Chapter 10

It seemed like an eternity that Anna sat unmoving on the pillow surrounded by a sea of spiders. Her eyelids drooped and her head fell forward. She was so tired. Her foot slid off the pillow. Jerking awake, she wildly brushed at the spiders that swarmed over her foot the moment it touched the ground. Tucking her feet underneath herself, Anna brushed away the tears of frustration that welled up in her eyes. She wouldn't cry! She wouldn't! She wasn't that weak! She had survived the horrors of the Great War. She had seen countless boys die of nightmarish wounds. It would take a great deal more than a few spiders to break her. Anna straightened her back and glared into the darkness.

Watching silently from the shadows, Jarlaxle smiled. She was stronger than she looked, just as a descendant of Artemis Entreri should be. Crouching down, he placed a silver figurine on the ground and whispered a word of command. Obediently, the crawling multitude rushed towards the silver figurine. Within a matter of seconds the tiny army was once again trapped within the silver spider. Plucking the figurine off the ground, the dark elf dropped it into his pocket and then disappeared into the darkness.

Anna stared at the flood of spiders rushing out of the tent. Jumping to her feet, she darted to the door. Only blackness greeted her. "Where are you?" She ground out, searching the shadows. Silence. "I know you are out there!" Anna growled, stalking out of the tent. How dare he leave her alone with no way out for so long? Stomping into the darkness, Anna waited for the drow to laugh and show himself. Nothing. Angry and tired, she waited a minute longer and then announced, "Don't bother trying to talk to me; I am going to bed!" Whirling around she marched back into the tent and yanked the silk cord holding the door open. With a soft whisper, the cloth of the door swooshed closed behind her.

"The human female sleeps in the tent as I promised." Jarlaxle's voice drifted in on the morning breeze, waking Anna. Rubbing the sleep from her eyes, she stumbled to the door and peeked through a crack in the fabric. What? Anna rubbed her eyes again. She must still be dreaming; not more than a stone's throw from the tent stood the dark elf … talking to the ratman.

"Bring her out. How do I know that this is the same human?" The ratman demanded.

"Of course. Artemis, if you would be so kind as to fetch our guest." Jarlaxle said, inclining his head towards the tent. Anna stumbled back in shock. He was selling her? Please let this be a dream! To her horror, Artemis threw the door back and reached in to grab her. Anna turned to run. Too late. The assassin was far quicker. Easily imprisoning her arm, he dragged her from the tent and shoved her towards the ratman.

Anna shrank back against the assassin as the six foot rat reached for her. The drow cleared his throat, drawing the ratman's attention. "The artifact, if you please." Jarlaxle said politely, holding out his hand. Pulling something wrapped in cloth from his pocket, the ratman placed it in the elf's hand.

"A moment." Jarlaxle said, motioning for Artemis to wait. Gently peeling the cloth back, the dark elf studied what appeared to be a golden puzzle box. Nodding to the assassin, Jarlaxle carefully re-wrapped the box and secreted it into the folds of his cloak.

"NO!" Anna shrieked as the ratman grabbed her arm and pulled her towards him. Struggling frantically, Anna slammed her heel into the ratman's arch; yelping in surprise, the rat back-handed her. Anna's head whipped back. Twisting his hand in her hair, the ratman jerked her head back and snarled, "I am going to enjoy this." Anna spat in his face. His next blow knocked her to her knees. As he raised his hand again, she saw Jarlaxle turn his back and walk away. Had the dark elf spared a glance before turning away, the betrayal in her eyes might have given him pause.

"I assume that is a fake?" Artemis said.

"Most assuredly. Though it does have some magical properties." The drow said, retrieving the puzzle box from beneath his cloak. Turning the box so that it caught the sun, the elf studied the runes etched into its surface.

"You still think the rat has the artifact?" The assassin asked, not interested in Jarlaxle's newest trinket.

Jarlaxle's smile was ugly. "He has it." Artemis glanced at the drow questioningly.

"Once the rat leads us to his nest, we will claim the artifact." Jarlaxle said. Artemis watched with interest as the drow's slender fingers tightened around the puzzle box. "What of the girl?" The assassin inquired.

Without taking his eyes from the shining gold box, the drow answered. "I will reclaim her of course. She is far too interesting and valuable to waste on vermin."

Artemis stared at the drow. Was the dark elf actually concerned about Anna? It was obvious he enjoyed toying with her, but behind the drow's flippant answer he heard anger.

