Sarcophagi with other lids depicting what might rest inside peppered the annexes along the way out of the hive of undeath as unfamiliar faces in repose. His 'family', he'd explained. The one he chose, made for himself, he'd deemed worthy or useful enough to keep around.

Old smoke stained the porous surfaces of existing structures, recent construction holding up destruction wrought by a thorough raze of the interior in the aftermath of their fight with the elder brain. Hangings patched problem areas like petals dashed over wounds. He had rebuilt and decorated to his own tastes over whatever horrors he'd inherited here.

Exactly how long had it been since the day on the docks?

Servants they passed in the halls didn't so much as look up from their work, fervent efforts crypt-quiet. Tav faltered at the feeling of having stepped into this exact scene before. He'd become Cazador. Did any of himself remain? She already knew.

It wasn't long before she was handed into the care of a tight-smiled girl with specific instructions and a schedule for dinner.

"Oh, and darling? Don't actually try to kill yourself again. I prefer my things undamaged."

His eyes flicked to the girl at the last remark, and she seemed ready to jump out her skin despite his easy smile. She feared him, what he would do. The other woman keeping the door open with her foot, arms burdened with a bundle of cloth, remained looking steadily at the floor.

When Astarion was gone, a pressure lifted from the hallway.

"Great, another problem case." The tight faced girl dropped her eager servant act, a strand of ashen auburn falling into her freckles as she pinched the bridge of her nose. A quick appraisal of the task before her turned her hazel eyes bright with either possibility or malice. "Do everything I tell you to, and things will go fine." She seemed to pull a pin from nowhere, fixing the piece of hair back.

"You're going to over do it again."

"I need that bonus." The tight-faced girl rolled up her sleeve like a conductor, ushering them into the baths where other staff reluctantly relinquished their stools and conversation. Time to get to work.

"Not being awful might encourage people to help you a bit more."

"What was that?"

"I'll check on the coals."

"I assume you know how to wash yourself?" Her attention had rounded back to Tav. For such a tiny thing, the attitude on this girl was immense.

"Uh, yes. Of course."

"You don't sound sure. Kelcie, help her."

"I can do it myself."

"Listen, I'm sure you think you can, but I'm trying to work here. I need a clean canvas." The girl gave a sharp pinch to her upper arm, distracting her from the mousey thing making quick work of her robe clasp.

The water had barely enough time to warm her marrow before she was scrubbed raw, temples pulled back into a do ten-times assured to be the best in Baldurian style for her face shape, and silhouette snapped up by a draping gown gilded in a three-piece set of jewelry. Not an original, untouched piece of flesh remained beneath.

"What's your name?" Tav coughed through the makeup powder settling in the room. The girl stood before her, arms folded, assessing the work of at least a dozen hands at her command. She must have decided she was satisfied, because no more orders came.

"Edda."

The brutality of Edda's edicts had been absolute, and their applications merciless. She'd remember that.


Dinner was a far cry from the calm nights rationing supplies at camp. She'd half expected some morose meal around a long table with high backed chairs, old politicians of the gate mingling with some of those faces depicted underground. She'd been smuggled in the side door like a servant dish to find so many fresh lords already turned ruddy from drink. It was loud, music and wine flowing freely amidst the rancor.

"Oh, good."

She'd hardly made two more steps before the vampire was at her side. Tav scowled as he studied, crimson gaze making quick work from the bottom to finally linger at her face, giving a slow nod. Even he seemed satisfied with the outcome of Edda's work. "The makeup isn't you at all, but I'll give it a pass for now." His hand found the small of her back to guide her forward, only to be swat away. Too familiar. The distaste slid off him like water, regarding the party with that distant annoyance as he led her by the elbow instead.

"How generous. It's like a tavern in here, if taverns had chandeliers and creepy art. You do this every night?"

"Not every night, it'd get boring. Obviously. Tonight's… Special."

"Yeah, and why is that?"

"We'll be seeing some old friends." Plural, so not just Tav. A crystal champagne flute found its way into her hand from a passing tray, tall glass's red contents swirling as she fixed to inhale the bouquet.

