The Shadows | Astarion

~ 2 ~

As dawn broke, Aelia finally left her bed, yet she had rested no longer and had stayed awake for most of the night.

Rubbing her eyes, she washed and dressed quickly, and looked inside the pantry. Seeing a small loaf of bread, she picked it up and tore a small piece off, chewing it for a long time before swallowing. After slowly getting through the bread, she drew her cloak over herself and stepped outside into the sunlight.

Locking the door behind her, she set off to the Sanctuary, not feeling the eyes that were on her the night before.

As she walked past the alleyway, now filled with light, she stepped closer as she peered into it, but didn't see anything out of the ordinary.

Aelia carried on walking, and eventually made it to the Sanctuary, walking inside and hanging up her cloak, which was a deep colour of red.

"Good morning, Galen." She smiled, seeing the man give her a wave.

"Morning, Aelia, did you get home alright?" He asked, putting down the bandages he was cutting up.

Aelia chew her lip, wondering if she should tell him about the feeling of being watched, "Yes, I got in before it dropped dark." She replied, picking up a basket and placing in salves and a few healing potions.

"Are you on the rounds today?" Galen questioned, and Aelia nodded, falling silent.

The man realised she wanted to be left alone, and he left the room, giving her a smile. Aelia breathed out, and finished getting the basket ready before heading out.

Some people couldn't make it to the Sanctuary, so healers had to go out and attend to them outside of it. It was Aelia's turn, so she journeyed through the city.

She got through the day quickly, dressing wounds, handing out salves and potions to those who needed it. It got later and later, until she arrived at the last house.

The man chatted on and on, and Aelia plastered a smile on her face and talked to him, making him laugh. Until he looked, studied her.

"My dear, such darkness surrounds you." He croaked out, and his face was full of pity.

Aelia was gathering her belongings up to leave but stopped, "What do you mean?" She asked kindly, her heartbeat quick.

"Something terrible follows you, however badly you try to run, it always catches you." He replied, and Aelia tried to laugh it off.

"I really have to go now, but you should heal just fine." She said, and walked out of the door, but stopped dead in her tracks.

It was dark, the sun had already set.

Her heart was thrashing wildly as she stared at the shadows surrounding everything, and this part of the city was less busy, as there were only homes here, not markets or taverns.

Clutching her cloak tighter around her, she slipped her hand inside the cloak and down her thigh, reaching for the dagger she always had strapped there, just in case.

She hid it behind her cloak, but had it ready to strike.

She paced towards her home, trying to ignore the shadows of alleys and streets. She was almost there, when she heard a scream. One of pain, and anguish.

Aelia stopped, and stared at the alleyway. Using her Darkvision, she noticed two figures in the darkness.

Should she help them? She was a healer, quite a good one, but it would mean she would have to go into the alleyway, into the dark.

Memories invaded her mind.

A pitch black room, the clicking of a door being unlocked, nothing but darkness for a hundred and fifty years

Aelia shook her head, ignoring the flashes of pain from those dark memories, and set off into the alley, trembling, clutching her dagger.

She saw a figure on the floor, a dagger in his chest, and she stilled.

The man was dead, and she closed her eyes, until she heard a sound behind her.

A chuckle.

Her eyes narrowed, and she saw a tall male in the darkness, grinning.

"Hello, darling." The male purred, his voice sensual and rich.

Aelia straightened from her kneeling position and adjusted her grip on the dagger, aimed at him.

"Who are you?" She bit out, and saw the male had walked closer to her, she could tell he was an elf by the ears, his ethereal beauty.

"My, we're moving very fast, my dear. My name's Astarion, a pleasure to meet me, I'm sure." The elf laughed again, his voice light.

Aelia swallowed as she felt the darkness caving in, but replied, "Did you kill this man?"

Astarion smirked, "What man?"

Aelia pointed to the dead man just between them, "If you couldn't quite see, that man right there."

Astarion looked down and feigned surprise, "Oh! I wonder who did that." He said, his hand covering his mouth, his eyes narrowed in amusement.

"I would assume it was you." She said, and Astarion grinned.

"I do like it when people... bite back." He purred again, and stepped closer to her, stepping over the man's body. Aelia felt her breath catch.

He was beautiful, she glanced at his lips when she noticed fangs poke out from his teeth. Her eyes widened.

"Vampire." She whispered, and backed away, "You were the one I felt watching me last night."

Astarion chuckled again, "Oh yes, but you ran away from me. I was meaning to come to you, but you didn't stay long enough."

"Well, when I see red eyes peering from darkness, I usually try to avoid that." Aelia said dryly, and Astarion grinned.

"You see that often, do you? Don't try to make me jealous." He teased, stepping closer to her, and Aelia had to tilt her head to look up at him.

She didn't answer him as she backed away and bolted out of the alleyway, she'd have to alert someone of the dead man tomorrow, if she managed to outrun this vampire.

She finally got to the door of her house, and looked back, not seeing Astarion anywhere. She breathed out and threw open the door, closing it behind her quickly, then locking it.

She lit the candles quickly and could finally breathe when light filled the place,

Her mind flitted back to Astarion. And hoped she would not see him again.