Author's Note: Hello! Intense chapter awaiting :D The "teams" as we know them might as well change today. 3:) Don't forget, there's a Q&A on Monday so ask our favourite characters a question! Enough with all this talk though. Enjoy your reading!

"What a game! Glad you joined us on the after party, Lucian. "

He smiled at the auburn haired woman sitting next to him on the bar taking a sip from his drink.

" I wasn't planning on missing this, Leona. We deserve a drink or two after a 70-minute-long game. "
The rest of the table nodded in agreement raising their glasses.

" To our victory! Let this season be proven victorious for all of you. But only if you are on my team! " Prince Jarvan toasted before bringing the glass to his lips.

" Aye pals! Cheers. " Twisted Fate followed stealing a glance from Lucian.
" I'm surprised Vayne is not on the table with us. You guys seem to be everywhere together. "

Lucian's cheeks threatened to flash a bright shade of red at the mention of her name. Was he so obvious to everyone?

" Oh, stop teasing TF. Why do you guys have to bring her up with every chance you get? Relax and enjoy the morning. " Irelia added patting Lucian on the back.

The atmosphere on the table continued being as warming for at least a couple of more hours until he figured he should head back to his dorm and allow himself a few moments of rest. He left the table after greeting his colleagues, heading to the main hall. Reaching the Demacian quarters he proceeded on unlocking his door until he noticed something weird. A few doors further a silhouette of a man was standing still in front of what he realised was Vayne's room. The man raised his hand to knock but immediately decided against it as long as he saw him, flashing him a briht smile before walking away. Lucian walked a bit closer only to realise the silhouette of the man who he had been observing was none other than his eternal nemesis on his human form. He growled in annoyance, the spectre's very presence anywhere near Vayne disturbing him. He chose not to interfere though since causing a scene on the main halls was not in his priorities. Turning back to his door, he noticed a strange piece of paper stuck on the hard wood. He furrowed his brows in confusion taking the small piece of paper and unfolding it.

" If you want to know the truth, be outside Gragas' bar in 10 minutes from now. "

His mind wandered around many different scenarios of what kind of 'truth' he needed to find out. He locked the door again knowing he was probably walking to a trap. His curiosity got the best of him though as he made his way to Gragas' bar. He stood outside examining the hallway until he sensed movement behind him. Soon enough, an almost feminine figure appeared from the shadows standing in front of him. Lucian raised an eyebrow at her offering his hand for a handshake. She quickly took it flashing him a bright fanged smile.

" Cassiopeia Du Couteau, out of all people on the Institute I have to admit I did not expect you. "

The woman laughed, a hissing sound coming out of her everytime she did so.

" I didn't expect I had to be the 'messenger' either, Lucian, but I guess Vladimir has a great appreciation of my well known negotiating skills. "

He was getting more and more confused as the conversation continued until he decided to clear things up.

" Just to be clear, what is the 'truth' I need to know? And why is Vladimir of all people involved in this? "

The serpentine sighed making her way towards the bar.

" Follow me. The story goes back on that warm September night when your precious Vayne found a strange book in her cellar. "

Lucian froze at the mention of her name, his mind circulating around many possibilities. He followed nonetheless, knowing that whatever Cassiopeia had to tell him it would probably change the facts as he knew them.

He was pacing back and forth in his room for more than an hour. He didn't know what has gotten into him but he just couldn't get her off his mind. He found himself thinking whether or not he should go and try knocking on her door again. Something wasn't right. But could it be? His plan was supposed to be perfect. It always was. Why would his mind play tricks on him? The image of Eleanor in her spirit form also crossed his mind, having him wonder how did Vayne manage to retrieve that one thing he has been trying to get his whole life. Where did she find her? How did she do it? What did she do that he didn't?
All those questions were torturing his mind since the encounter they had yesterday. He needed answers and he needed them now. With little to no hesitation he stormed out of his dorm towards the Demacian quarters, switching to his human form in the meantime. He figured she'd be more eager to talk if he didn't seem that intimidating.
Several doors later, he reached the front door of the all familiar room he's been heading to. A determined knock was enough for her to open the door. Her facial expression the moment she saw him was a mix of different emotions. Terror, sadness, agony, confusion. But most of all, she seemed hurt. Hurt by the way he treated her the previous day. Sensing her negativity he smiled putting what she assumed was a "reassuring" hand on her shoulder.

