Work Text:
A woman’s cries echoed throughout the temple, the smell of pain and blood permeating every crevice. Even the rats scurried away, scared by the noise. It was the first time Ta’av saw the animals run away like that. She leaned over, standing on her tippy toes, trying to peer into the room. A clawed hand stopped her.
“My Liege,” the butler said, apologetic as always. “I do not think it is wise. Master Sarevok asked me specifically to not let you come in.”
“But why?” Ta’av pouted. “You said this will be my room one day.”
“And it will, my Lady” Scleritas reassured her. “Just… Master Sarevok only wants what’s best for you. And this…”
Ta’av only huffed in reply as she sat back down, her tail drawing patterns in the dust. The woman kept screaming. And then another voice joined. Ta’av’s ears perked up. Just as Helena’s voice died down, the cries only got louder. And then a faint cooing from Helena, that seemed to soothe whatever creature was in the chamber. Ta’av has never heard that sound before.
“Ta’avrathim” Sarevok’s voice was deep and brimming with pride, as he lead her into the room. “Meet Orin.”
The room was a mess of blood and sweat, the aroma of iron heavy in the air. It was usually a good sign. It meant Father’s approval. And yet this time it filled her with dread. She could feel bile rising up in her throat and she fought hard to swallow it back down as she came closer to the bed.
There in Helena’s arms laid a swaddle. Two white eyes peaked at her. And then Orin smiled. And for the first time Ta’av felt… something happening with her heart. Strange warmth seemed to creep into her chest, embracing her.
“Hello little sister” Ta’av smiled at the baby. “We will be the best of friends, you’ll see.”
“Pay attention now” Ta’av lectured. “If you want to stab someone, it is important that you are quick. One stab will rarely kill, you need to be efficient. Do you understand?”
Orin nodded in response as she fixed her stance in front of the training dummy that Scleritas dragged into the chamber. Ta’av observed as the child followed her steps before stabbing the dummy again and again, heeding the instructions. Clever girl. Her heart swelled with pride. Ta’av might have been raised by Scleritas and whoever else happened to stumble on the feral child, but Orin? Orin was all her. She spent gruelling seven years teaching the girl everything she knew. And it paid off as Orin excelled with daggers. She was swift, cunning and a perfect lure for sacrificial victims.
“Good!” She smiled as Orin finished. “But let’s see how you’re doing with real opponent.”
Ta’av readied herself, standing in front of her sister. She might’ve been taller but Orin’s small stature allowed her to slip away from her grasp at the last possible moment. Ta’av’s dagger once again met nothing but air with a swish. Then she felt it. A sharp pain in her thigh. She looked down at a hilt of a dagger buried deep in her thigh. Orin struggled to pull it out. She was still weak. Too weak. Ta’av lunged at her, pinning her to the floor. She won. Orin’s eyes welled with tears.”
“Next time” she huffed, hands still pinning the girl to the floor. “Don’t aim for thighs. The soft tissues, that’s where you can do the most damage. Kill them before they kill you.”
“My lady” one of her assassins stood at the entrance. “Lady Helena requests lady Orin’s presence.”
Finally, Ta’av let Orin go. She watched the girl run down the stairs, seemingly unbothered by the loss. She would learn, Ta’av was sure of that. But there were more pressing matters. She pulled the knife out with a groan.
“My Liege, you were excellent as always” Scleritas clapped awkwardly.
“Clean this mess up” Ta’av ordered before leaving.
It was late in the night when Ta’av awoke, knife in hand. Maybe it was the rustling behind the door, or maybe she knew something was terribly wrong. The doors to her bedroom opened slowly and Ta’av readied herself. Whoever it was - they would not come out alive. Something, no, someone snuck in through the crack. This was her moment. Kill the intruder.
It was at the last moment that she heard it. The intruder was… crying?
“Ta’av?” Orin’s voice sounded more like wheezing cough as she stepped closer. Ta’av lowered her weapon.
“Orin? What happened?”
The child fell into her arms as sobs shook her body. Ta’av has never heard cries like these before. It was not the humiliation of losing a battle and not the cries born of fear and panic. Her embrace tightened around her sister as she sat the girl on the edge of her bed, appraising her for any injuries. There was a scrape on Orin’s cheek. It wasn’t deep but it would scar if not taken care of properly. Ta’av dipped a clean rag in a cup of water, then gingerly tapped it around the wound. She would not pry, not yet, not when Orin was still shaking, struggling for every breath through tears.
It was only later, when the two girls laid cuddled in bed that Orin finally spoke.
“I killed her before she killed me. Like you told me to.”
“Who are you talking about?”
“Mother” Orin replied as if it was the most obvious answer. “Do you think Father will be proud? Or will he be mad? I thought he would like my sacrifice” her voice broke again. Ta’av’s embrace only got tighter.
“He will not be mad, I think he will definitely be proud of you” Ta’av reassured her as softly as she could. “Sometimes we do things that may seem bad to others. But without them none of us would survive. And you did just that. You did what you had to to survive. Father will understand, he does not tolerate weakness. Do you understand?”
Orin nodded, hugging her sister tighter, hot tears rolling down her cheeks as they drifted into sleep.
Ta’av entered her chamber with a sigh. Maybe Gortash was right, maybe she was overworked. All that Absolute business was wearing her down. And then there was Father and his church. Of course Bhaalists were her family but their disobedience was grating. Her claws scratched the wooden table. Ketheric was even worse! That insolent old man. Not even Orin… She stopped herself. Orin was her sister, the most faithful. If only she’d let go of that pathetic need for showmanship.
The floor creaked behind Ta’av.
“I see you changed your mind” she smiled, as Gortash came closer.
“I was a fool to refuse” his arms wrapped tightly around her waist and Ta’av leaned her head on his shoulder. Relaxed. Safe. His arms traveled up her waist, grazed her neck. She closed her eyes. Gortash turned to her, his lips brushing the shell of her ear “Father’s slaughter is mine to fulfil.”
Ta’av could feel the knife going into her head before she had the chance to realise what was happening. She held the wound in shock as Gortash transformed into… Orin. Ta’av was swift but Orin had the element of surprise on her as she stabbed her kin again and again until she was sure there was not much left of Ta’av.
Orin held the tiefling in her arms, watching the life drain from her eyes.
“It’s like you told me, dearest bloodkin” she whispered, brushing a strand of hair from Ta’av’s face. “You have to do everything to survive. And there can only be one in the eyes of our Father.”
There was only darkness left as Ta’av closed her eyes.