Notes:

This chapter has mention of Isabella's traumatic past, which includes her being poisoned and drugged, which goes into graphic detail from there. If that's not your speed, find the break in the text, and you'll find the next portion of the plot. Be safe!

~M~

Lucanis helped Isabella out of the bar after Damas and Neve caught the rest of the Threads up to speed. Neve wanted to stay a few more hours in Minrathous to see if there was anything she missed, but she urged Lucanis to take Isabella back to the lighthouse. The bleeding had mostly stopped, and she could stand on her own, but walking was tough.

Isabella thought she was going to die of embarrassment when she walked through the Shadow Dragons' hideout. Everyone asked what had happened, and luckily, Lucanis was there to answer that the Venatori happened. He explained where and that the Threads were targeted as well, but he refused to go into further detail. Neve could catch them up later if she wanted to. Isabella needed medical attention that he couldn't give.

With a few turns of the eluvian's mechanism that Bellara had shown, Lucanis helped Isabella back into the lighthouse and helped her towards her cottage. Unfortunately, it seemed that everyone else had returned while they were gone.

"Rook?" Taash called out as Isabella winced. They were about halfway through the courtyard when the Qunari had thrown open the doors to the lighthouse. "I smell blood, what happened?"

"Venatori blood magic. Made it out, but Neve is trying to track down the perpetrator still," Isabella explained with a strained smile. Taash frowned, crossing their arms.

"Blood magic cut you to pieces?" they asked before Isabella sighed.

"No, the blood mage was possessing my body, so they had to fight me. Then she lost control," Isabella clarified as Lucanis stared at the ground. Taash stared at him disapprovingly for a moment before shaking their head.

"I don't know how to heal you," Taash informed, the unspoken question hanging in the air. Isabella nodded slowly.

"That's okay. If you could grab Emmrich, I think he has some bandages I could use. Lucanis can do the rest," Isabella reassured. Taash relaxed a little before turning towards the necromancer's study.

"I can do the rest, can I?" Lucanis asked as she nodded.

"Hey, you're the one who sliced me to ribbons. You get to put me back together," Isabella informed, forcing a smirk from him. "I don't who I would trust more to help me anyway."

"I appreciate that," he replied, helping her the rest of the way to her cottage.

Once inside, Isabella sat on the edge of the couch as Lucanis walked over to her alchemy table, grabbing anything that sounded like it could help. He wasn't very familiar with poisons, but he was very glad that Isabella at least labeled them. She named them herself, similar to how Viago named his poisons, so Lucanis wasn't sure what was meant for battle and what was meant for medicine.

"Thank you," she smiled, pulling one of the vials from his hands before he put them back. She placed three drops onto her tongue before she sighed, shaking her head. "Tastes horrid, but it'll make moving around more bearable."

"Are you sure you want help with the bandages?" Lucanis wondered as she nodded.

"I won't be able to do it properly by myself, and I trust you," Isabella informed before clearing her throat. "You will see my other scars, though, so you have to promise not to be put off by them."

"I've seen scars before, Isa. I have several as well," he reassured as she grimaced.

Taash knocked on the door, delivering the bandages and a salve that Emmrich sent over. They also said to let Emmrich know if Isabella needed anything else and that he would be happy to help. Isabella waved and thanked them before Taash waved back before leaving. Lucanis closed the door, returning to her side.

Once the door was closed, Isabella inhaled before removing her jacket and pants, leaving her in her underclothes. Lucanis would've blushed if it had been any other day, but the gashes and purple splotches littering her skin took his breath away instead. He swallowed, sitting next to her and reached for her arm. She stared at the fire, trying not to flinch at his touch.

Her scars were extensive as well as Lucanis did his best not to react to their strangeness. They looked both fresh and yet very old. They also covered her body in long strokes, as if it were made intentionally with a scalpel. In fact, the scar on her torso was very reminiscent of an autopsy cut he would've seen at a morgue.

