The Death Market *Obi x OC* (COMPLETE)

Born To Die

Song: Born To Die- The Amity Affliction

 Harlowe and I leave the cottage just after midnight after Iladriel fell asleep and I put her to bed. We didn't have the chance to talk earlier since Iladriel was so excited to see us again. We settle under the willow tree at the edge of Molina's garden and Harlowe sighs before leaning her head on my shoulder.

"Molina said you were having trouble sleeping."

"It is nothing."

"You're lying." I mumble and she sighs again.

"Sleep does not come easy for me. It hasn't in many, many years."

"Is there anything I can do to help?"

"Thank you Obi but I will be fine. When are you leaving?"

"In the morning. We're going to see if we can get to Torin, if he is alive."

"I would like to accompany you if Molina would let me. It is my fault that you were brought into this mess and the one called Torin was affected. The little blonde girl, I have harmed her too. There is a secret way into The Death Market that only leaders know of."

"We can talk to Molina about it in the morning but if she says no, you have to honor her wishes since you are her apprentice now."

Harlowe nods before finally looking up at me. "I missed you Obi."

"I missed you too. Even with chasing Iladriel around the castle, things were just a little too peaceful without you."

A small smile crosses her face, making me smile too. I hesitate before lifting my hand to lightly cup her cheek then lean in to kiss her.

"Obi! Obi wake up!"

I sigh at the sound of Iladriel's voice combined with the repetitive poking of my cheek. I slowly peek one eye open and find her grinning wildly at me. A groan leaves my lips before I quickly grab her and throw her onto the bed beside me.

"Why do you wake up so early?"

"This time it's because Miss Harlowe is making blueberry pancakes."

"What about the other times?"

"Because it bothers you. Now get up or we'll eat all the pancakes without you!"

The bed moves as she stands and starts to jump on it. I catch her ankle and knock her back down as I get to my feet.

"Perhaps I'll lock you in here and take all the pancakes myself." I smirk as she looks up at me with wide eyes.

"You wouldn't dare."

"Oh, but I would."

I chuckle as she gets to her feet and shoves past me toward the kitchen. I shake my head and follow after her.

Harlowe and I follow behind Iladriel as we head through the trees toward the market again. I never thought that I would have to come back there, let alone so soon, but Iladriel deserves to have the chance to be with Torin again, or sadly to face the possibility that he is dead. I just hope for her sake that he's okay. She is overly perky today, practically bouncing off the walls until Molina gave her a bag of snacks to take with us and not-so-subtly ushered us out the door so she could have a few days of peace. I don't think she quite realized that her offer the day before of allowing Iladriel to stay if I couldn't find Torin could very well become her reality. She wouldn't have to deal with me beyond the occasional check-ins but she'd still have a young energetic criminal and an older ex-assassin living in her house. She wouldn't be in any danger, but it's definitely a lot to deal with when you spent years on your own.

"Iladriel don't go too far ahead." I call out as she starts to move out of my eyesight.

"Sor-" Her voice cuts off suddenly and Harlowe and I both tense automatically.

"Ila?" I call out but I'm only met with the slight sound of leaves rustling heading away from us.

I tear through the trees, following the noise on one side of the path while Harlowe covers the other. Shortly after I called her name, she screamed but it was quickly cut off again as the rustling continued to move away. They aren't too far ahead of us but we can't seem to quite catch up to them. I keep catching glimpses of her hair though so we're getting closer. My eyes finally fall on a dark haired man carrying a struggling Iladriel in front of him. A glint of metal whizzes past my head and a large needle sinks into the man's back between his shoulder blades. He drops to the ground suddenly and Iladriel scurries backward out of his reach.

"What did you do?" I ask Harlowe as we approach him.

"He is not dead. It compressed nerve in his spine, will be fine in a few hours. If he lives that long."

As Iladriel attaches herself to my side, Harlowe takes the few steps forward to stand beside the man and she roughly yanks the needle free before kicking him in the ribs until he's rolled over onto his back.

"Why did you take little blonde girl?" He doesn't answer so she kicks him again. "Huh? Huh!? I cannot hear you."

My eyes narrow as I notice a mark on his upper arm. "Harlowe, how much do you know of the underground symbols?"

"I know of them all, why?" She asks until her eyes follow mine. "Oh... You are trafficker. You think you could simply put your hands on little girl as if you own her? You make big mistake. You try to take my daughter! I will tear you limb from limb. You will beg for mercy."

"Daughter?" I ask, arching a brow.

Harlowe doesn't answer me as she moves her foot back and kicks him in the head, knocking him out. I move Iladriel to my back once I realize she'd cried herself to sleep standing up and repeat my question.

"I-It is long story..." She mumbles. "Let us keep moving."