Chapter Text
Going into the proper city was meant to be saved for special occasions. Only then could Savari rationalize spending their hard earned gold on overpriced wine and food. She supposed her and her brother's birthday counted as a special enough occasion. Yet, she wished they had gone to a different tavern in the city. The Blushing Mermaid was raucous, full of rowdy patrons. It would be too easy to lose one another in the crowd, but Savari had grown used to keeping an eye on her younger twin. She found an excellent vantage point to watch Akrias make all his bad decisions. Still, she worried for her naive little brother.
Akrias dressed up for their night out, putting on an expensive silver doublet Savari bought for their birthday the previous year and plastering his face with silvery makeup. As if that wasn’t gaudy enough, he had polished his horns until they glistened. He had done all the right things to attract the wrong sort of attention. At that moment, a sharply dressed elf held Akrias close and whispered in his ear, trailing pale fingers across his dark blue skin.
Savari had lost track of many drinks the elf had bought for her brother. More than enough to get him drunk and yet there he was sipping on yet another glass of wine. Discomfort coiled deep in Savari’s chest. What sweet words was that stranger whispering to her brother? He put on a convincing act, but Savari knew better than to trust it. So when Akrias leaned in and kissed him, burying his fingers into his white curls, Savari decided enough was enough. She stood with a screech of her chair and shoved her way through the crowd to catch her brother’s wrist.
Akrias spun around with a grin, unaware of what he was even doing no doubt. “Sister,” he said happily. “There you are, I was worried I’d lost you.”
“You certainly didn’t seem worried.”
With a laugh, Akrias leaned back against the elf, who curled a hand around his waist. If he noticed Savari’s annoyance, he clearly didn’t care. “This is my sister, Savari, it’s her birthday too.”
“It’s a pleasure, darling,” the elf said and up close Savari swore his red eyes glowed. But perhaps it was the candlelight? “My name’s Astarion.”
Unsettled, Savari tried to pull Akrias away. “It’s time for us to go,” she said. Unfortunately, her brother held firm.
“Go home if you want, I’m staying here.”
That look in Akrias’s eyes made Savari groan. Lovestruck as always—all because a handsome stranger paid him some attention. At times like these, she wished their mother and father were still around to talk sense into Akrias. He always thought Savari was just being overprotective at best and overly paranoid at worst. Yet when Savari met Astarion’s gaze again, she felt an even more urgent desire to get away. There was a predatory glint in those eyes, Savari was sure of it.
“Go on then.” Akrias tugged his wrist away and waved her off. “I’ll see you in the morning.”
Before Savari could snap at her brother, Astarion gently pulled away and stood. “Let me grab my cloak, my sweet.”
Tipping Akrias’s chin up, he pressed another little kiss to his lips that made Savari’s blood boil further. Akrias hummed softly but then his expression turned sour the minute Astarion was gone. He met his sister’s gaze with a snarl, “You always ruin everything, Savari! Just let me have this for just this once.”
“Let you run off with some stranger you just met while you’re drunk out of your mind? Absolutely not. Now come on, let’s go home.” Again, Savari reached for her brother’s hand, but he yanked it away and stood.
“I am not a child and you are not my keeper. I’ve had enough of you trying to control my life! Astarion is perfectly trustworthy and this is far from the first time we’ve met. He’s a magistrate in the upper city. Perhaps you are just jealous that a handsome, rich elf is so interested in me and not you. Have you considered that, sister?”
“What in the hells did you just say?” Savari said, shock rushing through her. “You’ve met him before? When?”
Akrias turned his gaze away for a moment, shame flickering through his eyes. “None of your business.”
“Have you been sneaking off to the city in the evenings when I go commune with Selune? All alone?”
“As I said before, I am not a child!”
