Dragon Age: Coexist

Vengeance

I awakened only to be welcomed by darkness, and the sound of a desperate woman praying to the Maker for deliverance. I lifted myself onto my knees, in an attempt to regain my mind. Eyes still closed, I inaudibly sighed, never feeling so weak. A dull ache ran through my head. I attempted to rub it in order to sooth myself, but my hand was held by something I could not identify. I began to silently panic.

"Maker help us, Maker protect us, Maker keep us, Maker protect us-"

"Stop it! You're driving me insane!"

Although semi conscious, I could still recognize my cousin's voice; my anxiety lowered, knowing that I was among family. After a few more moments, I opened my eyes, and saw the frightened faces of all my bridesmaids. Shianni was the only one who seemed calm. She smiled at me.

"Oh, thank the Creators you've come to. We were so worried…"

I was about to answer, but a sharp pain on the right side of my forehead filled my senses. I hissed.

Mileena looked at me in concern. "Your wound is getting worse. We couldn't do anything to help, sorry."

I frowned, trying to remember how I'd gotten my wound in the first place. An image of a human man backhanding me flashed through my mind. I scowled.

"All right, that shem dies," I said under my breath. I looked at my friends. "Is everyone all right? Where are we?"

Shianni replied, "We're fine, for now. And we're in the palace, of course. Doubt we're getting the tour."

Valora sighed. "They locked us in here to wait until that…bastard is ready for us."

My eyes widened. "Then we need to get out of here!"

Mileena looked at me in disbelief. "Forgive me if I don't hold my breath. The door is locked and solid, and we're unarmed!"

I pulled at my hands, which I then realized was held by thick ropes. It would take a while, but I knew I could burn my way out of them.

Valora saw me struggling. "The knots in those ropes are too tight. We couldn't untie it."

I gave her a small smile of assurance, and looked at my friends once again. "Girls, I know a way out, but you have to promise not to tell anybody."

Shianni, realizing what I was about to do, frowned. "No, cousin. You can't do that!"

Nesiara, who had been sitting silently beside Mileena this whole time, frowned as well. "Do what?"

Shianni looked at Nesiara. "It doesn't matter, because she isn't going to do it. Are you, Zetheria?"

I frowned at my cousin. "I have to! They won't tell anybody! I mean, I'm saving them here!"

"It's too risky! I won't let you!" She then ran over to where I was kneeling, and placed her hands over the ropes that were binding me. "If you try to burn these off," she whispered in my ear, "You'll burn me too."

I sighed in annoyance, then whispered back, "Cousin, please. There's no weapons in here. It's the only thing that will save you."

"And not doing it is the only thing that will save you. Zetheria, to have you save us, just to be betrayed and sent away…that'll kill me. I'll die of guilt and loneliness."

I rested the back of my head on her shoulder, then turned to the best of my ability, so the others wouldn't be able to read my lips. "Shianni, these are my friends. They wouldn't tell anybody. Besides, I'd feel guilty if they took you all, and I didn't do what I could to help."