Last time: Felicity sighed. "Great. I am computer-scientist, turned hacker, turned vigilante-sidekick, turned housebreaker," she muttered under her breath. "Well, it isn't like I haven't done it before," she added in an almost cheerful afterthought.

ooxoxo

The courtyard of Ras' al Ghul's palace was the largest free space to be found in the ancient, subterranean city of Nanda Parbat whose narrow alleys and small squares had to be wrested from the very stone of the mountain and carved into the form they now stood.

Rows of houses, each sharing a wall with the next, because it had been easier and more practical to build that way, lined the narrow streets, overhanging marquees building places for merchants to set up their stands and wares. People mingled in the narrow walkways between the stands, some of them dragging carts behind them; others, donkeys whose backs sacked under the weight of the heavy crates they were made to carry, forcing people to step aside or have their feet trampled.

But all streets led to one place, like the rays of the sun could be traced back to their center: The Demon's palace. Its courtyard was surrounded by a high wall, setting it apart from the rest of the houses. None could enter there without permission, or being noticed by the guards.

Maseo sat on a stack of old crates in the palace's courtyard, his back to the ancient, cracked wall, removed from the well-trodden paths that led to the palace's main entrance. This one led to a storage cellar at the far end of the courtyard, only ever used by the servants or merchants that brought or collected their wares. The stack of empty crates, on which he now sat, had been placed next to the cellar's door, to be collected by the merchants.

It was a quiet place, a place for him to think.

In his hand he held the vial that Halari had given to him. It was small, its round body fitting easily in the palm of his hand and the smooth glass surface had warmed to his touch. Holding the vial in the air, so it sat on the tips of his fingers, it was hit by one of the few sunrays that found their way into Nanda Parbat and the Demon's courtyard. He curiously studied the honey-colored liquid. What did it contain? It looked innocent enough. Maseo looked at it from different angles, but was left without an answer. Only more questions. Should he trust Halari? Should he give this to man, he once called friend? What would happen if he did? What, if he didn't? Had she been sent by their master? He didn't think so, yet he couldn't be sure.

A drawn-out sigh escaped his lipsas his brown settled into a deep frown. He would have to decide soon. But not now. He palmed the small vial and slid it carefully back into a hidden pocket in the folds of his black tunic. He composed his features, slipping back… he slipped back into the role that had become his second nature, Sarab, soldier in The Demon's League. He had to attend to his duties…

xoxoxo

Halari felt the cool caress of the silken sheets, where they touched her naked skin. The soft folds draped lightly across her thigh and hip and covered one delicate breast, as she lay sprawled on her side, facing the edge of the bed. Her fingers drew light circles on the gleaming, blood red silk, a color of such dark richness, such depths that she sometimes wondered, if it hadn't been bathed in actual blood to achieve the effect. The thought made her shudder, because she wouldn't put it beyond her master's capability to do so.

She stared blankly ahead, trying to rid her mind of that gruesome image. Thus, she wasn't prepared for the arm that snaked across her middle and the large hand that suddenly splayed across her abdomen, the span of it almost covering it completely and staking a possessive claim. She looked down at the fingers now unadorned by their demonic jewelry, taking in their smooth appearance. But that smoothness was deceptive, hiding behind its mask a deadly and cruel strength. It would as easily wield a sword to cleave a man's body from its head or rule with an iron fist, as it now lightly caressed the skin on her abdomen.

"What is it, you are thinking about, Halari?" His cool, rich voice was right next to her ear, his breath ghosting over the bare skin at the nape of her neck, causing goose-bumps to rise on her skin. For a short, breath-stealing moment she went rigid, her mind flashing through possible scenarios how he could have found out, what she did, before consciously telling herself to relax, forcing her muscles to uncoil from their tense state. He couldn't possibly know…

"Nothing, master," Her voice was pitched in a low demure whisper

"Now, Halari, you should know better than to lie to me." The hand on her abdomen pressed more firmly against her, making her aware of its presence once more. His fingers felt unnaturally hot against her skin, almost like live coal touching it, their heat just shy of searing her skin. It slowly started to seep through the layers of dermis until it reached her body's core.

Knowing she could not evade his question or she would make herself suspicious, she rolled over to face Ra's al Ghul, the blood red sheets clutched to her chest, so they wouldn't slip, unconsciously… or maybe even consciously creating a barrier between them.

She chose to answer his question as truthfully as she could, giving him the part of the truth she could reveal, knowing he would detect if she offered him another lie. "I was wondering about the boy."

A dark eyebrow was raised, telling her she should continue. It wasn't a suggestion, she knew, and so she continued hesitantly, partly, because it was the expected reaction she needed to portray to be believable, but the other half was born of her real fear of accidently slipping along the way and revealing too much. "Master, you never brought somebody home with you before. I … I know it isn't my place to question you. - I simply wondered why you brought him to Nanda Parbat, why you chose to heal him." A knot had formed in her stomach, hard and cold, it replaced the warmth of her master's touch, a manifestation of her fear. "I w-would never have spoken of these thoughts aloud, master."

His inscrutable, sable-ringed eyes studied her, not revealing the thoughts in their hidden depth. Had she said too much? Was he angry? Was he amused? It made Halari want to squirm and she had to consciously force herself not to do so. She lowered her head instead, her eyes closing until she felt the light flutter of her long lashes on her skin, trying to hide her very real fear. A firm touch upon the crown of her head tilted it back, so she had to look at him again.

The Demon nodded his head. "You are correct, child. You have neither the right nor the wisdom to question my motives… Hush… don't speak…" He told her, as he saw her pupils constrict in fear, revealing the whites of her eyes which stood out against her olive-toned skin and dark brown eyes. Her lips had parted as if to speak in defense of herself.

"I know you did not speak those words aloud, until I asked you to reveal your thoughts to me. Therefor I will not punish you for them. I know one as young as you cannot control one's thoughts. But make no mistake, dearest child, if you ever were to utter those words aloud to anyone, my punishment would be swift and merciless. Do you understand this?" The hand on top of her head had tensed into a claw like shape, gripping it tightly, almost painfully.

Ra's al Ghul's eyes held a dark, fiery promise, as he looked down at the woman beneath him. And his words, devoid of anger, were tinged with the edge of a hard forged steel-blade. Sharp and unforgiving. You did not stray from the path The Demon set before you, never! Or you would pay the price!

"I understand." Halari breathed out her answer. At this the fingers in her hair relaxed, releasing her.

„Good." Just one word, but it made Halari finally feel like she could breathe again.

There was a pause, as if he considering his next words. "He surprised me…," he revealed, drawing Halari's curious gaze back to him. "… intrigued me, this boy. Oliver Queen. Though his name is of no relevance here. He's a good fighter, still a lad struggling to handle his first blade compared to me, but he fought better than any of my trained assassins. Stood longer in combat against me than any man I can remember. I admire that. And he survived injuries that should have seen him dead."

Halari hhmmd, but chose not to say anything to interrupt her master's monologue. She knew he rarely shared his thoughts and motivations, even with his daughter Nyssa.

"I chose to see this as a sign. He is destined for a greater purpose. Not protecting this… this Starling City." He spat the name with disgust. "I tell you this, for soon all here will know of his existence. I will break him, if necessary. And then I will train him to be the best fighter the League has ever known… to stand by my side."

When he had finished, he looked down upon the woman in his arms. Conviction burned hot in his eyes, the sable pupils having taken on a glowing sheen, reflecting the blood-red color of sheets. In that moment, he truly looked like a demon.

xoxoxo