With nothing to gauge the passage of time, Byleth had no idea how long she had been led in that bed waiting for someone to enter her room and grant her a chance at escape. All that accompanied her was a faint hum of the blue glow, sometimes disrupted by the distant screams and pleads of other prisoners ringing down the corridor to her cell.

Drawing in deep breaths to calm the queasiness and shake to her hands, she steeled herself. She was used to high stakes situations. She had commanded in battles and politics, even fought a dragon and had Arianrhod crumble above her – but it was something about the wait, the uncertainty, the lack of control she had over what was to come.

Byleth clutched the IV in her hand beneath the sheets, pretending it was still attached to her arm, sights falling upon the wall separating her and Sam. Clueless to the plan, his uncertainty was likely weightier than her own. They had not filled him in on the details, banished from Zaharas before he could learn of it. Even though he seemed himself again, they could not risk the possibility that Thales was still watching, listening in the back of his mind.

It was Samael who suggested it; unable to trust himself. He clearly blamed himself for everything that had happened. He'd begged her to leave him in the cell, terrified that his connection with Thales would thwart any chance at escape. Yet abandoning Sam there was an impossible thought. She could not leave him, nor could she help but feel his despair.

Either someone would come for him soon, or never.

Voices snapped her thoughts back, two of them, footsteps echoing down the corridor as they spoke. She closed her eyes as they neared her door and stopped right outside.

"I cannot believe the nerve of Kallmath, how dare he speak to me like that," a feminine voice said.

"It's your fault. You need to curb your temper, you fool. But don't worry, I've got your back should Kallmath say anything like that again," a male voice replied.

"Thank you, Zol. What would I do without you?"

"Speak nothing of it, let's just get on with this then we can get a drink," he replied, followed by a heavy click of the lock.

The door to Byleth's cell creaked open on old hinges, and she remained as still as possible, her chest rising and falling in mock slumber. Silence loomed between the two strangers like they were surveying the room. Had they noticed something out of place? Byleth's heart galloped, thudding so hard she was positive they could hear it, wondering if they had noticed she was -

The woman giggled. "All right, you're paying though."

"Ah. Fine."

The scuff of boots against stone signalled their approach and Byleth braced herself. Closer. Just a little closer and she could signal Sothis to unleash her power.

The man spoke again, "I'd leave this for later and go now, but Thales was quite adamant about retrieving her as soon as possible."

Thales? She held back – if there was a possibility of getting that bastard in range...

"Given her state, I'm not surprised," the woman replied.

Two loud clunks and the bed moved freely on its wheels, squeaking and rattling as they started to move. Byleth dared not to even peek at the two, keeping herself as still and unsuspecting as possible.

"You mean the baby?"

"Yeah…" It took godlike control for Byleth not to leap on the defence and break the woman's hand as she placed it upon her stomach. "… We have determined that natural birth is too risky for the child, and there have been further complications, so Thales decided to do the procedure early."

Byleth let out a sharp breath at the news and froze, wondering for a second if they'd heard. But her captors continued chatting lightly as if speaking of the weather.

What were they planning to do? She considered attempting to escape there and then, but her blood rushed and her determination flared at the thought of being face to face with Thales again.

"Well, I hope the mother survives. She would make an excellent hostage. Isn't she a Marquess?"

"And the Emperors' confidant. They are close from what I've heard."

She tried to drown out their words, concentrating on the turns as they weaved through the cold corridors. Three right. One left. She'd get back to Sam even if it killed her. Deviating from the plan and going deeper into the facility was a definite risk, but she could not shake the opportunity, the possibility, of ending this.

Not only for the war. For Samael as well.

At least Sothis was no longer her ever-observant passenger, otherwise the goddess would have been screaming at her to take action there and then. But, tucked away inside her child, there was no way for her to know.

The light brightened behind her eyelids as they entered a room, far more luminous than the dull passageways. There were murmurs of other voices, boots tapping, and the scent of antiseptic permeating the stagnant air.

"My Lord, we have brought her by your request," the male Agarthan said.

"Excellent, have her prepared and ready, we begin the surgery immediately."

Byleth's heart thrummed against her ribcage. It was Lord Arundel – Thale's – voice, clear as the day they had conversed at Arianrhod. She wanted to open her eyes and leap from the bed to confront him, but he was still too far away. She had to be patient, but she could hardly control the shake to her hands.

Her breathing quickened through the sound of clinking metal, hurried footsteps, and running water. It did not take much of an imagination to know what they had in store for her.

Just a little longer.

The bed moved across the room with a start, coming to a lurching halt beneath humming lights. They were nearly right on top of her now. Byleth stilled, willing every muscle in her body motionless as she waited for Thales to step into range. Through shallow breaths she focused on reaching for Sothis, who would be waiting for her signal.

But her concentration was short-lived, pulled away with the bedsheet as they whipped it from her body. A shocked silence permeated the room.

"My Lord, her IV. It's gone -"

Shit.

"Restrain her!"

