So We Met In A Tavern.

The House is Always right.

Even though she had taken a beating by her mother's command, even though her captain had once again failed, and even though the pain from a split lip seared in rememberence, all of it served to help her focus.

Perhaps it relaxed her too much....or had she been close to being broke by her mother's elite guard?

None of that mattered at the present moment as she suddenly woke in tremendous pain and the weight of someone over her.

"Good night forever, Drayana!" Her sister hissed, twisting the blade in her side.

She laid a moment, feeling the hot liquid pool between her back and the mattress as it poured over her side. This hasn't been the first time she's been stabbed, and certainly not the first time her sister had held the knife, but current events have left House Dilith in turmoil, and she was responsible.

Too many times, the power shift between the sisters of House Dilith spurred one of them to make a move closer to their mothers seat.

She should have suspected this...its what she would have done, and yet here she lays, bleeding out,.... * How careless of me!* she thought, looking up at the Drow woman sitting on top of her.

"Just relax sister, it will all be over in a moment.....this is all the love I have for you."

Drayana had actually relaxed....her sisters words somehow comforted her for a brief moment until her calculating mind spurred her muscles into action.

Her hand first went to her pillow, sliding quickly beneath it she had found her blade missing. Her sister, seeing her fruitless effort, smiles at her. "So predictable!"

Looking down, she finds it in the hand of her sister. The blade in her side, she's been stabbed by her own blade and wonders if her chances of producing offspring are now reduced.

Her other hand finds her sisters blade along her lower back....*so predictable*

She quickly unsheathed the blade and brought it over, slicing the vien on her neck. With blood now spraying onto Drayanas face, her sister let's go of the knife to hold her own neck.

"That's a kill, Tatiana!" Drayana says, grabbing her slick wrists and pulling them away to allow the blood to flow. "This is all the love I have for you!" She seethes.

Spurts of blood pump out in heavy streams at first, and slowly as Tatianas heart fades, the spurts eventually turn to seeping and her precious life force comes tonan end. Tatiana had tried to pull free, kneeing the knife in Drayanas side. The first blow caused Drayanas grip to slip and Tatiana almost escapes.

In the end, covered in blood, Drayana pushes her sister onto the floor with a heave thud.

Next she sits up and takes a potion from her nightstand and drinks it while pulling the blade from her side. Wincing in pain she stands and begins to collect a few things in her pack. Weapons and traveling gear.

It doesn't matter that her sister attacked her in her sleep, her mother will see the finality of what has happened, and she will most certainly be displeased. Drayana knows her life is forfeit now.

"All because of that little prissy bitch!" She hisses thinking of a Half-Elven woman that had wondered into her corridors.

Drayana pulls her long blade out of its sheath and decapitated her sisters head. Then she grabs it by the hair and heads for the door.

Drayana creeps quietly down the halls and once inside her mother's throne room, she sets Tatianas head on the chair. "You finally got your wish sister....mother's seat." She stands looking ar her with a grin.

Backing away slowly her hand moves to her leather pouch along her side and withdraws a small stone.

Drayana knows how this game is played, she took the punishment she rightfully deserved. She allowed an interloper to reach her gates and kill her warriors.....now the House is exposed to Prince Blackwater.

Perhaps he can be manipulated, at least he can be an option. But the Warlock Kraighton in Squalls End knows the game very well and is equal in brutality. Brutality sent by message too.

Tatianas move has backfired, now Drayanas mother has lost two daughters leaving her weak. Leaving the house weak.
She quickly walks down the corridors and makes her way past the guards giving her last threats to anyone that questions her before her mother's orders are to echo thru the underdark in the morning.

Heading topside, the main caverns are guarded and Blackwater troops wait for a head to pop out to be cut from its shoulders. But Drayana knows of a small tunnel, one that leads under the Misty River... the one that the half breed found.

Stepping out into the night, she looks up at the stars. "I'll be back mother...your betrayal will cost you your life...the spider queen will smile upon me, for I alone will take on your entire army....and win!"

She brings the small stone up to her lips. "I hope you are happy Blackwood....we're about to be fast freinds! See you in Squalls End."

She tucks the rock into her pouch and heads west.