A/N: I know there isn't a huge fandom for this game, but I can't help but love me some stoic, tall, Lasswell (By the way, did you know he was 6'2"? Boy is huge!) Anyway, I don't know that I will have regular updates for this because honestly, I still haven't caught up to the latest chapter. That doesn't mean I don't have a plan, and it's always possible that canon will go out the window before long. Either way, I hope you enjoy this little fic that has invaded my mind. Thanks for reading and cheers!
Chapter 1
Lasswell made his way down the hall toward the room that he was supposed to be sharing with Rain for their stay in Kolts. The inn was too small for them each to have their own space. Especially now that there were four in their party. Though he had to admit that he wasn't upset to have Lid along. Her machinery more than made up for the unexpected drain on their resources. At least she was able to hold her own financially as well as on the battlefield. Plus, Fina seemed to get along with her well enough.
If that had been the only thing bothering him, he would not have wandered away from the early dinner the rest of the group was having in the common room of the inn. No, he had excused himself with apologies and reassurances that he was fine. However, he wasn't entirely sure that was the case. He had not been the same ever since they were in the ghostly port on Kolobos.
Becoming injured during their travels was commonplace. Even dealing with poison was not unusual. They had a limited supply of items that could help them on any of those occasions. Still, when they had passed through the last area before they managed to get Emma to a safe location, that battle had been different.
Yes, they had succeeded, and all of them had made it out in one piece, if not unscathed. However, a different creature than the others had joined the fight at the last minute. It had not managed to do much, but it had bitten Lasswell on the arm before Rain managed to take its arm off, and it disappeared. At the time, they had all believed that the chills and sickness he had suffered afterward were symptoms of poison and had treated the wound accordingly. Even though the worst of the signs had passed, and Lasswell was able to fulfill his role as Rain's protector, he had not been the same since.
Almost every night, he would be plagued by nightmares. They showed him disjointed images filled with blood and terror—not for himself, but for those around him. They often had him taking an extra turn at watch even if he should have been sleeping. Staying in inns like this only made it worse, as he had no place to escape.
None of that accounted for the thirst that he could never seem to slake. At first, he had written it off as a symptom of the chills. It was common for a person subjected to such to have to drink extra to keep hydrated. Still, that did not explain why it continued to grow worse even after he had stopped all other symptoms of illness.
That was part of why he had excused himself quietly and taken his leave. He was unfit company at the moment and decided it would be best to step away to allow the others to enjoy their brief interlude before they had to continue.
He had almost made it to the room when his attention was drawn to a woman that was making her way toward him. His gaze travel over her in a practiced and discreet manner that had become as normal as breathing. They had come across too many people that were potential enemies for him to not be vigilant. Though he relaxed at what he found.
The woman wasn't even looking at him or at where she was going. Instead, she faced the floor with a furrowed brow. One of her hands was clasped in the fabric of her skirt, and the other covered the lower half of her face. He almost thought about asking if she was all right, but he had drawn even to her by that point and froze as time seemed to stand still for a moment.
He was suddenly inundated with a scent that was unlike anything he had smelled before—more delicious than any meal he might have had. However, it was more than a smell. He could hardly describe it, but it seemed that all his senses were becoming overwhelmed. A breeze caressed his cheek with soft warmth, and he could hear each of his own heartbeats, as well as the woman's. His vision grew into a clarity he had never noticed before—even the dust motes that floated in the late afternoon sunlight streaming through the windows took on the aspect of flakes of gold. On top of all that, his throat was on fire, and his teeth ached in a way he could not understand.
If that was all it had been, he would have moved on, but his body moved on its own as his hand shot out to grab her by the wrist. By that point, he was functioning on instinct alone. Any higher thought was impossible. She seemed to turn in slow motion, and he saw her face for the first time. Her raven hair tumbled around and framed a heart-shaped face, and her grey eyes focused as they landed on him. Her full lips were slightly opened as though she were about to speak.
The part of his brain that was capable of logic observed those things, but it was so far buried at the moment that they were little more than a passing note. Once she was fully turned toward him, time seemed to snap into place, and she said, "Is there something I can help you with?"
Lasswell had the urge to answer, to try and explain that he had no idea why he grabbed her, and to apologize. However, that too was a passing notion as his body moved faster than even he thought possible. He had the woman pinned to the wall with one hand over her mouth and the other holding one of her hands pinned next to her head. His grip allowed him to tilt her head to the side before he lunged forward and sank fangs he had never noticed into her soft skin.