A storm sparked through the purple of Akrias’ irises and the deep blackness around them. He curled her fingers into the folds of his pants, clenching so tight his knuckles started to go white. Never before had Savari seen her brother so angry. It made her resolve falter. Yet, she couldn’t ignore the nagging feeling that something was wrong. Baldur’s Gate wasn’t just expensive compared to Rivington. It was dangerous. Who knew what sorts of monsters lurked in the shadows? If something happened to Akrias, Savari would never be able to forgive herself. No matter how she tried to explain that to him at the moment, it wouldn’t matter. Akrias had already made up his mind.
“Fine,” Savari said, watching her brother’s expression start to soften. “But I’m coming with you. I’ll need to see where to send the Flaming Fists if you don’t return.”
“Have you lost your mind?” Akrias hissed, scowling again. “Where is this paranoia coming from?”
But before Savari could reply, Astarion had returned. “Shall we go then?”
Candlelight flickered all around them while the laughter and chatter and the other customers filled the air. No one else was on edge. No one else seemed to see the danger lurking around them. But something sinister lurked just beneath the surface of the gleeful nightlife. Savari felt certain of that. She recalled the night her parents died. The moon shone bright that night and seemed to dispel every shadow. But Savari sensed the danger beyond their little caravan. She cried and begged her parents not to go and to wait until morning to scout ahead. When they never returned, she knew she had been right. Goblins had slaughtered them just a few hundred feet ahead and, satisfied with their gold, decided to leave the rest of the caravan alone.
Everyone else attributed Savari’s crying to the normal fears of a child. But she saw death in her parent’s future when they left. The same way she saw it curl around Astarion and Akrias. If she couldn’t convince her brother to stay then she had to go with. She had to do what she could to protect him. If it made Akrias hate her then so be it. She wouldn’t lose anyone else.
“Lead the way,” Savari said with a forced smile. “Let me walk with you. I’ve heard Baldur’s Gate is dangerous at night.”
“Savari, stop it.”
Yet, Astarion didn’t seem phased. He simply nodded to Savari and led the way out of the tavern, effortlessly gliding between the other patrons with his hand curled around Akrias’ waist. Outside, the quiet of the city seemed almost peaceful. Yet when Savari looked up and saw the moon was hidden behind the clouds she felt even more unease. Silently she sent a prayer to Selune, asking the goddess to watch over her and her brother that night. There was no reply, but Savari felt a gentle touch of recognition. At least her goddess was with them.
Even though the summer solstice was only half a tenday away, the night air still had a nip to it. Neither of the twins had brought cloaks that evening since Savari had planned to leave much earlier. She watched with sympathy as Akrias shivered in the cool air. The walk to the Upper City shouldn’t take long, but Astarion still pulled off his own cloak and wrapped it around Akrias’ shoulders. His eyes lit up and he smiled leaning in close as Astarion curled his arm tight around him. Astarion pressed a gentle kiss to the side of Akrias’ head, along the line of skin where his horns met skin. Though when he glanced back at Savari, she couldn’t help but scowl in return.
When something seemed too good to be true, it usually was.
Very few people were out that late at night and Savari watched each of them with careful interest. Yet, no muggers seemed poised to attack them. No assassins lurked in the shadows to strike. The night continued to be silent aside from the click of heels on stone and Astarion and Akrias’ conversation that was too hushed for Savari to hear. She sent another prayer to Selune as they entered the Upper City. A towering mansion loomed before them. Gargoyles lined the high ledges and an iron gate surrounded it. Whoever lived there wanted to keep strangers out.
Yet, as they approached the gate casually swung open. As if it had been expecting them. Savari hesitated at the edge of the manor, looking back the way they came as she watched her brother and Astarion go up the steps. Her stomach twisted and her heart started to race. Something was wrong. Every inch of her body screamed to stop Akrias and get him out of there. The mansion’s door creaked open and Akrias hurried inside, clearly happy to get out of the cold. Astarion paused and turned back. There was no longer any candlelight to explain away the red glow around his eyes.
“Are you coming?” He asked.
