Imprints in Stone [AU]

[Carver Amell]

"I threatened him," he says, indicating Zevran over his shoulder with his thumb. "He was being a <cat>litterbox clump." 

[Bethany]

"No, you, weren't. And he's one of mine too," Bethany says, a faint chill crisping the air. "Both as a whore here and as one of my patients. I- I can't do this. Just get out. I don't want to even look at you right now."

[Carver Amell]

"I see," he snaps. "I won't threaten one of yours again, then. I'll get you some nametags, so I can tell. Apparently anyone you met a week ago counts more than your own twin, right?" 

He doesn't wait for an answer; he just turns to storm off, as his lady requested. 

[Bethany]

"This isn't about- uuguggggh!" Bethany shouts after him. "Stupid ass, stupid idiot, stupid- stupid- stupid man!" she growls under her breath. "And you! Don't provoke him!" she yells at Zevran before stomping her way upstairs.

[GamesMaster]

On that auspicious note, the night begins.

Don brings her some tea a short while later, sitting and talking with her for a few minutes before he has to get back downstairs. Apparently, most of their female clients are willing to wait for Isabela or Zevran rather than going with Beth; he predicts a light evening for her, but the waiting room is packed.

"I'll talk you up some," he agrees, when he heads back down. "Tell them you're an expert or something." 

And soon enough, she gets a client -- someone who balked when they heard how much Isabela is charging and readily agreed to go with Beth instead. She gets a few more that way as the night wears on, including a female guard who doesn't have time to wait (not that Don mentions it until afterward, as she came in plainclothes). But she's free and bored when she hears the scream from down the hall.

It's not until she's rushing out that she realizes it sounded more like a war cry than a scream of pain or terror.

[Bethany]

Not that the change in understanding causes her to slow a whit- either is just as likely as the other to mean someone needs healing. And maybe that someone needs freezing, for that matter. Reaching the door she's fairly certain the scream came from, she slams it open and enters.

[GamesMaster]

There's a body on the floor.

Elle is panting and there's a knife in her hand and her hair is mussed and her top is still on and the body is naked and male and hairless and there's blonde hair in one hand and there's trousers pooled around one leg and the blood is spreading across the floor and there's blood on the chest and there's blood under the head and the ears are pointed and the hair is matted and Elle's hands are shaking and--

And the body is very, very dead. 

[Bethany]

A scream, an unheard yet haunting scream, begins to build in the back of Bethany's head but she shoves it down. "Elle- are- are you hurt?" she forces out. Focus on healing. Focus on the patient. Focus.

[GamesMaster]

She turns to look at Bethany, almost uncomprehending. "I-- my sister. He knows where my sister lives. I have to-- we have to check on her." 

[Bethany]

What? "Your- what did he say? Exactly, Ellie, what did he say exactly?"

[GamesMaster]

"He said-- he said I was, he said I was coming with him, or he'd, he name-dropped Lena, he said he'd get her instead, he was... he said he knew a guy, I-- I panicked, is, is he dead?" 

[Bethany]

"Coming with-" Bethany reels a little, the sheer idea of someone trying to kidnap or- or enslave someone right out of their brothel nearly flooring her. "You mean- hold on," she says, shaking herself. Kneeling next to the body, she forces herself to touch his throat, then winces. Right into the armpit, into a lung. Drowned in his own blood. "...yes. He's dead. Okay. We-" 

Her gaze locks on the guard uniform draped over the chair. "Oh fuck."

[GamesMaster]

Elle follows her gaze, and the knife falls from her hand. A moment later, her butt hits the floor. "Oh. Shit."

[Tethras Clan]

"Is anyone hurt?" Zevran asks from the door. He takes in the room with a quick scan, then closes the door behind him. "Elle, look at me. Are you hurt?" At her mute headshake, he nods. "Okay. What happened?"

[Bethany]

"He- he told her- said that if she didn't come with him, he'd take her sister. Knew her name," Bethany stutters.