Sick Twisted Dance: Chapter 2
Here is the AO3 link if you would rather read there: HERE
Warning for: Stalking, controlling behavior, non con touching, dubious consent, Lucanis is honestly a monster in this fic. Evil Lucanis.
Honestly the AO3 link got all the tags.
The end of Viago’s glass pen lightly tapping against his desk. He wasn’t sure how long he sat there but the sun had set and the moon’s light was flooding into the large office from the window behind him. Viago watched as a drop of wax fell down the light colored candle on his desk. The same thought running through his head.
For once he was stumped. His perfectly executed plan has gone to waste, and he was sure it was Illario’s fault. ‘Of course he would mess it all up.’ Viago resentfully thought for a moment, but putting his pen down with a sigh. This would have to get dealt with. Lucanis would have to get dealt with.
His perfectly laid plan, wasted. Viago thought he’d had him. Lucanis was dead, or he had assumed he was. All that work, all his planning he had to do with Illario. Just for the bastard to come back out of the blue.
‘Did Lucanis know?’ That was the biggest question that was on Viago’s mind. Had he somehow found out Viago was involved? Surely Illario didn’t open his damn mouth. The 5th Talon had not had a chance to reach out and he was starting to regret that.
‘Of course he would. It’s Lucanis.’
Finally Viago picks his pen back up, he knew he had to come up with something. Until then thought he had to make sure Illario kept his mouth shut.
I am aware this is more the likely a stressful period for you, since neither of us could have predicted Lucanis’s return. I was sure he was dead since you claimed Zara would be reliable. This is merely a mild set back, our original goal still stands. I simply need some time to think of how to deal with Lucanis. Especially now that he and the First Talon will more than likely be more wary. However, I advise you hold your tongue in the mean time, lest your poisoned words cause it to rot away.
He set his pen down again, reading over the letter. Viago knew he should send something, or perhaps approach Illario in person. Though the chances of Illario being alone now that Lucanis was back was slim to none. Lucanis had been practicing hovering over Illario like a shadow since his return.
‘Perhaps he did know, and is waiting for Illario to break.’
Viago pushed the thought away almost as soon as it appeared on his mind. There was no way. He had made sure Illario and him would be clean of the murder.
Looking at the letter once more a new feeling started to eat at his gut. Stress? Fear? Perhaps both. Perhaps Teia was right and he was just being paranoid.
Choosing to linger on it no longer, Viago shoved the note into his desk drawer.
Thick gray clouds hung over the streets of Teviso. The usually crowded streets of the market were unusually empty, Viago presumed it was due to the incoming storm. He black cane tapped against the ground as he went through the market. His hand gripped tightly onto the silver crow shaped handle. With Inky only a few feet behind him.
Her light blue dress clashing with the almost all black cloak Viago was wearing. The young qunari had been quiet almost their entire walk, only occasionally saying hi as they passed a familiar face.
Viago wouldn’t help but let his mind wander as they walked. His mind organized every way Lucanis could follow his murder plot back to Viago or House de Riva. Viago often prided himself on his airtight plans and Lucanis’s ‘murder’ should have been so different. And yet…
The mousy call of his name had caused Viago to pause his walk and turn. Inky was standing a little ways back, giving him a confused look. The qunari’s ears lowered a little, a nervous look in her eyes.
“The art gallery.” Inky mutters, pointing to the shop beside her. It was the gallery he’d wanted to shop at, a small but expensive shop. Two golden dragon statues sitting on each side of the open doors. An obvious tell of what the place was. Such an obvious tell he’d somehow missed as he walked by. Viago was a bit stunned, he’d been so wrapped up in his head he passed the shop they had been traveling to.
Viago let out a short cough before walking back to the young qunari. “Thank you. Seems my mind is in the clouds.” He comments.
Inky only gave him a concerned look in return. Her mouth opened slightly to say something. Before she could though, Viago moved past her and stepped into the small gallery. He didn’t look back but Viago knew she was following behind.
