Pink Rose [1]

"Your Continued Presence at Second Breakfast"

Quest Objective: Invest in lifts for shoes.

Bonus Objective: Steal Jastor Gallywix's lifts. 

I danced a dangerous tango with the shadows along the walls as I moved through the ancient fortress. Echoes filled the halls; booming thunder, trickling water, Zandalari war drums, the fizzle of electricity. Every sound carried the hum of adrenaline.

My eyes darted along the chamber, scanning each crevice. I threw myself forward. My new position was behind a colossal pillar, moved a millenia ago by the corrupting fear of tyrants.

I glanced back whence I came. Wrath's agents moved like spiders in the night, skittering along every known surface. My two brothers, however―

"Ouch! You just stepped on my foot!"

"Nonsense. You simply placed your boot where I was going to step."

"Who in their right mind would wear a bright, white turban when sneaking into a dead king's throne room?"

"Who in their right mind doesn't pluck their midnight blue chest hairs that stand out too much? Revolting. Such animosity."

I shut my eyes for a moment and made myself inhale slowly. I still had my pistol. I thought of turning it on myself a few times, but that would upset Andy too much.

Andy...I miss him so much...I really want to cuddle with him when I get back. I miss his lovely light baritone and the tingly feeling when his skin brushed against mine―

When Anduin's smile crossed my mind, heat prickled in the corners of my eyes. I blinked a few times to vanquish the tears, and tried to focus on the dim hall surrounding me. It was easier to embrace the scenery when I imagined Andy's commentary.

My heart stopped in my chest when I saw a tuft of blonde hair sticking out from the nearest pillar.

No, it couldn't be—could it?

My hopes climbed and I hastily shoved them back down. I clutched a knife to my chest, and sped across the stone tile―

"Ahh!" I yelped when the person turned to face me. "Jaina?"

"Greetings to you, too, Strider," Sylvanas hissed over Jaina's shoulder as the two lowered their weapons. Sylvanas' eyes beamed like rubies in the light, while the tip of Jaina's staff dimly glowed blue. A faint hue of green from my eyes enveloped the pair.

"You know, for a scout, you make a lot of noises. You're the most vocal person I know," Jaina muttered as she leaned on her staff. Her hair and robes were drenched with rainwater.

"Occupational hazard. What are you doing here?" I asked.

"Lei Shen poses a threat to all of us. He should be defeated―" Jaina was cut off by Sylvanas' cackle. I tilted my head at the undead archer, who never laughed. Ever.

"You lied to her face!" Sylvanas exclaimed, her mutated voice bouncing off the walls.

"Lie to my―what?" I looked back at Jaina, dumbfounded.

The white-haired mage glared at Sylvanas. "It's not a lie, it's the truth. He needs to be stopped. And...I just wanted to ensure that Garrosh didn't steal anything from this tomb."

The atmosphere changed at the mention of his name. I bit down on my tongue, not trusting my mouth or my facial expression. A tremor shook Jaina afterwards, like her anger and building hatred couldn't be contained. Sylvanas...Sylvanas was the same.

Our hushed conversation was cut off by Wrath and Kalec, continuing to bicker as they moved forward. Kalec froze when his eyes found Jaina.

"This family has a horrid obsession with blue-eyed blondes," Wrathion muttered. "It sickens me."