" I can promise I am here for a good reason. "

Disbelief and pain was written all over her face as she stepped aside inviting him inside. Closing the door behind her, she took a seat on the floor next to the fireplace.

" How can I help you, Thresh? "

Her words poured like venom out of her mouth staring deep into his eyes intensely. He didn't flinch once though, being able to sense the pain behind her attempts to build a wall between them.

" I want to know something important. It concerns Eleanor. "

Her eyes flickered to the book and back to him momentarily before she sighed deeply.

" You want to know how I managed to retrieve her soul, don't you? "

He shook his head gesturing her to start talking.

" If you are kind enough to tell me the whole story. "

Her gaze fell to the floor pretending to be in deep thought. The truth was that she didn't want to face him. Everytime she did, memories of that night would come back to her.

" I will tell you. She's your wife and you deserve to know given everything you've done for her. It is comforting to know that someone like you actually had feelings for some small period of time. "

His gaze locked with hers as he moved closer to her. With one swift movement, he lifted the petite woman from the ground and sat her on his lap. Her breathing stopped for several seconds, clearly shocked by the gesture. He didn't say anything for the first couple of seconds examining her reactions. Seeing her being rather responsive to him, he experimented a little bit more by tracing small careful lines at the scars of her abdomen.

" I'm surprised these are healing so fast. They usually need weeks to show hints of recovery. Consider me impressed. " he stated pulling a strand of her ebony black hair off her face. She effortlessly held back the shivers his touch gave her, not wanting to give him the satisfaction of being too responsive to him.

" Can I return back to my seat now? " she half pleaded.

The physical contact was too much for her to handle, he could feel it. He wasn't planning on letting her slip away from him though. Not now that she was this vulnerable.

" Isn't it much better this way? "

Her efforts to hold back wore off when he put a comforting hand behind her back relaxing her.

" N-no. Let me go, please. "

He raised an eyebrow moving his free hand to her leg.

" I don't think you really want to go. "

Her eyes glued to his after this statement. He was right after all; she didn't want to leave his embrace. Her morality didn't allow her to stay but there was something in her heart that ordered her not to move. And so she did.

" In that case, I suppose I should start telling the story. "

*Flashback *
The Institute's library was a fairly large building. Someone would say its size was rational given the fact that it beheld the whole Valoran's history on its bookshelves. Aware of this Vayne walked towards the Shadow Islands sector of the room, a certain book in her mind.

"Looking for something, girlfriend? "

Vayne smiled at herself recognising the soothing seductive voice of the Widowmaker immediately.

"Actually I do, Evelynn. I was hoping you would help me. "

The woman nodded walking further inside to the large shelves.

" Which book are you looking for, hun? "

"The Spear of Vengeance. "

Evelynn stopped dead in her tracks facing the woman with a questioning expression.

" What more could you possibly find there about Kalista that we don't already know? "

Vayne sighed sitting on the table next to them, followed by Evelynn shortly.

" It is possible she owns a soul that I want and I need to know how I can get her to give it to me. "

The Widowmaker remained silent as she processed her comment. Was this woman insane?

" You can't be serious Vayne. There is absolutely no way she will agree to such a thing. Many have tried but nobody quite made it. What makes you think that you will? "

Vayne smiled at her genuinely before standing up searching the bookshelves.

" I'm not like most of you undead people. I have something that you don't; a human side. I can use this privilege to help you remember yours and that's what I intend to do with Kalista as well if things get out of hand. And...bingo! " she finished pulling the old dusty book from the shelf placing it on the table.

"This is going to take a while to read. I will bring us some chocolate from the café. " Evelynn added before disappearing on the main hallway.

[...]