She opened her eyes and hoisted herself up on the bed, her back meeting the metal headboard. The brilliant light burned and before her eyes could adjust she was restrained on both sides, her captors gripping her arms and legs to the bed as she struggled with a grunt.

"So, you're awake," Thales said, voice grim and displeased. "Always so full of surprises, aren't we?"

Her eyes met his milky, pupil-less ones. He stood like a pillar draped in black; a void in the centre of the blindingly bright room, watching her as if she were a lamb to the slaughter. She struggled more before one of the other Agarthans slammed a gloved hand into her forehead, pressing her head against the headboard.

Byleth gasped at the pain but kept her sights latched onto Thales. "You have no idea what I'm capable of," she replied through gritted teeth.

"I know exactly what you are capable of. I have been watching you through the eyes of that boy for months. I must say, he exceeded my expectations in every way. A shame to leave him to rot. But he has served his purpose." His expression darkened, grinning with teeth shades darker than his skin. "Stripped of your power and having your energy whittled away by that parasite you call a child. You are functionless. Of no worth."

"You underestimate me."

"Even now you fight," he said with a chuckle, inserting a needle into a glass vial and drawing the clear liquid. "Perhaps if you survive this I will slice out that obstinate, unyielding part of your brain and keep you around. Like a stupefied pet. You have certainly earned it."

She jumped at the cold brush of a sponge against the inside of her arm. The female Agarthan swabbed it in anticipation of the syringe.

"Fuck you," was all Byleth could spit out, eyes narrowed with rage.

Closer. Thales was walking closer.

"How crass, then again, you were never the most civilised of creatures. I always thought it a pity you did not perish at Arianrhod. Well, until recently. You brought me a gift, and I am so very grateful."

"She isn't yours. She never will be," Byleth choked out.

He was close enough now and she refused to wait any longer, scrunching her eyes shut and calling upon Sothis. She recalled the feeling when she had touched the throne all those months ago, and the sheer desperation from earlier.

But to her horror, nothing happened, and Thales crept ever closer with the needle entwined in his gnarled fingers.

"On the contrary, I already own one of your children, and I am about to claim a second."

She struggled, more frantic than before, legs flailing and arms wrenching against the grip of her captors.

No NO! This can't be happening! Sothis! SOTHIS!

Could the goddess not hear her? Did she not have the energy or power to pull this off?

Thales gripped her arm and held it firm upon the mattress, fingernails digging into the skin. "I am thankful that you're awake all things considered. To see the fear on your face, instead of that disgusting smile I've had to witness over the last few months. What a perfect end."

He brought the needle to her arm and she screamed as the point pierced the vein. She squeezed her eyes shut as darkness unfurled around her, desperate, pleading.


"Byleth. You can open your eyes now," Sothis said, her voice a whisper in Byleth's ear.

Arms held her tight, her feet on solid ground. Byleth lifted her head from Sothis' silky hair to find herself in her embrace, surrounded by the shadows of Zaharas.

"It is over now," Sothis soothed. "I am… sorry it took longer than expected to draw them in. I suspect I gave you quite the fright."

"You did it," she mumbled, leaning her forehead on the goddess' shoulder. "I was certain that…"

Sothis hushed her, rubbing her back like a mother would a child. "The immediate threat has been dealt with. The rest I leave up to you. How you intend to escape is a mystery, but at least this gives you – you three – a chance." Sothis pulled away and turned Byleth to face the others in their midst, those sucked into Zaharas by her power.

Thales and the Agarthans paced around each other in the distance, searching the unending darkness for answers.

She added, "Do not fret. They cannot see us."

"What happens to them?" Byleth asked impassively.

"Depending on their will, they may linger or perish. Once you cut the connection to their bodies, they will be trapped here… Sadly I will not be around to witness their fate, not for a long time at least."

"Did you use too much energy?"

"Yes. More than I expected. But do not worry, I shall not die. I will have to sleep. So long perhaps that your daughter may never hear my voice."

Ever since Seteth made her aware of the possibility of her daughter being a vessel for Sothis, she had been against it. But now, knowing Sothis was about to fade into obscurity for a second time, Byleth could not swallow the sadness bubbling up.

Byleth held her tighter, her words strained. "Thank you. For everything."

"You must leave before you become trapped here like them," Sothis said, shaking. "Do not squander this opportunity." She broke away and raised a hand.

"Wait! I wanted to say -"

Byleth sat up on the bed with a gasp, pulling out the syringe and breathing a sigh of relief to find it mostly full.

- Goodbye.

She looked down to find Thales and the Agarthans sprawled out on the floor, unconscious and still breathing. With a haggard sob, she grabbed a scalpel from a nearby tray and kneeled down to slice their throats one by one, seeing to it that they would never return to their bodies. Their blood mingled and ran down the tiles in rivulets, Byleth careful not to step in any as it pooled by her bare feet.

Finally she came to Thales, kneeling by his side and lifting his chin to bare his neck. It struck her how fitting his fate was. Doomed to wander that suffocating, maddening darkness until his will gave out. In the very same place they had attempted to banish her all those years ago.