He felt her struggling against his hold, which intensified when he bit her. However, it was nothing more than the playful batting of a kitten in his grasp. Also, it did not last long. Less than fifteen seconds had passed before her free hand quit trying to pummel him and instead was gripping his shoulder as she seemed to be pulling herself closer.
He hadn't even realized his hand had slipped from her mouth until he heard a sound that was breathy and did not indicate she was in any pain at all. It was as his brain processed that fact that reality slammed back into him with the force of an earthquake. He had just been lapping at the twin wounds he had made, and one of his hands was on her waist under her shirt.
He was horrified when it all hit him, and he tried to take a step away to figure out what had just happened. However, the woman's hands were still on his shoulders, and she nearly fell forward as he moved away. He had to catch her to keep her from hitting the floor. His wide eyes looked down at the woman as she fell limp in his grasp.
What had he done? If he had not come to his senses when he did, how far would his violation of this stranger have gone? The idea of it sickened him. Still, he could not figure things out in the hallway. Not to mention anyone could come by, and he would have difficulties explaining. He decided to take her to the room and let her rest while he tried to figure out what he could possibly say to make this right when she awoke.
It wasn't until he was opening the door that he realized the ever-present thirst that had plagued him since Kolobos was gone. It made several improbable possibilities creep into his head but now was not the time. He pushed aside any worry for the moment and instead focused on treating the wounds in the woman's neck. At least he could see they were small once he cleaned the area. A single bandage was enough to cover them to keep out infection.
Once that was finished, Lasswell pulled up a chair and sat to go over everything that had happened. The parts he could remember anyway. Most of it was a blur from the time he caught her scent to the moment he heard her moan. Just thinking about that situation repulsed him. Not her reaction so much, as his attack on a stranger.
Although, he did wonder why she changed so suddenly. Was she a loose woman? He hated to even think that, especially since she was not dressed the part. Nor had her diction been rough. It was yet another mystery. For the moment, he would also try to figure out what questions to ask and from whom. There had to be an explanation out there somewhere.
Lasswell had no idea how long it had been since he had placed the stranger in his own bed. Darkness had fallen, but he had barely noticed it within his troubled thoughts. He still had no idea what to say to her when she woke. Plus, he had to admit that he was worried about why she was still out cold.
All of his thoughts scattered when the door opened, and Rain walked in. His brother, in all but blood, stopped in his tracks and looked between where Lasswell was sitting and the woman on the bed. His eyes widened, and he smirked, but Lasswell cut him off before he could say something offensive. "I found her in the hallway and brought her here because I had no idea where else to take her."
Rain stopped with his mouth open and blinked a few times before he frowned and said, "Wait, was she passed out or something? Was she alone?"
Laswell sighed as he stood and ran a hand down his face as though the motion could erase what had happened. Still, as much as he trusted Rain, he had no idea how to tell him the whole scenario without him seeming a monster. To be honest, he already felt like one. When he looked back, he said, "Yes, and yes. She had nothing on her, so I assume she is staying here, but I did not wish to leave her alone."
Rain's brow drew further down, and he put a hand on his chin for a moment before he looked back up and said, "You could have come and told us. We would have helped you look to see if she has any companions. I'm sure they are worried if she does. Plus, we can ask the innkeeper. If she is staying here, then he should know who she is, right?"
Lasswell immediately felt his guilt kick in again. Had he been in his right mind, seeking out the innkeeper would have been his first course of action had he found a stranger unconscious in the halls. Still, it could not be undone. "Would you be willing to check with him? She has been unresponsive for some time now, and I do not wish to leave her alone in case she wakes or has any complications."
Rain huffed in aggravation as he said, "Why didn't you say so sooner? I can go get help."
Lasswell nearly stopped him, as the fewer people involved, the better. However, Rain was already gone before his words came out. He sighed as he took another look at the woman. At least her color had improved. She had been as pale as moonlight when he had first laid her down.
Only a few minutes had passed when the door opened again, and both Lid and Fina burst in with concerned noises. The latter immediately made her way to the bedside as she looked down with a horrified expression. She wasn't even looking at Lasswell when she said, "Why didn't you come and get me! I don't know what is wrong, but I would have been happy to help."
Lasswell didn't even try to come up with an excuse. It was pointless in the face of the young woman's ire. The glow from Fina's healing spell had barely faded when the woman on the bed stirred for the first time. He took an instinctive step back. What would she say to him? How could he even attempt to apologize for the horrible thing he had done?
She rolled over with a groan before her eyes blinked a few times, and she looked around. A pained sound escaped her as she pushed herself into a seated position and said, "Who are you? What happened, and where am I?"