"And I'm here becauuuse?" She downed it in one gulp, dropping it back to the silver tray with an unceremonious clatter. The servant gave a terrified glance back and scurried away, liquid cargo in tow.

"Some of them have been wondering what happened to you. Surely you wouldn't deny them a bit of closure?"

Her index curled at the corner of her mouth to wipe away any moisture, looking back to where the staff had disappeared to. That was some good wine.

"Why would they need that?"

"Personally, I thought leaving it a mystery was more fun. Would you have preferred going through the whole burial ritual? Funerals can be alright, I do love the drama— seeing who shows up and arguing over the estate— but I'm afraid you didn't have much to squabble over that anyone knew of. Footing that bill when some have already gotten it into their head that I've killed you is as good as admitting it."

One of his laughs punctuated the ridiculousness of the suggestion. "As if I'd go to all the trouble. Of course, this could all have been avoided if you'd chosen this willingly in the first place."

Keeping Tav in his creepy basement church wasn't at all suspicious?

"How long have I been gone?"

"—wouldn't have been in such a sorry state this whole time. Could have shared in some of the spoils proper. A shame— it was a once in a lifetime offer."

"How long?"

Astarion pressed another glass into her fingers with a knowing smile, touch lingering at the exchange. "Not now, darling. Why don't you enjoy yourself?"

The sickly sweet smell coming from the glass knotted her stomach with hunger, previous queasiness forgotten. If she couldn't get answers, couldn't even use magic, she could at least eat and drink to the point of embarrassment until she found a way out without anyone noticing. Yes, she could manage that.

Astarion disappeared when someone wanted to talk. He'd find his way back the moment anyone tried to address her directly, checking in. Coming and going as he pleased. At all times she felt eyes on her. Sometimes she'd catch the look of someone almost familiar, but it'd break off again and they'd become re-immersed in their conversations just in time to get bumped about by someone else not paying enough attention to how they were 'dancing'. That's what it seemed they were trying to do, anyway.

She was alone, and left alone on purpose. At every exit the closest person took on a possessed thousand-yard stare and warned her away from the doors. Where were the so-called old friends he'd been expecting tonight?

Tav had found the biggest, comfiest chair to retreat to away from the din. Damn these shoes. She missed her boots. Tav nursed another drink, finally close to dizzyingly full. Too much more and she might pop like a tick. None of the mortal hors d'oeuvres satisfied, but whatever the wine was it was sitting well with her.

She was sure she'd caught the dark, glittering eyes of a few of his living vampire children in the crowd. It was a relief to find a moment and space for herself.

She helped him, let him choose this. This is what he'd wanted, or said he wanted, all along since they discovered it might be possible. Why take that choice away from him? What work it took to get here, free from the suffering imposed by his master, to never be stepped on again. If anyone had really objected, they would have stayed his hand from carving into the monster he'd felled. But he became the very thing he'd been trying to escape.

The curtain giving the corner a little privacy shifted.

"Will you leave me alone?"

"Sorry, my lady. I couldn't help but notice you were not enjoying yourself like the other… Guests." Oh. So it wasn't the prick, after all. Tav rolled her head to the side, regarding the intruder. Another familiar stranger. Wonderful.

"I was beginning to." She raised the glass in response, tilting it back. He seemed to take it as an invitation and stepped in further.

"You still may, if you'd permit me."

"To what?"

"To help you." Tav sobered.

"I was starting to worry you wouldn't show." Astarion appeared behind the noble, who was much less at home now.

"Ah, just when I was hoping you'd finally given up. You are a persistent leech. Who's this, then?" She leaned forward, eyeing the unease between Astarion and the guest. She didn't recognize them at all. He was just keeping her strung along about old friends, then.

"I don't know whose face he stole, but all my other guests were expressly invited." The human's disguise burned away with the snap of Astarion's fingers. A blade flashed and the vampire calmly crossed the space to perch on the arm of the chair, the point still focused on him. "You've been wandering. Sneaking about is a bit silly when you've always been welcome here, isn't it, Wyll?"