Usually natural light would flood in from the store's windows, brightly displaying the colorful works on sale. With the thick clouds hanging over today the only source of light was some poorly placed candles along the tables lining the store walls.
Viago let out a quiet scoff as he looked around the dusty shop. The dull yellow light of the candles giving most the paintings a rather unflattering glow. He glances over his shoulder slightly, noticing Inky was no longer directing behind him. Instead she was looking around the store herself. Her interest tied in the paintings of lovely human women surrounded by various flowers.
He noticed all the art that held her focus resembled her own work. Soft colors and noble women in flowing dresses, Inky’s favorite subject for her paintings.
Viago thoughtlessly tapped his cane again against the store’s tile floor. Inky’s ears perked up before she quickly turned to him. Her expression was one of concern. Just as she was about to speak she glances past Viago, fear coming over her face.
Realizing she was not looking at him, Viago looked over his shoulder to see what had frightened the young qunari. For a moment he was stunned at the gruesome painting he somehow hadn’t noticed behind him.
In the painting a noble man was kneeling, begging on the floor as a desire demon stood above him. Her clawed hand and arm bloodied as she had a wide smirk across her face. Laying behind the demon was the body of a young woman, dressed in similar colors to the begging nobleman.
The painting was much more gruesome than Viago had usually found in this specific shop. Not that Antiva was lacking in artistic depictions of tragedy, but this particular shop wasn’t usually the place to find such art.
Hesitantly, Inky began to step closer. Eventually standing beside Viago. Her fear twisted to a slight disgust. “How horrible.” She muttered. The man beside her didn’t seem to react. Tapping his cane once again after a moment. The poor lighting of the room only seemed to give the painting a heavy shadow that highlighted the begging man.
He couldn’t look away. His dark blue eyes take in every little detail. From the wrinkles of the man’s robe to the empty pleading look in the dying woman’s eyes.
“How… interesting.”
A sigh slipped from her lips as Inky looked up to the night sky. The stars twinkled high above her. Leaning against the stone railing along the canal provided a much desired clear view of the night sky. The fingers of her left hand ran along the pearl bracelet that sat on her right wrist. After a long moment Inky glanced back over to the street market behind her.
The constant chatting, trading, and arguments prevented the young woman from having a quiet moment to herself. A sudden flash of cold wind hit her, causing Inky to shiver. With the frosty breeze came a feeling of unease.
With a hesitant step she moved away from her view of the canal and back to the small shop stalls. The unease morphed into anxiety as she joined the crowd again. Her ears lowered slightly as she looked around at the people around her. Nothing seemed out of place. While she didn't recognize all the shoppers and sellers, none of them stood out.
Inky only gave each stall a passing glance as she passed by each. Foreign jewelry, flowers, ceramics, and all kinds of goods. On any normal night she would stop by and look at each new item, but feeling a ghostly cold breath on her neck she just wanted to go home. She picked up her speed but made an effort to try looking calm. Choosing not to run, but her steps starting to speed up.
“Miss de Riva?” A soft voice called behind her. Inky stumbled on her own, whirling around after finding her balance.
“Fiorella.” Inky says, quickly putting up a friendly smile. One of the art seller’s eyebrows raised slightly, looking Inky up and down. The pretty human woman was holding a basket of wax candles.
“You’re out rather late alone.” The woman remarked. Her eyes briefly glanced around the area to verify her statement. Inky could feel her face warming up in embarrassment, averting her gaze to the street floor instead. She wasn’t sure why, but the thought almost made her feel guilty. Being out all alone at this hour.
After a long awkward silence Inky looked back at Fiorella again, her face heating up a little more. “I-I should probably be getting back then.” Inky muttered, a smile still on her face as she took a step back. Her ear tips only lowered further.
“I didn’t mean-”
“No. It’s fine.” Inky insisted, not sure why her voice had become so shaky. “It’s late. I just hadn’t noticed.” Suddenly Inky felt another shiver run down her spine.
Quickly Inky gave Fiorella a short wave before rushing down a hidden alley past a stall. The enclosed brick walkway was practically pitch dark besides ornate lanterns spaced out along the wall. Inky’s ears perked up, becoming more alarmed walking down the empty street then she had before.
