4/14/09

A/N: If you don't like any kind of insanity, violence or foul language this story is not for you. I shall say right now that I have been in a VERY bad mood lately and this is the result of me avoiding any conflict with people. This is not a part of my other stories but it will include the same cast as before just in a different script. It's another AU combining Faerûn and the real world.

Disclaimer: I do not own any characters you don't already know as mine. For those who have not read my other stories, characters that are not mine include: Drizzt Do'Urden, Artemis Entreri, Jarlaxle and Kimmuriel created by R.A. Salvatore. I might throw in Dwahvel at some point but I do not intend to use any other characters than mine and those listed. Including the mention of certain people in the last chapter.

Chapter One: Watchdogs

She was lying on her couch in a bit of a daze. She was done with a lot of things now. Why bother when everything got taken away? And who was the one taking everything now? Everyone. But mostly her grandmother. If the woman was even her grandmother.

She knew she wasn't like other people. She tried not to think about it, after all there were plenty of different people everywhere. Some could even be considered to be like her. Seeing and sensing strange things was only a small part of her differences though. So was liking girls and hating any and all forms of religion. And so what if she wore guy's clothes or that any girl clothes she wore were suggestive?

Right now the strange dreams she was having were her biggest problem. Some fell into the category of nightmares to tell the truth and from what a few people who actually saw she needed some kind of help said she was talking in her sleep too. Two people had told her that... The only two people she let herself keep in relative closeness. One out of two was actually considered a friend. He hadn't been around for a while.

Loud footsteps thundered up the stairs. She pushed herself into a sitting position so she wouldn't be accused of not doing anything at all. It was only noon and she had already cleaned most of the house and cooked two four course meals. No one on the outside would have dreamed of the abuse she was put through, they all thought she was some kind of delinquent whose 'poor' grandmother was forced to take care of because her parents left her. But at least they thought to leave the grandmother the house. The house had magical wards to keep the 'delinquent' girl inside at all times unless accompanied by her grandmother. Which was hardly ever.

The irony of it, was that the house was actually hers. She didn't really know anything about her parents; no one had ever told her a thing. All she knew was that she was a seventeen year old girl with an insane, greedy grandmother. One who forced religion on her and took everything away all while pretending to be in a hopeless state when in reality, everything that had been 'left to her' wasn't hers in the first place. She knew that she liked both men and women, though she still hated most men (with good reason) and that she was stuck in a house full of people bitching at her for every little thing and she had nowhere to go. On top of all that she was having strange dreams which were leading her to question her own sanity and also her entire life. She highly doubted that she was seventeen or that she was even human. She was sure that humans didn't crave blood like she sometimes did, not normal ones anyway. She wasn't dead so that left out the possibility of vampire.

The footsteps stopped at her door and it banged open. The fat form that belonged perfectly with the idea of a greedy person entered. "Kitana!" her grandmother barked. "Why aren't you working?"

Kitana did not bother to say anything. Why waste breath explaining to someone who wont listen?

"I work so hard to keep you well and cared for, and this is how you repay me? By sitting on your lazy ass all day? I let you into my house, let you live here. The least you could do is a few chores!" Kitana just tuned out most of the rant. It was the same every day. Why bother correcting the stupid bitch, it would just land her with more trouble than she needed. She already had enough to deal with.

"I've put up with your antics long enough!" That drew Kitana's attention from the floor. 'Antics huh?' she thought. "I will no longer tolerate your rudeness or laziness. You need to be controlled! I'm going to hire guards for you, you will listen to them and you will learn respect!" Her grandmother stormed out of the room still ranting.

Kitana fell back onto her bed. This was just another problem on a long list. 'Great.' she thought. 'Just what I need, watchdogs.' It was the same day after day. Naturally, all the hard work she did her grandmother claimed as her own. But why guards now? Was it because she had scared off another one of the suitors her grandmother picked out for her? The fact that she still wore guy clothes no matter what her grandmother did? Maybe it was that last rant about religion, but that was months ago. Maybe her grandmother knew something that she didn't. Something about her.

Kitana didn't doubt it. Why else would there be magical wards on her bedroom and the rest of the house? The only time she was allowed out of her room was to clean and cook. In actuality, her grandmother was just looking for something to bitch about. She knew damn well that she herself had sealed Kitana in her room after lunch was made and before she had eaten. And now watchdogs. "I'll just scare them away like I scare those stupid guys she sends here," Kitana said to herself. If she recalled correctly the last one had been a paladin. That had been a fun day.

The tavern was full and no one bothered to notice the strange group of people that had entered this night.

Two drow and a human sat at one of the more secluded tables the place offered. A third drow joined them a moment later holding some kind of parchment in his hand. Jarlaxle sat down and presented it to the others. "It's a request for highly trained guards. A noblewoman needs help to control an unruly adolescent and discipline them. She is willing to pay a high price for the job."

"Must be one bad kid," Entreri remarked dryly.

"You think otherwise my friend?" the mercenary leader asked, surprised that the assassin would bother with such a statement.

"How many nobles have we come across that need to have their heirs or servants 'controlled'? It all turns out to be the same story, the noble hates them for some reason and wants to make them look bad so they have an excuse to get rid of them," Entreri explained in the same dry tone.

It was true enough. Nobles often used such tactics to be rid of what they thought to be problems. "It could be a real problem my friend. The least we could do is look into it. And there is still a chance to profit from such a venture." Jarlaxle threw Entreri one of his patented grins and the assassin just glared at him in return. He only shrugged when the mercenary said that they should go in the morning to see. The other two had no objections, no matter how much they tried Jarlaxle would manage to pull them in somehow.