Lasswell's heart skipped a beat. Did she not remember? How was that possible? And if that was the case, what did he plan to tell her? His thoughts froze when she looked up and caught sight of him. Her brow furrowed, and she placed a hand on her neck. Her eyes widened when they felt the bandage, but confusion soon followed. She looked at him again as she said, "I remember seeing you in the hallway, but it's all blank after that."
Lasswell had to take a steadying breath before he said, "You fell unconscious. I wasn't sure who you were or where to take you, so I brought you here to our room until you woke, or we found help."
The woman groaned as her head fell into one hand. Her voice was muffled when she said, "Ugh, why now? That hasn't happened since the first couple of weeks after they found me, and it's been nearly a month since the last one."
Everyone in the room froze at that statement. When they found her? And she had unexplained bouts of fainting before? She finally looked up and saw their expressions. She gave them a wry smile as she pushed her legs over the edge and tried to stand. When she fell back immediately, Fina helped to steady her. The woman gave her thanks before looking back at Lasswell and said, "I apologize if I have caused any undue alarm. You see, I'm staying here because some of the villagers found me in the woods near here more than a month ago. I don't remember anything before then, and unfortunately, it seems my mind doesn't like it when I try to force the memories to come. Every time I feel like I am close, I have had one of these episodes."
Everyone in the room froze again. Fina put a comforting hand on the woman's arm, and Lid said, "Wow, and I thought we had it bad chasing those crazy blighters through the worst places."
The woman gave her a confused look, but by that time, Rain rushed back in with the innkeeper right on his heels. The older man went straight to the woman and said, "Oh, I'm glad to see you up. This young man says you had another episode?"
The woman stood when he entered with Fina's help and gave him a reassuring look as she said, "Yes, so it seems, but these people helped me. I should be fine after a little rest. I hope it won't be a problem that I can't help in the kitchens tonight?"
The innkeeper waved off her concern as he took over for Fina and helped her toward the door. "My wife and I have already told you there is no need for you to work anyway, but if you feel the need to make it up, I'll have you go fetch fresh berries in the morning."
The woman gave him a smile and a nod, but she halted before she exited and turned back to see the four travelers watching with worried expressions. She smiled brightly at them all as she said, "Thank you all so much. I apologize for the trouble and would like to ask for the chance to make it up to you before you head on. Hopefully, I should be around in the morning if you plan to leave early. Just ask for Ciara. It's what they have decided to call me until I can remember my real name."
Fina's smile was just as bright when she said, "Of course! I hope you feel better by then."
After that, the innkeeper helped the woman out while asking her a dozen questions. All of which seemed to have been aimed and ensuring she really was all right. Fina and Lid had gathered around Rain to discuss what had just happened, but Lasswell was barely paying attention. He was still watching the door where the stranger had walked out and thinking of the strange and disturbing events that had happened.
He was only pulled out of his introspection when Rain clapped him on the shoulder hard enough to make him stumble. He frowned back at his long-time partner but didn't get to ask. Rain was already grinning as he said, "I see how it is. You can't get her off your mind, can you? See, you do understand the draw of a beautiful woman. I bet that was why you forgot all about asking us for help. Not that I blame you. She certainly was a looker."
Lid rolled her eyes at his statement, and Fina crossed her arms as she shot him a glare, but Lasswell barely managed to hold back a sigh. Instead of feeding into Rain's assumptions, he said, "I am simply glad we were able to help her. Now, instead of standing around here and causing more of a ruckus, we should all find our beds. Dawn will come quickly, and the road will be long. There is no point in making this more difficult than it should be."
Rain looked like he had more to say, but thankfully, Fina stepped in. "That sounds like a good idea. We just need to make sure to say bye to Ciara in the morning. I don't want her to think we forgot. Besides, I know how she feels."
The woman trailed off after that, but Lid was quick to pat her shoulder encouragingly. "Let's not worry about it tonight. I'm sure it'll all look better in the morning." Fina nodded her agreement before both women headed to their room.
When it was just the two men left, Lasswell turned to his rumpled bed and said, "Goodnight, Rain." He didn't wait for a response before he stripped down to his pants and climbed under the sheets. Despite the laughter he heard from his friend's side of the room, he was still too tense to sleep. It was not helped by the scent that still permeated the pillow.
The moon was low by the time he managed to drift into slumber, where he was plagued by nightmares once again. Though this time, they were different. There was still blood, but instead of his companions, they starred a raven-haired beauty with eyes like storms that beckoned him into madness.