Swallowing, he continued to wrap her wounds, mindful of her scarring and bruising. Isabella flicked her eyes to him a few times before staring straight ahead. Once he finished bandaging her hand, he noticed that she was trembling. Lucanis held her hand, staring at her as she barely noticed herself.

"Sorry," she whispered, her voice shaky. Isabella placed her hand on her thigh, clenching it into a fist to try to keep from shaking. "I d-don't know why I-I'm shaking."

"Here," Lucanis whispered before bringing a blanket from the bed around her shoulders. He would wash the blood out himself if he had to. She curled the fabric around her as she sighed, closing her eyes. "Are you sure this is alright? Would you be more comfortable with someone else? Maybe Teia could come and help."

"It's not you," Isabella reassured before inhaling unevenly. "Fucking blood magic. Why did it have to be blood magic?"

"Tevinter has a history of it," he replied lamely as she exhaled.

"Aelia isn't the only one who used blood magic on me, and neither was Solas," Isabella informed, reaching for his hand.

"You don't have to talk about it," Lucanis reassured, holding her hand with both of his.

"Viago doesn't even know," she whispered, barely audible to his ears. He leaned towards her, ready to listen. She glanced at him before shaking her head. "I was so young, and it was before Ignacio found me and took be into House de Riva. I don't remember much, but I remember feeling strange at first. My mind was fuzzy and pliable. I later found out that they had poisoned me with qamek, and that part Viago knows. It was hard to keep that from him when I recognized those symptoms when we were experimenting. But once I was lured in, I don't remember much. I just remember feeling trapped in my own mind as I lost control of my body."

"Blood magic," Lucanis muttered as Isabella nodded, taking in a breath.

"Blood magic kept me still and frozen as I was aware what was happening. I don't know who they were, but they cut me open," Isabella explained, pointing at her chest's Y shaped scar. "My best guess is that they were students of some kind, and they needed to see the functioning body. Regardless, they sealed me back up with more blood magic and dumped me on the streets of Treviso. I don't remember anything before that."

"Why tell me this?" Lucanis wondered as Isabella shrugged.

"I wanted someone to know. Maybe someone who understands why I would hate blood magic so much," she replied before raising her shaky hand. "Why I can't stop shaking."

"I've heard there are ways to keep blood magic from affecting you. We should ask Neve when she gets back," Lucanis suggested as she turned to him. "I think Aelia and Zara are both reasons enough to want to guard against it. We saw firsthand today."

"I think that would be perfect," Isabella sighed with a nod. Lucanis gave a gentle smile before gesturing for her other hand. She reached over, shifting in her seat. "I appreciate your patience with me."

"What do you mean?"

"I always talk about my past and problems, and you just sit and listen. You even dealt with Viago trying to poison you, and you went back to talk to him repeatedly. Even to find me when I left," she explained.

"I like it when you share your life with me, Isa. It tells me that you trust me with at least a small part of your life. And I can handle Viago, I know what to expect from him," he chuckled, smoothing the wrap. "Even if I have to go through a poisoned dinner or two."

"Let's keep it at one," she grinned, watching him bandage her. "And lucky for you, I know all the antidotes."

"I know there was a reason I kept you around," he teased, glancing up at her with a small smile. "Alright, I'm going to wrap your torso now."

"Okay," she whispered, lowering the blanket. Lucanis grabbed more gauze and cotton pads before covering the deep cuts with the salve Emmrich provided. Isabella flinched as he withdrew his hand. "It's cold."

"It'll warm up," he reassured, applying more of it before covering it with the cotton pads.

"Can you distract me?" Isabella wondered, memories flooding in too fast. "How's Spite doing?"

"He's currently hovering over you and scolding me every time you flinch. He thinks I'm hurting you more," Lucanis sighed, shaking his head.

"He must have had a hard time with the blood magic," Isabella said through her teeth, trying to relax.