She has read the book over 3 times in the last few hours and she was still stuck on the same facts, again and again. Nothing new or intriguing showed itself. At least that's what she thought until she accidentally dropped her chocolate on the book, causing the pages to distort strangely.

" Dear Lord, what is this? " Evelynn asked shocked by the discovery.
Vayne smiled warmly at her mentally patting herself in the back for being so clumsy.

" Hidden texts, Eve. I will use a spell to reveal them fully. "

She closed her eyes and concentrated, letting the all familiar dark aura take over her as her eyes flashed a neon green colour when she opened them. Evelynn watched the transformation in awe not missing the chance to make a teasing comment.

" Wow, girlfriend. You look like ten times hotter in this form. "

Vayne smiled at her concentrating on the book.

"Aparecium! " she commanded as black and green smoke came out from her hands towards the book. The liquid chocolate was long gone along with the old texts, replaced by whole new pages with black and spectral blue ink. Evelynn bent over Vayne's shoulder reading the book as well until her eyes stopped at a specific sentence.

" Pledged souls shall only be returned if the soul of the traitor is given to the Spear of Vengeance as a pledge instead...Vayne, if you know who the traitor is then you can give his soul to Kalista and retrieve the one you want. I can't believe you actually found a way to do this. "

Vayne huffed in despair putting her head in her hands.

" I know who the traitor is. The problem is that he's been dead for centuries and his soul is held into Thresh's latern. "

Both women remained silent after this, thinking of a way they could pull off the plan.

" Evelynn, I think I know a way we can do this. It is quite risky for you though. "

The Widowmaker smirked biting her lip in anticipation.

" Now you're talking! Tell me, what do I have to do? "

Vayne exhaled deeply still concerned about the dangers of carrying out her plan. She was aware she could get Evelynn in trouble as well but she was the only one who could help her.

" Since you are stealth and you cannot be seen even by our fellow undead people, I'd deeply appreciate it if you sneaked in his room to steal that soul from his latern. "

Evelynn's eyes lit up playfully at the thought of danger and adventure shaking her head wildly, a bright smile decorating her features.

" I'm in! I will go when the clock strikes twelve. That is the time he usually goes to the red room to torture these unfortunate people. It is also the only time the latern is not by his side and is also free of restraining magic. Now tell me, who is the man I am looking for? "

Vayne froze for a second mentally slapping herself over her stupidity. She didn't know how Eleanor's brother looked like; at least entirely, nor did she know his name.

" That's where the plan goes south Evelynn. I don't know his name or how he looks like. I only remember small details of his face from the time Thresh showed me his...head. "

The purple haired woman looked at her wide eyed sitting back on the table.

" Wow. I can't believe he told you this story. Only those who belong to the oldest residents of the islands know it . Therefore that leads me to the conclusion that you want to exchange Brad's soul for Eleanor's. "
Vayne shook her head smirking, feeling more than delighted that her plan was about to work.

" That is correct. "

She noticed Evelynn hesitating a bit before looking back at her and she gestured her to talk.

" You know Vayne, it starts getting risky for you too at this point. Brad's soul is one of the first ones he captured and holds high significance for him since it contributes to his spectral form. If he ever finds out it was us who took it, things won't seem bright for you. You already have been through that room once. I will be fine since I can't feel pain or anything else in particular. Would you be willing to get through this again just for a soul? "

She nodded not hesitating a bit at her words. She was determined to bring out whatever was left from Thresh's human side and she would do it.

" I am ready to accept any consequences that may come along with this. Just go and get prepared Eve. I will meet you at the Shadow Islands quarters 10 minutes before midnight. "

[...]

She walked determinedly towards the all familiar quarters, certainty and pride taking over her. Arriving, she noticed the semi stealth form of the Widowmaker who waved at her before quickly entering the room. Vayne sighed sitting on a bench outside waiting for Evelynn to return. She has brought her crossbow with her just in case Thresh found out about them and take it too far with Eve.
Before she managed to complete the thought though, the running figure of the blue skinned woman approached her, handing her a small green orb flickering in her hands. Vayne smiled warmly at the woman thanking her before running to the opposite side of the quarters where Kalista's room was. She knocked impatiently twice hoping the Spear of Vengeance was inside to answer the door. After several seconds the entrance opened inviting her inside. She quickly stepped in closing the door behind her.

