Chapter 18: Evil Deeds?

Warnings: Adult actions and Character death.

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Anni felt torn in half as she walked barefoot through Athkatla. Part of her yearned to run back to Edwin and comfort him and apologize, the other part also yearned to return to Edwin except it wanted to destroy him, to silence him forever among other things. She was confused by what had happened, maybe if her father would shut the hell up she could figure things out but Bhaal didn't want to give her the chance. She knew that she was getting some curious glance at her disheveled appearance but she didn't care.

-You did the right thing my daughter. Now you just need to go back and kill him. No one messes with my children.-

"Except you, right?"

-Of course, that is my right as a loving father.-

"And if I believe that there's a bridge in Thay you can sell me too."

-Ah my child, I will always marvel at your ability to believe perfect strangers and not to trust the man who created you. After all if it wasn't for me, you would not exist.-

"Yes, I am so honored that I live. Would you leave me alone!" She screamed.

-No. Now on to other business. It has been far too long since you spilled blood for my liking.-

"I refuse to kill anyone just to please you Bhaal."

-Ah, we are back to you calling me Bhaal again?- He sighed. -And here I thought I was making progress with you, Annalesca.-

"Ack! Stop calling me that! My name is Anni!" She hissed. "Leave me alone, I need to think."

-I don't see why. I have told you everything you already know to be true. The wizard would never be loyal to anyone but himself. Even when I was mortal, long ago, Thay could never get itself together. If they would only stop fighting amongst themself they could take over Toril. The same with the Drow, if they didn't send so much time plotting and trying to serve that bitch, Lolth, they would be able to take over the surface quickly. Which reminds me I do have several drow children, I do hope Lolth didn't have them killed.-

"I'm starting to believe that your worshippers used to kill people just to shut you up!" She screeched as she covered her ears knowing that it was useless since she heard him inside of her head. She tried to ignore him as she entered the government district but it was hard to ignore the dead god. She wandered through the district until a voice stopped her in her tracks.

"Look ye all upon this foul drow that we have bound before ye! A creature of evil and darkness, my brethren! A creature of foulness and deceit, bent only on our destruction! This creature has foolishly come amongst us, my brethren, thinking that we would be lax in our senses! Tell me what should be done with it!" In response there were several cries of "Burn it!". Anni drew closer through the crowd trying to see what was going on. Tied to a stake in the ground was a drow female, one that Anni had known long ago.

-I remember her my daughter. Do you? Here let me refresh your memory.- She could hear the smile in Bhaal's voice as he pushed the past into the forefront of her mind.

----

Beregost...
Burning Wizard Inn...

"It'll be okay, Immy." Anni tried in vain to comfort her friend.

"I know. I shouldn't have ever looked at her."

"Come on don't be so hard on yourself. Viconia is a door knob, everyone gets a turn."

"I know, I just thought that I could make her care like I do." Anni slapped away Imoen's hand that reached for her liquor filled mug.

"I am not allowing you to get drunk."

"Oh, that's great coming from some who has spent the last month completely drunk."

"I'm allowed, I'm the older one here." Imoen stuck her tongue out at her. Anni smiled kindly at her best friend. "Come on let's get some more chocolate. You always feel better after some, you know?" She smiled as she called the waitress over.

"Speaking of liking people what about you and that Edwin?" Immy laughed at Anni's blush.

"I like him, I'll admit that much."

"But he called you a monkey, and that's after you saved him!"

"Oh come on, it's not like he'll always be calling people monkeys."

"Yeah, he's probably having a bad day, but I still can't believe we had to come all the way back to Bergost to find an inn."

"Well, the inn keeper in Nashkel did turn an interesting shade of purple while Eddie was talking to him." They laughed, their spirits lighted at the days earlier events. It was some time later that the two girls made their way up to the room they were sharing with Viconia. They had been forced to rent two rooms instead of one as neither girl felt comfortable sharing the room with Edwin. Though that didn't stop Imoen from suggesting Anni share it with him. Imoen was many things, a rogue, a mischief maker, a fellow conspirer and a best friend. Now she was trying her hand at something else, something even more horrible.

Match maker.

Not that Anni needed much pushing in Edwin's direction as there was something about the wizard that made her want to be with him. The good mood that Anni had worked so hard to create evaporated at the sight that greeted the two girls inside their room. Fortunately Imoen's human eyes could only make out vague shapes in the dark and unfortunately Anni's elven heritage gifted her with infravision, thus giving her an extremely detailed view of the scene. Though if the two of them were blind the sounds coming from the room would have been enough to tell them what was going on.