"He didn't take it well, no. It wasn't until the Venatori witch threatened to take you away that we were able to do anything," he admitted with a frown. "We figured that you would prefer to get hurt and come home than get taken."

"You were completely right," she nodded. "If it's in your power, don't let anyone take me to a secondary location."

"Deal," Lucanis replied with a nod, grabbing the gauze. "I wonder if Emmrich has any more of those healing potions he mentioned."

"If he didn't give them to Taash, I doubt it," she sighed, wanting to lay down. "I wonder if I could get the formula, though. It would be helpful to be able to magically heal while I'm outside the lighthouse."

"We can talk to Emmrich about it later."

"Alright, but to debrief since I didn't have a moment to think earlier, we saved the crime boss, and now we have the Threads on our side," Isabella started after flinching again. Lucanis grimaced at the mention of Damas, but he didn't say anything. "And we found out who was behind the kidnappings in Docktown. Although, it doesn't mean much if we can't find Aelia."

"It also doesn't bode well that she wanted to use you for a sacrifice. That means that she's probably going to use the others for that purpose as well," Lucanis added.

"Right, forgot about that," she groaned before shuddering. "I never want to be referred to as a pretty sacrifice ever again."

"I can get behind that."

"Hopefully Neve can find some answers. I don't like being in the dark with Aelia loose."

"Neve will find something, even if it isn't today."

"I'm not sure how well the Threads and the Shadow Dragons will work together, but it's at least a step in the right direction, I think. At least until the gods are dealt with and the Venatori are beat down. Then they can go back to petty squabbles or whatever," Isabella remarked as Lucanis smirked.

"I don't think crime syndicates have petty squabbles."

"Eh, whatever, I just hope they can both focus on the Venatori problem."

"Agreed," Lucanis replied, tying off the gauze. "Did you need me to bandage your legs as well? Or did you want help with those as well?"

"I think I can manage them fine. Luckily neither of you went for my legs much," she answered with a smile. "Thanks for helping me and listening to me."

"I'm happy to help," he replied, gathering Emmrich's supplies.

"Luca, I'm serious. I can count how many people I trust on one hand, and I want you to know how much that means to me," Isabella reiterated as he froze, turning towards her. Viago's words of warning from the Diamond echoed in his mind about her cooperation versus her trust.

"You trust me? Even after everything I've said?" he questioned, staring at her.

"It will take some time for some of the things you said not to hurt, but I do still trust you. Do you think I would let you bandage me up and tell you about my scars if I didn't trust you?" Isabella countered as he blinked at her. "I know you have my back, Luca, just as I have yours. We fight sometimes, sure, but that doesn't mean I don't trust you."

"I hadn't realized," he replied, not sure what else to say. She pursed her lips in confusion. "Crows don't usually trust so easily."

"Ah, well, I think you'll find I'm somewhat different from your average Crow," she reminded with a chuckle. "But it's true. I didn't come to trust you easily, you know. You put the work in, after all."

"Are you sure it's wise to trust an assassin?" he teased.

"Are you sure it's wise to trust a master poisoner's protégé?" Isabella countered with a smirk. "And don't you go spouting about how you don't trust me or some shit. You already admitted it when I offered to help you sleep the first time."

"Spite says I'm not allowed to deny it either," Lucanis smiled, standing to put the supplies on the alchemy table for her. "So, dinner and coffee?"

"You read my mind," she replied before he shook his head.

"Oh no, my dear, you are getting predictable," he teased before opening the door. "But I will be in the dining hall if you need me."

"I'll finish up bandaging my legs and sit at the table. Socialization is exactly what I need right now," Isabella informed, grabbing the salve. Lucanis hesitated for a moment before leaving, sure that she would fine for the next few minutes. If he didn't see her within the next half hour, he would come looking for her.

Isabella arrived in the dining hall not fifteen minutes later as she slowly made her way inside. She did her best not to limp, wanting to show that she was fine. There was just a particular cut on her thigh that hurt still when she walked for too long, but the pain went away the moment she sat down in the chair.

