When Valkyrie Cain collapsed in battle, coughing violently and spitting blood, Tanith Low was surprised. Shocked, even, though this was one of the few times in Valkyrie's extended period of illness that she was caught off guard. Thereafter, she was prepared, calm. She was determined that if the life of the one she loved had to be upturned, then she would make herself a constant, something that could be trusted.
That was the first surprise, something to mark the Hell her existence became out. The second time was also the last. The surprises were, in this case, much like bookends.
She was standing in the hospital room, watching Valkyrie rest. Her dark-haired, wide-eyed lover had suddenly shoved herself up, and she smiled at Tanith, and she requested, calmly, that Tanith go to Valkyrie's house and retrieve something for her – her Necromancer ring. Tanith wasn't surprised by the nature of the request, because she was sent often to fetch things, but by the request itself. What use had Valkyrie for death magic now?
Still, dutiful, Tanith had trotted off to get it, and when she was on her way back, she got the call. She never returned to that hospital room.
A/N: Kind of a prequel to the last one.
~Mademise Morte, December 14