She had to return to mother Vadoma when it had already been turning dark and Tauriel was feeling hopeless. Upon entering, the place smelt like strong spices and cheap wine. Tauriel was exhausted, her body ached, and she wasn't feeling well after the last circumstances.
Mother Vadoma greeted her at the door, "Welcome back, child. Did you fetch for what I needed?"
"...Well, sort of..."
Tauriel walked inside and the stale smell of the house overwhelmed her; she needed fresh air immediately. "Sort of?" Vadoma said in confusion. Tauriel was scared but she had to be truthful about what had happened, "These men, they said you owed them something. The one wearing a mask said if you didn't pay them, they would hurt you. I don't know what they meant."Tauriel stood scared and shaken as she stood in the dimly lit living room.
She had never been in this type of situation before and she didn't know what to do. Vadoma looked like she was in a state of shock as she stared at Tauriel in awe, Then she began to calm down, and she sat on her worn-out chair.
"These men, did they hurt you?" Vadoma asked.
"No, but I... I think they're after you, because of me."Vadoma was quiet for a moment. She looked at Tauriel with a frown."Very well. I knew they would not let this go." She sighed and stood up from her seat as she began to gather through her hoard of candles, the ones she used for decoration, and the small ones that lit her home.
She turned to Tauriel and gave her a stern look."We will meet with them soon, after dark..."
"With them?" Tauriel asked, nervously. Vadoma nodded, "Yes," Then she strolled through her things, gathering an old, threadbare blanket, a few rags, and some cheap jewelry. As Tauriel followed Vadoma, she couldn't believe her luck. Vadoma was going to help her! She grew worried and scared, she vividly remembered how intimidating those men looked and how close they came to hurt her. Tauriel had never been in contact with an adult she trusted before, let alone one who helped her.
The old woman was nice enough. She had reminded Tauriel of one of her older servants she grew up with back in Noxus. They had similar features, a youthful face, and eyes, a short but sturdy build, and a similar demeanor.
Tauriel slowly calmed down as all they could do is wait for night to come. They wouldn't hurt her, and Vadoma would protect lit the candles and rags, before placing them neatly on the table.
"Sit. Rest your legs."Tauriel nodded, sitting down on the worn-out felt like she could take this moment to take a nap until something or someone would awake began to pack away her things in a dark wooden chest."What are you doing?"
Tauriel asked."We're leaving, now."Tauriel stumbled and hurriedly got up from the couch, "Oh— ok."Vadoma was equipped with her bag, and a coat and gathered her belongings as she awaited for Tauriel to catch Tauriel was close enough, Vadoma opened the door for her.
"Let us go."They both arrived at the familiar docks which it was more creepy and less populated with locals. The men who were waiting for them were probably nearby.
"I'm fearful..." Said Tauriel. Her eyes widened with fright but Vadoma remained calm.
"Stay close."They walked with quick steps, away from the docks. They passed several streets before reaching an alley where two men were waiting for them.
They seemed so intimidating in the darkened skies of the night, they looked like dark storm clouds, looming over the main Captain with a sneering smile greeted both of them and seemed delighted to see a familiar face. "Ah, Mother Vadoma. And you, miss Rabbit."Tauriel pursed her lips in fear, but she knew she had to remain strong. She had to help her mother.
"Anyways, supposedly you're little caretaker has persuaded you to give us what we are owed?" The man said as his men watched the both of them glared at the captain until she spoke again, "I have an offer."
"Oh really? And what might that be?"
"The girl." Tauriel couldn't believe what she was hearing. She felt like she couldn't breathe and a burning sensation ran through her."...What?"
Tauriel muttered and began to step back."Yeah, you heard me. We will give you the girl, in exchange for payment."Tauriel felt her heart flutter as she looked at Vadoma.. The captain was stunned.
He looked at Tauriel In interest, "Mm, I wouldn't mind having my hands on a Vastyan... They are worth quite a fortune."
He stepped forward and Tauriel looked at him in fear and disgust, "i-I can't believe you're doing this to me, Vadoma!"Tauriel felt her whole body shaking as she clenched her she could escape, the Captain's thugs managed to grasp her.
"I am sorry, child. I must not relinquish my belongings." Said Vadoma.
"No! No!" Tauriel cried as she watched the old woman leave. She was sobbing and screaming. The men that held her forced her to kneel and she could only weep, alone in the dark.
"Ah, I think you understand."
"Come on, I'll make sure to make the experience more exciting." Said the let out an unearthly cry of , she faded men guided her to the docks and onto their large dragged her there and she watched the city of Bilgewater fade away as the dark waters of the bay surrounded her.
The men settled onto the boat until a noticeable sound emerged. It sounded like someone had fallen Into the sea.
The men looked at each other, confused and alarmed."The hell is that?" Said one of the men. Tauriel constantly looked around their surroundings until they heard a yelp.
"Let me go please!" Tauriel cried but the man held on tightly.
"Shut it. This ain't no time to whine. I'll get—-" The man's words stopped as he began to choke on his blood. Tauriel felt his release and hurriedly evaded the spot where he had darkness consumed the vessel and she could hear the slice of death all around. She hid around the various barrels stacked until someone grabbed her from behind.