There was a sudden tight grip around her upper arm. Quickly Inky whirled around, trying to pull back from the mysterious figure. “It’s rather late.” She froze upon hearing the man beside her. Not even an inch away from her grabbing her arm was Lucanis. Most of his figure hidden in a dark clock with a crow shaped hood. That familiar smirk on his face he’d flashed her the night before.
Inky let out a heavy sigh that turned into an awkward laugh. “You frightened me.” She remarked, a wave of relief coming over her. Lucanis did not release her arm. Instead he pulled her closer, leaving little space between them. Inky’s face began to heat up again as her eyes widened.
“Forgive me.” He tells her. Slowly his gloved hand ran down her arm. Only stopping when he had her wrist on a vicegrip. Inky winced a little at the tight hold, but it went ignored by the shorter man in front of her. “You seem… anxious.”
Inky felt her face warming up again, the ends of her ears falling lower. “I’m fine.” She insists, turning her head slightly away from him. With him so close it was hard for her mind to think clearly.
Without hesitation Lucanis grabbed her chin and forced Inky to face him again. A flash of frustration in his eyes, but his smile never faltered. This did little to comfort Inky as her ears only lowered further. A familiar shame washing over her. Shame that somehow she’d made him upset or angry.
She’d barely opened her mouth before Lucanis spoke up again. “Come. There is a cafe nearby that should be open.” He stated. His grip on her wrist never loosening as he led her through the dark area. There was no question to it, no offer. Just a demand Inky was too shocked to refuse.
Inky wasn’t sure what she expected, but this little hole in the wall facing the canal was certainly not it. Especially when the Crows owned so many cafes and restaurants around the city. They had been sat at a table towards the back of the small cafe. Lucanis taking the seat beside her rather than the one across from her.
While Lucanis was going on about the coffee Inky’s eyes were scanning the room. The unfamiliar environment did little to comfort her. Only a few patrons seemed to be lingering around. Most of which were towards the front of the cafe.
A young elf was busy wiping down the desk next to the door. The same elf had been rather giddy to take their order. Inky suspected Lucanis was more the likely the source of her excitement.
“Inky.” Inky’s right ear involuntarily turned in his direction. She turned back to Lucanis after he pulled her from her thoughts.
“It’s very good.” Inky muttered, taking a sip of the cioccolata calda she’d ordered. It wasn’t bad, but Amelia made it much better at her estate. Not that she would bring that up now.
Lucanis remained silent beside her, observing the young qunari. Inky could feel a blush growing on her face as he watched her. Inky took a deep breath, looking away from him as she took another sip.
“I’m rather surprised Viago let you wander off so late.” Lucanis remarked.
Inky let out a nervous laugh. “I’m not a child.” She says, smiling a little. “Despite how everyone treats me.”
“I would never imply you are a child.” He states, before taking a short drink of his own coffee. “Just that you rarely seem to be allowed your own time.”
Inky’s ears perked up at that. She hadn’t expected an observation by him. “It’s not- I-...” Her face only grew warmer as she tried to come up with some excuse. “Viago is a very concerned man. He worries. Trust me none of us have any real free time.”
“Most would call that a paranoid man.” Lucanis casually mentioned. Inky was left without a retort, knowing full well he wasn’t wrong.
She let out another sign, turning to look away from him yet again. A familiar embarrassment came over her. It felt childish, having to abide by such strict rules as Viago had placed on her. She wasn’t the only Crow under Viago’s roof who he imposed his rules on. Unlike her brother and cousins though, Inky actually followed said rules.
All those thoughts were pushed out of her brain when he felt a hand grab her upper thigh. Even through the skirt of her dress she could feel the light pressure of the gloved hand. With wide eyes Inky turned back to Lucanis who was taking another drink of his coffee with the hand he still had above the table. His expression unfazed by his actions, meanwhile Inky’s face only grew more pink.
“I still need to give my savior her reward.” He calmly states.