Viconia was busy entertaining a young Flaming Fist officer they had met earlier. Anni highly doubted that the Drow remember the man's name, though Anni recalled it was Xavier. She watched unable to turn away as Viconia's nails raked down his chest, drawing blood. Anni shuddered with the memory of the few nights she had spent with the drow. She enjoyed pain at the right moments as much as the next person, but Viconia was a sadist, enjoying pain giving anytime, all the time.

Her infravision caused the man to glow bright orange to her while Viconia's coloring was only slightly brighter than usual. She could tell by the colors how excited the two of them were and Anni would have given a lot not to have infravision at the moment. She did not need to know how aroused anyone was. Though she wanted to turn away it seemed she was frozen in place with shock unable to look away. She was only vaguely aware that Imoen had run away with a sob as she continued to be stuck in place. The shock that she was experiencing deepen as another male came into view, she could only see him from the back but could see he was slightly on the scrawny side but still appealing to her eyes.

"Oh my!" Anni gasped as she got an eyeful as the new man turned to join the two people on the bed. Viconia laughed as she saw Anni standing in the doorway.

"Come abbil, and join me. I am certain one of these jalukul can please you." Viconia managed to gasp out between moans.

"N-no. T-that's quite a-alright." Anni stammered as she rushed away. The drow laughed as Anni rushed down the hall only to be cut off as the jaluk behind her did something very interesting with a thrust of his hips.

---

"Enough Bhaal, I don't need to see more." Anni whispered as she forced her mind to the present.

-Oh? I really enjoyed this part. You remind me of your mother when you're angry.- He taunted as he pushed the next part forward.

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The next morning...

After spending the night comforting a crying Imoen, Anni had decided it was time for Viconia to go her separate way. She untangled herself from her sleeping friend and made her way back to the room from last night. She knocked briefly and steeled herself for whatever she may find inside the room. After last night she thought that nothing the drow did could shock her but apparently Anni was doomed to be wrong.

The first thing that caught her eyes was Xavier laying on the bed completely naked, his eyes staring right through her. It took her a moment before she realized she was staring into the eyes of a corpse. Whispering a prayer to Lathander, begging that she was wrong again, she rushed over to check the man. His skin was cold and livor mortis had already set in. She knew from her lessons that once livor mortis had set in to the degree it had on the man, it was too last to resurrect him. She closed his eyes with her hand, smiling wryly at the fact he had died with a smile on his face.
"Damn you Viconia why did you have to kill him..." Anni whispered to herself.

"Ah, inlul uss, you are too late to enjoy that one." Anni turned to find the drow standing behind her, she struggled to keep her eyes on Viconia's as the drow was completely naked.

"What about the other one? Did you kill him too?"

"No, your phish faern is quite fine." She said with a dismissive gesture.

"My what?"

"Lu'oh xun dos kivvilen telanth ol?" She muttered to herself. "Your Red Wizard."

"My Red...you slept with Edwin!" Anni took a deep breath, not wanting to get into that subject with Viconia of all people.

"I forget how sensitive you surfacers are with these things."

"You killed a man! You can't just do things like that. It's wrong!"

"Please, I have killed three of my husbands for sport, this one was nothing compared to them."

"You killed your...By Lathander, you are sick Viconia. You do not kill people for fun! Get out. I swear, if I ever see you again I will kill you." The drow laughed at her and something snapped inside of her. She pulled back her hand and hit Viconia in the face with her fist. She didn't stop there and kept hitting the drow over and over again until she realized what she was doing. She ran out of the room without a glance behind her.

---

Present day...

-Ah...that was the first time you ever used my power. I was so proud of you.-

"She had no right to kill people for fun."

-No she didn't. How many people do you think have died since you left her in that inn?-

"I don't know."

-I would wager quite a few. Wouldn't it be better to eliminate the threat to the people? Think of how many people would live if she died.- Her father was right she realized. Wouldn't it be for the greater good to let Viconia die? Yes it made sense. -Think of the fact she touched what is yours.-

"Shar! My deliverance is in your hands! ...wait...I recognize you! Anni! It is I! Viconia DeVir! You must remember! My life depends on it! Please, Anni, I beg of you! Save me from these madmen!!" Viconia yelled when she spotted her. Anni smiled friendly at the drow and walked up to the man holding a torch. She grabbed it out of his hands and was smiling as she dropped it into the wood piled at Viconia's feet. The crowd's cheer didn't reach her ears as she kept smiling at Viconia who screamed as the flames licked their way over her body. She kept smiling as the drow's face eventually melted off and her skin matched her black heart. It was only after she could no longer see the drow that Anni turned away, whistling a tune to herself as she practically skipped away.

She was passing back to the slum when an arm came around her throat holding a knife against her skin.

"Well, that was an expected display from a child of Bhaal."

"What do you want from me?" Anyone who knew what she was wanted something.

"Let's move somewhere more private my dear, then we'll get dear Edwin to join us." Degardan smiled at the look on her face as he led her away.