Karma was indeed a bitch.

It might have been more useful to the Empire to keep Thales alive, but she barely twitched as she ran the scalpel across his throat in a slow, deep stroke. He choked on his own blood, convulsing like a pathetic animal caught in a trap.

It was over. The head of the snake had been removed, and all that remained was the writhing tail. She searched her other two captors, quickly grabbing the keys to the cells and clutching them tightly.

As she stood up again her legs trembled and the room fell out of focus for a moment. She took a few deep breaths, presuming a small amount of sedative had entered her bloodstream. The pain relief was an unexpected boon though, her head no longer pounding and the ache of her muscles now a distant burn.

She headed toward the door, clutching the scalpel in hand and bracing herself on the frame as she peeked around the corner. With the passage empty, she made her way down, back hugging the wall and bare footsteps light, listening for any sign of activity. She stopped halfway down the hall, leaning on the wall for support and took a few deep breaths as her vision blurred.

Spurred by the need to return to Sam, she stumbled onward on heavy legs as the walls began to warp as if she were drunk, trying to cover as much ground as possible whilst keeping quiet. Her pulse hammered in her ears and as she rounded the next corner she came face to face with another Agarthan.

His piercing blue eyes met hers and he took a step back in surprise. He opened his mouth to speak, a hand reaching out, but before he could utter a word she plunged the cold steel into his neck. The attack was messy and he let out a haggard shout of pain before clutching his throat, gurgling as he fell to the floor. It was so loud that Byleth was certain it would have been heard, picking up the pace despite her wilting energy.

Just one more corner, and as she looked around to check for any more Agarthans a scream echoed from behind, followed by frenzied shouts and orders. She had to presume Thales and the others had been found, and without another glance back she willed herself forward toward the cells.

She fumbled with the lock to Sam's cell, the door flying open with a thud as she all but collapsed into it. Small arms caught her and carried her into the room. The world spun and she could hardly find purchase on her feet.

"I never doubted you," Sam said, his voice muffled as if speaking underwater. She managed to look at him, his face much gaunter than she remembered in Zaharas. He looked awful. The bags under his eyes more pronounced, his hair limp and voice dry. She could only assume that their forms in Zaharas were not reflective of their physical selves.

"Are you all right?" she replied, cupping his face.

"I am fine, do not worry. What did they do to you?"

"Just a sedative," she breathed as Sam guided her towards the bed. Once seated he hurried to the door, the thud of it closing reverberating in her ears. She was losing consciousness, like snaking hands wrenching away at her subconscious.

"We should leave before they discover us. Surely you have enough strength to move."

"I… don't think I can stand. Not for a while, anyway."

A heavy silence descended as her head hit the pillow, the scalpel clattering to the stone tiles. She did not even notice the fall.

"Damn it, I'm not leaving without you," he said, nudging her. "Is there nothing Sothis can do?"

"She's gone… sleeping. She won't hear me."

Through half-lidded eyes she watched Samael trying to conjure a warp spell. The violet light fizzled with each desperate attempt, as if he was trying to power through the silence spell that lined the cells.

"You have to go. Escape. Find Hubert." If anyone could do it, it would be Samael. He had lived his life in the shadows. Who better to navigate the darkest ones?

"I will not leave you. I need to protect you."

"I overheard the Agarthans speaking about your sister, something has gone wrong. You need to find help."

He said nothing, but he did not need to. His pained expression spoke more than words.

"This is the last place they'll look for me. Go whilst we still have time."

"He won't believe me," he said, voice soft and quiet.

"He has to believe you and he will. You're his son – our son – you'll find a way to convince him." She could have told him then that Hubert was indeed his father by blood, but that did not matter any more; blood or not, they were family. The semantics mattered for nought. "You can do this."

"Even after what I did, you still consider me to be your -"

Byleth's heart leapt to her throat as shouts erupted outside, thundering down the corridor, footsteps heading in their direction. They both waited in bated silence when the commotion stopped by the cell next door. Orders were exchanged to spread out and search before footsteps separated and headed down the hallways in both directions.

Only then did she feel it safe to breathe normally again.

Samael whispered, "They are already searching for you. What if Thales -"

"He's dead, Sam," she said, fighting her heavy eyelids. "We killed him... He can't control you anymore."

Sam placed a couple of fingers to his temple, eyes wide with awe. "He's… he's gone?" He nodded and reluctantly and picked up the scalpel. "I'll find father and come back for you. With or without him."

She could see the scared child behind his tempered facade, a crack easy to see when you knew where to look. "Be safe," she said shakily under her breath, tears blurring her sights. She wasn't about to say goodbye.

He took her hand and squeezed it in reply.

Byleth choked out a sob and pulled him close with what strength she had left, their foreheads touching. "Lock the door behind you. I love you."


We rejoin in Hubert's POV next chapter! \o/
Hope you are ready for a reunion. We have one more chapter then the Epilogue to go!

Thank you for everyone still reading, I'd love to know your thoughts and if you have enjoyed the fic so far :D

*hugs you all*