They retired to their rooms early. There was no point in trying to stay awake after three long days of near sleepless travel. They slept in pairs, the innkeeper only had two rooms left for the night but said that if any were available in the morning he would inform them if they planned to stay. Jarlaxle cheerfully explained to the man that they only meant to stay the night. The man in turn barely held in a sigh of relief.

Morning came quicker than they would have liked, but the companions did not complain. The night in proper beds had done them good. They left for the noble's house after a small breakfast as intended. The house itself was easy to find: It was the biggest house in the small town. The mansion was a full four stories and looked like it had about twenty or so rooms. They had no way to tell how much land it covered. The tallest part was in the middle, the rest of the house branched out into two different wings and looked like they met in the back forming a courtyard somewhere. All in all, it looked quite dreary. The dull grey of the paint seemed to be all but lost in the darkness of the stormy sky. If it were not for the wrought iron balconies the house could be mistaken as a trick of the light.

Inside proved to be a bit more grand. It was definitely cleaner. A well polished silver and crystal chandelier sported many lit candles and gave the room a more comforting glow. They could smell food being cooked somewhere not far from them in the house. Even though they had just eaten their stomachs growled in response to the pleasant smells. Whoever was cooking must be really good at it.

They were greeted by a very large noble woman who led them into the dining room and offered them some of the food being prepared in the kitchen. The companions gratefully accepted her offer and she began to explain the problem. "You see gentlemen, I have no idea what to do. My granddaughter has become quite the problem. She is lazy, rude, and keeps scaring off any of the young men that come here to court her. She refuses to do anything I tell her and often goes into these most uncontrollable rages. I fear for my life. She must be disciplined but I do not have the physical power to do it. I also have reason to believe that she steals things as well. I found a wonderful suit of black leather armor in her room not too long ago, I know I did not get it for her and she has no money of her own. I have no idea where she got it. I don't know what to do," she said again. "Oh but I can see that you are all terribly hungry. Kitana!" she called and a young woman came out carrying a large tray of food. She gracefully set it down on the table and proceeded to give them each a plateful. She vanished back into the kitchen for a moment and brought back another tray containing glasses and freshly squeezed fruit juice.

The companions ate gratefully and the young women stayed hidden in the kitchen until she was called again by the noblewoman. "Gentlemen, this is my granddaughter Kitana," she explained to them. "She is actually doing what she is supposed to at the moment but I do believe it is an effort to make you think you are not needed." She looked scornfully at the young woman whose face was perfectly blank. The companions however did not miss the look of loathing in her eyes. Each of them felt as if there was something very wrong about the whole situation.

"Would you excuse us for a moment Madame, we would like to discuss things between ourselves. May we use the other room?" Jarlaxle asked politely.

"Of course, of course. Take as long as you need gentlemen," the noblewoman said as she nodded away. Each of the companions stood up and bowed at her graciousness then left the room.

"There is something wrong here," Jarlaxle said to the others when they were out of earshot. "I do not think that young woman is as bad as she has been portrayed." The others all agreed. "I think we should stay here and discover what is really going on," Jarlaxle continued. Again the others agreed.

Together they walked back into the dining room and accepted the job. The noblewoman was absolutely delighted. She bade them all to finish their meal while they discussed the price for their services. She agreed to pay them each a generous amount of one thousand gold pieces each for watching Kitana. They would start as soon as the meal was over and the noblewoman went about explaining their job in further detail.

Through it all Kitana watched scathing. What was that stupid bitch up to? These guards would not be scared away easily either. She could tell by looking that they were seasoned adventurers. They would be ready for any fight she could put up. Kitana watched them closely as they ate, for some reason there was something familiar about them though she could not place it. There was a small vibration in her fingertips that seemed to be attracting her to them. Did she know them? There was no way to know right now. There was something else about the human one as well, something that felt like the same thing inside herself. Was he what he seemed? Kitana marked him as the most dangerous even though his three companions were drow. She would watch them all closely to see if she could learn anything but she knew she would mainly focus on the human.

Kitana stood up straight, breakfast was over now and she had to clear the table. She took the opportunity to get a closer look at the companions and choosing to clear the human's plate first. She managed to lock his gaze for a few seconds as she took his plate, something sparked inside her but she didn't know what it was. Somehow she knew without a doubt that she knew him. There was no such recognition with the others. She disappeared back into the kitchen once again after all the plates were picked up and began cleaning the dishes. Her grandmother led the watchdogs into the kitchen after her then left them alone. Kitana paid them no mind as she went about her work. They didn't bother her at all, they just stood and watched.

After the dishes were cleaned she went about cleaning the rest of the kitchen, she had been in the middle of a lot of cooking when they had shown up. She had to make lunch soon and now she had to cook for four more people. Thankfully they made it a point to stay out of her way. Likewise, they said nothing when her stomach growled in protest as she prepared the next meal, she wondered vaguely if they would say anything if she took small bits of food she was making. Finally she just decided to risk it, she had not eaten since yesterday morning. And in the same manner she was doing now. Kitana figured she had to find a way to scarf some food for later. Again, the watchdogs didn't say a word.

By the time lunch came around things were going quickly. The companions were not hungry after the large breakfast and after the noblewoman was given her food they and the young woman were dismissed. Kitana was allowed to wait a while to clear the dishes and sent to her room. She idly noticed her grandmother handing one of the drow the ward key to her bedroom. She led them upstairs and entered the room first, the drow with the key came last and sealed them in. Kitana continued to ignore them as she had been and went to lie down for a while, most likely until her grandmother called her downstairs.