"Calm down, girl. I'll get you out of here." It was the Captain who Apprehended her. His hand clasped her mouth where she could not dragged her forward and Tauriel struggled. She tried to bite him, but he held her jaw closed.
"Stop struggling. I'll let you go, once we reach our destination."She struggled but he was too strong. He pulled and shoved her across the vesseluntil it became noticeable that the foggy sea was turning quiet.
The Captain was at the tip of the ship and quickly knew the silence growing on them. He was becoming frightened of the unknown. Someone was killing her crew and he could not see who was doing it.
The fog was beginning to dissipate and he could only hope that whoever had started the massacre had finished it.
"Who is that?! Show yourself, coward!" With his grasp still tightened around Tauriel, he extended his other hand with a dagger. Out in the open, he could stab and kill her in less than a , he was too frightened and his arm was a trembling mess.
"Captain Waldwick, your time has come."
Suddenly, a dark voice spoke and a darkening figure arises from the foggy sea. The captain's face paled and he pressed his grip tighter on Tauriel until she fear in his voice grew as the familiar figure looked toward him. With a sudden strike of trepidation, the captain shoved Tauriel aside and she falls off the ship.
She screams in terror but her mouth is quickly filled with the sea's salty water. Her arms swung above the water as she struggled in the entire crew of the vessel was dead, and she could only see one figure standing on the ship.
"P-please! Please!" She screeched but her mouth was filled with coughed and struggled until could feel her body submerged in the sea's salty water. She was beginning to drown.
Then, the darkness of the night sky was all she could see Cold and wet, swallowed of the smell of saltiness and fear. Unknown to her fate, Tauriel suddenly coughed out water that was sitting in her lungs. She coughed until she could feel her strength return and her lungs fill with air. She coughed until she was no longer drowning. She coughed until she was free.
Free to go.
Tauriel slowly gathered her surroundings, realizing she was on a dock but someplace was far from home, alone, and in a new , she was still lifted her sights and noticed a man standing just near her.
She jumped in surprise, "—Who- who are you?!" She exclaimed in bafflement.
He looked instantly familiar, his dark skin and the bone scaffolding that adorned his back reminded her of someone. But, who?
He looked at her and she could see the same recognition on his face. She finally realized that he was the one responsible for the slaughter. The harbour ripper!
"—You're... Pyke?" Tauriel made sure she kept her distance from him.
"...Is this your doing...?" He said.
Tauriel rose her brow in concern. "What?"
He turned to her with his glowing green eyes, "The voices. I don't hear them."
Tauriel stared at him blankly, "You're... cursed. I must think that my influence is affecting you. I-I can sense dark energy in you, I suppose it's... dimming down on you." Tauriel nervously explained, "I could help you."
He took this moment to glare at her, he thought long and hard. "I don't need your help." He said in a tone that said he meant it.
Tauriel stammered, "Well, y-you— I don't understand, you did save me from the waters, did you?"He crossed his arms and looked away from her, he then mumbled something unintelligible.
The rest between was nothing but the cold silence and the waves crashing from below the docks. It took a few minutes for him to turn around. He looked at her once again, "You should leave." "Wha—? I-I—"
"Leave now."
Tauriel then stuttered, "B-but ! I -I don't know what I'll do! I don't know where I am and I can't be bothered to go home. Please perhaps… you can help me." Tauriel held her hands together and pleaded.
"I can't do much for you." He then began to leave her but she couldn't help but follow him despite him being so stoic and not wanting her company. Tauriel followed him closely for a few paces and then looked behind her. "You're lucky you're not on my list. Not yet anyway…" He pulled out a long scroll but Tauriel wasn't fazed by it. "Please, I don't know where to go." Tauriel implored . "What did they want with you?" He asked. Tauriel pursed her lips, "Them? They were going to make money off of me. I don't know… I suppose they hunt people like me." "What do you mean, like you?" "Cant you tell? I am a Vastayan. Im a bit out of the ordinary. Ive been told all life to conceal my ears and tail. Didnt realize how important it was until now." Tauriel sighed, "Look, I can feel that your dark energy is… unconscious. You appear stable. I'm sure you're a… good person." Said Tauriel,
"You dont know what youre talking about." The man said in a dark tone, he then continued to walk away. Tauriel stood idly by and watched him from the distance where he began to pour his head into the palm of his hands. He was becoming erratic . Tamriel looked in concern but she knew what was happening to him, she could see it, the shadows moving in the man's eyes, the cracks in his skin, and the ever growing numbness to his touch.
"I can sense it, the voices are trying to return, aren't they?." Said Tauriel, still she was frightened of the man she was trying to understand.
He then lifted his head, "It's my purpose now. I do what they tell me."
Tauriel raised an eyebrow, "Is that so…? Mother Vadoma was right about you. That horrid wretch." Tauriel was sad yet filled with hatred for the old woman who had betrayed her. "Look, I-I if I may introduce myself. My name's Tauriel. And you are Pyke?" She said.
He didn't respond, he just stared at her with his dead eyes, as if he was already dead. "You're not safe here." He said, "This place draws to people like you, and them. They'll come for you."
She felt the darkness that he was talking about, "Well, that's why… Please." She begged and was drawn by his glowing glare.
Pyke groaned, turning his back at her, "Come." He said as they ventured into the secluded docks that appeared to be abandoned upon the cloudy gaze.
