What is the most dangerous thing you have ever done?

[birthrightgreen]

I was an assassin, sugar. Am an assassin, even if I'm without clients at the moment. I understood danger. Danger understood me. Admittedly, I did what I could to reduce the danger as often as possible, of course. I'm not an idiot. I'm not a thrill seeker. Usually. When things were bad with Sadi, I avoided him. I liked to kill from afar, so no one could tie it to me. A death spell, usually, more than my knife, for all the blade's my favorite weapon. I admit there were some rooms that got splattered, occasionally. Sometimes... *shrugs* It happens.

But the most dangerous? Sugar, that's easy. I went with Daemon into Terreille. To Dorothea and Hekatah's camp. I wanted to help. They were--are--my family, too. Those bitches had them. They'd sent us proof of that in the form of Uncle Saetan's little finger. I couldn't just sit there and do nothing. But danger? You'd best believe that. They'd already captured and confined Lucivar and Uncle Saetan. They'd held Daemon for 1700 years. I could have killed Dorothea one on one. Could have sent Hekatah to her final death. I was stronger, and I wasn't Ringed, but I couldn't take them both out at once, and had no way to do it otherwise without alerting the other and signing everyone's death warrant.

Daemon found me before I had a chance to slip away. When I realized he was going, I told him to take me with him. He said I could be useful, but I had no idea what exactly he'd need me for. All the way to the outside of Dorothea's camp he was himself. Sadi. Then he changed. Darkness help me, I thought I'd danced with the Sadist before. I hadn't until then. I've never seen anyone change so quickly. I thought. I thought what he wanted me to think. I fell for the act. I doubted him.

He needed me to be convincing. Sugar, believe me. I was. Spitting mad, and angry enough at him to not feel the fear I should have felt. Angry that I thought he'd betrayed me. Angry that I'd believed him. Angry enough that I didn't trust my gut, didn't know. I faltered and the fact that that's what he needed me to do doesn't help.

I look back and I don't know if I could have carried the scene against Uncle Saetan's pain. His disillusionment. Would I have been able to see that and not offer him some comfort? And if there was any relief, from any of us, they would have sensed it.

But at the time, I was furious. We were there. Saetan and Lucivar were chained. He gave me to her, to Dorothea. Shadows of Marian and Daemonar, but sickening all the same, what was done to them. Tortured. Killed. And he was able to just smile that cold smile of his. I was crying and I didn't even realize it. For them. For him. Only when he came for me the next night did I think to fear for me. To finally actually think of the danger I was in. Somehow the chains and the guards and those spiteful bitches hadn't hammered through my head that fact. But the look in his eyes did.

Of course, that was the time I was safest. What they thought he did to me made sure of that. When he finally told me what he'd done. What he needed me to do. Where Marian and Daemonar were. Then came my part and the most danger. Then I had to act. Act like he'd raped me. Act like I was pregnant. Act like I was broken. Broken and bruised and torn apart emotionally and physically. No longer able to access my Jewels. Dorothea bought it.

Lucivar didn't. That fact, that he didn't buy it? Makes me know more than anything Daemon was right to not let me in on the plan.

But the rest of them bought it. *wry* The limping bits were real at least. I made him make sure of that. I think it hurt him more than me. I played my part. Lucivar played his, even after he realized what the game was. I almost got stopped at the end of the day. A guard, thinking to play with Sadi's leftovers. Hitting him with the Gray would have alerted everyone and the knife would have taken time I didn't have. Graysfang was there, sight-shielded. I didn't realize until he told me to drop. Then he ripped the guard's throat out.

We got Marian and Daemonar. We caught the Red. We went home. Lucivar followed. Then Saetan and Daemon.

There were consequences. There always are. Some of them ought not to have happened. Some of them had to.

And some of them need to stop.

He Served. He did what his Queen asked of him. He saved your fucking hides and you'd damn well better realize that and stop the pettiness. The coldness. Treating him like he did something unforgivable. He did what a Consort is supposed to do for his Queen and you all should be grateful he was able to do it so thoroughly and well.

And the next person to say differently? Will have me to answer to.

Then, sugar? We'll see what you have to say about dangerous situations.

Comments

[http://users.livejournal.com/_deadlydance_/]

He smiled down at her again.

"That was nothing but sweat, you know."

[birthrightgreen.livejournal.com]

She chuckled. "And you, underneath..."

[http://users.livejournal.com/_deadlydance_/]

"But a good few layers of sweat to work through first."

It made him consider a bath. With her.

[birthrightgreen.livejournal.com]

She smiled a little and nuzzled at his jaw.

"This is true. For both of us."

[http://users.livejournal.com/_deadlydance_/]

That was all he needed to head. He pushed up from the bed and gathered her into his arms, heading for the tub.

[birthrightgreen.livejournal.com]

She smiled up at him. "M'Lord had something in mind...?"

[http://users.livejournal.com/_deadlydance_/]

The tub was already filly with hot, scented water by the time she finished her question.

"He did."

[birthrightgreen.livejournal.com]

She glanced at the water, then back at him with a smile. "Something nice, I think."

[http://users.livejournal.com/_deadlydance_/]

He settled her into the water, and then entered after her, touching whereever he could.

[birthrightgreen.livejournal.com]

"Mmm..." She shifted to press closer to him, touching back, fingers sliding over slickened skin.

[http://users.livejournal.com/_deadlydance_/]

He reached over her shoulder for a loofah, and began running it over her skin in soft, soothing circles.

[birthrightgreen.livejournal.com]

She reached to pull her hair up, out of his way, twisting it slightly, then holding it there with Craft, easy enough to bring tumbling down.

[http://users.livejournal.com/_deadlydance_/]

Hands already wet, he slicked them with soap and began masaging her neck and shoulders, washing them at the same time.

[birthrightgreen.livejournal.com]

She purred her appreciation, leaning into him, head tilting forward. Her hands reached back a bit, stroking up his thighs.

[http://users.livejournal.com/_deadlydance_/]

He made an appreciative sound in her ear as his hands dipped into the water again to move down her spine.

[birthrightgreen.livejournal.com]

She sighed, softly, and continued stroking his thighs.

[http://users.livejournal.com/_deadlydance_/]

His thumbs traced up the line of her spine, marveling at its graceful beauty as much as pampering her.

[birthrightgreen.livejournal.com]

"Mmmm..." She seemed to make that sound a lot around him and she couldn't help but smile at the thought, as she lifted her head a little to twist and kiss his cheek gently.

[http://users.livejournal.com/_deadlydance_/]

"Trust me," he said against her skin. "I am enjoying this as much as you are."

[birthrightgreen.livejournal.com]

She smiled, running her hands further up his legs. "That is very good to know, sugar."

[http://users.livejournal.com/_deadlydance_/]

His lips brushed at the nape of her neck.

"Just make sure you remember it, too."

[birthrightgreen.livejournal.com]

She smiled, leaning back against him, tilting her head to the side. "I'll work on that."

[http://users.livejournal.com/_deadlydance_/]

He smiled into her skin.

"Is there an estimated time on this project?"

[birthrightgreen.livejournal.com]

"How long do you think would be adequate?" Her fingers played behind his knee.

[http://users.livejournal.com/_deadlydance_/]

He nipped at her shoulder.

"I would never presume..."