" I see you discovered the cryptic texts on my book, Night Hunter. Congratulations, you are the first one to ever see it. I suppose you have what I want. "

Vayne nodded showing her the dim green light on her hands and letting it fly towards her.

" Here it is. Now please give me Eleanor's soul. "

Kalista halted for a few seconds her gaze locked on Vayne's.

" I hope this is not the warden's doing. He holds many souls that are rightfully mine and I will not allow him to retrieve this one. "

Vayne took her book out of her bag, flipping through the pages where her mother's spells were.

" I will keep it for personal use, I promise. And if I ever break that promise you can have her soul back. "

The blue skinned woman nodded releasing a mass of spectral blue smoke from her hand, passing it on the book.

" Her soul is tied to your book now. If you ever need to summon her, use the second spell of the page. "

Vayne smiled bowing her head in a display of respect.

" Thank you Kalista. "

"Consider this a fair exchange, Night Hunter. "

*End of flashback *

Thresh remained silent through the whole narration, each and every reveal she made capturing his interest even more.

" I hope this story answered most of your questions. "

He exhaled once before looking at her deeply into her eyes, connecting into her soul.

" Although I am not happy to know that Evelynn roams around my private territory without permission, I need to ask you; don't you know I get mad when you are invading my personal life? "

Vayne moved her gaze to the floor knowing pretty well an argument, or maybe worse, about to come.

" What also irritates me is that you are a damn masochist. You knew I would be displeased and most certainly punish you for stealing that one soul I enjoyed torturing the most. Why did you take the risk? "

Her eyes were back at him now, her look certain as ever.

"Because I think you are worth saving. "

" And the ritual will happen the next blood moon, which is in 20 days from now. "

He didn't say anything as the female serpent finished her narration. His mind was circulating around everything he had just heard. Vayne being an undead unpurified being, wanting to imprison herself in the magical book, her intentions of giving her soul to bring Senna back to him...for him. All this information was too much for him to process. But there was one thing he knew he had to do first. So, he suddenly shot up from the table walking towards the exit.

" Lucian, wait! Where are you going? " Cassiopeia cried behind him waving her delicate hands.

"I need to find someone, Cass. Thank you for the information. "

He lost no time in running towards the Ionian quarters, frantically searching for the room with a certain mage's name on it. When he finally found it, he stormed inside banging the door open.

"Syndra! I know you are here. Come out this instant, we need to talk. "

Instead of the slim figure of the Dark Sovereign though, he saw two shurikens flying towards him, pinning him to the wall. In an instant, the Master of Shadows was in front of him, his blade on his throat.
" Release him, Zed. He is here for a good reason. "

The ninja complied sparing a warning glance to Lucian as he took his place next to his woman.

"Listen, Syndra I don't have much time. The next blood moon is in 20 days and if you, Zed and Vladimir want her alive as much as I do we have to act fast. So tell me, how can I help? "

Author's Note Vol 2: Uh-oh! Lucian knows?! What happens now? You'll find out a few chapters later but until then, don't forget to ask our characters! Since I'm done here, I guess I'll move to the comments :D

crazyLatern: We'll get a glimpse of their reunion at ch 21 if my memory serves me right. She's here to stay so I guess it's a new adventure for everyone and mostly Thresh. :D

iHookGirls: I TOLD YOU YOU'D LOVE HER IN THIS XD

CupcakeGirl: I imagine Vayne as a real savage character. At least that's what her personality in game is xD

Glowing Doom: Hey, that was nice of you! Thanks :D

NightBoosted: Isn't that a Drake song?

DarkStarVarus: Probably not quite good. She will suffer a lot cause of this. But eh, she'll survive :D

AndHisNameIsCena: TF and Eve are certainly not a cameo! They are here to stay till the end of the story. :3