Lucanis smiled at her as she walked in, gesturing to the warm coffee already put out for her. Isabella smiled, shaking her head. Maybe she was getting too predictable if he knew where she would sit. He even prepared the coffee just how she liked it.

She leaned into her chair as she heard the doors open behind her and the worried chirp of a griffon scrambling towards her. Isabella glanced at her side as Assan slid to her to smell her bandages. She wasn't surprised that he could smell she was injured, but she was a touch surprised that the griffon held so much worry for her. She ran her fingers through his feathers calmly with a smile, quietly cooing at him.

"Rook?" Davrin called in, only seeing the bandaged arm under her tunic. She turned around the back of the chair to meet his gaze. "What happened?"

"Damn Venatori blood mages are what happened," she hissed grumpily before smiling down at the relieved griffon. Davrin came and sat down next to her, looking over her bandaged arms and body. "We were trying to find a missing person, but the person was being controlled by blood magic. The mage decided I made a better target, so Lucanis and Neve had to fight my body to get the blood mage to lose control."

"Damn, that's horrible. Did the person make it out alive?" Davrin asked as Lucanis scoffed from the stove.

"The person's fine. He's going to help find the blood mage who did it. Meanwhile, I'm back on the mend. Again," Isabella groaned, staring at Assan's head in her lap.

"I was coming to find you to talk about some Warden things, but I wonder if it needs to wait," Davrin admitted before she waved him off.

"Tell me anyway. I need to keep my mind off of the damn blood magic or I'm going to go insane," she insisted, turning to stare at him. Davrin grimaced before sighing.

"I checked in with Antione and Evka, and there are no signs of the gods in the deep roads. However, the blight in Lavendel is acting weird still. They're still looking into it, but they wanted to let you know," Davrin explained as she nodded. "But Remi and Lancet are missing."

"What about the other griffons?" Isabella asked, concerned. Davrin shrugged before shaking his head.

"We're not sure. Evka and Antione said that they went to find a place called the Cauldron, but the griffons were supposed to be in a safe place near Lavendel. Either way, with Remi and Lancet missing, we don't know where the griffons are either," Davrin continued as Isabella stared at Assan. The griffon almost purred under attention, and she exhaled.

"Then we need to find them. Most of my wounds are scrapes anyway. I might need to make a stop back in Treviso for new leather armor, though," Isabella groaned as Davrin smirked.

"I heard your brother is a real hard ass. How's he going to take the armor replacement?" the Warden wondered.

"Viago won't care. However, once he sees me come through with these bandages," Isabella answered before widening her eyes, staring in front of her. "We're going to have an issue there."

"At least he cares about your wellbeing over your armor," Davrin pointed out as she nodded.

"I do agree, that is a nice silver lining," she chuckled before Lucanis approached with a few plates of pasta for them. "Interested in armor shopping in Treviso?"

"Always, but I'm not going to be your escape goat when Viago gets mad," Lucanis informed before Davrin laughed.

"If you don't mind an extra person tagging along, I would like to see Treviso. I've never been to Antiva before," the Warden informed. Isabella sat up a little, letting Assan wander over to the couches in the corner to rest on.

"I don't see why not. Maybe you can distract Viago enough where he won't tear into me as much," she answered. Lucanis gave her a withering look before shaking his head. "Probably not, but I can hope."

"Viago is going to be pissed no matter what when he sees you bandaged up," Lucanis reminded as she rolled her eyes.

"If he quarantines me at the de Riva estate, you two need to break me out. We have shit to do," Isabella reminded, earning another laugh from Davrin.

"She's not joking," Lucanis warned before the Warden grinned.

"We'll make sure you get back to the lighthouse," Davrin reassured with a grin. Isabella nodded, glancing over at Lucanis who shrugged, knowing that the Warden was right.