The Heroes of Baldur's Gate... and Me

Part 18: Predator & Prey

The hour is late when Astarion returns to camp.
The others have retired to their tents, the night having been strained following the interruption, as well the continued presence, of the strange skeletal man on the other side of camp.

I sit at the campfire, a woollen blanket wrapped around my shoulders, as I bathe in the flames' warm glow. I watch the fire flicker, a hypnotising dance that draws you in, as it spits and crackles, sending sparks and embers to float up lazily into the night sky.

I hear a step to my left and turn to see Astarion step into the ring of light from the campfire.
He meets my gaze with a satisfied smirk, his crimson eyes reflecting the dancing flames, a single drop of blood on his white shirt. Tied together over his shoulder, are two dead rabbits - it is only when you look at them closely that you would notice there were no typical hunting wounds.

He drops the rabbits next to the fire, their limp bodies landing on the ashy ground, as he sits beside me on the log. He lets out a contented sigh as he wraps his arm around my shoulders, pulling me close. I learn into him, breathing in his heavenly scent, resting my head on his shoulder.

"Good night, darling? He murmurs, his breath lightly brushing the top of my hair, as he idly rubs at the blood drop stain on his shirt.

"You could say that." I chuckle and point across the fire towards the shores of the lake, where the outline of a thin figure can be seen against the reeds and murky water.

"Is that.... the lich from the ruins." Astarion exclaims, his eyes widening in surprise, his hand dropping to his side. "What in the hells is he doing here?"

"Scaring the hell out of us apparently." I mumble, pulling the blanket tighter around myself as a chill runs through me. "He says he is here to offer his services in our little quest - apparently he can bring people back from the dead."

"Well isn't that a useful person to have in camp - if you can call him a person. Did he exactly say what he is?" he asks thoughtfully, his gaze watching the figure curiously.

"We asked but he said it was unimportant and point blank refused to answer any other questions about it." I reply with a shrug, as I straighten up and add another log to the fire, the embers blazing and sparks flying skyward.

"Now here's a question - If I was to perish, gods forbid, would he bring me back to life as my natural self before I was turned, or would he bring me back as a vampire?" Astarion questions, his slender hand rubbing his chin thoughtfully, his gleaming eyes still fixed on the lich.

"So you mean like; Dead to Living, or Dead to Undead?" I query, cocking my head to the side as I turn to face him, as I consider his question. "Maybe you should go ask him?" I add with a grin.

Astarion crinkles his nose in response, clearly not a fan of that suggestion. He opens his mouth but any remark he had is interrupted by a sudden chirping and scrabbling sound. Snapping our heads round we are in time to see the retreating form of the Owlbear cub, one of the rabbits clutched in it's beak, as it disappears behind the darkened tents.

I burst out into laughter at Astarion's stunned expression. He quickly schools his features, turning to me with an amused smirk, the firelight dancing across his pale skin. "Are you laughing at me darling?" he purrs, a playful hint of menace in his tone.

I immediately try to straighten my expression, but cannot help the grin that pulls at my lips. "Of course not..." I say innocently, batting my eyelashes at him sweetly. "I would never dream of laughing at you..."

His eyes gleam as he leans closer, his devilish smirk across his face. "Don't forget little maid, I still owe you a punishment." He breathes, as he moves slowly towards me, like a predator closing in on its prey. His crimson eyes capture mine, holding me, sending a thrill through me.