Jarlaxle stopped abruptly. "I forgot my tent!" He exclaimed.

Artemis rolled his eyes. Forgot indeed. Turning towards the drow, he said. "I take it we will be returning for it?"

"Indeed. I am very fond of that tent." Jarlaxle answered gravely, starting back in the direction of the tent. A reluctant smile played along the assassin's lips as he fell into step beside the drow. "I did wonder why we were walking." Artemis remarked. The drow had been quite clear on numerous occasions that there was absolutely no reason to walk when there were other methods of transportation available. A sly smile curved the drow's lips as he tipped his hat to the assassin.

Anna groaned as she slowly came back to her senses. Touching her forehead gingerly, she winced as her fingers brushed the painful bruise left by the ratman. She felt something wet, and realized she was bleeding. Carefully moving her limbs, Anna noted with relief that nothing seemed broken. Violent coughing drew her attention. Turning her head towards the sound she saw the ratman doubled over and holding his ribs as a cough racked his body. So intense was the cough that his entire frame shook convulsively, forcing him to his knees. Leaning over, he coughed again, blood spraying the ground below him. Anna watched silently. She felt no pity that he was suffering. Was it because he had hurt her? Perhaps, but she felt something changing in herself. She felt colder. Harder … and it felt good.

"You're going to die you know." Anna told the ratman.

The rat turned at the sound of her voice, his face drawn in pain. "What do you know about this? It's the drow's doing, isn't it?" He wheezed.

Anna shook her head. "Whatever you're suffering from has nothing to do with Jarlaxle."

The rat snorted. "How can you be so sure?" He shifted uncomfortably under her unblinking gaze.

"The cough." She answered, cautiously pushing herself into a sitting position. "And the blood. You will see a lot more blood before you die." She said indifferently. At the rat's frown she continued. "Everywhere I have been, strange creatures have been dying. They all have the same symptoms; that terrible cough, blood that pours from every orifice, and discolored skin. You only have the cough right now, but that will change soon."

"Stupid human. What do you know?" The rat scoffed. Another spell of coughing took hold him. This time it left him curled on the ground, clutching his ribs and whimpering in pain.

"It's going to get worse." Anna informed him, enjoying the uneasy look on his face. He may deny it, but he believed her. "A pity. It looks like you won't live long enough to sell me." She mocked. A thoughtful look entered her eyes. "I wonder if the drow knew this would happen?" She murmured to herself.

The rat laughed, a painful watery sound. "Then the joke is on him." Anna cast him a curious look. "What the drow has is a pretty, yet worthless puzzle box." He wheezed.

Anna laughed at the irony, and then sobered. Had the ratman succeeded in fooling Jarlaxle? She dismissed the notion almost as soon as it occurred to her. The drow was up to something, but what? Tucking her hair behind her ears, Anna stared thoughtfully at the rat. She had seen rats many, many times while serving near the trenches. As a matter of fact the rats were encouraged. She shuddered at a memory she would rather forget.

Rats liked shiny things. Anna slowly scanned the ratman's body. She didn't know if the artifact was shiny or not, but if it was valuable it was unlikely the rat would want to part with it.

Another spasm of coughing wracked him. Raising a shaking hand to wipe the blood from his mouth, a glint of gold peeked out from beneath his sleeve.

Struggling to her feet, Anna moved towards the still coughing ratman. He snarled, but was helpless to stop her when she reached for his wrist. Pulling back his sleeve she saw an intricate gold bracelet of sorts. Only it didn't look quite right the way he was wearing it. Yanking the hand out of her grasp, the rat snarled and struck out at her. Anna merely leaned out of the way, and gave him a cold smile. "Either I take it now, or after you're dead. Either way, it won't be long." She told him calmly. Real fear flashed through his eyes only to be replaced by pain as another fit of coughing took hold of him. Dark spots appeared on his skin, and his eyes started to bleed. Anna sat back on her heels and waited. True to her word, it wasn't long before blood was pouring from his nose and ears. Then it almost seemed like something inside of him exploded. He started to cough, but ended up choking on the blood that filled his mouth. He made a horribly wet gurgling sound, almost like he was drowning, and then he went silent.

"It looks I get the last laugh after all." She told him, taking the bracelet from his wrist. Rising to her feet, Anna turned her back on the broken body of the rat and disappeared into the woods.

Author's note: I hope you enjoyed this chapter. It's a little short, but at least I got it done! If something in particular strikes your fancy be sure to let me know. I love hearing from you.