Darkling

Truth

The panic blinded me to everything else. Here and there, something got through. The harsh clack as the door closed and locked, trapping me in the Nyxian's quarters. Curtains shut tight to block the light from my sensitive eyes. The harsh bite of liquor and the warmth in my head. A soft hand tipping my head up to look into green eyes.

Ashtoreth studied me for a long moment, then took the empty tumbler from my trembling hands. "You two," she snarled as she moved back to the bar, "lack even the basic concept of subtlety. And I should whip the both of you within an inch of your lives."

"Sorry Ash," Deimos murmured.

"Isn't it better to know for sure," Mithra asked. He looked at me when Ashtoreth pointed, wincing at whatever was on my face. "I'm sorry, Darkling. I know this must be hard on you. But I didn't want any more lies than necessary." The last seemed to be aimed at Ashtoreth just as much as me.

She sighed as she sat down next to me and offered the refilled tumbler. I hunched a little as her wing curled behind me. Swallowing down the liquor, my eyes darted around at the Nyxians.

"What are you going to do with me?"

Ashtoreth huffed. "As far as I'm concerned, you are blameless. Merely caught in the middle of others political machinations."

"But I-" I swallowed, but my voice refused to come out more than a whisper. "But I've been telling Mistress..."

"Telling her what," Deimos asked.

"I told her Mithra didn't think there was anything that could be used against you. And that Deimos was wary of assassins. And spies. I told her- I told her Ashtoreth wanted to see me again but I couldn't tell her you made me promise to say if I didn't want to do something. I couldn't tell her about your families being your weakness, but I told her I would try to find a weakness because she says everyone has one. I told her about... About avalanches."

A mildly hysterical laugh bubbled up as I slumped to put my elbows on my knees. One hand covered my face as I trembled. "I'm sorry. I'm so sorry. I didn't want to spy, I just wanted- I just wanted to enjoy this. Enjoy being treated as a person instead of some disposable commodity."

Ashtoreth sighed. Her hand drifted towards me, carefully keeping her distance until I leaned into her. Her hand was warm against the side of my face and I melted into the affection as she coaxed me to look at her. "Blameless," she said firmly.

I choked on a sob and she gathered me into her chest. Let me hide in her neck as her wings curled about me to hide me. Strong arm wrapping about my shoulders and hand resting lightly on my wrist in her lap.

"What does the Mistress expect from you after tonight is done?"

I shook my head. "Her patience is running out. She thinks if I can get you into bed then I'll find out something useful. She thinks- She says tongues always loosen after sex so if I can get you to bed me then..."

Ashtoreth sighed. Deimos snarled. "As if we would be so careless."

"We could use this," Mithra suggested.

"Feed them misinformation?"

"No, that would just get Darkling in trouble. I was thinking more give them only the information we can turn back on them. Lure them in and close the net? Or give them inflated numbers. Make ourselves look bigger than we are to discourage any attempts to begin with. Then it's just a bit of staging to make it all look true and..."

Deimos laughed darkly.

"Rest easy Darkling," Ashtoreth murmured in my ear, beneath the other two strategizing. "We'll take good care of you. I won't have you suffering in my care."