Chapter 8: Revelations
There was a small storm brewing outside the cavernous mountain that housed the League of Assassins thunder and lightening raced across the sky as though the gods were angry. Inside however was much the same, Assassins were training and executing village murderers and thieves. Gaining the experience to kill as well as to do so using the power of vengeance. Above them all stood one man, a man whose very name threatened civilizations, ended worlds, whose very footsteps trembled those who would be corrupt. Ras Al Ghul walked between the throngs of assassins who were fighting and killing in the very act of justice. Behind him walked his Bride as well as his heir. Watching his Heir taking in the sights and seeing the blood lust in his warriors. Ras knew he was adding fuel to the fire that was burning inside of Thea. The questions, the concern, and most of all adding to her own blood lust.
"The League has existed since the Persian Empire, back then the league were known as Hasshashir. Otherwise known as those who stand apart from society. They were originally intended to be the King's personal assassins in hunting down threats to the kingdom as well as taking the corrupt such as murders thieves and others who would commit acts of injustices upon the people and eliminate them. Since the fall of the empire, the league has evolved according. Continuing its holy mission to rid the world of injustices, of corruption. Whenever a civilization becomes too corrupt the league enters and wipes them out. Only through annihilation can something new be born from the ashes." Ras explained to his young heir as they walked to the privacy of the Hall which housed the Pit.
Thea erupted as soon as they reached privacy, "Why? That is all I want to know, Why didn't you come back home, Why didn't you come back to see me." Thea asked with tears in her eyes as she begged to know something about why she was abandoned. Thea's heart was pumping in her chest as she stared down her brother, not caring in the least about the disrespect or the dishonor she was bringing to herself. All she cared about was why she was left behind. Again.
Ras looked at his younger sister and current heir with a look of indifference on his face not allowing any emotion to escape his inner turmoil. "Why? I'll tell you why Thea, I left because when I looked into the eyes and hearts of everyone I cared about, all I saw was broken trust, broken faith. I looked into their eyes and saw that they no longer saw me as Oliver Queen, as The Arrow, no, they saw me as no better than a common criminal. Felicity who told me she loved me right as I gave myself to the league to save you, looked at me with such hateful emotion brewing in her eyes it broke my heart. To see the look on Diggle's face and see that he saw me not as a friend and ally, not even as a brother, but as a traitor. It shattered my resolve, seeing Laurel's face brought feelings of betrayal and hate to the surface, she didn't care. She saw me as no better than the man who murdered her sister. But above all that Thea, it was you. My baby sister, the girl I practically helped raise. It was seeing you and seeing how well adjusted you had become, you didn't need me anymore. I wasn't needed anymore. The city despised and hated the Arrow. There was nothing left for me in Star city. But here, the League, Nyssa. They needed me. They gave me purpose. And it was through their loyalty and devotion to me, that I was reborn. Oliver Queen died, and Ras Al Ghul was left standing." Ras finished with such vehemence in his voice, such conviction that it shocked Thea to her core. Thea was heartbroken to the soul at how Oliver saw himself, how on some level that she had made him feel this way. "No Ollie, thats what you think about us, its cannot be further from the truth. Yes Felicity hurt at the way you could discard her fro your mission but she still loved you. Diggle felt betrayed that you couldn't trust him with the plan but he still saw you as a pillar to inspire him to be like you. And Laurel, she doesn't hate you at all, she was heartbroken at losing you. It killed her inside, she never stopped loving you. You inspired her to be a hero to honor you. Laurel still cries herself to sleep every night praying and begging and pleading with God to bring you back to her. As for me, Your my brother, your my family. You are all I have left in this world, I will always need you. Always" Thea finished brokenly with fresh tears running down her face, her eyes closed as she waited for her brother to push her way. Only to feel his arms wrapped around her and holding her tightly to him. She openly cried in such remorse that her brother felt this way and that in some small part she caused it. Thea vowed then and there not to ever let him feel abandoned by her in any way ever again. As Thea monologues to herself about how she felt. Ras felt stirrings in his heart and small amount of doubt filling his mind. Did he really think his friends and family betrayed him, was he really that wrong… Any other thought about this was immediately squashed as the effects of the Pit immediately destroyed those thoughts and feelings keeping him focused on the mission.
"Thank you little sister. For giving me insight into Oliver Queen's former associates. And I promise you that anytime you need to see me or speak with me, you can always find me here. Now… we come to the crux of the matter. Because you bathed in the waters of the Pit, you traded something for your new lease on life. You gained a blood lust. That blood lust is what fuels your current sanity. Its why whenever you kill you feel better afterward. Your too pure and too good a person to allow this to continue which is why I had Nyssa bring you here to me. Malcolm wont know how to fix it, its before his time. But several centuries ago a rival group who sought to destroy this Pit stole some of its water. They created a cure, to the blood lust. However its not easy to obtain. Its a bit of a journey. Nyssa will take you to their sacred grounds. You will be challenged by the keeper and guardian of this cure. I cannot assist you in this, you will have to fight, and win your own cure. But I have every faith in you for this little sister."
Ras looked at his heir with a benign look on his face and full confidence in his voice. Why Nyssa stood at her beloved's side and looked at Thea knowing that she had come to care greatly for the younger girl, easily seeing her as the younger sister she had always hoped to have. Thea's journey here was just beginning. "Training begins tomorrow morning at 3 AM. We will train you to the best of your ability to meet this challenge head on" Ras concluded as he left the chamber leaving a shell shocked Thea standing their alone.
A/N: Thank you all for the reviews they gave me the strength to get this chappie out in time. I can definitely say this is one of my more emotional chapters. Next chapter has a bit more focus on the team and Laurel's plan for her sister's revival, if it even allowed. Not sure if I want to incorporate Sara into this or not. She doesn't really play a role and I cant see anything but problems bringing her back. But who knows. Maybe an idea will strike. Don't keep your hopes up though. Enjoy :)