The moon stayed hidden behind the clouds as Savari pushed herself forward and followed them into the mansion. The doors clicked shut behind them. Akrias hurried around the foyer like a child, examining the velvet furniture and massive looming portraits with wide eyes. Savari studied the one closest to them. It was of an intimidating elf with long black hair and similarly red eyes to Astarion. When Savari looked back to her brother he had gone back to Astarion’s arms.
“Your home is beautiful,” he said in a rush. “I’ve never seen anything like it.” He kissed him again before stumbling slightly as he spun around to scowl at Savari.
Astarion held his shoulders to steady him. He still smiled but it seemed tight and he wouldn’t look Savari in the eyes.
“Satisfied? Go home, sister,” Akrias said, trying to wave her off.
Footsteps softly padded down the stairs. The elf from the portrait stood before them. A slow grin spread across his lips and every hair along Savari’s neck stood straight on edge. Fear like nothing she had ever felt before crept underneath her skin. Every instinct she had told her to grab Akrias and run. Race away and never look back. Yet, Savari’s knees trembled as she found herself unable to move.
“Two? My, my, you have outdone yourself, Astarion. Though I hope you won’t draw too much attention to yourself with this stunt.” His eyes turned to Akrias who foolishly bowed his head.
“Good evening sir,” he said, words still slurring. “Sorry for waking you.”
“You may call me Cazador, dear boy.” He reached for Akrias’ hand and kissed the back of it.
Time slowed to a stop. For a moment, Astarion’s gentle grip on Akrias tightened, his fingers pressing deep into the black fabric of the cloak. He clenched his teeth and Savari swore hatred flashed through his eyes as he stared at Cazador. Then Astarion let Akrias go, slowly stepping back to stand by Savari’s side. She met his gaze and he scowled.
“You should have taken him and run, you fool,” he whispered, words bitter.
Before Savari could reply, Cazador tugged Akrias closer in an almost embrace. Savari started to move forward, reaching for her brother’s hand. They needed to go. They needed to leave. But she was too slow. Before she could do anything, Cazador curled his fingers into Akrias’ hair and jerked his head back as he sunk his teeth into his neck. Akrias let out a little whimper and started to struggle, but couldn’t wrestle himself free.
“Akrias!” Savari screamed and finally broke herself out of the fear she first felt upon seeing Cazador on the stairs. She tried to rush forward but Astarion grabbed her wrists and pulled her back. “No! No!”
Vampires. They were vampires. How had Savari not realized? How did she fail to sense the evil in their presence? Had Selune abandoned her? She screamed again and tried to wrestle herself out of Astarion’s grip. Not even five feet away, life fled her brother’s eyes. His purple skin grew pale and slowly even his quiet whimpers of protest stopped. His body went lax and twitched only ever so slightly before falling to the ground still. Savari shrieked, twisting and kicking to try to get free and go to her brother. It couldn’t be.
Cazador’s lips were stained with the red of Akrias’ blood. He turned and examined Savari more closely, red eyes cold and lifeless. “Twins, I see,” he said with a soft sigh. “How delicious.”
“Monsters,” Savari screamed. “Monsters!”
Tears streamed down Savari’s cheeks as she kept twisting, trying to get free. Her cries echoed in the foyer and she turned back to meet Astarion’s gaze one final time before Cazadar reached them to take her life as well. The red glow of his eyes was even more apparent now. His nails dug deep into her skin to hold her place.
“I should have known. I should have protected him. I should have…” She trailed off, body going limp with exhaustion. She would have dropped to the floor if not for Astarion’s hand on her waist. She whipped around, baring her teeth and whipping her tail. “He never deserved this. My darling Akrias, my poor brother. He didn’t deserve to die like this. Not like this. How could you? How dare you!”
Astarion said nothing, though he did grit his teeth when Cazador took Savari away too. Her sobs wrecked through her whole chest and she barely even felt when Cazador’s fangs sunk into her neck. She didn’t care when her world went dark. She died the moment Akrias did. Yet as her eyes fluttered shut, she forced herself to meet Astarion’s gaze. She wanted him to see the life vanishing from her and know what he had done.
“Monster,” she whispered again using her very last breath.