don't think stealth is a viable option now. Regardless, he is too smart to lead us to the idol, though it must be near for him to retain his powers. He knew Nyssa was following him from the bar from the start. He knows the league is here. We might as well take advantage of it." Sara reiterated, pulling out a throwing blade and concealing it in her hand.
Oliver took off out the opposite end of the warehouse to circle around to Damien's rear. Sara stood and with all the confidence she could muster, approached her target head on.
"Damien!" She called out once she dropped down to the lower section of the harbor.
Damien turned and smirked once he saw her, "Well, if it isn't the infamous Sara Lance."
Sara stopped midstride, surprised by his words but did not allow it to show, "You know who I am?"
"I would know you anywhere. You and Mr. Queen. Mr. Wilson has had much to say about the two of you." Damien taunted.
Sara kept her eyes on Damien but could see Oliver slowly moving closer to their target, "Slade is a sick man. Lost his mind to the Mirakuru. Why you would work with the Bratva to funnel money to Slade is a mystery. One I am going to solve."
Damien laughed, "I can see the Bratva infighting does not allow my business to remain discreet. It is of no matter. I do supply Mr. Wilson with all the funds he could need. He is an investment so to speak. I fund his need for revenge and learn the secrets of the Mirakuru at the same time. Something that will benefit me in the future."
"What more could you need with the idol in your possession?" Sara asked, hoping for any information she could learn from Damien's overconfidence.
"The idol has its limitations. As a member of the League of Assassins, I am sure you know this already. There is so much power to be discovered! I need the numbers to go after what I want. Let Mr. Wilson build an army of Mirakuru induced mercenaries. I will learn from his shortcomings and perfect the process." Damien stated, a smug smile in place.
Sara remained cautious at Damien's willingness to divulge such information, "What was the real reason you attempted to take the title of Ra's al Ghul? I don't believe it was only to return the league to more traditional ways."
Damien became angry and stepped closer to Sara causing Oliver to move forward from his position, "Talia would not allow Mr. Wilson to experiment on her people. I wanted to take the league, restore it to its former glory and turn all its members into the enhanced assassins I knew they could be. It doesn't matter now. Talia's death actually worked in my favor. Saracon is much more open to the idea of reverse engineering the Mirakuru for The Hidden than Talia ever was."
Sara scrutinized Damien, curious why he would divulge so much information, "Why are you so willing to tell me all of this? Don't you know we're going to stop you?"
Damien laughed, "I invite you to try. You and your league do not stand a chance of stopping me. I find it amusing to watch. So, you are privy to my motives and ideas. It just makes it all the more interesting."
Sara took another step closer, "Your hubris will be your downfall. I think you'd surprised what the league can do. Now that you have further educated us on your plans, we will be coming after you in force."
Damien smiled, it was humorless and full of contempt, "Like I said, I invite you to try."
Sara glanced at Oliver and nodded her head imperceptibly. Oliver stood from his crouched position behind a stack of crate and aimed for a kill shot on Darhk.
Before Oliver could pull the trigger, Damien turned and raised his hand, immobilizing Oliver on the spot.
"Nice try but far from the mark." Damien spat out as he held Oliver in place.
Sara tried to take advantage of the distraction and threw the dagger she had been concealing. It hit Damien but did no damage, only falling to the ground as if an invisible barrier surrounded the man.
Damien turned his attention back to Sara and leered at her, "You are going to have to do so much better than that."
With lightning speed, Damien pulled Oliver to him before slamming him to the ground. Sara moved forward to try and engage Damien but was stopped much as Oliver had been.
"It's too bad I can't kill the two of you. That honor is reserved for Mr. Wilson. It doesn't mean I can't get you out of my way." Damien stated before flicking his wrist and sending Sara into the bay.
She hit the freezing cold water and was swept beneath the surface in seconds. Flashes of being pulled under the water on the Queen's Gambit filled Sara's mind. She felt panic start to set in but remembered her training, meditations, and she calmed almost immediately. She swam back to the surface and pulled in a deep breath, her body screaming in pain from the frigid temperatures. She swam over to a metal ladder that hung over the edge and hoisted herself up.
Any trace of Damien was gone but she saw Oliver sitting in a huddled position on the ground. She let out a sigh of relief that he appeared to be unharmed and made her way over to him. She picked up her blade and put it away before grabbing Oliver's gun.
She knelt in front of him, "Are you okay?"
He looked up at her and nodded as he took his gun from her, "I've never seen anything like that. You won't be able to beat him with a head on assault."
Sara stood and held her hand out to help Oliver up from the ground, "I know. I thought we could end this here in Russia but fuck…. that isn't going to happen. Gonna have to rethink the entire approach."
Oliver nodded, "We need to get you some place warm so you can dry off before you get sick."
XXXXX
Sara rushed into the safe house and saw Nyssa was awake and blurted out, "I'm so sorry. I left you with nothing to eat. You must be starving."
Nyssa watched Sara with concern in her eyes, "I am. What happened?"
Sara waved her off and went into the kitchen to make a couple of sandwiches. Nyssa was the master chef, Sara didn't have much luck cooking anything more than microwave dinners.
She grabbed more water and came back into the bedroom, handing Nyssa her plate and placing the waters on the nightstand.
"Once you're done, I'll change your bandages and take you off the IV." Sara said as she picked at her food.
Nyssa didn't push, she ate in silence and handed Sara her empty plate once she was finished.
Sara took everything to the kitchen before coming back and carefully unhooking the IV. She then proceeded to change Nyssa's bandages, commenting that no infection had set in.
As Sara started to step away from the bed, Nyssa grabbed her wrist with her good arm, "What happened?"
Sara sighed as she carefully sat on the bed, "I failed. He kicked our ass. When Oliver distracted him, I threw a dagger and it hit him. It hit him and then fell to the ground like he had some invisible barrier around him. It didn't even cut his coat."
Nyssa stared up at the ceiling as she finally commented, "The idol protects him. It gives him powers and provides protection against attack."
Sara rested her head in her hands, voice soft and tinged with defeat, "He seems invincible. We failed completely in this mission."
Nyssa rested her hand on Sara's cheek and gently guided her until they made eye contact, "Not completely. We know what business he was conducting with the Bratva. Did your contact have any more on what Darhk was doing with the money?"
Sara gave her a ghost of a smile, "Oh, I know who the money is for. Darhk also revealed a lot more about his plans as he bragged about his inevitable victory."
Nyssa pulled her hand away from Sara and smiled encouragingly, "Tell me what you learned."
XXXXX
It had been two months since the failed mission in Russia. Nyssa was back to training, trying to work out the stiff muscles where her wound had been. Ra's al Ghul had not considered the mission a failure no matter how much Sara complained that it was.
Ra's had educated them further on the extent of Khushu Idol's powers. Damien was essentially invincible but could be stopped if the idol was broken or the jewel was removed from the stone. The idol had to be somewhere near Darhk for him to retain its powers. Damien most likely performed blood sacrifices to keep the idol's influence from driving him into insanity.
Ra's had a bulk of his legion searching for Saracon, Damien Darhk, and The Athánatos Zoe after Sara shared what she had learned at the waterfront. He was especially interested in Darhk's remark that he would come after him yet again out of revenge for taking the title Ra's al Ghul.
Sara walked into the training room and leaned against the wall as she watched Nyssa work with a short sword. She knew Nyssa had been restless since she was taken off active duty to allow her shoulder to heal. Sara had been on countless missions since Russia. Her premonitions giving her locations for their enemy only to show up hours after they had already vacated the premises. It frustrated Sara to no end. If she was bestowed these visions from the Pit, she wanted them to bring the league an edge and so far, that had not happened.
Sensing her beloved in the room, Nyssa turned and flashed Sara a small smile before she put the practice sword away.
Sara stayed where she was as she admired Nyssa from afar. She threw herself into Nyssa's arms once the woman had walked over to her.
"I missed you." Sara whispered as she held her love close to her.
"I missed you as well." Nyssa returned.
"How was Taiwan?" Nyssa asked as she pulled out of Sara's arms and grabbed her towel.
Sara picked up her bag, answering as they started the walk back to their cottage, "Another miss but they were there. The evidence of attempts to mass produce Mirakuru was everywhere. I am so frustrated. I feel so useless."
Nyssa shook her head in disagreement though she understood the feeling, "We will get them. Do not worry."
Sara was not pacified, "Darhk wants to kill Ra's for some bullshit revenge. If he's successful then he can challenge you for the right to become the next Ra's al Ghul. Slade is planning to mass produce Mirakuru and build super soldiers out of members of The Hidden and come after me and Oliver. Darhk wants to steal that idea and do the same before he goes off and searches for a book that could make him truly immortal. We seriously need a win, Nyssa."
Nyssa sighed, her voice soft but full of conviction, "The League of Assassins is the greatest force on earth. We will find them and we will stop them. Putting this pressure on yourself is not healthy."
Sara didn't reply as she opened the door to their home. Sara went back to their bedroom and began to unpack her things from the last mission while Nyssa went to shower.
Once they were settle on the couch, Sara asked, "Have you been cleared?"
Nyssa smiled down at Sara, her head resting in Nyssa's lap as she ran her fingers through her hair, "I have. I will be joining you on the next mission."
Sara closed her eyes and sighed at the feeling of Nyssa's ministrations, "I think we might be going to Greece. I started to see some crazy things in my dreams."
"What have you seen?" Nyssa asked with curiosity.
"Maseo and Oliver in Greece pinned down by The Hidden. They had a book in their possession, maybe The Athánatos Zoe. That's all I've gotten so far." Sara said, frustration returning to her voice.
Nyssa tried to soothe her, "Hush now. Relax and sleep. We will worry about tomorrow when it comes. I will be right here when you wake up."